"Empress."
Caleb simply greeted Qiyana.
As rulers of the same region, although Caleb's territory was much smaller, at least in terms of combat strength, both sides were more or less equal.
"This place really is novel."
Qiyana's eyes were full of expectation. This place had already far surpassed what she had imagined. Compared to Ixtal, which was built from stone and elements, this place relied far more on technology. Even magic was merely a tool used to improve people's lives, rather than like Ixtal, where even fanning oneself to cool down required elemental magic. And there had been no progress at all. Once everyone became content with the status quo, they could not achieve the slightest breakthrough.
Qiyana knew that continuing like this would not last. The people there feared nothing because they did not even know what they were about to face. But as the new-generation empress, Qiyana naturally had ambitions. Her first step, of course, had to be making further plans, opening the country.
Opening trade and exchanges with neighboring countries would be a win for both sides. On the contrary, closing the country off and turning the whole environment into stagnant water would only make it stink more and more.
As far as Caleb was concerned, with Ixtal's coastline stretching that long, who knew how many ports could be opened there? Just thinking about it was probably enough to drive Piltover's powerful families mad. However, when it came to Ixtal's national situation, they still did not understand it as well as he did. Others might not know, but Mel was probably regretting this so badly her intestines had turned green by now.
But Lucide, who was accompanying Qiyana around the city with him, was all smiles, without the slightest bit of negligence. The Ferros family's ancestral teachings were probably quite wise. This family liked hiding its strength, and even though they had always been one step ahead, they kept acting as if they were behind. But when it was time to strike decisively, they would immediately abandon that so-called disguise of playing the pig to eat the tiger, refusing to be the pig at all.
Caleb had not taken more than a few steps when a sharp pain suddenly came from his waist. Fortunately, he closed his mouth in time and did not cry out in pain.
"Seriously? My body has evolved, and it still hurts this much when you pinch me?"
When he looked over, it was none other than Kai'Sa, whose cheeks had puffed up like a chipmunk's.
"And who is this?"
Kai'Sa's sense of crisis had not been very strong before, but after going to the Freljord, and after Yuumi told her so many stories, she had developed one. After returning to the Twin Cities this time, she felt a little unhappy whenever she looked at Zeri, Renata, Jinx, and Lucide. Now that someone called the empress of a neighboring country had arrived, Kai'Sa could not help remembering those direct and blunt Warmothers in that frozen land. So she had followed Caleb the whole way.
"The neighboring Ixtal is going to open its borders. We and Shurima will be the first countries to come into contact with them."
For Ixtal as a whole, this stretch of water had been calm for too long. It could not withstand any violent storms all at once. So Qiyana planned to begin with commerce and trade, gradually opening up the outdated ideas of her people step by step.
"I'm going mountain climbing in a few days. Coming with me?"
While Lucide was explaining things up ahead, Caleb leaned slightly close to Kai'Sa's ear and spoke in a low voice. The main thing was, if he did not bring Kai'Sa, Caleb could not think of a reason for it. Worst case, she could wait at the foot of the mountain, and after he came back down, he would give her a big hug.
After making up his mind, Caleb looked at Kai'Sa's delicate face and silently waited for her reply. After Kai'Sa gave a slight nod, Caleb called Renata over and had her continue showing Qiyana around. He still had one major matter to ask Aphelios and Atreus about.
One of the most difficult dungeons was finally about to begin.
"You want to climb that mountain?"
Even Atreus was somewhat confused, but Caleb still nodded firmly.
"Is it to request power from the Aspects?"
As a mortal who had been chosen by the previous Aspect of War, Pantheon, Atreus still had lingering fear to this day.
"You're not going?"
Seeing Aphelios shake his head slightly, Caleb was also a little stunned. The so-called "weapons of light" had actually already been used by both the Solari and the Lunari. This was also one of the reasons Aphelios had appeared in the final battle against the Black Mist. But when Caleb saw that neither of these two had much desire to climb the mountain, he could not help feeling very puzzled.
"The more power the Aspects grant you, the easier it is for you to lose yourself."
This was Atreus's warning, and even more so, it was a painful memory he had personally experienced.
"You don't need to worry about that."
Caleb shook his head slightly. Was this a joke? He had Aurelion Sol's skill in his hands. If anyone was not convinced, he would activate his mana and shave the person and the mountain flat together.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Watching Aphelios start gesturing, Caleb only now suddenly realized that, after being here for so long, he had somehow never seen anyone use sign language. Aphelios had drunk noctum essence, and because of that, his throat had been poisoned mute. Aside from some hums and breathing sounds, he could not produce any other sounds.
"Don't you two want to meet the Aspects and ask the questions in your hearts clearly?"
Caleb had met demigods before, so when it came to T1-level Aspects, he naturally did not fear them like tigers. Not to mention that his relationship with Shurima was excellent right now. Even if he failed, he did not need to worry about being hunted down. Once he entered Shuriman territory, Caleb could practically walk sideways all the way back to the Twin Cities. By then, those guys would be too far away to reach him, and naturally, they would not be able to cause trouble for him.
Of course, if there was a chance, Caleb also wanted to call his pal Aatrox along.
As for why...
Because there was an Aspect that he wanted to chop apart, cut open, mince, and kill a thousand times over, and that Aspect was currently in the celestial realm above Mount Targon. One more person meant one more share of strength. Caleb was only rather afraid that Atreus and Aatrox would start fighting again.
Although Aatrox had used a Freljordian iron boar as his body after cutting it open, making him much stronger than he had been in his previous Darkin state.
However, after Aphelios gestured for a long time, Atreus beside him finally translated.
"The Solari on Mount Targon are too powerful right now. It would be best for us to avoid their edge."
If even Aphelios, who had all five moonstone weapons, said this, then it seemed the power above Mount Targon truly was terrifying.
"As for safety, you don't need to worry about that either. I'm just asking whether you're going or not."
Caleb's answer also exceeded the two men's expectations. In the past, the people who climbed Mount Targon were either desperate with nowhere else to turn and needed power, or they were bewitched by those vague legends. Others had reasons they absolutely had to go. But the feeling Caleb gave them was that he simply wanted to climb up, then if it did not work, come back down, then climb up again, all while shouting, "Hit me, idiot."
He was practically not taking the Aspects stationed on Mount Targon seriously at all. One had to know that Aphelios had five full weapons, and Atreus had even gained the power of the Aspect of War. Yet these two, even if they did not fear the celestial realm, still treated it with enough seriousness. Caleb, on the other hand, seemed like he wanted to go sightseeing.
"I'll send you two back while I'm at it. No problem."
Seeing that Aphelios was still hesitant, Caleb smiled and patted his shoulder.
"But we might have to pass by the Sun Disc first."
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