Encountering Ryze

We got up just as dawn was breaking and headed east, facing the rising sun.

Throughout her journey, Sivir learned from Azir how to control the Ascended Power. Although she ascended earlier, she knew almost nothing about controlling this power.

During their conversation, Azir discovered that this junior's power was no less than his own. He was a powerful being who had ascended for a full ten days, while Sivir had inherited the legacy of the ascended Empress Setaka!

This inherited power not only possesses powerful healing abilities but can also launch mental attacks, which is why she was able to stop Nasus and Renekton from their ascension states, cease their conflict, and heal their wounds.

While Sivir's healing abilities are strong, her offensive capabilities are somewhat lacking, but Khopesh makes up for this.

This Khopesh, like other weapons of the Ascended, was created during the Ascension process. Unlike other weapons, it does not disappear when the Ascended dies, and it can counter other weapons!

It was precisely because of this that Shetaka became the Ascended Empress, and the other Ascended both admired and feared her.

After Shetaka's death, other Ascended also tried to use Khopesh, but they could only use it as an ordinary weapon and could not unleash its power, so it was later sealed in a tomb.

Sivir's encounter with Khopesh was purely coincidental, but this meeting was predestined. Now that I think about it, even her ascension process was similar to Shetaka's.

When she was critically injured and on the verge of death, she was chosen by the power of the sun and ascended to heaven without any ceremony. If it weren't for Azir, she could have easily claimed to be the reincarnation of Shetaka and thus inherited the throne.

We chatted and walked, and before I knew it, I saw a Desert Giant Beast coming towards us in the distance.

In places like this, it's rare to see people traveling alone; it's usually caravans that choose these mounts for their convenience in transporting goods.

As I got closer, I discovered that there were two people sitting on the back of the giant beast. Because of the height, I couldn't see their faces clearly, but I could tell from their attire that they were two mages.

Just as we were about to pass by, the giant beast suddenly stopped, and one of its members greeted us:

"Long time no see, you two children."

"It's that uncle!" Riven shouted.

That's when it dawned on me, that was Ryze's voice!

It seems the two kids he was referring to were Riven and me. I had met him briefly when we crossed the Laos River last time, and I never expected to see him again in Shurima.

He was shirtless in the frigid far north, but in the sweltering Shurima, he donned a long robe. What kind of technique was he practicing?

I was about to go over and greet him when Kled stopped me, "Be careful of Yasuo! His aura is incredibly strong; even I feel a bit overwhelmed!"

"Don't worry, he's not our enemy; on the contrary, he's helped us."

"This uncle isn't a bad person. When Yasuo and I were traveling in the far north, he was the one who helped us cross the Laos River."

Riven and I arrived at the foot of the giant beast, but we didn't know how to get up. Just then, Ryze threw down a rope ladder.

Climbing the behemoth's body was like climbing a mountain, and the behemoth's back was as broad as the flat ground at the top of a mountain. Ryze and his companion sat cross-legged on the neck, like two Daoist masters.

His companion appeared to be a woman, dressed in the same robe as him, with only her eyes, hands, and feet visible, making it impossible to discern her features.

"It seems you've told me the same thing—you haven't stopped exploring, only your strength hasn't improved much, and you've gained some more heat within your bodies."

"You're amazing, uncle! You know everything. Our improvement isn't that much. Could you lend a hand?"

Riven wasn't shy at all and immediately wanted to learn a few tricks from Ryze; actually, I had the same idea.

I've always thought I was pretty capable. I had many lucky encounters, always had experts helping me, and could handle enemies with ease. I could even influence the course of war. But everything changed after I met Evelynn.

Neither Jinx, whom I encountered on my Piltover journey, nor the undead army I faced during the Shadow Isles rampage, were opponents I could easily handle.

After arriving in Shurima and witnessing the Ascended, the difference in strength became even more apparent, not to mention the Void Creatures.

If things continue like this, how much can I contribute if a disaster suddenly breaks out? I guess Riven has the same thought as me, which is why she sought help from Ryze.

Ryze chuckled, "You can't learn my magic in a short time, and besides, I don't have the time. But I can give you a suggestion."

"What suggestion?" Riven excitedly, moving closer to Ryze.

"Separate."

"Separate?"

"Yes, you two can't always be together. Your similar experiences and mutual affection are hindering your growth."

Riven's smile gradually froze on her face. She hadn't expected Ryze to say something like that. Seeing that something was wrong, I quickly interrupted:

"If we hadn't always been together, helping and supporting each other, we probably wouldn't have reached our current strength. This is our shared motivation, not an obstacle."

"Well, you might be right. I'm just offering a suggestion from my perspective."

"By the way, Archmage Ryze, we crossed the Laos River with your help and met quite a few people along the way, including the Yara tribe."

I tried to change the subject, but forgot that he had never told us his name: "You know my name is Ryze?"

"Uh... With your strength, legends about you are everywhere; you can find out with just a little inquiry."

"Hehe, okay." Ryze could tell he didn't believe her, but he didn't press the matter.

"Oh right, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Yasuo, and this is Riven..."

"No need, I can't remember so many names, I've almost forgotten even my own. You all continue your journey, I should go too."

Are you collecting World Rune?

"Oh? The people from that northern tribe told you?"

I wasn't actually interested in his collection of World Rune, but things changed after I learned about the existence of the Void.

I wonder if Ryze's collection of World Rune is also a way to deal with the calamity from the Void, just like us. If he's also a Dreamer, we can't miss out.

"Yes, the Yara people say you stole the World Rune they depended on for survival, and they were almost killed by the Trolls for it."

"That was close. It seems you guys arrived just in time and resolved the matter?"

"Yes, I'd like to know why you collect World Rune?"

"The World Rune contain immense energy; I will use them to ward off the calamity, a calamity powerful enough to destroy Runeterra."

Hearing him say that made me even more convinced that he was the one who experienced the dream! I quickly described the dream to him.

I thought he would be very excited or at least very interested after hearing it, but the result surprised me:

I didn't have that dream.