Darkness, it was everywhere. The cell was always dark, no light was to ever pierce it, for it would give a spark of hope, and hope led to an escape attempt. But, as said, all was dark.
The door slowly opened, the single occupant's head lifting up, the light stinging his eyes a bit. He could see robed people entering, and he slowly rose, growling a bit, towering over them as they stopped a short distance from him, obviously intimidated.
"What the hell do you all want?" He spat, anger searing his voice, making many of them wince. "Wasn't sealing me in here enough?"
"It was yes, but…times have changed…and it's now come time for you to be released," One of them stepped closer to the being, staring up at him. "It's time for you to go back out and fight, Renekton."
The infamous Butcher of the Sands stood there, glaring down at the Summoners who stood in the cell with him. Many were frightened yes, considering they were cornering a mad beast, but the head Summoner remained diligent and unwavering in the face of the sheer danger. Renekton stood silently for some time, before shaking his head, lumbering over and seating himself back in the corner.
"I refuse."
"Pardon?"
"I'm refusing to go back out; why should I even fight in your little skirmishes when there is no benefit to me?"
"Need I remind you, Renekton, that you're one of the many Champions deemed forced, right? You don't necessarily have a choice; we need you back on the new and improved Fields of Justice to continue fighting. Another Summoner has chosen you and considering the program she's in we need her to be accommodated accordingly."
"So you're using me to sate some child's desires…of course." He spat, remaining seated and unwavering. "Find someone else to be their puppet…I was always a puppet for Willow and I'll be damned if I'd return to that life of insubordination. I'm still a proud warrior; more than capable of striking you all down—"
"And that'd lead to more troubles and your cell being moved to the bottom of the ocean." The Summoner spoke without a hint of worry. "…Renekton; you're needed on the field. You've been gone for a long time and the power you've brought to the Fields is needed." Renekton was silent for an extended period; a pregnant silence filling the room.
"…tell me, where is she?"
"…Willow's still in the League; she's been moving up and down in the divisions but she's never reached the spot she once was when you were her main Champion." More silence…at this point many of the Summoners grew restless, and some even afraid.
"…what do I beget if I fight? What do I gain?"
"Your old room back; along with the same liberties and royalties you were given prior to your siege and attempted murder of Azir. I can promise you that if you fight, everything will go back to how they once was and should be, once again." Renekton gradually stood up, a low rumble leaving him, as his crimson red eyes focused on the Summoners.
"I want to rip him limb from limb on fields; deny me this and I remain."
They really had no choice but to accommodate; give or take in due time his desire would come about anyhow.
The halls felt so…unknown to Renekton; unwelcome and forgotten. He really didn't know how long he had been contained in isolation…to feel the nostalgia of being trapped forever, alone and left with his senile, dementia riddled thoughts.
How he loathed those feelings.
"Now we need to start you off small, Renekton," One of the Summoners said, walking ahead of Renekton to guide him to the Hall where he'd be sent off to the Fields of Justice. Even now his gear and attire had shifted and changed; now clad in the Rune Wars Skin he had so carelessly forgotten in his past…a good skin to make his triumphant return in. "We've made some changes to how things work and some newer Champions have come to join the fight; some odd and others…bizarre."
"I don't care. And why do we need to start me small; I'm more than equipped to fight."
"It's less about you fighting, and more about you being capable of working alongside Melody; the new Summoner who personally requested you to be her main Champion. Based on what we know she was fascinated by your combat prowess and your raw brutality."
"…so she's a fan of seeing people get cut apart." He concluded, stepping into the Hall.
Renekton could already take in the confused, perplexed, and even frightened faces of many Champions and Summoners upon his arrival, but he could also see joy, and even happiness. Not every single one was in the room but…enough were to form something.
"Renekton!" Nocturne's disembodied voice resonated; the shadowy wraith rising from the ground in mere moments. He was different now; clad in the purple shadows that was his Void skin. "They finally let you out? We were all waiting on your return for weeks!" Even now Renekton found it had to maintain an annoyed expression to keep the Summoners off his back, especially when in the presence of an old friend.
"Apparently not; where are the others?" Kha'Zix uncloaked right next to Nocturne; the Voidreaver must have tread over while Renekton was preoccupied. Even he had changed; using the Death Blossom skin that made the already unstoppable assassin even more ominous.
"Present; it seems they've prepared a minor fight to welcome you back…five against five on the new and improved rift." Renekton glanced towards the runic panels used to send Champions off to the fight; he didn't mind that part…he always grew restless in the eve before combat anyhow.
"I see; who else will be joining us for this fight?"
"For our team it'd be you, Kha'Zix, a being named Aurelion Sol, Kog'Maw, and Thresh." That name…caught Renekton off guard.
"…Aurelion Sol?"
"I'm over here," A literal Star Dragon floated over, in a much smaller form than he seemed used to. Even now while floating he was still fairly massive when compared to the others in the League. "And you must be the infamous Renekton; can't say I'm not happy to meet you."
"I see; where'd you hear of me again?" The blue tinted dragon merely shrugged, the three stars rotating around him as they always did.
"Books; I read about the downfall and eventual rise of Shurima. You were one of the most feared warriors there you know."
"…wait, Shruima rose back up?"
"Yeah, we just never go there." Nocturne spoke as if it were nothing. "It's been arisen for at least three weeks now." Renekton just…rubbed his chin; well that was interesting news.
"I'll need to be briefed and up to speed once we're done with this." Renekton lumbered over to the runic panels, glancing around. "Now…who is my Summoner?" Nocturne was the one to point; Renekton glancing to someone clad in the typical robes all Summoners wore. The difference was she had hers pulled down to reveal her paled skin, lips twisting into a slight grin when his eyes fell upon her.
"So her," Renekton asked, Nocturne nodding after a brief delay. "She's the one to call me from my incarceration?"
"Based on what I know she seemed quite enamored with you; like a lost fan of some sort. Either way do your best; I'm just spectating this match along with Cho'Gath and a few others."
"So be it; I'll speak with you all when I finish." Renekton watched Nocturne phase through the floor before the Butcher himself lumbered over to the girl, looking down at her due to their major difference in size.
"…who are you?"
"M-Melody, sir. And can I just say it's an honor to be standing before you." Renekton silently wondered why she was here anyhow, but he let it slip; just fight and he'd get everything back…including the chance to strike Azir down multiple times over.
"Alright, Melody…we'll make this quick so I can return to my original focus."
"O-Okay sir." She was obedient…good. Maybe this meant the fight would go on much faster than normal.
He was hoping on that.
Top Lane…Renekton would be lying if he said he didn't miss the place. He stood near the turret, waiting for the minions to spawn so he could kill a few and get some farming done to level up.
"Um, R-Renekton, sir?" He could hear Melody's voice pierce his thoughts…unsettling. "You're going against a Trynd so…please be careful."
"I don't need caution; just enough time to crush him like the insect he is." The little minions started rushing and Renekton followed; sure enough the barbarian was there, waiting.
"Hmph, Renekton…shame the let a beast out of his cage."
"Like how Ashe does for you daily." And like that he was already going fully aggressive; trying to use his fury as a means to get some damage on Renekton. If anything, he briefly worked until the butcher swung his Bat'Leth and cleaved enough health to make Tryndamere fall back.
"Okay, we're doing good-hey the minion behind you is about to die." Renekton lashed left and killed it; getting the needed gold. "Now that you're stronger than him, you need to play defensively."
"That's the literal opposite of what I do, Melody." He snarled, fists clenching before he watched the barbarian return. The fight continued on until both of them reached level 6, and then Tryndamere started getting overly aggressive.
"Renekton, fall back to your turret!" Melody shouted into his mind, just as the butcher's Bat'Leth clashed with Tryndamere's sword. "I have an idea; just trust me."
He desperately didn't want to, but considering he was at half health and Tryndamere was using densely critical strike and life steal, a direct skirmish would lead nowhere. The butcher turned and rushed back to the turret; the frantic footfalls behind him telling him the foe wasn't far behind. Trynd only got close to the turret before Kha'Zix literally exploded over the wall, landing with his claws outstretched and his spikes flying.
"Now! Throw your Ignite and dash through the minions." Rapidly, Renekton was able to catch on to what Melody was telling him; dashing through and landing right in front of the fleeing Trynd; the spark sound filling his ears being what was needed to tell him he landed the Ignite sucessfully.
"Stun him! Now!" Renekton lifted the weapon and cracked Trynd across the face with it three times, his fury fading with the impact but he did enough damage for the Ignite he placed to finish Trynd off; the First Blood going to Renekton.
"Good work, Kha." The Voidreaver nodded and returned back to the new living Jungle to continue his work, and Renekton walked back to his turret to recall in peace. "And…sound work, Melody." He really didn't want to thank her but given the situation it worked out; despite it being such an easy maneuver he wouldn't have thought about using his fury to empower his attack in the midst of battle…he'd be far too busy trying not to perish in combat and give the poor fool something to gloat over.
More plays like that and the battle would be in his favor.
A long while later and the fight was won; Renekton managing to push Bot Lane with am overly fed Kog and take down at least three of the enemy so they could take the inhibitor. And from there a well timed teleport allowed him to return back and take down the Nexus. When he reformed on the runic platform, tired, Renekton was met with praise and approval from his close group of friends.
Really, this was what he missed about his fights; coming back to talk to his friends over them and his victory, or speak with them and despise the ones who made him lose. While bitter, it was what he did.
But however, even in the midst of his approval and reunion with his friends…he still felt a niggling feeling in his mind.
He turned around, seeing Melody there; the girl packing her things up with a smile and was on the eve of returning to her room.
"Melody, was it?" He asked, watching her nearly scramble and drop everything to look up and nod to him, nodding her head rapidly. "Good job; keep up the good work." For a moment he nearly thought she'd black out from some sort of…bliss…he made a mental note to have Nocturne check on her.
But, despite that he could not forget the overall feeling of accomplishment and achievement, especially over one major thing.
The Butcher of the Sands had returned, more powerful and triumphant than ever!
Q&A Spotlight
The room never felt so welcome for Renekton; the Ascendant seating himself and shaking himself off.
"Holy shit…been a while." He checked the bin for the scrolls to be, and was…perplexed when he found it empty.
Made sense; he'd been gone for so long people'd have forgotten he was around.
"At this point I can at least clarify some things people need to know; the writer's not dead. He's just been dealing with his own core circumstances. College, some slight mental issues, that one incident with his lizard having a seizure; not to mention his grandfather passed on. So…that's a problem, obviously. That's why this story, and a few others, have had some lack of updates…but the main thing is the dude has a weird attention span; one minute he wants to write this, and the next he's off working on something else. No one really knows. But, at least now things are slowly shifting back to my direction…means things could start improving as they did before in the past." And with that he tossed the bin against the wall, leaning back to recline in his chair. "There may be a story for Kha'Zix in the close future but…it all depends on how things here and now go. Will things start looking up? Maybe, and we'll all keep doing our thing until then. Besides," He cracked his knuckles, eyes glimmering a deep crimson hue.
"People need to be reminded of the sheer destruction I can really dish out when I need to."