Chapter 276
"It was Rhaast Rhaast who told me many secrets about Shurima."
"Rhaast ...?" This somewhat familiar name instantly stirred up Nasus's memories that had been dormant for a thousand years.
He remembered the fall of Icathia... and what happened afterward...
Then a Darkin came with his servant to inquire about Chalicar's whereabouts... and then... in that circular arena... was Rhaast there...?
Rhaast...
"And then there's General Aatrox," Chen Ce added. "I've met Aatrox too, but his mental state right now... well, it's a bit unstable. He wanted to destroy the whole world, but thankfully he's calmed down now."
"And Aatrox...?" Another familiar name, which added fuel to Nasus's already surprised heart.
These two names have long since vanished into the annals of history, unknown even to the native Shurima people, who are passionate about historical research—that history has been sealed away. If the young man before him knew...
There's a very high chance he's had contact with those two people.
The Ascended General Aatrox, and his Centurion Rhaast.
Have they woken up yet? Where are they now?
"Yes, they have both awakened... Rhaast is currently in Noxus in the west, Aatrox is in Freljord in the north," Chen Ce replied.
"Have you been in contact with them?"
"Certainly."
"They... didn't kill you?"
"At first I did consider it, but later... Rhaast was willing to lend me his power, while the crazed Aatrox was fighting the Watchers in the depths of Freljord."
"I'll lend it to you... the Watchers..."
This answer was not just unexpected for Nasus, it almost made his brain freeze—he could hardly imagine what those two had gone through.
Especially Aatrox... the Watchers? Has that monster reappeared in Runeterra...? How could Aatrox fight it? Its power...
Nasus pondered for a moment.
After a long while, he temporarily suppressed the various questions, curiosity, and surprise in his heart—he had more important things to do now.
After learning that the young man before him had been in contact with the two Darkin, he couldn't help but trust him more. "You said you were going to deal with Xerath... Do you know how terrifying his power is?"
Even when he was still a mortal, Xerath possessed the strength to take on an entire elite guard, and now he has gained the power of Ascended... He has mastered the essence of dark magic, and his ruthlessness and cruelty strike fear into the hearts of all.
"I know, but I also know your strength, Grand Scholar," Chen Ce said with a smile. "I believe that with the two of us working together, we can defeat that despicable traitor."
"You... your power has also transcended the mortal realm?"
"In a way... yes."
Chen Ce drew the golden longsword from his waist and activated it with just a little magic power.
The Seraph's Blade erupted with dazzling holy flames, and that powerful aura made Nasus sense another kind of "god"—a powerful force different from that of the Ascended.
It is... the power of the Aspects.
Seeing this, Nasus felt somewhat relieved. "Alright... now I only have one last concern—if we fail, who can protect the last eagle king's offspring from Xerath?"
"My companion," Chen Ce replied without hesitation.
"Who?"
"The girl who returned from the Void."
Flames were being poured down from the sky.
A comet with blue-white flames shot out from between Xerath's outstretched arms, tracing a long arc like a giant boulder thrown by a catapult.
The first shot landed in the market, exploding like a meteor hitting the ground, bursting into fierce flames. Burning corpses were thrown into the air, like charred firewood. The burning hurricane was filled with Xerath's vicious laughter; the madness since ancient times found its most intoxicating pleasure in tormenting others.
Nasus quickened his pace, carrying his axe as he headed towards the source of the disaster.
He looked toward the horizon, where a cloud had gathered—dust kicked up by marching troops.
From the dust emerged the silhouettes of pack animals, accompanied by the beating of war drums and the piercing sound of bugles. The howling beasts were tethered to their yokes with thick ropes and driven by soldiers wielding spiked clubs.
A large group of tribal warbands, carrying various totems, were advancing towards the city. Lightly armed guerrillas, mounted archers, and warriors wielding scale shields and heavy axes... there were at least several hundred of them.
Nasus realized that a will was leading them. Normally, these tribes would fight to the death whenever they met.
"He's already made his move..." Nasus's voice grew even deeper, "That sorcerer who betrayed the emperor... he's not content with searching for the Eagle King's descendants one by one, he plans to massacre the entire city..."
"Yes." Chen Ce nodded, also looking at the terrifying battle group.
They were running out of Xerath's town and rushing frantically toward Vekaura — Xerath had clearly heard that Vekaura had a self-proclaimed descendant of the Eagle King. Of course, he didn't know it was an imposter—or at least he wasn't entirely sure.
"Come on, let's take care of these minions first..." Nasus gripped his battle axe, facing the berserk battle group head-on—this was a good opportunity. He could use this chance to see how strong Chen Ce was.
Nasus began to wield his battle axe, each swing felling four men. Bloodthirsty shouts and the clanging of swords followed them relentlessly.
A group of mortals, controlled by the witch spirits, rode their war beasts into the city. The panicked people fled between the buildings on the edge of the square, taking every opportunity to sneak into their homes, lock the doors and windows, and try to ensure their safety.
Nasus had visited other cities ravaged by invasion, and standing on blood-stained streets, he understood all too well how bloodthirsty soldiers would become after such a brutal war. Xerath would watch as every man, every woman, and every child of Vekaura was beheaded.
More fireballs crashed down like lightning, filling the air with screams and the stench of burning flesh. Bricks and stones were transformed into waterfalls of lava by the impact of magical energy. The market was engulfed in flames, and black plumes of smoke rose straight into the sky.
Nasus was starting to get impatient.
Fortunately, the young man beside him did not disappoint him.
"Don't stop, keep going; I can take care of these crazed warriors."
Chen Ce activated the holy flames of the Seraph's Blade, and with each swing, he could shoot out a sky full of flames, burning dozens of warriors of the battle group to ashes.
Not only that, he also moved quickly through the crowd.
[Sweeping Blade]
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
This tactic is extremely useful against large mortal battle groups that are not individually strong in combat.
In just a few breaths, Nasus saw the crazed warriors fall like wheat in a rice paddy—and Chen Ce was the sickle that reaped the wheat.
Soon, countless arrows and Xerath's magical fireballs rained down from the sky.
Nasus instinctively wanted to protect the people of Shurima, but Chen Ce was one step ahead of him—
"Don't stop!" the young man repeated, then swung his sword upwards.
It was as if he was slicing through the air.
But the breeze obeyed his call within the blade.
The breeze quickly gathered, soon becoming a terrifying gale, which then acted like a solid wall, blocking the arrows and fireballs.
Call--!
The Wind Wall swallowed up those terrible attacks.
Even the most knowledgeable Shurima Scholar had never seen such a miraculous skill.
Nasus was momentarily stunned.
This strength... far exceeded his expectations. Now, he was also quite confident that he could take down Xerath.
While he was distracted, a strange blue figure suddenly appeared in mid-air not far away.
A surge of awakened magic floated above its host. It was a spirit with crackling, surging dark energy, bound by iron chains and a fragment of an ancient sarcophagus. It was a rebel against Shurima, and the one who brought about the downfall of an ancient empire.
"Xerath ..." Nasus gritted his teeth and uttered his name.
The latter also noticed this scholar who resembled a jackal.
He then sneered, "After a thousand years, you still look like a stray dog... Nasus, hasn't your master fed you enough bones?"
"Traitor..." Nasus's anger was completely ignited.
He gripped the axe handle tightly, the power of his soul swirling around the blade. After thousands of years, he once again summoned the power of Ascended.
This power made him incredibly ugly, but it also granted him an almost godlike status.
"Xerath--!"
Nasus roared and charged forward.
Xerath continued to laugh mockingly, "Laughable howling! You're quite the dutiful big dog, perhaps I should ask Azir for a solid gold leash to reward you--"
Thump!
A dull thud suddenly interrupted Xerath's mocking words.
A tiny figure soared into the sky... and then dragged him back to the ground.
He stared in astonishment at the young man before him—a mere mortal.
He didn't understand why the other person could jump so high, or why they had the strength to pull him down.
What puzzled him even more was the other party's next move—
That strange young man... actually opened his mouth towards him...?
Click!
The teeth of mortals bit into the magical sarcophagus.
Chen Ce tried his best to close his upper and lower jaws.
He bit off a small piece of the stone coffin.
Then it is transformed into powerful magic for one's own use.
"I'm going to eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat!"
Chapter 120 Xerath: Are you serious?
Xerath never imagined that he would one day be devoured.
The strange young man pulled him down from the sky without saying a word, and then started biting him wildly.
They were like... a rabid dog that had gone mad with hunger.
But with those laughable teeth, you think you can stop Shurima's greatest wizard?
Are you kidding me!
"My magic... transcends the mundane world!"
At this moment, Xerath did not have a true physical body, but was composed only of a broken sarcophagus and terrifying magic. He struggled to his feet, and the magic core within his body erupted with a powerful burst of energy.
Boom--!
The blinding blue light engulfed everything around it, and Chen Ce, who was at the center of the energy burst, was also thrown hundreds of meters away by this terrifying force.
He used the Seraph's Blade to block the incoming magic, but the impact still caused him internal pain and blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
This made him truly feel Xerath's power—which was precisely his main reason for rushing up and taking a bite out of him without any regard for anything else.
This power is so strong... it's truly far greater than that of an ordinary Ascended.
Perfect dark magic combined with powerful enough ascension energy...
One person really can't handle him.
Bringing Nasus along was the right decision.
"Come on, Nasus, it's time for us to cooperate." Chen Ce turned to the burly man with the dog-headed head on the other side and rekindled the flames of the Seraph's Blade.
Xerath's warband has been mostly dealt with; the remaining survivors can be handled by the local Vekaura warriors. Besides, as long as Xerath is put under enough pressure, he won't be able to focus on controlling those people.
Now all we need to do is focus on attacking Xerath.
"Ah..." Nasus responded dully, preparing to launch an attack.
At the same time, he was once again shocked by Chen Ce —not only by his extraordinary strength, but also...
So, his earlier statement about "giving him Xerath to eat" was actually meant literally...?
Do you really eat a coffin raw...?
Nasus, marveling at the sight, launched an attack on Xerath.
In the blink of an eye, his motionless figure transformed into an indistinct afterimage. He leaped into the air, his axe slashing downwards in a long arc. The blade struck him squarely in the chest, the iron rings of the chain shattering from the impact.