Upon beholding the suddenly manifested toy bear, Nasus's previously inscrutable and solemn expression finally shifted.
The towering and dignified dog-headed figure remained silent for several moments before he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, "Shattered... Childlike visage?"
At the sound of Nasus's call, the toy bear abruptly turned its head, revealing a broad grin that seemed to respond to Nasus, though its rows of sharp, steel teeth rendered the smile anything but endearing.
"Ow! It hurts! It hurts!!! Urgot is in so much pain!" The anguished cries of the rotund, stitched monstrosity shattered the tranquility of the corridor, as Urgot, resembling a wronged child, flew toward Katarina and Darius in distress.
However, his body froze mid-flight.
Suspended in the air, he lowered his head stiffly, only to discover that the toy bear had somehow drifted beneath him, now clutching one of his short legs with a paw. Although the toy bear lacked fingers, its mere touch unleashed a chilling, eerie force that coursed through Urgot's body, rendering him as immobile as an ice sculpture.
Noticing Urgot's gaze, the toy bear lifted its head, offering him an innocent and harmless smile, albeit one that revealed its jagged, steel teeth.
Locked in a stare with the bear, Urgot, whose mind was akin to that of a child, displayed a profound expression of terror that resonated deep within his very soul.
Pfft—
With the sound of a deflating balloon, Urgot's massive form gently swayed as if it had accidentally fallen into water, and then…
It vanished.
!!!
This bizarre spectacle caused Darius and Katarina to widen their eyes in disbelief, instinctively retreating two steps.
Yet, the towering dog-headed figure appeared to have anticipated these events, murmuring to himself, "You... have actually manifested the [Realm of Illusions]?"
In that instant, the once-majestic Nasus seemed to age thousands of years, his formerly profound and authoritative eyes now clouded with confusion and frailty, and his imposing stature appeared to shrink dramatically.
"You truly are as the prophecy foretold, descending with the mission to annihilate all," Nasus mumbled, as if struck by an overwhelming revelation. "Otherwise, how could you possess the [Realm of Illusions] amidst so many divine tenets of the Goddess?"
Nasus received no response, nor did he realize that the authority wielded by [Shattered Childlike Visage] extended beyond the [Realm of Illusions]. The toy bear, which had just nonchalantly erased a ninth-tier powerhouse from existence, seemed to sense something, twitching its nonexistent nose as it sniffed the air.
In the next moment, the toy bear broke into a joyful smile, signaling with glee—I've caught you.
The void was effortlessly sliced open by the blade that sprang from its paw, as it clumsily crawled into the rift it had created, disregarding the remaining trio, vanishing behind the gradually sealing fissure as if their combined worth paled in comparison to the individual it had discovered.
...
The sharp blade halted mere feet from the woman's face, its fierce wind chilling Sivir's delicate skin.
Within the realm of consciousness, the crazed cries of a demon echoed.
("It's coming! Run, human boy! That toy bear is on your tail!")
"..." The battered longsword hesitated, and Xiao Muyun sheathed it, extending his left hand without hesitation toward Sivir's back.
In that fleeting moment when the sword had paused, Sivir finally found a moment of respite from the relentless onslaught, and upon seeing Xiao Muyun's outstretched hand toward the Staff of Time, she instinctively retreated several meters.
Yet her struggle was in vain. Under the overwhelming disparity of power, she was ultimately helpless against Xiao Muyun's grasp on the Staff of Time.
Standing impassively in the void, Xiao Muyun coolly cast a glance at Sivir, who was several dozen meters away, before turning to leave without uttering another word.
"You..." Watching the man's retreating back as he carried Lux, Sivir opened her mouth, only to let out a frustrated sigh. "What kind of person is this? Rambling nonsense and then attacking without courtesy—how rude!"
"Today is truly my unlucky day," she lamented, fixing her disheveled hair as she turned to depart. "After finally stealing the Staff of Time from Nasus, it barely had a chance to warm up before being snatched away. Ugh… what a disastrous outing!"
Frustratedly tugging at her hair, Sivir suddenly froze mid-turn.
A delightful toy bear was peeking out from the fractured void, curiously observing her.
"..." After a few seconds of silence, Sivir muttered to herself, "So that's why you didn't kill me; you wanted to keep me around to attract this nuisance's attention."
A shimmering blue light enveloped her in an egg-shaped orb, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on her charming visage. This goddess, who typically faced everything with a playful attitude, now bore a hint of apprehension.
"Fortunately, I have experience dealing with manifestations of divine essence; otherwise, I would truly be in dire straits." She whispered, striving to maintain her motionless stance while nervously watching the toy bear emerge from the rift in the void.
The once palpable presence she had sensed nearby suddenly vanished, causing the toy bear to tilt its head in confusion. It floated in the void, pondering, but ultimately succumbed to the allure of another scent, drifting away without a second thought.
"Ha..." As the toy bear disappeared into the depths of the corridor, Sivir exhaled a sigh of relief. "It seems its target is indeed the Winter's Embrace. So… could the Childlike Goddess have been eliminated by the Winter's Embrace?"
"Tsk… what a grand spectacle! To have vanquished even the Childlike Goddess, the foremost of the divine realms—this Winter's Embrace is formidable," she mused, stroking her chin as she turned to leave, a smirk of mischief playing on her lips. "I should give him a proper compliment the next time we meet… if he's still alive, that is. Hahaha..."
...
Within the corridor, Xiao Muyun continued to traverse the void, his expression as cold as ever, now carrying a massive staff in hand.
"Um… Junior Brother, why did you snatch her belongings the moment you met Sivir?" Carefully scrutinizing the man's cold profile, Lux inquired, "Do you have a grudge against her?"
"…" The man, still in motion, remained silent for several moments before Xiao Muyun finally replied coldly, "This staff can counter that toy bear."
"Ah… I see." Lux nodded in understanding, but just as she was about to continue with another topic, she caught sight of the man's indifferent and ruthless profile, along with the seemingly boundless sorrow reflected in his obsidian eyes. She opened her mouth but ultimately lacked the courage to engage him further.
Within the realm of consciousness, the demon's voice carried a note of cheer.
("Tsk tsk… The Staff of Time! Just as I was about to doze off, a pillow has been delivered! Human boy, I've suddenly realized that ever since I met you, the despicable loli enthusiast, I've been cursed with bad luck! Ha… who would have thought today would finally turn the tide, hahaha… how delightful! Hmm… such a momentous occasion deserves a proper celebration, don't you think we should celebrate?")
Ignoring the demon's self-indulgent prattle, Xiao Muyun coldly interjected, "Are you certain that this Staff of Time can truly restrain that toy bear?"
("Nonsense! When have I ever deceived you?")
The demon's voice bore a hint of irritation, clearly displeased by Xiao Muyun's blatant disregard.
"…" After a pause, Xiao Muyun coldly retorted, "When have you not been lying to me?"
("Pfft… cough cough… Hey, what do you mean by 'when have I not been lying to you'? What are you insinuating, human boy? Are you suggesting that I have perpetually deceived you? That I have never uttered a single truth to you?!")
"... That is one way to interpret it," Xiao Muyun replied with indifference.
("Damn it! Why don't you just go die? Why don't you just go die!!! If it weren't for my benevolence in informing you that saving your adorable little wife requires the Soul Locking Jade, you'd be utterly clueless! Without my guidance, would you have known how to counter that wretched toy bear's [Paradise of Humanity]? You would have long since been reduced to a pile of minced flesh!")
("Five years! Five years, human boy! In these five years, over eighteen hundred days and nights, I have tirelessly imparted the knowledge of gods and demons to you! I have ceaselessly taught you the principles of humanity! I have relentlessly instructed you on the use of power! I have sacrificed so much for you! And now you casually dismiss all my years of effort with a single flippant remark!")
("What? Have you grown up now? Have you developed wings and wish to fly solo? Have you considered that without my protection, you would be utterly lost the moment you step outside, you fool!!! Without my assistance, you would starve to death in the streets within days, you fool!!! I have done so much for you, and now you dare utter such treasonous words! I am deeply pained! I am deeply pained, human boy!")
("This demon is heartbroken, do you understand? You wretched creature! Kneel and beg for my forgiveness! You shameless, despicable scoundrel! Pervert! Dreadful loli enthusiast!")
"…" After a few moments of silence, Xiao Muyun finally remarked coldly, "In the future… try to watch fewer stage plays; immersing yourself in that world is not a good thing."
("…")
The realm of consciousness fell silent for a time before the demon's awkward laughter broke the stillness.
("Um… cough cough… by the way, the weather is rather pleasant today, human boy.")