"Could it be that someone is pulling strings behind this?"
The thought surfaced uncontrollably in Duke's mind as he relied on Edith's aerial perspective to study the terrain around them.
Pyeongtaek Town, a fortress settlement on the southern border, stood on high ground—cliffs to its back, endless plains stretching out in front.
But now, the shadow of the Argo locust swarm had spread across dozens of kilometers. Around Pyeongtaek, the darkness was so thick it was terrifying.
"There has to be someone manipulating this!"
What had been a suspicion moments ago was now certainty. Without interference, Argo locusts would never have grown into a swarm of this scale.
Normally, even in their collective state, a thousand would be the limit. But in a swarm, their instincts and behavior transformed.
Their reproduction rate multiplied severalfold, and their larvae matured into adults within five hours.
Though this consumed massive amounts of food, the Argo locusts were omnivores—they ate everything, even their own kind if hungry enough.
Duke had already lost over ten hours rushing here, and based on his calculations, ten thousand should have been the upper limit. That figure had been carefully estimated from multiple sources of data.
Yet now, the actual number of Argo locusts exceeded his prediction—not just by a little, but by nearly ninefold.
If someone wasn't behind this, Duke would never believe it.
But he had no time to investigate who the mastermind was. This was Demacia, not Piltover.
It was Jarvan III and his court who should be racking their brains over this, not him.
"Demacia truly has it rough…"
Duke quickened his pace, hurrying to catch up with the prince and the others ahead. He had fallen behind by quite a margin.
At the same time, he released what few combat drones and battle machines he had left in storage.
"Edith, take control of the drones and machines. Engage one-shot kill mode!"
"Yes, Boss!"
The drones shot into the sky, while weapons like the Viper Cannon and Interceptor Factory whirred to life, sweeping through the locusts around them.
"If only Wall-E were here… too bad I sent him off to Miss Fortune."
Duke strode forward. The black locusts surged at him, but none reached him before Cicada shredded them all.
But their sheer numbers were overwhelming. No matter how many Cicada cut down, more poured endlessly toward him.
The swarm pressed in, wings screaming with a piercing shrillness.
Boom!
The ground shook with violent explosions. Pride, clad in crystalline armor, crushed swathes of insects underfoot. He could kill hundreds with a single step, but the flood was endless. For every one he destroyed, more surged to fill the gap.
"Annoying!"
The crimson glow in Pride's eyes deepened. The jagged spines along his back lit up like charging batteries. As his maw split wide, a torrent of ion breath roared from his throat.
At the same time, lances of ion light burst from his spine, sweeping in all directions.
Zzzzz…
The beams cut through the battlefield like hot knives through cheese, tearing the swarm apart with frightening ease.
Jax, who had been coaching Fiora, froze as he saw Pride unleash his power. His eyes widened in shock. The terrifying force radiating from this iron-clad beast even made him feel threatened.
For the first time, Jax reconsidered Duke's earlier words.
If Duke could provide constructs like this, then working for him—ten years, twenty, even thirty—would be worth it.
Even if the others weren't as powerful as this mechanized dragon, having half its strength would already be incredible.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground erupted under the sweeping ion beams. Explosions lit the night sky, firestorms surging outward like a stampede.
"Big Brother!"
The furious voice of Gluttony rang out. Wreathed in steam, she had been feasting without restraint—until Pride's ion breath nearly scorched her as well.
"Stay away from me!"
Light glimmered once more in Pride's maw. Gluttony rolled her eyes and shifted from her half-serpent form into a colossal python. Steam burst from her body as she opened her jaws wide, devouring the insects flooding toward her like snacks.
She swallowed locusts and earth alike, breaking them down within her body into energy. The more she consumed, the more steam roared from her, fueling her strength.
Gluttony had no fear of prolonged battles. The longer she fought, the stronger she grew. Fatigue and fear were concepts foreign to her.
As long as there was material—organic or inorganic—it became her fuel.
"Hissss!!"
The giant python reared up, loosing a thunderous roar. Steam surged outward like crashing waves, covering hundreds of meters around her. Everything caught within it dissolved instantly, and the cloud spread ever wider.
"My god… just what did Duke release?"
Xin Zhao turned to look. The prince also glanced back, staring at the blazing fire and the rolling tide of steam consuming the battlefield.
"Whatever it is, it's on our side. Teacher, let's keep moving forward!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
——
Deep into the night.
In the heavy darkness, Grand City lay silent, crouched on the earth like a beast in wait, hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce.
In the woods outside the city, figures lurked.
"Elder Laurel, are you sure these Freljordians can be trusted?"
Sylas turned to the old man beside him, who sat cross-legged, his long beard trailing to his chest. Laurel opened his eyes and replied evenly, "They are the only outside power we can rely on now."
"But bringing these raiders into Demacia—isn't that like inviting wolves into the house?"
Sylas couldn't hide his worry. What he dreamed of for Demacia was a land without oppression, where mages and ordinary people could coexist as equals.
But now, things had gone far beyond his original vision.
"We have no choice, Sylas."
Laurel's slow voice carried the weight of iron resolve.
"No choice at all. This time we fight with everything we have. Victory or death."
Hearing the grim conviction in his words, Sylas shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
"You're right, Elder Laurel. We have no retreat, no other path."
As their voices fell silent, Mother Scar Freyna of the Freljord's Winter's Claw sneered at them.
"These warm-bloods are always so cowardly."
"But without their help, we wouldn't have reached Demacia's heartland."
Ice Priestess Solva stroked her boar mount and spoke calmly in response.
"Have our people made contact?"
Scar Mother Freyna asked her. Solva nodded. "Yes. Soon, together with the mages inside the city, they will open the gates for us."
"Foolish warm-bloods. They live in such fertile, warm lands yet don't even realize it—and now they've let traitors rise from within. Hmph!"
Freyna spat disdain at the Demacians. Solva said no more, waiting instead.
Waiting for the gates to open.
Long ago, Demacian mages had sought out the Freljordians, offering them secret passages past the border watchtowers.
In exchange for raiding Demacia freely, they were to help attack the Grand City.
The paths had been tested and proven, so raiding bands were sent in waves. Now Freyna herself led the main force deep into Demacia to fulfill their pact—and plunder at will.
——
Near the city gates, several figures approached.
The guards spotted them and immediately raised their weapons. "Who goes there?"
The intruders gave no reply. Instead, they charged.
In the blink of an eye, Freljordian warriors smashed into the guards, weapons flashing. Before the soldiers could react, blades fell and blood sprayed.
The raiders turned to the men following behind them.
"What next, warm-blood?"
"Leave it to me."
Runt stepped from the shadows, seizing the gate's lever. Without hesitation, he pulled it. As the gate creaked open, he pulled a flare from Piltover from his cloak.
Yanking the ring, he lit it. Fire blazed, a beacon in the night.
From the treeline, Scar Mother Freyna saw the signal. She hefted her weapon with a feral grin. "The gates are open! With me, charge!"
Her boar riders thundered forward. At the same time, Sylas and the others surged toward the gate.
As the boar cavalry poured in, the mages followed, gathering power in their hands.
Bursts of colored light flared as they unleashed their magic, flooding the streets with destruction.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the Grand City, fire lighting the heavens.
Dragging his chains, Sylas strode through the gate with a cruel smile.
"Now, let us see who the true Demacians are!!"
End of chapter....
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