Chapter Summaries

He Shenyan confronted Lissandra about the cost of keeping The Void asleep and descended into the cavern, where The Void’s corruption overtook Lissandra’s senses and attacked him. Meanwhile, Kedar found Sejuani alone in an abandoned village, learned the Frostguard had slaughtered her tribe, and began reconsidering his oath.

• Lissandra warned He Shenyan that she would seal him in ice if he showed signs of corruption, but he revealed he knew she used mortals’ suffering to keep The Void asleep.
• He Shenyan entered the cavern beneath Frostguard Citadel and accused Lissandra’s method of feeding and strengthening The Void.
• The Void’s influence distorted what He Shenyan and Lissandra saw, and He Shenyan descended to the cavern’s depths as it attacked him with corrupted ice and tentacles.
• Kedar reached an abandoned village and found Sejuani hiding in a cellar with a Winter’s Claw axe.
• Kedar introduced himself, and Sejuani recognized his name from stories told by members of her tribe.
• Sejuani told Kedar that the Frostguard had attacked her tribe and that she had awakened among the dead; Kedar appeared to make a decision after hearing her account.

Kedar took young Sejuani hunting and began teaching her about killing, then told her how Ornn and Volibear’s feud destroyed the Forgeborn. He affirmed Sejuani’s future as warmother, while Lissandra recovered from the Void’s illusion and prepared to deal with its aftermath.

• Sejuani told Kedar that her mother had abandoned the tribe, and Kedar took her hunting to test her skills.
• Kedar killed a deer and taught Sejuani to strike decisively, then learned that the Winter’s Claw would winter at Naelzayaag and set out with her for the tribe.
• Sheltering from a storm, Kedar told Sejuani that Ornn had given him his axe and recounted how Volibear’s battle with Ornn destroyed the Forgeborn.
• Kedar told Sejuani that she would become warmother because of her own qualities, not merely her Iceborn bloodline.
• He Shenyan returned to Lissandra, warned her to clear away the dead and contaminated remains, and vanished before she could thank him.

He Shenyan discovered that the Void had broken through beneath Frostguard Citadel and returned to contain it, while the Frostguard fought to keep the creatures from escaping. Lissandra led the surviving Frostguard back into the abyss as He Shenyan considered turning the summoning array into a route to the Void’s realm.

• He Shenyan told Udyr that the Void was sealed beneath Frostguard Citadel, then left through a portal.
• Sigvar, Olar, and Hala fought Void creatures at the citadel gates, but Sigvar was corrupted and Olar killed him before rejoining the battle.
• Ornn recognized that Lissandra’s seal had failed and returned to Freljord with his warhammer as a horn call sounded across the land.
• He Shenyan replaced the True Ice in the abyss with black ice and discovered a summoning array was bringing more Void creatures into Freljord.
• Lissandra rescued the few Frostguard near the collapsing bridge, admitted her failure, and led the survivors down into the abyss to fight.
• He Shenyan vanished while weighing whether to reverse the summoning array and carry the battle into the Void’s realm.

Ornn defeated Volibear and rushed to Frostguard Citadel to stop The Void, while Kedar, Bahar, and Lissandra fought to contain the spreading corruption. In The Void dimension, He Shenyan rescued an armored warrior and discovered they could understand one another.

• Ornn fought Volibear, overwhelmed him with his flaming weapons, and hurried toward Frostguard Citadel as Volibear promised they would meet again.
• Kedar woke from a nightmare, sent Sejuani back to sleep, and resolved to return her to the Winter's Claw despite his doubts about his past.
• Bahar fought through The Void's caverns with Doom's Claw, carrying sealing runes toward the depths to halt the corruption.
• Ornn reached Lissandra above Frostguard Citadel, learned that Frostguard warriors were carrying sealing runes below, and leapt into the abyss.
• He Shenyan arrived in The Void dimension, rescued an armored warrior from a tentacle, and spoke with him about his armor's prayers and The Emperor.

Bahal fought a powerful Void monster until Kronos arrived and killed it, then delivered sealing runes to him before dying. Kronos joined the battle against the Void while He Shenyan dealt with the purple roots underground, and Sejuani and Kedar returned to Winter's Claw, where a sentry challenged Kedar.

• Bahal charged the towering Void monster repeatedly despite his injuries, but Kronos arrived and cut it apart with his chainsword.
• Before dying, Bahal gave Kronos a bundle of sealing runes and urged him to stop the Void.
• Kronos descended into the abyss, poured out a liquid that exposed the purple roots, and He Shenyan arrived to handle them while sending Kronos back to help the mortals.
• Kronos emerged among over a thousand soldiers fighting Void creatures and joined the battle, which Lissandra also observed.
• Sejuani and Kedar reached Naelzayaag, where a sentry recognized Sejuani, aimed his bow at Kedar, and demanded to know how he dared return.

Kedar confronted Xijian after returning Sejuani to Winter's Claw, challenged the tribe’s raiding traditions, and left after their brief fight, while Xijian revealed the tribe had decided to abandon those traditions. Elsewhere, Kronos Tiberius reflected on his unfamiliar world and spoke with Malithis the Headsman about the distant Empire he served, leaving her inspired by the prospect of joining its war.

• Kedar returned Sejuani to Winter's Claw and told Xijian he despised her and the tribe’s tradition of raiding Hearthbound.
• Kedar asked Xijian why she had spent the lives of three prophets to track him, and Xijian attacked him when he tried to leave.
• Kedar disarmed Xijian, warned he did not want Winter's Claw to fall apart, and departed after telling her they were even.
• Xijian told Kolo that Winter's Claw had decided to abandon raiding and found land, then sent him back to his watch.
• Kronos Tiberius recorded his thoughts about the unfamiliar world and the Empire before declining Malithis the Headsman's invitation to drink.
• Kronos told Malithis about the Empire among the stars, and she left the conversation proud and excited.

Aatrox trained Shuriman soldiers while Nezus investigated the prophet Malzahar’s connection to the Void and ordered the Shadow Guard away from Icathia. He Shenyan departed the Freljord with Kronos Tiberius after recognizing Udyr as his disciple, then returned to his Mage Tower and discovered that Feng had done something to his table and Zed and Shen were missing.

• Aatrox drilled forty spearmen and yearned for a war against the Void and the Aspects.
• Nezus read the Shadow Guard’s report about Malzahar’s past and growing reputation near Icathia, then ordered the guards to leave the area and summoned Aatrox.
• Aatrox told Nezus that prophets could be brought back to their senses through battle or by facing Kindred.
• He Shenyan and Kronos Tiberius met Udyr, whose training had strengthened him and helped him control the animals’ voices; Kronos encouraged him, and He Shenyan gave him a book and directed him to the Ice Witch if he proved ready.
• He Shenyan left Udyr behind and returned to the Mage Tower with Kronos, where he demanded to know what Feng had done to his table and where Zed and Shen were.

Kronos waited in the Mage Tower while He Shenyan advised Zed to follow his own convictions and began transforming Feng with dragon traits. In Placidium, Lacha overheard Noxian War Masons planning an invasion and ran to warn the Council of Elders.

• Kronos met Zed, who explained that he was studying under He Shenyan but had not yet become his disciple.
• He Shenyan challenged Zed's rejection of the Kinkou Order's past and urged him to follow his heart, then gave him a book to study as his new mentor.
• He Shenyan's experiments transformed Feng, who grew several times larger and gained the ability to breathe fire, summon lightning, and briefly ride the wind.
• Lacha overheard two Noxian War Masons discussing their orders to monitor the Mage Tower and prepare a decisive invasion of Placidium.
• Lacha escaped without being noticed and hurried toward the Council of Elders to report the invasion plan.

Lacha uncovered a Noxian invasion plot and warned Elder Dulu, while He Shenyan and Kronos discussed sacrifice and a better solution to an unknown crisis. Huaizhuo later confronted Dulu, suspecting that the warning had been staged, and the chapter left the elder’s response unresolved.

• Lacha warned Huaizhuo and Elder Dulu that War Masons were scouting Placidium for a Noxian invasion, prompting Dulu to increase surveillance and record the Masons’ faces.
• Kronos explained the dangers of psykers to He Shenyan, who described his own world and asked whether one person should be sacrificed to save many; He Shenyan said he had found a better way.
• Lacha recalled the War Masons speaking Ionian and realized that Dulu might have arranged his discovery, so he went to the council of elders at night.
• Lacha saw Huaizhuo sneaking out, then overheard him accuse Elder Dulu of orchestrating the encounter because Lacha understood Noxian and had appeared under suspicious circumstances.

Elder Dulu revealed that he had betrayed Ionia to bring his dead daughter Puna back, then attacked Huaizhuo. Kronos arrived with Lacha, killed Dulu and his accomplice, and left Placidium after the elders thanked him, while war with Noxus loomed.

• Dulu admitted he had helped the Noxians because they promised to resurrect Puna, and he fought Huaizhuo after revealing Spider-Man Noir had been sent after Lacha.
• Dulu defeated Huaizhuo and learned the Noxians had taken Puna, while Lacha escaped and returned with Kronos.
• Dulu attacked Kronos, who killed him; Kronos then killed the burly accomplice as Huaizhuo died after urging Lacha to run.
• Lacha testified before the elders, who thanked Kronos and offered him valuables as Placidium prepared for war.
• Kronos gave the valuables to Lacha to use or distribute to the poor, then departed after discussing the coming war and its causes.

Shen learned that Noxus was preparing to invade Ionia and tracked down Mayym, the retired Fist of Shadow, on Pelor. After explaining that Kusho was dead and asking her to return to stop the invasion, Shen received her agreement, though the details of the threat remained unknown.

• Kennen warned Shen that Noxus was preparing for war and said the Order needed the Fist of Shadow, who was no longer with them.
• Shen used the Spirit Realm to locate Mayym farming on Pelor, where she was raising her eight-year-old daughter, Akali.
• Kennen and Shen arrived at Mayym's home, and Shen told her that Kusho was dead and that he had become the new Eye of Twilight.
• Mayym welcomed Shen and Kennen but refused Kennen food, then let Akali play with Kennen while the others ate.
• Shen told Mayym that Noxus was about to invade and asked her to return to stop its atrocities.
• Mayym agreed to come out of retirement, but Shen could not yet say how many people Noxus would target, where it would strike, or when.

Mayym agreed to help Shen on the condition that Akali choose her own future, while He Shenyan learned Ivern’s history and confirmed that Noxus planned to invade Ionia. He revealed that Mordekaiser was hidden beneath the fortress of Noxus, leaving Kronos aware of the threat.

• Mayym told Shen that Akali must choose her own future, and Shen admitted he was still searching for the meaning of Balance.
• Ivern recounted how he had once been Ivern the Cruel, destroyed the God-Willow, and awakened as a being connected to nature; he refused to interfere in human war.
• Kronos criticized Zed’s swordsmanship and instructed him to focus on killing whatever stood before him.
• He Shenyan told Zed that Noxus planned to invade Ionia, prompting Zed to return to the Order of the Kinkou and warn them.
• He Shenyan told Kronos that an undead threat lay beneath Noxus’s fortress and identified it as Mordekaiser.

Swain sent Majeri back to Placidium after testing his courage and ordered his forces to breach the city gates before dawn. Kronos Tiberius annihilated the Sons of Blood Warband’s 432 drake-lizard riders, then mourned the warriors who had fought him without yielding.

• Swain killed a traitor and gave Majeri a chance to return to Placidium and serve Noxus from within.
• Swain ordered the Drakehounds, drake-lizard cavalry, and warband to attack Placidium before dawn.
• The Sons of Blood Warband charged Kronos Tiberius, who killed the leader and dozens of riders in their first assault.
• The riders injected their drake-lizards with syringes and continued charging as Kronos cut down their dwindling numbers.
• The last twelve members named themselves the Sons of Blood Warband and charged Kronos, who killed them and knelt to mourn their deaths.

Kronos Tiberius warned the Noxians that he had killed the Sons of Blood Warband, but Swain ordered the assault to proceed. As the battle began outside Placidium, Kronos charged into the Noxian army and fought their troops alone.

• Swain learned that the Sons of Blood Warband had vanished and sent War Masons to investigate before the scheduled assault.
• Kronos Tiberius killed one War Mason, spared Crofts Dale, and sent him back with a bloodied helmet and a warning for Swain.
• Swain confirmed Crofts was telling the truth but doubted Kronos's claim, then moved the general assault forward.
• He Shenyan told Kronos the civilians had evacuated Placidium, and Kronos chose to fight to protect their lives.
• Swain approached Kronos and tried to recruit him, but Kronos refused and declared that the battle would begin.
• Kronos countercharged the Warg Cavalry, killed many of them, and broke through the Rock Legion's sword-and-shield tactics while urging the soldiers to fight with greater resolve.

Kronos Tiberius fought Noxian soldiers until Swain released Sion, the resurrected Noxian hero, to face him. As Sion’s pain and lost reason became clear, Kronos prayed for the strength to end his suffering; their battle remained unresolved.

• Kronos fought off Noxian soldiers, while Swain watched and waited for Sion to arrive.
• Swain opened Sion’s cage, and Sion emerged carrying his great axe and briefly identified himself to Kronos.
• Kronos introduced himself and fought Sion, who seemed to regain a trace of reason in his presence.
• Sion told Kronos that he could not feel physical pain but that his heart hurt, and Kronos prayed for the strength to kill him and free his soul.

Kronos fought Sion until Blood Sacrifice transformed the fallen hero, but a brief appearance by the Emperor restored Sion to life and freed him from the spell. As Kronos and Sion resumed their duel, He Shenyan met the Emperor in a strange space and discussed humanity’s religion and history.

• Kronos destroyed the witchcraft furnace in Sion’s waist, but Blood Sacrifice enveloped Sion in scarlet armor and made him stronger.
• Swain recognized the spell as the Black Rose Society’s Blood Sacrifice and vowed to make plans against the mages when he returned home.
• A cold golden sun briefly appeared, and the Emperor’s presence restored Sion’s body and freed him from the scarlet magic.
• Sion and Kronos fought again, speaking about the Emperor, the stars, and the war among them before continuing their duel bare-handed.
• He Shenyan met the Emperor in a strange space, where they discussed religion, the Imperium, and the Emperor’s responsibility for its history.

He Shenyan learned that The Emperor had revived Sion out of concern for human life, while Kronos revealed his mission to end the bloodshed between Noxus and Demacia. In Ionia, Sion and Swain exposed the Pale Lady’s manipulation of Noxus and urged the soldiers to question the needless war, leaving Swain’s challenge about Ionia’s lack of an army unanswered.

• The Emperor told He Shenyan that Sion’s own will brought him back to life and that Sion’s survival was his payment.
• Kronos told He Shenyan that The Emperor had tasked him with ending the infighting and that Sion had become his brother.
• Sion and Swain discussed how the Pale Lady had manipulated the emperor and pushed Noxus into endless expansion.
• Sion seized a mage attempting to mind-control him, and Swain killed the other two mages who accompanied him.
• Sion told the soldiers that the Pale Lady’s schemes had caused pointless deaths, and Swain admitted that he had ordered the retreat because Ionia had no king to overthrow.
• Swain reminded the soldiers that Ionia had no army, challenging them to consider what their invasion would have become.

After the Noxians withdrew, Kennen assigned Shen to investigate their retreat and Mayym to deal with local traitors. Lacha returned to Kaer Morhen, reunited with Geralt, and told him about a dying world whose survivors he hoped to rescue.

• Kennen confirmed that the Noxians had retreated across the entire front and sent Shen to investigate why.
• Kennen told Mayym to kill people who had betrayed Placidium by accepting Noxian bribes.
• Lacha gave his money to Placidium’s poor, reflected on Huaizhuo and the undead, and left for the Placidium of Navori.
• Lacha returned to Kaer Morhen and surprised Geralt, who asked him to keep quiet about a woman he was seeing.
• He Shenyan teased Geralt about marrying the Sorceress, then described a dying world and said he was trying to rescue its remaining people.

He Shenyan confronted Yennefer at Kaer Morhen after she tried to use charm magic on him while asking to enter his Mage Tower. He met Ciri in Cintra and befriended her, then spoke with Kratos, who confirmed that Ciri had the potential to become a warrior and learned that He Shenyan intended to teach her magic.

• Yennefer asked He Shenyan to let her visit his Mage Tower, and he exposed her covert charm spell and criticized her for using it on Geralt’s friend.
• Yennefer left through a portal, and Geralt told He Shenyan that Anderson had reported the Swallow was almost grown.
• He Shenyan dined with Calanthe, learned that Dony and Pavetta were traveling, and went to meet Ciri in the palace garden.
• He Shenyan found Ciri hiding in the bushes, befriended her, and gave her a bracelet that let her understand the stable’s pony.
• He Shenyan found Kratos fishing, and they discussed Ciri’s potential as a warrior and He Shenyan’s plan to teach her magic.

Mayym hunted Noxian collaborators while Shen investigated the burial ground, and Lacha visited his Master to explore the Spirit Realm and face questions about himself. Meanwhile, Swain and Sion returned to the Immortal Bastion, where an attempted assassination revealed Katarina Du Couteau was targeting them.

• Mayym killed seven people who had colluded with Noxus and escaped without being seen.
• Shen found that someone had performed rites of salvation and purification for the buried Noxian soldiers, then continued his investigation.
• Lacha told his Master about the invasion of Placidium and his troubled feelings, and his Master sent him into the Spirit Realm.
• Lacha saw visions of powerful versions of himself but rejected them as unlike him, and his Master led him to an ancient tree and asked him to state his question.
• Swain and Sion returned to the Immortal Bastion after a seven-day voyage, and Swain planned to report to Darkwill while Sion criticized the state of the Empire.
• An assassin threw a magic-marked dagger at Swain, but Sion caught it; Swain identified the weapon as belonging to Katarina Du Couteau.