Three Methods

Sarah didn't know what expression to make.

A dangerous man of unknown origin and alignment, saying another mysterious mage was a good person, could it be any less convincing?

"He won't pose a threat to you. On the contrary, you will receive his help. I promised Raven. Since I've gotten the answer from you, for a while, I'll help you deal with the Iron Hook Gang's raids. This is a deal."

Meanwhile, on the deck of the Siren.

"Why hasn't the captain come out yet?"

Almost all the Siren's crewmates gathered at the captain's cabin door, pacing restlessly.

"Raven, you've been listening at the door for so long, what did you hear?" a crewmate asked anxiously.

"I didn't hear anything," Raven shook his head.

"When the captain's cabin was renovated, we considered the captain's personal life and focused on strengthening the soundproofing. However, I can be sure that a fight didn't break out inside. The captain is safe."

As the crewmates muttered amongst themselves, the captain's cabin door was pushed open. The eavesdropping crewmates instinctively took a step back.

The two emerged. Sarah looked around and said, "Within a month, you can ignore the Iron Hook Gang's attacks."

"What? Then what should we do?" The crewmates looked at each other in bewilderment.

Sarah looked at Ato. "Mr. Ato will be staying on the ship during this period and will often go ashore to attract the Iron Hook Gang's attention. With him here, the pressure the Iron Hook Gang puts on us will be greatly reduced..."

Her voice grew softer. Was this treating Mr. Ato unfairly? It was like throwing him out as a target...

Ato, however, didn't seem to mind.

Night fell.

In the resting room prepared by Sarah, Ato leaned on the bed, contemplating his future plans.

Today, he had asked Sarah for the date. Sarah told him that this year was Nuo Yuan 983.

And only one year remained until that war occurred.

A thousand years ago, Runeterra experienced a war that spanned the continents of Valoran and Shurima, severely damaging nations and civilizations.

After the war, survivors in the eastern part of Valoran, on the ruins of the original country Nox, were the first to complete national reconstruction and named that year Nuo Yuan First Year.

And now, regardless of the relationships between countries, this had become the universally used calendar system in Runeterra.

This country was the most powerful on the continent of Valoran – Noxus.

In Nuo Yuan 984, the Emperor of Noxus, Boran Dakwell, launched a war against Ionia, the Land of Birth in the east. This war had an indelible impact on the entire Runeterra.

"Little thing, what's so special about that mage?" Aatrox was a bit curious about the mage Ato had mentioned in the morning. Sarah dared not ask, but Aatrox had no such reservations.

"Do you remember the three ways I told you I could destroy you? The first: World Runes."

The Demonic Sword of the Dark began to flicker violently again.

"Can you stop flashing every time you get excited?" Ato complained.

"Does he have a clue about the World Runes?" Aatrox asked, his voice rapid, eager to learn about the Blue-skinned Bald Mage.

"He started walking the continent around the same time you broke free. In the thousand years you were trapped, what proper thing did you do besides picking fights?"

"And he, my friend, he is the true hero."

"His name is Ryze. Because his homeland was destroyed by World Runes, he made it his mission to collect them. Once collected, he hides them away. Such items of immense power cannot be held by ordinary people."

The demonic sword continued to flash rapidly. "Finding Ryze means finding the World Runes? I didn't expect to get a lead on one of the methods so soon."

Ato, however, poured cold water on his excitement. "Don't be too optimistic. None of the three methods are easy to complete. Besides, Ryze has been traveling for a thousand years and still hasn't gathered all five Runes."

Method One: World Runes.

Five World Runes existed from the very beginning of Runeterra's birth, each possessing world-ending power.

However, the power of a single Rune was not enough to destroy Aatrox. All five Runes had to be gathered to reach the power level behind the Sun Disc.

The five World Runes are: Yellow Precision, Red Domination, Blue Sorcery, Green Resolve, and Cyan Inspiration.

Aatrox was dismissive. "Compared to the past thousand years, this is considerable progress. It's better than having no hope, or even despair."

"If you hadn't met me, where would you have gone after leaving Bilgewater?" Ato asked.

"Probably Freljord. I originally planned to go there to find Demigods. Since you said even Demigods can't destroy me, there's no point in going there anymore."

"No, you still need to go to Freljord," Ato said, straightening up.

"Because my arrival caused you to not go to Freljord, it will cause a drastic shift in the power dynamics there, which is detrimental to the second method I mentioned."

Aatrox became anxious again upon hearing this. "If that's the case, then after leaving here, we'll head straight to Freljord."

Method Two: The Primordial Power of the Void.

The Void – no one knows its origin. It seems to have existed there from the very beginning.

It does not belong to the Material Plane, nor does it interact with the Material Plane in any way.

However, it awakened consciousness, began to observe all things in the world, and yearned to enter the Material Plane.

Ten thousand years ago, it discovered Runeterra.

Once the Void successfully crosses the boundary and enters the Material Plane, it will be an unprecedented disaster for all beings in Runeterra. Everything will be devoured by the Void.

Ato's ultimate goal after transmigration was to completely eradicate the Void.

He liked Runeterra and wished for it to be as peaceful as it was today, every single day.

The moment the Void was annihilated, its source power would be exposed. Utilizing this energy, Aatrox could also be destroyed.

"Speaking of which, among your methods, the third one is the hardest to complete compared to the first two, isn't it?"

"That's right, it's almost impossible to complete, so we should focus on the first two."

"Ryze is collecting the Runes, and we need to search for them too. As for the Void, they will break through the planes and enter Runeterra on a large scale sooner or later."

Method Three: The Aspect of Creation personally descends.

The Aspect of Creation, Aurelion Sol, was born during the chaotic period of the universe.

He soared through the heavens, creating stars. Most planets in the universe were created by him.

More than six thousand years ago, the Aspects forged a crown and gave it to mortals, praying for the Dragon King's descent. The Dragon King gladly accepted but was drained of power by the crown, which was then used by mortals.

The Dragon King was furious but helpless. If he dared to descend punishment, the crown would destroy other planets in the universe.

These planets were all Aurelion Sol's creations, cherished by him. He could only let them drain his power, but he never descended to Runeterra again after that.

The vessel that received the power in Runeterra was the Sun Disc.

"Something's not right," Aatrox suddenly changed the subject. "I feel a power approaching here, from the southeast."

"Southeast?" Ato recalled the map of Runeterra he saw in the real world. "It's the Shadow Isles!"