Chapter 73
In an instant, he felt Azakana's "mental pollution"—that extreme negative emotion, rage, sadness, resentment, sorrow... all kinds of negative energy rushed towards him.
His spirits instantly plummeted.
But the urge to kill is rising.
A strange power is spreading throughout his body—just like Yone in the original timeline who was parasitized by Azakana and forced to "coexist" with him.
Taking advantage of the peak effect of the Azakana Mask, Chen Ce immediately reassembled the greatsword and charged towards Mordekaiser.
He could clearly feel that his speed was much faster than before.
Its power has also been significantly enhanced.
Clang--!
The Black Stone Rune Greatsword struck Mordekaiser's "neck" once more, but this time his [Indestructible Body] was no longer as invincible as before.
Azakana's bonus became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
The cracks in the [Indestructible Body] grew larger and larger, gradually spreading from a single point to the entire body.
Chen Ce used all his strength to press the blade down as far as possible.
Finally, with a crisp sound, the [Indestructible Body] shattered completely.
Meanwhile, Chen Ce's Black Stone Rune Greatsword successfully pierced through the gaps in the opponent's armor.
Bite--!
Thump.
Mordekaiser's scalpel fell heavily to the ground.
PS:
A brief note: The official League of Legends website hasn't provided a definitive explanation for Ahri's origins (of course, this might change in the future, or even be retconned...), so some of the plot points regarding Ahri's background in this article are expansions based on the official, vague explanations (you could also consider them secondary interpretations). Please forgive any differing opinions.
If a clear setting is released in the future, please don't criticize Cola QAQ (If you absolutely must criticize, please... please be gentle...)
PPS:
------------Book Recommendation-----------
Synopsis: Having slain thirteen gym leaders, subdued thirteen heroes, and severely injured the legendary Honkai-mon, Rohan, the strongest Honkai-mon trainer, has never had a human partner in his life. Why is that?
An unnamed Ms. Atajina stated, "This is because he has decided to dedicate his life to Honkai-mon."
Miss Rossweisse, "Maid-type Honkai-mon Rita reports for duty."
Miss Mira, "I'm a grilled meat type Honkai-mon, really, believe me."
In short, this is a story about a boy who encounters (?) various Honkai-mon and eventually reaches the top of the world (probably).
The book title is here.
Chapter 85 I, Li Baisi, am the one who defeated you in seconds.
Mordekaiser's head was severed.
As the steel helmet landed, the ghosts in the Death Realm began to descend into chaos, and waves of wails echoed and reverberated across the wilderness, like a unique sonata in a desolate world.
Of course, their cries were "wailing," but their feelings at that moment were probably not negative—after Mordekaiser had imprisoned and tormented them for so long, what ghost wouldn't wish for his death?
Even though everyone knows that Mordekaiser's "head" being severed does not mean he is dead.
He will not die in this Death Realm.
His cruelty and tyranny will accompany him through his eternal life until the end of the world.
Even if his body is torn to pieces, he will still make a comeback in the Death Realm.
It just needs a little time.
A mere fraction of a moment in the face of his endless lifespan.
And Kindred was well aware of this.
"We have to go..." After a long and intense battle, even Kindred, the "Grim Reaper," was panting heavily. "Mordekaiser will regenerate... This can only buy us a little time..."
"Understood..." Chen Ce was almost exhausted, and immediately raised both hands to indicate his agreement.
While Kindred was opening the Gate of the Underworld, he glanced back at Mordekaiser's "head".
That steel helmet, gleaming with a green light... exuded a chilling aura of death.
Through the gaps in his armor, one could almost see his rage... his rage against all living beings, his resentment towards all betrayers and thieves.
The energy of death is condensing, the spreading fog is beginning to gather again, and Mordekaiser is beginning his resurrection.
The resentment he harbored after his rebirth is easy to imagine...
"Darling, let's go." Ahri grabbed Chen Ce, who was still staring at Mordekaiser, and walked toward the Gate of the Underworld without saying another word.
A familiar sense of chaos washed over them, and the group quickly entered the passage between the two worlds.
Without Mordekaiser's obstruction, this "time travel" proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
Soon, the group saw a familiar scene— the Shimmer glow of spider lilies, the fluttering lights like bees and butterflies, the dazzling Spirit Realm energy, and...
A thousand-year-old Spirit Tree that almost reaches into the sky.
The night was deep, and the warm morning sun slanted down, dispelling the cold darkness.
In the distance, there are mountains, the sea, and the chirping of insects; everything is so beautiful, as if everything I had experienced before was just a nightmare I longed to wake up from.
Kindred felt the weight of the earth beneath her feet, and half of her anxiety finally subsided—the other half would only be relieved once she completely left the boundary between the Spirit Realm and the Death Realm and escaped Mordekaiser's pursuit.
She immediately dragged her weary body toward the edge of the Spirit Realm. The mist dissipated automatically where she passed, as if the whole world was welcoming this "kind death god" who controlled the cycle of life and death.
Just as she was about to step out of the blurred boundary of the Spirit Realm, Ahri had evolved into the "Spirit Blossom Form," suddenly called out to the group.
"Wait... we have to save Lillia first."
"Lillia?" Chen Ce turned around in confusion.
"Did you find her, Ahri?" Kindred also somewhat surprised.
"Yes, I found it." Ahri nodded and pointed upwards with one of her jade-like fingers.
Several people looked up at the same time.
There was nothing in the sky.
"Where?" Chen Ce was even more puzzled.
"It's not in the sky..." Ahri noticed their confusion and immediately pointed in a more precise direction.
This time everyone saw it.
A familiar figure hung on the tall Spirit Tree.
A strange creature that is half human and half deer.
It was Lillia was asleep hanging on the tree branch.
She looked as peaceful as a little girl sleeping soundly in her mother's arms—well, she did indeed often call the Dreaming Tree "Tree Mother".
Dreaming Tree is the mother, then this Spirit Tree can be considered half an aunt.
"What is Miss Lillia doing?" Chen Ce asked Ahri in confusion.
"I'm not that good either..." Ahri scratched her head, looking equally bewildered.
"Perhaps... perhaps he's hanging himself from a tree in the southeast...?"
As dawn broke, the group left the Spirit Realm and returned to the real Dreaming Forest.
The festive atmosphere of the Spirit Blossom Festival had not yet dissipated. Some residents who had stayed up all night were still celebrating or tidying up. The streets were a bit messy, but mostly filled with joy.
The group, now wearing masks, found a guest room to rest temporarily, which also provided a proper place for Lillia was still "sleeping," to sleep—it was too strange for her to "sleep" in a tree.
Hmm... okay, it's called sleeping, but it's actually more like a "coma".
The commotion we made when we rescued her from the tree was so loud, yet we couldn't wake her, which was really worrying.
And her body is also... undergoing some subtle changes.
Ahri could feel the magic power within her growing stronger, like a balloon that was constantly expanding—fortunately, it didn't cause her any harm.
In addition, her appearance has also changed a little - her long blue hair has begun to "fade", turning somewhat white, but with a faint lavender color.
Just like...
Like Spirit Blossom Lillia.
Knowing some "insider information," Chen Ce couldn't say whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. Even the well-informed Kindred had never seen such a strange phenomenon before. The group could only wait and see.
Overall, the Spirit Blossom Festival was a close call.
As for the gains...
Chen Ce touched the "Azakana" mask hanging at his waist, then looked at Ahri, who had evolved into her Spirit Blossom form, and felt somewhat comforted.
But there's still a small matter that hasn't been resolved.
"In the Dreaming Forest, there's an old woman who seems to be luring outsiders into the Spirit Realm to be devoured by Azakana... but I don't know if she's a wicked human or Azakana."
Chen Ce glanced out the window, but of course he didn't immediately see that damned old woman.
"That's right! That person must have deliberately tricked me!" Ahri also remembered the hateful old woman who had been coaxing them to participate in the Spirit Blossom Festival outside the Dreaming Forest last night and leading them in the direction where the spider lilies bloomed.
Upon hearing this, Kindred nodded and said calmly, "I will not allow such a person or spirit to disrupt the balance between the material and Spirit Realm. Leave her to me; I will handle it later."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Kindred." Chen Ce bowed with relief—this kind of thing was well within Kindred's expertise, so he was completely at ease.
"Miss... that title makes me sound like a human girl." Kindred let out a gentle chuckle.
The group chatted and rested for a while longer.
Once the sun had fully risen and the Spirit Blossom Festival was completely over, Kindred stood up to leave.
"Chen Ce, Ahri, it's nice to meet you, but we should go now." Kindred placed one hand on the mask on her face, and the Wolf Spirit around her pushed open the door.
"If we are destined to meet again, we will definitely meet again in the future."
"Was it when I was about to die?" Ahri, who wasn't very good at speaking, said innocently, "Then I still don't really want to see you all again."
"What are you saying..." Chen Ce quickly pressed down on the fox girl's head, then waved goodbye to the two "Grim Reapers".
"See you again someday."
Kindred smiled and nodded, then turned and walked towards the door.
But just as she was about to step out of the room, she suddenly remembered something.
She turned her head again, and her small hand, which had been resting on the mask, gently removed it.
Then, that cute little face was exposed to Chen Ce and Ahri's view.
Fair-skinned, dignified, beautiful... her lovely purple eyes revealed a hint of maturity, while the two "horns" that people had always mistaken for part of a mask quietly hung on either side of her head.
Those were a pair of curved ram horns.
It is also part of her body.
She also had a small, cute tuft of light blue hair sticking up on her head.
"I will remember you all, and I hope you will remember me forever." Kindred gave a gentle smile, her beautiful purple eyes curving into adorable crescent moons.
Then, she strode out of the room.
Her and the Wolf Spirit's figures gradually disappeared like a gentle breeze.
After Kindred left, only the three of them remained in the room.
Chen Ce looked at Lillia lying on her side on the bed and began to calculate the departure time in his mind— Irelia's side was advancing westward continuously, and the final battle was about to break out, and time was already getting tight.
If we could get Syndra's help and have her parachute into the battlefield in time, it would definitely reduce a lot of casualties—and might even achieve the most glorious record in human history: zero casualties on the main battlefield.
After all, Syndra is a super-ruthless character who can make an entire island float... At that time, wouldn't destroying a battlefield be a piece of cake for her if she just moved her finger slightly?
Even if all else fails, destroying the fighting spirit of those Noxus shouldn't be a problem—the consecutive defeats of the past two years have already caused most Noxus generals to lose their desire for war, and they are only holding on by orders from their superiors and a small number of war fanatics.
The more Chen Ce thought about it, the more important it seemed to be to win over Syndra.