Runeterra: I really know a little bit about everything

Chapter 176 Can you be friends with me?King and slave!

While the war outside the imperial capital of Shurima was in full swing, huge riots also arose within the imperial capital.

Because at the same time that the red light shield originating from Zuochi completely enveloped the battlefield, a teleportation portal appeared in the sky above the Royal Capital of Shurima.

Under the gaze of the entire Imperial Capital, a huge airtight cage fell from the sky and hit the central area of ​​the Imperial Capital, which was almost the most densely populated place in the entire Imperial Capital.

This sudden scene attracted the attention of the entire imperial capital almost instantly, and the same was true for Ramos in the palace!

Looking at the cage that felt extremely familiar to him, a terrible pressure came from Ramos's hill-like body. The back armor covered with spikes began to tremble, and a deep look appeared in his eyes that were always dull. alert.

Ramos will never forget this cage, and even he can still recognize it now. This is the same cage where Xerath imprisoned him.

I just don’t know why this cage appears here.

The cage hit the ground hard in the center of the imperial capital, and its hard shell sank deeply into the ground.

After experiencing the previous panic, the people of Shurima stopped one after another and formed a circle around the cage.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, there was a sound like a mechanism being opened. The originally closed gap on the surface of the cage suddenly opened, and the door of the cage opened.

"Wow~!"

A large pool of transparent liquid gushes out from the airtight cage, soaking the feet of the surrounding Shuriman people almost instantly.

After that, people heard intermittent sobbing and the "tearing" sound of the bandage being torn.

For some reason, when people heard this cry, a sad emotion emerged in their hearts at the same time, and they couldn't help but want to go forward and explore the source of the cry.

But before people came forward, the crying became clearer and clearer, and a short figure wrapped in bandages walked out of the huge cage.

When people saw this figure, a flash of astonishment flashed in everyone's eyes. They simply could not connect the figure in front of them with the huge cage behind him.

However, in the next moment, everyone suddenly understood why the person in front of them was imprisoned in this cage!

"You said you would be friends with me, but why do you want to lock me up? I obviously listen to you in everything, I just want a friend."

Amumu's voice was choked with sadness and desolation. It was also at this moment that the bodies of all the people whose feet had been stained by water stagnate at the same time.

Immediately afterwards, the bodies of these people began to shrink at a speed visible to the naked eye, and they fell to the ground like mummies that had been drained of water.

This scene spread toward the crowd like a spreading plague. As the first person turned into a mummy and fell, the large crowd behind him knelt on the ground one by one.

Suddenly, there was a huge commotion in the crowd, and everyone ran around like crazy. Behind them, Amumu chased these people while crying. He wanted to ask them why. Why deceive him when you imprison yourself.

By this time, it was no longer just the people in front of him, but even the surrounding plants and buildings began to dry up at a speed visible to the naked eye, until they completely turned into dust and dissipated in the air.

There is no doubt that if no one can stop Amumu at this time, perhaps Xerath does not need to take action at all, and the entire Shurima Imperial Capital will be turned into a handful of loess by Amumu.

However, at this moment, the earth began to tremble, and the violent roar came from far away, and soon came to Amumu.

That huge roller with spikes all over its body.

Just when Amumu was about to continue chasing the crowd, Ramos' figure stood in front of him.

"Ong!"

Almost the moment he approached Amumu, a layer of light mask made of many hexagons appeared on Ramos' back armor, and ripples were constantly swaying on this layer of light mask, like Defending against some kind of alien attack.

Ramos' huge body of more than ten meters high stood in front of Amumu, and the huge shadow completely covered Amumu, which made Amumu couldn't help but look up at Ramos.

When he saw the complicated look in Ramos's eyes and his body that was not withered, Amumu asked anxiously in a childish voice:
"Can you be friends with me? Stop locking me up."

Ramos could see that Xerath also tried to use the power of the energy obelisk to transform Amumu's body. This power made the curse on Amumu more serious, and the long-term imprisonment also made him The already fragile mind becomes even more sensitive.

As for Amumu, how could Ramos, who was older than the ancient Shurima Empire, not have heard the legend about him.

This cursed mummy turns anyone who comes near him into a withered skeleton. He wanders the deserts of Shurima all year round, just to find someone willing to be his friend.

He longed for friendship and communication with others, but the curse on him destined that he would never have any friends in his life.

After all, who would want to have a time bomb around them that consumes their life force all the time?

After examining Amumu for a long time, Ramos finally said in a calm tone:
"Now I need you to go back to that cage. Your appearance will kill a lot of people."

No matter what happens next, at least Ramos must ensure the stability of the Royal Capital of Shurima now, because this is the task given to him by Zuochi and Azir.

So now he could only let Amumu return to that cage, even though Amumu was sobbing sadly.

Amumu raised his head and looked at Ramos, and asked cautiously:
"If I listen to you and lock myself up, can you talk to me from a distance?"

Ramos looked at Amumu in front of him, and finally nodded slowly.

"can!"

"real!?"

Amumu stopped crying, and there was suddenly a hint of joy in his tone.

He turned around quickly, moved his short legs wrapped in bandages, and ran towards the direction of the cage.

Several times, the bandages running down his arms almost tripped him.

Quickly entering the cage, Amumu closed the door of the cage, leaving only a crack, and then his excited and slightly uneasy voice came from the cage:
"I have locked myself up, but I need to leave a gap, because then I can hear your voice."

"Now, can you talk to me for a few words?"

Ramos came to the far side of the cage where Amumu was and sat on the ground: "Yeah."

Compared to Amumu, who has not spoken to anyone for a long time, Ramos is also a taciturn ancient god. Sometimes he may not say a word to others for many years, but now, he is still trying to find what he can Think of the topic and work hard to edit your own language.

In this way, these two strange beings who only existed in Shurima legends in the past were sitting in the center of Shurima's royal capital, discussing some strange and nutritious topics.

But despite this, Amumu was still very happy, happier than ever before.

"What, you mean, you have been locked in this cage before? Who rescued you?"

"I really want to meet him, but I don't know if he will be afraid of me. It would be great if someone would be my friend, even if he lets me go back to the dark tomb."
-
The swift storm once again swept the yellow sand outside the royal capital of Shurima, as if it wanted to completely bury this bloody and broken battlefield.

"Tatata~!"

Slow and heavy footsteps sounded, and a figure walked in the yellow sand, bending down from time to time to pull out a weapon from the yellow sand.

Soon, all the dark descendants except Laast and Ta'anari were held in Zuochi's arms. At the same time, there were Kayn and a sand dune hound under Zuochi's arms.

What a familiar scene.

Zuo Chi smiled helplessly, and then stepped towards the figure lying on his back in the yellow sand in the distance.

Zuo Chi knew that Azir must have a lot to say.

Azir lay on his back in the yellow sand, letting the gravel fill the gaps in his armor, but he just stared blankly at the sun disk above the sky.

Gradually, Zuo Chi came to Azir's side.

"His Majesty."

"Zuo Chi."

Azir suddenly said in a trembling voice: "I really couldn't help myself at the time. I have never forgotten my promise to him, but why didn't he want to believe me?" After hearing Azir's words, Zuo Chi His heart also sank, and he could only sigh softly.

Zuo Chi knew that Azir was talking about his past with Xerath and the ultimate reason for the empire's collapse.

After the Void War, the vitality of the Shurima Empire was severely damaged, and the Ascended Legion suffered unprecedented heavy losses. Almost all the Ascended Gods were corrupted by the Void and were forced to retreat to the Celestial Hui.

For many, many years after that, no new Ascended Ones were born in Shurima, and only two Ascended Gods, Nasus and Renekton, were still active in the entire empire.

But despite this, the Shurima Empire was still the most powerful empire in the entire Runeterra at that time.

The empire of slavery!
Slavery has existed since the founding of the Shurima Empire. Slavery is like a brand of blood that is deeply ingrained in the hearts of every Shurima, whether they are slaves or nobles.

It wasn't until a few years later that Azir and Xerath were born one after another.

Azir was the youngest son of the old emperor at that time. He was short in stature and did not like fighting. He only liked reading.

Almost everyone is convinced that Azir has almost no chance of inheriting the throne.

Until one day, when Azir was reading in the Empire's library, he met a slave who was responsible for cleaning the Empire's library, and this slave actually helped Azir answer a problem that had troubled him for a long time.

Since then, Azir and the slave became friends, and Azir even gave the slave who did not deserve a name a name - Xerath!
As time goes by, the relationship between Azir and Xerath becomes closer and closer, and can even be described as best friends and as close as brothers.

One day, during a frolic, Azir said to Xerath: If I could become the emperor, then I would definitely help you abolish your slave status and let you be my friend upright!
Perhaps only Azir knew how slim the chances of him, the most unpopular little prince, becoming the emperor were.

However, no one would have thought that this extremely slim opportunity would actually be realized.

Without any warning, all of Azir's brothers died violently. Even the old emperor was killed by a sudden blue meteor one night.

There is no doubt that Xerath did all of this.

Without any surprise, Azir, the least favored prince, inherited the throne of Shurima and became the absolute arbiter above all living beings.

After that, everything got better, and the relationship between Azir and Xerath remained close. Xerath helped Azir manage the empire and gave him many reasonable opinions.

With the help of Xerath, the Shurima Empire once again achieved a leap in strength, and its territory spread throughout Runeterra.

However, Xerath would often ask Azir a question: "Your Majesty, do you still remember your promise to me?"

Azir naturally remembers, and he has been working hard to abolish slavery in the Shurima Empire. This is his promise to his best friend, how could he forget it, but he cannot tell Xerath about it .

Slavery is so deeply rooted in the Shurima Empire that it affects the entire empire. Once Azir leaks this plan before everything is prepared, the entire empire will fall into huge turmoil.

Therefore, he has always been carrying out this plan secretly, and his answer to Xerath has always been:

"I haven't forgotten, but the time has not come yet, Xerath, please wait a little longer."

However, facing Azir's excuses again and again, Xerath's heart began to waver.

He couldn't tell whether Azir no longer regarded him as a friend or whether he had broken his original vow.

Xerath knew that no matter how close he was to Azir, no matter what he had done for the Empire, his status as a slave could never change.

He was fed up with the nobles talking about him behind his back, and even more fed up with his friends treating him perfunctorily.

Gradually, a bold and rebellious idea appeared in Xerath's heart.

Like the devil's whisper, this idea has no chance of disappearing from the first moment it appears, and it is getting stronger step by step as time goes by.

One day, Xerath suddenly proposed to Azir that he let Azir participate in the ascension ceremony, because only by becoming an ascender would he, the emperor, have the ability to speak out in the empire.

In order to successfully abolish the slavery system, Azir agreed, and he decided to risk his life to challenge the ascension ceremony that had not successfully produced an ascended person for thousands of years.

The day of ascension arrived as scheduled. On this day, the people of the entire Shurima Empire came under the sun disk to witness their majesty's ascension ceremony.

Also on this day, Nasus and Renekton, the only two ascended gods still active in the empire, were sent to Nashrame in northern Shurima to suppress a rebellion of black magicians.

Under the gaze of everyone, Azir stood on the edge of the high-hanging Altar of the Sun, standing side by side with Xerath.

Looking at his close friend in front of him, Azir spoke firmly:

"Xerath, my friend, the moment has finally come. The moment I step off the sun's disk, Shurima slavery will be abolished!"

At this moment, Xerath was stunned.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Looking at the stunned Xerath, Azir thought he was too excited, so he turned around and walked towards the Altar of the Sun.

As the sun's disk began to rotate, the blazing power of ascension pierced the sky.

Xerath looked at Azir's firm back, and a look of madness suddenly appeared in his eyes:

"It's too late, Azir. It's too late now that everything has started to move."

The next moment, the surging solar power slanted down from the sun disk and went straight to Azir below. It was at this time that Xerath's figure appeared behind Azir and stretched out his arms. Take action and drive him off the Altar of the Sun!

Almost in an instant, Azir, without the protection of the Altar of the Sun, was reduced to ashes by the leaked power of ascension, and Xerath was also bathed in Azir's power of ascension.

This was Xerath's plan that he had planned for countless days and nights, first to induce Azir to participate in the ascension ceremony, and then to seize the power of ascension that originally belonged to Azir!
However, although Xerath was fully prepared to resist the backlash of the Ascension Power, he still underestimated the true power of the Ascension Power.

The power of ascension burned Xerath's body, and merged with the majestic black magic in his body, turning him into a monster made entirely of arcane energy.

The ascension ceremony was interrupted, and the majestic power of ascension exploded completely, razing the entire Shurima Imperial Capital to the ground.

Both the sun disk and the countless people below have become the grave goods of Azir's failed ascension.

When Nasus and Renekton followed the sound of the explosion and returned to the royal capital of Shurima, Xerath was the only figure left in the yellow sand.

In the end, Nasus sealed Renekton and Xerath in the Emperor's Tomb. Without the suppression of the sun disk, the ascended legions in the Celestial Reunion completely lost their minds and began to kill each other.

At this point, the Shurima Empire was completely destroyed, and the first Darkin War that plagued Runeterra for 500 years began.

Azir and Xerath, they were the closest friends, but because of a misunderstanding, these former best friends completely turned against each other and even brought the entire Shurima Empire with them.

Now, the two people who have been entangled for more than 3000 years have finally come to a conclusion, but after all, this is a battle without a winner.

Zuo Chi stepped forward to help Azir and said softly:
"Your Majesty, everything is over. Now that Xerath is dead, there is no longer any obstacle to the Shurima continent. You should win over the refugees as quickly as possible."

Azir held Zuo Chi's arm tightly, his eyes trembling violently:

"Zuo Chi, thank you, thank you very much, thank you very much!"

Azir knew very well that he could still be standing here, and the Shurima Empire behind him was still there, and the person in front of him must take at least half of the credit.

Azir's eyes were extremely firm, and he patted Zuo Chi heavily on the shoulder: "Zuo Chi, if you need anything, just ask, and the Shurima Empire will help you get it done at all costs."

"At the same time, it's time to organize an ascension ceremony for you!"

Zuo Chi smiled and shook his head. His body was also extremely weak, and even standing had become difficult:
"We'll talk about it later during the ascension ceremony. Let's take the generals back to the imperial capital first."

Zuo Chi did not immediately agree to Azir's ascension ceremony, because he still had one very important thing to try before he could ascend.

Zuo Chi has been thinking about this for a long time, but he is not sure about the success rate of doing so.

Can the Darkin ascend a second time?

(The more than 1000 words of the background story are added later and don’t count. Because there are many people who don’t understand the background story, it will be confusing if they don’t write it, so I still have to write it.)
(End of this chapter)