Exploring the Void

When the Void Creatures first invaded this place, Stori wanted to leave with the other tribes, but the other dwarves disagreed, just like in today's situation. ♤🎃 ♥😳

After people gradually evacuated, it was too late for them to leave. They could only hide in various places and survive on the food they had stored.

With food supplies nearly exhausted, Stori brought up the issue of moving south again, but was met with continued opposition.

However, they were not attacked during the Void Creatures invasion, and sometimes they even brushed past the monsters without any problems, which puzzled them greatly.

Even if they are not harmed, food remains the biggest problem; they must go to areas inhabited by humans.

I didn't want to discuss their self-esteem issues; I simply made an assurance to them:

Go find Camille, the leader of humanity, and you will surely receive proper arrangements.

As for discrimination, there's no need to overthink it. Regardless of what they look like, such issues will arise if they are not from the same tribe, since some people simply enjoy discriminating.

But these people are ultimately a minority, so just be more confident.

Currently, it seems that only the Charming Women clan is completely loved; the others all have some degree of conflict. But what does that matter compared to survival?

After persuading the dwarf, I continued on my way, but a question remained in my mind:

Why don't the monsters harm them? So many people were killed in Shurima.

Are dwarves different from other humans?

A day later, I arrived at the Laos River. To my surprise, the river had been blocked by the Void Creatures in some way, which explained why they could cross it with impunity.

But this also made it easier for me to cross the river; I was initially worried I wouldn't be able to!

I vaguely remember the feeling of being pulled down when I tried to leap across the river; if it weren't for Ryze's help, I probably would be dead here.

It was precisely because of this incident that he left a very good impression on me, and I never doubted that he was "that That Great One" until the very end.

A short distance beyond the Laos River, the scene changes completely. The number of monsters decreases, but the atmosphere of madness grows stronger.

The far north is usually covered in ice and snow, but now there is no snow to be seen, and even the towering snow-capped mountains have been melted away by the erosion of void energy.

Because the scenery had changed, I couldn't find the way to the Howling Abyss at all; I had to rely entirely on the strength of the void's aura to find it.

I walked cautiously along the way, and after about three days I finally reached the vicinity of the Howling Abyss.

Monsters are very rare here, just as we observed before; their numbers have become constant, and very few new ones appear.

I came to a huge rock, leaned down, and the view of the void rift was completely visible.

Looking at the dark purple energy halo, I felt very uneasy, because I didn't dare to go down directly, but if I didn't go down, I wouldn't be able to find anything.

After much deliberation, I decided to stay at Lissandra's palace for a while, using it as a base before making any further moves.

The Howling Abyss isn't bottomless; it's just that the abnormal energy makes the descent feel exceptionally long. Last time I came, I was able to get out quickly by going up from the bottom.

I descended quickly and when I arrived at the palace, I found it intact, except for some dirt on the walls and one of the sculptures in front of the door being missing.

It seems the Void Creatures aren't particularly fond of this building near their home; otherwise, they probably would have razed it to the ground.

When I pushed open the door, my nerves, which had just relaxed, immediately tightened again, because a monster was sitting in the main hall!

This monster is unlike any of the ones we've encountered before, because it looks humanoid overall!

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The monster was startled by me as well. It had been lying on the bench, but suddenly sat up and stared intently at me, its purple pupils gleaming with an eerie light.

Then it actually spoke!

"Yasuo? You scared me! What are you doing here?"

"You know me? Then you're not Void Creatures?"

"Since you've found out, I won't hide it anymore."

After the monster finished speaking, it transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman: Evelynn.

It turns out she really did come from the void, and was a high-level Void Creatures at that, but her two appearances were vastly different.

One is pleasing to the eye, the other is disgusting.

Judging from her surprised expression, she probably didn't know about LeBlanc giving me the Living Outerwear, or maybe they weren't actually working together and just knew Ryze.

"It's a long story, you weren't exactly elegant before."

"Haha, that's just something conjured up based on your human preferences. What? Disappointed?"

"I'm not so disappointed, I'm just really looking forward to seeing Twisted Fate's expression when he sees you."

"Looks like you enjoy playing pranks even more than I do, you're such a rascal."

"Thank you for your kind consideration."

Hearing Evelynn's soft, seductive voice used to send shivers down my spine, but now I couldn't help but shudder.

While judging a book by its cover is wrong, the appearance of the Void Creatures is indeed less than flattering.

After a few brief exchanges, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't very well admit that I was there as an undercover agent, could I?

Evelynn usually talks on and on, but this time she didn't say much and instead lay back down.

"Then... I won't bother you any longer?"

"Since you're already here, why talk about bothering me? But I'm curious how you managed to sneak in?"

"I received some small help." I didn't reveal LeBlanc's name to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"So, are you here to find the weaknesses of the void or to uncover the truth behind the disaster?"

"This is all my goal. You say the Void Invasion is a purification, but I cannot agree with that."

Do you think I'll let you continue downhill?

"You want to stop me?"

"Rather, I want to protect you. The energy down here is beyond what an Aspects you can withstand."

Are there other life forms below that possess advanced intelligence like yours?

"Yes, but not many. You may not encounter them, but my father, the Void Lord, will surely find you and assimilate you."

I knew Evelynn had no reason to lie to me, and I also knew that there were even more powerful beings below.

The Void Lord —just the name sounds evil. I wonder if the eyes Darius and I saw in our dreams came from this guy.

Furthermore, Evelynn calls the Void Lord "father," so is she Princess of the Void?

"You're the daughter of the Void Lord? Then you must have a very high status here?"

"All life here calls the Void Lord 'Father.' There is no hierarchy or status in the Void; it's just that I possess intelligence similar to that of humans, which is why you've misunderstood."

"What kind of being is the Void Lord?"

How can I describe it to you? You know what gods are, right? My father is the god of gods.