Flame Rune

Ryze said he wasn't strong enough and needed to find a friend for help, but he couldn't remember his friend's exact location, only that it was in an ancient temple on the west coast. 👺✊ 🎀👌

So we headed north along the west coast, searching as we went, until we finally found the temple at the foot of a cliff at dusk.

The temple was not large and had collapsed, with only a few broken stone pillars standing on the ground, making it completely uninhabitable!

"Your friend hasn't already left, Archmage? There's nobody here!"

"Oh, I didn't expect it to have collapsed. But it's alright, I can sense he's still here, it's just... it seems something went wrong."

We followed Ryze to the dilapidated ruins of the temple. He looked around, then reached out and touched one of the broken walls. Suddenly, a blurred space appeared, like a portal!

He and his companion went in first, then beckoned Varus and me to follow. Once inside, we discovered another world!

At first, everything was pitch black and I couldn't see anything. I just felt extremely hot, even hotter than the Shurima desert during the day. The air was thick with the smell of ashes, as if a huge fire had just taken place.

After a while, I finally saw what this place looked like: a large, empty house.

The walls were pitch black, and the dust on the ground was piled up like a thick layer of snow. It felt soft underfoot, and if you walked too fast, it would kick up dust that choked your nose.

"It looks like there's been a huge fire here, your friend..." Seeing everything in the house burned to a crisp, I don't think anyone could have survived.

"Sigh, it's all my fault for trusting him too much."

After Ryze finished speaking, the woman next to him used magic to illuminate the room, and only then did I realize that this place had once been a temple. In addition to the strange patterns carved on the walls, there were also many sacrificial items.

I used the Wind Force to clean the house, otherwise it would be impossible to walk. Just as everything was gradually becoming clear, I suddenly noticed someone sitting in the corner!

The man was charred beyond recognition; he was huddled in a corner, hugging his legs, looking very pitiful. He must be Ryze's friend.

Just as I was about to walk over, Ryze suddenly stopped me. "If you don't want to be burned to ashes, you'd better not go over there."

What do you mean? Is this your friend?

"It used to be, but I'm not sure now."

Ryze's words were ambiguous. What does "uncertain now" mean? Can a dead person express their stance?

Before I could ask again, Ryze cautiously walked towards the corner of the wall. I thought he was going to get closer to the charred man, but he actually took a liking to the red stone in his hand.

Before Ryze could even take it, the person suddenly woke up and casually unleashed a powerful ball of flame!

Ryze quickly retreated, and just then, the person in the corner stood up, engulfed in flames. Could it be Fireman?

"You've finally come, you traitor!"

"I'm here to retrieve the rune. Leave it to me, Kegan."

"Don't call me that name anymore. I am Brand now, the Vengeful Flame burns through everything!"

It really is Fireman! And the red stone in his hand is actually World Rune! But didn't Ryze get the Flame Rune from the Yara tribe in Freljord? Why is there another one here?

As I was pondering these questions, Brand launched another attack, targeting not only Ryze but also us.

I used a wind wall to block the raging flames, but I couldn't lower the temperature here. The Gale Force couldn't be condensed under these conditions; the influence of the Flame Rune was too strong!

Fortunately, my body is strong, and with the Fire Dragon's Fang constantly absorbing the heat from my body, I barely managed to withstand it. Varus's situation was similar to mine; his Ascended Body could also resist the heat, but he was still parched from the heat.

The woman who came with Ryze was much more relaxed. She didn't care about the high temperature around her at all. Her long robe was constantly swaying in the heat, as if she were in the wind.

I have no idea who she is. She didn't utter a sound the whole way, not even a cough. If I hadn't clearly felt her heartbeat and breathing, I would have thought she was a puppet.

The magical clash between Ryze and Brand was terrifying; one was a supreme Archmage, and the other unleashed world-destroying energy through Flame Rune.

However, this temple was never destroyed. I think it must be some kind of magical barrier; a physical building would have collapsed long ago.

I don't care how long they fight, but I can't take it anymore, not only because of the rising temperature, but also because of the surge of magical energy.

"Archmage, you must find a way to control him quickly, or at least let us out! We're going to be roasted alive at this rate!"

"Please help them," Ryze said to the woman.

She reached out her hand when she heard Ryze's words, and then a ball of green energy enveloped us, which felt very comfortable!

Birds of a feather flock together. Ryze is so powerful, and his companions are just as powerful, easily resisting the heat. Even gods aren't that strong!

Of course, it's also possible that she used some special method and happened to be immune to flames.

"Kegan, wake up! You can't control the power of the World Rune. If this continues, you'll be destroyed!"

"You hypocrite, why pretend to be a good person now that things have come to this? I've ended up like this because of you!"

"Please stop first, then we can talk, okay?"

"I won't stop until I burn you to death!"

"Ugh, why did you force me to do this!"

As Ryze finished speaking, his aura surged, and even through his white robe, one could see the blue-purple light emanating from his body, especially the marks on his skin, which were exceptionally clear!

He raised his hand, and a cylindrical halo appeared around Brand, imprisoning him!

Then Ryze released balls of energy from his palms, which made Brand howl in pain until he had no strength left to struggle.

"I'm sorry, Kegan, I have to do this." Ryze reached for the Flame Rune.

"Hahaha, then let's all die here together!" Brand laughed maniacally a few times before suddenly uttering these words.

Ryze knew he wanted to die together with her, so he quickly grabbed the Flame Rune and ran back. At this moment, the surrounding heat wave became extremely violent, even emitting thunderous roars, which dispelled the woman's green energy!

The instant the green energy disappeared, I felt as if my skin was on fire; it was extremely painful!

Just then, we were enveloped in blue light, and the surrounding scenery changed, returning us to the ruins of the temple we had been on before.

I know this is Ryze's Teleportation; he saved me like this once before in the Laos River.

Fortunately, we got there in time; otherwise, I'm sure I would have been burned alive if I had stayed inside any longer!