Ripples.

The moon was hanging in the sky and the stars were accomplices of the Noxian advance, it took them two hours and the entirety of remaining daylight to completely disembark from the transport ships across a small bay in a village called Wanmin.

From six ships more than 15.000 Noxians disembarked alongside various mounts, beasts and machines from the Empire of Noxus, the powerful army was under the lead of Commander Cyrus, who commanded alongside Commander Obron. Both figures were leave in charge of the west front by the General Emystan herself and leave under their charge the Hand of Noxus itself and other figures in this significant army.

Leaving behind the huge metal colossus in the deep waters, the various troops have to descend into smaller wood ships that were prepared for shallow waters and reaching the beach.

Luckily, they didn't face any sort of resistance from the nearby villages, as the Ionian resistance had yet to reach this place, thus they didn't have to worry about receiving attacks after the first wave touched land.

It was due to this that the various surviving battalions that held control over the zone came into their met while sighing in relief and renewing their hopes. Only they knew what they been through all these weeks of uncertainty.

They weren't to blame after all, the news from the various defeats and the uprising resistance that was being extending all over Ionia had significantly weaker the morale of the once proud and mighty Noxian army.

The remaining troops have to maintain not only the conquered lands, but also ensure their own safety, continue absorbing the local population that surrendered and establish some sort of governance within the various villages.

Although among the ranks there were various capable individuals, it wasn't the task they needed to do. At least not in the current circumstances.

And if that wasn't all, they were recently starting losing dozens of soldiers in the more inland villages against more powerful users from Ionia. Losing in the way some of said individuals that were so desperately needed.

But now with fresh reinforcements and actual officers with instructions they could let go their worries and tension, while also let those matters being take care by the higher ups.

Looking over the various home-tree's in the vecinity, Commander Cyrus walked alongside Obron while being escorted by the various warleaders, lord's, captains and lieutenants on their army.

The people once know as Ionians were now considered fully Noxian citizens, these one in particular has been under the Noxian influence since two years ago, when the invasion started and have started using the Noxian currency in exchange of the previous one.

Not only that, they also starting embracing the Noxian Society slowly, Cyrus seeing various Ionians, people who were normally farmers, carrying weapons and looking more menacingly than the last time he was here.

Wary looks on their faces, the youngest looking more hardened and the older troubled, yet filled with vissitudes. This invasion was already graving deep in their bones what a Noxian should be.

Continue observing his surrounding and the people that were recently absorbed in the empire, the various Noxian figures made their way into a giant tree that acted as current headquarter on its interior.

As they entered through the tall open gates and watched with interest the peculiar architecture from Ionia, the commanders made their way into the center of the building, where a large map of the current region was drawn on the floor, clearly by the Noxians troops judging by the words and style of it.

Getting in position and taking out some figures from within a bag reached by a soldier, Commander Cyrus and Obron started placing various infantry figures depicting the infantry and other units on the western part of Navori, and some others in the isle of Bahrl, Zhyun and the isles of Houhjo, all in the south.

Having put all the pieces in the map, Cyrus started "So, as the majority of you are aware of, we only have troops on Bahrl, Zhyun and the two isles of Houhjo that we can safely say that we held some sort of control. Now, with the current deploy by General Emystan on Bahrl to focus on the Wuju Village, we have to recover the lost terrain in Navori." Cyrus said while moving their figures on the west map of Navori.

He then continue while not taking his eyes out of the map "We don't know the exact numbers of enemies on the way, but we can assume that the resistance would be fiercer and our advance might be much slower than when we first started the invasion."

As he said that he looked over the various officers in the room and examined their faces and expressions. The majority was unfazed as they already expected something like this.

Satisfied with this, he gestured Obron to continue now him, the latter nodded and cleared his voice while saying with a loud tone "Now, we have to carefully divide our troops here. Our enemy is clearly capable of destroying entire armies, as such we're going to take a different approach than we took in previous campaigns."

As his words reached the various officers, many started looked around each other with doubts and questions. Noxus only knew a way to attack while invading, and that was by sheer force and numbers most of the times.

This approach was completely different than what they were accustomed to, so they could only heard what Obron would say next.

"We have to take advantages of our strength when compared to these Ionians, which is our superior disciple, battle skill, equipment and coordination. I can continue pointing them but all of you are aware of them." As he said this, many nodded their head in silent agreeing with him.

" so following my previous point, by doing this we are going to start dividing various groups of warbands together, forming a strong wall that would advance relentlessly in these lands while conquering in a wider space than we should do in just one army. The difference here would be our composition with each groups." As he reach this point he took the fifteen figures that were representing their army and started dividing them in six different groups with two figures on each.

Commander Cyrus then took out a paper from within his clothes and started saying while Obron moved the pieces according to his words "Each group will have various mounted units to act as messenger, scouts and shock unit. Alongside a balanced composition between infantry, ranged units and siege weapons, the latter would be used later on during the siege of various points."

As the officers head his words while thinking carefully on said composition he continue "At least give hundred troops within each group would be needed to act as vanguards while also the remaining soldiers should stablish a strong supply line and communication with the other groups, we can't let our troops being destroyed and not knowing about it."

Cyrus pointed out a problem that they encountered during Swain advance that he didn't took care of. Now more than ever with the clear threat of powerful figures within Ionia they needed to receive constant information of their forces.

"We will also be deploying the various assassin's squadrons we brought with us, alongside some other units that are specialized in scouting and dealing with certain enemies. All you need to do is completing your job, which is reconquering the lands, informing of enemy groups before attacking them and continue onwards the Placidium, Thanze and city of Ionia." He ordered as he scanned the room looking each officer face.

"A seven group will be composed by the remaining units that I will be leading personally and will act as reinforcements to the two groups in the middle..." Cyrus continue explaining the deployment and path that each team would follow, he then started appointing the various captains their groups.

"...And that left Captain Darius alongside Captain Riven, both of you will be covered by my group." He looked over the two captains and saw them standing up from their seats.

In one side the tall and sturdy body of the Hand of Noxus, a man that embodied the idea of Might that Noxus preached.

On the other hand, the average height female captain, a figure that also shared an amazing strength and could be relied with the task of acting as vanguard for Darius due to her personality.

"Understand, sir." Reply shortly Darius with a calm tone and unfazed expression on his face.

"At your will, Commander Cyrus." Said Riven while looking forward with discipline.

"Now, all of you can return with your men and prepare for our path forward, we can't waste more time." Commander Cyrus ordered loudly while the officers obeyed his command and started to exit orderly the room.

Only the two commanders stayed behind alongside three figures that were standing over with discipline looking uninterested around them.

Two of them were females, the one in the middle wearing a cloak that covered her from head to toes, a golden mask covering her face but her hair giving away her gender, alongside the soft humming voice escaping her lips.

The other was a slightly tall female with dark hairs and short hair, a large cape on her back and a beautiful sword resting on her waist.

On the other side was a stern looking male that looked being in his late adult years. He had a short grey hair, average square face with rough features and scars on his face that showed his experience on the battlefield, on his back a large two handed sword.

"So, what are making you stay behind? Perhaps something important or news?" asked Cyrus while looking seriously at the figure in the middle.

The figure stopped humming and a chuckle could be heard as she said " I wanted to inform you first, but since you already planned this reunion I didn't wished to interrupt you and Commander Obron, General Cyrus." She made sure to say slowly and clear the last words.

Cyrus opened his eyes wide when hearing the last parts, with widened eyes and heavily disturbed expression he asked "... It can't be, h-how did it happen!? And so fast at that!?..."

Obron also looked over her with disbelief written all over his face and sweat starting accumulating through his palms, "Impossible!" He only muttered, not believing those words.

The female in the middle sounded delighted by their reactions and continue "Well, she seemed to pass though the wrong place at the wrong time, our little friend, the Fist of Ionia itself, make sure of sinking her ships alongside the rest of the fleet accompanying her, and now you are the one in command Cyrus, want to hear the rest?"

Cyrus looked around for a seat as he tried to gulp down this information. Not only the defeating of Emystan was so sudden, unexpected, overwhelming disruptive and disturbing, but also took him by surprise and make him doubt a lot of things in this moment.

'How such thing happen!? What are we going to do now!?' Such thoughts filled his head as he lamented over the fact that Emystan was so fastly defeated.

Not only the reinforcements for the various isles in the south were lost, but the threat of the Wuju village was left unchecked and impossible to solve in the meantime. And there was also the need of reorganize their troops now and the deployment plans.

At such, Cyrus didn't waste time and started hearing all the new that this female could give to him.

The most important one being the physical appearance of the Fist of Ionia, his current location and people accompanying him.

Like that, the new appointed general leading the second batch of reinforcements spend the rest of the night while planning alongside Obron the next course of actions.

----

That same night, various villages in the western coast of Bahrl were hit by a small tsunami. The damage to the various boats, houses and other constructions was quite significant. However, luckily for many they easily avoided the casualties as most of waves lost their strength once they travelled a few hundred meters inland.

The majority of villages spotted minutes prior the waves due to the strong reactions from some beasts and other creatures within the villages, being the poros among them that warned them and made the villagers exit to see what was going on to make them react that way.

However, even if the tsunami wasn't that dangerous, some casualties did happened. Lost people was reported missing after the waters calmed down and during the night no one was able to found them.

Only few bodies were recovered near the shores or within the nearby zone of the villages, their bodies in angles that weren't normal.

It was a disaster, although a slight harmful one if compared to the war raging on their lands, unbeknownst to them, thousands more were saved this day and the fate of many changed to uncertainty after being taken from the grasp of war.

Meanwhile in the Wuju Village, a message was sent and the content inside made the elders and other figures to make an urgent meeting.

It was time for the true Masters of Wuju to decide wether or not get involved in this war, and help their homeland.

Under the banner of Yi and his assurance, the figures were discussing their role on the following years, recognizing that something have changed on their homeland and their power was needed.

The Wuju Arts, something that was created to protect and not to attack was being asked by Ionia itself to help.

Whatever decision they take after this night, it was bound to forever change the fate of Ionia and it's people. Mostly due to one reason, if the Wuju village resigned once more to reject their participation on this war, Master Yi would cut ties with them and ensure the safety of the people.

He has finally made his decision after all this time fighting alongside his companions and understanding the responsability behind the power he carried.

After meeting with Darha, the current reincarnation of Karma and the avatar of Ionia itself, he agreed with her to use his abilities and power to protect Ionia alongside his fellow Wuju apprentices that were willing to stay behind with him.

After the invasion was repelled, he was intending to act as guardian for Darha alongside his brothers while veiling for the security of his homeland and fellow countrymen.

What was more noble than that? Using what he was been taught to actually protect instead of vain glorification on his village while being isolated from the wonderful people in Ionia.

Thus, he asked for the Wuju users and masters, to step up and take the responsability of maintain order and peace within the First Land's.

It was an unprecedent move and decision that solidified the bases an actual national defense with some sort of coordination, outside of the resistances.

And it was being impulse by none other than Lady Karma herself and the war hero 'Master Yi'.

With such important decision to be taken, alongside many others around Ionia, this night proved to be an eventful one for various individuals around the world.

And most of them were because the various ripples caused by the same individual. One that successfully repelled back his own ripple that fired back at him.

Long was the night, and hard the decisions taken...

---

The following morning, the Noxians were woken up by perturbing news that were being spread in the campment.

General Emystan was killed in action and the troops being lead by her wiped out too. The previous plan was thrown in disarray and the various officers were having now an emergency meet right now to decide the future of this army and the fate of Noxus itself ok this war.

Within the same room that yesterday Cyprus held a reunion with the officers, another one was taken place currently, albeit the content and reason behind it a lot different.

A heated discussion was being taken place currently with the various strategist and tacticians.

"We can't send our troops to meaningless deaths! We have already lost too many troops and we can't afford to dwindle our numbers further! If something were to happen, what would we do? Retrieve more men from other fronts and active wars? Forcing us to retreat and take a defensive stance?" An strategist tried to reason in the room.

"We have to win this war and you know why! Do I have to remind you all under who's order we were deployed here? We may lost our General, however Cyprus has proven to be a capable man and at such we can trust him this campaign to continue." Another voice sounded while pointing out a particular matter that even made the previous strategist accept bitterly.

This war was only happening due to the nation leader whim, Boram Darkwill have ordered most of them to be deployed here.

"I say brother, have you done something to piss of the boss for being deployed here? Just look at these people!" Whispered Draven to Darius while the latter continue looking at the figures in the middle of the room.

Draven didn't mind him and continue while Quilleta tried to pry into his words "Just the first day and we have already lost near twenty thousand soldiers alongside our general."

With a whistle, Draven closed his mouth while making Darius think about his words, Quilleta also agreed with his assessment.

What once looked promising to gain prestige and military achievements, was probably the worst front to be currently in Noxus.

The Invasion of Ionia had already proved to he the worst failure in the whole story of the Empire of Noxus.

And all of it, in hands of peasants and peace loving people who after two years showed it's fearsome fangs and started fighting back. What's worse, the war was far from over yet.

While the tacticians and strategists continue arguing, while others brain sacked their brains while thinking about a solution in their current predicament, Darius raise up from his sit while making the people in the room shut down and look at him with interest.

Walking towards the middle of the room, he looked over the various pieces representing their army, then he looked at the fallen figures that once represented the army of Emystan and said "Our enemy is more powerful than we expected, the might of certain individuals clearly surpass what we are capable of fighting against, yet that doesn't worry me."

As he said that he repositioned those figures back in Fae'Lor island on the map and looked around.

"Noxus was built under the blood and body of countless soldiers and brave men that believe their deaths could build up a path for the empire to extend and the lives of more people changed, while I don't wish my men to die in meaningless wars, I believe in the effort and belief put by the previous soldiers who gave their lives for this land." His voice resounded in the room while the people remained silent.

"Are you all willing to put their efforts in waste while not giving a try? Our orders are clear, the path was already laid down by those who were before us, we only need to secure these lands once again to make sure the Noxtoraa is being built." His serene voice alongside his confident aura were more than enough to give his words a back up.

"I'm going to follow my orders and ensure that Noxus advance while I'm still breathing, the might of Noxus will prevail even in front of those enemies. If you can't guide Noxus to victory while you still discuss among yourselves, then I will." As his voiced echoed the room, he turned around and gestured Draven, Quilleta and Farron, these three quickly followed behind him while Darius looked over Captain Riven and the currently appointed General Cyrus with his unfazed expression.

The effects of the words from The Hand of Noxus were noticeable, the officers looked around at each other and the light in their eyes were reignited once again with vigour and passion.

Darius was the living example of how a Noxian should be, that was a thought shared by many, and if such figure said those words, what else they have to say?

Thus, many started to retreat from the room and just wait for more clear instructions, they didn't need to keep hearing the rambling from those figures, they just needed to make sure to be ready for Noxus.

Thus, after Darius words Cyrus continue looking over the map with the various figures now in Fae'Lor, he understood the message leave behind by Darius.

Their chances right now were maintaining these lands after a brief advance against the enemy.

Why the advance? For simply cresting a buffer line where they could use it as time to drag and prepare their forces in the coastal villages while also sending some of their troops to Fae'Lor.

They couldn't lost their current footholds, they could afford not advancing, yet not losing their possessions. It was a matter of dignity and sovereignty.

Thus, while slowly formulating the right plan under Cyrus opinion, he continue looking over the map while he remain sitting and simulating different scenarios.

The war for Noxus have already changed, but the majority of soldiers didn't need to knew that, he only needed to put a good act and ensure their survival before the negotiations between Ionia and Noxus start.

'This war is already lost.' That was his honest thought, and he was sure that Darius held the same idea. Yet that man was willing to put his life on line to maintain the dignity of Noxus and held back the enemies until the negotiations start.

Sometimes even the most respected and bold individuals like Darius recognized the importance of shrewdness in dire situations.

Cyrus was given the time he needed, he just have to correctly play his cards now.

----

As the new day arrived in the Korale village, Renzo woke up in the embrace of Karya within his tent.

Having a hard time opening his eyes, he recalled the memories from yesterday events while a wry smile appeared on his face. He was lucky.

After successfully surviving the tsunami, he didn't knew how he fell asleep while resting among the water and rest from the campment.

However, after a while, he was awake by the group who was helping the workers to rebuild the camp while cleaning the remaining debris.

After being slightly scolded by his action from Karya, the latter dragged him into her tent and he fell asleep even before they could properly talk.

He was simply that much tired, he digged non-stop from a while and also suffered a lot of stress in a short amount of time that drained his mind.

Thus, he was completely spent and only wished to rest for the time being and let the sleep clear his tense muscles and make his mind take a break, convincing himself in letting the pending matters to be solved today.

After stretching out and greeting Karya with a good morning amidst heavy kisses and petting, he took his breakfast, prayed Janna with the group, feed the angry Morpheus while seeing if he wasn't hurt by yesterday events and started his day.

Ahead of him was explaining what happened during his attack, discuss about the reason behind the appearance of Noxians ships , and most importantly, see if the village output was affected.

Various structures walls were affected after all, and he has yet to know the detailed explanation after a night of sleep, whatever they might tell him, he was already internalizing the possibility of hearing the worst outcome.

After cleaning his wounds and changing bandages with the help of his partner, Renzo sat in front of the group that also finished their daily routine and looked over the serious Karya.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and then opened while looking seriously at each person in the circle "So, let's heard the reports first, shall we?"

*****

6+ Chapters ahead in my Patreøn.

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