Chapter 96

"The entire Second Legion has vanished... We may have fallen into a trap." Karma quickly reviewed the battle reports from the front lines, and within a short time, he had compiled all the current intelligence.

"They might have encountered other Noxian Legion intercepting them in Wuju, or perhaps..."

Karma didn't finish the second half of his sentence, but the meaning was already quite clear.

Irelia frowned, one hand already gripping the battle robe on the table.

Originally, as the leader of the Resistance Army, she was supposed to wait until later to take the stage, but now it seems... she may have to go into battle immediately.

"You want to go now?" Karma immediately guessed what the other person was thinking.

"We can't wait any longer," Irelia said firmly. "The situation is dire, even terrible... I must personally lead the charge to boost morale."

"Well... alright." Karma nodded and put down the battle report in her hand. "Then I'll go with you."

Upon hearing this, Irelia hesitated for a moment.

In the end, however, she did not refuse the offer— Karma, as a spiritual figure of Ionia, was better able to boost morale than she was.

The two quickly packed their gear and walked out the door without looking back.

Just as they were about to leave, a small white fox, who was sunbathing by the door, suddenly blocked their way.

It was a little white fox with nine big, fluffy tails.

Without a doubt, she is Ahri, who actively changes form—this little bit of sunbathing is more comfortable.

"Where are you going?" The little fox raised her pink paws, her voice sounding less alluring than Ahri's usual self, but with a touch more softness and cuteness.

"You are... Ahri?" Irelia paused for a moment before recognizing the little fox in front of her. "We're going to the front lines to provide support. You can stay here and soak up the sun, but don't wander off."

"The front lines? No, no, you can't go." The little fox with nine azure tails shook her head again. "If I'm not going, you shouldn't go either."

"The situation on the front lines is dire; we have no choice but to go!"

"But my beloved told you not to go."

"What?" Irelia frowned in confusion, her anxiety growing.

But Ahri simply lay down again, unhurriedly—right by the doorway.

"My dear said that no matter what happens, you must not go to the battlefield—if you feel the front lines are losing, just have the soldiers retreat."

"Retreat? How can we retreat?!" Irelia was even more anxious. "Noxus has already amassed a large army. If we retreat now, all our previous efforts will be in vain! The land we finally managed to reclaim will be taken back by them!"

"Hmm... I'm not quite sure either, but you just can't leave." Ahri shook her head and continued to bask in the sun. "My darling said we'll definitely win this war, so you just need to retreat when things get tough."

"Does Chen Ce have some other tricks up his sleeve? If not... now is really not the time to consider personal feelings!"

"My darling said that that white-haired, wicked woman will end everything."

"Miss Syndra?"

"Hmm... I think that's the name."

"No!" Irelia shook her head again—she had already learned of Syndra's situation from the frontline reports.

Syndra was indeed very strong, almost single-handedly disrupting the rear of the Noxus army, but... that was all she did.

She can't possibly decide the outcome alone!

Even if no one can hurt her, her destructive power is limited; the Noxus army will crush the front lines!

Moreover... according to frontline reports, Syndra is showing signs of fatigue and may soon lose control of the situation in the rear!

"Even Miss Syndra won't do... We must go and provide support!"

"You really are exactly as my darling said..." The little fox sighed in a very human way, then stood up and shook its fur. "My darling knew you'd be anxious, and also guessed you wouldn't trust that white-haired wicked woman."

"And then?" Irelia couldn't wait to rush out.

"Then... my dear said that if you insist on going out, then wait another half hour."

The little fox gradually supported its entire body with its two hind legs, and then gradually mobilized the Spirit Realm energy within its body.

In no time, the cute little fox transformed into Ahri was both adorable and alluring.

He also said, "Don't underestimate Syndra."

Dozens of magicians skilled in dark magic surrounded the safe house, seemingly trapping it like a turtle in a jar.

Indeed, Chen Ce's weakness is magical attacks.

But he did not panic. He calmly asked Morse, the former Second Legion Commander, "Why did you betray Ionia?"

"I didn't betray Ionia." The latter shook his head. "I just... never mind, you wouldn't understand."

"But you've partnered with the Noxus."

"Sometimes you have to learn to be flexible and adaptable."

"So, didn't the Pale Lady say anything to you?"

"The Pale Lady? Oh, I remember now... You've been in contact with her. So, have you established some kind of cooperative relationship?"

"Killing me might upset her," Chen Ce, avoiding a direct answer to the question.

"If she's unhappy, then so be it. Anyway, my cooperation with her ends here." Morse chuckled in a nonchalant tone. "She's using me, and I'm using her... When our interests clash, the cooperation naturally ends."

So, you insist on killing me?

"No, Ace, I won't kill you." Morse stood behind the group of Black Mage, his calm tone full of deception. "I've always remembered our friendship... I won't kill you, I just need you to do something for me."

"What?" Chen Ce asked calmly.

"Make Stardora stop."

"Are you trying to use me to threaten her?"

"A threat... I guess so," Morse said softly. "While she won't be decisive in the overall battle, her destructive power still makes me very wary... Let's try to minimize the cost."

"You really believe I can make her stop?" Chen Ce shook his head.

"I can see she has different feelings for you... Even if not, getting rid of you, this powerful warrior, would be quite good—I can then conveniently pin your... departure on the Shadow Assassin and Glick. The same applies to the Second Legion's desertion."

"Syndra will destroy everything."

"No, she can't." Morse's tone carried a hint of disdain. "I have a full understanding of her strength—including the current battle reports. She's running out of options, isn't she? She couldn't even wipe out Noxus's logistics forces."

"Then you're underestimating her." Chen Ce smiled.

"You overestimate her... Anyway, I'll try to use you to force her to stop first." Morse waved his hand calmly.

In an instant, dozens of Black Mage flooded into the safe house, making the originally spacious area incredibly crowded.

Samira was also surrounded, felt a sense of despair and even cursed Chen Ce in her heart—ever since she first met this man, she had never had any good luck!

Not even once!

The Black Mage pressed closer, and the entire safe house began to glow with magical light—they had already set up a magical barrier around it, making escape difficult.

Fortunately, Chen Ce never intended to run away.

He scanned the group of Black Mage with an appraising look, then nodded with satisfaction.

"Mr. Morse, perhaps you underestimate not only Syndra, but also... me."

As soon as he finished speaking, that terrifying aura of death spread out once more.

The energy from the Death Realm did not directly dissipate the magical traps set by the Black Mage, but it went straight into the depths of their consciousness.

Those familiar with dark magic immediately realized what was going on.

This is... the aura of... that one from the Death Realm...

"You studied dark magic in the Immortal Bastion, didn't you? Then I think you shouldn't be unfamiliar with this."

Chen Ce smiled and stood in front of Samira, then raised his hand to a Black Mage directly in front of him.

"I think Mordekaiser would be very pleased to meet you—his 'descendants'."

"...!" The Black Mage who was targeted didn't even have time to utter a warning before the terrifying aura of death enveloped him completely.

Upon seeing this, the other Black Mage immediately launched an attack on Chen Ce.

Unfortunately, their magic only penetrated Chen Ce's illusory body—he was no longer entirely in the material realm.

Various magical attacks awkwardly struck the walls of the safe house.

Samira seized the opportunity and decisively chose to "sell out her teammates" and escape, rushing out through the hole.

She could feel a terrifying dark magic force pulling at her legs, but fortunately it wasn't directed at her—these Black Mage's target was Chen Ce, so naturally they wouldn't abandon Chen Ce was inexplicably unable to attack, to chase after an insignificant "casualty."

Before completely dissipating, Chen Ce only gave Morse a kind smile:

"None of you will escape..."

The Realm of Death...

Syndra is about to give up.

But it wasn't because of a depletion of magic.

On the contrary, she is...

I can barely hold on to suppressing my magic power anymore.

Chen Ce had been telling her that she should fight a longer battle with less magic, just like she had dealt with the three Noxian Legion before—in other words, play house with those dense, weak mortals who were like insects as much as possible.

She had been slacking off as much as possible since the start of the war.

Things like throwing pebbles at people, using magic to float small stones, or sending tiny, insignificant people floating in the sky...

Even so, those frail mortals vanished far too quickly.

She was just playing around, but when she turned her head, she found that several military camps had been reduced to ruins.

Why is that?

How strange...

Can't they even carry a few small stones...?

It's just a small stone, about ten or eight meters in diameter...

"Truly frail mortals..."

Syndra hovered high in the sky, appearing almost like a black dot from the ground; no arrows or magic could touch her.

Her only worry now is that her magic is almost out of control.

If I keep holding it in like this, not only will it harm my health, but it will also definitely become more uncontrollable later on.

At that point, it wouldn't just be a matter of resolving the war instantly; it might also lead to the destruction of the "Resistance Army" that Chen Ce wanted to protect.

However... Chen Ce also mentioned that there are two situations in which she can slightly increase her magic output, and then gradually increase the intensity of the release until it is completely released.

The first possibility is that Chen Ce himself has arrived.

The second situation is...

After the Resistance Army showed signs of retreating.

"Now..."

The silver-haired girl looked down at the open plain, where countless black dots seemed to be advancing in the same direction.

If one side is advancing, then the other side must be retreating.

It's probably that "Resistance Army".

In other words... now...

This falls under scenario two.

"Hmm... it's really frustrating to hold back."

After a dismissive remark, Syndra slowly raised her hands.

The next moment, the earthquake began.

The next moment...

A piece of ground, as large as three or four football fields, began to defy gravity, and countless fragments of gravel and dirt, mixed with the terrified screams of mortals, scattered all around.