Chapter 168: Charikar, the former glory of Shurima
Seeing this, the audience in front of the screen all understood Tayanali’s so-called plan very clearly.

He tried to convince these darkspawn who were fighting each other by talking about their glorious past. He hoped that the time when they had fought side by side could restore their dignity and pride.

He hoped they could still be called God Warriors!

"But that's impossible!"

During the commentary, Jiang Wen shook his head and sighed. He expressed the thoughts of all the audience.

Just like what Nasus said: Perhaps the decline of Shurima is inevitable.

"From the moment these god warriors chose to fight each other for their own ambitions and desires!"

“Shurima no longer exists. The God-Warriors no longer exist.”

"The only ones that exist are the Darkspawn!"

This is just like Xerath. From the moment Xerath learned dark magic, his fate was determined!
Because their original intention has changed!
Xerath's purpose in learning knowledge was no longer to abolish Shurima's slavery system, but for his ambition.

The same is true for these god warriors. They betrayed the country they were supposed to protect and also betrayed themselves!
The audience who watched the entire event outside the screen were extremely clear about this!

Only Tayanali, he didn't know.

But it is also possible that he was just deceived by Maisha, because Maisha was also very clear about this.

……

On the big screen, Tayanali is still continuing his tirade!
Tayanali turned and extended a hand to another compatriot, Syphax.

“I never speak of that time,” Syphax said, his eyes all shrouded in smoke. “Seven thousand Shuriman’s Golden Warriors died on that red beach. Only you and I made it back alive.”

"It is true that we paid a huge price for that victory, our blood, our flesh, and our souls. But what an unforgettable battle it was! Mortals named that ocean after our feat that day."

Syphax shook his head. "Your memory omits the horrors we saw that day, Ta'anari. Spare me your grandiloquence. I cannot hear them. Whenever I close my eyes, I hear only the screams of the dead. I remember them being killed by those...things. More than killed, they were obliterated, their very souls devoured. So spare me these embellished memories. I do not recognize them."

“Yes, those were bloody days, and yes, it may seem that I am embellishing history,” Ta’anari said. “But I am talking about how the world should understand and remember us. As great heroes, as pioneers who roamed the world, led invincible armies, served the eternal emperor, and—”

"But Azir did not live forever," Xu Yuyan interrupted, slamming his great long-handled axe into the ground, shattering thick glass. "He died, and without him, the Sunblood fell into war. All that was is now dust. Nothing is left. If you think that reminding us of our golden days will end our current strife, then you are more insane than any of us."

"Recalling who we once were is only one of the reasons I have gathered you here," Ta'anari said. "Then make your intentions clear, or we will go back to killing each other."

Tayanali tried to straighten himself, but his twisted spine made a sound like a bent wooden chair. Severe pain rushed up his spine, as if it was torn apart by the claws of a void creature.

"Old wounds never heal, Xu Yuyan," he said. "They always come back. Do you remember, by the Kohali River?"

"Of course I remember, you cripple," Xu Yuyan roared. "I remember every blow since I stepped out of the light of the Great Disc. Everyone here can tell of the great feats they have accomplished with their former brothers and sisters, as well as the despicable betrayals."

"You and I, we held the line where Icathia stood. You saved my life more than once."

"Those old days are gone now," Serbotaru said, his words garbled, his jaw becoming more and more deformed. "And they must remain in the past."

"Why?" Tayanali demanded, finding a way in. "Why must we stay in the past? Aren't we the Ascended of Shurima? We are not just avatars of the gods, we are the gods! We decide what the world should be like! Any one of us could rule the world, but instead we get caught up in petty quarrels, waging wars for reasons that no longer make sense, reasons few of us can even articulate."

He paused, and began to speak in a threatening and judgmental tone without even realizing it.

"Gigantus, you believe we must rebuild from the ashes and continue Azir's legacy. Ennakai, you seek to build a new kingdom. Valieva, you and your brother see the gleam of murder in every eye, so you must avenge any slight, real or imagined."

"Oh, none of it is unreal," she hissed, purple veins showing through her plaster-white skin, several poisonous spines protruding from behind her shoulders.

Ta'anari ignored her. "Each of us saw a different path to the future, but instead of harnessing our solar bloodline and working together to accomplish anything holy, we fought like scavengers over a fresh carcass. Yes, Setaka has been gone for too long, and we will never see her again. Yes, Azir was betrayed, and our empire is in ruins, our people are displaced and fearful. Shurima needs a strong leader to lead it back, but there is no leader left. Only we, a group of broken monsters, have gazed into the abyss for too long, and the fear of the abyss has twisted our minds, leading us to madness and self-destruction."

"So instead of rebuilding, we began fighting over the shattered carcass of our empire, burning the rest of the world to ash. Even now, we may be wiping out all life faster than we can find our common purpose. Individually, we are powerful, but together? We can do anything. Anything. If we so choose, we can even breach the gates of heaven, abandon this pale world, and forge a new empire beyond the stars!"

Tayanali's voice weakened, unable to bear the burden of regret.

"But we can't. We are acting like lesser beings. We are fighting each other in a war that is many times longer than any war we have ever fought before."

Then his voice grew louder and soared to the farthest reaches of the amphitheater.

"But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a chance of a turnaround."

Tayanali reached over his shoulder and back with one hand, untied the charikar, and surprised whispers spread like a wave through the amphitheater. Everyone recognized this ancient weapon.

(End of this chapter)