Here is chapter 10 of Sweet Revenge! Feel free to rate and review, and as always, I hope you enjoy! (Just to clarify any confusion, Justice is the sword in Shen's right hand while Mercy is the sword in his left. And yes, some champions are using skins as their normal appearance, such as Fiora, Shen, etc.)
Shen opened his eyes with a fright and looked at his surroundings. The Arena floor was covered in bright green grass and brown, soft dirt. The forest in the middle area of the Arena was tall and bright. This is a beautiful place, for a battleground, Shen thought to himself. He sat leaning against the stone tower. Shen saw Riven standing a few feet away from him, staring into the distance. Shen stood up and approached her. Standing next to Riven, he folded his arms and looked at where she was staring. "They are here." Riven said quietly. Shen quickly glanced at her then focused his attention back to the lane. Fiora and Leona could be seen opposite them. He frowned slightly. "Are you ready?" He said, looking at Riven.
Riven nodded. "I hope you're as good as they say you are."
Shen simply grunted. The minions walked past them towards the middle of the lane. They were smaller than the average human, but not by much. Some of them carried strange swords, while others had wands. They ran to the middle of the lane and began battling the other minions. Shen and Riven moved forward to help them, while Fiora and Leona did the same. Shen began cutting down the enemy minions with ease, then looked up, seeing Fiora close.
Relentlessly, Fiora charged towards him, aiming her blade at his chest. Shen stepped backwards as Fiora stopped. Shen swung hard at Fiora, who only barely managed to block the strong blow. Fiora lunged at Shen, who stepped to the side and thrusted with his knee at Fiora's overextended arm. Fiora made a gasp of pain as Shen's armoured knee connected with her arm. Dropping her Rapier on the ground, she retreated back slightly.
Shen kicked her sword away, out of reach and advanced on her. She reached for her back with her left hand and drew her dagger. She swung out hastily, cradling her right arm close to her body. Justice, Shen's right handed sword, blocked the blow and was forced against Fiora's dagger. They both held out for about half a minute until Fiora finally pushed Shen off her. Shen retaliated from being pushed off by stepping clockwise in a circle and swinging his blade, Justice, at Fiora. The attack was too strong for Fiora to defend against. Therefore, Fiora's dagger was knocked out of her hands and she staggered backwards.
Shen approached her, Justice ready to make the final blow. He paused for a moment, not wanting to kill her. It must be done, Shen thought to himself, before plunging his sword into her chest. Fiora gasped and clutched her chest. Shen removed the blade from her body and she fell limply to the ground. Her body disappeared in a bright blue light. A voice cried out from above the Arena, "Fiora has been slain for first blood!" Shen breathed heavily as he looked around, and saw Riven battling it out with Leona. Leona called down a ray of light from the heavens which blinded Riven, causing her to stagger backwards. Leona rushed forward and knocked Riven off her feet with her shield.
About to make the killing blow, with a look of regret on her face, Leona raised her sword into the air and swung downwards. Riven closed her eyes and attempted to shield herself with her arms. Riven heard a clashing sound and opened her eyes to see Shen standing above her, blocking Leona's sword with his own swords. Shen pushed Leona back and prepared himself. They both charged forward and their swords locked. Shen gripped Mercy tight while he raised his other sword, Justice. He swung down with Justice and it hit Leona's raised shield.
A strange light formed around Leona and was the light was unstable, looking about ready to burst. Leona closed her eyes as she chanted words unknown to Shen. Pushing Shen off her, Leona's body raised up into the sky, the bright light wavering around her. Leona raised both arms to form a straight line, like an angel. Shen turned backwards to see Riven struggling to get to her feet. Shen ran backwards and without a word, but a gasp from Riven, picked her up in his arms and dived towards the tower. Leona opened her eyes and cast down a massive beam of orange light, completely eradicating anything caught in the beam. Riven closed her eyes to the last sight of Shen's body covering her own. Shen opened his eyes to see Riven open her own. Shen put her down and looked back towards Leona, who was once again standing on the ground, slightly weak from the beam.
Shen staggered towards her, both swords in hand. Leona raised her own weapons and charged at Shen. Shen only barely managed to dodge the lunge from Leona. Shen struck out at Leona with Justice and it clashed with Leona's odd-shaped sword. Shen swung his left sword, Mercy, low as to slice Leona's stomach. Leona pulled back and crouched behind her shield. Before Shen knew it, a bright beam, much smaller than the other, bursted out of Leona's shield. Shen covered his eyes from the blinding light as Leona rushed forward to finish Shen off.
Leona gasped when a sharp pain erupted from her chest and she looked down to see Riven's sword protruding through her chest. Riven removed the sword and Leona fell to her knees. Shen recovered from the attack and slashed down with both swords, cutting Leona down. Leona crashed to the ground and a bright sunlight covered her, and when the sunlight faded, Leona was gone. The female voice echoed throughout the arena once again. "Riven has slain Leona!" The female voice shouted loudly. Shen sheathed his swords and walked over to where Riven sat, and helped her to her feet. "Thank you, Shen. Why did you save me back there?" Riven asked, frowning.
"Is helping an ally forbidden in the arena?"
Riven looked as if she was about to say something, but no words came out. "I… well…" She looked up at Shen, who nodded at her, gesturing for her to continue. "But I am no ally of you. I am a Noxian by birth, and you're an Ionian."
"Perhaps outside this arena we are not allies, but while we are here, we are on the same team. And for that, we need to work together, no?"
"You speak truly. Perhaps the Ionians are more reasonable than we previously thought." To this, Shen said nothing. Without a word, Shen and Riven walked back to the Spawn area. They approached it and Shen's wounds began to fade, and a soothing energy flowed through him. Shen looked down at Riven, who sat in the center. "Are you going to be alright?" asked Shen.
"Yes, I should be fine for now. I'll just wait here for my full strength to return." Riven responded. Shen nodded and wandered back towards the lane. As he walked, he heard shouts and grunts coming from the forest. Shen crept into a tri-shaped bush and hid his head behind a log just of the outside of the bushes, while keeping his eyes over the log. From where he lay, Shen could see Zed and Brand battling it out.
However, Zed was too agile for Brand. Brand casted Fire spells at Zed, who nimbly dodged them, and counter-attacked by throwing small shuriken and daggers. Brand barely dodged them and smashed his fiery hands into the grounds, and the ground beneath Zed began to falter. Zed simply laughed and a massive explosion of fire bursted from the ground. When the explosion sub-sided, Zed was gone. Suddenly, two shadows looking very similar to Zed rushed forward at inhuman speed at Brand. Brand hastily casted fire spells at the shadows but the spells traveled through the shadows.
Brand was quickly surrounded by the shadows and Zed appeared from beneath the grounds in a mass of darkness. Zed threw his Shurikens at Brand, which struck him in the chest. Zed's shadows mimicked these movements, throwing Shurikens into other parts of Brands fire-covered body. Zed strode up to where Brand stood, in pain and held in place by Zed's shadows. Zed chuckled and unsheathed his blade. Laughing, Zed severed Brand's head from his body. Brand's body was released by the shadows and it fell backwards into the ground, turning into ashes upon landing on the hard forest floor.
"Zed has slain Brand!" the voice announced. The shadows disappeared into darkness and Zed sheathed his blades inside his bracers and turned his head towards the tri-shaped bush Shen lay prone in. "Attempting to spy on me, Shen?"
Shen blinked, and then stood up from the bush and walked up to Zed. "Not in the least. Just wondering if you needed any help."
Zed chuckled. "Me? Need help? You amuse me, Shen." Zed glanced off to the side, his eyes showing a sort of sadness. "I remember the old days like this, when we would fight battles together."
Shen frowned. It seemed his brother was still there, but was being held prisoner by the shadows. Zed continued. "Don't you wish us to be allies again, brother?"
"That can only happen if you destroy the Box of Shadows and surrender."
Zed shook his head. "I can't do that. It is physically impossible for me to destroy the Box. The shadows within me prevent it." Zed laughed. "Besides, why would I want to discard this ancient power?"
Shen grunted. "That power is evil. It is forbidden."
"Maybe to you, obsessed about your so called 'Balance'. No technique is forbidden. This art was simply hidden from us, for the world feared our power with it. Now, I have unlocked it for all ninjas!"
"You're mad, Zed."
Zed chuckled. "Mad? Quite likely. Father called me as such."
Shen's fists clenched so hard his hands turned white. He grunted in anger. Shen's hands moved to his sword hilts and Zed laughed. "You will have your chance for that later, Shen. This war between us is inevitable." Zed stared hard at Shen. "Watch your back, brother. For one day, I'll be there." After he spoke, Zed fell through the ground into a hole, filled with darkness. Shen stood alone in the forest for a time, endless thoughts passing through his mind. A sound pierced the sky and the announcer's voice could be heard again. "The blue team has destroyed a turret!" Shen looked over to where a glowing light shined from the sky, symbolizing where the tower had been destroyed.
Shen sighed and walked through the shallow river towards the middle lane. The entire enemy team was in the lane, butchering the minions as they passed. Shen crouched down in the chest-high grass and from the other side, saw Riven doing the same. She nodded at him and pointed a finger towards their tower. Zed, Draven and Janna all stood there, ready to defend their tower.
The purple team got closer until they were in the very center of the lane, standing in a line. Zed and his companions drew weapons as Janna shouted, "Now!" Janna raised her staff and a massive storm fell upon the enemy team. They struggled to stand their ground as Zed, Draven and Janna rushed forward. Shen and Riven flanked them from the bushes, charging at them from the side. Even through the storm, Shen saw Fiora and Sivir staring at him, with widened eyes. Shen drew Mercy from its scabbard and gripped it tight, and threw it directly at Sivir. The blade flew rapidly in a circular motion, and it struck true, plunging through Sivir's chest. Sivir cried out in pain and fell to her knees.
Fiora advanced on Shen, who barely managed to unsheathe Justice in time to block her viscous attack. Shen pushed with all his force and pushed Fiora's blade off of his own. They both charged and the sounds of their swords clashing echoed sharply. They exchanged attack after attack, swiftly striking or lunging and then blocking counter-attacks. Shen swung heavily diagonally to the right, knocking Fiora off balance. Shen then gripped Justice tightly and swung downwards with such force that when Fiora regained her balance and attempted to block the attack, her sword facing horizontally, she nearly dropped her rapier. Shen and Fiora forced blades for a moment until Shen saw an opening, and kicked out at Fiora's stomach, making her stagger backwards.
Shen gripped his sword and swung at Fiora, who couldn't manage to dodge or block the attack. Shen's sword sliced lightly across Fiora's stomach. Fiora gasped in pain and clutched her stomach, falling to her knees. Shen stood over her, and raised his sword to finish her. "I'm sorry." Shen muttered as he sliced downwards, cutting Fiora down. Her body faded away in the blue light once more. The storm sub-sided and Shen looked around. For the purple team, it had been a massacre. All of Shen's teammates still stood, Janna being wounded. The female voice echoed through the sky. "The blue team has scored an Ace!" The announcer yelled out. Shen obtained his other sword and the blue team continued forward when suddenly Janna collapsed in a heap. Shen ran over to her and shook her slightly. "Are you alright?" asked Shen.
Janna sat up. "It's my wound, it hurts a great deal." Janna told him, gesturing to her wounded leg. Draven turned and whistled, making Shen turn to face him. "Hey, Shen! We are gonna need help here!" Shen turned his attention back to Janna. "Go on without me. I'll take Janna back to the fountain. I will teleport back up here to one of you as soon as i can." Shen gently picked up Janna in his arms and started to walk back to the base.
Janna looked up at Shen's face with a curious look. "What reason does a handsome young man like you have to fight in the league?"
"I cannot say. But... i mainly fight for the power to protect my people."
"Oh... i see." Janna looked thoughtful for a moment. "Are you married?"
"No, and i doubt that i ever will be."
"No wonder why you never smile. Tell me, why don't you ever smile?"
"I have been given no reason to smile." Shen looked hard at the beautiful woman. "When i avenge my people and rebuild my home, then i'll smile." At hearing this, Janna's eyes turned sad. Suddenly, Janna huddled up against Shen, resting her head against his chest, placing her arms around him. "Uh... Janna?" Shen asked, confused.
Janna smiled. "Don't worry, Shen. Everything is going to be alright."
Shen sighed. "I truly hope so." They reached the fountain and Shen slowing placed Janna down at the fountain, and then turned back towards the lane. He steadied himself and began chanting. He closed his eyes and a bright light surrounded Shen. Janna gasped and stared in awe as Shen disappeared from view.
Shen opened his eyes to find himself inside the enemy base, his allies destroying the last nexus tower. Shen watched as it fell and Zed, Riven, Draven and the blue minions attacked the Nexus. Eventually, the Nexus exploded, sending crystal shards all over the area. The champions were called back to the Summoner's Hall. The summoners around the hall clapped and cheered as the Champions glanced around the room. "Well fought, Champions! You have had a glorious battle, now you may go and rest. Farewell, brave warriors!" The door was opened and the champions all walked out, heading towards their quarters. Shen looked around and started to walk off, when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Shen turned to see Fiora looking at him.
"Greetings, Shen. I wish to speak to of about the battle." Shen nodded and Fiora continued. "You are an honourable warrior and duelist. I..." She stumbled, then continued. "No man has ever beaten me in a duel before. It feels good to be given a proper challenge." Fiora smiled warmly at Shen. "Thank you." Fiora nodded good-bye and strode off towards her room. Shen chuckled to himself silently and started walking across the vast hall.
Shen found his room and sat down on one of the chairs provided. As Shen poured himself a glass of wine, he thought about what Zed had told him. He drank deeply and cleared his mind. He sighed before taking a sip of his wine. Soon, the war will finally begin, Shen told himself. Very soon.