"Now, all we have to do is wait for reinforcements." Chen Ce stepped out of the house with his spear in hand, spinning its shaft. "And, while we're at it... wipe out every last one of these damned Noxian invaders."
Though Yasuo still had questions, he said nothing more and focused entirely on the battle.
Nearby, Yone kept swinging his twin blades. He wouldn't blame Yasuo or Chen Ce for leading the enemy to the village and putting everyone's lives in danger. It had been inevitable.
If these Noxians intended to wipe out the Way of the Wanderer, they would have attacked the village whether Yasuo returned or not. As long as the village remained, another swordsman might master the Way of the Wanderer someday—and that was something they absolutely couldn't tolerate.
Yasuo's return might even help the village drive off these damned invaders.
Even if nothing else, at least... he could help draw the enemy's fire away from the other villagers.
Maybe this was the first step toward reclaiming his honor.
"We're fighting side by side again, little brother." With steel in hand, Yone broke into a carefree grin.
"Yeah, big brother." Yasuo looked just as eager for battle.
"Shall we use that move?" Yone asked.
"Let's do it. It's been a while," Yasuo replied.
The brothers exchanged a smile.
In the next instant, Yone crossed his swords over his chest and charged forward.
His razor-sharp blades and blinding speed unleashed a force so swift that it not only cut through the wind, but stirred it up as well.
"Twin Blade... Cleave!"
In the blink of an eye, he seemed to appear dozens of meters away in an instant. The fierce gust of sword wind at his side sent more than twenty Noxian soldiers flying high into the air.
"Here they come, Yasuo!"
"On it!" As the Noxian soldiers soared overhead, Yasuo leaped high and unleashed the ultimate technique of the Way of the Wanderer—Last Breath.
"Solieeikietong!"
With a clear cry in Ionian, the more than twenty Noxian soldiers suspended in midair all met their end—some had their hearts pierced, while others were cut down with a single stroke.
From a short distance away, Chen Ce watched their dazzling, flawless teamwork and couldn't help admiring them.
Yone might not have died and entered the Spirit Realm, nor been possessed by an Azakana or mastered the true Sealed Fate, but his swordsmanship was still top-tier. Even his human form's Twin Blade Cleave was formidable.
As for Yasuo, his mastery of the Way of the Wanderer was exceptional. Combined with his brother Yone's skills, they were incredibly effective—perhaps this was what people meant by "one plus one is greater than two."
Seeing something he'd only ever witnessed in The Rift left Chen Ce feeling a little wistful.
"These Noxians are pathetic!" After their first victory, Yasuo couldn't help cheering.
"Don't get careless, Yasuo... though you're right." Even the usually composed Yone couldn't help agreeing with his little brother.
"Are they after my life because they're afraid I'll ruin one of their new weapons?" Yasuo turned to Chen Ce again. "Like you said earlier. Is that why you helped me find the real murderer of Elder Souma? So I'd help you fight these Noxian bastards?"
"That's right." Chen Ce nodded without hesitation. "I cleared your name, and you help me fight the invaders."
Yasuo couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"That's only right! Absolutely!"
"I once swore to protect this land. I'll head to the front lines and fight bravely!"
"Mr. Chen Ce! Thank you for giving me the chance to prove myself!"
"You've done more for me than just clear my name!"
"This isn't a deal between us. You've shown me kindness twice over!"
"Hasaki!"
Yasuo darted through the crowd, nimble steps and a keen blade making short work of his enemies. Soon, bright red blood stained the rain-soaked fields.
Yone's twin blades were just as deadly.
Chen Ce nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Ahri, who was standing nearby watching the battle.
"Ahri, I won't be paying you for the next two days."
"Ehh...? Why not?" The fox girl looked puzzled and aggrieved.
"Because there's something more suitable for you to eat right now."
Chen Ce pointed his spear toward the distance, the corner of his mouth curling into a faintly cruel smile.
"The life essences of those Noxians... you can help yourself."
At his words, Ahri's amber eyes narrowed.
She licked her lips greedily, and long, fearsome claws suddenly sprouted from her ten slender, fair fingers.
"Then... I won't hold back..."
The fighting outside grew louder and louder, but Riven paid it no mind.
She wanted nothing more than to die now, and she no longer felt even a trace of attachment to her homeland, Noxus. She had risked her life for the empire for years, yet it had deceived her and sent her to her death just to test a new weapon.
That betrayal was etched into her heart.
She would never forget the sight.
She had seen through Noxus, and through its cruel, unjust militarism.
Now, she felt guilty only toward those she had hurt. All she wanted was to make some meager amends by dying... though she knew it could never begin to atone for her sins.
The swordsmen and the Ionian Resistance Army were fighting outside. She could have escaped easily, but she wouldn't.
Likewise, she could tell that the man named Chen Ce knew she wouldn't run—perhaps because he trusted her in some way.
She didn't know.
She only wanted to die.
After one last glance at the scene outside, she closed her eyes again, and that endless weariness swept over her once more.
Then a hurried voice roused her.
"Child, why are you still here?" It was a woman's voice, somewhat old and worn. "Hurry and run! The Noxians are coming!"
Riven opened her eyes and saw an elderly woman hurrying toward her.
"Are you hurt? Let me help you up... We have to hurry and get away!"
"I..." Riven pressed her lips together. "You don't need to worry about me... I'm Noxian..."
"What?" The old woman jumped in fright.
Before she could react, several more people rushed into the house.
This time, they were Noxian soldiers.
The soldier at their head promptly gave an order. "Kill them all. Leave no survivors—"
But he stopped halfway through.
He saw the broken sword beside Riven and recognized the writing on it.
"Captain Riven! You're here!" His face lit up, and he promptly changed his order. "Kill the old woman, then take Captain Riven to get treatment! With Captain Riven's help, this mission is sure to succeed!"
"Yes, sir!" The other Noxian soldiers were delighted to see one of the empire's bravest warriors.
Riven silently gripped the broken sword at her side.
Her expression was cold.
And... a little conflicted.
The soldiers assumed she was about to take up arms and fight, so they eagerly rushed forward to kill the old woman in their way.
But just as their swords were about to reach the old woman, Riven's battered body moved in front of her.
"Go away... I don't want to kill you..."
Chapter 35: Green Is the Color of Forgiveness
More and more Noxian soldiers surged into the attack.
Their goal was clear, and there was only one: take Yasuo's head.
In just a few short minutes, the once-quiet village had erupted into chaos. Every swordsman had joined the fight, battling bravely alongside the brothers, Yasuo and Yone.
Some questioned why the "traitor Yasuo" had dared to return to the village. A few hotheaded swordsmen even wanted to execute him on the spot, but fortunately, Yone held them back.
Yone couldn't explain everything right away, but he vouched for Yasuo's innocence with his life. And with the enemy at their gates, the others decided to leave Yasuo alone for the time being.
For now, driving back the hundreds upon hundreds of Noxian soldiers was the top priority.
They were a full warband, numerous and well-trained, with a squad of Black Mages among them. They wouldn't be easy to deal with.
Fortunately, the village had a powerful ally: Chen Ce, from the Placidium Resistance Army.
He charged straight into the crowd with a crimson spear in hand. His superb spearwork and nimble footwork let him take on a hundred foes as if no one could touch him.
He had his Counter Strike to thank for that.
The blades, spears, swords, and axes in the crowd couldn't so much as scratch him. Meanwhile, the Black Mages who could hurt him were afraid of hitting their own men, so they didn't dare cast offensive spells in their direction.
With the only attacks that could hurt him effectively "nullified," he was practically invincible.
With a fully charged Tear of the Goddess in his possession, he didn't need to worry about running out of magic and being unable to use his skills.
There was no denying it: Counter Strike was the perfect ability for dealing with ordinary soldiers.
"Hmph, none of you can even put up a fight!" Chen Ce charged through the enemy ranks like a wolf among sheep, sending countless Noxian soldiers flying with his spear.
At the same time, he kept a quiet eye on the little house.
This was Riven's last chance.
She could choose to hide from everything out of guilt and pain, seeking so-called release through death. Or she could live on, bearing the weight of her sins as she helped others on this land she had harmed, and eventually find true peace. The choice was hers alone.
True peace and redemption were often hidden among the thorns of what seemed like suffering.
To die in pain, betrayed and burdened by guilt, or to live in the peace of redemption and forgiveness... It all came down to a single choice.
"Captain Riven, what are you doing?"
Inside the house, the Noxian squad leader frowned, his voice growing stern.
"Are you... planning to betray Noxus?"
"Noxus betrayed me first..." Riven took a deep breath. Her exhausted, weakened body swayed, and the countless wounds across her body itched and stung. "I don't want to see anyone else die... Just go..."
"Leave no survivors—that's the commander's order." The squad leader gestured to several soldiers, who immediately surrounded Riven. "I don't know what you've been through, but I think your wishes now conflict with the commander's orders."
"The commander... is...?"
"Commander Emystan, of course."
"Then let them conflict... All I know is, I don't want to see Noxians make Ionians bleed anymore..."
"So you really have betrayed Noxus, Riven." The squad leader no longer hesitated and ordered his men, "Kill them!"
At his command, the soldiers, already poised to attack, immediately sprang into action.
Riven sighed inwardly and finally decided to raise her hand against her former comrades.
She took just one step forward and released a burst of energy from her broken sword, knocking them back.
Their weapons were all knocked from their hands. She could have killed every one of them then and there, but she didn't. Instead, she raised her sword, and its blade began to glow with an eerie green light. The magic in the blade surged forward, blasting one of the soldiers away.
The others hurriedly picked up their weapons and charged at the empire's traitor again.
They were getting ahead of themselves.
Riven sighed again. She had only meant to hurt one of them, hoping that would scare the others off.
But now, she had no choice but to tighten her grip on the broken sword.
Clutching the broken blade, she surged forward with her equally battered body. The magic in the sword formed a green magical shield around her, sturdy enough to withstand blades.
The soldiers hacked at her shield, their blades sending pain shooting through their hands. Just before Riven collided with them, she pulled back half a step and swung once through the air in front of her. A sudden gust knocked all the Noxian soldiers out of the house, leaving every one of them unconscious.
It was a bloodless victory.
Before you continue