Earth, a word buried deep within Li Lin's heart, locked away behind multiple barriers.
Not even his beloved Caitlyn had he revealed the slightest hint of being a "transmigrator."
Considering everything, it seemed only Zoe truly understood that he was not a native of Runeterra.
After all, as the Aspect of Twilight, she had been to Earth and witnessed that planet being consumed by the Void.
With Zoe's ability to traverse dimensions and her childlike nature, she believed it natural for Li Lin—who carried the world's blessing—to travel between worlds, hardly questioning it further.
However, this did not negate his fear of others discovering his identity.
The voice of "Ander" resonated from all directions. To shield his mind from the dark magic interwoven within the sound, Li Lin quickly sealed his armor, isolating himself from all external noise.
Yet, the eerie and inscrutable roar of Fiddlesticks could still directly affect the souls of humans; physical barriers did little to muffle its impact.
"AI, summon a mechanical engineer equipped with Hextech teleportation modules to retrieve the Banshee's Veil from my Hextech chest!"
The Banshee's Veil was an epic magical item Li Lin had purchased from the Essence Emporium to combat the nightmare demon, Nocturne.
This item generated a periodically accumulating magical barrier every fifteen seconds, with a maximum health limit exceeding one hundred thousand, capable of resisting most mental magic.
However, due to its unique properties, the accumulation of the magical barrier would disrupt the surrounding magical energies.
After his confrontation with Nocturne, Li Lin had buried it at the bottom of the chest, with no opportunity to use it again.
When he learned he was up against Fiddlesticks, he had already contemplated using it after notifying Jarvan IV.
But Fiddlesticks's sudden attack had thrown his plans into disarray.
After issuing his command, Li Lin called up the energy index detection panel and suddenly turned to the source of the unusual energy fluctuations.
It was a scarecrow dressed in ragged clothes resembling those of Andel, appearing exceptionally worn and tattered.
This scarecrow had a completely skewed, grotesque burlap face, with a mouth so wide it nearly split the face in two, revealing rusted, sharp teeth.
Its long wooden legs supported its sprawling body, while its wooden arms extended straight out. In its right hand, it held a rusty lantern emitting a dim, yellow light, lacking any warmth, radiating only endless coldness.
This was the Cursed Scarecrow—one of Fiddlesticks's abilities, a manifestation of his scarecrow doppelgänger.
Suppressing the sudden fear he felt upon hearing "Earth," Li Lin hesitated not a moment. He soared into the air, activating the armor's palm, arm, shoulder, and back defenses.
In an instant, the sudden burst of blue light illuminated the night sky as numerous matter disintegration cannons quickly covered a radius of several dozen meters around Fiddlesticks's scarecrow.
"AI, quickly mobilize the first squadron and all War Lords!"
The tremendous noise startled the nearby Demacian troops.
As Li Lin issued commands to the AI, he dispatched a nano-drone to urge Jarvan IV and the others to stay away and not investigate the situation.
He was certain that Fiddlesticks was angered by his recent actions; the energy index on the armor's system data panel had already surpassed the normal critical value.
Even a strange fire had ignited within him, a sign of demonic influence.
It was highly unlikely that Fiddlesticks would attack the Demacian soldiers; he would focus his rage solely on Li Lin.
However, to be safe, Li Lin instructed the AI to send a Spatial Mechanic Storm Squadron to Jarvan IV and his team.
All fears originated from insufficient firepower.
Having a solid understanding of Fiddlesticks, combined with the protection of the Project Genesis: Infinite Armor, Li Lin felt surprisingly unafraid.
He couldn't believe that the primordial demon, the embodiment of fear for all living beings, could absorb soulless machines and devour their spirits.
Li Lin cautiously surveyed his surroundings, constantly monitoring the anomalous energy data on his panel.
Suddenly, the armor's interior blared a harsh alarm; the radar detected a massive energy entity rapidly approaching his location.
"What the hell, the scarecrow can fly?!"
Astonished, Li Lin immediately activated his plasma blades and locked onto the dark flames closing in on him, firing dozens of matter disintegration cannons from his back.
As the earth-shattering explosions and blinding light subsided, the dark flames only hesitated briefly before charging toward him even faster.
Li Lin squinted, "It's unharmed…?"
Just as he prepared to activate the force field shield for a direct confrontation, a familiar female voice, laced with anger, pierced his soul, interrupting his action: "Did you call me here just to attack me?"
In the next moment, Morgana, still dressed as he remembered, appeared on the ground below him.
"Morgana?"
Li Lin paused for a moment, quickly descending to her side as he inquired with the AI: "AI, what's going on?"
[Apologies, Master. I could not recognize Lady Morgana's energy and mistakenly identified her as a fear demon; this is my oversight.]
With this reminder, he recalled their last encounter when Morgana had quietly bypassed the AI's detection.
"Forget it; it's not your fault." He shook his head, then lifted his visor to face Morgana's displeased expression. "I apologize; due to the urgency of the situation, I didn't recognize you."
The previous attack had not harmed Morgana, and she did not hold a grudge about it.
"I summoned you this time…"
"I know your purpose; there's a malevolent presence nearby that is beyond words, even more potent than I…"
Morgana's voice was low, her expression grave. "Is this the scent of a demon?! Is it the Primordial Demon?"
"Is it even stronger than you?"
Although Li Lin had anticipated this, the sensation of hearing it confirmed by the one involved was entirely different.
"It embodies fear, being the first among the ten Primordial Demons to be born, and also the most powerful."
Morgana shot him a glance, her violet-black eyes glowing with an inner flame, her brows furrowing slightly. "Since I inherited half of my mother's power, I have also inherited fragmented memories and knowledge of the Star Spirits of Justice."
"There are a total of ten Primordial Demons. Since the time of the Ancient Era, when humanity first emerged, they have wreaked havoc upon the world."
"To prevent the extinction of humanity due to their wrath, the Celestial Star Spirits intervened, sealing these ten formidable demons in various corners of the Rune Lands."
"Logically, this demon should not be walking among us."
Morgana had been the guardian of this city since the founding of Demacia. After parting ways with Kayle, she wandered along Demacia's borders, occasionally aiding humans who sought her assistance.
Yet, regardless, she had distanced herself from the mundane world for hundreds of years.
Thus, she was unfamiliar with the tales of Fiddlesticks circulating in Demacia.
"Perhaps someone summoned it, breaking its seal."
Li Lin recalled the tale introduced at the beginning of the Scarecrow story, a legend of this world:
A young, foolish mage summoned it from beyond the material realm into this world but had no means to control it.
It was older than any recorded history, darker than a starless night, an existence that the world had desperately tried to forget…
Perhaps this story and the legend were not mere fabrications, but had indeed occurred.
"Perhaps... but now is not the time to discuss that."
Morgana casually raised her right hand, the magic of the astral realm swirling around, enveloping Li Lin's armor in a layer of violet-black magical barrier that did not obstruct his vision.
"My magic can protect you from the influence of that demon…"
Just as she began to explain her magic, her perception suddenly detected countless portals available for teleportation.
Among them, the largest ones shimmered with the immense power of the "sun."
Morgana gazed in astonishment at the sky and ground not far away. "What is that?"
She too summoned a dark shield, raising her hands in front of her, palms ignited with cold, pitch-black flames, entering a battle stance.
Li Lin could not suppress a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. "Don't be alarmed; that's my mechanical army. Just like this armor I'm wearing, but it operates without the need for human control."
As battle mechs and aerial machines began to emerge from the Arcane Teleportation Circle, Morgana's expression transcended mere astonishment.
Li Lin took a cross-shaped pendant from the mechanical engineer who had rushed to his side and secured it around his neck.
Perhaps, once we defeat Fiddlesticks and obtain the orange essence, I can enchant this equipment onto my armor…
As he pondered briefly, a translucent silver barrier appeared on the inner side of Morgana's dark shield, solidifying over time.
Morgana gazed at Li Lin in silence for a moment before seemingly sensing something, abruptly turning her gaze toward the forest. "Be careful! It's over there!"
At that moment, countless crows burst from the forest, circling in the pitch-black night devoid of moonlight and stars.
"Don't leave me behind… Hurry, open the door! Open the door now!"
"It's right outside!"
"We can't get out; we can't escape…"
"Damn it, it should be just a story; it can't be real!"
"Don't open your eyes, don't make a sound… Mommy will protect you, will protect you…"
"Caw caw caw!"
"Moo…"
"Hrum hrum hrum…"
"—Hoo!"
In an instant, a multitude of lifelike voices echoed in the dark forest.
Not only were there the terrified whispers of the villagers, but also the cries of various livestock in panic.
A crystalline tear slid down Morgana's cheek. "I can hear the wails of countless lost souls… I must save them!"
Before her words faded, her figure vanished, transforming into a mass of dark energy that surged toward the forest, without even a word of communication with Li Lin.
"Hey! Wait!"
You just claimed you can't handle Fiddlesticks, yet you recklessly charge in?
At least let me provide some artillery support first!
Li Lin couldn't help but mentally lament Morgana's actions.
If she rushed in like that, he wouldn't be able to command the mechanical troops to provide covering fire.
"Battle Mech, Skarner, follow me into the forest to eliminate all evil beings tainted with dark magic. Aerial Mech, Storm, provide covering fire, and Battle Mech, Kog'Maw, stand by in the distance for precise artillery support…"
"And quickly assemble the Battle Overlord for me!"
Li Lin swiftly issued commands to the AI, following in Morgana's footsteps into the forest.
(End of chapter)
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