The Kthaons people are a nomadic tribe in the vast desert of Dazar. Unlike other nomadic groups, their survival relies solely on violence.
Usually, marauders wear earthy yellow attire, camouflaging themselves in the environment to lure unsuspecting travelers into traps, committing robbery and murder.
When they encounter a caravan or nomadic group lacking sufficient defenses, these people gather in groups, surrounding and wearing down their victims, eventually annihilating them.
It was in one of these raids on the Bel'zhun trading caravan that Sivir's family was brutally murdered by these Kthaons marauders.
The horrifying screams of her parents as they were grievously wounded, their desperate pleas for the young girl to run, and their eventual deaths in a pool of blood—all these unforgettable memories turned into nightmares, waking Sivir in countless nights.
If not for the proximity of the incident to Bel'zhun and the timely arrival of the governor with a military force, she might not have survived to become the person she is today.
Despite avenging her family a year ago by personally killing the Kthaons leader and his elite warriors, revenge did not bring the relief she sought. Instead, it left her feeling more empty.
Sivir tightened her grip on the center hilt of her crossblade, her expression grave.
"Kthaons people again... cursed be these butchers of Dazar!" cursed her lieutenant beside her.
Sivir glanced at Arthur, her young subordinate who had once helped her overthrow the original leader. "Have you forgotten my teachings, Arthur? Keep your calm in any situation."
Under her guidance, Arthur, already irritable due to the weather, instantly regained composure.
"Good. Gather your spirits," Sivir said, turning her face back, her gaze piercing into the distance.
Li Lin, surrounded by mercenaries in the center, frowned. He discreetly controlled three Storm Drones, sending them high into the air, ready for battle.
At this moment, Cassiopeia, accompanied by two guards, approached him, asking, "Are you going to intervene?"
"Let's assess the situation," Li Lin responded calmly, then pushed through the mercenaries, heading toward Sivir on the outskirts.
Wearing impenetrable mechanical armor, mercenaries weren't concerned for his safety, allowing him to proceed.
Kassadin, who had just returned to the crowd after letting the Skallashi drink water, walked directly towards Li Lin from another direction, eventually standing next to him and Sivir.
Kassadin glanced at Li Lin, then asked Sivir in a low voice, "Need my help?"
"You're not adept in combat, right? Despite the power armor. Better not complicate things. Leave it to us," Sivir replied without looking back, rejecting Kassadin.
Just as Kassadin was about to retort, Li Lin held him back, shaking his head.
Both stood silently behind Sivir until the dust cloud approached the hidden oasis.
A group of horse-riding nomads, armed with various weapons, emitted excited shouts and roars, only stopping when they reached about a dozen meters away from the heavily armed mercenary group.
As the dust settled, the leader of the Kthaons, a middle-aged man with a grim scar on his face and dark skin, squinted at Sivir.
Soon, his attention shifted to Li Lin and Kassadin, both clad in power armor.
What in the world...
The Kthaons leader rubbed his thick-bearded chin, contemplating.
He clearly had no prior knowledge of Piltover's Hextech technology, let alone Li Lin's power armor.
While he pondered, Sivir spoke with a solemn expression, "Kthaons people, we have no intention of feuding with you. If you desire this water source, we can leave immediately."
Intentionally avoiding mentioning her mercenary group's name, she feared being recognized, leading to unnecessary trouble.
Typically, desert bandits wouldn't pick fights with larger, more significant mercenary groups unless the escorted cargo was exceptionally valuable, prompting them to take risks.
If the raiders found themselves overmatched, their cunning would kick in, swiftly utilizing their mobility and the mercenaries' reluctance to pursue to escape.
Sivir, this time leading several dozen troops, with Cassiopeia's guards numbering over a dozen, had a numerical advantage over the Kthaons bandits.
Moreover, her people had already replenished their water supply at this oasis, making it worthwhile to avoid a bloody confrontation.
Sivir's thought was that the new Kthaons leader, unfamiliar with her mercenary group, wouldn't risk a confrontation given the circumstances.
Their goal likely was the oasis. Plus, her group was fatigued from the morning's journey, rendering a conflict unfavorable.
The oasis, with its rich greenery, was their only aim. The Kthaons group seemed to hesitate, considering the unfamiliar power armor technology.
Just as Sivir expected.
However, Sivir's iconic attire and crossblade weapon betrayed her.
"War goddess of Nashramae, Sivir... hehe, how much longer do you plan to pretend with me?" The leader of the Kthaons, with a sharp curved knife at his waist, pointed towards Sivir, smirking coldly.
Damn it, sometimes being famous is a curse...
Sivir cursed inwardly, but her face displayed a bewildered expression with a smile. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Stop pretending!" The leader suddenly raged. "A year ago, you killed my father, and I won't forget this blood feud!"
So, that old guy was your dad? Well, then I must say he died well.
Sivir coldly snorted inwardly while tightening her grip on the Chalicar in her hand.
It seems like things won't end well today.
"They are wanted criminals. I'm just here for that bag of light coins." Sivir, looking at the increasingly gloomy expression on the man's face, intentionally chuckled and continued, "Let me think... a bandit leader and 24 elite warriors are only worth 50 gold discs. Their lives are really cheap."
While provoking this obviously prepared group of Kthaons bandits with her words, Sivir carefully observed the leader and his subordinates' movements, calculating where the crossblade might drop if she threw it.
"...You!"
The Kthaons leader's face turned red with anger at Sivir's words. He gasped for breath, unable to say a word.
After a moment, just as the Kthaons leader was about to order his subordinates to launch the first round of attacks with arrows, and Sivir was ready to throw Chalicar to end his life, Li Lin untimely spoke up:
"So, has the situation now reached an irreconcilable point?"
Both Sivir and the Kthaons leader frowned simultaneously.
"This isn't a statue, but a living person? Well, that's impressive. So, this is an armor?" The leader laughed heartily. "Your armor is excellent, now, let's..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud "boom" echoed in the air, startling everyone except Li Lin.
At the same time, the smile on the Kthaons leader's face froze, and a blood hole appeared on his forehead.
The next second, he, whose life was fleeting, fell from his horse, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Boss!"
"Leader?!"
"What was that sound?"
"What's going on?"
"..."
Li Lin calmly looked at the group of panicked bandits, sarcastically saying, "Pitiful, not even worth considering as elite monsters..."
Immediately, he moved his thoughts and directed three aerial mechs, Storm Machines, which had been floating in the air, to descend.
Just now, one of the mechs locked onto the Kthaons leader and fired, determining the fate of this foolish fellow.
"What is that?!"
"Vultures?"
"Fool, how could vultures be such iron lumps..."
"..."
Assisted by the "smart auxiliary chip," Li Lin had the weapons systems of the Storm Machines lock onto all the bandits before him.
For these guys who didn't value human life and committed murder and robbery, keeping them alive would only mean trouble.
Li Lin took a deep breath. While this group of bandits was still in shock, he gave the order to the three Storm Machines:
"Fire."
(End of this chapter)
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