That evening, in the southern frontier of Demacia.
As a coastal nation, Demacia stretches from its northwestern edge, curving counterclockwise until the southeastern region, all bordered by the Conqueror's Sea. The southern plains in particular are fertile, blessed with ample humidity and a mild climate, making them the breadbasket of the kingdom.
Not only was this land ideal for crops, it was equally suited for human settlement.
And, inevitably, it became a paradise for beasts.
Three aircrafts with translucent crystal hulls cut swiftly across the sky, heading toward Pingze Town.
"These damned insects have spread even here!"
Through the cabin window, the Prince looked down and saw scattered black dots on the earth below. From high above they looked like sesame seeds, but once the aircraft lowered altitude, those dots revealed themselves for what they truly were—massive locusts, each the size of a wolf.
"It seems we'll have to move faster. The Argos Black Locust Queen is likely still waiting for their numbers to grow. Once the swarm reaches her threshold, they'll surge north without hesitation!"
Xin Zhao's face was grim, and the others remained silent. Jax, staring at the scattered black swarm below, could not help but recall his homeland.
By now, his old country must look just like this—no matter where one turned, the "Voidborn 400" roamed unchecked.
"We'll be landing in thirty minutes!"
Duke glanced at the route map and addressed the Prince at his side: "We're still a hundred kilometers from Pingze. I'll bring us down ten kilometers short. If we fly straight in, we'll drop right into the swarm."
"Agreed," the Prince nodded without objection. Yet his clenched fists betrayed his inner unrest.
Half an hour passed in a blur. Soon the aircraft had covered forty kilometers, descending slowly onto a hillside.
Before landing, Duke deployed a holographic drone to mask and conceal the vessel, preventing the black locusts from being drawn to it.
Moments later, the aircraft touched down safely. The hatch opened automatically. Duke, the Prince, and the others unclasped their restraints and filed out quickly. As Duke stretched his limbs and scanned the ground, the Prince gathered his companions to discuss their next steps.
After a brief warm-up, the Prince approached Duke.
"Duke, do you have a way to locate the Queen?"
"No problem."
Duke launched a small reconnaissance drone, no larger than a baseball. It rose swiftly and headed toward Pingze.
But before it could get far, the Argos Black Locusts stirred violently, shrieking with ear-splitting cries.
"SSSSHHHHH!!"
The swarm's roars rippled across the plains, a deafening chorus that set the Prince and his men on edge.
"Not good. The swarm must have reached the Queen's required number. She's already given the order—they're moving north!"
Rushing to the edge of the hill, they saw it: a black tide surging and spreading northward. Duke narrowed his eyes.
This was no mere wave of insects—it was a legion of wolf-sized locusts charging as one.
The Argos Black Locusts looked like ordinary locusts at a glance, but their aggression was unmatched. Capable of short, rapid flights, their saw-like legs could shred flesh with a single strike.
Many spread their wings and skimmed low across the plains, an unstoppable tide rolling north.
The Prince's face darkened. Their original plan was useless now. If their strike squad didn't move immediately and eliminate the Queen, the devastation from this swarm would be beyond measure.
"Forget the plan! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
The Prince lifted his Atma's Halberd, its dark-gold blade gleaming with cold light.
Duke clicked his tongue but did not recall his drone, letting it continue searching for the Queen.
Now they had no choice but to plunge headlong into the swarm, stalling their advance north and striking down the Queen as quickly as possible.
Without delay, the Prince charged downhill with his twenty handpicked warriors.
"For Demacia!!"
His thunderous cry drew the locusts' attention. A portion of the swarm rushed at them, though countless others pressed onward to the north.
"Tch!"
At the rear, Duke smirked. "Looks like we'll need to get serious today."
Beside him, Jax glanced over. So this boy had more tricks up his sleeve?
Opening his inventory, Duke summoned Pride and Gluttony, two mechanical beasts that landed with a metallic roar.
"ROAR!!"
"SSSHHH!!"
Their sudden arrival startled even the Prince, who pulled his men back long enough to question Duke, eyes locked on the towering creations.
"What are these?"
"My creations." Duke patted Pride, who had only just awoken from its long slumber in storage. It hissed steam irritably, catching the Prince's eye—and in response, blasted a scalding jet from its vents.
"Pride, Gluttony!"
"Father!"
Both Sins turned to him at once. Duke pointed toward the swarm. "Exterminate."
"Yes, Father!"
Pride morphed into a laser cannon and surged forward with a roar, engines blazing. Gluttony slithered close behind. Dragon and serpent plunged straight into the swarm.
ZAP!!
A beam of light seared through the mass, followed by a thunderous explosion.
Flames tore through dozens of meters, erasing countless locusts. Gluttony reared up, steaming maw agape, devouring locusts in a frenzy.
The Prince swallowed hard.
Just how many trump cards was Duke hiding?
But there was no time to dwell. With two powerful allies pinning down the swarm, their beheading strike had a real chance.
"Soldiers, hear me!"
The Prince raised the Demacian Standard high. "Break them!!"
"For Demacia!!"
"Charge!!"
With over twenty warriors, the Prince plunged into the swarm. His Atma's Halberd extended and contracted at will, each swing carving open wide swathes of space.
Yet no matter how many he cut down, the locusts kept coming.
He thrust his halberd forward, skewering three at once. Flinging their bodies aside, he swung again with renewed force. The halberd lengthened in his grip, cutting through every obstacle with unstoppable momentum.
As foul insect blood splattered the ground, Xin Zhao thrust his three-pronged spear, impaling another locust. Stepping back, he wrenched the weapon free and swung wide.
"The spear still stands!!"
He charged, close behind the Prince, shouldering the burden with him.
"Haaah!!"
Fiora's sharp cry rang out. Her rapier of rune-steel gleamed as she danced among the swarm, her movements as swift and precise as a swallow in flight. Each strike claimed another insect's life.
"Mind your breathing, your footing, your rhythm!"
Beside her, Jax's lamppost swung tirelessly, a flawless shield and hammer both. No matter how many locusts pressed in, he struck them down with casual ease—each blow carrying thrice the killing power of an ordinary strike. Between swings, he even found time to correct Fiora's form.
"Tch, how many of these things are there?"
Duke strolled through the swarm as if on a leisurely walk. Every insect that lunged at him was shredded instantly by the faint whisper of cicadas that hovered around him.
Protected by Cicada's Call, he even had time to watch over the others.
Adjusting his Edith smart-glasses, Duke released a specialized drone. "Link with the satellite. Begin full-field scan. Estimate the swarm's numbers."
"Yes, Boss."
Edith's voice answered crisply. "Link established. Beginning scan."
The drone rose, releasing beams of light in all directions to map the swarm.
Duke had long abandoned the idea of orbiting satellites in Runeterra, where strange forces made such things impractical. But that never meant giving up. He had built drones capable of mimicking satellite functions.
As the scan completed, Edith's calculations came swiftly.
"Estimated count of Argos Black Locusts: between eighty to ninety thousand."
"What?!"
Duke's brow furrowed.
Eighty to ninety thousand—nearly nine times his projection. By his reckoning, a mere ten thousand would have been the maximum upon reaching Pingze.
"This isn't normal," he muttered.
A locust plague this sudden was suspicious enough. But for their numbers to swell so drastically?
Something was definitely wrong.
"Could someone be pulling strings behind this…?"
End of chapter....
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