Clash (Part 2)

Miss Vi, who had been leading the charge, was intercepted halfway. A man clad in dark leather armor emerged from the shadows. He parried Vi's attack with a pair of dark red, serpentine curved blades. The blades, as thin as cicada wings, held their ground against the powerful Atlas Gauntlets, but it was clear he held no advantage. The man suddenly kicked towards Vi's side. A glint of cold light shone brilliantly in the night sky; it was evident his boots were no ordinary footwear. Vi, of course, noticed this and quickly dodged to the side before launching another punch.

The evenly matched pair soon became locked in a fierce struggle. Meanwhile, Zakel took advantage of the chaos and escaped. Ling Ying witnessed all of this but remained in place, not intervening. She was on guard, sensing a shadowy power gathering around them.

"Careful!"

As a faint whistling sound cut through the air, Ling Ying suddenly moved to the right, shielding Caitlyn. Her Doran's Blade, wreathed in Void Flames, slashed through the air, instantly vaporizing several dark energy arrows. Before Caitlyn, who had been the target, could even react, Ling Ying had already dashed several meters away, using a cargo crate to leap high into the air. She thrust her sword forcefully towards the area below where she sensed the concentration of shadowy power, but...

"No one?"

Ling Ying landed lightly on her toes and quickly looked around. Beside the piled-up cargo and the tools left by the dockworkers, there was nothing else. The dim dock lights cast their shadows on the ground, swaying and flickering with the gentle breeze from the canal.

"!"

Ling Ying suddenly realized something, but it was too late. The shadows around her feet had already coalesced into a mass. Several twisted Shadow Thorns solidified from within, rapidly wrapping around Ling Ying's calves and spreading upwards towards her body. Ling Ying instantly lost control of her legs and was immobilized. More Shadow Thorns were forming and lunging towards her. Ling Ying's situation had suddenly become perilous.

Just then, the situation took a drastic turn. The thorns that had ensnared Ling Ying's body began to twitch violently, as if electrocuted, before they could even reach her thighs. This bizarre phenomenon quickly spread to all the Shadow Thorns. One by one, the thorns writhed, then rapidly withered and died. Ling Ying seized the opportunity to break free, raising her Doran's Blade, which erupted with surging flames, and unleashed a charged strike towards the ground.

An explosion followed, along with flying debris and billowing dust. The commotion was so great that even Vi and the Crimson Elite Soldier paused their fight, turning their attention this way. Ling Ying emerged from the dust, sword in hand. The shockwave lifted the hem of her skirt, and her silver hair danced in the wind. Around her, dark purple flames intertwined and burned like two coiling fire dragons, illuminating the dim harbor and forcing back a strange, distorted shadow in front of her. Ling Ying stepped forward, and the shadow retreated with her steps, inch by inch, until it had nowhere left to go. The shadow suddenly stretched and transformed, morphing into a tall, gaunt figure in a black robe, resembling a bamboo pole.

"hshwkwkhkalla..."

The Black Robe, facing Ling Ying's relentless advance, stopped retreating. It stood its ground, and from beneath its face, composed entirely of chaotic dark energy, came an unintelligible incantation. Ling Ying naturally couldn't understand it, nor did she want to. With a flick of her wrist, she swung her sword, unleashing a cross-shaped slash towards the shadow. This time, the shadow seemed unhurried. A moment before the sword strike landed, its entire body condensed into a ball of black mist and dispersed. It fluttered a few times in the night sky, then reformed elsewhere, reappearing and continuing to chant its incomprehensible spell.

This game of cat and mouse played out several times. As the last syllable left its lips, the Black Robe stopped evading Ling Ying's attacks. A large mass of shadow, like a quagmire, spread out from its feet. Countless Shadow Thorns emerged from it, swaying densely in the night wind, sending chills down one's spine.

"Roar!!"

The Black Robe let out a beast-like roar. The Shadow Thorns stopped their swaying in unison and all turned towards Ling Ying's position. The tips of the thorns swelled and cracked. Moments later, Shadow Arrows shot out like rain. Seeing the dire situation, Ling Ying decisively somersaulted in mid-air, dodging into the midst of the cargo crates.

"Sizzle..."

The cargo crates, made of sturdy wood and sheet metal, were like paper against the Shadow Arrows. They couldn't withstand a single blow before corroding into scattered residue. Ling Ying, like a rabbit pursued by a hungry wolf, darted around continuously to evade the unending barrage of Shadow Arrows. The situation looked grim.

"Hehehe..."

The Black Robe let out an unpleasant laugh, like sandpaper rubbing together. Perhaps watching an enemy flee in disarray was indeed a source of great pleasure. However, it soon noticed something was amiss. The purple flames on that guy's longsword seemed to be growing brighter.

The Black Robe suddenly reacted, but Ling Ying was faster. She instantly stopped moving, then initiated a sweeping sword strike. A surging flame storm erupted and roared outwards, obliterating everything in its path. Shadow Arrows, Shadow Thorns, and even the cargo on the dock turned to ash. Ling Ying's first thought wasn't whether the Black Robe was dead, but rather...

"Caitlyn won't make me pay for this, will she..."

"Bastard!! You deserve to die!!!"

Well, judging by the sound, that guy probably wasn't dead. Ling Ying looked towards the Black Robe's position. Its left arm was almost entirely gone. It seemed the previous attack hadn't been easy for it, but it hadn't killed it either. In the spirit of seeing things through, Ling Ying decisively charged forward, her sharp sword aimed straight at the shadow's face.

"How dare you harm my flesh, blessed by the shadows!! You deserve to die!!!"

The Black Robe shrieked. Its slender right arm transformed into a long scythe, sweeping across, bringing a large area in front of it within its attack range. Ling Ying's expression tightened. Mid-air, she changed direction, flashing towards the blind spot of the scythe's sweep. But before she could evade the scythe, black light suddenly flashed from her left, which had been empty moments before. The next instant, before Ling Ying could react, a black warhammer smashed forcefully into her back. She instantly lost her balance. The sharp scythe... In desperation, Ling Ying could only cross her sword in front of her to block the scythe's attack. Sparks flew as metal clashed. Ling Ying was sent flying several meters by the powerful impact. Stumbling a few steps, she found herself unable to stand steady. She plunged her Doran's Blade into the ground, creating a long gash, which barely allowed her to maintain a kneeling posture instead of falling to the ground.

"Pfft!"

Ling Ying spat out a mouthful of dark purple blood. That sword and hammer strike had clearly not been easy to endure. While Ling Ying's human body was, in a sense, more agile than her Void form, the price was greater fragility. Moreover... she looked at her right hand, the one gripping her sword. Purple patterns resembling cracks were spreading. It seemed she had pushed herself too hard just now. According to the Cloaked Figure, this was a sign of her Void body beginning to consume her human body. If she continued to use the power of the Void, the suppressed instincts might regain dominance. Ling Ying estimated she could unleash another Blazing Storm or an even more powerful Molten Flame Spear if she went all out. But honestly, she wasn't sure if that would be enough to kill the Black Robe. Ling Ying still had no confidence.

The Shadow, as if possessed, let out a low growl and slowly walked towards Ling Ying. It raised its scythe high.

"Defy the Shadow! You! Deserve to die!!"

The Black Robe swung its scythe without hesitation. However, the scene of Ling Ying's head hitting the ground, which it had envisioned, did not occur. At the last possible moment, a surge of immense Void power erupted beside Ling Ying, stopping the Shadow's scythe in mid-air, preventing it from advancing even half an inch.

"No!!"

The tall, thin Shadow's shock was evident.

"If you want to kill someone, you should at least be prepared to die with them."

Ling Ying's voice was terrifyingly low. A colossal phantom gradually appeared behind her, solidifying, and then standing up. It transformed into an indescribable, twisted monster. That was the Void Shadow, a skill that most Void Creatures with intelligent consciousness could use – using their own body as a medium to connect to the Void, summoning a mere fraction of the Void's power to temporarily enhance their combat capabilities. The Void Shadow let out a strange shriek, then opened its gaping maw and bit down on the scythe swung by the Black Robe. The Shadow's scythe flickered violently a few times, then suddenly snapped in the middle, shattering into specks of shadow energy, all of which were then greedily devoured by the Void Shadow.

"You... are devouring me?!"

Panic finally crept into the Black Robe's tone. It desperately tried to escape from Ling Ying's side, only to find itself completely unable to move. The area around the Void Shadow was like the center of a giant vortex, with no escape.

"No! How is this possible?! I am a child of the Shadow! How can anyone in this world devour the Shadow!?"

"Do you think the so-called Shadow is an invincible existence?"

Ling Ying sneered at the Black Robe, the purple cracks blooming on her cheeks making her expression look as ferocious and terrifying as a beast's.

"Tell me, have you ever faced the Void? Mortal!"

Ling Ying's voice struck the heart like a thunderclap. Even the Black Robe fell into a state of shock or daze. After a long moment, the Black Robe, having recovered, looked at its body, which had already been devoured by a third. It suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

"Hahaha! The Void!! I should have known! Only you! Only you monsters from another world can do this. So you've infiltrated human society this deeply? Unexpected... But, you want to devour my body? Pfft! My body will never be defiled by your filthy things!"

Upon learning Ling Ying's true identity, the Black Robe suddenly adopted a resolute demeanor, like a hero sacrificing himself for righteousness. The hood that had been covering its head slid back, revealing a face that was withered and covered in countless strange shadow runes. From its outline, one could still vaguely discern that it was a woman's face.

"Great Shadow Lord!"

The Black Robe, speaking with difficulty through blood, looked up and shouted.

"Your loyal servant, Vina Franken, offers this flesh and soul as a sacrifice, begging you to bestow a sliver of divine power, so that your servant may defeat the demon from another world – the despicable Void Creature!!"

"Boom!!"

The moment the Black Robe finished speaking, a bolt of lightning flashed across the night sky. Simultaneously, a dark energy shot from the Black Robe's chest towards the sky. It merged with the lightning in the sky, then spread out into a massive Shadow Vortex. The next moment, everyone present heard a roar that carried the force of a thousand thunders.

"Iron Cavalry! Charge!!!"

Ling Ying looked up at the Shadow Vortex. A pair of colossal steel arms were slowly emerging from within. Then came a pair of thick iron hooves. Along with them, a cavalry spear of equal size, its tip glowing green, as if countless lost souls were dwelling within, screaming and lingering.

Ling Ying's expression turned extremely grim, while the black-robed woman cackled hoarsely. Even as her other half rapidly dissipated and was drawn into the Shadow Vortex in mid-air. Because both she and Ling Ying knew that once that thing fully emerged from the vortex, the battle would end without suspense. Yet, neither of them could change anything anymore. The Black Robe had sacrificed herself, leaving only the waiting for her body and soul to vanish from this world and return to the shadows. As for Ling Ying, summoning and maintaining a Void Creature of this caliber was already her limit. Purple cracks had spread across her entire body; she was like a porcelain doll, liable to shatter at any moment.

"Too weak..."

Such a thought suddenly flashed through Ling Ying's mind. As expected, she was still too weak. Ultimately, she remained one of the lowest-ranking Void Creatures, and even in this human world, countless beings could leave her helpless.

"Is there no other way..."

Ling Ying watched the Centaur Cavalry in the Shadow Vortex become increasingly complete. Just as she was contemplating retreat, a strange mark on her neck, which she had long ignored and remained dormant, suddenly underwent a drastic change. The twisted tentacles around it writhed as if alive. The eye, enclosed by the tentacles, opened and suddenly emitted a shadow energy comparable to that of the Black Robe, injecting it into the Void Creature that was gradually descending. The black and purple energies intertwined and clashed, acting like a potent stimulant, making the Void Creature powerful once more. With a sweep of its bloated, massive claw, it actually snatched the Black Robe's body away. It wasn't just in a physical sense; even the shadow energy transforming from the Black Robe's body flowing into the vortex was intercepted midway and directed into the Void Creature's maw.

"How is this possible?!!!"

The Black Robe roared like a madwoman.

"That is a sacrifice to the Shadow Lord!! How dare you?! Shadow Affinity?!! How is this possible? How could it be on you..."

The Black Robe ultimately failed to receive an answer. Soon, her last trace of a body vanished before Ling Ying and was completely devoured by the Void Creature. A black robe fluttered in the wind and slowly landed.

"No!!!"

An unwilling roar echoed from the sky. The vortex, no longer sustained by the Black Robe's shadow energy, was shrinking at a visible rate. The Centaur Knight's massive body, half of which had already entered the material world, now became a fatal weakness. Whether to advance or retreat, the collapsing vortex could no longer accommodate its body for another passage. In this dilemma, the Centaur Knight slammed its spear down, its voice like thunder.

"Iron Legion!! Eternal and Undying!!"

"Bang!"

The Shadow Vortex finally collapsed, and the Centaur Knight's giant body, halfway through its step, shattered with a roar. Pure shadow energy scattered from the sky to the ground, and was then "graciously accepted" by the all-comers Void Creature.

The world fell silent once more. No more the chattering Black Robe, nor the Centaur Knight who fought like an army of thousands. The dark clouds in the night sky dispersed, and pure moonlight poured onto Ling Ying, who was kneeling, as if revitalizing her exhausted body. It also made her once lustrous silver hair...

Ling Ying managed a weak smile with difficulty, then her body uncontrollably collapsed. The moonlight continued to accompany her, making her look as sacred and beautiful as a sleeping beauty under the moon.

"Damn it..."

Vi, covered in blood, couldn't help but curse as soon as she saw Caitlyn. It was indeed not easy to fight someone covered head to toe in hidden weapons. The opponent's agile physique and movements had inflicted many wounds on Vi, who favored a headlong charge in combat. Fortunately, most were superficial. Of course, what annoyed her the most was...

"The person is here, dead. This guy took poison and committed suicide. I was just thinking about how to keep him alive."

Vi said, carrying a person like a chicken with a snare, and then tossing him beside her and Caitlyn. It was the leather-armored man she had just fought. However, his face was now purple, and blood was flowing from his seven orifices. He was undeniably dead. Caitlyn glanced at the corpse's tragic state, then said softly.

"Then it seems we only have one prisoner."

Caitlyn nodded towards Zakel, who was wrapped in a net nearby and still struggling forcefully.

"Her situation is similar to yours, ah, even worse than yours. The enemy didn't even leave any bones behind."

"She..."

Vi looked at Ling Ying, who was resting her head on Caitlyn's knees, appearing to be fast asleep. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke.

"Did you see it just now? That scene."

"Of course. It was hard not to notice such a big commotion."

"Honestly, now I understand why you went to such lengths to recruit her before, even risking so much. If she hadn't been here this time, even bringing in all the Enforcers might not have been enough to resolve it."

Vi gazed afar at the destruction left by Ling Ying's battle. She suddenly sighed.

"But afterwards, this girl's danger level will increase by several notches. If the Enforcer higher-ups find out, they probably won't support your plan anymore."

"That's why..."

Caitlyn said nonchalantly.

"As long as those old guys upstairs don't find out about this, it'll be fine. Anyway, only the three of us were involved in executing this mission."

Caitlyn's words made Vi take a deep breath, but she smiled in the next instant.

"Hahaha, just as expected from my partner. But you need to give me another reason this time. The last one doesn't count."

"Ah, this..."

Caitlyn lowered her head, gently stroking Ling Ying's hair. Then, she revealed a gentle smile.

"Because look how harmless she is when she's asleep."

Far away in Noxus, at the Immortal Bastion. Thunder had already rumbled in the sky many times. Dark, heavy clouds hung low, beneath which stood the tall Obsidian Tower, giving the illusion that it could be crushed by the clouds at any moment. On a terrace of the main palace, a tall figure draped in a military cloak gazed at the scene of impending storm before him. His right hand rested on a black cane, while his left hand was hidden within his coat, indistinct. Beside him, several Ravens with dark red eyes perched on the terrace railing, occasionally lowering their heads to preen their black feathers with their beaks, or letting out a noisy caw. This only added to the oppressive atmosphere of the scene.

"Pat."

The door to the room creaked open softly at this moment, and a figure in a black and white maid outfit slipped inside. The person on the terrace, however, did not move. Only when the maid reached his back, gathered the hem of her skirt with both hands, and curtsied slightly, did he react.

"Good day, Your Majesty Swain."

"I've told you, Noxus no longer has any 'Majesty.' Nor will it ever again."

Swain turned around, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the black-haired maid bowing before him.

"You still indulge in such wicked jokes, Miss LeBlanc."

"Hehehe..."

The "maid," having been seen through, let out a string of bell-like laughter.

"Indeed, after all, your current status far surpasses that of those good-for-nothings in the Darkwill Family... Ah, apologies, I forgot I shouldn't touch that sore spot... especially since Brawn's rise to power also had your contribution."

"If you truly felt sorry, you wouldn't have brought it up."

Swain said with a chilling tone.

"Then, let's talk. What brings the leader of the Black Rose here in person?"

"Ah, what I want to talk about, you should already know. After all, it's an operation we're cooperating on. I'm just here to provide some supplementary explanations."

Getting down to business, LeBlanc finally stopped joking. She stood before Swain with her hands clasped, just as the role she was currently playing, looking exactly like a proper maid.

"You mean the Black Storm Operation?"

"Precisely."

LeBlanc nodded slightly.

"Our original plan was to use a large amount of Shadow Magic Potions to artificially induce the Black Tide and guide the Black Tide creatures towards the coast of Piltover with the ocean currents, thereby delivering a devastating blow to the Piltover naval fleet. However, as you already know, the Black Tide creatures lost control midway and then vanished without a trace."

"And the Black Rose's explanation for this is the magical energy instability caused by the large-scale concentrated use of Shadow Potions?"

"Ah, indeed. After all, this is the first time even the Black Rose has attempted something like this, so it's inevitable that some mistakes would occur. However... we discovered something interesting from the people of Piltover."

LeBlanc made a light gesture with her finger, and a Black Crystal floated to Swain's desk. Then, a dark red Demon Hand grabbed it.

The black crystal flickered for a moment, then projected a screen made of light and shadow before Swain. On the screen, it seemed to display the content of a newspaper.

"Shocking! Life and Death Moments at Sea - Interview with the Captain of the Silver Dawn."

Swain glanced at the unique, exaggerated Piltover-style headline. Then, his gaze focused on the content below.

"The Black Tide creatures changed course midway and attacked a Piltover passenger ship, and after fighting a swordswoman who stepped forward, they dissipated on their own?"

After reading the report, Swain frowned and pondered. He, who was accustomed to analyzing the cause and effect of even the simplest matters, had his first thought that this might be a smokescreen by Piltover to interfere with Noxus's judgment of the situation. But on the other hand, his human intuition told him that Piltover might not have realized Noxus's true intentions at all, and they might not even realize that the content of this report was something that needed to be kept secret.

"It seems reality is far more dramatic than we thought."

LeBlanc watched the pensive Swain and smiled, maintaining an indifferent attitude.

"By the way, before you make any decisions, I have one more thing to tell you. News from last night: one of your War Stone Masons, who had been lurking for six years, was exposed while smuggling goods out of the country. Along with him, a Crimson Elite who was escorting him, and a Shadow Master from the Black Rose, were also lost."

"I had just learned of this before you arrived."

Swain glanced at LeBlanc and said in a deep voice.

"To be honest, I'm not surprised. Whether it's for that War Stone Mason or the Crimson Elite, they are just ordinary people after all. But the Shadow Master under your command, I recall you saying that the people of Piltover wouldn't have the ability to keep them."

"That's why I said reality is dramatic."

LeBlanc didn't get angry despite being subtly mocked. Instead, she spread her hands frankly.

"This indicates that some interesting changes have occurred in Piltover, wouldn't you say?"

"Interesting? Perhaps. And what do you plan to do?"

"Haha, I've decided to make a trip myself, to see what exactly is going on. And while I'm there, I'll verify if the girl mentioned in the newspapers truly exists."

"You're going to Piltover?"

Swain's voice held a hint of surprise, and even a touch of joy within his heart. He and LeBlanc had always been rivals, locked in a constant struggle. Even now, with their temporary alliance, their private undercurrents of competition had never ceased. LeBlanc's departure from Noxus at this juncture was undoubtedly a welcome development for him. While the Black Rose without its leader wouldn't be crippled, dealing with the remaining few members would be far easier than facing the cunning old fox that was LeBlanc.

Of course, his inherent suspicion led Swain to involuntarily ponder what could possibly compel LeBlanc to risk the Black Rose's fortune and travel all the way to Piltover at this particular time. But he quickly pushed the thought aside, choosing to trust the goodwill LeBlanc was extending for now. He nodded, his face a mask of impassivity, and said, "Very well. Once you've arrived, I will begin enacting Plan B."

"Ah, the plan to bypass Piltover for now and sow chaos in Zaun first? Then I wish you success."

"And you as well."

"Hehehe, I will."

Her cheerful laughter abruptly ceased, and LeBlanc vanished from the room in an instant. Everything was like an illusion, a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water. Only the dulled crystal in Swain's hand proved that everything that had just transpired was real.

"Swoosh."

Rain began to fall, shrouding the entire Immortal Bastion in a misty downpour. Swain rang the magic bell on the corner of his desk. A middle-aged man resembling a butler soon entered, bowing respectfully.

"Grand General, what are your orders?"

"Have all the maids in the main palace district re-screened. Then, inform Darius that I wish to see him in Blackrock Hall in one hour."

The butler quickly took his leave. Swain stood by the window, gazing out at the heavy curtain of rain, lost in thought.