Chapter 168 - 167

'Family, kingdom.'Four words appeared on the page.Upon seeing this, Luxanna fell silent.She wasn't actually completely oblivious.But upon seeing those four words on the magic book, he had no choice but to admit it in his heart.The Crownguard are no different from other families.What are your thoughts on this incident?Seeing the words reappear on the page, Luxanna thought for a moment and slowly wrote on the magic page:'I believe this whole thing was within Noxus's expectations, and they orchestrated everything.''The signing of the peace treaty is true, and the release of the Winged Protectors is also true. It's just that the open battle has been moved to the shadows.'Luxanna's thoughts flowed like a spring, and she wrote furiously:' Demacia fears this battle far more than Noxus's overt aggression. For centuries, we have gathered here because of our adherence to the highest principles of justice. But now…'Noxus was constantly undermining these relationships, sowing suspicion among the Demacia and causing the nobles to fight amongst themselves over petty gains.'.'She took a deep breath and wrote down all her thoughts.Unfortunately, no matter what she thought, and even though most of the Demacia people understood, the outcome was destined to remain unchanged.The Demacia are currently unable to solve the most fundamental problem, a fact most Demacia are well aware of, so they have instead turned their attention inward.What do you think is the best way to break this deadlock?The magic book is like a tutor testing a student's knowledge, posing challenging questions.Luxanna looked at it and shook her head, her face filled with sadness.But in the end, she still managed to write down two words with difficulty:There's no solution!Seemingly feeling that this wasn't enough, she added below:'I understand my aunts' worries, because fundamentally, Demacia's defeat is already a foregone conclusion.''Strength. Demacia's strength is far too weak.''Even our most powerful gods have been defeated, and most people understand that once Noxus regroups, we will be lambs to the slaughter.'' Demacia still possesses a fighting spirit, but this will gradually weaken with the signing of the peace treaty. Coupled with Noxus's constant instigation, Demacia will be destroyed bit by bit.'Her face showed reluctance and sorrow, but she knew she couldn't change anything.After Kayle's defeat, Demacia's decline was inevitable.The Noxus were not a peaceful empire; they were born for conquest. Everyone knew they wouldn't let the opportunity to occupy Demacia slip by.Demacia was currently powerless to resist the invasion. The difference in strength was simply too great.The reason we are able to unite as one to resist a powerful enemy at any time is simply because everyone still has the will to fight and is willing to die for their country.As Noxus continues to instigate internal strife within Demacia, this tension will gradually dissipate.At that time, Noxus only needs to set an example by using a few border principalities to demonstrate the benefits of surrender. Then many Demacia people will become disloyal.Everyone has parents and children; no one is willing to risk their entire family's lives to fight a war they cannot win.Luxanna looked dejected; perhaps the only thing she could do was inspire everyone and try her best to prevent Demacia from collapsing from within.At least it keeps Demacia determined to fight to the death.'If you want to protect Demacia, there are two places you can go.'Upon seeing this sentence, Luxanna's face lit up with joy, and she quickly wrote it down:Which two places?' The Demacia dungeon and the Galio colossus.' The words appeared in the spellbook.Magic?Luxanna knew what these two places meant: one was where many highly dangerous mages were imprisoned, and the other was the Demacia colossus, a symbol of war.Legend has it that the colossus awakens after absorbing a vast amount of magic and becomes the guardian of Demacia.Listen to what the magic book means. It's true.Luxanna nodded seriously, a glimmer of hope appearing in her eyes.Noxus, Floating Fortress."Not bad."Ryan held a magic book in his hands, smiling as he looked at Katarina, whose long, wine-red hair flowed freely.Katarina knelt on one knee before her, as respectfully as ever.Unlike her previous leather outfits, she now donned exquisite black and red armor, resembling a high-ranking female general, exuding an intimidating aura."Your Majesty, I, Katarina Du Couteau, on behalf of the Kekao Family and the Southern War Zone, offer my loyalty to you."She held a magical seal in her hands; it was the Du Couteau family seal.This medal was once given to Ryan by Du Couteau, who then passed it on to Katarina.After that, Katarina went to the Southern Theater Command under the command of the Kekao Family to carry out Trifarix's orders.Ryan had been following Katarina's story. Leveraging her abilities and Trifarix connections, she quickly established a reputation within the Southern Front army.In just a few months, thanks to Ryan's previous speech and the establishment of the Explorers GuildWherever Katarina's army went, the city-states of Shurima surrendered one after another, and Noxtoraa were established.In a very short time, the Noxus Black Gate became a landmark building in most of the Shurima city-states.With almost no effort, large swathes of Shurima's territory were incorporated into the empire.With these achievements, coupled with Katarina's near-unrivaled strength on the battlefield, she challenged her father, Du Couteau, the commander of the southern front.With her rapidly growing strength, she defeated her father and became the commander of the southern front, witnessed by all the Noxus soldiers.Her return to Immortal Bastion this time was not only to complete the task assigned by the Trifarix Council, but also to hand over the Statute to Ryan as a sign of her choice.Ryan did not accept the seal bearing the Kekao Family mark, but instead spoke calmly:" Congressman Katarina, we are both Noxus people."Katarina trembled slightly upon hearing the address. She knew very well that this was Ryan's recognition of her."Your Majesty, I will always be your sharpest blade."Katarina bowed her head low, her face filled with piety and reverence.Whatever achievements she made, it was all thanks to Ryan's guidance.If it weren't for Ryan, she would have died at her father's hands a year ago.She knew that man very well; if Ryan hadn't been there, she would have been abandoned by him, just like her poor sister."Don't be so serious. You're leaving tomorrow. Let me see your current strength today."Ryan smiled and gently closed the book.Katarina had been with him for quite some time, and he knew her thoughts very well. After experiencing the trials of war, she wanted to show herself to him.A flash of deep blue runic light, and he and Katarina vanished from the spot.In an empty practice area beneath Floating Fortress, the two figures suddenly appeared.Even underground in the Floating Fortress, the place is still brightly lit.Whoosh!A black and red figure flashed by, and Katarina instantly disappeared from her original spot. When she reappeared, she was already behind Ryan, mercilessly severing the daggers from both hands.She knew that no matter how she attacked, she couldn't hurt Ryan in the slightest.bite!Ryan turned his right hand behind his back, and the ring instantly transformed into a black blade, blocking Katarina's attack."Not bad. I needed time to prepare before, but now I've figured out the trick."This is the magic trick he taught Katarina, Shunpo.Magic originates from the ancient texts of Ionia, derived from magic yet distinct from it. It is arguably the only school of magic he knows of that can be performed without magical talent.Its forms are diverse, but most are related to swords, knives, and shadows."Your Majesty, this is not enough."Katarina's first attack failed, and she reappeared dozens of meters away.This time, she threw the dagger in her hand directly, the curved blade drawing an arc in the air.Just as it was about to reach Ryan, it suddenly split into thousands of identical blades, raining down upon him.Faced with this seemingly inevitable attack, Ryan's eyes flashed with admiration. He leaned back slightly and swiftly swung the black blade in his hand.Ding! Ding! Ding!Each clash between the dagger and the black blade produced a crisp sound, as if every dagger were real.But whether real or fake, Ryan parried every single dagger with pinpoint accuracy.Most of the daggers disappeared after being cut down, except for one that flew to Ryan's left rear.Katarina appeared instantly and slashed out with the dagger in her hand.bite!The dagger was stopped by the black blade when it was only an inch from Ryan's neck."His attacks didn't reveal any killing intent, showing considerable growth. His sword-splitting technique is quite good; he can split into 13 swords simultaneously. What about the rest?"Ryan remained standing in place; Katarina's fierce attacks didn't even make him move.Based on the previous battles, he was already able to judge Katarina's current level.Hero-level is more than enough, but Grandmaster level is not yet reached.In terms of both physical fitness and technique, he is no less than Draven."Your Majesty, be careful!"Katarina's expression hardened slightly, and she simultaneously flew the two daggers in her hand toward Ryan.At the same time, she seemed to have an endless supply of daggers in her hands, which she hurled at Ryan one after another.Ding! Ding! Ding!The Black Blade Dance was so tight that it gave the dagger no chance to get close.But Katarina's attack was clearly not that simple. This time, the dagger that was knocked down did not disappear. Instead, it turned around and struck Ryan again.Ryan was ultimately wielding the blade with one hand, unable to simultaneously defend against daggers coming from all directions.Not a single mistake, not a single song, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!From his side and behind, a dagger pierced through the gap where the black blade danced, striking his white robe.laugh!The moment the dagger touched the surface of the robe, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible force, unable to advance an inch."Not bad." Ryan nodded with a smile. "Even a fully armed Hero-level might be defeated by your attack."The daggers were just ordinary daggers, but their quantity completely made up for their lack of quality.Moreover, given Katarina's current physique, even Darius has to be careful with the force she unleashes.In no time, more and more daggers surrounded Ryan, but Katarina also showed signs of strain.But she did not give up. A large number of daggers almost overwhelmed Ryan, stabbing him from every angle, leaving almost no blind spots.Countless daggers swirled around Ryan, as if they wanted to tear him to pieces.Carter stared intently at what was in front of her, a hint of resentment in her eyes; she understood perfectly well what was happening.Despite her seemingly swift attacks, not a single dagger could harm Ryan.Ryan's body was covered by a film of water, which she could not penetrate no matter how her dagger attacked."Do you know the difference between a hero and a grandmaster?" Ryan suddenly asked.The moment he finished speaking, all the daggers exploded, almost all turning into afterimages.Ding! Ding!Two metallic thuds rang out as the two daggers that had been thrown earlier landed at Katarina's feet.Katarina glanced at Ryan, who was still standing, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, which she quickly concealed as she bent down to pick up the dagger.She pursed her lips and shook her head: "Your Majesty, I don't know how strong a Grandmaster is, but I know I am not strong enough.""The difference between a hero and a grandmaster is the difference between you and a grandmaster. It lies in the degree of refinement of power," Ryan said calmly.Runeterra's power classification is rather vague; anyone who can unleash nearly 100 times the destructive power of Caitlyn can be considered a Grandmaster.One could achieve this through exceptional talent and physical abilities, by relying on the absence of sacred artifacts or divine weapons, by using magical power, or by learning certain secret techniques or power-generating skills.For Katarina, however, there weren't many paths she could choose."The degree of concentration of power?" Katarina asked, puzzled.She knew Ryan was guiding her on her future path, and her expression became serious."Those are advanced test dummies made by Orianna. Let's take the first-tier spell, Water Blade, as an example."Ryan gestured to the dummy in the corner of the training ground, and two blue runes slowly took shape in front of him, merging into a water blade."Under normal circumstances, spells won't even elicit a reaction from a dummy."Whoosh!The water blade struck the dummy's chest and splashed outwards.Under normal circumstances, the power of the water blade is roughly equivalent to three times the force of Caitlyn's full-force sword swing. And this attack didn't even trigger the attack detection of the advanced dummies."Your physical talent is not as strong as Darius's, and your magical talent is almost zero. You either need to undergo modification or learn how to condense power.""The so-called power condensation is to cause greater damage without changing one's physical constitution or magic power."A new water blade appeared before Ryan once more. This time, the water blade was smaller in size, but its color was much deeper.Whoosh!Ryan waved his hand lightly, and the water blades flew swiftly through the air, striking the dummy hard.But this attack made Katarina's eyes widen in surprise.The seemingly small and weak water blade actually pierced through the armor made of Rune Steel, creating a sizable gash."Attack strength: High!"Katarina fell silent upon hearing the timely electronic voice.Test dummies were not only used at War College, but were also supplied to every front to allow soldiers to test their abilities.She also tried so-called advanced mannequins.Even if she tried her best, she could only give a rating of 'weak'.The "strong" strike was merely a casual water blade from Ryan."How do I do it?" Katarina asked.Ryan turned to her and said in a flat voice:"Mages rely on their understanding of runes, warriors on the continuous strengthening of their physique. As for assassins, they should learn how to cut through everything with their blades.""Sever all things."Katarina frowned, completely clueless.The Assassin's Creed book mentions the technique of cutting steel with a wooden sword, but she had previously scoffed at it.Previously, she believed that assassins should focus on improving their physical attributes. If their attack power wasn't enough, they should simply switch to a better weapon.Trying to cut steel with wood is pointless.But now Ryan means it.Looking at her self-doubting face, Ryan couldn't help but smile:"This is the path that most assassins follow, but you can choose a path that suits you better."He didn't want to force Katarina; even if she were willing to undergo mechanical modifications, he wouldn't stop her, but would only provide her with better materials."Your Majesty, I want a weapon that can penetrate all defenses!" Katarina's eyes revealed her seriousness.She didn't think she could learn to cut steel with wood and to condense force.Compared to those who are exceptionally gifted, her talent is truly meager.Therefore, she is clearer about her role: loyalty, bravery, and honing her skills.A pure assassin only needs to learn how to kill enemies.When her physical strength couldn't keep up, she would voluntarily undergo all modifications, just to stay behind him."An unexpected idea." Ryan smiled slightly. "I currently have two such weapons, one for each of the two missions. Interested?"At Noxus, there is never anything without effort.Moreover, one of them is currently in danger, and he cannot guarantee that something will go wrong."I'm happy to help!" Katarina knelt down on one knee.Even without weapons, she would complete the tasks Ryan assigned her.She hadn't originally intended to ask for it; as long as Ryan was willing to provide information, she could obtain it through her own and her family's resources."Do you remember the mission the commander gave you?" Ryan asked."Guarding Akshan" " Tomb, kill anyone who dares to approach." Katarina's expression was cold."The first task is to follow Ezreal into the Tomb and retrieve one of the items from it," Ryan said solemnly.He and Syndra are pretty sure there's a high probability there's a World Rune there.However, the restrictions there were too great, and even with the combined power of Morgana and Syndra, he could not force his way in.Once the hidden hand left by Ascended is triggered, the entire Tomb and a large area of ​​surrounding land will be reduced to nothingness. He wasn't sure if World Rune could survive, and he was unwilling to take the risk.With his and Syndra's strength, they could easily send Katarina and Ezreal into it. Their strength was nothing but ants in Ascended's eyes, and they wouldn't even trigger the arrangements they left behind."What do I want back?" Katarina asked seriously.Her expression and eyes told Ryan that even if she died inside, she would bring that item back for him.Ryan waved his hand lightly, and five-colored phantoms appeared in the air:"I'm not sure exactly what it looks like, but it will be one of five colors: yellow, red, green, blue, or cyan. You can feel the power of magic when you get close to it.""If you encounter an accident or see it, crush it."As Ryan spoke, he handed a necklace to Katarina, with a deep blue gemstone hanging from it.Through the gemstone's translucent surface, Katarina could clearly see many intricate inscriptions engraved within."I will take it back!"Katarina solemnly accepted the necklace and carefully hung it around her snow-white neck.She will not fail again!