Whoosh!!
A powerful arrow ripped through the air, leaving a faint trail of pure arcane light across the sky. In the blink of an eye, a distant sand dune erupted—sand blasted skyward before cascading down like golden rain.
"Mm. That attack definitely looks stronger than before."
Duke tapped the narrow glasses perched on his nose—Idis—while she continued recording the data of Varus, who currently wore the Ascension Armor.
"Because this is the true power of an Ascended."
Varus, bow in hand, stood proudly five meters ahead of Duke. He glanced back at him, a peculiar arrogance lacing his tone.
"Keep testing."
Duke waved dismissively. He wasn't interested in trading words. Anyone with eyes could tell what actually allowed Varus's power to increase so drastically.
Even if Varus's madness had subsided after changing bodies, his arrogance and self-importance still made people want to smack him.
In Duke's opinion, Varus was simply floating on ego. So what if he got a new look? Did he really have to show off that much?
But for now, gathering data was the priority.
The Ascension Armor project was a solid success. By every metric, the new Varus far surpassed his previous state.
The old Varus could pierce steel with a single arrow.
Now? He could blow up a sand dune from several kilometers away.
The special "447" energy arrows, combined with the Darkin longbow, produced an effect far greater than the sum of their parts.
Duke now had all the experimental data he needed. With this as a foundation, creating an entire armored army modeled after Varus was no longer a dream.
And of course, the armor contained safety-lock mechanisms designed by Duke himself. If Duke wished, he could freeze the armor entirely—turning it into Varus's cage.
He could even forcibly override Varus's movements, turning him into Duke's loyal hound.
Varus believed he had been reborn… but in truth, he had simply moved from one cage into an even more terrifying one.
Not only his life and death—
even his freedom—
lay completely in Duke's hands.
"Mr. Duke, excuse me."
Taliyah approached him. Duke turned, letting Idis continue collecting data as he offered the girl a warm smile.
"What is it, little sparrow?"
"I… well…" Taliyah looked a bit embarrassed, but thoughts of her family—whom she'd been missing day and night—gave her courage. "I'm very grateful for your care these past days… but I need to go home."
"I miss my tribe. My family. My tent. And the spice tea Grandma Babayan brews."
"So… I'm here to say goodbye, Mr. Duke."
The little sparrow wanted to leave—Duke had expected this. After all, Taliyah returned from Ionia to Shurima for this exact purpose: to protect her family and tribe.
Nearly half a month had passed since she first volunteered herself outside Bel'zhun's wastelands.
It was natural for her to feel homesick.
"I see."
Duke patted her shoulder. "No problem, little sparrow."
"If you want to go, then go."
"But—do you have any news about your family?"
Taliyah shook her head. "Not yet."
But soon, strong confidence lit her eyes.
"However, for hundreds of years, my tribe has always migrated along seasonal water sources. As long as I follow the water… I will find them."
"Waterflow, huh…"
Duke thought of a certain fat catfish. He nodded.
"If your tribe moves with the water, then let me help you find them."
"Mr. Duke, you can?"
"I have a servant who can."
Duke clapped his hands, summoning the fat catfish, Tahm, all the way from Bilgewater.
Taliyah quickly noticed moisture forming beneath her feet. The damp patch spread across the sand, becoming droplets, then trickling streams, then a swirling vortex—within which a pair of dull yellow eyes flickered.
Uneasy, Taliyah backed away. Varus turned as well, sensing an ominous evil.
He was evil enough himself, true—
but pride from his days as an Ascended kept him from admitting it.
Splash!
The fat catfish leapt from the vortex created through Abyssal Dive, spinning 360 degrees before landing gracefully.
"Oh, my dear master, what do you require of me?"
"You enslaved a demon?" Varus stepped to Duke's side, scrutinizing Tahm with wariness.
"Yes. This guy is my servant."
Duke patted the creature's slimy shoulder. Varus narrowed his gaze.
"Be careful, Duke Steward. Demons excel at manipulating hearts."
"Thanks for the concern, Varus, but I know exactly what I'm doing. And in my hands, this catfish can't even stir a ripple."
Duke yanked one of Tahm's whiskers. Tahm grimaced in pain—his mystical aura gone, replaced with pure grievance.
He, Tahm—
the most pitiful wage slave!
Overworked, unpaid, exploited.
But he didn't cry.
He was used to it.
Used to tragedy…
Such a miserable tale.
"Boss… what do you need this time?" Tahm rubbed his sore whisker.
Duke pointed at Taliyah.
"A little friend of mine needs help finding her family."
"Hm?" Tahm turned toward her, his wide mouth curling.
"Well, look what we have here."
"A gifted Weaver—able to braid stone and sand as if spinning thread into the finest art."
"The last time I saw one like you was centuries ago. Back when Shurima stood at its peak… an Ascended nearly died to such a talent."
As the oldest demon, Tahm carried countless secrets. One glance, and he saw through Taliyah's potential.
"I…"
Taliyah had no interest in his ancient lore. She shook her head firmly.
"I will never use Weaver's gifts to hurt anyone. I only use them to protect my tribe."
"But the Weaver Mother you speak of—she was once exactly like you."
Another secret slipped from Tahm's mouth, and Taliyah's eyes widened.
"The Weaver Mother… like me?"
"In the earliest days of Shurima, a woman in coarse robes wove her hands into the grandest city of that age. For her contributions, the emperor gave her the title 'Weaver Mother,' and granted her tribe the right to migrate freely across the sands."
Varus tapped his temple, adding the part Tahm left out.
"That's how it was, girl."
Tahm puffed out his chest proudly. "My memory never lies."
"I don't know about that," Duke slapped the catfish so hard he stumbled. "But if you keep rambling, I'll hang you on a skewer and slow-roast you with solar heat."
"Boss, please respect history," Tahm muttered.
"You can tell stories anytime. What you need to do now is scour every water source in Shurima and find Taliyah's tribe."
Duke folded his arms. This fat fish got insolent fast whenever given a little slack. A proper beating was always necessary.
"Ah…"
Tahm removed his hat with a heavy sigh.
"Poor old Tahm… endlessly giving and never rewarded…"
"Keep acting and I'll feed you to the Void."
Duke pointed at Kai'Sa emerging from the workshop.
"See her? I'm researching biological-Void symbiosis. If you don't want to be a test subject, I can prepare a request form."
Tahm shuddered the moment he caught sight of Kai'Sa's void-armored skin.
Good heavens—Duke's madness had finally broken loose.
He was aiming at the Void itself.
Compared to Duke… Tahm was a harmless kitten.
"No, no! I'll get to work immediately!"
Abyssal vortex swirling behind him, Tahm retreated cautiously, hat held as a shield.
But then—a burp echoed from Duke's shadow.
Tahm's face changed instantly.
From the shadow, Nocturne emerged halfway, looking disturbingly innocent.
He had just snacked on the fear spilling out of Tahm… and got full.
"Nocturne!!"
"You're scared too easily—how is that my fault?" Nocturne's look implied.
"All right, go," Duke said, stomping Nocturne back into the shadow. "I'll get you some Waters of Life in the future, okay?"
Tahm perked up.
"Waters of Life?"
Duke pointed at Varus.
"Ever met an Ascended?"
Tahm gave Varus a brief glance.
"Darkin," he said with disdain.
"You!"
Varus flared instantly, but Duke pressed down on his shoulder. If they fought, Duke would help Tahm beat him.
"If you don't care for Ascended, then how about the last bloodline of Shurima's sun?"
Duke pointed at Sivir behind Kai'Sa.
"The Waters of Life belong to her family. I'll get some for you when the time comes."
Tahm's gaze moved to Sivir—and when he saw the Chalikar in her hand, his eyelids twitched.
He bowed with perfect gentlemanly grace.
"Thank you for your generosity, boss."
"Then go work."
"Yes, boss!"
Tahm leapt into the vortex and vanished.
Varus slapped Duke's hand away.
"You'd reward a demon with the Waters of Life? That water sustains the Oasis of Dawn!"
"I was painting him a pretty picture. You couldn't tell?"
Duke rolled his eyes.
"Blockhead."
End of chapter....
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