A surging conflagration of energy coalesced into a colossal beam of light that pierced the darkness, while a cataclysmic sword wind surged forth from the depths of hell. Amidst the brilliance that shattered the shadows, a man's cold and merciless voice echoed, "Sword Art—[Whisper of the Wind Chimes]!"
What followed was a dazzling eruption of energy, a blade of light that rent the darkness asunder.
Within the turbulent gale, a tattered gray cloak billowed ominously.
"Impressive! Truly impressive! Hahaha!!!" Amidst the frenzied laughter, Renekton's corpulent form advanced unflinchingly, his sharp left claw striking directly at the oncoming torrent of energy. "I never anticipated that such a formidable warrior lay hidden here! Hahaha!!!"
"Human! I have a fondness for the strong! Hahaha!!!" The torrent of energy battered the enormous crocodilian, forcing it to retreat repeatedly, yet… that was all it accomplished.
Standing in the void, Renekton's small blood-red eyes gleamed with delight as he beheld the man emerging quietly from the corridor, laughing maniacally, "Only the flesh and blood of the strong can be considered the finest delicacy in this world!"
With a casual flick of his claw, he tossed Riven aside as if she were a tattered sack, his interest in the human woman waning in light of the more formidable adversary before him.
"..." Standing indifferently at the entrance of the corridor, Xiao Mu Yu cast a cold glance around the darkened platform, remaining silent.
"Pu—cough cough…" Upon seeing Xiao Mu Yu, the dog-headed man, who had been leaning against the wall, struggled to speak, inadvertently aggravating his injuries and triggering a series of coughs.
"Cough cough… cough cough…" The violent fits of coughing momentarily captured Xiao Mu Yu's attention. The man stood coldly at the corridor's mouth, his icy gaze sweeping over the dog-headed man, whose gray cloak barely concealed the battered sword beneath.
The deep-set beastly eyes observed the indifferent and relentless man, sensing the faint threads of energy emanating from him, as Nasus finally spoke.
"Cough cough… Human warrior, has… cough cough… the youthful goddess truly fallen?" The towering demigod inquired, struggling to confirm his suspicions as faint golden blood trickled from his lips.
"..." After locking eyes with Nasus for several seconds, Xiao Mu Yu coldly nodded, "Ah… indeed, she has perished."
"I see… cough cough…" A flicker of understanding crossed his face as the tall dog-headed man slowly drew a golden dagger from his side. "The goddess has inevitably succumbed to her fate; thus… I must fulfill my duty."
Struggling to rise, Nasus stumbled toward the edge of the platform under Xiao Mu Yu's frigid gaze, his faltering steps seeming perilously close to being swept away by the fierce winds.
"Hey! Nasus! What do you intend to do?" Renekton descended from the void, approaching the towering dog-headed man.
"Pu… cough cough…" Blood of a faint golden hue continued to spurt from his mouth and nose as Nasus slowly raised the golden dagger. "I… must confront my duty, Renekton, my brother, and next…"
Pu—
The golden dagger pierced his own heart, and he gently pulled it out.
As golden blood splattered forth, the towering dog-headed man slowly fell from the edge of the platform, plunging into the abyss of endless darkness. "I leave everything to you."
"Tch… you stubborn fool," Renekton spat contemptuously at his brother's plummeting form. It was only when the dog-headed man's body had completely vanished into the depths of shadow that he turned around. "Well then, you humans should take a moment to feel grateful; my rather unhinged brother has just alleviated a significant burden for you."
Suddenly, an explosive fury of flames erupted from the dark abyss below the platform, golden divine flames surging forth from the endless void, illuminating this vast sealed realm.
The colossal castle that floated behind the platform finally revealed its full grandeur to the onlookers.
The spreading golden flames erupted like a volcanic explosion, fierce tongues of fire ravenously licking at the immense castle, while faint cries of agony echoed intermittently within the monochromatic realm of thought.
"How… maddening!!!"
The chaotic magical energy within the massive castle erupted violently, yet was thoroughly restrained by the golden flames, unable to unleash its full potential. Nonetheless, the sheer force of that impending explosion was enough to instill terror.
(This power? This power!!! It is the magic deity Xerath!!!)
In the realm of consciousness, a demon's astonished voice resounded.
(It has been sealed for so many years, yet it has not lost its consciousness? Heh… how miserable it must be, unable to even slumber in this wretched place, devoid of any company to converse with… heh, how agonizing!)
Amidst the demon's gleeful exclamations, the blazing golden flames gradually enveloped the massive floating castle, coalescing into countless golden fire runes in the void. A multitude of these runes formed enormous chains that tightly bound the grand edifice.
"Clatter… clatter…"
In the void, as the chains formed from golden fire runes gradually tightened, the sound of their friction resonated eerily. Then, the chains extending from the depths of the endless abyss began to slowly pull the colossal castle, gradually submerging it.
"I will return! I will undoubtedly return!!!" A frenzied and defiant roar echoed from within the castle, "Anoya! I shall surely return!!!"
Yet, regardless of how the legendary god-king bellowed in fury and frustration, the struggling castle ultimately succumbed to the chains' binding, sinking deeper beneath the platform.
As the power of the runes dissipated, darkness once again enveloped the area.
"What is this… cough cough… what is happening?" Riven, clutching her throat and leaning against little Annie, inquired in astonishment.
"..." Standing silently on the platform, Xiao Mu Yu remained uncommunicative; since the towering dog-headed man had plunged into the abyss below, his cold gaze had shown no sign of fluctuation.
"It is the [Rite of the Gods]," little Annie whispered, struggling to support Riven. "That demigod sacrificed his own soul to open the gates of hell, fully activating the [Rite of the Gods] sealing array, drawing the imprisoned entity from that castle into the boundless darkness."
"Eh? How do you know this, Annie?" Teemo, supporting the unconscious Shyvana, asked in surprise.
"Because this magical array is recorded in a spellbook passed down through the Annie family," the young girl explained. "The [Rite of the Gods] is considered a forbidden magical array, even among deities; if fully activated, it can ensnare even gods into the depths of hell."
"However, the cost of invoking this magical array is substantial, requiring at least one demigod's soul as a price," Annie added. "Thus, even for deities, this magical array remains a taboo."