"Peer into the darkness." ~Nautilus, The Titan of the Depths
Yep I did it. Even though I did not want to. The idea of leaving behind a plot point for future me in case I ever wanted to do a sequel was too enticing. Another sibling for the gremlins.
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"Why have you come to me Gregori?" The bluish purple skinned man asked them as they walked into the forest.
Gregori walked up to him, "I need your help."
"To fight?" Ryze asked.
Gregori shook his head, "You do not need to fight at all."
Ryze looked at him without exhibiting a change in expression.
"The last time you faced the Darkin... how did you beat them? Gregori asked.
Ryze leaned against a Petricite tree, "If you are asking me to use-"
"No." Gregori cut in. "You participation is only to assist." He brought Caalyx out and looked at him, "What do you know about the Void?"
"The all consuming curse that the OnesBeyond have placed upon this world." Ryze answered. "But I fail to see the connection you are trying to establish."
"But there is one Ryze." Caalyx denied. "We fought against the Void for hundreds of years and beating it back cost us everything. So imagine my surprise when we have confirmed its return in Shurima."
Ryze fell into thought, "That is troubling."
"It is. But everything is perfect for us, don't you see Ryze?" Caalyx's voice was almost maniacal.
"I see." Ryze nodded, "But to pull of something like that would not be possible for me alone."
"Then use the runes." Caalyx shot back.
Ryze frowned and looked at Gregori, "You told me that you wouldnt require me to use the runes."
Gregori looked at Caalyx and then at Ryze. Then he let out a heavy sigh. "I said that you would only need to assist. Not fight. The runes would not be used for the reason they almost destroyed the world."
"And there is none more knowledgeable than you in magic. Nor is there anyone capable of wielding one of the WorldRunes without falling prey to it. There is no greater corruption than greed and you are anything but." Caalyx reasoned, "And weren't you the one who told us that there must be a valid world ending reason for you to use the runes?"
The WorldRunes had shaped much of Runeterra's past. Runes used by the Celestials to forge the world itself. Every rune held power the likes of which could decimate lands and make it unlivable forever. The world's greatest minds studied these runes once they were discovered, pushing the knowledge of magic by leaps and bounds. But fear of the runes being used as weapons caused mistrust to brew within their ranks.
Then came the RuneWars. Factions holding the runes fought against each other destroying everything in their paths until Ryze and his master Tyrus began their journey to collect all the runes and seal them away. In every meaning of the word... Ryze was the GuardianofRuneterra. For as long as he stood, the world would too.
"You want me to use the runes to cause a fight between the Darkin the the Void." Ryze said calmly, his hand beginning to rhythmically tap on the wood behind him.
"Close enough." Caalyx chuckled, "What we want you to do is teleport every Darkin above the entrance to the Void. The fight will begin on its own. I know of the hatred we have toward the Void, I can say, with utmost surety that the Darkin will immediately unite to fight the Void."
"What about you?" Ryze asked.
"I am no exception to this. The Darkin must go." Caalyx answered, "Though we are considering one exception to this rule."
"An exception?"
"Well.... there might be one of us who wishes to pass down his magic and his very self to a mortal and create a Darkin-human hybrid." Caalyx answered carelessly, "It is a way to leave behind protection against the Void. We are its natural enemies after all."
Ryze stood in silence, considering the outcomes.
"What about you?' He asked Gregori
"I will die."
"Leaving your children behind?"
"A sacrifice for their safety."
"Throwing your life away makes me think you haven't planned this through."
"They hate Caalyx. And they need to focus their effects onto him. In order to hold them off... Caalyx would need a host who fits perfectly." Gregori explained, "Only then can we keep the battlefield localized enough to teleport them."
"What happens after?"
"Targon and its CelestialAspects close the entrance to the Void. The Darkin will permanently be sealed away with the Void. The Void will be unending and the Darkin will be undying."
"You will never stop your battle." Ryze noted, his eyes widened hearing the plan.
Caalyx's eye rolled slowly, "Yep. An eternal war."
"Do you understand what a monumental undertaking this would be?" Ryze asked almost dissuading them, "You are talking about a never ending battle. No rest. No sleep. No time to even think. All you will ever do from that point on is fight."
"I have lived so long without fighting Ryze." Caalyx's words seemed sad, "Immortals like us.... we exist for a cause. That cause keeps us sane. Fighting is mine."
"Searching for death is yours." Ryze replied.
"Haven't you taken a similar undertaking? Collecting and guarding the runes forever. How is this any different?" Caalyx countered.
"My mind won't crumble." Ryze pointed out, "My mind won't break under the constant stress."
"Mine will." Caalyx acknowledged, "But that does not matter does it?"
"Why?"
"The world will be safe from two threats." Caaylx replied, "Darkin and the Void. What's the saying? Two birds one stone?"
"You agree with this?" He asked Gregori, "You, Spirit touched?" He looked at Shen
"I suggested it." Gregori answered.
Shen stood silently but his jaw was clenched. He hadn't know the extent of the plan until this moment but he did not see any other way out of the situation they had found themselves in.
"I can use the runes to beat them all." Ryze proposed.
"And then what?" Caalyx asked. "Are you going to watch over the Darkin on your own as well? Keeping them sealed away forever while the Void is allowed to fester?"
"I can handle that too." Ryze replied.
"Then why haven't you?" Caalyx pushed, "Don't act like you do not know of the opening in the Freljord. We knew of its existence and who holds those gates shut. We also knew of the extent of what those gates held back. You cannot solve everything Ryze. Sometimes things are just meant to happen. At least this is a much more fitting end to our legacy. Protecting the world rather than ending it."
Ryze looked at the determined expressions on their faces and sighed, his shoulders sunk "Fine. I will support you. All the way to the end."