"Obey the command of the Void!"
The Void creature lifted its head, letting out a hoarse, alien scream.
Malzahar stared at the beast before him, a trace of unease flickering through his eyes.
The creature was the size of a calf, stumbling as it walked.
It was wide-bodied and plump, yet unlike other Voidspawn that sprouted multiple limbs, this one waddled on two feet—its steps unsteady, like a drunkard swaying after far too much wine.
Two short, stubby foreclaws flailed about with every step as if constantly tangled with each other.
Unlike the usual voidborn with purple chitin, its shell was a dull gray. And its large, watery eyes seemed completely out of place with its grotesque nature.
Kog'Maw staggered toward the sacrificial livestock arranged before the altar.
His mouth yawned wide, spewing forth a jet of corrosive green acid that dissolved several animals in an instant.
He quickly lapped up the liquefied remains.
Yet even after consuming several times his own body weight, the hunger in his eyes only grew more frenzied.
His stomach was a bottomless pit—no matter how much he devoured, it never showed the slightest change.
Kog'Maw turned, facing Malzahar, eyes blazing with insatiable hunger.
He wanted more.
"Huun…gry…"
The rough, distorted voice scraped out from his throat.
Malzahar remained utterly calm. Even starving, Kog'Maw would never eat him.
But his endless appetite was always troublesome.
This time, however, Kog'Maw would no longer need to endure it.
The Void had found a new target—a new hunt.
"This time, you don't need to hold back anymore."
"Go. Feed."
With a gesture from Malzahar, both he and Kog'Maw rose together toward the altar and left the hollowed chamber.
As the split altar closed once more, Malzahar released the restraints on him.
Kog'Maw looked around, then waddled forward and disappeared into the night.
"Go. Fulfill your purpose."
Watching Kog'Maw vanish, Malzahar's mind echoed with that taunting, sinister voice:
"Destroy the enemies of the Void. Destroy this world."
...
One day later.
At the base of a hill stood a gray-walled workshop, half-buried in yellow sand.
The gate was sealed shut, monitored by security cameras that watched every rustle of wind.
Inside the workshop.
Duke finished installing the freshly quenched plating onto a set of armor.
When the pieces locked perfectly together, he tossed aside his tongs and approached a nearby computer to enter the final programming.
His fingers danced across the keyboard like fluttering butterflies, streams of data flickering across the screen as he configured the armor's internal systems.
—Energy control module
—Kinetic management module
—Combat behavior drivers
—Diagnostic A.I.
Mere moments later, Duke tapped Enter.
The armor's internal power conduits surged to life, and a faint glow radiated from its surface.
The helmet's visor slowly lit with a soft halo.
"The vessel is complete."
Duke looked up at the two-meter-tall armor with clear satisfaction.
The armor stood like a god descended—tall and imposing, layered with scale-like plating of immense durability.
Energy conduits ran beneath the armored surface, though a few lines were still faintly visible along the limbs.
Long and powerful—the perfect frame for an archer.
Embedded in the faceplate was a crystal slit like the vertical pupil of a feline, surrounded by ring-shaped target markings.
Duke had intended to recreate Varus's former Ascended form, but since even Varus himself couldn't remember his true appearance after being sealed for a millennium…
Well, improvisation became necessary.
Unlike Aatrox and Rhaast, who always shaped their new vessels to mirror their former god-warrior forms…
Varus, upon rebirth, instinctively shaped himself into a human.
So Duke simply designed something fitting from imagination.
Aside from the armor itself, he had also perfected the biological carrier.
After discovering the flaw in his earlier bio-plating research, he reworked the entire formula, creating a flawless organic vessel.
And before transplanting Varus and the other two souls, he needed to finish the biological module container and external chassis first.
This attempt at a Darkin-style bio-symbiotic armor was just an experiment.
The true organism-symbiont he envisioned was entirely different:
When the user wished to fight, the biological symbiote would surface from beneath the skin and instantly manifest as armor—
Yet remain fully hidden within the body during normal times.
For now, though, Varus's rebuilt body couldn't reach that standard.
Still, this experiment gave Duke invaluable insight.
Once he returned to Piltover, he'd begin full development on the true Bio-Symbiotic Armor Project.
But for now, his focus remained on the Ascended Reforging Plan.
If this succeeded, the Original Sin Project would advance once again.
"Self-diagnostics complete. Time for the final step."
Duke clapped his hands. "Edith, move the armor to the main hall. It's time for the grand moment."
"Understood, Boss."
Edith controlled the mechanical arms and transported the Ascended Armor out of the forge.
Duke followed—and found Kai'Sa, Taliyah, and Sivir sitting around a round table, playing cards.
Each held a hand of cards; they were playing dou dizhu, wagering the day's snacks.
Seeing their boredom earlier, Duke had taught them the game.
Sivir learned almost instantly, while Kai'Sa and Taliyah needed a bit longer.
Their living conditions were luxurious, and Duke provided food so good that all three cherished his workshop snacks like treasure.
With such stakes, the card games became intense.
Among the three, two were broke—
Kai'Sa had spent over ten years fighting in the Void with zero concept of currency.
Sivir was worse—her priceless gemstone lacked anyone to sell it to, making it useless in practice.
The only one with money was Taliyah.
Her tribe wove gold threads into their robes; whenever she was short on funds, she simply unraveled some.
At first, Sivir won everything.
But once Kai'Sa and Taliyah learned the game properly, Sivir began losing disastrously.
Kai'Sa's luck was ridiculous—almost supernatural.
Sivir lost so badly she was close to pulling out a knife to dispute the results.
"Duke, you're done?"
Sivir immediately tossed away her terrible hand.
Kai'Sa shot her a look of annoyance, but could do nothing.
"All done. Now it's time to witness a miracle."
"Don't say 'miracle.' The last time you used that word, you blew up half a city."
Taliyah pinched the bridge of her nose—clearly traumatized.
Duke shrugged. "Alright, alright. I'll get ready. Just watch."
He entered the lab and wheeled out a transparent tank.
Inside floated a creature resembling an octopus—Varus's new biological vessel.
It was created using octopus tissues fused with genetic material from Varus's current body, granting traits from both.
It had no brain—instead, nerve clusters spread throughout its entire form, allowing it to house multiple souls without conventional vulnerabilities.
Only the most primitive instincts were left intact.
"That looks disgusting," Sivir muttered with visible distaste.
Duke ignored her and approached the armor.
With a wave of his hand, the chestplate opened, revealing a hollow cavity.
He connected the tank to the armor with a conduit tube.
"Begin infusion."
Edith stimulated the organism, guiding it through the tube and into the armor.
Duke monitored every movement with his ability.
The creature filled the internal cavity instantly, following the programmed instincts.
"Varus, you may begin."
Varus—pale-skinned—stepped forward.
He took a deep breath, raised his bow, and the armor instinctively reached out to grasp it.
Vrrrrrnnn…
Ominous Void-tainted magic surged outward.
Dark energy ripples coiled around both Varus and the armor, making the armor tremble violently.
Within moments, Varus's physical body collapsed.
Without his magic sustaining it, the flesh quickly began to decay.
The crystal slit on the armor's face glowed brightly.
And Varus's voice echoed from within.
"…A perfect vessel."
He flexed his new fingers, feeling strength he had lost for over a thousand years.
"From this moment… I am reborn!"
His triumphant voice filled the workshop.
Duke lifted a remote, checked the readings, and nodded with satisfaction.
Yes. Control system normal.
The Ascended Reforging Plan—a complete success.
End of chapter....
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