Yasuo sat in his home in Ionia. He had slain Shen for his crimes against his people on the night of the Lunar Revel, and Zed for abusing his power of the shadows.
He stayed silent often. He did not like killing. But he knew that was the only way to bring justice to people that deserved it.
Violence to end violence.
He had done his part in Ionia's small victories in the past month. It was time for him to find his own victory. Riven, the Exile had slain his elder, brought him exile and great shame. She had to be slain.
He often pondered on what he would do, if he should spare her, take her in for what she did, but he always decided that couldn't happen. She had to die by his hand.
He heard a knock at the door.
"Come in," Yasuo said. Ashe entered the room with her new queen's dress, as the last one had been destroyed at the battle in the Queen's Castle. Lissandra and Sejuani had both come to assassinate her, to scatter the Avarosa tribe once and for all. But they had failed. Zed had been there to save her and Tryndamere. It was a shame he let his power and lust for Shen's blood get to his head.
"Hello," she said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm thinking."
"What about?"
"What to do next. Ionia doesn't need me anymore. I've played my part. I need to do what I need done."
"And what would that be?"
"Riven must be slain. She's brought me great pain, sorrow, guilt... and death all around me."
"How will you find her? Even if you do, how do you know you are ready to face her? That she isn't ready to face you?"
"I suppose you're right," Yasuo said. "There is only one thing I can do. I will go to the institute of war and hone my skills on the fields of justice."
"I must go to Freljord for now, then I planned on going there as well. Maybe we will see each other."
"Maybe we will."
She turned, but Yasuo grabbed her arm. She stopped and turned around. Yasuo leaned down to kiss her forehead, but she leaned back and caught his lips instead. Ashe backed away, taking a breath. She blushed and smiled awkwardly before leaving the room. Yasuo smirked after her.
The next day, Yasuo was in the institute of war. He sat in a lobby of a sort, waiting to be summoned by a summoner.
A loudspeaker came on.
"We've made some changes to Summoner's Rift, champions. It is not only the jungles now, but a random rotation of different landscapes, ranging from the Freljord glaciers to the Shuriman Sands. Of course, the classic landscape is there as well. The new Rifts will have the same lane system and objectives, but it looks much different and the monsters there are as well. There are still the red and blue buffs, but they may need new strategies in order to take them down. Not to mention the Baron Nashor and Dragon. They will only be featured in the classic rift. There are other monsters now. Good luck, Summoners!"
"Now, for our opening debut of the updated rifts, we will begin games shortly."
Yasuo wasn't selected for the first few games, but he got to watch the others, watch what they did, see how they did it. He noticed that teams that worked together as a team did much better than the ones who did not.
This battle was fought on a Freljordian glacier. Lucian and Bard did well together, taking Sivir and Leona very well. Jayce and Akali's lane was equal, with neither side playing too aggressive. Usually Akali was extremely aggressive.
Nautilus and Nasus fought for control over top lane, as Rengar and Jarvan IV fought for jungle dominance.
The battle ended as Rengar stalked Akali and pouncing just at the right time, ripping her apart, letting Jayce go forward. He also caught Sivir in his bola, tripping her over. He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. Her black hair blew in the wind and her winter blue hat blew off. The excess cloth from her coat blew in the wind. Rengar growled and held a knife to her throat. Sivir punched him in the face and tried to run, but he grabbed her and threw her against a rock and stabbed her through the stomach, resulting in a horrible scream. Rengar slit her throat and blood squirted out, staining her snowstorm clothing.
Lucian had already deal with Leona. They used the opportunity to destroy the enemy nexus and win them the game.
"Yasuo, you have been summoned."
A blue light surrounded him, and the world shifted into a new form. Yasuo had teleported into the champion selection room.
"Draft pick!" A summoner said. "Classic Summoner's Rift. Blue team, please pick your first champion."
"We choose Yasuo, the Unforgiven."
"We choose Katarina, the Sinister Blade and Bard."
Uh oh, Yasuo thought. This is going to be like avoiding an ex you never liked in the first place. This is going to be awkward.
"We choose Shaco and Thresh."
"We choose Rengar and Lucian."
"We choose Fiora and Ashe."
"Lastly," the summoner said. "We choose Riven, the Exile."
The last selection hit Yasuo like a brick wall. He came here to practice for this moment, not to get it sooner. It would have to do.
"Lastly, if you die, you remain dead until the remainder of the games. So, that should inspire you to fight harder, eh? Champions, step inside the portal so we can begin."
Yasuo walked inside the room where he would be transported to the Rift. He didn't greet anyone. He simply grasped his sword and looked up with a firm face.