"Why does this backup plan come with both a front and a back side?"
As the Nullifying Orb rapidly enlarged in Caleb's vision, he tested a skill.
Kingslayer!
Veigar's soul had been tempered for so long that it was already impossibly resilient.
Because of that, in this instant, Caleb could still steal one of Veigar's skills.
An identical black orb appeared, yet it did not cost Caleb much mana.
The two great black spheres of magic collided in the air, and Caleb was surprised by how useful the skill was.
It seemed Sylas really was a prodigy...
Before Caleb could think any further, the shockwave from the explosion made his vision go black.
...
When Caleb slowly woke up, he looked at Kai'Sa sleeping beside him and had no idea how everyone else was doing.
Without waking her, Caleb quietly stepped out of the room.
Good thing he had summoned a similar orb and let the two collide.
If that had actually hit him, Caleb was afraid he would have died body and soul alike.
As someone whose work in another world would have ended halfway through before the mission was complete, Caleb would have died with a great deal of regret.
He and Kai'Sa had only just stepped into the demigod realm together, and next, they would have to face the Aspects of Targon.
Yet the threat of the death realm still had not vanished. It hung over Caleb's head like a blade.
Mordekaiser, ruler of the death realm. Logically speaking, the Mask Mother was the one who could be considered the creator of death gods like Kindred.
So how had he built an army in the death realm?
Could there be some other hidden truth behind this world's death realm?
Caleb felt somewhat dazed, his steps unsteady as he reached Renata's door.
"Governor!"
Renata was extremely surprised when she saw that Caleb had woken up.
Singed had examined Caleb's body and found almost nothing wrong with him, so Kai'Sa had not sent Caleb to Xolaani.
After Caleb woke up, he did not see monsters from the Black Mist pouring out and slaughtering everyone, so he felt slightly more at ease.
"How's the situation?"
Caleb was not only asking about the twin cities, but also about the conditions in the other two nations that Piltover could receive reports from.
There was Karthus, whom Caleb had tricked into Demacia, and Noxus, whom he had fiercely set up.
Speaking of which, Caleb could barely remember how Draven had returned to Noxus after the last Black Mist incident.
He must have slowly made his way back... How miserable...
While Caleb was imagining that, Renata had already taken out the reports and began briefing him.
A fair amount of the information came from the Ferros family.
Many of Piltover's internal spies were funded by the Ferros family.
One had to know that even the true head of the family, Camille, when worshiped by some people in the twin cities as the Gray Lady, spent most of her time acting as an intelligence agent.
The fact that these reports had appeared on Renata's desk represented only one thing, goodwill from that family.
It seemed that unlike Mel, the Ferros family planned to place a heavy bet on Caleb and Zaun.
"On Demacia's side, the petricite statues successfully killed Karthus, though they don't really understand what happened."
Ryze had a habit of placing World Runes beneath Demacia's petricite forest, so he was familiar with Demacia's coordinates.
If he had been just as familiar with Noxus, he could have made Mordekaiser appear directly on top of the Immortal Bastion.
"A return to your old home. No need to thank me."
A mysterious smile curved Caleb's lips. Noxus had refused him quite cleanly, but unfortunately for them, they had not expected him to send Mordekaiser straight there.
With Nullifying Orb and Ryze's astonishing mana, even one swing and one Death's Grasp from Mordekaiser had trouble hurting him.
Even if he really had been wounded, it would not have mattered much.
"Petricite really is good stuff. We'll need it sooner or later. We can ask Demacia to sell us some."
Caleb thought for a moment, then gave the order.
Petricite would not be cheap, but it was still within the range Caleb could accept.
And as a weapon against magic, it had miraculous effects.
When they encountered the Void's prophet or the giant eye in the future, it should have some effect too.
"What about Noxus?"
"After a bitter battle and after using a great deal of the treasury's stored resources, Mordekaiser has temporarily returned to the Shadow Isles."
"That death-realm warlord will have to keep resting and rebuilding after going back."
Caleb secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With that, the outcome was entirely acceptable.
Caleb did not have to keep fighting for now. Judging from the reports, Bilgewater had not fallen either. This was already the best possible situation.
"But there is another piece of news..."
Renata spoke timidly from the side.
"It's bad news, then?" The moment she opened her mouth, Caleb mentally prepared himself.
"Yes..."
Renata pulled out a letter. Unmelted frost still clung to it.
Caleb's heart tightened, and he quickly took it to examine it carefully.
There were not many words written on it, but they were shocking enough.
"The dark ice will thaw. The final assault is about to begin."
This was Lissandra coming to discuss strategy with him.
"No... I still have to invite them..."
Caleb quickly turned back and went to find Kai'Sa.
He had only just sent Mordekaiser away, but now these strange things were coming next.
It made Caleb extremely frustrated. He practically never had a moment to rest.
But when it came to the Void Watchers inside the dark ice, they had to move first.
Otherwise, if they lost the initiative, their side would fall into an even worse disadvantage.
"Get ready and come with me at once."
Kai'Sa's expression when she had just woken up was rather cute, but Caleb had no time to appreciate it carefully.
Once the Watchers in the Freljord's dark ice were dealt with, they would be able to reinforce Icathia and Mount Targon afterward.
"Baldy! Time to work!"
Ryze was still thinking about how it had felt to use the rune, but after that, Caleb's shout dragged him back to reality.
"This soon?"
He was a little stunned. He had cast Realm Warp twice in a row across a long distance, and now the Shadow Isles were already making a comeback?
"It's the Void!"
Caleb did not say anything more. He went straight to the Hexgate, dragged Yuumi along, and headed for Shurima and Mount Targon.
...
"You want me?"
Aatrox was having his body reconstructed through blood magic.
The way he had molded his body before had been too crude and simplistic, which had instead reduced its strength by quite a lot.
After Xolaani's "treatment," compared to his previous body, Aatrox was now much closer to his peak as an Ascended.
"Yes."
Aside from the people who had come with him, Caleb had also brought a man and a woman.
They were Atreus and Diana.
The latter had left Aphelios at the Lunari base, using the excuse that it would make communication with his sister more convenient.
Under the power of the Aspect of War, the Solari had been much more obedient during this period.
The Marai could also come to the shore with peace of mind and use their magic to suppress the Void in the sea.
"Aatrox, the Void in the north is about to wake up. We have to gather our strength as quickly as possible and catch them off guard."
Caleb's words were sincere. If the person who had cut off his arm before had not been standing right beside him, Aatrox would almost already have followed Caleb back to the twin cities.
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