**AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is a scene in this chapter that may require you to take a look at the Jarvan is Leblanc theory. Just google it and you'll find a bunch of results. There is even a picture from Rito themself that supports it.**
Azir stopped walking when he saw the pile of rubble that lay ahead of him. In big, neon green letters, read
"Out with the old, in with the new."
Azir felt a strong, firm grip on his shoulder and was pulled back.
"That's as far as you go, mister." Vi said. "This is a crime scene now. Go somewhere else, but be careful, we won't be there to save your ass." She sounded serious and stern.
Azir took it with a note of caution. He didn't think Vi could sound serious, which made the situation all the more serious. Zaun must really be a dangerous place.
But there were children growing up here. There were the sick and elderly amongst this place. If they can survive here, Azir can for one day. He will not ignore them like the previous emperors did.
As Azir headed toward the main streets of Zaun, he heard the man next to Vi say ""These buildings were old, vacant, and a waste of space before their destruction. The terrorist must've wanted it gone so new ones could be built that serves purpose. In doing so it would also force Piltover to pay some Zaunites to rebuild more buildings. This wasn't Jinx's doing, she's not smart enough for that. Its that brat again. Does he really think Zaun has a future?"
Vi yawned. Caitlyn keeps working her butt off and she didn't want to deal with Ekko today. "I don't want to deal with that guy today. The paints fresh, he should still be near here. He's all yours, Jayce. Don't go beating people around."
"I should tell you that, muscle head." Jayce knew Vi's history with Ekko and knew it wasn't the best idea for the two of them to meet, even though Ekko's been trying to draw Vi out for weeks now.
Azir didn't know what kid they were talking about as he was walking away, but he had respect for the person, even if Vi and Jayce didn't. To fight so hard for a part of a nation that is failing gave Azir motivation to keep fighting for Shurima.
When the Azir reached the end of the alleyway, his 5 senses were flooded. There were a multitude of noises from people laughing to people screaming to people crying. He could smell fresh bread from bakeries mixed with potent chemicals spewing out of laboratories. The air tasted of blood, iron, and smoke and the parts of skin that were not protected by his armor stung in contact with the air.
But most overwhelmingly, was the sight. There were roads, left, right, above, below him in every direction possible, neon graffiti sprayed all over buildings, ladders and balconies hanging off walls, and mechanical monstrosities being built all over the place. The smoke had blocked out the sun, and the only light were the green tints from windows, the torches that hang from the walls, and the luminescence from the graffiti. Even though it was still in the middle of the day, it felt like it was an eternal night here. The whole place radiated differently from Piltover; while Piltover radiated the aura of "progress", Zaun radiated "energy".
In some ways, Zaun was more magnificent than Piltover.
All heads turned to look at Azir as he strode down the roads of Zaun. While they had seen tons of experiments gone wrong and people with animal parts, a gold armored bird was not something they see everyday.
Azir had no plans to try to bring some of his influence to Zaun today, but if there was an opportunity, he was going to take it. Azir raised his hand and motioned people to follow him. While some shook their head and continued to work, most began to crowd around behind Azir, curious as to what birb was up to.
After an hour of parading down a couple more roads, the crowd had amassed to around 1000 people, and with the rumors flying about for Azir's parading, the crowd had grown to over 10,000. Even the people who originally had no intention to follow Azir stopped their work and went to go take a look.
Azir then, with his magic, leaped onto the highest balcony to look down upon the crowds. He could see that there were leaders amongst them, a machine monstrosities following a half robotic man, cloaked men following a floating woman with silver hair, Piltover police officers led by Vi, whom was confused where such a large number of people were going. But a large number of people did not align themselves with a leader. Good. There were still people Azir could put under his wing.
As an emperor, he was used to being stared at in different ways. Some stared at him with fear, some with awe, and others with distaste and anger. However, only a few people did not look away from his gaze when he stared back at them. One of them was teenage boy with a silver mohawk stood across him on a balcony just as high, as if to say he was no lower than Azir. When the boy noticed Azir's gaze, rather than diverting his eyes, the boy leaned back against the wall, smirked, crossed his arms, and lifted his middle finger. He looks just like Xerath, Azir thought.
Now it was time for the speech. Azir lifted his hands to the side, like a cross. The murmuring, impatient crowd went silent.
"I know what you are all thinking. Some of you look towards me with fear, as you believe I hold power in Piltover. Some of of you look at me with anger, for Piltover is the reason why you all suffer. Others of you..."
Azir paused to turn his head toward another side of the street.
"stare at me in annoyance, for you've heard people come here over and over again proclaiming change your nation which you believe they know nothing about."
Azir slammed the end of his staff on the balcony floor, leaving a small a crack in the floor.
"HOWEVER. Let us forget the standings we have, the rankings society has placed on us. Let us look to the future. When you see that future, what do you see? Do you see the sun rising above the clouds or descending below the horizons? You may ask me, what point is it for how you look at it? The sun setting or rising is beyond your control. "
Azir slammed the end of his staff on the balcony floor one more time, increasing the crack on the floor. He raised his hands dramatically once more.
"BUT THAT IS FALSE! FOR EVERY SUNSET YOU SEE IS MERELY A SUNSET IN ANOTHER PLACE. All you must do is pick the right side."
Azir paused, letting the words sink into the crowd.
"Yes I understand. You cannot trust a stranger that is from noble blood. You have heard messages like this over and over again, but not one mentioned you individually. The greater good is pointless if half the people live in poverty and the other half in greed. Masses need more than just words to move them. "
Azir opened the sack he had been carrying and displayed the sand for all to see.
"THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE. No more than sand in a desert, blown by whatever direction the wind blows you, one grain in many."
Azir threw the sack into the air, spraying sand everywhere
Suddenly, Azir cast his hand out and then in midair he used his magic to turn the sand into gold and pearls
"BUT NOTHING IS SET IN STONE. Sand is the proof of it, it is the result of withered stone! It is with time gold can be found in sand! It is with pressure sand can become pearls!"
The torchlight reflected on the gold and white surfaces of the riches, casting a magnificent glow. In the center of the glow was Azir, and to the speechless crowds, it was like seeing the sun they had lost in the polluted cities of Zaun.
"YOU ARE THE SAND. THE STONE IS THE PAST. THE SAND IS THE PRESENT. YOU MAY JUST SAND NOW BUT YOU WILL BE THE PEARLS AND GOLD OF THE FUTURE."
Azir slammed his staff on the balcony one more time, breaking it on purpose and he fell to the floor, level with the people he presented to. It was a way of showing that he, himself, was no more than they are, just sand in the hourglass of time.
The speech ended with the sound of clattering of gold and pearls on the ground. And despite being poor and impoverished, the citizens of Zaun did not move to pick up the gold and pearls. They did not make a sound. All that could be heard was the machinery in the background and the riches clanking against the hardfloor. No one moved to clap. They just stood there,staring at Azir in awe and respect.
"So? Aren't you going to tell us your secret power?" Syndra demanded. Zed shook his head.
"There is no need to know. It is not of importance." He said.
Yasuo disagreed. "This isn't for your good, this is for ours. We don't need you going psycho dark powers on us. What is it you hide from us and your disciples?"
Zed sighed. There was no use trying to hide it, they had basically figured him out. Besides, maybe if he told them they could help him. He pulled a nearly empty bag and took out a bluish glowing ball.
"These are the pills I consume. They prevent the advance of me becoming the darkin, Nocturne.
He added, in shame, "It is the result of my younger greed."
Yasuo nodded. Zed could tell he was surprised, but Yasuo's face showed calmness. Syndra, on the other hand, did not look so happy.
"And so? How much time do you have left?" Yasuo asked.
Zed shrugged. "Given that there are 15 pills and I must take 2 a day, probably in a week's time. This boat trip will only be 2 more days, but finding the pill maker will not be easy. I have to hurry to Zaun."
Yasuo shook his head. "That's not what I mean. Clearly you need to consume more and more of these pills as time goes on. The darkin inside you is building a resistance to it. There must be a time when no amount of this drug can help you then. When is that."
Zed looked up to the now-moonlit sky.
"I... Don't want to worry about that right now."
Syndra didn't look very happy. She seemed angry almost. "I'm going to bed." Was all she said before she stormed into her own cabin and slammed the door.
Zed was confused. "Syndra?"
Yasuo's serious face broke out a sad but cheerful smile. He pat Zed on the shoulder.
"Women, man. Don't bother, you'll never understand them. Shall we head to bed?"
Yasuo's smile had relaxed Zed. "Nah. You go to bed, one of us has to keep a look out." Yasuo nodded and left.
As Zed sat underneath the full moon, he closed his eyes in meditation.
Suddenly his meditation was interrupted with a splash of water in his face and and he saw a half woman-half fish body carrying a staff on the deck. Zed blinked twice. Did his pill have side effects of hallucination? He didn't think so.
"F-F-Fooooooood." The creature groaned out.
Yasuo and Syndra came spilling out of their rooms, Yasuo with his bushy hair down, so his hair was basically a giant black afro that blinded his eyes, and Syndra, who's face was red from tears.
"Who's there?" Yasuo yelled swinging his blade randomly, almost removing Syndra's head from her body.
"Food. Please." The creature begged once more. Zed took out some unfinished kraken flesh and cooked it over a fire and gave it to the creature. The creature shook its head "No, not fish."
"Do you really have the option to be picky right now?" Zed asked.
The creature frowned. "Well, would you eat a human?"
"Well, we eat cows and I think my genetic relationship to a cow is about as far as yours with a kraken."
But Zed took out some mushroom stew he had made earlier. After the creature had finished eating, it conjured a body water to help itself float and introduced itself as "Nami".
"If you're done eating, get off the boat." Syndra said, threateningly. "I am not in the mood to deal with fish right now."
Zed shook his head. "Don't listen to her, she's just a bit moody right now. Where are you headed?"
Syndra slapped Zed across the face at that comment and walked back into her cabin. Zed had been slapped so many times now he didn't even care. But Nami stared at Zed with a strange face. Is he into BDSM? She thought pervertedly.
Nami was unsure whether they could be trusted, but as they had given her food, by her people's tradition she was obligated to tell them.
"I am headed to Zaun. I am looking for the chosen one of the moon, for only she can save my village."
Zed was confused. "How do you know she'll be in Zaun?"
Yasuo answered for her. "Just as I follow the wind created by storms, she follows the tides pulled by the moon. "
It was never quiet in Demacia. The busy streets, the laughing soldiers, even at night time the nation was awake.
So when the first blast of arcane energy smashed through the gates, people shrugged it off. Then came the second blast. Some people screamed as piles of bricks flew everywhere, crashing into the cities like meteors falling from the sky. Then the third. The tower in the palace that the royals lived in blasted into smithereens, showering the sky. 3/4 of Xertath's arcane bolts had been used.
Suddenly, the Noxian army began to teleport into the royal palace via a ward that had been placed down. Xerath had been preparing this battle for a month, and the current Jarvan, one of Demacian's generals, had been killed months ago, was replaced by Leblanc, regarded as the strongest illusion magic user, who shapeshifted her face and body. Jarvan and Swain were equally intelligent and powerful when they clashed during the battle a few months ago, but with Xerath's intervention, Jarvan was helpless.
**Author's note: If this sounds like total bullshit that I pulled from my ass, check out the Jarvan is Leblanc theory(google it)**
In seconds the Royal family was brutally murdered. Xin Zhao, who standing next to Jarvan at the time, was shocked by the transformation and attempted to fight back, but he was no match for Leblanc's magic. An enraged dragon that once was Shyvana attempted to fight back, but Urgot, the leader of the small army, slaughtered her with his axe.
Demacia was thrown into chaos, but regained their composure almost instantly. Armies led by General Garen had surrounded the Noxian army that had teleported in. Because teleporting costed Xerath an insane amount of magic, only a thousand of Noxian soldiers were there. However, Xerath planned this all along. All small great things come with small sacrifices. He unleashed his final arcane bolt from the safety of the Noxian empire, killing the closest demacian soldiers as well as his own soldiers. Urgot, I thank you for this sacrifice Xerath thought.
It didn't stop there. What would happen next would make some soldiers wish they had been killed by the bolt of energy. The bolt of energy had broken the vases the Noxian army had been carrying, causing a large amount of toxic gas to leak out. These chemicals had been imported from Singed, and their quality and toxicity was so high, anyone who made skin contact with it had their fleshed burned and chemicals entering their bloodstream, killing them slowly and painfully. Not only that, but once infected, the person's breath would breath out the chemicals, causing the nearby soldiers to become infected as well. It was a toxic, melted, bloody bath of pain, fear, and despair. It was green and red hell.
Even though the other generals, including Swain himself, looked away in disgust, Xerath didn't dare close his eyes. As disgusted at the scene he was, he was more disgusted of himself. He did not allow himself the glory or comfort of looking away from the pain and suffering he had inflicted. But he had no regrets. What must be done for the greater good of equality and justice, must be done.
Demacia's fall did not end there. Some soldiers managed to escape the poisonous hell, only to meet with the bigger Noxian army that took this time to surround Demacian from all 4 sides. This battle was over, and it ended with Demacians defeat.
What had been regarded as one of the strongest nations in Runeterra, fell in hours.
Azir... I won't forgive you for what you have done. But even so, even if I'm being hypocritical, I long for your forgiveness.
Author's Note: I may not be able to post daily like I said I would for the old story since the school week is starting, I have to worry about college applications and shit, and I plan to make these chapters longer. Sorry the for the short Zed scene and no Veigar, Ekko or Sol scenes. Veigar and Sol will show up next chapter but Ekko still will not(sorry for the Ekko fans, I'm still working on how to deal with Ekko.) If you see any problems with the story, please write a review, even the smallest grammatical error will help. Or if you like the story, because your support means alot to me. Thanks for reading |=3