Kapitel 16: Chapter 15
"Keep your guard up." Nasus grunts as he swings his massive axe at me.
I hold my sword to block, but even with my superhuman strength I am launched away. My back hits a wall as I could hear Jinx cringe from where she watched. I stand and try to attack him again. But this time I switch it up, instead of heavy attacks like I usually do I dodge and weave till I can find a chance to land a critical hit.
I'm so used to opponents being either my equal or lesser in strength but Nasus is far stronger in every aspect. Even I attacked from directly behind him he manages to know exactly where to block. He blocked my attack before using his feet to swipe my legs, making me fall over. As I fell he swung his club at me. I block it, but I'm once again launched away.
I land somewhere close to Jinx as she hopps over to help me up. "Jeez, you weren't kidding with this guy being no joke."
I groan as she helps me stand. "He just outclasses me in all ways."
"Do not be distraught. I have nearly four thousand years of experience. Even with me being exiled for so long I know I'm one of the greatest warriors alive right now." Nasus says walking over to us.
"With all that power you could probably take over this entire continent. Why don't you? I know if I had so much power every day would be a party." Jinx asked.
"It's not the way. My Ascended brothers and sisters tried to do the same thing and it turned them beyond repair. The Ascended were created to guide and protect humanity, not to rule over them as god-tyrants."
"Ooohh, but god-tyrants sound so cool." She pouted with a little giggle.
Nasus took Jinx and I to his home that he'd been in for the same millennia, but to my grand excitement it was the also the greatest library in history. Scholars spend their entire life trying to find this place and it's master just gave me a casual tour. Of course, most of it's contents were in other languages from ancient Shuriman to languages that aren't even spoken anymore.
For the last few days Jinx and I have spent here learning from Nasus, or rather I have been. Jinx has been doing what she deems 'experiments' which often results in an explosion somewhere outside. Meanwhile Nasus has taught me from combat training to studying history. In his eyes learning history allows one to not repeat someone's past mistakes. Of course we told Nasus of our plans to help Ionia against Noxus and since then Nasus has taught us various battle tactics.
This of course included training me personally. But even as we spared Nasus wasn't even close to actually trying. Of course it made me frustrated but it just showed me how far I have to go, and how far I could become.
"Either way you've improved drastically since you're arrival. I still remember you were defeated in a single hit on our first fight." Nasus joked with a little teasing grin.
"Oh shut it. If I hear another stupid taunt I'll burn your collection of that weird romance story." I reply making Nasus pale.
"H--How do you know about that?" He stuttered incredibly embarrassed.
"Jinx found it." I chuckle as Jinx full on laughs.
Nasus looked away as he cleared his throat before turning back to me. "Do not go looking through my things please. But if you do burn them... I WILL rinse your flesh from your bones and burn your soul till it is less than ashes." He glared at me.
I laughed "It's a joke Susan, relax. I find it cute you read those stories."
His deadly anger quickly turned into embarrassment again. "My apologies... I haven't had the pleasure of friends in a long time."
"Oh you're so adorable Nasus!" Jinx cried jumping onto the giant's back and wrapping her tiny arms around his neck.
"Please get off me." Nasus pleaded as Jinx let go and fell to the floor with a giggle.
I stretch as I feel my bones pop "I know this is sparring and all but surly you don't have to hit like a Dormun?"
"It's to train your body. If I went full out your body wouldn't be able to survive. But beating your body to it's limits lets it regrow stronger than before. I'm sure you can tell the difference?" He says with a raised eyebrow and a little smirk.
"Let's test it." I mirror his smirk as I call out. "Iron."
Iron emerges with an order in his mind. He braces himself as he holds his shield out for me. I reel back my fist and punch his shield with all my strength. A shockwave goes off as Iron's large body is pushed back so hard his feet crack the earth. He know stood several meters away as he lowered his shield before giving me a goofy smile and a thumbs up.
I chuckle "Thank you Iron." He nods and dissipates as I look at my hands in excitement "If I was this strong when I fought Igris it would've been a different story indeed."
Nasus eyes Iron as he disappears before looking at me. "Your Shadows are interesting indeed. I've never heard of someone using spirits like that." His eyes then sparked with interest, like something clicked in his Jackal head. "You said the helmet was similar in shape to the Noxian Immortal Bastion correct?" When I nodded my head he continued. "Follow me."
He took us into his massive library. Some mortal have stumbled inside here before but either Nasus would fine them, or they would die being unable to find an exit in this maze of knowledge. Nasus knew the place inside and out and was the only person in the world who could properly navigate around here. He took us a shelf as he pulled out numerous books.
He flicked through them quickly one after another like he was finding something. He went through twenty books till his eyes widen and he showed us a drawing. "Did the helmet look like this?"
On it was an armored warlord. There was no one inside the armor but the way it was drawn showed it stood with no person inside. It was like Igris, a revenant put into a suit of armor. But unlike Igris this one from just a picture radiated dominance and power. At the bottom of the drawing was four words, a name and title. (You know how Brasil looks)
[The iron revenant: Mordekaiser]
"That's exactly it." I say.
Nasus's eyes go grim as he groans. "How the hell do they have possession of him?! Who the hell are these Black Rose? Do they have any idea what they are dealing with?!" He ranted as he started to pace around us.
"Who is this Mordekaiser dude?" Jinx asks staring at the drawing. "He kinda looks like Igris when he was a bad guy."
"He's a revenant." I answer making Nasus look at me.
"You know what a revenant is?"
I nod. "Igris was a minion of the Black Rose that nearly killed me. When I saw that it was a living armor I looked into what he might be and only found information on revenants."
Nasus gritted his teeth. "Revenants are dead souls bounded to suits of armor so they can walk again. They are usually completely bound to follow the commands of whoever summoned them. But that was until Mordekaiser arose."
"Just who is this guy? And what's his connection to the Immortal Bastion?" I asked him.
"He founded the Immortal Bastion centuries ago. During the aftermath of the Darkin War an undead warlord named Mordekaiser rose and conquered nearly all of Valoran. He would kill thousands personally, before he was defeated and killed."
"I thought you couldn't kill revenants?" I said.
"You did." Jinx quipped.
"If I never rose Igris as a Shadow his soul would've rebounded to the armor and come back."
Nasus nodded at me "That is the case with revenants. But Mordekaiser's power is so great he required his human skeleton be complete so his followers could bring him back to the world of the living. No matter how many times he was slain he was brought back in his fortress that he had erected, which is known as the Immortal Bastion. His power was so vast, I was close to coming out to fight him myself, as I knew he would eventually set his eyes on Shurima too."
"How was he defeated?" I asked him.
"He was betrayed by a member of his court. Someone gathered all the ancient tribes of what would become Noxians and besieged the Immortal Bastion. While Mordekaiser fought back their forces people snuck into his fortress and stole his human skull, making him unable to be brought back."
"So he's gone? That's good then." Jinx said.
Nasus shook his head. "You have to understand Dire. If your powers were created from him it means you are directly connected to the realm of the GOD of death and Mordekaiser himself. He may be gone but Mordekaiser will one day return to Runeterra. You and him can not be compared to the undead most will think you are. You two are death itself. Not even all of the Shadow Isles can compare to you two."
"So you're saying I've got the combined powers of two of some of the most deadliest events in history? The Darkin as well as this Iron Revenant? And what about the black box? Is that some stupid long dead warlord too?" I say a little frustrated. He doesn't say anything as I walk to the wall to sit and lean on it. "What the hell did LeBlanc do to me?" I say quietly.
I just sat there in silence trying to digest what the hell I am. Being part Darkin was more then enough, now I'm apparently part dead or whatever as well? I wouldn't be surprised if this black box thing gave me the powers of something not even from this planet.
Nasus interrupted my thoughts. "I won't play around it Dire. The powers inside of you are from evil origins. They've caused suffering and death beyond the abilities of mortals. Do you know how old you are?"
"Seventeen. Or I'm guessing since that's what the Black Rose said I was." I answer without looking at him.
"Seventeen and able to stand up to some of the strongest humans in history. Your power may grow to be equal to where you're powers come from, maybe beyond. The only person that decides how you use that power is you."
I was quiet before sighing. "This is going to be very hard."
"The struggle of the journey is what makes the destination so satisfying. Because it will be hard, you'll have to go through trials that will physically, mentally and spiritually push you beyond your limits. But you're not alone. Even without your army of Shadows utterly loyal to you you have friends willing to help you." I look up to see Jinx and Nasus smiling down at me. "As your friends you can trust us when we say we want to help you."
He holds out his hand as I smile and take it. He helped me up as I brushed my hand through my hair. "Well? Do you have anything on the black box? Might as well get that mystery out of the way too."
He shook his head. "I have no idea what it is..."
I groan. "Well that's ominous the Curator of the Sands doesn't know everything." I then smirked at Nasus. "Why don't you come too? With you I doubt Noxus would ever want to step in Ionia again."
He huffed amused. "Most likely. But my place is in Shurima. I feel pieces falling into place that I must be ready for."
I look at him confused. "What does that mean? Is something coming?"
"Lots of things are coming Dire. I've been feeling multiple threats new and old grow all around the world. I've been preparing for multiple wars that could result in the world's end if we lose."
I roll my eyes "Oh great the end of the world is coming."
"Sounds fun. Can't wait." Jinx laughed.
He chuckled. "It will be more than all of us together. It'll take the entire world to face the threats in the future. But the world is as divided as ever. The chaos has allowed inhuman abominations to fester and grow."
"Well then I guess we have our work sorted after this Ionian-Noxian stuff." I say to him.
"I'd thought you'd say that." He then started walking off. "We better get back to training then. Time may be insignificant to me but to you two it could mean life and death."
.....
A few days passed as Nasus was unrelenting in training both Jinx and I, compensating for the difference in natural power. Even though Nasus had never seen an actual firearm before he was able to train Jinx to properly aim and steady both Zapper and Pow-Pow. She was already a good shot but now she was near inhuman. She was able to shoot targets faster then normal eyes can track and hit it in a critical spot.
But of course she wasn't trained in just firearms. Unlike me who had been fighting using pure instinct Nasus was a proper teacher to her. Showing her the proper way to exercise and fight to maximize effectiveness and damage. But Jinx's main strength is her ability to improvise and her creativity. Overtime she managed to come up with her own personal style using her small nimble body with quick strikes and as well as Zapper. She calls it: 'Getting Excited!'
But of course she's not the only one that had made big leaps. Every day I can feel myself and my Shadows grow in strength. I may still be no match for Nasus but I'd at least possibly cause a scratch if I give my all. Of course that doesn't sound that impressive but the guy can destroy armies like a scythe in a field.
"You want to try it again?" Nasus asked me from across his little training arena inside his home.
"Yeah." I nod at him. He backs off as I try mentally reach into myself. For a while now Nasus has been trying to get me to tap into my Darkin powers. I told him about my ability of Hemomancy and it's apparently a remake of the celestial magic Ascended use. The Darkin use it and made it with some passing the knowledge onto humans. According to his records Hemomancy or as it's more known as Blood Magic is able to do absorb the essence of those around them, something I've done many times. Other than the ability to control blood it can do many things from changing the user's body and prolonging their lifespan.
The Darkin slaughtered hundreds and absorbed their essence to gain more power. I've absorbed many beings before, but I've never been able to tap into the stocked power until recently.
Upon seeing my struggling Nasus says "You're fighting to control something that doesn't require your control. Stop thinking your Darkin power is another part of you and recognize it as yourself."
I tried listening to advice and followed it. But as I did, I could feel that same blinding rage as before. Dozens of screams of pain and hate were near deafening. It was terrifying. All of them screaming one thing, "It's your fault!". The cries of both man and beast felt like it was ripping my head in half.
I felt it. I didn't just absorb their power I took everything, their memories, their feelings. I could see over a hundred repeats of me slaughtering creatures and men, their pain and anger, their terror and agony. Some have been criminals and killers. But... far more... were innocent, pulled into the Black Rose with lies or through force. All so they could feed me themselves.
I couldn't control it. It went silent as I fell to my knees. "I'm sorry..." I said to no one. I gripped my head as I started to cry. "I didn't know. I didn't understand. And I'm so fucking sorry."
Jinx tried to rush over to me but Nasus held her back with his arm. "Do not blame yourself for what you went through Dire. There's no way you could've known what you were doing."
I laugh. A sick laugh that leaked evil intentions. "That's just the thing. I always knew I was killing people. The way they stared at me in pure fear. Back then I got off from that shit, hoping I could make the Black Rose look at me the same way. Only now do I realize how insane I was. I'm a monster."
No one says anything till Nasus says "Monster is a strange term." I look up him a little confused as he continues. "I mean, look at me. If you're a monster what am I? In my experience someone is called a monster when a regular human can't defeat them, as to defeat monsters you have to become one yourself. I'm a monster, you're a monster. Even Jinx is a monster." He says gesturing to the short girl next to him.
"Hey!" She glares smacking him.
He chuckles before looking back at me. "But being a monster isn't entirely a bad thing. As much as people hate things like us without us the world would've perished long ago. But that's just humans in general, hating us, begging for our help and then back to hating us."
"Does this rant have a point?" I growl.
"You're not the one that killed those people in that hellhole where you were born from Dire. You were never responsible for what you did between your entire childhood. I'm sure if the people that were fed to you knew what you were they wouldn't have blamed you."
I look at him for bit before sighing. I then stood and tried again. Their thoughts and feelings drilled into me, yelling curses at me. I grit my teeth. "Shut up you lot." I say to their cries. "You were dead the moment you stepped into the Black Rose's hands. At least this way you won't be wasted or used to kill people just like you. So shut up and help me."
In a burst of power their cries faded. I opened my eyes and realized I had done it. I could see clearer than ever and even able to see the dark as if the sun was blazing light on it. But I noticed my body was different, far less human than ever but I was more than fine with it.
Nasus huffed with a small smile on his face. "Now that's, a Darkin."
"WhAt dO yOu MeAn--!" I say gasping at the end realizing it wasn't my regular voice coming out.
"Look at yourself dude!" Jinx said with a wide grin on her face.
Using his magic, Nasus brought over a large mirror letting me see my own reflection. What stared back couldn't be described as a human, even less than Nasus. (Pic in p/c... badass)
My armor had transformed into my skin, turning both flesh and metallic. Two large hands of metal sprout out from my back like wings. But the most disturbing part was how my jaw had split into three pieces and that I had far too many teeth, so much so that there were multiple rows and some even pointing out of my mouth. "HoW tHe HeLl aM i TaLkInG? aNd WhErE aRe My EyEs?!" I say trying to hold my jaws together in hope they join up again.
I then noticed I had multiple eyes. Two long ones on my head like my helmet, three on a shoulder that looked like a spiked pauldron and one of each of my new set of wings/hands. "AH! I hAvE mUlTiPlE eYeS!"
Jinx awed. "No way!" She grasped onto my wing and looked right into the red eye on it. "Can you see me Dire!" She laughed.
I chuckle, which sounded quite scary due to my current form. I then tried testing someone and concentrated. Suddenly Jinx was lifted up by a massive metal hand. Most in this position would be terrified but she was still laughing. "So those things aren't just for show."
I stared at my wings in satisfaction. But I thought for a little bit before looking at Nasus. "I kNoW mAnY pOoPlE iN tHe Black Rose UsE Blood Magic. BuT wHy HaVeN't ThEy DoNe SoMeThInG lIkE tHiS bEfOrE?"
"Don't compare the magic of a Darkin to that of humans, it's slightly insulting to me." He lightly joked. "A human could never bring out the real potential of Blood Magic. But the cost of absorbing another's essence is that even a Darkin's immortal body will mutate into grotesque forms of themselves. But unlike humans Darkin can survive that effect, allowing them to constantly absorb beings at the cost of becoming real monstrosities. What I'm mainly interested in is what effects it has on the other aspects of your powers."
I get what he was trying to say and call out what I've been calling my Shadow Marshalls: Igris, Tank, Iron and Blade. Their eyes blazing in red fury like fire. In fact dark red power leaked from their bodies like their body was barely keeping it contained. "Hm... Your power leaks into your Shadows too."
Suddenly I felt incredibly weak. I hit the ground as I could feel my Darkin from fade away till I was left in my armor. "What?" I say to Nasus looking for answers.
He placed a hand on his chin before saying "The best guess it that your Shadows drain your power dry. Your energy will come back soon but it's best to not use your Shadows and your Darkin powers at the same time. At least for now."
Jinx helps me up as I pant "That's fair. I can't make it too easy." I grin at him.
.....
Jinx looked on impressed. She had never seen such an expression on Nasus's face, he was actually struggling. He was pushed back as he held out his weapon ready to defend himself.
I chuckled darkly. "I lIkE tHaT lOoK Nasus!!" I say in my Darkin form. I dashed at speeds beyond anything I had ever done as I spun into a swirling tornado of metal death. I held out all my arms as a blade as long as my usual sword sprouted from my wrists above my hands. Our weapons clashed in a burst of wind as the earth started to crack as we tried to push each other back.
Suddenly using my new wings I grabbed Nasus's long arms with both of them. His eyes widened in surprise, but it was too late. His arms were forcefully spread making him drop his weapon as I kicked him in the chest with all my strength. It would have splattered a regular human, but Nasus is an Ascended. Still, the look he made as he was launched away showed that it hurt a bit.
Jinx clapped as she yelled out "YEAH! You go Dire!"
"Please stop being so happy with my pain." Nasus said as he walked out of the wall he was launched into. He twisted his back making it pop. His eyes widen at the noise "I've really gotten rusty. I haven't felt physical pain in ages."
"The benefits of the loner." Jinx giggles.
I laugh a little as I end the flow of Darkin power. It went away as I was left an incredibly tired and sweaty sort-of human. I've never felt stronger in my existence. My entire body becomes a superpowered mess of metal and flesh. Though it doesn't last long, only around five minutes and afterwards it's impossible for me to continue fighting as lack barely enough energy to not pass out. That and the lack of being able to use my Shadows make it a final resort. A moment to utterly tear whoever my enemy is apart. If I'm unable to do it then my best hope is to use the boost in power to retreat before it wears off.
But the struggle is controlling it. To maintain it and my control over my sanity I have to fight off the hundreds of voices telling me to die or to kill everything. To control it was something Nasus couldn't help me with, since he had never experienced something like it. In fact it was Jinx who helped me out. I had noticed that a night she would send some of it alone talking to herself, or rather her dead siblings. She decided she couldn't latch onto me constantly so it's best to confront it head on. After hearing that I decided to do the same thing.
And although her four or so voices is no where near as loud and uncontrollable as my hundreds of thousands, I worked through it. Apologizing to them would never work. They are dead and I'm alive, that's it. If they think they get a claim on my body because I killed them, they have another thing coming.
And so nearly four weeks passed, far longer than we originally planned. I had sent a letter to Cassandra, Jayce and Silco a while ago explaining that Jinx and I would be spending some more time in Shurima for personal matters. Each requested I meet with them afterwards with Silco and Cassandra being business reasons while Jayce thinks he and Viktor are close to a breakthrough.
"I'm gonna miss you big man!" Jinx says jumping up to give Nasus a hug.
"I will miss you too Jinx. Though I will not miss the mess you create." He replies patting her back.
"Are you sure you can't come to Ionia?" I ask one last time. "You've already broken the whole exile stuff."
He shook his head. "My place will always be here. Like I said before, I believe this invasion will only be the start. Something large is coming to all of Runeterra that I must prepare for."
I sigh sadly before giving Nasus a hug. "We'll come see you as soon as we can."
"I hold you to that." I hear him say with a little sniff at the end.
He shook his head again, only much more quicker. "Of course not. Now hurry along. The sooner you leave the sooner I can repair all the damages you did to my training arena."
I shrug as I turn to walk away. "Not my fault your big body is so easy to throw around."
I summon a Shadow Dormun as Jinx and I climb onto it's massive back. It walked over the sands as Nasus continues to stand there watching us go further and further away. It was very fun being with Nasus in his library, I've felt myself and Jinx grow leaps and bounds. But Ionia needs help. And I can't help them sitting in a library.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein