Thank you for your patience because another chapter has arrived! This series is drawing near to the end, so from now on if you have any suggestions about what and whom the new story should be about, just let me know in the comments. It doesn't need to be M/M, I can try something new I suppose. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter IX - Brawl in the desert

When Rengar woke up, still slightly sleepy, he tried to hug Kha'Zix tighter, but then he realised that he has been holding a pillow this entire time. He sat up slightly confused and looked around. He didn't spot Kha'Zix anywhere, so he thought he went for a walk. Rengar slowly got out from the bed and started putting on his clothes and armour, and then himself went outside to breathe some fresh air and to stretch a little. Despite being windy outside, it was rather warm thanks to hot winds coming from Shurima.

"Hmm, maybe I'll do the same thing?" Rengar spoke to himself, thinking about going for a walk, too. Without thinking twice, he did as he said.

While he was walking, he thought what would happen next, after everything settles down and Noah and Lucy return to Piltover. Would they eventually come back and look again, or maybe give up and forget? Lucy looked like a person that doesn't abandon her ideas easily, but maybe Noah, the voice of reason, will open her eyes and she will see how reckless and unwise it is to just dive into the jungle without any research in pursuit of the unknown.

But then around half an hour later when Rengar decided to turn around and return to his hut, he heard something. His ear twitched and moved towards the direction from which the sound came. And it wasn't just a single sound, there were multiple. It sounded like someone was talking. Curious, he decided to inspect it. As he was getting closer, the sounds became more and more clear, and they were in fact someone's voices. He managed to eavesdrop some parts of sentences, "What should we do now?", "By Shurima, we're doomed!", "Please, God, have mercy!". What was it all about, Rengar wondered. But before he could answer this question, he saw a small camp right in front of him. Some people were sitting near the fire and cooking a small animal, others were taking care of their injuries, and the rest was either talking or praying. Rengar frowned in confusion. Then, he heard a stick break behind him. He turned around and was shocked when he saw his friend Al-Kadeem.

"It's good to see you, Rengar…" he said when Rengar faced him.

"Al-Kadeem?" he replied shocked. His head and arm were bandaged, "Wh-What happened?" he asked worried.

"We've been attacked...the town of trade is no more…" Al-Kadeem replied bitterly.

"Attacked? By whom?" Rengar asked. The man remained silent for a moment, but then replied with fear in his eyes.

"By the Void creature."

"...what?" Rengar asked terrified. Could it mean...no. He refused to believe that. "How...did it look like…?" he asked.

"Al-Kadeem couldn't take a good look, but it was swimming in sand like in water, and had a fin on its back, like a shark." he replied. Rengar sighed in relief, so it wasn't Kha'Zix. But then something struck him, if it wasn't Kha'Zix, then what was it?

"You're sure it was a Void creature, correct?" Rengar asked, he needed to be sure.

Al-Kadeem nodded, "I'm positive. Al-Kadeem hasn't seen anything like that in his whole life." he replied.

"Alright then. Tell me everything you know about it, I need to know specifics." he asked.

"Don't tell me...are you planning on fighting it?" Al-Kadeem asked shocked, "It's too dangerous!"

"I don't know yet, I want to know as much as possible." Rengar replied. Al-Kadeem sighed and nodded.

"Then come, listen to everyone. They've seen more than Al-Kadeem"

"Wait!" Kha'Zix heard a minute later. When he looked behind, he saw Lucy running towards him with Noah not far behind her. He wasn't sure how their conversation would turn out, but he sighed and waited for her.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked. Lucy paused for a moment when she saw his full body, but just shook her head and spoke to him.

"I just...wanted to apologise...for being rude and all." Lucy said and looked down. Kha'Zix's eyes widened. She was apologising to him?

"No, there is nothing to apologise for, we've-"

"Of course there is. When you were talking here with Noah, I had some time to think. And I realised how selfish I was." she interrupted him, "I was too angry to think about it. I didn't care that you cared, I just wanted it to die. But then you said that I was your friend, so of course you would want to protect me." she added.

Kha'Zix didn't know how to reply, "What...are you saying?", he uttered.

"I...I still want it dead, I truly do, but…" she paused, "If we don't defeat it, I'll just get myself and Noah killed. So I've decided. We're leaving." she stated. Kha'Zix couldn't believe what he just heard. She gave up?

"I was surprised, too." Noah said when he saw Kha'Zix's face.

Lucy smiled faintly and sighed, "If what you said is true, I trust you won't let it kill anyone and keep this jungle safe." she said and came closer to Kha'Zix, "But it appears it wasn't for nothing, I got to talk with legendary hunter Rengar and got a new friend." she added and smiled wider.

"So...you're just leaving?" Kha'Zix asked stupefied. Lucy nodded.

"I know this is sudden, I kind of amazed myself as well, but I guess better late than never." she said and after a moment of silence, she hugged Kha'Zix which completely took him off guard, "Sorry for being an inconvenience." she said and released him.

"Lucky you, she never hugs me!" Noah grinned. Lucy just giggled.

"Because you seldom deserve it." she replied, "It seems this is the part we say goodbye." Lucy said when she turned to Kha'Zix.

"It was nice meeting you! Maybe we'll meet again in a future!" Noah exclaimed joyfully.

"Same, even if I wasn't particularly nice, I really enjoyed your company. Will you apologise to Rengar for me? We're quite far away, and judging by the sun we can find a transport to Bel'zhun soon, so we might not find time to visit him." Lucy asked him, but Kha'Zix remained silent. He looked down at the ground and closed his eyes.

"Is...everything alright? You look kinda gloomy." Noah asked surprised.

He raised his head and looked at them, "No, nothing's alright!" Kha'Zix shouted suddenly. They both looked at him shocked.

"I'm sorry if we said something wrong-"

"It's not about you!" Kha'Zix interrupted Lucy. Despite his promise, despite what Rengar asked, he couldn't stifle the pain, the guilt he was feeling, not after her words, "I...have to tell you something." Kha'Zix said after a short pause.

Lucy nodded, "We're listening…"

Kha'Zix swallowed and coughed nervously, "The truth is that...I…" Kha'Zix tried to tell them, but it was harder than he thought. Then he exhaled and looked at them again, "I...I am-"

"I found you!" the trio heard someone close. They all looked around, it was Rengar.

"Ren-Rengar?" Kha'Zix asked confused, "What are you doing here?"

"I've been looking for you, but since you're all here, it's even better." Rengar replied and looked at both Lucy and Noah.

"What happened? Is something wrong?" Noah asked worried. Lucy just looked at him questioningly.

"The Void creature attacked the town, we have to slay it." he said. They all looked shocked and surprised, but Kha'Zix even more. Was he joking?

"When?" Lucy asked in an instant.

"Remember those loud noises? It was the sound of collapsing buildings, it might still be there." Rengar replied, "I found survivors on the edge of the jungle, they told me."

Lucy looked at Noah, he just nodded, "He's one-hundred percent saying the truth." he replied. Her eyes shone with newfound energy and hope.

"Are you coming?" she asked Noah. He just shrugged and smiled in defeat.

"I promised I would go anywhere with you." he replied. Lucy smiled and nodded.

"Let's go, there's no time to waste!" Rengar said and ran, leading them towards the Void creature. As they were running, Kha'Zix caught up to Rengar.

"What does this mean?" he asked Rengar quietly.

"It means exactly what I said, the Void creature attacked." he replied. Kha'Zix was perplexed. Another one of his kind? He couldn't deny that possibility.

"But why are you helping us now?" Lucy suddenly asked without stopping.

"Don't get me wrong, I still don't want you to fight it, but it destroyed my friends' home and killed too many innocent people to let it slide. Besides, the four of us have better chances of doing it." Rengar replied and looked at Noah, he looked exhausted, but didn't stop, "You don't have some kind of stamina boosting spell, do you?"

"I do! And already used it!" he replied with difficulty. Rengar slowed down a little to let him catch up to him, and then with one hand he pulled him on his back.

"Aaaa!" Noah yelled when he stopped feeling ground under his feet.

"Hold on! I don't want you to faint on the battlefield!" Rengar said.

"Oh, okay-"

"Fuck! Don't pull my mane!"

"Ah! Sorry!"

After approximately twenty minutes, they arrived to the camp where Al-Kadeem and the rest of survivors were. Noah immediately gave aid to injured people with minor healing spells, and Lucy talked with Al-Kadeem about the Void creature. Kha'Zix stood further away behind Rengar because he felt weird gazes on him. Rengar noticed it, so he came closer to him.

"Feeling weird?" Rengar asked.

"Yeah...but putting that aside," Kha'Zix replied and looked at Rengar, "I can't believe there was a second Void creature so close to us."

"Yeah, me neither." he replied and sighed, "But thanks to that, we can get rid of them with ease." he added referring to Noah and Lucy. Kha'Zix gave him a strange look, "Kha, I know what you're thinking but this will be for the best."

He sighed, Rengar was right, "I know, I know…" Kha'Zix said, "You know...I...almost told them the truth. The moment you yelled, I was about to say it." he admitted.

Rengar was shook. He grabbed has hand and pulled it closer, "Kha'Zix, I beg you, don't do it…" he pleaded. Kha'Zix pulled his hand away and smiled.

"Don't worry, I won't." he replied. Rengar, still worried, smiled back and nodded.

"Okay guys, I think we're good." Lucy said as she was getting closer with Noah.

Rengar turned around and nodded, "We're ready as well." he replied and started walking towards their new enemy. As they were leaving, all survivors were cheering them and praying for them. Sadly, none of them was capable of fighting, but even if they were, Rengar doubted any of them could do anything. They were too scared. Then, after some time, they arrived. The earth and moss started mixing with sand, and trees weren't as densely scattered as before. The four of them couldn't believe their eyes. What previously was a flourishing little town, became depressing ruins in less than half a day.

"We just were here…" Noah spoke quietly. They were slowly marching forward, cautiously looking around. As they were walking between destroyed buildings, Lucy noticed two bodies. One of them was a small child, and the second one a woman, probably its mother. Lucy averted her gaze and went the other direction. Most of the bodies were gone, either eaten or buried under sand or debris.

"What a horrible view…" Rengar said as he was inspecting possible track, but it was hard to find anything on sand. Kha'Zix looked around when he was searching. Only a Void creature was be capable of causing such destruction in such short span of time, a big one on top of that.

"Guys…" Lucy said suddenly as she was looking down at sand. Rengar noticed it, too. Grains of sand were starting to bounce, something was coming.

"I think I see it…" Noah said with fear in his voice. He pointed somewhere far. They saw something moving in the ground, almost unnoticeable because of the rays of the sun. They weren't sure what it was, but in current circumstance it could be only one thing.

"The Void creature." Lucy said slowly and drew her rapier, Rengar unsheathed his dagger and locked his metal claws, Noah carefully opened his spell book, and Kha'Zix stretched his claws.

"Noah, hide in one of those buildings, you'll aid us from the distance. Can you talk to us all telepathically?" Rengar suggested and asked.

"Yeah, I can." Noah replied and started looking for the best spot to hide.

"What about us?" Kha'Zix asked and looked at Rengar with Lucy.

"I suggest letting it make its first move, we don't know to what kind of fighting style we should adapt." Lucy said and looked at Rengar. He nodded in agreement.

"Good idea, then based on that we shall counterattack." he added, "Let's go, we don't want it to accidentally hurt Noah." Rengar added and moved forward. The three of them stopped a little bit away from the ruins, but just in range of Noah's spells. The boy quickly searched through the pages, looking for the best spells in that kind of environment. While doing so, he remembered about the scroll Lucy gave him, so he took it and put in between the pages, just in case.

"Are you okay in there?" Rengar "said" to Noah hoping he can initiate the conversation as well.

"Yeah, I am. I'm surprised you remembered how to do it." Noah replied in his mind, but then Kha'Zix looked at them confused.

"What the hell? How are you doing it?" he asked perplexed.

"I created telepathic web instead of connecting to one person, this way we can all hear your thoughts." Noah replied, sensing Kha'Zix's confusion.

"Just think about something to tell us, we'll hear it." Lucy said to him. His eyes widened, but then he closed them and tried to say something.

"Okay...does it work…?" Kha'Zix said his first words through telepathy.

"Yup, you were heard clearly." Rengar replied to him. Kha'Zix smiled widely.

"That's awesome!" he said and looked at Rengar. He smiled back, but then noticed the fin Al-Kadeem talked about. With each second it appeared to be even bigger and faster. They stood their ground and waited. Then, when it was only a couple of meters away, it emerged from sand with such high speed, it sent itself in the air.

"Watch out!" Rengar yelled and covered his eye. Kha'Zix and Lucy did the same. When the creature landed, the sand started ferociously flying in their direction. When it was gone, they looked up, and saw the terror of Shurima itself. Four-legged, eyeless creature with teeth sharp as nails, but it's lower jaw was missing. Instead, it had two huge fangs on the sides. It was the size of a smaller building and it was just like Al-Kadeem described, sickly purple...just like Kha'Zix. But his skin and natural armour looked much healthier compared to its scraped and occasionally scarred skin and armour. And then, it released the most terrifying and deafening screech the have ever heard. Rengar had to cover both his ears no to lose his hearing. Lucy managed to resist it, but it still caused her little pain. But for Kha'Zix, it was no screech, his brain could decode its meaning. And it wasn't just a pleasant invitation to a party.

"What in the world is this?!" Lucy shouted not believing such an abomination could even exist.

"Exactly what you were looking for!" Rengar shouted back, making her slightly regret her decision, but it was already too late to make any changes in her plan.

The creature looked at them menacingly, or rather turned its head in their direction. For some reason it knew they were standing there. Then it started slowly making its way to them, and just as it was near, it stopped. It pointed its head directly at Kha'Zix. And then, another scream. Rengar tried not to lose focus, but had to close his eyes out of pain. Lucy had to do the same thing.

"My name is Rek'Sai! Join me, my sibling, and together let's destroy the humanity!" Rek'Sai told him. Kha'Zix was surprised, its name indicated that it was a female.

"What is going on there?" Noah asked them.

"My ears hurt like hell!" Rengar complained in his mind.

"I think it's threatening us first!" Lucy replied.

Another scream, "Don't make me wait! Give me your answer!" Rek'Sai demanded. She sounded furious.

"Shut up…" Kha'Zix said without any sort of emotion in his voice and charged at her with ridiculously high speed. Both Rengar and Lucy didn't notice when he left them.

"Betrayer!" she screamed and swung her limb at him. Kha'Zix predicted it, so he dove forward, dodging her attack, and then he rolled forward and pierced the side of her neck with his claw.

"I'm not one of your kind anymore!" he said to her and jumped away fast before she could retaliate. Rek'Sai screamed again, but in this time in pain.

"What are you doing!?" Rengar shouted when Kha'Zix returned after successful hit.

"Just making sure it knows its place." Kha'Zix replied with angry look. Rengar has never seen that kind of expression on his face before. It wasn't just pure anger, it was something else.

Then Rek'Sai released another scream, but this time it was louder than before, even Kha'Zix struggled to resist it.

"I...can't take...it…" Rengar covered his ears in attempt to stifle the pain but to no avail. His ears started to bleed.

"Minor protection!" Noah spoke suddenly. Then the pain was completely gone. Rengar uncovered his ears in confusion.

"Did you do something?" Rengar asked.

"I casted Minor protection spell, it defends from minor sources of damage like scrapes, lighter hits, or non magical sound." Noah replied. Rengar sighed in relief. He was going mad because of those horrible sounds.

"Alright, ugly! Let's settle this!" he said and raised his weapons. Lucy also focused on her enemy, Kha'Zix as well. And then, Rek'Sai charged at them.

I hope you liked this chapter, another one will be a long fight sequence with Rek'Sai, so I hope I'll nail it because I'm always nervous when describing those. It's hard to write a good fight. Anyway, see you guys next week!