Three Methods

Sarah didn't know what expression to make.

A dangerous man of unknown origins and uncertain loyalties was calling another mysterious mage a good person. Could anything be less convincing?

"He won't pose a threat to you. On the contrary, you'll have his help. I made a promise to Raven. Since I've already gotten an answer from you, I'll help you deal with the Iron Hook Gang's attacks for a while. That's our deal."

Meanwhile, on the deck of the Siren.

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

Almost all of the Siren's crew had gathered outside the Captain's Cabin, pacing back and forth.

"Raven, you've been pressed against the door for ages. What have you heard?" one of the crew asked anxiously.

"Nothing." Raven shook her head.

"When the Captain's Cabin was renovated, the captain's privacy was taken into consideration, and the soundproofing was greatly improved. But I can say for sure that there's no fight going on in there. The captain's safe."

Just as the crew were murmuring among themselves, the door to the Captain's Cabin opened. The eavesdropping crew members instinctively took a step back.

Two people came out. Sarah glanced around and said, "For the next month, you don't need to worry about the Iron Hook Gang's attacks."

"What? Then what are we supposed to do?" The crew members exchanged bewildered looks.

Sarah looked at Ato. "Mr. Ato will be staying aboard the ship for a while, and he'll often go ashore to draw the Iron Gulch Gang's attention. With him around, the pressure they put on us will ease considerably..."

Her voice grew quieter. Wasn't this unfair to Mr. Ato? It was practically like tossing out a target...

Ato didn't seem to mind.

Night fell.

In the Resting Room Sarah had prepared for him, Ato leaned against the bed and thought about his plans.

Today, he'd asked Sarah the date, and she'd told him it was Nuo Yuan 983.

The war was only a year away.

A thousand years ago, a war had spread across Valoran and Shurima, devastating nations and civilizations.

After the war ended, the survivors in eastern Valoran were the first to rebuild their nation on the ruins of the old Noxii state. They named that year the Nuo Yuan First Year.

Now, regardless of the relationships between nations, this calendar had become the standard across Runeterra.

That nation was Noxus, currently the most powerful country in Valoran.

In Nuo Yuan 984, Noxus's emperor, Boram Darkwill, would launch a war against Ionia, the First Lands in the east. That war would have an indelible impact on all of Runeterra.

"Little thing, what exactly is so special about that mage?" Aatrox was curious about the mage Ato had mentioned that morning. Sarah didn't dare ask, but Aatrox had no such qualms.

"Remember the three ways I told you I could destroy you? The first is the World Rune."

The Demonic Sword of the Dark began flashing violently again.

"Hey, can you stop flashing every time you get excited?" Ato grumbled.

"Does he have a lead on a World Rune?" Aatrox asked rapidly, eager to learn about the Blue-skinned Bald Mage.

"He started traveling across the continent around the same time you broke free. In your thousand years, aside from looking for people to fight, did you do anything worthwhile?"

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

"His name is Ryze. His homeland was destroyed by a World Rune, so he made collecting the Runes his mission. Once he finds them, he hides them away. Objects with such immense power can't be left in the hands of ordinary people."

The sword continued flashing rapidly. "Find Ryze, and we'll find the World Runes? I didn't expect to get a lead on one of the methods so soon."

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

Method One: World Runes.

The five World Runes had existed since the birth of Runeterra, and each possessed the power to destroy the world.

But the power of a single Rune wasn't enough to destroy Aatrox. All five had to be gathered to reach the level of power behind the Sun Disc.

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

Aatrox was unconcerned. "Compared to the past thousand years, this is tremendous progress. It's better than having no hope—or being in despair."

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

"Probably Freljord. I was going to look for a Demigod there, but since you say even a Demigod can't destroy me, there's no point in going anymore."

"No, we still have to go to Freljord." Ato sat up straight.

"Because I came along, you didn't go to Freljord. That could cause a major shift in the balance of power there, which would be bad for the second method I mentioned."

Aatrox immediately grew anxious again. "In that case, let's head to Freljord as soon as we leave here."

Method Two: The Void's Primordial Power.

No one knew where the Void came from. It seemed to have existed from the very beginning.

It didn't belong to the Material Plane, nor did it have any contact with it.

But it awakened to consciousness. It began observing all things and yearned to enter the Material Plane.

Ten thousand years ago, it discovered Runeterra.

If the Void ever crossed the boundary and entered the Material Plane, it would bring an unprecedented catastrophe upon all life in Runeterra. Everything would be devoured by the Void.

Completely destroying the Void was Ato's ultimate goal after crossing over.

He liked Runeterra. He hoped every day could be as peaceful as today.

The moment the Void was destroyed, its primordial power would be exposed. That energy could also be used to destroy Aatrox.

"Come to think of it, the third method is much harder than the first two, isn't it?"

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

"Ryze is already gathering the Runes, but we need to search for them too. As for the Void, sooner or later it'll break through the boundary and enter Runeterra on a massive scale."

Method Three: The Aspect of Creation comes in person.

Aurelion Sol, the Aspect of Creation, was born during the universe's primordial chaos.

He soared across the heavens and created stars. Most of the planets in the universe were his handiwork.

More than six thousand years ago, the Celestials forged a crown and gave it to a mortal, begging the Dragon King to descend. The Dragon King accepted, but the crown drained his power and put it to use for mortals.

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

Those planets were all Aurelion Sol's creations, and he treasured them. He could only let the crown continue draining his power. But from then on, he never again descended upon Runeterra.

The vessel through which Runeterra received his power was the Sun Disc.

"Something's wrong." Aatrox abruptly changed the subject. "I sense a force approaching. It's coming from the southeast."

"The southeast?" Ato recalled the map of Runeterra he'd seen in the real world. "That's the Shadow Isles!"