Author's Note on Publication: Countdown to the Massive Release - 0/50

Sharing some heartfelt thoughts whenever a book goes live on the platform has practically become our tradition, and this time is no exception. Anyway, since these are still free chapters, let us chat a bit more to deepen the bond of brotherhood among us—that in itself is a wonderful thing.

After my previous original novel completely bombed, I learned my bitter lesson and pivoted back to fan fiction to write this book. My pressure at the time was quite immense (×)—it was completely off the charts (×)—it almost crushed me to death (√).

This pressure stemmed from multiple sources.

For one thing, that previous book bombed so terribly that it even dealt a heavy blow to my writing confidence. For a certain period, I even felt a sense of resistance and aversion toward the very act of "typing words." Brothers who kept diaries in their childhood understand that once this kind of emotion appears, you are actually not far from giving up.

Fortunately, I managed to turn it around in the end.

A few days prior, I happened to be replaying Black Myth, and upon seeing the producer interview, old Feng's remark—"You cannot afford to be confident only when you are succeeding"—suddenly awakened me.

Indeed, bombing once or twice does not signify much. It is not as if I had never flopped before; why on earth did my tolerance level drop even lower as I gained more industry experience?

You fall down, and you just get back up and keep walking. If you cannot get back up, you lie down in place for a bit to rest yourself, and then you hit the road again.

It was precisely this mindset that led me to create this book.

Here, I must also offer a special acknowledgement to "Huo Zhengtinghao." Not just because this lavish fellow tossed out four Silver Guilds in one breath to support me, but even more so because the creative concept of this book and the initial plot design of the first volume were actually crafted together by him and me. He is also a veteran World of Warcraft player of many years. When I told him I wanted to start with an Eredar protagonist, he immediately said it would definitely work, adding that while others might not pull it off, I certainly could.

It instantly got my blood pumping.

As I mentioned before, the first volume actually had quite a few plot points that could have been written with a more open-ended development, but old Huo persuaded me otherwise.

Fan fiction is, after all, fan fiction; it needs to follow and respect the logic of the original work. While it is true that appropriate modifications can be made to the main storyline, that does not suit the origin story of the Eredar. It takes place a very long time before the official history, and drastic changes here would directly affect the entire chronicle that follows. This meant that after the first volume, I would have to completely let go and churn out a "semi-original" work.

High difficulty was one aspect; what readers wanted to see was another.

Just imagine, if a piece of fan fiction basically lacked all the classic figures familiar to readers, could it even be called fan fiction?

Moreover, my original work had bombed like a stray dog, proving beyond doubt that I am indeed not adept at building the stories I want to tell. I am far better suited to digging deep into creation within an established framework. If I failed to learn my lesson and messed around like that anyway, I would have deserved to flop into oblivion.

Returning to the topic of pressure.

The second source of pressure was the pacing of the story.

Perhaps due to not writing fan fiction for a long time, the pacing of the first volume—alternating between too fast and too slow—managed to depress even myself. Looking at the chapter comments every day made me increasingly irritated, and before I knew it, I fell into a fairly terrifying state of mental self-consumption, repeating that ailment which every author falls victim to at least once:

Always wanting to satisfy every single reader, always wanting to please everyone.

Yet that is simply impossible!

Tastes differ as much as radishes and cabbages; there simply does not exist a story in this world that everyone loves. Even the Monkey King and Nezha have people who detest them, right? What right does a humble fiction writer like me have?

Once I figured that out, the pacing naturally fell back into place.

I had to write in the manner I was accustomed to and comfortable with. Only by doing so could I ensure I had enough passion for writing, and only thus could I guarantee that a story would proceed to the end according to my own vision.

This meant there would always be reader brothers who would feel uncomfortable midway. It is impossible for any single writing rhythm to satisfy all readers, but that is neither your problem nor mine—it is merely the realistic version of "there is no banquet in this world that never ends."

After a wonderful and harmonious meeting and mutual understanding, perhaps the time has come to say farewell.

There is no need for any sadness whatsoever, because everyone will always meet again in the next book. That feeling of "a gentleman's friendship being as pure as water" and "forgetting one another in the rivers and lakes" is, on the contrary, even more fascinating.

Oh, speaking of mental self-consumption, there is another interesting anecdote to share with you all.

A few days ago, when I went to watch Ne Zha for the second time, I thought I would be able to watch the plot rationally this time around. To my surprise, however, I ended up crying even more intensely and frequently in the cinema than the first time. But strangely enough, after crying my heart out and coming out, my mood suddenly turned for the better, which naturally calls to mind Sheldon's famous quote: a healthy release of emotions contributes to mental well-being and peace.

Yet upon returning home and pondering it further, I suddenly discovered that I seemed to have transformed into some sort of dark creature—much like a mind flayer—relying on draining the more intense and exquisite emotions of the external world to achieve a temporary burst of happiness and satisfaction.

So, could it be that when you all kept calling me a "tentacle monster" before, it wasn't just a joke, but rather a statement of fact?

Hahaha, let's leave the extra chatter at that and talk about the situation of this book.

Since it is Dawn of the Holy Light, it is bound to be a bright and positive story. Beginning with Argus, it will naturally end with Argus. I have even thought of the title for the final volume: let us call it "The Dawn of Argus."

The seeds of change were already planted in the first volume; they will take root and sprout in the second, converge into a vortex in the third, form a storm in the fourth, and thus progress volume by volume until, through the accumulated momentum of destiny, they finally transform into an irresistible undercurrent that ultimately pushes the entire Azerothian sea of stars toward a more mysterious direction.

Additionally, as some observant brothers have noticed, I have reconstructed many characters from the original work based on my own understanding.

Take Kil'jaeden in the first volume, for instance...

I believe that Kil'jaeden ought to be this way. At the very least, in my mind, he should not be a heavily stylized villain. Under what circumstances would a man of conviction permit himself to embrace a dark destiny?

There will be other reconstructed characters appearing later on. Without altering their ultimate fates, I will attempt to infuse them with more emotion and logic, allowing those old friends who accompanied us through more than a decade of wonderful gaming life to possess a different kind of journey under my pen.

Perhaps more brilliant, perhaps more helpless, or perhaps written not quite as well as the original author's work.

Still, change is always a good thing.

Having decided never to dabble in original works again in the future, I must also make a few changes to ensure that I can write more interesting possibilities for those professions and stories I haven't had time to touch yet down the road.

Take Demon Hunters, for example...

If I were to write about Demon Hunters, would I simply have them go on a slaughtering spree alongside Illidan, or remain content merely becoming another of Illidan's little fanboys and fangirls, shrouded in Illidan's shadow from beginning to end without ever carving out a path of their own?

No!

Obviously not.

There are simply too many aspects of Azeroth's story waiting to be mined. The reason fan fiction for this story is so good to write is precisely because the story itself is already outstanding enough.

I am merely fortunate enough to have picked up a few pretty seashells along this beautiful coastline and privileged to share them with kindred spirits like you. The fact that I have been able to achieve some small measure of success has entirely nothing to do with how strong my ability is; it is simply because I was lucky enough to encounter a group of friends willing to listen to me tell a story.

Therefore, I must express my most sincere gratitude to you, my brothers and sisters. Without your tolerance, there would be neither this book nor those stories already completed or yet unwritten.

I have returned to the story of Azeroth. I have ventured out into the world, traveled far and wide across the rivers and lakes, yet failed to find my own path to the heavens. I no longer have the time, energy, and courage to try one more time. I chose to return here, to my own starting point, and back among the brothers and sisters who have always been waiting for me.

I have returned home.

Starting from here, it shall also end here.

It is now two o'clock in the morning on the 18th. When the brothers see this afterword, it should be around eight o'clock. Please patiently wait four hours; fifty chapters will be presented a few minutes after twelve noon.

I am old and no longer as energetic as before. The feat of a hundred chapters is truly difficult to replicate, but I can still do my utmost to offer fifty chapters as a tribute.

I only hope to win a smile from you all.

I love you!

I love you to death!

---驿路羁旅 (Journey Along the Post Road) & 帅犬弗兰克 (Handsome Dog Frank).