A Grudge Was Born

I don't remember the exact location of Ixtal, only that Rebeca led us out of there, in eastern Shurima. ╰☆☆ ☆☆╮

I rode my Hextech Motorcycle forward, and the occasional Void Creatures that passed by did not attack me. I stopped near a tropical rainforest that had been eroded.

There are no animals left here; the empty rainforest seems like a place where ghosts live.

I removed the Oretal Ring Blade from my body, unsure how to enter the Ixtal clan's barrier.

As I walked, I suddenly saw the gem on the ring blade light up!

This ring blade has three handles, and between each pair of handles are ten gems of different colors. Rebeca once told me that these gems represent the elements she can control.

For example, red gemstones symbolize the Fire Element, green gemstones symbolize the Wood Element, and blue gemstones symbolize the Water Element, and so on.

The gems on it are now lighting up, which means I'm very close to my destination. Does that mean I just need to get closer?

I carefully used my Spiritual Power to sense the energy fluctuations around me. If Ixtal were nearby, he would definitely show signs of life.

After searching for quite some time, they found no signs of life other than the restless energy in the void. Instead, they sensed an aura of death, much like the Shadow Isles.

What's going on? Has Ixtal been invaded?

I quickened my pace, traversing the rainforest rapidly, and soon arrived at a patch of withered grass.

The air here is thick with the scent of death; the vegetation is withered, and corpses are scattered everywhere, including those of humans and various animals.

Judging from their attire, these people are warriors of Ixtal!

So this means I've entered the barrier, and this place has indeed been invaded!

But the places invaded by the Void aren't like this. Could Mordekaiser have been reborn here?

Thinking of this, my heart tightened. We can't afford to have another powerful enemy like this, or we won't be able to handle it!

I walked slowly forward, passing dead plants and animals along the way. They had just withered, and many had not yet rotted.

Soon I climbed to a high point, looked into the distance, and was surprised to find a lush green land in front of me!

The area hasn't been completely invaded yet, so there should still be quite a few Ixtal survivors!

Just as I was about to go over and take a look, I suddenly heard a soft sobbing sound nearby. Although it was very faint, I could tell it was a human voice!

Following the sound, I found a little creature under a broad-leaved plant.

This is a small mummy, its bandages are dirty and messy, could it be Amumu?

The little mummy was sitting under the withered plants, hugging its knees and crying with its head down. Hearing me approach, it raised its head in fright:

"Don't come near me! No!"

"Okay, I won't come closer, don't be afraid."

I quickly stopped in my tracks. The little mummy was still huddled up, trying to back away, but it was blocked by the plants and couldn't move.

"Don't come near me... don't come near me..."

"I won't come any closer, don't be afraid. My name is Yasuo, can you tell me your name?"

"Mumu, Amumu."

It turns out this little guy really is Amumu. I didn't know much about him, only that he was a lonely little guy who longed for friendship.

How did he end up here? Was he hurt too, which is why he's so scared?

Just as I was about to ask for clarification, a large crowd suddenly gathered nearby, and among them was a girl named Qiyana!

She looked very anxious when she saw me next to Amumu: "Get out of the way, you reckless fool!"

"What did I do wrong? Why am I so reckless?"

"The guy next to you is a little devil. He killed so many of us and polluted this place!"

"You mean he brought this aura of death here?"

"Of course! This guy suddenly arrived here half a month ago, and wherever he went, everything withered and decayed. He's more terrifying than God of Death!"

"No way?"

I turned to look at Amumu, hoping he could explain, but the little guy just sobbed and didn't answer the question.

This is tantamount to tacit agreement, but I didn't sense any danger from him. How could it have caused such strong destruction?

"Get out of the way! We're going to kill him!"

"Wait, don't rush to attack. Isn't he behaving himself? Let me handle this!"

"You? Why should I believe you?"

"Perhaps this ring blade can make you believe me."

"Oretal Ring Blade? I remember now, you're the one who took Granny Rebeca away!"

"..."

I didn't expect Qiyana to have such a bad memory; I thought she recognized me from the start!

"It's me, Yasuo. I've come to return the Ring Blade to you."

"Give it back to me? Where's my mother-in-law?"

"She... passed away." I said the words with difficulty.

"What?! You said she went somewhere?" Qiyana was shocked, thinking she had misheard.

"She helped us fight the Vastaya, but ultimately died from a deadly poison."

"Hmph, if you're going to lie, at least come up with a decent one. My mother-in-law isn't afraid of poison!"

I know that Rebeca is like a god to these warriors, so it's no wonder Qiyana can't accept her.

But the truth is the truth, and there's nothing I can do if I can't accept it. I don't want to tell them this, but hiding it from them would be even worse.

"It's true. Before she died, she asked me to give you the Ringblade and to protect Ixtal well."

Seeing my sorrowful expression, Qiyana finally believed me. She walked over tremblingly, took the ring blade, and then suddenly swung it at me.

I didn't dodge, and she didn't strike; she simply held the ring blade to my neck, her eyes filled with hatred.

"Tell me, who killed my mother-in-law!"

"She's a Vastaya named Iloza, who, like Rebeca, was Ascended from ancient Shurima. The feud between the two..."

"Okay, I understand. Now tell me where Iloza is?"

"He's dead. He was killed by Rebeca."

"So I can't take revenge? I can only sadly accept this fact?"

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for asking her to go out and help; otherwise, this wouldn't have happened."

"You're right, that's why I'm going to kill you to vent my anger!"

Qiyana really went for the kill this time, but her power couldn't break through my Wind Force. Instead, she was pushed back because she used too much force.

At this critical juncture, I cannot atone with my death. Let this hatred become the driving force for Qiyana's growth!

"You can't kill me, at least not yet. You should improve your strength first!"

"Damn it! Remember this, I will avenge this, and I'll use this Oretal Ring Blade!"