Reclaiming Lost Ground
After Sarah left, Udyr told me about Winter's Claw. He was almost killed by Volibear in the forest and didn't know what happened afterward.
I told him about the aftermath of the war, and I specifically mentioned the berserker. He seemed a little sad, but didn't say much.
Udyr was overjoyed to hear that Sejuani had awakened her Blood of Ice. His biggest worry was the safety of Winter's Claw, but now that the war was over and his leader had become stronger, there was nothing to worry about.
A Bing still doesn't talk much and always keeps her distance from Alistar; it seems these two rivals haven't made up yet.
Alistar is stronger than before. He was originally Spirit Walker trained by Udyr, and after spending this time together, he must have become even more proficient.
After many arduous days, all the matters on my mind were resolved, but an even more serious issue arose: dealing with the invasion of the Shadow Isles.
Tam told us about the results of his investigation: the Shadow Isles had reappeared after disappearing for hundreds of years, and were surrounded by a powerful mist that made them difficult to approach.
Udyr once disguised himself as a fish spirit to try and explore the island, but he was forced to retreat before even reaching it, as the heavy aura of death made it difficult for him to continue.
So far, apart from Gangplank encountering the undead, no one else has been heard of having a similar experience. Of course, it's also possible that those who encountered the undead are no longer here.
"You mean something big is going to happen in Bilgewater? Are you referring to the invasion of the Shadow Isles?"
"I didn't initially suspect it was the Shadow Isles. A friend told me there was an ominous aura there, so I came to investigate, but I never imagined things would be so serious."
"We received a warning before coming here, telling us to be careful in the harbor. We don't know if that danger has passed; if not, it must be this."
"Who gave you this warning?"
"LeBlanc, but she said someone else told her about it, though she didn't say who."
"So she's still alive? She seems to have become quite an accomplished person."
"Yes, they're currently active in the Immortal Fortress, but their purpose is unknown."
"That's hard to say. She used to be a politician, and later focused on studying magic. For a mortal to live for so many years, there must be unfulfilled wishes. Be careful."
Tam really is a know-it-all; he knows everything.
What should we do next?
"You stay here and get through this disaster with me. First, help Gangplank pacify this area. If we can't hold out, a stable rear will be crucial."
"Then let's split into three groups. Riven and I will head north; we have motorcycles, so we'll be there quickly. You guys..."
"You all go to the east to find Gangplank. I'll take A Bing to the north, and Udyr and Alistar to the west. If they obey, all the better. If they don't, don't go on a killing spree. Just intimidate them and wait for Gangplank to subdue them."
After discussing it, we each got to work. I thought Riven and I would be faster with our motorcycles, but Tam Kench disappeared after swallowing A Bing. Udyr, in his eagle form, was just as fast, carrying Alistar.
Gangplank and the Twelve Priests left in a speedboat, and I caught up with them when they were almost at the eastern base.
Seeing us catch up, Gangplank immediately realized we were there to help. "Are you here to help because you're worried I won't be able to control my men?"
"The situation is urgent, and there's no time for you to slowly recover your lost ground. We just want to save some time, as a precaution against unforeseen circumstances."
When we arrived at the eastern base, many of the lower-ranking soldiers didn't recognize Gangplank, but they knew he was a priest of the Temple of Bahru. They were all surprised to learn that the leader was their own captain.
Unfortunately, the main force of the eastern fleet is not here; they have not yet returned from their expedition against the Misfortune Fleet.
We continued north, and to speed up the boat, I found a rope to pull them along, which made Gangplank very envious; Hextech Motorcycle, anyone would like it.
Halfway there, we encountered a fleet of ships returning from the East Passage. The Channel Clearers were initially surprised to see Gangplank, but then invited him onto their ship.
At first, he was skeptical, but after years of getting along, he could tell the difference between truth and falsehood. Without saying a word, the mediator read the oath again, pledging allegiance to Gangplank.
He had originally planned to travel north with us, because the dredging agents there were treacherous and might start a war, but Gangplank only sent him back to the east to stabilize the situation and pave the way for his return.
Next, we encountered a fleet of Sea Worm, who were not so easy to deal with and immediately used cannon fire.
I used the strong wind to resist the impact and continued to move forward. In the distance, I saw a small boat fearlessly heading towards several giant ships, as if it were an egg hitting a rock.
As it turned out, we were not eggs, but diamonds; we tore a hole in the fleet, got close to their flagship, and then jumped aboard.
The captain of the Sea Worm fleet was a hot-tempered young man who led his crew in firing wildly at us.
I created a wall of wind, easily blocking the bullets, and discovered that the priests were not afraid of these attacks.
They rushed forward and captured the commander. Gangplank easily took down the Sea Worm captain. It was then that I remembered they had all mastered water magic, making their defensive capabilities top-notch.
No matter how Gangplank tried to persuade him, the Sea Worm Captain refused to back down, insisting that Gangplank was dead and that it was time for everyone to fight for supremacy again.
Finally, Gangplank lost his temper, beheaded him, and threw the body into the sea.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; his men surrendered one after another, swearing allegiance to Gangplank. Such a fierce captain with a bunch of cowardly subordinates is bound to fail.
Heading north, we finally reached the north before nightfall. Gangplank didn't rush to find the road clearers, but instead landed and headed to a nearby town to gather information.
Along the way, we heard many stories of the disbandment of the Misfortune Fleet, and many people said that the Daughter of Death's northern fleet had absorbed the old Misfortune forces, and that the Unshake was preparing to establish himself as captain and dominate the Bilgewater.
Gangplank naturally wouldn't believe that he sent his most trusted confidant to the far north precisely to prevent him from declaring himself king.
We continued deeper into the town, and when we reached the center, I suddenly felt a sense of familiarity; this was the place where Sarah and I had met.
The towns here all look very similar; if it weren't for the bombed-out tavern, it would be hard to tell them apart.
However, the last operation was very well concealed, but this time it was different. We were alright, but the twelve priests were too conspicuous and were recognized very quickly.