'Watch out for her Ki Burst!' Darsaj yelled in my head, just as I jumped back out of range. Riven's sword pulsed green and a small green explosion erupted from her, blowing apart a few of my minions unlucky enough to be close to her. 'It is not friendly to melee fighters.' Thanks for the heads up. I leaped forward with a double-thrust towards Riven's heart, which was easily dodged. She swept her broken blade horizontal over my own blades, intent on chopping my head off. The momentum from my forward leap prevented me from going backwards out of range, so I leaned back, letting Riven's blade pass just over my nose. I kicked into a tumble and came back up facing her back. Calling on a small amount of power, I threw my blades towards her. Somehow, she felt the attack coming, and threw herself to the side. As she came around and jumped towards my seemingly defenseless form, I threw my hands forward. My katanas cut back through the air again towards Riven's back.

Just before the tips would have ran her through, she dashed forwards, coming within range of me. Caught by surprise, I just barely avoided being cleaved in two as she spun around and brought her sword across at chest level. I felt the tip of the broken stone blade tug the front of my leather vest, and mentally commanded my blades to return faster. She started another spin, this time coming from the opposite direction. I ducked beneath it. She then jumped up into the air with a graceful flip, her sword in line with my skull. I knew I couldn't dodge it. Just before the stone caved my head in, the tips of my blades appeared from her stomach. The momentum carried her past me, her attack foiled. She crumbled forward, my katanas stuck handle-deep in her back.

"AN ENEMY HAS BEEN SLAIN!" the Announcer boomed.

'Congratulations,' Darsaj said in my head. 'Not many have faced the Exile in close combat and survived.' To be honest, that was mostly luck, I responded sheepishly. 'Even so, it was nicely done.'

I stepped to the body of Riven and gripped the handles on my blades. I pulled them out, the other-worldly metal sliding out of her easily. You know, I would have been able to kill her easily, Vashirik said. I am not giving you control yet. I really do not want to, but I know it must happen sooner or later. Next fight then. Please. Fine... I thought after a moment.

I took out a few more minions, gaining some gold, and then Darsaj said I should go back to the Summoning Platform and purchase more items. As I turned to run back, he laughed. 'Not like that,' he said. 'Like this.' Immediately a series of blue rings appeared around me. 'Don't move.' As the rings got closer, I felt the tug of magic as I appeared back on the platform. The strange purple shopkeeper seemed happy and pointed to some of his wares. 'Hmmm,' Darsaj mused in my head. 'I think offense will be the best defense here. Please grab a Bloodthirster weapon. It will make you much stronger and heal you as you attack.' I looked at the shopkeeper and he presented a token adorned with a simple sword surrounded by a sanguine aura. As I pinned it to my vest, I felt an enormous surge of strength, as well as a thirst for blood. Whoah, this feels great! I could stand for a little less bloodthirst than I already have, but the strength is exhilarating.

I turned to head back down the bridge when I heard the Announcer blare out "BLUE TEAMS TURRET HAS BEEN DESTROYED!" 'Damn!' Darsaj swore. 'I didn't realize she had pushed so hard! Now she has the advantage. Hurry, please, before she takes out your Inhibitor Turret.'

I sprinted to my Inhibitor, just in time to see Riven take out the last of my minion wave with a Ki Burst. Her own minions started rushing the turret. It hummed to life and started spitting plasma at the minions. It took a few out before I got there, but those that survived the initial barrage started hammering at the base of the turret. Riven dashed forward and pulled her arm back to slam her blade into the turret as well.

I sent power to my legs and leapt at her. She was focused on taking out the turret and didn't register my sudden charge until I almost skewered her. She jumped backwards out of the range of the turret. I heard Darsaj implore me to take out the minions destroying the turret, but Vashirik decided this was a good time to take over.

It started as a purple haze on the edge of my vision. Immediately I tried to stem the flow of energy, but Vashirik had been restrained too long. YOU HAVE HAD CONTROL OF THIS BODY FOR LONG ENOUGH! He roared in my head, drowning out the voice of Darsaj and the sounds of the battle. I DESERVE THIS CHANCE TO BE FREE! My body began to burn in agony as it reshaped itself in Vashirik's image. My body grew several feet upward, muscle and bone expanding and hardening. My back bulged outwards then burst as large purple shade-wings unfurled. My feet elongated, long talons emerging from my toes to gouge the stone bridge. Long bone-spikes shot out of my wrists, another set appearing from my elbows, and another sprouting from my shoulders. I felt blood pouring into my eyes as horns erupted out of my head. I threw my head back and screamed. As my scream echoed, it became a fear-inspiring roar. The roar of a Daemon.

As Vashirik pulled his gaze downwards, I watched, an unwilling passenger in my own twisted body. I even felt my mouth gape open in a grin, too many teeth making the expression hurt. Vashirik held out my hand. My two katanas floated upwards and streaked towards my hand. Before completing their flight, they slammed together, purple and black sparks exploding from them and enveloping them. The mass slapped into my hand, and the sparks died. In their place was a single sword, almost as large as my transformed body. There were more spines and far crueler edges than there were originally. This was Vashirik's sword. His War-Katana, the blade that destroyed Gal'zheru. He takes a moment to appraise it before turning his gaze to Riven.

"Finally," his dark voice echoed across then entire battlefield. "It has been a long time since I have had the chance to kill." He pointed his blade at Riven. "You shall be my first victim. Come and feel Death!" With a flap of his wings, Vashirik launched himself at her, blade pulled back for a devastating blow.

Riven dropped her head, her blade resting by her side. She started mumbling, too low for a normal person to make out, but loud enough for Vashirik's senses to pick up...

"I fear not Death, nor pain. I fear not the loss of the world. The only thing I fear is forgetting my past. My hands are stained. But I shall not pass without a fight." Her voice started picking up volume. "I shall rebuild Noxus. I shall bear the burdens of my past. I will be reforged." Riven's blade started glowing green, the outline of a whole sword tracing itself outwards. Just as Vashirik brought his blade over his head, looking to cleave her in two, her head shot up. "I AM AWAKENED!" She yelled as her sword reconstructed itself. She swept it upwards and parried Vashirik's katana. It hummed by her to the left and left a crater in the bridge. I felt Vashirik's surprise, as well as a tiny twinge of fear. He scrambled back and set himself.

Riven stared straight into his -into my- eyes. She lifted her greatsword with no apparent effort and pointed it upwards at Vashirik's face. "You are beyond redemption," she said, her voice carrying an echo. Vashirik recovered his composure and grinned again. "Come and try, little girl. I have fought and defeated Gods. You are nothing!" He roared again and charged towards Riven, blade low. She responded with a silent charge of her own, her sword chest level and pointing forward.

Just before we clashed, time stopped. Or rather, we stopped. The grass still waved in the ever-present wind, and small bugs flew by us. I felt an extreme pressure all over my body, and was amazed as the world started to grow bigger. I grimaced as my form reverted to it's normal state, the spikes and wings pushing themselves back into my body. Soon I was back to normal, although still frozen. As Vashirik's blade split into its two parts with a flash, the spell holding me and Riven ended. I dropped to my knees and started retching. A dark purple fluid spilled out of my mouth and soaked into the structure of the bridge. I heard a clatter and raised my head to see Riven crouched next to me. Her eyes were no longer locked into a warriors death-stare, but were soft with worry.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her hand hovering over my shoulder. I started to nod, but was struck with another wave of Change-Sickness. I started puking again, more fluid then seemed possible spewing from my mouth. I felt Riven's hand touch my shoulder and collapsed. My body exploded in agony as I was pulled back to the Summoning Chamber. Darsaj was there as I reconstructed, a horrified look on his handsome face. He was shaking and could barely speak. "W-w-w-what in the n-name of the Gods was that?" He stammered.

I gave a weak smile. "That was what I fight everyday. That is why I was afraid for your Institute if you tried to steal this power. That... was Vashirik." My vision started going black and I laid my head down. Before I lost consciousness, I realized my head was in Riven's lap. And that she was smoothing my spiky black hair down and whispering to me. Before I could work out what she was saying, darkness consumed me...