night.Crownguard Residence.Watching her daughter leave happily with the books, Mrs. Ogsha's face showed some worry:"Is it really a good idea to give those books to her?"Tiana held a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She took a small sip, and the rich and mellow taste captivated her." The calming tea sent by Noxus, I took a sip and it tastes good.""You just spoil her."Lady Ogsha looked displeased, but still maintained her aristocratic composure. She picked up the teacup in front of her and took a small sip.It seems that ever since she moved to The Capital with Luxanna, Tiana has been very fond of her daughter, though it's unclear what aspect she valued.She doesn't know how to hide her feelings, she's gentle and innocent, a pure girl inside and out.As the tea flowed into her mouth, the refreshing sweetness and intertwined bitterness made Mrs. Ogsha squint her eyes in enjoyment.She was especially captivated by the ethereal feeling of her mind going completely blank for a moment.Her gaze swept over the exquisitely carved teacup in her hand, and she couldn't help but sigh:"It's hard to imagine that the barbaric Noxus people could have such delicate things.""They are very good at learning, and we have to keep up. Luxanna is like a sponge; she can absorb and combine the strengths of both of us," Tiana said.She saw it clearly: Noxus was using its products to carry out cultural aggression.Once Demacia accepts the other party's culture and beliefs, the other party's goal will be achieved.But they had no choice, so they might as well put their minds at ease and accept it calmly."I'm worried that she'll be misled by those books." Mrs. Ogsha hesitated for a moment before expressing her concerns. "You haven't seen what she was like before. To be honest, I don't trust her as much as you do.""Everyone has been young, and everyone makes mistakes."Tiana raised her teacup and smiled faintly.However, when no one was paying attention, a hint of sadness flashed across her eyes.Unconsciously, her gaze fell on an empty seat, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if pierced by a thick layer of the past, softly whispering:"Look at us now, we've matured, but we've also stepped into a cage of shackles."" Tiana, forget about the past. At our age, we should know that some things are neither right nor wrong," Mrs. Ogsha said, noticing her distress."Yes. So, I don't want Luxanna to follow our old path. She deserves a different life."After Tiana finished speaking, she changed the subject, clearly not wanting to discuss that matter in detail.Mrs. Ogsha didn't say much, but followed up on her words:"Experience does not equate to adventure; you shouldn't have let her go to the temple alone."This is precisely what she is most dissatisfied with. As a mother, she feels that even if someone is going, she should at least have the right to know.But by the time she found out, Luxanna had already left.The family's best heir should not bear any risks!"You don't understand her; she has people helping her behind the scenes," Tiana said."She stays at home all day." Mrs. Ogsha frowned slightly, the implication clear."But that doesn't stop her from knowing some big shots. After all, talent always attracts attention," Tiana said with a smile, her gaze unconsciously drifting back to the empty seat."snort!"Mrs. Ogsha held her teacup with graceful movements, her tone as stern as ever:"Her little tricks couldn't even fool Garen; she's only become a bit more reserved in the last two years. I don't understand her talent, but her mind is too immature.""I know you want to protect her, but she and Jarvan are not a good match. Crownguard needs her." Tiana shook her head.Mrs. Ogsha knew all along that she did not want her daughter to succeed her as Crownguard.Unlike her, who was born with the surname Crownguard, Lady Ogsha's birth was even more distinguished than that of Crownguard.She didn't even dare to tell Jarvan about anything."She's doing quite well so far, but I will always provide her with more options. After all, she is still my daughter."After speaking, Mrs. Ogsha stood up gracefully and left the main hall with dignified steps."This is really a headache. Eldred, what do you think of Luxanna?"Tiana continued to leisurely sip her tea, waiting until Madam Ogsha had completely walked away before asking a question to the empty seat."She is capable of being put to good use. I don't mind paving the way for her, but you know what I want."Eldred's voice was hoarse, and there seemed to be some kind of hatred in his tone."We'll have to wait a while. Let's make sure it's done cleanly and doesn't involve the Crownguard." Tiana put down her teacup and replied expressionlessly.Thank you, Tiana.Eldred's eyes gleamed with an unusual light; this was the first time Tiana had supported his plan."We don't need to talk about these things between us. I also bear some responsibility for that incident." Tiana sighed."Stop talking, it's none of your business. He and Lightshield both deserve to die!" Eldred's tone and expression darkened.Tiana looked at him and sighed. She got up and walked to Eldred's side, patting his shoulder to comfort the emotional man.She should have stood by him much earlier. But for the sake of Crownguard, she chose to keep putting it off.Now that Demacia is in grave danger, she has nothing left to worry about. With Luxanna in Crownguard's future, it's time for her to live for herself for once."We are one, Eldred."...Noxus camp.A runic array shone brightly from its center, and Shyvana, who had just recovered from her injuries, became wary and assumed an attack stance.Darius waved to stop her and stood up nimbly from his seat.The deep blue light grew stronger and stronger, and a figure slowly emerged from it."You've arrived." Darius grinned when he saw who it was.Shyvana blinked, a hint of surprise on her face; it was the first time she had ever seen Darius show such an expression.They were now on the verge of the northern border, and had encountered many harassments from barbarian tribes along the way.Darius's brutality towards his enemies left a deep impression on her."I'll cover for you."Ryan emerged from the magic circle, looked at Darius who stood up to greet him, and nodded in greeting.After saying that, he turned his gaze to Shyvana and praised her gently:"Is this our Dragon Daughter? She possesses immense power; she will surely become a powerful warrior in the future.""You flatter me, Noxus." Shyvana greets Your Excellency, Master! Shyvana bowed slightly.Because her adoptive father was a Buddhist monk, she had a natural affinity and respect for him.The time she spent in the military camp these past few days quickly made her accept her identity as a Noxus.Her comrades in the military camp were very welcoming, everything was done according to the rules, and no one discriminated against her because of her special condition.Honestly, she really likes it here."He is Council President Trefari, and Ryan Meredith, the most powerful mage in the Empire," Darius introduced at the opportune moment.Meredith " Council Chairman, I have heard of your great reputation." Shyvana said with deep respect.The most popular choice for the Trifarian Legion is not Darius, but Ryan, who led them to victory in countless wars, a point she feels deeply about.Almost every veteran of the warband talks about Ryan all the time."It's just an empty title. I heard your mother is after you." Ryan quickly steered the conversation to the main point."Yes," Shyvana nodded, her expression hesitant, "she is very strong.""No matter how strong it is, it's just a dragon. Darius could probably kill it." Ryan's tone was quite relaxed, showing that he didn't care about the matter at all."It's worth a try." Darius's expression suddenly turned cold when the topic of battle came up.He had never killed a dragon, but he didn't think dragons were that powerful."Now that you've joined Noxus, relax. I can see the worry in your eyes. If you don't mind, let's get rid of her now," Ryan suggested.He came here to deal with the dragon and add another artifact to the empire and the mage tower's collection.A castaway race expelled from the dragon race is a rare sight indeed." Council Chairman, I only want to kill her with you! But…" Shyvana paused, still having some reservations.Trifarian Legion is indeed very strong; she has witnessed it in the past few days.But compared to the dragon's might she had seen before, it was still a few levels weaker."There is nothing to fear. Shyvana, remember this: the Noxus never fear powerful enemies!" Darius stared ahead, his tone firm and unwavering."Relax, you just need to do a little favor. She's nothing to be afraid of."The confidence on Ryan and Darius's faces gradually eased Shyvana's unease.She suppressed the surging emotions within her, clenched her fists, and forced herself to calm down. She took a deep breath, turned her gaze to Ryan, and straightened her body."Yes, Council Chairman, what should I do?""Give me some of your blood. She can use bloodlines to locate you. Similarly, we can use this method to track her back," Ryan said casually."good!"Without hesitation, Shyvana deftly made a cut on her arm and dripped the blood into the small transparent bottle Ryan handed her.Then, at Ryan's prompting, Shyvana respectfully stood aside and waited."Buzz!"Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!A vast amount of magic surged from Ryan's body, and drops of blood from the bottle floated up, orderly outlining red runes in the air."They seem evil."Shyvana murmured softly as she looked at the dark red runes that resembled coagulated blood." A minor spell in the Runes Magic special tree - Blood Hunter. It is a fifth-order magic based on the runes 'Ruthless Hunter' and 'Taste of Blood', plus 30 other related runes."As Ryan manipulated the magic, he casually explained.Darius watched silently as the runes merged together, and countless semi-illusory threads of red blood stretched outward from the tent."Is this the Runes Magic you created? Can it be widely adopted in the military?""Currently, this is only available to mages. However, I can enchant your weapon to add some useful functions."Ryan focused intently on manipulating the magic; this long-range tracking magic often required a long casting time.Fortunately, Runes Magic saves him a lot of effort; otherwise, he would have to be like a rigid inspector, constantly monitoring the magic spreading outwards."Functions? For example?"Darius glanced at the black battle axe—the Black Cutter—in the tent. This was the weapon Darkwill had once bestowed upon him for his meritorious service; it was indestructible."Sever everything," Ryan said casually. "Or, pull all the enemies in front of you to your side.""I want them all," Darius grinned."As long as you have enough merit points." Ryan was quite generous in this regard. "The commander's intention is for you to set an example. The Empire needs someone of importance to complete the exchange at the veterans' shop.""Haha, no problem, I'll go next time I'm back in Immortal Bastion," Darius said happily, his eyes flashing with excitement.After all, nothing is more gratifying than improving one's strength!After chatting for a while, Ryan's eyes suddenly narrowed slightly:"Found it.""Where?" Shyvana tensed up instantly."That direction should be in the mountains near the Tukugur Plain."Ryan stared southwest, his brow slightly furrowed."I remember that place didn't belong to the Empire yet.""It doesn't belong there. That region is ruled by a kingdom, and that damned king keeps wavering between us and Demacia. If it weren't for the Immortal Bastion, I would have wiped him out long ago." Darius's face was filled with undisguised murderous intent.He didn't like that small country at all.The old king oppressed the people by relying on his power. The nobles and the royal family controlled the entire country, and everyone else was their slave."This is perfect timing. It's time for the Empire to liberate Turkgul." Darius's eyes flashed with bloodlust.Ryan glanced at him with amusement and then casually assigned the tasks: "The kingdom is yours, the dragon is mine.""No problem. Let's go now!"Darius wielded his axe and stepped out of the camp, annihilating a weak nation without even needing the entire Trifarian Legion to be mobilized."Let's go too, Noxus's Dragonblood Warrior." Ryan's gaze shifted to Shyvana." Noxus Dragon Blood Warrior"Shyvana read it aloud to herself, her expression rather complicated. If it were a casual conversation, she probably would have needed a while to process it.But now, time is of the essence!She gathered her chaotic thoughts, resolutely raised her head to look into Ryan's gentle eyes, and blurted out her pre-prepared statement:" Chairman of the Council, I am unworthy of this title, but I will do my best to live up to it!"Every powerful figure in the empire has their own title, but she has accomplished nothing and is truly unworthy of it."Show your strength and fight for what you want to achieve. I look forward to the day when Immortal Bastion will hear this title."After Ryan finished speaking, he turned around and walked out of the tent.As soon as he stepped out of the tent, before he could even take flight, he saw Shyvana lying prone on the ground, with huge Threads of Vibration emanating from the ground beneath her feet. The girl's body underwent a dramatic transformation in the next moment.Whoosh—Two pairs of fiery red fleshy wings stretched out from her back, her originally small hands and feet transformed into four pairs of sharp claws, and her small human head transformed into the enormous head of a dragon." Your Excellency Chairman of the Council, please allow me to do my part."After transforming into a dragon, Shyvana lowered her body and head, gesturing for Ryan to stand on her.Ryan saw the determination in her eyes, smiled slightly, and stepped onto her back, which was covered with fiery red scales."roar!"Shyvana let out a furious dragon roar, flapped its wings violently, and quickly rose into the sky.At the same time, Darius's army had also assembled, and thousands of soldiers roared as they rode tigers toward Tukugur.The wilderness was filled with the roars of tigers and the cries of dragons, and dust flew everywhere.Boom! Boom! Boom!The tiger's limbs clanged against the earth, producing a resounding roar a thousand times more powerful than war drums. The sheer scale of the Threads of Vibration was like a multitude of fish crossing a river, stirring up waves of yellow dust. Even the sandstorms raging in the heart of the desert could not match its might.The army galloped across the wilderness, with Darius carrying a giant axe and leaning close to his mount, the Black Tiger.Feeling the strong wind rushing past his ears, he looked up at Ryan on the back of the dragon in the sky, then suddenly smiled and asked the soldier beside him:" Wade Lin, what do you think I lack compared to him?"He could sense that the Trifarian Legion didn't approve of him as much as they approved of Ryan.This situation is quite normal, after all, this army is Ryan's private army."General, we can see your distress, but we lack the same experience." Wade Lin looked regretful."experience?"Darius frowned slightly, as if he was feeling something."Yes, you lack an opportunity to demonstrate your abilities. General Meredith is like a god in our hearts, and you have taken his place. You need to conquer us with your strength," Wade Lin said truthfully.He could understand Darius's thoughts and knew that the other party was very strong.Wade Lin talked with his comrades, and after spending these days together, they admitted that Darius was very strong, but they were still somewhat unconvinced.Their former commander was the strategist Swain, whose wisdom enabled them to win countless victories against stronger opponents.Their former vice president is now Council President Trefari Ryan Meredith, during each war, the power of magic inspired their heartfelt awe and worship.Darius is an exception. As the new commander, unlike Xin Zhao who used to fight alongside them, he naturally makes them feel awkward.In particular, he failed to showcase his true charm." General Darius, perhaps this war is your chance to prove yourself," Wade Lin said, offering a word of advice.They had only truly witnessed Darius in action the last time he faced the Winged Protector. Kayle.However, Darius, being the one being suppressed, clearly didn't have many outstanding performances."Showcasing yourself and shared experiences?"Darius tightened his grip on the reins, a hint of understanding creeping into his expression.He liked this unruly army; Noxus had always obeyed only the strong.He will conquer this army with his strength and prove that he is qualified to be their commander.Ryan in the sky seemed to sense something, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.His figure stood straight like a statue on Shyvana's back, the strong winds in the air sweeping past him from all sides, yet seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier.Even Ryan's robes didn't flutter in the wind.