Chapter 36 - Icathia.
"Look around you, my child, this is my kingdom, this is where everything began... This is where everything will end... Time and space... None of that matters here... I've seen heroes come and go... I've seen mages draw their power from my realm and die in crazed screams... I walked through this impossible land until there was nothing left to explore... And now... I walk through the worlds around us... I see how their stories are born and die... I see how they struggle to change the tides of destiny... But in the end... They can't change the fate every sentient being is bound to... This is the place where everything began... And some day... The Void will devour all the lights in the sky... And the toy box the Great Architect crafted will finally be mine"
-Home! Mommy, home!
-No, Kog'Maw, this is not the Void.
-Are you sure, Vel'Koz? This feels oddly familiar for me... The scent in the air... The energy in the ground... This has to be the Void.
-I admit there are some similarities... But this can't be the Void... Swain said we were headed towards Icathia, so this must be... Are you okay, Kha'Zix?
-I'm fine... My urges have subsided... But we have to hurry up... This energy... Is unbearable... Now that I think about it. How's the girl doing?
-She is still unconscious... And I'm afraid her condition is worse than before... We have to get her out of here, fast or else...
Even if Vel'Koz thought like that... He simply had no idea of what to do... After crossing through the portal the have appeared in the middle of a jungle... But the scariest part was the environment, everything seemed normal, aside from the sudden Void energy around them, the voidlings couldn't see any sort of corruption in the landscape, they were waiting for small creatures bathed in the light of the Void... Or even atrocities mutated by some dark will... But there was nothing, the trees seemed healthy and completely normal, there were no signs of the horrors from the depths... Just them... And the deadly silence that followed them.
Yes, It was quiet, extremely quiet, no animals, no birds, no wind... Nothing, they could even hear the leaves falling to the ground, the sound of their steps and even their breathing... But there was something more peculiar about this strange world... In the middle of the sky, a black sun moved through the blue vault... It was strange... Neither of the voidling could feel any change in the environment regarding the sun... But, for some strange reason, the sight of such dark star made them feel uncomfortable... Especially Vel'Koz, the longer he stared into the black sun... The stronger the urge to destroy the accursed star was... He couldn't explain why... But it was there.
They walked a few more miles until the landscape changed, from afar they could see some sort of purple miasma flowing around in the ruins of a small city, something began to creep on their backs as they got closer to the city... It was a cold certainty... Something was living inside of the ruins.
-Should we really go there? - Cho'Gath asked clearly uncomfortable.
-I'm not sure... Veliza's condition is getting worse - Vel'Koz spoke as he studied the face of the young girl, she was sweating and panting while her limbs twitched uncontrollably - We are running out of time... But... I feel the portal is inside those ruins.
-Then, let's hurry up and smash the damn thing! - Kha'Zix commented as he sharpened his scythes, Rek'Sai groaned in agreement.
-I know... But what if...
-No... Stop... Get away... - The little girl whispered as she waved her hands in panic - No... Stop... No...
-Veliza? Are you...
-NO! - The girl screamed as her eyes shot open, her pupils were surrounded by a pitch black darkness - HE IS WAITING! HE IS WAITING!
-Veliza, stop! I'm here! - But the little girl trashed until Vel'Koz let her go, the girl squirmed in the ground as she yelled in fear, then she got up and ran towards the city - She is heading to the city! We have to stop her!
Rek'Sai roared and immediately burrowed on the ground, Kha'Zix groaned and rushed towards the city following the Void Rush of Rek'Sai, Vel'Kos grabbed Kog'Maw and followed Cho'Gath into the city.
-Veliza! Where are you? Come back! - Vel'Koz called helplessly as he looked through the city, he had to find her, it was his fault she was in this hell.
But the itch would not stop, as he passed through the street of the city he watched the influence of the Void in every corner, crumbled obelisks and giant decaying idols of alien figures that seemed to watch his every move... He could recognize most of them... He himself was there... In the middle of the streets, he found the remains of an army, rusted armor guarded the bones of hundreds of soldiers, he couldn't tell what killed them... Possibly the miasma in the air... Or maybe they killed themselves, he thought as he saw a peculiar figure of a man kneeling with a spear piercing his stomach... He had to hurry... He had to find her... Before something more sinister found her first.
-There! - Kog'Maw chirped spitting to his left.
-Are you sure?
-Yes! She is there! - Kog'Maw chirped.
He had no other choice, he turned to his left and rushed as fast as he could... What awaited for him ahead froze him in place.
The first thing he noticed where the whispers... Many voices chanted in a language he hadn't heard before, then, the shadows behind him began to swallow the ruins he passed... And then... It was there.
He couldn't put into words what the thing was... It seemed like a shadow that existed and didn't... A darkness floating in the middle of the glade... Around it, Vel'Koz could hear the echoes of million of screams coming from that thing... That couldn't be the portal... He had seen portals to the Void in the past... No... That was something entirely different... And more diabolic in essence.
His train of thoughts was interrupted when a pillar of purple energy appeared beside him, Rek'Sai through the ground and landed in front of me, behind her, Kha'Zix appeared in a flash of purple energy, Cho'Gath came running from the city.
-Everyone is here? - Cho'Gath asked counting the voidlings.
-Yes... But how? We went in different directions!
-I was following that brat! She led me here - Kha'Zix answered confused.
-Just as I did! - Cho'Gath explained as he inspected the darkness on the glade - What is that? - He asked shocked.
-A portal to the Void - I explained as I handed Kog'Maw to Rek'Sai - But... I'm afraid this one might be more dangerous than the normal ones... It seems something destabilized or changed its function... It shouldn't look like that.
-Then we have to close it before... - Cho'Gath began but he went quiet and paled looking at the portal.
In front of the portal, a small figure stood watching it, the figure turned around and Veliza glared at them... Her eyes... Those weren't the eyes of a human... Vel'Koz had seen those eyes before... Those were the eyes of a creature from the Void.
-He is waiting... - She whispered with a smile - He is waiting for you... Arclight...
The voidlings tried to reach her but a powerful roar stopped them, they felt the ground beneath them tremble and saw a silhouette move through the dirt, the thing reached the portal and erupted in an explosion of purple fire and lighting, Veliza was thrown away and fell near the portal.
It was him... The voidlings had heard about the first creature that was born in the dangerous lands of the Void, a creature so ancient he had seen many worlds consumed by the Void, a creature so powerful he could destroy complete worlds on his own, the highest being in the hierarchy of the Void, the legendary god every voidling learned to fear... The world eater.
He was the Baron Nashor.
The powerful worm-like purple creature roared as he stretched his immense and scaled body, covering the dark sun in the sky as he deformed the ground with his corruption, his gigantic head adorned with mighty fangs and many emerald eyes as two smaller heads at the sides, the ancient god of the Void focused his gaze in the small voidlings in front of him, he smelled the air and lowered his powerful maw until he was right in front of them, none dared to me.
-I see... - His voice resonated through the silence - You are finally here... Yes... Yes! YES! - He roared into the sky - Now! We can finally consume this world! Come, little ones! Open the portal and unleash the horrors of the... - He stopped as he noticed a small figure beside the portal - What is this thing? A human? In Icathia? How did she survive the miasma and the curses?... No... She has been corrupted... Soon, she will be nothing more but a pitiful and weak creature with no other purpose than satisfy her hunger... Sadly, this little one would never survive this world... I shall end her suffering right now - He roared as he lunged towards the fallen girl.
But before he could swallow the girl a purple flash of light glowed in front of him and repelled him, Vel'Koz covered the fragile girl with his body as he glared at the Baron Nashor, Behind him, the other voidlings growled and roared as they prepared for the battle.
-What is the meaning of this? - The Baron groaned confused - What do you think you're doing, Seeker?
-I won't allow you to harm this human... Or the world outside this hell.
-What? Have you gone insane? You are supposed to kill those lesser creatures! Not protect them! End this madness and open the portal, Seeker!
-I will not.
-Why? You are a creature of the Void! Those weak beings are nothing but nourishment for us... Weak willed beings who shiver in fear hearing our names... Treacherous life-forms who would betray their kind for their own survival... Why are you doing this? Why are you protecting them?
-Because... They have taught me so much... I won't deny your reasons, Baron... I won't deny their sins or their faults... But I believe the potential they hold is worth the try... I love the humans... And for them... I'm willing to destroy the Void itself.
-Very well... Then... I have no other choice but to destroy all of you and open the portal myself! I will shatter your bodies and I will torment your pitiful cores until there's nothing left but sad whispers of regret and guilt! And after that, I will enjoy tearing apart every stone, every limb, and every hope of the world you love so much!
Vel'Koz knew they couldn't defeat the ancient monster... The Baron Nashor was extremely powerful... They needed time... Time to figure a way to close the portal... It was the objective from the very beginning... Cho'Gath nodded at him and the four voidlings rushed towards the Baron.
Rek'Sai was the first to reach the Baron and using her momentum she tried to tackle the Baron, but the creature was so massive it barely shook him... Kha'Zix appeared in front of him and tried to clip the Baron's belly, his scythes bounced in the thick skin of the monster... Kog'Maw shot from afar projectiles of green acid goo, but the Baron didn't even notice the attack... Cho'Gath disrupted the ground beneath the Baron, but the creature remained in its place... The Baron roared in fury and prepared to launch his attack... But the voidlings retreated... They did their job... Behind them, Vel'Koz had finally finished channeling his magic... He saw his friends escape... And he released his last attack... The orb of purple energy flew above the voidlings and missed the Baron for a few inches and collided against the portal... But nothing happened.
The purple orb of energy was simply swallowed by the darkness.
The voidlings were flabbergasted... They have failed.
-YOU FOOL! DID YOU REALLY THOUGHT YOU COULD STOP IT? NO ONE CAN STOP THE VOID, SEEKER! - The Baron Nashor roared in victory as his tail emerged from the ground and smashed the voidlings - You will pay for your betrayal, Seeker!
Vel'Koz could feel the weight of the crushing his body, he could hear the desperate screams of the other voidlings as they tried to escape, but it was useless, they couldn't even move the Baron... Vel'Koz could see how the monster crept slowly towards Veliza... She was going to die... And once again... he will lose everything...
Unless...
"MONSTER"
Her voice and her fear flooded his mind...
He needed to save Veliza... He needed to unleash that strange power once again... But...
"GET AWAY FROM ME"
No... He couldn't take that risk again... He knew what would happen... And that scared him... Not again... But the Baron wouldn't stop... The creature opened its jaws... Vel'Koz could see its spit falling on Veliza's face... He needed to stop him... But...
"MONSTER"
...
...
...
Is it really that painful?
The voice spoke from within... Uh? The voice... Who...?
You know, I always wondered why you suddenly decided to tell your story that way... As if you were a different narrator.
Narrator? You... I... I can't understand...
If it hurts so much... Then, just let go... You don't have to pretend anymore... Right now, there is something only you can do.
But... What if I fail again?
You will fail if you don't do anything... Is that what you want?
No... I... I want to... I want to save her.
Then... You know what to do... Hurry up... The story is almost over... Make it a good one...
What do you mean?
I am waiting...
I felt a pressure in my core, a bright light in front of me and a feral growl pierced through the sky... I felt the Baron suddenly retreating and hissing in a challenge... A blur of purple flashed in front of me and I saw the massive body of the Baron being shoved away... A creature as big as a house tackled the Baron pushing him away from me... It was Rek'Sai, she roared at the Baron and stood between us... The Baron lunged at her but she caught his jaws with her claws and threw him to the ground, the Baron tried to get up but suddenly he screamed in pain, deep cuts appeared in his belly and his blood began to spill on the ground... A pair of emerald eyes watched as the monster trashed due the pain, Kha'Zix appeared in his evolved form, his eyes were filled with hunger and the Baron was his prey... The Baron tried to attack him but a rain of acid bullets came from the sky melting his thick scales... From afar, Kog'Maw laughed happily... The Baron recomposed himself and glared at us with fury... But suddenly the ground started to shake, Cho'Gath raised in his full form just as big as the Baron, he roared as a field of spikes impaled the Baron, then, he tackled Nashor and brought him down, Nashor tried to fight back, but Rek'Sai grabbed his lower half and retrained him... Cho'Gath roared to him before he ripped Nashor's head with a single bite, the body of the monster twitched for a few moments before it stopped completely.
Cho'Gath spat the head away before he glared at me... He walked slowly towards me and stood right in front of me, then, he lunged at me and...
-Oh, my! You are so small! - He spoke merrily - I can't believe I have my original size again! All of us have our original powers!
-Yeah... I've been meaning to ask... why were we so weak back then? - Kha'Zix asked as he ate a bit of Nashor's body.
-We had a seal halving our full potential... I, somehow, managed to unlock some of our powers at the ambush in Piltover, we survived thanks to that. - I explained examining the condition of my friends.
-Can you seal our powers again? I can't wear any of my suits like this. - Cho'Gath complained with a frown -I really need to... REK'SAI! PUT KOG'MAW DOWN! - The Void Burrower wanted to hug the small slug but with her massive sizes she would definitely kill him - Don't complain! You are too big for that! - Rek'Sai screeched in anger - That is not something a lady should say! I will wash your mouth with soap!
-Guys, I think we should have this conversation once the portal is closed - Kha'Zix commented eating more of the Baron Nashor.
-I tried to close it but... - I couldn't finish my sentence as I felt my limbs shake in fear.
A small figure was standing right in front of the portal, Veliza had a strange aura surrounding her, she turned around feeling my gaze... Her iris completely surrounded by a pure darkness, she smiled at me before she touched the portal... The earth disappeared beneath me, I heard Cho'Gath roar in shock, I saw Rek'Sai hug Kog'Maw before they disappeared into the abyss, Kha'Zix tried to escape but fell into the nothingness... The last thing I saw was a dark silhouette before the Void swallowed my soul.
Darkness...
There was nothing there...
I didn't know where my body began or ended...
I was floating in the abyss...
Surrounded by the darkness...
But there was no darkness...
Instead, I was surrounded by a pure white mist...
I blinked a few times before I could understand what was going on, I turned around and notice a small cliff floating in the middle of the mist, something began screaming in my core... It told me there was something dangerous ahead of me... But I felt attracted to the cliff... I, somehow, knew that was the place I was supposed to go... I headed towards the lonely cliff in the mist and realized there was a path behind it, the path, surrounded by dead trees seemed to reach the infinite as I couldn't see the end of it... I decided to cross it.
As I made my way, I could hear strange voices from afar... I gazed into the mist and saw other islands in the distances floating in the mist... In them, I could see strange events happening... A man stood on a hill of swords as a bright wave of fire was heading towards him... Another man watched through a window as a horde of rats ran through a deserted city... A woman stared at several boundaries opening around her... And then... I saw myself... As I tried to help Soraka, Vi, Sarah and Jinx... What... What is going on? What is that?
Stories
I heard the voice... But I couldn't tell where it was... My core shivered in fear... I knew that voice... But I couldn't tell how... I don't even know where I am...
You are in the Void.
Impossible... This is not the Void... This can't be the Void... This place is... So peaceful... It can't be the Void...
But it is.
No... It can't be... How...?
It simply is.
You... What are you? Where are you?
I'm nowhere... And everywhere at the same time.
That doesn't make any sense... Show yourself...
If that's what you want.
A strange shadow began to form in the mist... Slowly something came out... He was wearing a set of humble clothes... A leather brown jacket, a pair of blue pants and a pair of black boots... His short hair was light brown... And his eyes were of a pitch black...
-Who are you? - I finally spoke.
-You know who I am - He said with a small smile.
I am the Outsider, The Master of the Void.
Welcome back, Vel'Koz.