Hinterlands is one of the few areas in northern Lordaeron untouched by humans. The Wildhammer dwarves carved out cities in the western Aerie Peak Mountain, while the east is the territory of two troll tribes.
This secluded and fertile land nurtures the gryphon, a spiritual and massive flying creature. The Wildhammer dwarves who settled here became their friends, giving them one of the best aerial forces in Azeroth.
The Wildhammer dwarves and two troll tribes—the Revantusk trolls and the Witherbark trolls—have been vying for more living space in the Hinterlands. The three fight back and forth; sometimes the dwarves fight the trolls, and sometimes the two troll tribes fight each other. But in Seradane, in the northeast, untouched by either of them, lies a secret unknown to most.
Seradane is the name of a hidden and dangerous valley. In the depths of its dense forest stands a giant oak tree a thousand meters tall, its canopy almost as high as the steep mountains that separate the Hinterlands from Darrowmere.
This tree may have existed longer than the history of any known intelligent race in Azeroth.
Because it is called the "Dream Tree," it is an entrance connecting the real world of Azeroth to the Emerald Dream.
The Emerald Dream is a world created by the Titans as a blueprint when they transformed Azeroth.
If the world of Azeroth is regarded as existing data on a computer, then the Emerald Dream is an original backup made by the Titans when they installed the system. When necessary, such as when the system is attacked by a virus or malfunctions, the Titans can use prepared tools to "one-click restore" it.
The observers left by the Titans have been secretly monitoring this world. If they deem it necessary, they will send a message to the Titans of the Pantheon, asking the Titans to "format" the world and use the prepared Emerald Dream to "reinstall the system." At that time, everything in the real world of Azeroth will directly return to its original particle state, and then be reorganized into a brand new Azeroth according to the Emerald Dream.
And the Dream Tree of Seradane is one of the four passages connecting the Emerald Dream and the material world of Azeroth, the other three being in Ashenvale, Feralas, and Duskwood. Of course, now is not the time when the observers believe Azeroth must be formatted, so this is still an unknown secret.
But now, the portal built in front of the Dream Tree tens of thousands of years ago suddenly lit up with a green light—the first time it has functioned in tens of thousands of years—and then a golden light ball shot out from the portal, bouncing down the marble steps with a scream.
"Ouch, my head is spinning! No, I'm going to throw up!"
The light ball disappeared, revealing two figures inside. One was slumped at the bottom of the steps, dazedly holding his head. The other quickly stood up, vigilantly surveying the surroundings—she was wearing a golden armor, with a pair of snow-white wings on her back, and in her hand was a strangely shaped rune sword with a red gem embedded in the rhomboid blade.
Her face was almost completely hidden under her helmet, but her calm, even cold, eyes were enough to dispel anyone's desire to explore her face.
Such a shape is like a legendary angel.
The other was a black-haired youth. He rubbed his forehead and stood up, looking around—dilapidated steps, dense jungle, and towering giant trees behind him—completely unfamiliar!
"Where is this... Let me think... Ashenvale and Duskwood aren't like this, so it's either Feralas or the Hinterlands?" The black-haired youth was a little unsure, but a pair of large gryphons resting on the branches of the Dream Tree quickly confirmed his answer.
"This is Seradane in the Hinterlands! It seems we have indeed come to Azeroth, Kayle, is there anything to eat? I'm so hungry!"
"..." The angel next to him didn't answer, but took out a brightly colored big apple from nowhere and handed it over.
The black-haired youth took the apple and took a bite directly, chewing contentedly, then looked around at the new world, and said triumphantly: "This is the new world we've come to? Haha, finally left that damn place! Azeroth, Aiden is here!"
The angel Kayle glanced at Aiden, who was obviously suffering from chuunibyou, and said nothing.
Aiden, also known as the black-haired youth, was originally a member of the masses on Earth. His two favorite games in his life were World of Warcraft (WOW) and League of Legends (LOL).
(T/N: you can't love both! choose! damn it choose!)
Some time ago, during Christmas, the LOL operator launched a new mode, and you could draw a lottery after playing it. Aiden decisively tried it out, and then went to the lottery page to try his luck—he drew a mysterious key. Usually, this kind of prop is equivalent to a discount coupon, which can be used to buy virtual items in LOL at a discount. It shone with golden light on the page. There were "Use/Give Up" options in the dialog box below.
Aiden decisively clicked Use.
Then a dialog box popped up:
"Hero, the Heart of Valoran is summoning you!"
"Go/Give Up"
New trick?
Aiden didn't think much, and clicked "Go."
So after a burst of dizziness, he embarked on a long road of no return.
After waking up, Aiden found himself in a strange space: he felt his spirit could expand everywhere, and wherever it went, it was as if he was witnessing it firsthand. This space seemed to be filled with green mist, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't there. He could feel his body, yet he felt that his spirit and body were separated.
It was as if his whole being was in a state between dream and wakefulness, reality and illusion, spirit and flesh, mysterious and incredible—then a white-bearded, mentally unstable old man claiming to be Zilean, the Time Keeper, appeared before Aiden, telling him: "You have answered our call, hero! Thank you for your sacrifice for Valoran!"
The mentally unstable old man spouted a lot of crazy nonsense.
Aiden, of course, knew Zilean. The Time Old Man from League of Legends! He thought he must be dreaming, mocking himself for playing LOL too much.
Sometimes, people are like this, aware that they are in a dream, but unable to wake up.
But the Time Keeper then presented a lot of factual evidence to prove that he was not dreaming.
For example, asking him 1000 - 7 = ?
In fact, the process wasn't that harmonious. Because the crazy old man, in order to make him feel pain, made him witness a reindeer walking in the forest with a time bomb hanging on its head. Just like in the game, Aiden saw a countdown virtual clock appear on the reindeer's head, and then after the countdown ended, the reindeer was blown into a pile of minced meat—then a time bomb was hung on his head!
Aiden was scared out of his wits and ran away frantically. He found that there were time bombs everywhere around him, about to finish their countdown, on the branches, on the grass, in the bushes. The sound of explosions in his ears was deafening, and the shockwaves of the explosions, mixed with withered branches and leaves, mud, and gravel, made him disheveled. He was being chased by a hundred multiple rocket launchers, only caring about running for his life!
Aiden didn't know why he was running, because the time bomb on his head only had a 15-second countdown. Listening to the ticking sound like a death knell, he finally shouted, "I believe it!" just as it was about to reach zero—then all the sounds disappeared, and he collapsed on the ground. The crazy old man still appeared in front of him with a kind smile, but no matter how Aiden looked at him, he found this madman's face hateful! Wrap a cloth around his head and he's an otherworld version of Uncle Ben!
… …
Past events were unbearable to recall. Having finally come to the real world from the Emerald Dream, Aiden now found everything much more pleasing to the eye, constantly saying to Kayle: Look how tall that tree is! Look how green that grass is!
Kayle still looked at him calmly, without speaking.
Kayle is a good girl, but she talks too little!
Aiden's initial enthusiasm for arriving in Azeroth gradually faded. Looking at the silent Kayle, he thought for a moment and added in his heart: And she never shows her face! Bad review!
Thinking of Kayle, Aiden couldn't help but think of the reason for his isekai:
The crazy old man Zilean told him that the Valoran continent in the League of Legends background story was not a fictional creation. It actually existed in the real history of the multiverse. However, this world was facing a catastrophe—although the establishment of the Institute of War had resolved most of the conflicts on the Valoran continent, the Rune Lands were still heading towards destruction due to the long-term destruction of magical power and the erosion from the Void.
Therefore, the powerhouses of Valoran united and began to explore new hope in the outer realms.
They used various methods to test and explore new soil suitable for the survival of Valoran civilization, and the game "League of Legends" on Earth was a projection of their consciousness.
Earth itself was also one of the planes they explored.
However, after some argumentation, they gave up the plan to migrate to Earth as a whole.
Because Earth did not have magical energy and corresponding rules, technology reigned supreme here, while the Valoran continent relied more on the rules of magic.
However, they had a new discovery here: another cosmic civilization had also left a projection on Earth in the same way—it was called Azeroth.
In the other party's projected game, they found that this was also a plane where technology and magic intertwined. Many places had similarities with Valoran.
And after a series of verifications, the powerhouses of Valoran believed that Azeroth was the paradise they had been searching for.
So, after many complicated processes, Aiden from Earth, unknowingly, was brought to Azeroth through time and space by the artifact "Heart of Valoran," which was built with all the power of the powerhouses of the Rune Lands.
After recognizing reality, Aiden also asked the crazy old man very seriously why he chose an ordinary person like him. The crazy old man said this at the time:
"You don't have to belittle yourself. Everyone in Valoran believes that you are the only one who can save us."
Aiden instantly felt a lot of pressure—what if he failed? Wouldn't he be screwing over an entire world of people?
Now that he had boarded the one-way ticket to Azeroth, no matter what, he had to work hard. Azeroth, what a wonderful name! He should throw himself into the great cause of changing the world as soon as possible!
"Then, let's take the first step in changing the world!"
Aiden struck a pose of a great man with his hands on his hips, full of vigor, and took a small step forward, "Okay, the first step is done!"