Chapter 273
Sivir crawled into the catacombs through a narrow opening that could only accommodate one person at a time.
The putrid smell in the air made her wrinkle her nose.
But... she suddenly had a strange feeling--
It's like... familiarity...? A familiar feeling? She couldn't have been here before, but this feeling is...
She shook her head, banishing those unrealistic thoughts from her mind.
She began to carefully examine the underground tomb.
What she didn't notice was that the "frail noble lady" outside the cave had already concealed a highly poisoned dagger in her sleeve.
Cassiopeia's smile remained, but her eyes had turned somewhat cold.
Not only to her guide, Sivir, but also to the loyal guards beside her.
She had no intention of sharing this secret.
Only a dead person's mouth is truly sealed shut...
Chapter 117 The Noble Lady's Super Evolution: Snake Woman!
The smell in this catacombs is really unpleasant.
Fortunately, the air here is not highly toxic, and the oxygen content is relatively sufficient—perhaps the "earthquake" this morning caused outside air to rush in.
The servants lit torches, and the dazzling light shone through the murky fog, making it appear somewhat eerie and unsettling.
But who would be afraid?
Since they had the intention to "rob tombs," they were naturally prepared to offend the gods and spirits—those ethereal things had no meaning whatsoever; their only meaning was for the living to imbue them with significance. A dead emperor posed far less of a threat than a living slave.
If even the living cannot enjoy happiness, why should the dead be adorned with jewels? Let the living take care of themselves first, then consider the dead.
Sivir never believed in ghosts, gods, or karma.
She only believed in shiny gold coins.
To her, the tombs of ancient sages were merely "treasure chests" from which she could profit.
She didn't believe those dead people would jump out of their coffins and curse her as a thief.
A sense of awe? Ha! She can talk about that to those people in hell after she dies.
"Look, this is a magnificent and imposing ancient tomb!"
Sivir, holding a torch in one hand and her golden crossblade in the other, welcomed the greedy Noxus into the place with an embracing gesture—as if the place were her property.
"You can get everything you want here! Yes, everything! You can get everything you want!"
"Thank you, Miss Sivir." The noblewoman Cassiopeia gave a slight bow, her appraising gaze sweeping over everything around her.
She covered her mouth and nose with a jasmine-scented handkerchief, seemingly very sensitive to the musty smell.
But she really wanted the things here... Sivir saw this hypocritical act and felt a surge of disdain and contempt.
Oh, noble lady! Delicate noble lady.
In the firelight, Cassiopeia saw countless gold and silver jewels—inside those crammed chests. The locks on them had long been corroded by wind and sand, and could be opened with a gentle tap.
A dazzling array of jewels... each one priceless.
But none of these are what she wants.
The Du House Du Couteau has no shortage of money.
What she wanted was power.
Supreme power...
Let's keep going.
Urged on by Cassiopeia, Sivir led the group deeper into the tomb.
The narrow space gradually widened inside, but the dust floating in the air became increasingly suffocating. Sivir, torch in hand, continued forward, encountering many fantastical and magnificent paintings on the rock walls flanking the tomb.
The murals have become somewhat blurred with the passage of time, but the spirit they convey has become even more brilliant over time. The valiant warriors in the paintings are fighting against invaders from another world—those ferocious monsters.
The murals are so lifelike, it's as if that earth-shattering war is right before your eyes. The warriors of Ancient Shurima fought monsters in the desert, in the long rivers, on the cliffs... in every foreseeable place, and their heroic deeds stained the entire land with golden blood.
It's as if the yellow sands of Shurima were dyed with their golden blood.
Sivir's pace slowed. She was captivated by the magnificent murals.
But the noblewoman behind her was still urging her on. "Dear Miss Sivir, perhaps you can enjoy it later... We have more important things to do now, okay?"
"Um... sorry." Sivir snapped out of her daze. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of those strange feelings.
They continued forward, but soon their path was blocked.
Blocking their way was a sturdy tomb door, more than eight meters high and four meters wide.
It wasn't made of stone, nor was it any kind of metal... it was a unique material. A guard stepped forward and pushed it, then rubbed it against with his longsword, but to no avail.
This tomb door is so hard it defies human perception.
It's as if... it's been imbued with some kind of powerful magic.
It doesn't seem to be a human creation.
Sivir glanced at it briefly, then said helplessly, "I don't have the ability to destroy this tomb door... but the payment we agreed on won't be reduced, right?"
"Of course." Cassiopeia nodded, seemingly unconcerned.
Her beautiful, fox-like eyes... silently pressed against a small recess in the center of the tomb door.
That shape... was exactly the same as the information she had received...
It was a "lock"... and the key to open it was...
Cassiopeia hid one hand inside her sleeve.
The cold touch brought her peace of mind, while the deadly poison on the blade gave her a glimpse of the dawn of divine power.
"Let's rest here for a bit," Cassiopeia said softly, "And while we're at it, see if there's any way to open this tomb door."
"A good suggestion." Sivir readily accepted, then looked at the murals on either side of the tomb entrance.
The paintings here... are more vibrant and spectacular than the murals in the corridor we just saw...
Those warriors in golden armor... are they the legendary Ascended...?
And that sacred disc... one person is ascending the steps to godhood... another is gazing down into the distance... they seem to be looking at each other...
Countless people cheered and shouted on both sides... The priests prepared for the coronation on the disc...
This is...
Sivir suddenly had a strange feeling.
A... familiar feeling...?
She was certain she had never seen these murals before, but this feeling of familiarity...? Where did it come from...?
She was puzzled, and she watched intently.
She didn't even notice the noble lady walking towards her from behind—the noble lady she had looked down on the whole way.
That delicate, aristocratic young lady... her silent footsteps at this moment were like those of a top-notch assassin.
Cassiopeia slid a poisoned dagger from her sleeve.
She walked behind Sivir without making a sound.
She reached out and patted the other person on the shoulder.
"Hi, Miss Sivir."
"Hmm...?" Sivir turned her head subconsciously.
Before she could see the other person's face clearly, a sharp, tingling pain shot through her back.
Her eyes widened in horror.
The deadly poison traveled through her bloodstream and within moments robbed her of all her strength.
"Clatter... clatter..." She tried to call out the other person's name in confusion, but she couldn't utter a single complete syllable.
During her first blood circulation, the deadly poison on the dagger reached her heart.
The feeling of drowsiness quickly replaced the pain, and she was no longer tormented.
In her dying moments, she suddenly remembered the man who was about her age... she remembered his words...
Beware of women who are like venomous snakes; never entrust your back to them.
She understood everything...
But it was too late...
Goodnight, Miss Sivir... Sweet dreams.
Cassiopeia smiled sweetly, gently helping the other person to the ground, as tenderly as she would a lover.
The guards behind her didn't react at all. They already knew this would happen—they just didn't know their master well enough.
Cassiopeia never intended to leave any survivors... but now is not the time. Soon, they too will be buried with her.
"You can wait for me here."
Cassiopeia snatched the golden cross blade from the dead Sivir's hand—the key to unlocking the tomb.
Yes, that's what was used to open the lock on the tomb door.
It is a sacred relic left over from ancient times.
Its name is "Chalicar".
As the golden cross blade slid perfectly into the groove, the entire underground tomb began to tremble violently.
Countless grains of sand and gravel fell, as if the entire tomb were about to collapse; the guards retreated in terror, many unable to even stand.
Cassiopeia felt no fear whatsoever—only excitement, the excitement of power.
She strode toward the back of the tomb door, attempting to find that "almost divine power" inside.
She passed through many forbidden magical spells that had been broken by the cross-blade.
But... the emperors of Ancient Shurima will not welcome a despicable tomb raider.
In an instant, the damaged tomb released its hidden mechanisms.
A giant stone statue suddenly stood up and easily seized the cunning tomb raider.
It pierced the tomb raider's flesh with its venomous fangs, and the secret poison cursed by the gods instantly overwhelmed the tomb raider's fragile body.
Thump! After the poison was injected, the stone statue guard collapsed to the ground, shattering into a pile of rocks once again.
The tomb raider, Cassiopeia, collapsed helplessly to the ground.
The tomb is starting to collapse; something is about to emerge.
In her final moments before losing consciousness, Cassiopeia watched as the power she had long craved exploded within the deep sarcophagus...
"No... no...!"
Before being sealed in the sarcophagus, Xerath was a powerful Ancient Shurima wizard.
He was born into a poor slave family; his parents were scholars arrested by the empire, and their lives consisted only of endless enslavement and obedience.
But he was absolutely unwilling to be a "slave boy" at the mercy of others.
He possessed exceptional learning abilities and, by chance, was taken in as an apprentice by a renowned tomb architect. During that time, he studied even harder and used his intelligence to solve one problem after another.
Later, through his efforts, he rose from a slave boy to become a prince's page—even though that prince was the least favored of all the king's children.
Azir. That was the name of the young prince.
Although slaves were not allowed to have names, Azir gave this poor slave boy a name. He named him Xerath, meaning "one who knows how to share," but this name could only exist secretly between the two boys.
They shared the same love of knowledge, and thus became close friends, devouring books together in the library. Xerath spent his days with Azir, and his new identity exposed him to cultures, power, and knowledge he had never imagined before. He learned voraciously and finally dared to dream that one day Azir would grant him freedom.
In the years that followed, Xerath did everything in his power to assist Azir —the least favored prince with the least hope of inheriting the throne—and he actually gained a very good position among the noble class.