The Heart of the Land

Fiora and I returned to camp when it was already daylight. She ate a quick breakfast and then wanted to fight me. I was equally eager to try; I always seemed to improve after each sparring session with her. 🐯☹ 🎁♣

In matters of the heart, she is a great source of inspiration; in matters of swordsmanship, she is an excellent mentor.

Just as I told Jax before we came here, her swordsmanship is exquisite and flawless.

Compared to Jax's seamless integration with various weapons, Fiora's swordsmanship is more aesthetically pleasing; she has always been a thorny red rose.

Of course, my abilities are not comparable to what they were before.

Fiora was quite surprised to see that I had not used either Laurent Swordplay or Wind Sword Technique, but she was soon delighted.

Because she knew that I was no longer the same person I used to be.

She still used Laurent Fencing Technique, precise and elegant, sharp and powerful.

After being instructed by Jax, he reduced his fancy moves and focused every strike on vital points, turning them into pure killing blows!

I handled things carefully, gradually entering a state of complete control, narrowly escaping countless dangerous situations.

In the battle of offense and defense, neither of us could defeat the other, and there was no doubt that Fiora's swordsmanship had reached its peak.

After what seemed like an eternity, just when I thought the match would end in a draw, Fiora unleashed an incredible move— the Blade Waltz!

Jax had advised her against using this move before, because it was extremely risky against truly skilled opponents, yet she had used it again!

This time, I'm no longer panicked by her disappearance. On the contrary, I can still sense a trace of her, which is enough to prepare a response!

A moment later she reappeared, and I parried her sword steadily. But before I could even feel happy, I discovered that my left arm had been cut.

Although the injury was insignificant, it still proved that she was more skilled, and the people around her cheered.

Garen was the first to express his admiration. "Yasuo, have you met another expert? How have you improved so quickly? I couldn't even last three moves against Fiora."

"I did encounter a formidable opponent, but he was an enemy. I gained some inspiration during my battle with Aatrox."

Jarvan, spear in hand, was eager to try, but ultimately gave up. "No, I'm no match for you. Let's not make a fool of ourselves, haha..."

Jergente disappointed, for only by defeating Fiora could he have a chance to win her heart.

"Alas, judging from this, I'm afraid I'll never have another chance to defeat Lady Fiora."

Huo Su patted him on the shoulder. "Don't be discouraged, Jergente. This isn't like you. Aren't you always the type to rise to the challenge?"

Finally Jax gave an objective assessment of the two of them: Fiora was better, but not because of her swordsmanship, but because of her mentality.

He also spoke highly of the Blade Waltz: "I initially thought this move was full of flaws, but I never expected you to be able to perfectly cover up its weaknesses and perform it to this level. It's truly admirable!"

"Master Jax, you flatter me. You are the true master. I also hope you will continue to guide me. Let's stay here with Yasuo for today."

Jax readily agreed, once again taking on the role of mentor, providing guidance to Jarvan, Garen, Jergente, and even Huo Su.

The day passed quickly, and what is usually the most pleasant time of evening is now the most tense moment.

Just as we were focused on guarding against the Void, Swain's Black Ravens brought another message:

All tribes have completed their retreat. There's no need to hold the passes and crossroads any longer. Retreat to the Heart of the Land as soon as possible to begin defense.

This is good news. With the help of the defense line, everyone can save a lot of effort, and it is also easier for all parties to coordinate. There is no need to cross mountains and valleys anymore.

Just then, Shvana, who had been patrolling outside, rushed back and said that many Void Creatures were invading, and their attack was even more ferocious than before!

Of course, we don't need to engage in battle; we can simply retreat at full speed.

The Heart of the Land is located in the central Freljord, built upon the mountains and basins of the region, and stretches across the east and west in a spectacular fashion.

We arrived just as darkness fell. The chains of the suspension bridge were thicker than my waist, covered with a layer of frost, and the chill was biting.

Below was pitch black, its depth unknown, where even the glow of lava could not be seen. Only wisps of heat rose up, condensing with the cold air above to form frost and snow.

There are many soldiers here. They can't fight the Void Creatures in open areas, but they can hold their ground and defend the area.

With more people around, everyone felt much more comfortable, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming as we ate and talked.

Jax and I didn't linger any longer and continued east along the defensive line, preparing to check out the remaining three strongholds: Anivia, Darius, and Morgana.

Unlike Ornn or Volibear, Anivia did not leave many offspring. She only gave birth to Three Sisters: Avarosa, Sejuani, and Lissandra, and now only Lissandra remains.

Lissandra spotted us before we even reached the outpost. She had regained her powers and was no longer Lili.

She had long white braids, and her bangs were combed to both sides, each covering half of her cheek. Her icy blue pupils radiated a chilling aura, shining even in the darkness.

She looks quite different from her character in the game; I wouldn't have recognized her if she hadn't greeted me first.

"Yasuo? I heard you were fighting elsewhere, is it over?"

"Yes, you are... Lissandra?"

"Haha, it's amazing you recognized me."

"If it weren't for this familiar cold wind, it would be really hard to recognize you. You just came back, right?"

"We've been back for a while now. As long as there's ice and snow, Mother can move freely."

"How convenient! I was just on my way to pay my respects to Lady Anivia. Lead the way!"

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I always feel that Lissandra isn't as talkative as she used to be in her current form, though we still chatted quite a bit.

After more than a year apart, she was quite surprised by my improved strength, especially when she heard that I had become War Aspect, which she found incredible.

"You've become Aspects! I just went to Mount Targon to ask the Aspects for help not long ago!"

"I heard you went to repair the seal on Howling Abyss with the Guardian Aspect, is that right?"

"Yes, but unfortunately it was useless; the void rift was still opened."

"There's nothing we can do, Ryze is just too powerful. Besides, he was probably the one who injured you back then."

"It's hard to believe he's actually human. I don't think it would be difficult for him to kill me..."

We chatted all the way and soon arrived at the outpost on the defensive line, which was the place where Anivia was stationed. After entering, we found many familiar faces.