Within the rune-imbued arena, blood stained the ground beneath.
As the outcome of the duel drew to a close, the rune circle in the void gradually began to dissipate.
Renekton raised his crocodilian head, relishing the expressions of those around him, and cast a ferocious smile towards Riven and her companions, who stood several hundred meters away. "Who shall be next?"
Behind him lay the endless darkness beneath the platform, where a colossal castle faintly emerged from the boundless void.
A fierce gale swept across the platform, causing the onlookers to instinctively squint their eyes.
From a distance, the dazzling "fireworks" illuminated the unwavering smile of the demonic figure, sending a chill of dread through those outside the Blade's Inferno.
The massive golden spear remained embedded in Renekton's chest, its shaft exuding tendrils of steam from the flesh that had once belonged to a ninth-tier powerhouse, as if it were being scorched by intense flames.
From the horrific gash, pale golden demigod blood flowed incessantly, dripping downwards.
Yet, this ghastly wound did nothing to diminish the smile on Renekton's crocodilian visage.
"You…" Renekton lifted his right hand, curling his sharp claws, "Who will come forward first?"
In response, Riven stepped forward without hesitation, accompanied by…
Another deep male voice.
"True words… [Liberation]" came Jarvan's solemn declaration, "In this place…"
"Not dead yet?" Renekton turned, fixating on Jarvan, who struggled to kneel on the ground, and sneered, "But it's about time… isn't it?"
Jarvan's body was riddled with countless horrific wounds, crimson blood seeping forth, and his once-handsome face now appeared bruised and deformed, with blood oozing from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, all under the immense pressure of external forces.
Amidst the blazing white flames, his left hand gradually lifted.
"Foolishly wielding forbidden power in such a weakened state, your injured body cannot endure it," Renekton remarked with a cruel smile, reminiscent of a victor toying with a mouse, as he flicked the massive golden spear embedded in his chest. "It's akin to using a nearly shattered magical crystal to forcibly activate a prophecy spell—a foolish act that could explode at any moment… or do you truly believe I would allow you to strike me so easily?"
"So, you were plotting against me," Jarvan's expression was obscured by the firelight, "Deliberately leading me to pay the price of injury to drive the [Dragon Slayer Spear] into your body…"
"I granted you a mere tenth of a second to strike me, and yet you seized the opportunity," Renekton shrugged, "You really put in the effort… Well then, I shall graciously bestow upon you a trivial reward and a glimmer of hope, why not?"
The massive spear embedded in his chest was gradually losing its golden luster.
"Ha… I never expected to kill you by invoking the forbidden spell on the [Dragon Slayer Spear]. However, now I ask you to truly…" Amidst the radiant holy flames, Jarvan's slowly lifted left hand finally paused in midair, "Die!"
"Hmm? What did you say?" Even with victory seemingly in his grasp, Renekton felt an ominous premonition upon witnessing Jarvan's resolute expression amidst the holy flames. "Are you jesting…"
"[Scatter, O Thousand Noble Lord]!" What Jarvan unleashed was not the forbidden spell inscribed on the spear by the holy guardians, but rather the unique ability inherent to his extraordinary spear…
In an instant, the dark curtain was torn asunder by the brilliant light erupting from the platform.
"What…" The surging energy, like a violent whirlwind, shattered Renekton's words as he stood amidst it all.
"Here, I return to you all your glory;" at the center of the tempest, Jarvan's calm voice resonated, "Here, I liberate you from all your shackles; here, I beseech your final judgment, Dragon Emperor [Thousand Noble Lord]."
Roar—
In a furious dragon's roar, radiant light surged from the spear embedded in Renekton's chest.
"Responding to your summons, [Prince of Demons], I shall heed your will. [Dragon King's Bluster]." A colossal spectral dragon erupted from the massive spear, its sharp claws binding Renekton's body.
The radiant light was retracted, transforming into a more formidable energy storm that nearly engulfed the entire platform, the immense spectral dragon firmly suppressing Renekton's struggling might. "I am the Dragon of All Dragons, the God of All Gods, Dragon Emperor [Thousand Noble Lord]!"
"Thousand Noble Lord?" Trapped beneath the weight of the massive spectral dragon, Renekton finally appeared shaken. "You… actually forged a weapon from the dragon bones of the Thousand Noble Lord? And gained the recognition of the Dragon Emperor's lingering soul fragments?"
"…" The overwhelming pressure and the shocking reality rendered Renekton momentarily speechless. "What on earth is this…"
"With my blood as the sacrifice, I invoke [Dragon's Binding]!" Jarvan stood tall and resolute, "In this place, at this moment!!!"
"Next comes the final…" Jarvan shouted to the heavens, "Judgment! Riven!!!"
"Received!" In response, the silver-haired woman leaped into the air, her graceful form soaring dozens of meters into the void. Suspended in midair, the lake-green colossal sword in her hands radiated a dazzling azure light. "I've been waiting impatiently!"
"Renekton, you may as well return to your hell!" The blinding azure runic energy summoned a terrifying tempest, slicing through the darkness like azure lightning, guided by the woman towards Renekton, who was firmly bound by the colossal spectral dragon. "[The Dance of the Wingless]!"
"Useless, useless! Useless!!!" Sensing the overwhelming threat, Renekton's massive form instinctively entered the state of [Rage Tyrant], his already colossal body swelling to twice its size.
A swirling vortex of magical energy formed a distorted space around him. "[Rage Tyrant]! Even with diminished strength, a mere ninth-tier cannot breach my [Rage Tyrant] defenses!"
"The edge of the blade, even against angels, shall shatter their wings! [The Dance of the Wingless]…" The azure lightning cleaved through the night, striking down upon the immobile Renekton.
Clang—
Amidst the deafening clash of metal, Riven's mighty strike was met by Renekton's defense. The shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact…
Before Renekton could unleash a mocking laugh, Riven's body, harnessing the terrifying force of their combined might, executed a graceful aerial flip, her form tracing a breathtaking arc in the air. Then, the massive blade, propelled by the combined force of attacker and defender, struck down upon Renekton once more.
"Impossible! Impossible!!!" With his blood-red eyes wide in disbelief, Renekton roared, "How can you… how can you steal my power!"
Clang—
This time, the sound of the impact was even more ferocious, nearly drowning out the howling winds that surged from the dark unknown depths, resonating throughout the entire platform. The terrifying force of the collision sent a tingling sensation through Renekton's arm.
On the platform, Renekton thrashed wildly against the bindings of the spectral dragon, for in his line of sight, the silver-haired woman, having missed her initial strike, gracefully executed a backward flip, tracing an enchanting arc through the air.
Then, the enormous blade descended once more, carrying the combined might of both combatants, as they unleashed their tremendous energy against Renekton!
The winds came to a standstill!
The earth fractured beneath the onslaught!
A sense of impending doom shattered Renekton's usual composure. He could no longer contain his voice, bellowing, "Absolutely—never—never—never!!!"
On the edge of the engraved runic blade, an eerie azure sigil emerged, weaving into a dazzling torrent of light that shattered into a cacophony of roaring sound.
The full force of both attacker and defender, guided by the silver-haired woman, converged upon the green blade, ultimately transforming into a lightning strike that cleaved through the darkness.
...
The space rippled like water.
The vast pyramid, stretching for hundreds of kilometers and sealed by the colossal deity's power, began to quake violently.
...
The pyramid shuddered incessantly.
Dust cascaded from the ceiling in a swirling flurry.
Nasus halted his pursuit, his dark beastly eyes turning towards the direction of the platform.
"This power… how can a being of the holy tier breach the seal and enter?" After a moment of contemplation, Nasus dismissed his initial assumption, "No, this is not the work of a holy tier."
"This is the result of two formidable powers converging to create an impact comparable to that of the holy tier… This is perilous!" With his beastly eyes widening in alarm, the towering dog-headed figure unhesitatingly abandoned his chase of Darius and Katarina, racing towards the epicenter of the energy surge, "That scoundrel Renekton!"
Noticing the departure of the dog-headed creature, Darius and Katarina finally exhaled in relief. After Darius obliterated Urgot with his [Cracked Innocence], they were met with Nasus's almost frenzied assault. Despite all three possessing only ninth-tier strength, this imposing dog-headed being wielded his meager power to unleash devastation akin to that of a holy tier.
The two had undoubtedly been outmatched and had suffered prolonged pursuit.
"Whew…" Exhaling a breath of frustration, Katarina furrowed her brow as she gazed in the direction Nasus had taken. "This energy surge, which nearly trembled the entire sealed realm… Was it not said that holy tier beings cannot enter this place?"
"I can faintly sense that within this explosive power, comparable to the holy tier, there is a trace of Riven's essence," Darius's voice interjected from beside her. "Clearly, this leader of the opposition has devised a new martial technique."
After observing for a moment, Darius turned to leave. "Let us go; the Staff of Time has already been seized by Sivir, and even the two guardian spirits of the goddess of innocence have awakened. Remaining here serves no purpose."
"The current sealed realm has unleashed all its protective powers," Darius's cold voice echoed as he departed, "With our strength, any attempt to intervene will only lead to a futile demise."