Kaito stood at the bow of the ship, salt spray stinging his face as the vessel cut through the turquoise waters of the Guardian's Sea. Beside him, Yasuo lounged against the railing, taking lazy sips from his gourd.
"You're quiet," the rogue swordsman remarked. "Having second thoughts?"
Kaito clenched the railing. "Just wondering why the Black Rose wants me so badly."
Yasuo's eyes darkened. "Power like yours—unbound by Runeterra's rules—is a weapon. And Noxus collects weapons."
The System flickered:
[Quest Update: Journey to Ionia - 2 Days Remain]
[Warning: Black Rose Agents Detected Nearby]
Kaito's stomach twisted.
As night fell, the ship entered the Stormwall—a treacherous stretch of sea where magic warped the winds.
CRACK!
A bolt of purple energy struck the mast, setting it ablaze.
"We're under attack!" the captain screamed.
From the fog emerged a Noxian frigate, its decks lined with black-robed mages. At the helm stood a pale woman in a silver mask—LeBlanc.
"There you are, little rabbit," she cooed, her voice echoing unnaturally.
Kaito's breath hitched. "Oh god, it's her."
Yasuo drew his sword. "Stay behind me—"
WHOOSH!
A chain whip snapped through the air, wrapping around Yasuo's arm.
"Got you," a muscular woman growled—Rell, the Iron Maiden.
Chaos erupted:
Noxian assassins teleported aboard (Katarina's Shunpo).
Dark magic boiled the sea (Swain's ravens screeched overhead).
LeBlanc raised her hands, preparing a mind-searing spell.
Kaito activated Deflect, barely dodging a dagger—but he was outmatched.
Then—
"You looked like you needed help."
A golden portal split the sky.
A man in ornate armor fell from it like a meteor, spear-first, cratering the deck.
"Pantheon?" Kaito gasped.
The Aspect of War grinned. "Close. My name's Atreus."
Atreus fought like a one-man army, his spear cleaving through Noxians. Kaito, Yasuo, and Rell (who'd switched sides mid-battle) rallied—but LeBlanc was unfazed.
"Enough games," she hissed.
Her magic distorted reality, cloning her a dozen times.
"How do we hit the real one?!" Kaito thought desperately.
The System blared:
[EMERGENCY OVERRIDE: ULTIMATE ABILITY UNLOCKED]
[Select Now:]
Grand Skyfall (Pantheon R) – Aerial slam, global range.
Soul Shackles (Mordekaiser R) – 1v1 death realm.
Fate's Call (Galio R) – Magic shield for allies.
No time to think. Kaito chose Grand Skyfall.
Energy roared through him. He leaped impossibly high, the world shrinking below—then crashed down where LeBlanc's clones converged.
BOOM!
The shockwave shattered her illusions, revealing the true LeBlanc—just as Yasuo's steel tempest pinned her.
"This isn't over," she spat before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Pantheon clapped Kaito's shoulder. "Not bad for your first ult."
Rell, nursing a wound, scowled. "Why'd you save me?"
Yasuo wiped his blade. "Because you're just another pawn to them."
As dawn broke, the battered ship reached Ionia's shores. Before them stood the Temple of the First Wind, its arches overgrown with cherry blossoms.
An old monk awaited them. "Kaito. The wind has sung of your coming."
Inside the temple, a massive stone mural depicted a warrior wielding every League champion's power at once.
"The Rune Mage," the monk said. "A being who could reshape reality. Viego seeks his lost artifacts to control the Black Mist."
Kaito's pulse pounded. "And me?"
The monk smiled. "You are the key. But to master this power... you must first remember who you were before the game."
The System glitched, showing a half-deleted file:
[PLAYER NAME: ██████]
[ORIGIN: EARTH-???]
[STATUS: NOT THE FIRST]