The Enlightened One's Plan
Ionia (City), Ionia
"You may enter." An Ionian guard said as he pushed the door open for Isaac.
"At least the royal guards are nice…" Mute muttered, over her earlier fit about how Isaac had disabled her audio.
"Or…" Isaac rolled his eyes. "Its because we have their captain of the guard with us and her personal ninja assistant..." He said.
He was standing between said individuals, Irelia on his left and Akali on his right, as he entered what he was assuming was the office of the Duchess Karma. It was apparently very important that he met her, and given how much emphasizes Irelia was putting on this meeting being Ascension related, Isaac was actually looking forward to it for once.
Maybe it can give us some idea as to what to do now. We know the Ascension are here, we know they have firepower… we just don't know where they are or what their game is yet here.
Ezreal and Blitzkrieg both opted out of the meeting and stayed behind at the inn. They blamed it on him for interrupting their lunch.
That, and Ezreal had no reason to meet Karma. Blitzkrieg already met with her the day before.
Sure glad I have FUCKING teammates…
And those two were really all he had at the moment, AI's not included. Jinx was MIA, the rest of his squad was MIA. Caitlyn, Firewall, and Vi were across an ocean. And he wasn't sure if working under the League was the best option right now.
That left him alone to deal with the Ionians.
And after his fight with Shyvana, the ball was pretty much in the Ionian's court now. Only, Isaac also pretty sure HE was the ball.
Maybe after this we should see what the Demacians REALLY want… aside from getting their own human dragon hybrid champion to luring me into fight by getting her to throw me through a wall…
Karma's office was pretty similar to Irelia's… only that it was Spartan as all hell. A few paintings existed on the walls, all of various landscapes that even Isaac found to be breathtaking. The Duchess's desk was at the far end of the room up a small set of stairs, three steps to be exact. There was open windows on all sides, but it was surprisingly calm inside. To the left, Isaac noticed an opening to the outdoors where a small pond and waterfall sat, surrounded by beautiful flowers.
She's a patron of the arts… that's for sure…
And the lady in question wasn't behind the desk, but instead on a mat in front of said pond. She had her eyes closed and was in a meditation posture. To Isaac, she certainly seemed at peace.
Speaking of the Duchess, Isaac got his first look at her. Her skin was a dark olive color, with short brown hair and a large green jewel resting on her forehead on top of her hair. She had long eyelashes and Isaac swore she had some kind of face paint around her eyes and on her eyelids. She was clad in a purple robe that was silver around her torso. Most of her arms were bar with the exception of bracers on her forearms and a pair of odd triangular shoulder pieces rested on her upper biceps.
Wow… she looks unique. She would certainly stand out in a crowd…
Isaac also didn't miss that she had a mysterious floating object above her head, just slightly behind it. It was similar to the one floating behind Irelia's head.
"That's the Mantle of Decorum." Mute informed him as if she read his mind. "It's Ionia's highest honor."
Huh… guess that means I'm having a meeting with two of the country's most important people.
Isaac was about to take another step forward, when he felt both Irelia and Akali grab each one of his arms. His training kicked and Isaac almost started resisting, but he turned his head to see Irelia looking at him.
"Wait here." She said, releasing his arm, Akali following suit. "Reveal your face to her."
Isaac raised an eyebrow. He was going to ask why, but he would likely get some kind of Ionian response about respect and yada yada. So he sighed and tapped the side of his helmet, having his visor slide up.
"Remember… you brought this upon yourself." Mute reminded him.
Yeah yeah… this is what I get for trying to save the world…
Irelia nodded and turned her attention to the woman across the room. "Enlightened One, we have brought Archangel. Apologies for arriving so early."
Thankfully, Irelia didn't mention as to WHY they had decided to come early. At least, not yet.
Karma opened her eyes and looked towards her guests. "Ah…" She said, before rising from her posture. "It is nothing to worry about. I should not be mediating when we should be taking action."
… Is she some kind of… monk? Priestess? Isaac thought as he looked her up and down again. She is certainly dressed for the part, and she was just addressed as the Enlightened One.
Karma took a few steps toward Isaac. "Archangel?" She asked.
Isaac nodded in response.
"Let me have a look at you." Karma said. Isaac noticed how calm her voice sounded. It was almost as if she was the eye of a hurricane, the only calm thing in a storm.
She crossed the room from her pond and stood before Isaac, a few feet away. There, she stopped and started looking him up and down with a composed look on her face. However, Isaac felt that her eyes were likely looking deeper.
Ionians seem to be a very spiritual group… I wouldn't be surprised if she's looking into my soul right now.
He wasn't sure if that would be a good idea…
Karma looked him up and down once, before slowly placing a hand on his shoulder. She then began to circle him with an eyebrow raised.
"You certainly do not appear of our world…" She said with a calm voice as she circled him, Irelia and Akali taking a step or two back away from them.
Gee, what gave you that idea? Isaac thought, but he kept his mouth shut.
She finished her encirclement of him and stopped right in front of him, a pair of feet away. Isaac felt a little uncomfortable as she inspected his face, her eyes darting from each scar on his face.
That made him feel even more uncomfortable.
"Uh, what are you-?" Isaac started to ask but was silenced and surprised when Karma suddenly placed a hand on his check. It was warm.
"Shh…" She said, in a soothing voice. "Do not be alarmed."
"I'm not exactly a fan of people being so close…" Isaac muttered with a roll of his eyes. He reached up with one of his hands and peeled Karma's hand of his check. If the Duchess was offended at all, she didn't show it.
"Given your history, I do not doubt you." Karma gave him a small smile. "I sense a great many things in you. I sense darkness, I sense light. I sense fear and your traumatic past, but also your desire to fight against it and against those who would do harm."
Isaac blinked once, but then he went on edge instantly and narrowed his eyes. "Did you just read my mind?" He accused. No one goes in my mind… ever!
Thankfully, Karma shook her head slightly. "No, I did not. But one would not need to read your mind to know this. They must only look at your soul. The way you stand. The armor you wear, both physically and spiritually. The scars that cover your face." She cryptically spoke before she looked Isaac right back in the eyes. "How your eyes are void of all joy. I can see only death in them."
…. Given my past, you think?
Isaac wasn't really enjoying this though... being dissected like this by a complete and total stranger. It also slightly hurt that deep down, he knew she was right.
Before he could speak again though, Karma suddenly turned her back to him, arms crossed behind her.
"But…" Karma began as she slowly walked away from him. "You are who we need. And I sense no evil intent in you, even with your recent… disregard, for our laws."
Isaac winced on the inside at that. Of course, she knew… why wouldn't she?
…. Never lucky..
Karma waved one of her hands around in the air, a green glow appeared around her forearm and enveloped her hand. As she waved her hand back down to behind her back, a table materialized out of thing air right in the center of her office with a map in the center. There were also several pieces on the map of various colors.
"Our world has had many visitors from beyond our own…" Karma explained as she walked around the table to stand on the side opposite of Isaac. "But this is the first time we have faced such a threat. The first time we've had to deal with a scientifically advanced faction of humans who have no regard for balance, or life." As she said those last words, the serene look on her face grew darker. "Ionia will stand idle no longer."
Irelia and Akali walked past Isaac, each taking up a position on the right and left ends of the table. That left the side closest to Isaac for himself.
"Here we go." Mute said. She had been strangely silent during Karma's examination and monologue.
Isaac didn't think too much on it and took his place at the table, studying it as he approached.
It was a detailed map of Ionia. The various different colored pieces he saw seemed to represent armies, but Isaac noticed how some of the smaller pieces were perfect wooden carvings of some of the champions he had met.
Irelia, Karma, and Akali's were placed next to the capital city, along with several other pieces that Isaac failed to recognize, such as a pair of ninjas. Isaac lifted an eyebrow when he saw that there were pieces o himself and Blitzkrieg there as well.
Well prepared… but kind of unnecessary…
"Before the Ascension, our greatest threats have been Zed and Syndra." Irelia began, pointing to an island to the northwest of Ionia where a black colored piece in the shape of a temple was positioned, along with several smaller pieces of the same color. Among them was a larger piece of a ninja that looked much more imposing then Akali's piece or that of the other ninja pieces on the map.
Wait… I've heard those of those names… before… Isaac thought for a moment but shrugged it off.
"Zed and his order of fallen ninja have been making an effort to seize control of his local island. He no longer sees himself as a simple grandmaster anymore but a ninja warlord." Akali explained. "Initially we believed his goal was the simple destruction of my own order, the Kinkou Order, but his recent actions these past few months have reeked of a greater ambition."
"It was here at this village in the Havori province, where we found the weapon that belonged to your companion." Irelia said as she pointed to a location on the map. Isaac quickly followed her finger to said spot, and saw that the village in question was marked with an X.
That doesn't seem too far from here… Isaac furrowed his brow. "That's pretty close. If this ninja is so dangerous that they can strike so close to your guys home then why haven't you just put his uprising down?" He asked. Isaac wasn't interested in solving Ionia's internal strife, but he had a feeling that these three were withholding something from him.
He needed to know what. And until he did, he was going to play along.
Karma shook her head. "The strife between Zed's new order of the shadow and the Kinkou order was something we, the elders, decided against. It was not our place to get involved in their internal struggle." She explained with a rather sad look on her face.
Well… THAT sure came back to bite you in the ass, didn't it?!
"However, this raid was very odd. While Zed's forces had indeed raided villages with increasing number recently, his forces never struck so deep into the Ionian mainland. Which led us to believe that your companion, may have had something to do with it." Akali nodded to Isaac. "It is why we accosted you when you had first arrived on Ionia."
"Last night, one of our scouts recovered something from the body of one of Zed's shinobi. He was carrying this strange device." Karma waved her hand in the air again with a green glow. On the table, a pair of small black objects appeared with a cord attaching them together.
Well, while it would be odd to the Ionians, Isaac recognized it right away. It was a mic and earpiece.
Isaac picked the device up and lowered his visor. One it was sealed in place he saw a targeting reticule appear over the COM unit with the word scanning hovering over it.
"Mute?" Isaac asked his trusty companion.
"Gimme a second…" Mute said, and a second later she continued. "It's wiped clean, but I'm detecting traces of Ascension signals. It's of Ascension origin alright."
Guess we found our next target. Isaac thought as he placed the COM unit back on the table and his visor lifted up again. His vision was met with expectant looks on Karma, Irelia, and Akali's faces. Although he couldn't see much of Akali's since it was concealed by a ninja mask.
"Ascension." Isaac said, and no sooner did the word leave his mouth did all three woman have various reactions. Irelia's eyes narrowed, Karma closed her eyes with sadness, and Akali's eyes and brows contort in anger.
"It's a COM unit." Isaac continued. "You speak into one end and it send the voice out this end of other devices like it." Isaac pointed to the mic and ear. "It lets you speak and communicate over long distances without interference… or magic."
Silence settled in around the table for a few seconds before Akali turned to Karma. "This proves that Zed is working with the Ascension. Given recent events this should be more then enough proof to have the League strip is title as a champion."
Irelia nodded. "It would allow us to act against him, not just with the Kinkou order, but as Ionia as a whole."
Karma shook her head with sadness. "It pains me too agree with this but you are both right. If Zed is working with such a dangerous foe against his own people then we must take action." She said before her eyes opened with a defiant look in them. "We WILL take action."
Isaac nodded. This worked in his favor too. If this Zed guy was working with the Ascension and the Ionians took him out, it might set them back.
It also presented him with a chance to get some more intel on the Ascension's plans, and that was far more important then solving the Ionian's little ninja civil war.
"I will speak with Shen then. If Zed is truly working with the Ascension, he will recognize him as threat to all of Ionia's survival. We will share the location of the former Kinkou Monastery with you." Akali bowed to Karma.
"I sent out a recall order out three days ago, our champions should be arriving soon. We will wait no more then three days, then we will take action." Karma nodded, she turned to Irelia. "Irelia, you have command. You will lead a force against Zed's new order and bring him to us for justice." She turned to Akali next. "I assume the Kinkou order will be joining your army…"
Akali responded with a nod.
"Any champion that arrives during the three days it will take for us to prepare for this campaign will accompany you. We cannot risk any chances against Zed, even more so now that we know he is working with the Ascension." Karma's expression softened for a moment before she continued. "Most of our champions have acknowledged my recall order, but a few are still unaccounted for such as Yasuo and Master Yi. Sadly, the Lhotlan Tribe and it's champions have made it clear they are not interested in aiding us. Given our history, I will not hold it against them, but it does sadden me to know that they refuse to work along side us even when faced with the danger of an invading army from beyond our world."
I'm guessing Ionia's got its fair share of internal strife… Isaac thought for a moment as he looked over the map. If the Ascension is supporting this Zed and his order, and they've been instigating a civil war, its likely the Ascension WANTS them to have this civil war. If we strike hard and take him out in a single attack, we can throw a wrench in the Ascension's plans…
As he thought about it, Isaac realized it had gotten rather quiet at their table. He glanced up from the table to see all three women looking at him.
"… Yes?" Isaac asked, raising an eyebrow. This reminds me of lunch earlier….
"Archangel, Ionia would be in your debt if you lent us your strength. Your knowledge of our true enemy in the shadows would be invaluable." Karma requested.
Isaac saw that request coming a mile away. "I'll have to talk it over with my squadmate first. He is my superior after all."
"Your… superior…" Irelia started, "Said he would rather leave the decision up to you, when we asked him last."
….. that German motherfucker…
Mute laughed slightly in his earpiece… annoying AI…
Isaac looked down at the map again. Given the situation, NOT helping would be the worse decision. Besides, Blitzkrieg said they needed allies to fight the Ascension.
Why not start with Ionia?
Isaac looked at the three women before him. "We're in."
The Master of the Blade
Northwest Ionia
Even after it had been explained to her a half a dozen times over. Even after she had seen maps of this new world. Even after everything that had happened in the last few days, Hitomi was still having a hard time coming to terms with it.
I'm… on an alien planet…
Her body shivered at the concept. But it was real.
As she followed Jackhammer and Samurai Jack… err, Yasuo, though a forest, Hitomi watched as her armored hands bush against a few tree leaves.
So… so very real…
"We're almost there now." Yasuo proclaimed and then proceeded to take another sip from his flask.
"Good thing too. I'm starting to get a little hungry." Jackhammer looked back over his shoulder at Hitomi with a grin. "How bout you there princess?"
Hitomi looked up at him from where he stood on the overgrown incline. She nodded in response and resumed following them on their journey.
Shortly after their boat docked on the main island of Ionia, Jackhammer and Yasuo set out without much more explanation. It wasn't until they had made their first campfire in the middle of a forest that they had actually explained the situation to her.
I can't believe this…
The truth had been a complete shock to Hitomi. Even after she didn't believe them on the boat when Jackhammer first told her that they were in another world, they were so insistent at the first campfire that she started to believe them… even if everything made no sense to her.
Hell she still didn't make any sense of it all.
But she was surrounded by people in a feudal era, with the odd bit of technology around. And there was magic… MAGIC.
It was all to much… it was still too much.
But Hitomi was a soldier now… she knew she had to live with it.
It also came as a pleasant surprise when Jackhammer said that Isaac was still alive and had become a member of something called the League of Legends. Yasuo was a member too, but apparently, these so-called champions were something like celebrities.
Very powerful and dangerous celebrities.
Then, they told her that the Ascension were active in this world… that brought on a much, much different feeling.
It meant that their war was still ongoing in this world.
Jackhammer himself had explained that he had been taken prisoner by the same ninjas that had attacked her own squad. A group of League champions had rescued him, and ever since then, he had been helping them in their war against the man called Zed.
Zed….
Hitomi learned that he was the large man with the mask and the massive razor blades that had slaughtered her team. He was the grandmaster of the ninjas of shadow, who had been the ones to carry out the ambush.
She had nightmares about him every night. His voice, his appearance, his laugh…
He was her bogyman.
Hitomi tried to push that all out of her mind as she followed her superior and his comrade through the forest. They were on their way to their hideout. At least, that's what Hitomi was being told.
She trusted Jackhammer with all her heart…. But… on a new world? With her friends killed? With the Ascension attacking entire cities at random?
It was too much for her…. She needed to take a break.
All that training, all that work… and she was on the verge of burning out a few days into her first op.
Well… not like any of her training covered trans-dimensional travel, ninja ambushes, swords that shot out tornadoes, etc.
Hitomi took a deep breath. No matter what happens, she had to remind herself that she was a meta-human now. A soldier of TRANS-ops.
She could do this… she HAD to do this.
"We're here." Yasuo announced up ahead. Hitomi followed after the two men until she got into a small clearing.
Up ahead was a wooden house resting up against a cliff, hidden in the forest.
Perfect place to hide I guess… Hitomi thought as she looked about her. It took them days to walk here, so it was far enough off the beaten path that someone would have to have an idea where to look for this place. Someone stumbling upon it on accident was incredibly unlikely.
She followed the two up to the entrance, and Yasuo promptly opened the door and stood aside, allowing Jackhammer in first.
"Honey! I'm home!" Jackhammer announced their presence. Hitomi rolled her eyes.
"Excuse us." She said as she walked past Yasuo, who was being a gentleman, and entered the home behind her superior.
The entrance gave way to a single massive room Hitomi immediately recognized as a dojo of sorts. There was a pair of entryways on either side of the dojo, with a set of armor of sorts on a stand at the opposite end.
There was a man sitting in front of said armor stand in a cross-legged position with a strange large sword resting across his knees, facing the entrance. His clothing was rather simple, a shirt and baggy pants without any real distinguishing features. The man's hair went down to a mid length, just past his ears. He had a narrow face with a neatly trimmed goatee and a lengthy braided beard that gave him an appearance of a seasoned warrior.
Behind him though, was one of the strangest sets of armor Hitomi had ever laid eyes upon. It was silver with a gold trim, large pauldrons and boots that had additional smaller blades attached to the sides. However, the part of the full set of armor that stood out the most was the very odd helmet, which looked like it had four different pairs of goggles attacked to it.
The way the man sat in a meditative pose in front of this suit of armor gave Hitomi the feeling that this man was likely some kind of master swordsman.
He looks like some kind of samurai… Hitomi thought, looking the man over and the armor behind him. Why does his head piece need such so many goggles though?
She heard the door close behind her and felt a tap on her shoulder. Glancing behind her, Hitomi realized that both Jackhammer and Yasuo had gotten behind her, with Jackhammer tapping her. He motioned with his head towards the man on the other end of the dojo. Hitomi frowned under her helmet before looking back at the man sitting down.
I'm… what? Supposed to talk to him? She questioned. She looked back at Jackhammer, who gave her a reassuring grin and motioned ahead again.
"Don't be scared. He doesn't bite." He said.
Hitomi rolled her eyes and took a few steps forward until she reached the edge of the dojo. Do I remove my boots? This armor is such a pain to take off… while I think about it, I REALLY need a shower… I haven't gotten out of this thing since I departed from the base in LA.
"Do not be shy." The meditating man suddenly said, almost making Hitomi jump up in surprise.
How…? His eyes have been closed this whole time, how did he know I was hesitating?
As if reading her man, she saw a small smile grow on the man's face. "Do not fear child. I'm sure you have many questions."
Hitomi looked down again at the dojo mat and gave a sigh. She tapped the side of her helmet and her visor slid up. She stepped onto the mat, took three steps, and then bowed the same way her parents had taught her to when speaking to an elder.
"Forgive my intrusion." She apologized as she bowed. "I… I'm not sure what's going on…"
"I'm sure. Your situation is rather unique, after all. I would be more surprised if you understood it in its entirety." The man said to her in a sagely tone, eyes still closed and maintaining his mediation posture. "Please, have a seat."
Unsure of the situation, Hitomi took the man's offer and sat down on the mat in a seiza posture.
"Your companions sent me word in advance of your arrival." The man informed her, causing Hitomi to throw a look over her shoulder at Jackhammer, who smiled and shrugged in response. "You too have come from beyond our world, have you not?"
Hitomi turned back to look at the man who was addressing her. "Y-yes… at least, that's what I'm being told…" She replied in an unsure tone.
And the samurai picked right up on that. "Your voice is full of doubt, but I do not blame you. It is a rather improbable situation, is it not?
Hitomi nodded in response. Then she felt like an idiot because the man still had his eyes closed. But, just as she was opening her mouth to speak the man spoke up again.
"Beings from beyond our world have visited before… but so rarely do they carve such death and destruction in their wake."
"I'm…" Hitomi frowned, confused. "I'm not quite sure I understand."
"The Ascension?" The man asked. That simple question put all the hairs on the back of Hitomi's neck on their ends. "They are your enemies no? And you both share the same world as an origin point, do you not?"
Hitomi felt a twang of annoyance wash over her. "Do not compare me with them…" She said through gritted teeth. She knew it was disrespectful, but she couldn't keep it in. "I hate them. I am nothing like them!"
The man raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You are a meta human, are you not? Of the ones called TRANS-Ops? I know that your people are treated with distrust if not outright hostility by the humans of your world."
Hitomi's eyes went wide. She threw an accusatory look over her shoulder at Jackhammer. The target of her glare simply grinned and shrugged in response, as if sharing classified information was no big deal.
"And the Ascension…" The man continued, "They are led by the meta humans are they not? They seek to dominate your world for not just their own personal gain, but to place meta-humans at the top. They see themselves as the rightful rulers of your world because it is they who wield the most power."
The man's eyes opened, and Hitomi saw a sagely and worldly gaze get cast upon her. She felt like shrinking under it.
"I wonder… if you are also a meta human, why do you fight for the sake of those who despise the existence of meta humans? Why did you side with TRANS-Ops, and not the Ascension who see meta-humans as the rightful leaders of humanity?"
Hitomi bit her lower lip. She felt herself being tested, and she was trying her hardest not to explode in this man's face.
It failed.
"Why WOULD I fight for them!?" She half shouted at the stranger. "They are MONSTERS! They killed millions!" She slammed an open palm into her chest. "My country, my home, my life was destroyed by them! I watched my friends die when the Ascension crawled out of the sea and invaded Japan! Friends I knew since I was a little girl! I lost everything!"
The man didn't even move so much as blink at Hitomi's out burst. Although, Hitomi could've swore she heard Jackhammer give a low whistle behind her.
She tried her hardest to ignore that.
However, she was solely focused on the cause of her outburst. The man in question looked her right back in the eyes with an accusing look. She hated that look.
"So you became one of them then? For what? Revenge?" The man asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
Hitomi gave the man a look of pure abhorrence. What did he know?!
"Yes!" She shouted. "They found me, in the ruins of my old school! I survived! They offered me a choice. I could either go back to rebuilding my lost life, knowing that ones who caused this pain were still at large, or I could be given the ability to fight back. They told me! They did! They said that it would be a decision that would affect the rest of my life! That becoming a meta human was taking a life long pledge! I agreed! And I don't regret it!"
"All for the sake of revenge?"
"Yes!"
"And what shall you do after the Ascension's defeat?" The man questioned her. "After it is all over, your life will not change. You can never gain back what was lost, and by becoming a meta human you will never attain a normal life again."
Hitomi felt her eyes twitch. She knew this already. She knew that it was a life altering decision she made years ago.
… But after its all over and you get your revenge… what will you do…?
Hitomi felt her conviction waiver slightly at the thought, the unwelcome thought.
The only way out of being a meta-human is death… like the one that your squadmates suffered from… there is no retirement for meta-humans…
I know that! Hitomi shook her head. Trying to get the thoughts out of her head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she saw that the man's eyes, once accusing, were now sad.
"Child… I once lost myself to revenge. You gain nothing from it but self loathing and arrested development." He shook his head. "You cannot find yourself or find fulfillment, if vengeance is all you seek."
Hitomi stared at the man. Silence followed. No one spoke for a good minute as Hitomi felt her mind imploding with various opinions. Part of her understood what the man was saying, the other part of her mind wanted her to tell the man to shove it up his ass.
Who is HE to tell me what to do?
… But he speaks of this as he knows what I'm feeling?
As her mind battled itself, Hitomi's ears picked up the sound of awkward shuffling behind her, likely Jackhammer and Yasuo.
Finally, after another minute, Hitomi felt her mouth move.
"Who ARE you?"
A faint smile formed on the man's lips. "They call me… Master Yi."
"Are you… some kind of master swordsman?"
"Yes."
Hitomi frowned. "Why…? Why did you say all this to me?"
The man, for the first time since he opened his eyes, looked away from Hitomi and to the side. Hitomi followed his gaze and saw that he was looking out a window.
"Because I wanted to know more about my new ally."
Hitomi blinked in surprise. "What?"
She heard footsteps behind her, and Yasuo walked past her in the direction of Yi.
"For some time now, people across Ionia have been vanishing. Entire villages disappearing overnight and the like." Yasuo explained. "One day, we came across a mass abduction in progress, being carried out by a group of people with technology by the like we've never seen before." He walked up next to Yi and turned around to look down at Hitomi. "A week later, we found Zed's ninja forces taking your friend back there hostage. We freed him and he gave us all the information we needed. Gave our enemy a name… the Ascension."
Hitomi looked back at Jackhammer, who was leaning up against a wall with his usual grin. "I was pulled out of…" Jackhammer shrugged. "Light speed? Whatever, by some rogue summoner guy at a village. The guy was working for Zed, so when I arrived they took me prisoner. I was exhausted from the whole dimensional travel thing so they managed to get me. After these guys sprung me, they told me about the missing people and how they had seen some blue armored nuts with similar looking armor to my own, taking an entire village hostage." He nodded to Yasuo and Yi. "Been helping em fight the Ascension and Ninjas ever since."
Hitomi tried to process all of this. "Well… what about me then?" She asked. "You want me to help?"
Yi picked up his sword from across his lap and got to his feet. "We will be leaving here today. The elders of Ionia believe the Ascension will strike our land soon in force. We must go to their aid." He announced, giving her a nod. "If you are so eager to stop the Ascension from bringing more pain, they our goals align."
"Yo!" A new, more energetic voice echoed through the dojo, and through one of the entryways to Hitomi's right, walked in a young woman with white hair and a ridiculously massive sword that appeared to be broken…
And a walking monkey with a staff.
Hitomi had to do a double take at that.
"Yo master! We leaving?" The monkey waved at Yi.
"Who's the girl?" The white-haired beauty asked, pointing at Hitomi and then at Jackhammer. "She with you?"
"She's one of my trainees from back home!" Jackhammer smiled. "Don't worry about her, she may be a princess, but she can handle herself. When she's not going kamikaze."
The white-haired woman raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged.
Hitomi on the other hand, slowly raised a shaking finger, pointing it at the monkey who stood taller then her.
"W-w-w-w-w-wh-what is THAT?!" Hitomi screamed, her mind unable to process what she was seeing. "WHY CAN THAT MONKEY TALK?!"
Everyone in the room turned to look at Hitomi with questioning gazes. The monkey who she was pointing too looked at her, her finger, then down at himself, then back up at Hitomi with a grin.
"Me? Cuz' I'm awesome! That's why!" He smiled.
While Hitomi's brain was trying to reset itself, Yasuo looked away from her and to Jackhammer.
"It'll be faster for us to travel on horseback. Can she ride?" He asked. The way Jackhammer laughed in response didn't give a lot of confidence.
"Her! HAH!" Jackhammer laughed. "She's a former rich city girl! She's probably never even seen a real live horse."
Yasuo sighed and shrugged. "Eh, we'll figure something out."
The Nine-Tailed Temptress
Ionia (City), Ionia
After helping the Ionians grind out some logistics regarding their planned assault, Isaac was on his way back to the inn. Although, he really didn't help much, more like just stood by and watched since Irelia was far more knowledgeable and experienced in leadership then he was.
The sun was still high in the sky as he was led back to the inn by an escort of four guards. Isaac didn't think he needed any protection at all, nor an escort since he had memorized the way back to the inn. Not to mention he could've always just asked for directions since the Blooming Lotus was apparently a well-known inn.
Then, Mute pointed out that the escort more likely meant to keep him out of trouble then to act as tour guides. Given how his day had gone so far, he couldn't dispute that.
"So, looks like we're siding with the Ionians for now." Mute said, her face appearing in the usual spot in Isaac's HUD.
"Yep." Isaac nodded, making sure his external speaker was off so the guards wouldn't start giving him looks like he was crazy and talking to himself. He simply spoke with Mute as he walked through the streets of Ionia's capital in the center of his escorts.
"I'm not sure the League will be happy with us sidelining them." Mute cross one army across her chest and raised the other to her chin in a thinking pose. "But then again, they might be ok with this since it coincides with fighting the Ascension, like they wanted us to."
"Isn't the League all about NOT getting involved in nation's internal conflicts?"
"Hmm, true. They would likely be against us helping the Ionians based off that premise. But if we look at it from the perspective that we're helping the Ionians because we have proof that one side in the internal conflict is getting Ascension support, they might be ok with it."
"So…?" Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going with this."
"I believe we should at least make the attempt to communicate with the League, send them a message. No sense burning that bridge until we know for sure they won't restrict our movements." Mute nodded, lowering her arms down to the sides. "If we sideline them and start acting on our own, they might strip you of your status as a champion, or try to rope us back into returning the Institute."
Isaac furrowed his brow. Mute had a point there. Only one problem.
"Vega was our connection to the League. Without him, how do we contact them?"
"Hmm…." Mute paused, "We know the League had representatives in Bligewater, its very possible they have one here."
"Like an embassy?"
"Yeah, something like that. If we ask around I'm sure we can find it. We DO have a few days before we depart with the Ionian army."
"I see one issue with that." Isaac shook his head slightly. "If we go to a League controlled embassy, and they get an order to return us to the Institute, we'd be right there in the middle of trap. They were able to hold us in a magical prison at the institute, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a way to take us captive here."
Mute gave a "hmm" in response as she closed her eyes. A wave of digital numbers and binary code shifted along her face and samurai helmet for a second before she opened her eyes again.
"Its possible. That would have to be a risk we'd have to take." Mute titled her head to the side. "We have a few days to think about it and we could always talk it over with Blitzkrieg, see what he thinks. Any decision we make regarding the League would likely affect him too."
Yeah, and I need to have a word with him too. Like why did he tell Karma, Irelia, and Akali that the choice to get involved with them was up to me? He's the Lieutenant, I'm a sergeant. It should've been his call. It WAS his call.
So why did I have to make it?
Isaac wondered about it. He would likely get his answer soon though, since Blitzkrieg was likely at the inn still since he said he didn't like going out much with the generalized negative attitude towards outlanders in this city.
Speaking of which… Isaac glanced around the street he was walking down with the guards. Sure enough, most people he walked by, guards and civilians alike, were staring at him. Some had curious looks, some had fearful looks.
Some had looks with nothing shy of distrust and hatred.
Isaac sighed.
"Feels like home?" Mute sighed.
Isaac shook his head. "Yeah…."
The guard leading their group turned his head to look back at Isaac. "We're almost there. Probably about another ten minutes."
Isaac nodded to the guard, who then turned his head back to face the direction he was walking.
They're probably just as eager to get rid of me as this city is… the only people who seem to actually WANT me around is Irelia and Karma…
He could tell that Akali didn't trust him anymore then she did when the two of them had fought at that inn when they had first met. That was fine, Isaac didn't trust her either.
His thoughts were interrupted, when he heard a new voice as the guards led him through an intersection.
"Well, well, well…." A seductive voice said. "Who do we have here?"
Isaac looked to the side and saw that he and his escort were being approached by….
"… Who is THAT?" Mute queried.
What is that? Isaac thought as he looked the individual in question up and down. It was a she, without a doubt, clad in a very odd red dress that only covered her arms and torso, ending at her waist where it became white. Her shoulders and legs were laid bar to reveal seemingly perfect lightly colored skin, and she had a decent amount of cleavage on display that Isaac imagined would have every teenage boy staring at. Her eyes were bright yellow, and had several lines on her face across her checks. Her long black hair swayed behind her as she walked on heels towards Isaac.
But what caught his immediate attention were the two inhuman features: a pair of big black fluffy ears extending from the top of her head, and the nine even bigger and fluffier tails that followed her.
A targeting reticule appeared over the inhuman female as she stepped closer to Isaac, highlighting her with the word scanning. To the side of his HUD, an image of a human body appeared with a genetic outline as Mute began scanning her.
"Black armor…" The mysterious woman said with a small smile as she approached Isaac, "The posture of someone always on guard, shorter then expected…" Isaac rolled his eyes. "You must be Archangel."
Before Isaac could respond, or tell her to fuck off for making yet another short joke, Isaac's two escorts closest to the approaching woman quickly moved between them, blocking her path.
"Hold on." One said.
"I am sorry champion Ahri, we cannot let you approach." They accosted her.
Ahri? Isaac raised an eyebrow. He didn't recognize the name.
Mute on the other hand, appeared to.
"Ahri?" Mute tilted her head to the side with a questioning look on her face. A second later, her body lit up with binary coding and her eyes went wide with realization. "Oh! That Ahri!"
"Mute?"
"I remember reading that there was a League champion named Ahri that had the appearance of a beautiful woman with fox ears and nine tails!" Mute nodded. "That must be her!"
"So… she's important?" Isaac asked as he watched the two guards speak with Ahri, who seemed to be entertained by their attempt to block her from the object of her interest. Isaac.
"Yep." Mute nodded. "She's a champion affiliated with Ionia. She either lives here or she's one of the champions Karma said she recalled. Likely the latter, since she's apparently a really powerful magic user."
…. Of course she is…
Isaac rolled his eyes. Great… he managed to attract the attention of another weirdo…
"I'm sorry Lady Ahri…" One of the guards that was between Isaac and the nine-tailed fox shook his head. "We're under orders to take him to the Blooming Lotus."
"Oh really?" Ahri looked at Isaac with an expression of interest. "That just happens to be my destination too."
The two guards looked at each other before turning back to Ahri. "Err, yes. I'm sorry but we can't let you speak with him right now."
The second guard nodded. "We must really be on our way."
"Those two seem really eager to get away from her…" Isaac muttered. That's a little suspicious.
Mute sighed. "According to what I know, Ahri's infamous for her ability to steal people's… essence… both willingly and unwillingly."
"Essence?"
"Yeah… its… like their energy from their soul or something, memories too." Mute shrugged. "Sounds like a bunch of superstitious bullshit to me." Her eyes shifted to the side, in the direction of the Ahri's genetic outline on the side of Isaac's HUD. "Buuuut…. Her scan is showing quite a few interesting and unique properties…"
Isaac wasn't paying attention to Mute by that point. He was too focused on a word she had said earlier.
… Memories…
Isaac felt a chill go down his spine, one that made him feel really uncomfortable. Then, he made eye contact with Ahri. She couldn't see his eyes since he was wearing his visor, but it felt as if she saw his eyes anyways.
Isaac saw it, the way her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was looking at some kind of prey…
And she was the predator.
The look vanished just as soon as Isaac saw it, and Ahri returned her attention to the two guards.
… I have a bad feeling about this…
"Gentlemen…" Ahri smiled a disarming smile to the two guards. "Wouldn't you rather…be doing something else?"
And Isaac saw it. The reason for his bad feeling. At the moment Ahri said those last four words, Isaac saw her eyes change color from yellow to purple for a fraction of a second. He might have even missed it himself if he wasn't watching Ahri like a hawk.
His scanner picked it up too, since it was still doing a check on Ahri's physiology and biology. It had detected a sudden and small spike of energy that emitted from her eyes.
She had used magic there. Isaac was sure of it.
Mute caught it too, because her eyes narrowed with caution. "Did you see that?" She almost whispered.
"Yeah… I did." Isaac replied, now on guard.
As for the two guards, they paused for a moment, then looked at each other. After two seconds of silence, one of the guards turned around to look at Isaac and the two other escorts.
"Come on lads, he'll be safe with Ahri." The guard motioned his head to the side. "Lets head home."
…. What?
The two guards that had previously been blocking Ahri turned back to the direction they had come from and started walking. Isaac turned his head around to look at the other two guards, who were looking at the other guards with questioning looks. Then, they shrugged, and followed after them.
"I think… she cast some kind of spell on them." Mute muttered.
"I need a little more information then that…" Isaac almost hissed. He didn't like the way this was going. That femme fatale had just convinced his escorts to turn a blind eye and walk away with a simple gimmick.
As the four guards up and abandoned Isaac, he turned his head back to glare at the culprit. Ahri's was looking in the direction of the guards with a mischievous smile on her face. She turned back to face Isaac and finished her approach.
"Well, then, shall we?" She asked, that mischievous look still present.
Isaac lowered his head slightly, slowly moving one of his hands down to the rear of his waist, ready to unbuckle and banish one of his swords if need be.
"… its… like their energy from their soul or something, memories too…"
If Ahri noticed Isaac's caution she didn't say anything. She tilted her head to the side and gave him a questioning look. "Something wrong?" She smiled again. "Fox got your tongue?"
"Careful Isaac…" Mute cautioned him.
I know…
"You…" As Isaac began talking, he noticed how Ahri's fox ears twitched "You… did something, to those guards just now…" He said quietly and slowly, the smile on Ahri's face fading slowly with each word. "… Didn't you?"
What was once a light one sided tension in the air, quickly turned into a heavy two-sided tension.
Ahri's eyes narrowed, and her smile came back, but unlike her previous mischievous and disarming smiles… this one was dangerous. Isaac only saw it for a second, because one of her nine tails moved in front of her face, leaving only her face from the nose up visible.
"Well now…" Ahri said in a quiet but noticeably more tense voice, "that is quite the accusation. How could I have done anything?"
Isaac lowered his head a little more to show Ahri that he was glaring at her since she couldn't see his eyes. His right hand moved a millimeter closer to the hilt of his bottom sword in the X sheathe on his back.
"I saw your eyes flash purple for a moment there." Isaac accused, "I also noticed how you released a spike of mana there."
Ahri maintained her expression, unblinking. "Oh? You saw that?" She moved her tail back away from her face slightly to reveal her predatory smile. "I simply… charmed them to leave us alone. In ten minutes, I doubt they'll even remember what happened."
"And you don't think that they'll come running after you once the other two in that group tell them you played a magic trick on them?"
Ahri gave a small chuckle. Isaac would've found it seductive, like her voice… if they were a mere foot apart from one another and the atmosphere between them was so tense that it would threaten to choke a civilian.
"Who said I charmed only two of them?"
What?
"She's powerful…" Mute said, a tense look on her face as well. "Be careful…"
"Now that I think about it…" Ahri's eyes rolled away from Isaac and upwards to the sky, in mock thought. "Why DID you have an escort? I watched your League match… I know you're more then capable of defending yourself."
"I got into a public brawl with a dragon a few hours ago." Isaac answered truthfully. "They wanted to make sure I didn't nearly kill anyone else."
Ahri blinked, a somewhat surprised look appearing on her face before she gave a small giggle. "That was YOU Shyvana was fighting?" She giggled again. "I could see her from the nearby street, but I couldn't make out who she was fighting. You didn't take me for the type to go picking fights with allies."
Isaac shook his head slightly. "She's no ally of mine."
"Oh?" Ahri raised an eyebrow, her mischievous gleam in her eyes returning. "Yet you both fought the Ascension at Bilgewater."
"Just because she's the enemy of my enemy, doesn't necessarily make her my ally." Isaac glared at Ahri. He could tell the fox woman was starting to relax, but he remained on edge.
"Oh? How will you find allies in this world then?" She asked, her head tilting slightly to the side. "I doubt there are many that are willing to find common ground with you, given how hostile you are."
"You just used magic to get me alone."
"And? I have you alone now. And now we are conversing." Ahri narrowed her eyes slightly and gave him a deviant smile. "No harm done… hmm?"
Isaac watched Ahri cautiously. Before he could respond, he watched as Ahri's tails flutter around her, two moving between him and her, one covering her lower torso, one covering her lower face again.
It took a hell of a lot of self-restraint for Isaac not to draw his sword then and there in preparation for an attack. He had no idea if Ahri could use said tails to attack him.
"Well then…" Ahri's eyes gleamed with deviance. "How about we take this conversation somewhere more…" She lowered her tail to show off another predatory smile. "private…" She covered her mouth up again. "We ARE causing a scene here, after all."
Her eyes drifted down Isaac's body and she let out another giggle. "Certainly, it doesn't help that your right hand has been inching closer and closer to that blade."
Isaac paused for a second and then turned his head side. Sure enough, Isaac counted dozens of passerby's who had all stopped what they were doing and were now watching the two of them with tension, clearly ready to bolt if another fight broke out. He also saw two pairs of guards, both griping their spears and sheathed blades with caution.
Everyone was staring at them with baited breath.
"Now…" Ahri motioned her head to the side. "Come… I'll guide you to the inn, since your former guide has abandoned you."
Yeah… I wonder why… Isaac thought as Ahri turned and brushed past him. Isaac didn't move and turned his head as he watched Ahri walk away, her nine tails swishing around.
She took seven steps before she stopped and looked back over her shoulder at Isaac. She grinned and motioned her head forward again to hint him to follow.
Mute sighed. "Well… shall we dance with the temptress?" She asked.
"... Fine…" Isaac said out loud so that both Mute and Ahri could hear him. He relaxed his stance and followed Ahri. As he walked past her, Ahri took a few quick steps ahead so that the two of them were walking side by side.
"You know…" Ahri broke the brief silence they had. "I wasn't expecting you to have spotted my charm so easily." She moved one of her tails between the two of them again to block her lower face, giving Isaac only the view of her mischievous eyes. "I even went out of my way to avoid casting it on you so you wouldn't notice."
Isaac looked back at the nine-tailed fox and tapped the side of his visor. "Advanced technology." He stated.
"Hmm… interesting…" She muttered. Ahri moved her tail back out of the way of her face and looked forwards. "I admit…" She turned to look at him again. "I'm finding you much more interesting then I initially thought I would."
"… Is that a compliment?"
"From someone who can feed off memories and retain them… yes."
Isaac felt that cold chill go down his spine again.
"… its… like their energy from their soul or something, memories too…"
Isaac looked away from Ahri and shared a look with Mute in his HUD. "Memories huh?"
"Have you ever had someone feed off your essence before?" Ahri's smile turned back into a dangerous one. "For the one doing the feeding, you get a rush like the kind you've never had before."
Isaac had to fight back the urge to reach for one of his blades. He couldn't help but feel like he was in constant danger around this woman.
"No… I've never had someone steal one of my memories." Isaac lowered his head again. "And if you even do so much as try to take mine, they'll be calling you the eight-tailed fox instead."
Ahri gigged in response. "Ahh yes, I should've guessed that would be your reaction. They did say you refused your League Judgement after all." She turned her head to watch where she was walking. "It does make me curious though… only one other person has ever managed to fight the Judgement and win. Even I had to undergo it."
"She's not easy to threaten, huh?" Mute sighed. "Be careful Isaac. I'm going to go over some data." And with that, Mute's avatar disappeared from his HUD.
Of course! By all means Mute! Leave me with the potentially dangerous magic using fox girl who probably eats children's memories for breakfast…
Isaac intentionally ignored the fact that Mute was ALWAYS present and watching as he thought that.
"I'm also wondering…" Ahri's eyes shifted back to Isaac, although this time she kept her head forward. "What brings you to Ionia?"
Isaac turned his head to the opposite direction of Ahri. He saw a small group of children playing on a tree, ignoring the world around them.
"I was wounded at Bilgewater, this is where they carried me to." He answered.
"And here you are," Ahri nodded. "All better and picking fights with dragons." She giggled. "But why ARE you still here?"
Isaac looked back at Ahri, and saw that her eyes were drifting up and down his body, likely examining his armor.
He wasn't in the mood for this.
"What's with the questions?" Isaac came out and asked. "What do you want from me?"
Ahri giggled. "My my, aren't you one to beat around the bush." She shook her head slightly, although a small smile on her face remained, although this one appeared sad then anything else. "The world seems to be changing Archangel, and it's all happening around the same time you arrived in Runeterra. One wouldn't have to look far to draw the lines together. I am here because of Karma's recall order, as are many others. Two weeks ago, Bilgewater was attacked and now a recall order… its obvious something big is going to go down." Ahri stopped dead in her tracks, turning to face Isaac who followed suit.
"And yet… here you are." She motioned to Isaac with a pair of tails. "Here, at the center of it all yet again, of course someone like me would be curious." Ahri lowered her head slightly, giving Isaac a serious look. "Seeing how it is my world that appears to be at stake here."
… She's got me there.
"She's got you there." Mute chimed in.
… Thanks…
Isaac put his hands on his hips and shook his head. "You've got me there…" He mumbled.
"Indeed, anyone would." Ahri rolled her eyes before going back on her way with a sigh. "No matter I suppose. I guess we shall find out in a few days anyways."
Well, yeah… seeing how Irelia and Karma just decided what to do an hour ago!
Isaac let out a sigh of his own and followed Ahri. After a few steps, Ahri slowed her pace until Isaac was next to her again before she matched his pace.
"I assume you will be staying at the Blooming Lotus?" She asked. Likely the most innocent question she had asked Isaac yet.
No point denying it…
"Yes." Isaac nodded. "You too?"
"Indeed." Ahri turned to look at Isaac and gave him a seductive look. "Perhaps… we could share a dinner sometime hmm? I'd like to know more about you."
As soon as she said that, Isaac heard Mute groan.
Isaac simply rolled his eyes at Mute's reaction and looked Ahri up and down.
There was no denying it, Ahri was a bombshell. Any man would likely jump at the chance to spend time with her.
Only issue is… Isaac wasn't just any man. And after she basically confirmed that she can eat and absorb memories.
The one REAL possession Isaac had. Even if most of them were just nightmares.
"Tempting…" Isaac carefully chose his words. "But I'd like to keep all my memories."
To Isaac's surprise, Ahri responded to him rejecting her offer by giggling and playfully batting him in the face with one of her tails.
"Oh please, I can enjoy a pleasing meal with good company just like any human could. As for memories, I could steal them at any time. If I so fancied it." She giggled. "Not that I would steal yours on such a whim. You clearly value them so dearly that I would feel terrible taking them away from you."
Isaac frowned. He wasn't sure if he should take Ahri at her word. If what said she just now was true, then maybe she wasn't as much of a monster he initially thought her out to be.
Then again… she could also be full of shit, and this was her way of getting him to lower his guard just enough for her to swipe a memory.
"Still…" Ahri continued as they came in sight of their destination. "As much as I can understand your… reservations… the offer stands." She looked at him and gave him an attractive wink.
Isaac ignored Mute sighing. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind then."
And with that, all conversation between the two died until they entered the Blooming Lotus. The receptionist noticed them enter and upon seeing Ahri, his face broke out into a wide smile.
"Miss Ahri! Welcome back! How was your walk? Did you find who you were looking for?" He asked.
… I don't like the sound of that…
Ahri giggled and threw Isaac a mischievous look. "Indeed, I did. Our meeting was much more interesting then I expected it to be."
Isaac had to resist the twitch that was forming around his eye.
… Knew it…
Mute did her usual thing and laughed.
"Shut up Mute…"
The receptionist's gaze moved from Ahri to Isaac, and it changed drastically.
"C-champion Archangel!" The young man looked like he had already soiled his drawers. "W-welcome back!"
"…. Thanks…" Isaac lied.
Ahri laughed, gave Isaac a playful smile and nod before brushing past him (and brushing him with several more tails), walking in the direction opposite of the lounge. "Try not to get thrown through any more walls Archangel…" She giggled. As she pushed the door open, she threw Isaac a look over her shoulder and winked. "Goodbye for now… but I have a feeling our paths will cross again, multiple times."
And with that, she was gone.
Isaac couldn't help but sigh again and looked at the receptionist, who was giving Isaac a look of complete disbelief.
"D-did Miss Ahri just…?" He started to ask with slowly reddening face before Isaac had enough of his shenanigans.
"Oh, drop it!" Isaac cussed, getting the younger man's face to flush of all color. "Just… just tell me where Blitzkrieg is!"
"H-he's in the lounge. Sir…" The man pointed timidly at the doors on the opposite end of the hall where Ahri had vanished.
"Thanks…" Isaac said and made his way to the point of interest.
"O-oh and…" The receptionist started to call out to Isaac, but stopped as soon as Isaac turned around to look at him.
"Ah… the legendary Archangel…" Mute whistled in his earpiece. "Striking fear into hotel receptionists everywhere."
Shut up Mute…
"…yeees?" Isaac waved his hand around in the air to put emphasizes on the fact he was waiting for the man to just spit it out.
"O-oh… umm…" The man took a deep breath and apparently found his balls again. "Please refrain from starting fights with your fellow champions on site… sir."
Isaac rolled his eyes, turned around, and entered the lounge.
"…Assholes, all of em..." He mumbled, earning yet another laugh from Mute. "And shut up Mute..."
Next chapter will be released on June 26th.