The battle between Ionia and Noxus is mainly characterized by Noxus's comprehensive breakthrough.
In just three days, Noxus advanced nearly 100 kilometers, putting immense pressure on the Ionia Defense Army.
Unlike previous Noxus armies, this time the Noxus did not choose to plunder and Carnage; instead, they destroyed villages and towns along the way and then captured the Ionia.
On the territories they conquered, the Noxus had their prisoners dig trenches, as if they wanted to turn all the conquered land into part of the battlefield.
This bizarre scene left the Ionia side completely baffled, but they were also helpless.
On the fourth day, reinforcements from the heart of Ionia finally arrived.
The first to arrive were the entirely masked Order of Shadow and the Vastaya coalition led by Xayah.
With the addition of the powerful Master of Shadows, and the Order of Shadow dedicated to slaughter, the Ionia Defense Army finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The addition of fresh troops helped the Ionia, who had been suffering heavy losses, regain some morale, while the Noxus slowed their offensive.
After a fierce but brief clash at the front lines, both sides withdrew, awaiting the next encounter.
The entire land of Ionia was thick with the Yakumi, and everyone knew it.
With reinforcements arriving from Ionia sides, the true epic battle is about to begin.
Ionia
"It seems to be much more troublesome than I imagined."
Jie's voice was cold and hoarse; one could only hear his voice, not see him.
"Those Noxus are more troublesome than I've ever encountered before, and those glowing guys, my feathers almost couldn't penetrate their defenses."
As Xia recalled the Arcane Warrior she had briefly clashed with, her brow furrowed slightly, and Luo gently took her arm.
The Vastaya dislike war, but a few days ago they received a call from the Spirit of Nature, urging them to stop the Noxus invasion.
Therefore, Xia and Luo led the warriors of their tribe on a long journey to the battlefield to fight in order to protect their homeland.
However, to their surprise, the Noxus army had improved even further than before, exceeding their expectations.
"Yes, they are very strong." Irelia sighed. "We have lost many comrades during this time."
Master Yi once said that he encountered a mysterious and extremely powerful Noxus mage, and that Noxus's power might be related to him.
Mentioning Master Yi inevitably brings a pang of sadness to everyone, as they all witnessed his severed head displayed on the Noxus mast.
No one expected that the Sword Saint, known as the strongest swordsman in human history, would perish in a simple surprise attack.
Master Yi's death dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Ionia.
"Don't be discouraged, we're here, and everything will return to balance."
A deep, steady voice rang out, followed by a soft purple light.
A heavily disguised ninja appeared beside Irelia; the newcomer was none other than Shen, the Eye of Twilight.
"Hmph!" The being in the shadows snorted coldly, then quietly retreated.
Even though they were fighting for Ionia, their differing ideologies made it impossible for Zed to share a room with his former comrades.
"Master Shen! You've arrived too!" Irelia exclaimed with some surprise, and the others beside her also looked delighted.
"Yes, I'm here, and not just me, the others will be here soon."
Shen's eyes held an unchanging calm as he spoke good news.
"Others? You mean... could it be?!"
Meeting Irelia's surprised gaze, Shen nodded.
"Yes, many people. Besides the Kinkou Order, Your Excellency the Karma, as well as ascetics from the monastery, monks, and members of other sects have come."
"All the children of the First Lands will come to defend their home, determined to restore Ionia to Ionia."
Shen's words were like a shot in the arm, providing strong support to the heroes and commanders present.
Heaven knows how much suffering they endured in the face of Noxus's powerful offensive. If it weren't for their homes being right behind them and having nowhere else to retreat, many of them would have fled long ago.
Only a war to defend one's homeland can make people overlook the terrifying casualty ratio and allow one to hold out for so long under Noxus's invasion.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment, we will surely win!"
Ionia received reinforcements, while Noxus's second wave of troops arrived on the distant sea.
Elite troops mobilized from all over the country landed on the coast, including Kelrak, the first to submit to Xu Xiao, and his Blood Shadow Legion.
The well-disciplined troops and various powerful alchemical weapons were transported from the warships to the pre-prepared defensive fortifications.
Clearly, from the very beginning, Darius knew when his allies would arrive.
Of course, the truly crucial support wasn't just the army of these mortals, but rather the colossal teleportation array that shone brightly on the ground as the Noxus mages chanted their incantations.
As the light from the magic circle dimmed, hundreds of Arcane Warrior appeared in the center of the circle, surrounding their master who sat on the throne.
Even the proud Darius bowed his head in respect upon seeing the figure in the center, and Kelrak, disregarding his image, rushed forward to pay homage.
"My great Archmage, your loyal guards welcome you."
Xu Xiao slowly rose from the throne. To be honest, it had been a long time since he had enjoyed the worship of mortals.
Having experienced the service of believers, he had long since scorned the worship that came with the authority of mortals.
However, it's still quite enjoyable to revisit it occasionally.
Stepping down from the throne, Xu Xiao surveyed the fortifications along the coastline and sensed the planted Ley Line Anchor Point.
These powerful weapons, which he designed personally and led his mage corps to refine, were already present in his perception at every magical node in the vicinity.
They stand densely packed on the land of Ionia, and the magical energy they absorb is gathered at a specific location through a device.
"Well done, Darius, excellent performance. You deserve the credit for this mission."
Xu Xiao nodded, expressing his appreciation for Darius's decisiveness.
"It is all for the Empire, Your Excellency Archmage." Darius gave a military salute.
He didn't care about credit or anything like that, especially after taking the Arcane Potion.
According to Xu Xiao, his lifespan could reach a thousand years, and ordinary power and rewards would no longer attract his attention.
The conquest of Ionia was driven more by a sense of responsibility to the empire and a love of war.
"Well said. Now let's prepare for the real battle. You've completed the preparatory tasks; the rest is up to me."
Xu Xiao waved his hand, then began to plan and direct the entire battlefield.
The real battle is about to begin; this will be the moment that decides the outcome.