Reaching the shores of the Shadow Isles, Renekton was still soaked with water, but he paied it no mind. He needed to save Willow, as quick as he could. He placed hiw weapon on his back, as he started the slow trek towards the cavern. Stealth was something Renekton was unsused to, but he had pverheard what his brother had said; if he was discovered, then Willow would be slain. He needed her to survive at all costs.
Walking through the forest, Renekton heard something, and smelt a scent he knew all too well; blood. Normally it'd compell him to rush in and fight, but this time he ducked down into the bushes and looked. He saw pure carnage, strange human sized minions, being slain by Cho'Gath and Mordikaiser. There were a few remaining; he could easily take them. Pulling his blade off his back, Renekton thought deeply, and remembered a skill his old, deceased friend had taught him; hoping he could use it. Kicking off, Renekton sprung from the bushes, his blade ready, as he slammed it into the ground first; sending shockwaves out suddenly. The minions caught in the epicenter were all killed, and the resy Cho'Gath easily devoured, as he looked at Renekton with shock.
"Renekton? How did you get here? There were no charters left for this cursed place."
"I swam; but that's not the point; where's my brother and Nocturne?"
Cho'Gath pointed towards the cavern north from their current position, and Mordikaiser nodded, before finally saying:
"But show caution friend. Willow can be killed at any minute."
"I know; we need to move." Mordikaiser nodded, and when he asked Cho'Gath if he'd follow he said he needed to remain behind and ensure the minions would not follow them. Renekton nodded in understanding, before he and Mordikaiser bolted off, leaving the Terror of the Void to some new snacks.
Nasus and Thresh moved closer to Vilemaw's resting place. Thresh said, with some regret, as he stayed close to the wall:
"To think, I caused all of these problems. We must be swift, and maybe then I can undo my past sins to my most trusted friend." Nasus nodded, but suddenly motioned for Thresh to stop walking. Ahead, was a troubling scene.
The League's defenders stood there. Garen, Darius, Lux, Katarina, Singed, Sion, Tryndamere, and lastly, Annie. All of them stood before Elsie, who beamed with evil pride at her new team. Many of the original foes were there as well, all prepared for their leader's speech.
"Each of you stand against the League, for one major reason we all share; the Butcher must fall, and if the League wishes to continually support him, then they must perish along side the insane monster. Many of our friends remain here, but few remain loyal to him; Thresh left us out of fear, and I suppose Ezreal did as well."
Garen sighed, as Darius said, spite lacing his voice:
"Ah, the explorer shows his true cowardice. No matter, we have the girl, but what does this grant us?"
"Everything. Her charm, the one that controls the Butcher's rage, can be extracted much like a buff from a monster in the jungles. However, the means to extract it are...different."
Elsie snapped her fingers, and Zed appeared, holding Willow by her neck. The problem was very simple; she was not only battered and brusied, but her robes were gone, leaving her in only her undergarments.
"She must have her will beyond broken, and she can only be killed then for us to gain this charm and for us to have the power to destroy the League. So, men, have your way with her. Once this is done, and she is broken, then can she be killed."
The second Elsie finished her sentence, Nocturne suddenly appeared, literally forming from the shadows, as he slashed at Cassiopeia, decapitating her, as he locked his gaze on Elsie; his stare drilling into her very soul.
"You will never harm Willow any further spider bitch!" He shouted, as he stopped a strike from Evelynn. He sliced open her stomach and impaled her head, as he dodged a strike from Garen. Nasus rushed out as well, followed by Thresh. Elsie saw them, as she smirked deviously.
"So many try to oppose us, and so many fall. How befitting would it be tro truly break the Butcher, by slaying his brother in cold blood? Darius, Garen, destroy Nasus and Thresh. Zed, end your maker." Garen immediatly lunged at Nasus, who barely managed to stop his strike. Darius' axes barely missed Thresh, as he swung his lantern upwards, letting it strike him across the face. Zed's shadows all rushed at Nocturne, as he cut them all down without hesitation. Nasus tried to appeal to Garen, telling him that this path was beyond evil. Garen's response, was simple.
"Don;t you see Nasus, this is the only way to purge the world of your brother, who endangers both Demacia and Noxus with his very presence. He must be stopped, and this is the only way. By standing against him, you must be stopped as well."
Renekton and Mordikaiser stood outside the cave, as they heard fighting. Renekton sniffed a few times, and smelt blood, as well as something else. Mordikaiser smelt it as well, as his spectral eyes widened.
"That stench, I only smell that after a concert, in my apartment with Sona. That means..."
"We need to get in there, and kill every single one of those bastards. Let's go!" They rushed within the cave, moving as quickly as they could, as they came across a scene Renekton regretted seeing.
Nasus, Thresh, and Nocturne lay on the ground, critically wounded and knocked out. Willow was on the ground, her clothes gone, as she lay with bruises and other wounds. Her eyes were glassed over, and the stench clearly told Renekton what happened; they raped her. His eyes widened, as Mordikaiser saw this. Tears started to brim in his eyes, and they grew worse when Garen raised his blade, and impaled Willow, through the chest. Time slowed down completly, as Mordikaiser took a few steps back...as Renekton exploded. His eyes burned red, as his very roar shook the walls violently. Garen turned, and hit the wall a second later with a broken rib as he was smacked out of the way as if he weighed nothing. Renekton held Willow's body, as his spoke in his distorted, two toned voice.
"Willow?! WILLOW?! Please, don't die! I need you! I love you!" Her eyes were still open, and she weakily uttered one thing.
"Renekton...I...love you...too." The light faded from her eyes, as Elsie smirked...but that smirk vanished a second later, as Renekton stood up, his form changing...for the absolute worst.
His skin slowly, but rapidly turned a deep and frightening copper. His eyes were fully red and soulless, as red energy resonated around him. Mordikaiser recognized this form, and knew it was one of Renenkton's skins; Bloodfury Renekton. And if he was correct...then Elsie had officially landed in "you're fucked" city, and the population was everyone in the cave. Singed was first to strike the Butcher...but the second a bottle left his hand, Renekton turned to face him, and it exploded violently in mid air! He backed away, and Renekton only twitched, and Singed violently exploded into a shower of gore and blood! If one had slowed time, they'd see Renekton had sliced him apart in less than a second, and returned to where he was standing! Tryndamere slashed at Renekton, and was beyond shocked when Renekton caught the blade in a split second, and clenched his hand, cracking the blade.
"Impossible! I put all my strength into that swing!" He shouted, as Renekton's eyes drilled directly into his soul.
"You underestimated me, barbaric fool," Renekton's voice was distorted, evil, and chilling. It sounded like something from the deepest corners of hell; something that could send any man or woman running from him in fear: "You never were the brightest, false king." He shattered the blade with just his hand, and sent his hand through the man, splattering Lux with organs and blood, and she screamed bloody murder. Not even his undying rage could save him. His body hit the floor, as Sion charged at Renekton, as well as Tibbers, courtesty of Annie. Renekton looked at them, and slashed his blade several times. Red slashes soared through the air, and upon making contact with Sion and Tibbers, reduced them to nothing but scraps! Renekton looked at Annie, and in a mere second he stood in front of her!
"Y-y-you wouldn't hit a child, would you?" She stammered in fear, as Renekton looked down on her. His response, was raising the flat side of his blade, and slamming it down with little effort. Katarina threw up when she saw the result. What was left of Annie, was a massive splatter of organs, blood, entrails, and her dress, as well as her bloodied arm and an eye. Looking at them, the Butcher's eyes showed no remose, no fear, and worst of all, no mercy. Teemo fired as many darts as he could, but they all shattered when they were only 2 feet from Renenkton. Unexpectedly, Ezreal ran in, tired and bloody, and tryed to tell Elsie that LeBlanc had been killed. When he saw the carnage, he screamed, only to alert Renekton. He fazed right in front of him, and grasped his neck, hoisting him into the air, as he looked into the frightened eyes of the explorer. With one tug, Ezreal's body hit the ground, his head and spine still in Renekton's hand. Elsie herself lost her lunch, at the sight and stench of all the carnage. Renekton was nowhere near done, as he was in front of Lux in a second. He took his time with her, each hit breaking something, until she lay on the floor in front of him, blood oozing from her broken legs, arms, and wounds on her chest. She looked at her older brother, and weakily extended her arm.
"Garen, help me-" She was cut off, when Renekton stomped on her head, crushing it like a ripe apple. Anger burned at Garen, as he let out a yell of sheer anger and charged. Renekton didn't even move when Garen swung at him; he caught the blade, and shattered it in his grasp. Teemo leapt at Renekton, as did Fizz. The small fish summoned his shark, and Renekton didn't even move as it appeared, its jaws overwhelming him. Fizz thought he had bested the Butcher...but the shark exploded into a shower of organs, as Renekton wasn't even fazed. He caught Teemo by the neck, and squeezed. Teemo exploded into a shower of gore, as the only thing that remained was his spine and a few organs still with it. Renekton dropped the body, and was in front of Fizz a second later. He kicked as hard as he could, and his head flew from his body, smashing against the wall and exploding. Garen stood with Darius, as both of them readied their weapons.
"Today Darius, we stand as one!" Garen shouted, as he charged at Renekton with what remained of his blade, as Darius ran with him. Darius swung both his axes, and in a second Renekton reduced them to scraps, before slicing upwards. Darius fell into pieces, as Katarina screamed in fury, before attacking as well. Garen hit the ground badly wounded, as he was forced to watch Renekton grab Katarina by her neck, as his other hand grabbed her waist. With one effortless tug, he seperated her into two, and he tore again and again, until nothing tangible remained. Her eye hit the ground before Garen, as he said, with his feeble breath:
"You're a fool Renekton; all of us here have Guardian Angel; we'll be back again, and the next time we will smite you without pause! I swear it!"
"I don't care; I want to savor killing you all, again, and again, and again, until there's nothing left to revive."
Garen wasn't even able to speak, as Renekton stomped on his chest, creating a large hole in it. Garen was only able to lay there, as Renekton walked past him, and towards the cowarding Elsie. She called for Vilemaw's aid, and when the spider appeared...her hope died when Renekton easily cut Vilemaw into bits, without a moment's pause. Now, he stood over Elsie, who could only babble in fear, before Renekton raised his blade, and brought it down; ending the League's threat in a shower of blood and gore.
Nasus came to a few minutes later, as the pungent stench of blood filled his nostrils. He slowly stood up, as Mordikaiser was at his side, helping him up.
"Why is it so dark, friend?" He asked the Master of Metal, who replied that it was night. Nasus then asked a very dire question.
"Mordikaiser, where is Renekton?"
"...Outside. His rage...it overtook him. He...he killed everyone, and everything. Garen, Elsie, Annie; everyone."
"My god...they did it didn't they; they killed Willow."
"Not even the buff she granted was enough against Bloodfury Renekton. It was a bloodbath."
Mordikaiser helped Nasus outside, as he saw what had become of his brother.
Renekton had numerous wounds, as well as his shirt missing, as he held Willow's dead body, tears streaming from his eyes. He said something Nasus wasn't able to hear, before hitting the ground, falling unconcious. Nasus managed to stand by himself, as he limped towards his brother. Nasus looked back towards Mordkaiser, and told him to get everyone still alive up, and to get Cho'Gath; Renekton was hurt bad; beyond bad. Mordikaiser nodded, and rushed into the darkened cave once more. Holding his brother's unconcious form, Nasus said to him, as he shook his head:
"Rage is a dangerous ally brother...if only we had been faster..."
"The court finds Renekton guilty." The Grand Summoner said, as he and the rest of the Summoner council spoke regarding what happened in the Shadow Isles. Renekton was in the infirmary; Nasus and Cho'Gath standing for him, trying to convince the council that Renenkton was not at fault.
"Grand Summoner, my brother acted harshly I understand, but that is no excuse to seal him away for the rest of his life! It was Garen and Elsie who deserve to be locked away!"
"I'm sorry Nasus, but he's too dangerous. What will happen when he recovers? Will he be the same? This Bloodfury, it can wipe out every living thing here. Nothing will survive, and our only hope is to seal him away. I'm sorry. The Champions who returned here after being butchered are all facing exile and will face punishment to the highest degree. But, we cannot release your brother; I'm sorry."
Nasus said nothing; he simply walked away. Cho'Gath gave the council one last hateful glare, before following Nasus, leaving the council to question if their choice was right after all.
Renekton sat in his large cell, hidden in the deepest corner of the Institute of War; buried so low, and sealed behind so many locks and wards, that nothing could escape it. It had been about 2 months since Willow's death; and he still felt the same following it. He should be feeling rage; anger at the ones who still breathe, for what they did to Willow. But now...he felt nothing. What Nasus had told him eons ago...now made sense. The rage burned away everything good in him, leaving him only as a hollow, emotionless shell. He lowered his head, as tears fell from his eyes. Nothing mattered anymore; the woman he loved, was dead; raped and killed before his very eyes. Now, the ones who had done so, they deserved only death. Renekton raised his head, when he heard the locks on his darkened cell being opened, and someone walked inside. The light burned for a moment, but when he could see well enough, he saw it was a Summoner.
She was a few inches taller than Willow, and she had spiked out, short black hair that kissed the bottom on her neck. Her face was rounded and soft, and her eyes were a chilling red. She wore the standard robes, as she brought Renekton a food tray. His gaze lowered towards the ground, as the woman set the tray down...and sat next to him. He paid her no mind, and when she spoke, he had to listen; she sounded so much...like her.
"I heard about what happened Renenkton; it's not fair; those monsters should be executed in the worst manner possible; publically as well." Even when not looking at her, Renekton knew that her eyes were narrowed with anger. He slowly moved his head as she spoke, and saw her canines extended considerably; she wasn't human.
"I just wish I could have killed them myself; watching them all die; like how you did it to them."
"...what is your name?" He finally asked her, as she looked at him, her eyes showing both lingering anger, yet neutral passiveness.
"My name is Melody; I'm the first vampire Summoner in the League. I'm...considered mentally unstable...due to my...anger issues."
"...you aren't unstable, just different. Power is within you; and you must find it."
Melody smiled, and despite Renekton not smiling on the outside, he smiled on the inside. Melody eventually stood up, and said she needed to resume her training, and that she'd be back tomorrow. Renekton said he'd look foward to it, as she sealed the door, encasing him once again in darkness. The food she brought...was a burger, with also a large cup of ale. Looking at it, Renekton remmebered how everything started, eons ago. He then asked himself the question that he needed to ask himself; was it all worth it. Memories of what happpened with Willow came flooding to him, as he remembered all the good times, as well as the bad times. The answer, became clearer than day. Yes; it was all worth it; the redemption, the heroics, the love. It made him better. The rage felt so far now...Renekton now felt...hope. Hope, for a better tomorrow...for a future worth dawning on...
Outside Renekton's cell, Nocturne stood withThresh, as they had snuck down the the area late at night; past curfew.
"Are you sure this plan will work?" Nocturne asked Thresh, who nodded, as he held up the glowing lantern.
"I placed Willow's soul in here; not to torture, but for this moment. Can you transport her spirit into the dream world with you?"
"Indeed, but why?"
"I hear what her soul speaks; she wants to say goodbye to Renekton. Who are we to deny her that?"
Nocturne nodded, and asked for the soul. Thresh placed his hand on the lantern, and a moment later, a cyan orb was in his hand. He placed it into Nocturne's hand, and he closed his hand around it, before fading into shadows, at the removal of the Nexus shard around his neck.
Renekton was in his dream; it was a dark beach. Not a horrific, bloodstained beach, but it was night, and the stars were in the sky. These dreams were hollow to him; he only felt longing after them. He sighed within the dream world, as he heard a noise behind turning, Renekton saw Nocturne floating there, as he lacked his blades.
"Friend? Why are you here? What is it?" Nocturne opened his hand, and something began to materialize. He said, as it finished:
"Someone wishes to say goodbye to you Renekton; I'm only here to ensure it can be done."
Willow. She stood there, translucent and cyan, her robes on her, as she looked at Renekton with glee. Tears brimmed in his eyes, as he approached her, and she ran towards him; encasing him in a hug.
"Willow...I'm so sorry." He said to her, as he buried his head into her shoulder. "If I had been faster, if I hadn't let my rage overwhelm me..."
"Shhh...it's ok. None of this was your fault. It's ok, Renekton. No more tears please."
"But Willow-"
"No more; I'm at peace now. For the past two months, my spirit could never rest, because I could never say goodbye. Now I can; thank you, Renekton, for what you have done for me."
"...thank you as well; you turned my life around. Had I never met you, I'd be where I'd been for a long time; a deranged monster. I don't even know what I am now."
"A hero; as you always were meant to be. You just needed to find your way, and find your inspiration. Now, for my sake, can you continue to be the hero I fell in love with, the hero I loved since that day in the courtyard."
Memories washed over them, as Renekton wiped away the last bit of tears.
"I promise I will Willow; for you."
"Thank you...now I must go." Renekton reluctantly released her, as she backed away from him, slowly fading into light.
"I love you, Renekton, and I always will..."
Nocturne reappeared outside Renekton's cell, his hand still closed.
"Did it go well?" Thresh asked, and Nocturne opened his hand, gold light rising from it, and going upwards.
"Indeed; Renekton is better now, and will continue to do so. Willow's moving on, to a better place."
"And to think, I wanted to kill her a long time ago. What do we do now?"
"We live, my friend, and we wait for Renekton to be released. But in the meantime, do you want to help me torment Lux's dreams?"
"Hell yeah."
End of Chapter 14