Li Lin had originally planned to have the AI send over a set of universal nanite armor capable of teleporting, to directly transport Atreus to his destination. However, Atreus refused. According to him, he hadn't felt his body in this world for over thirty years, and he wanted to take this not-too-long journey to reacquaint himself with the body that had been altered by celestial magic. Li Lin didn't insist. After bidding him farewell, he returned to the cockpit of the Behemoth Mecha and instructed the AI to activate the optical camouflage mode, sending the mecha back to the outskirts of Sun City.
The massive metal box, engraved with sealing runes resembling an oversized version of the Hextech treasure chest, was unloaded from the mecha. As the box was moved, Li Lin kept a watchful eye on the area surrounding Sun City. He sensed the teleportation magic, and soon Azir and Nasus arrived, riding the Divine Emperor's Seat, and quickly reached the outskirts of the city.
"Your Majesty, Grand Scholar," Li Lin greeted, first nodding at Azir and then turning his gaze toward Nasus.
Nasus' eyes gleamed with crimson light, and his jackal-like face showed a hint of surprise. "You can use sealing magic?" he asked.
"I have a fair amount of research in rune magic," Li Lin replied, his thoughts shifting. He activated the seal on the box, and mechanical parts began moving rapidly. Countless blue runes faded away as the box opened, releasing a thick scent of blood into the air.
Nasus frowned slightly, while Azir, whose face had been entirely remade with astral magic and star iron, showed no visible expression. Li Lin then gestured, using magnetism to lift the giant sword of Aatrox, which pulsed like a heart. Azir and Nasus were no strangers to Li Lin's many unusual abilities and did not inquire about how he could control the massive sword without magic. Their focus was instead on the sword's current form.
Azir remained silent for a long time. Though Li Lin couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, the way Azir's claws tightly gripped his scepter revealed that his mood was far from pleasant. Perhaps it was the anger at how Aatrox had fallen so low, or perhaps it was the sorrow of once protecting the world only for it to fall into such a state.
Nasus, sensing Azir's change in mood, immediately knelt, his left leg bent and right leg touching the ground, placing his battle axe on the earth. He crossed his hands over his chest and bowed his head.
"Your Majesty, this is my failure. I was unable to guide the Ascended to continue aiding your bloodline after Shurima's fall."
"No, it is not your fault. Rise," Azir said, his chest swelling as he took a deep breath.
What Azir didn't know was that Nasus had secretly assisted the previous Twilight Star Spirit, Myisha, in finding the Ascended Warrior Setaka's cross-blade, the Chalikar, and had used it to channel celestial power. This power dissipated the divine energy of the Ascended, transforming them into mere mortals.
Another group of Darkin had been sealed by Myisha's twisted humor, tormenting them for over a thousand years. But since Nasus had sealed his brother, Renekton, together with Xerath in the Imperial Tomb, he had become reclusive, no longer caring for the outside world. He was unaware that the darkin's suffering was partially linked to him.
"You lost Renekton then. You didn't know I still had other bloodlines. The fall of the Celestial Warriors to become darkin was entirely their own doing," Azir said, his eyes darkening.
With these words, he controlled the sand to lift Aatrox' sword, taking over the manipulation from Li Lin. The sand passed over the sword, its crimson hue flaring up as an aura of rage and bloodlust radiated from the blade. A faint sand-colored magical mist formed over its surface, resembling something from the depths of the abyss.
"It is evident this is the power of the Star Spirit," Azir said. "The Twilight Star Spirit, as recorded in the texts of Shurima, was the one who guided Setaka and the 'Gessen' people to establish the first Sun Disc at Nerimazeth, ascending to become Celestial Warriors."
The Gessen people were part of the ancient giant race, who had once offered a cursed crown with star magic to the Starforged Dragon King, Aurelion Sol, long before the rise of the Twilight Star Spirit.
"Twilight Star Spirit..." Nasus hesitated for a moment, "I once met a strange little girl who called herself Myisha. She was serving as the emissary of Tayanali at the time."
Tayanali was a Celestial Warrior who resembled a cheetah. After his fall, he became a bloodthirsty conqueror, subjugating nations that dared to resist him and forcing their kings and queens to serve as his 'emissaries,' protecting and assisting him in his violent endeavors. Though the Ascended did not need bodyguards, they served as symbols of Tayanali's divine will, showcasing his ability to bring proud, deadly warriors under his command.
"Myisha had two different colored eyes: one sapphire blue, the other deep purple like twilight. I remember her very clearly, for the wisdom in her eyes far surpassed her age—indeed, it was greater than mine," Nasus said, his face showing clear signs of contemplation.
"I saw Tayanali with her. He was wary of her, yet always kept her by his side, even tolerating her rashness and arrogance."
Though the Shuriman texts had some mention of the Twilight Star Spirit, there were only brief notes, mostly indicating that the Spirit had taught humanity how to ascend. Even Nasus, who was familiar with all of Shurima's ancient records, knew little about Myisha.
"She was the human host of the Twilight Star Spirit," Li Lin said, drawing the attention of both Azir and Nasus.
"How do you know this?" Azir asked.
"I knew the current host of the Twilight Star Soul. Her name is Zoe, and she is... one of my lovers," Li Lin said, speaking casually as if it were nothing.
Azir: "..."
Nasus: "!!!"
Even the host of the Star Spirit—someone who inherited such great power—could be wooed by him? What else was beyond Li Lin's abilities?
After a long pause, Azir finally spoke again, "I recall that you also know the winged sisters of Mount Targon, the ones with opposite-colored wings?"
"They are the hosts of the Justice Star Spirit, the protectors of Demacia's Winged Guardians," Li Lin explained. "When I visited Demacia, Zoe introduced me to the younger sister, Morgana. Later, when the elder sister, Kayle, returned to the capital, I helped resolve the centuries-old conflict between them."
"Well then, if Myisha was the host of the Twilight Star Spirit, it makes sense that Tayanali came to me seeking the Valkyrie's Chalicar. It must have been Myisha who manipulated him," Azir concluded.
Nassus's voice was low and solemn. He didn't know how to evaluate this, so he decided to suppress the urge to "complain" in his mind and skipped over the topic. Suddenly, as if he had just thought of something, his eyes widened slightly. "So, are you saying that the method to seal the Darkin was taught to humans by the Targon Star Spirits, using the very Chalicar bestowed upon the Valkyrie by the Star Spirits themselves?!" The Grand Scholar murmured absentmindedly, realizing what he had just said.
However, even so, he showed no signs of regret. His former brethren had all fallen, wreaking havoc upon both Shurima and Valoran, nearly plunging the entire world into chaotic wars. Whether they were killed or sealed, it was all their fault.
Now that the God-King had returned to Shurima, and with the process of the Ascension ritual still disrupted since the fall of the Sun Disc, there was no immediate way to expand the Ascended order. To bring the empire back to prosperity and face the Void's threats, the power of these fallen Darkin was indispensable. Despite their past, when they ruled over their own territories and fought each other, the Desert Emperor had now reappeared in the form of a divine being. They were supposed to pick up their faith and swear loyalty to the God-King once again to redeem their sins.
Nasus turned to Azir. "Can you lift this seal?"
Azir shook his head. "I'm powerless."
"Once, most of the Celestial warriors' weapons, while special, were not indestructible. But now, this sword that contains Aatrox's essence—no matter how much I use the Sun Disc to attack it, I cannot damage it in the slightest."
"Hmm…" Nasus let out a heavy sigh, realizing the issue at hand. "This is Celestial magic. Unless they actively teach us, we cannot comprehend it ourselves."
"Perhaps Zoe can help." At that moment, Li Lin interjected. "She should know how to use the Chalicar to lift the Darkin's seal. I can contact her."
He then took out the magical orb Zoe had given him, crushing it without hesitation. As the glass-like orb shattered into particles of starlight and vanished into the air, Li Lin had intended to warn Azir and Nasus that Zoe was unreliable and might take forever to arrive.
But before he could speak, a portal of golden light suddenly appeared beside him, distorting the surrounding environment. Immediately, a young girl with an excited smile emerged from the portal and threw herself into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her long, perfect legs gripped his waist. Her feet, adorned in stockings, curled and uncurled in excitement, showing her joy and high spirits.
"—Oh oh oh! Darling, you finally remembered me! I thought you'd forgotten about me!" Zoe exclaimed, kissing him briefly on the lips, then attempting to deepen the kiss. However, Li Lin quickly raised his finger and pressed it against her pink lips.
"Stop! There are others here."
"—Mmm!" Zoe pouted slightly, making a discontented noise as her gaze shifted to the others. Upon seeing Azir and Nassus, the frustration in her heart instantly cleared.
"Wow! A little dog and a pigeon in golden armor!"
"Shut up!" Li Lin quickly covered Zoe's mouth, but she gently bit his hand. Realizing this method wasn't working, Zoe's multi-colored eyes spun, and she had a sudden idea. With a warm lick, her tongue brushed over his palm.
"Ah, what are you doing?" Li Lin exclaimed as he pulled his hand back. Zoe shot him a sideways glance.
"Hmph~~ The space dog doesn't mind me calling him that. What's wrong with calling an Ascendant the same?" Zoe grumbled.
Due to her history with Aurelion Sol, she didn't have a good opinion of Ascendants, so her tone was less than friendly. A deep, awkward flush spread across Li Lin's face as he looked apologetically at Azir and Nassus.
"Zoe has always been like this. I apologize to both of you."
"Hahaha, such an innocent little girl, no harm done," Azir waved off, unconcerned with the "offense." After all, he sometimes joked with those close to him and referred to himself as a "pigeon" rather than an eagle.
Nasus, however, was deep in thought, not entirely understanding why the current Targon Star Spirit harbored such resentment toward Ascendants.
"Your name is Zoe, right?" Nasus asked.
Zoe, still clinging to Li Lin, tilted her chin slightly and turned her face away. "Yes, and what about it?"
"You seem to hold a lot of hostility toward us."
"Because you all took my space dog's power! He's my best friend… uh, no, wait, he's one of my best friends." She tightened her hold on Li Lin.
Having heard "space dog" for the second time, both Azir and Nasus exchanged a glance, confusion evident in their minds.
"Miss Zoe, could you explain what you mean by 'space dog'? How did we 'bully' him?" Azir asked.
Li Lin glanced at Zoe's side profile, her lip bitten as she considered how to respond. At this point, it was better to let Azir know about the Ascendant's power source—the Starforger Aurelion Sol—than keep him in the dark.
Zoe, dissatisfied, huffed lightly. "Of course, you all drained his power and created the Ascendants!"
(End of Chapter)
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