As the host of Pantheon, Atreus has an intimate connection with the celestial constellation of war. He can clearly sense the death of starborn entities, even the complete collapse of a constellation.
He couldn't understand how a Darkin, who even a war star could not kill—leading to the destruction of its physical form—could be defeated by a mere mortal.
The faint remnants of starborn power within him allowed Atreus to perceive that Li Lin's physical body and soul were extraordinarily strong.
Even so, combined with the intricate automated armor—powered by what seemed to be magical energy and reminiscent of the golems guarding the relics of the Solari—it still shouldn't have been enough to triumph over a Darkin capable of slaying a celestial war god.
But when Li Lin demonstrated the optical camouflage state of his colossus—a towering mech over 200 meters tall—it all started to make sense.
Aatrox, who could barely mimic the former divine stance of a celestial, was nothing more than a helpless lamb awaiting slaughter before the towering mech.
Atreus was silent for a long time, his mind completely in a state of "shutdown."
Growing up in the highland valleys of the northern slopes of Mount Targon, Atreus always believed that battle was his life's purpose:
Resisting nomadic raiders, defending his homeland, and eventually joining the Rakkor military order of the Solari faith.
To Atreus, the sacred Mount Targon was everything. He had never considered looking beyond the mountain's peaks—not even to the neighboring Shurima.
This limited worldview meant Atreus had no understanding of the Hextech technology Piltover had developed over the past century. He only knew the city's name through the occasional merchant who came to trade for local specialties.
More than thirty years ago, Atreus and his best friend ascended Mount Targon to fend off raiders. There, Atreus was possessed by the starborn Pantheon, and his consciousness was sealed in a distant corner of his body, leaving him with only vague awareness of the outside world.
Now, standing before Li Lin's futuristic giant mech was like confronting the legendary ascended forms of Shuriman gods.
Especially since it had defeated Aatrox, who had slain a celestial war star.
"Hey, Atreus, where are you planning to go next?"
Li Lin approached the still-dazed Atreus, placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling him back to reality.
"You're not thinking of staying in this harsh desert, are you? Even if the Sun Disc has reawakened the Oasis of Dawn, the waters of life don't flow here."
"I…" Atreus retracted his gaze from the towering mech. "I don't know."
He licked his dry, cracked lips, hesitation written all over his face.
Having learned the ugly truths about the celestial war gods, Atreus found himself bereft of faith, purpose, and the drive to fight.
"Maybe I should return to my tribe," he sighed. "I once thought about becoming a baker, but Iula said I was terrible at it."
At the mention of Iula, Atreus' face softened with fond memories before turning bitter.
"Iula is the wife of my best friend, Pylas. We ascended Mount Targon together, but he didn't survive the climb.
"I, on the other hand, was deemed a failure by Pantheon, a warrior who lost more than he won. It refused to grant me divine power but took over my body, claiming that the revived Darkin was too great a threat for me to handle."
Recalling these painful memories, Atreus clenched his fists tightly around his shield and empty hand before relaxing and sighing.
"Perhaps I should return to Iula's farm…"
His voice choked.
Ever since that fateful parting, he had failed to keep his promise to return Pylas safely. And he hadn't dared to visit Iula since, knowing it wasn't him but Pantheon, the war god, who had returned to the tribe.
Thirty years had passed in the blink of an eye. What had become of Iula now?
Had she remarried and built a new life with a family of courageous warriors?
Or did she still harbor resentment for him, blaming him for leading Pylas to his doom?
Perhaps she had long since succumbed to despair, dying young or perishing in a bandit raid…
The mere thought of these possibilities sent Atreus into a panic.
He truly didn't know how to face Iula, now likely in her fifties.
Li Lin noticed the shift in Atreus' emotions and guessed his thoughts. "You won't know what's become of Iula unless you go and see for yourself."
Atreus took a deep breath of the hot, dry air, steadied his nerves, and looked Li Lin in the eye.
"You're right. At the very least, I must go and see her, even if she doesn't forgive me. I need to deliver my apology, one that's thirty years overdue."
He glanced northwest toward the mountain ranges, then hesitated. "Li Lin, you…"
"I still have pressing matters to attend to," Li Lin said, gesturing to the towering mech behind him. "Aatrox's greatsword is sealed within the mech. I need to exchange it with Emperor Azir."
"Azir?" Atreus was stunned. "Didn't he fall three thousand years ago?"
"He's returned in divine form—just over a year ago."
"This…" Atreus' expression turned complicated. "What will he do with Aatrox?"
"Perhaps find a way to lift his curse and restore his celestial form," Li Lin said.
Seeing the anger beginning to rise in Atreus, Li Lin quickly added, "But that's just my guess. Right now, we need to unite every force we can to face the Void."
The word "Void" wasn't unfamiliar to Atreus.
Legends of the ascended army battling Icathia were deeply ingrained in the lore of Mount Targon, tales he had heard countless times growing up.
"But isn't the Void already sealed?" Atreus asked, puzzled.
"That was only temporary," Li Lin shook his head. "Belveth, a being born from the Void who entered the material realm, devoured the intelligent monstrosities at the southeastern port of Shurima."
"She calls herself the Void Empress. She once threatened me through a girl who lived symbiotically with the Void, saying that I must come to the Belveth port within a year, or she would devour my city."
"Now, only six months remain."
Upon hearing Li Lin's words, Atreus was left speechless. He didn't know whether he should be more shocked by the self-proclaimed "Void Empress," or by the fact that someone—especially a young girl—had actually managed to live symbiotically with the Void.
It was well-known that even the once-immortal divine warriors could be corrupted by the Void, their minds affected.
After a brief pause, Atreus put his helmet back on, grabbing the long spear that had been planted in the rubble and shards of glass and stone.
"Since this 'Belveth' is causing you so much anxiety, it must be far more powerful than the Darkin Aatrox." Atreus gripped his spear tightly, determination rekindling in his eyes.
"You saved my life. If you face trouble, I cannot stand by idly. That is not the tradition of the Rakkor people."
Li Lin raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected his words to shift Atreus' animosity from the superhumans of the original timeline to the Void.
"But that being's power far exceeds that of the Ascendants..."
"As long as you believe in the value of fighting, failure doesn't exist. That's the belief I've always upheld," Atreus replied, tightening his grip on the spear, his left arm straightening as he thrust his clenched fist toward Li Lin.
"I am the tip of the spear. Wherever the spear points, I charge forward, unyielding. The spear will not bend, nor will I. Even when facing an enemy stronger than me, I will fight to the death. Even if the spear falls and I can no longer rise, I will still remain undefeated, spitting blood and cursing my foes!"
His voice carried a hint of the divine might he had once shared with Pantheon, and even Li Lin couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
It wasn't the influence of magic on the mind, but rather the inspiring force of Atreus' mighty aura that stirred Li Lin's blood.
Li Lin extended his left hand, and as their fists collided, a smile spread across his face.
"Since you have such resolve, it's clear that your warrior's spirit hasn't faded. So, I suppose your previous desire to return to a peaceful life and become a baker can no longer be realized."
Before Atreus could respond, Li Lin quickly continued, "Also, my armor can detect that there is still some lingering star spirit power within you. Your body has been altered, and even though Pantheon is dead, you are still not like an ordinary mortal."
"Based on my calculations, you may still have a chance to reactivate the power of the War Star and become Pantheon's successor."
Atreus' previously resolute gaze shifted to one of astonishment upon hearing Li Lin's words. Li Lin was speaking in Shuriman, the main language of Mount Targon. While Atreus could understand each word, the overall meaning still eluded him.
"Activate the power of the War Star again? But I can clearly sense that the War Star is gone forever..."
"What do you mean by that?" Atreus asked, perplexed.
"Exactly what I said." Li Lin chuckled lightly. "I'm very confident about this. As long as you're willing to fight."
Atreus' muscular body tensed, and a flicker of hope ignited in his heart. He had never had the right to wield the power of the War God Pantheon, but now an opportunity lay before him—an opportunity to become the new Pantheon...
"I'm willing!" Atreus shouted, his presence now commanding and unyielding. "What do you want me to do? Shall we begin fighting now?"
"No, of course not now. I already told you, first we need to send Aatrox back to the Sun City."
Atreus' newfound energy faltered slightly, a brief embarrassment flashing in his eyes.
"Didn't you say you were going to find Ioula?" Li Lin snapped his fingers, and to Atreus' shock, a small drone emerged from the nano-machines on Li Lin's arm.
"I'll send this drone with you. Once I finish my business, I'll head to you right away."
...
Fun fact: The weapons of Pantheon's successive bearers were the Starforged Spear of the first host, the Divine Shield of the second host, the Cloak of Night of the third host, and Atreus' New Star Helmet.
(End of Chapter)
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