11 The swordsman.

I remember the first time I saw the devastation on this land when I decided to help.

Dozens of bodies hanged in a tree, below it a large pool of dried blood so thick that made me wondered so many things.

No one was spared, Noxus was merciless against those who opposed them.

The land that was once filled with lives was now a haunting wasteland devoid of it. The flames of war not only killed the lives of the Ionians, but altered the entire balance in both land and spiritual world.

When seeing such destruction, I couldn't understand further the decision of my tribe. How can they remain unfazed of all this cruelty?

Was it really important to protect our technique instead of protecting our homes and people?

I decided to aid this land. However, I know that once I return to my tribe I won't be able to keep learning the intricacies of Wuju. I disobeyed orders after all.

Still, I rather lose this art than what makes me feel human.

The first time I faced the enemies I realize the power I carried. The enemy was simply unable to keep up with my speed and my sword.

One man army, that's how the people I saved started to call me. It seemed that no one could do such feats.

Feats that were simple attacks for me.

Days and nights passed as I keep roaming these lands, day after day I followed the trail of destruction and sometimes wipe from existence the enemy battalions. Few were strong enough to resist the initial attack, however once I made the second move they perished too.

By now, those enemies already heard about me. Rumors of how I was able to move like a ghost among the enemy and destroy entire battalions in a matter of seconds forced them start grouping themselves.

When I face them, it only made it last a little bit longer the inevitable.

I slowly started to realize the reason why the elders in the tribe were so zealous over our technique.

But I still didn't share their position in this war.

The land was slowly healing itself, the animals returned to the forests. New plants were growing from the remaining of the deaths, and with them bringing new life to this world.

When I started to see these signs, the doubts and fears of my actions faded away, replaced by both the conviction of keeping with my task, and the warm feeling of Ionia keeping me safe from losing myself.

Even if I was defending this land, those were lives that I was reaping all this time.The energy, unwillingness and dark emotions could easily erode my spirit, and with it losing the fragile balance that I so hardly was able to reach.

When I passed through a village, I heard of the continuous victories from a resistance called the Brotherhood of Navori. It was said that they were not only responsable for the elimination of dozens of battalions around this region.

But they seemed to be powerful individuals too.

Picked by curiosity, I headed towards the village they were using as their headquarter. Luckily for me it wasn't that far from were I was and after a day of walking I finally reached the gates at dusk.

At first glance the place seemed to be like the many others villages that acted as hubs for the resistance.

However I quickly noticed the smiles in every face and the victorius atmosphere around the whole village.

I felt various glances while I was walking, something I was accustomed, this armor was quite eye-catching after all.

However, soon all the attention was directed towards a gate, it seem that a large group of people entered the village. With cheers and victorius words I realized that those seemed to be the responsables of destroying the enemy in this place.

Standing on my place, I analyze each one of them. Nothing too different from other groups I saw before, with exception of a few individuals.

A few of them could would be unusual people in the future, but nothing that could explain the continuous victories and rumours regarding a powerful individual.

However, soon something catch my eyes. Exactly two people.

One had a dark magic running through his body, the man was standing in front of a building, seemingly waiting for the people to reach that place.

The second one, was a hollow spirit, someone walking amidst the more vivacious and powerful spirits in that army.

The first one, was something that I could understand, it was concerning, but the person didn't seemed to be lost into it's power.

The later however, was something I've never set my eyes onto before. After all, in this land and world, what doesn't have a spirit?

Intrigued by this, I decides to see myself later if this individual was dangerous. This was have already changed for worse the balance in this land, and I couldn't let someone who could escape the spirit, to run amok without knowing his intentions.

---

When Renzo and the rest were welcomed to the village, they received a warm and excited greet. Many cheering at their victory and some even shredding tears, happiness and relief spreading around the whole village.

Seeing how they were welcomed, many couldn't contain the proud smiles on their faces.

However something quickly took Renzo's attention and put a shock expression on his face.

He saw a figure, although slightly different from the splash arts he remembered, and clearly with not many armor into him.

He still seemed to have the same helmet.

"Zed!" He said under his breath.

Waiting for them, he was standing alongside other people and acolytes, clad in wine and dirt red coloured robes. However that metallic helmet was there.

A plate helmet that covered his entire face, a yellow line was spread in 'Y' form around the forehead ans upper part of his nose. Various vertical lines were open on the helmet so air could pass through.

Noticing Renzo falling behind a little bit, Karya took his hand and urged him to keep walking.

Returning to his senses, Renzo couldn't help but feel his heartbeat increase. He tried to calm his breath as he didn't want to act weirdly around him.

He never met Zed, and if the guy saw him acting familiar around him it may raise unnecessary suspicion that would only harm his relationship with the man.

Still, a cold sweat spread through his back when he felt the piercing gaze from Zed. And sadly for him, said gaze never leave his body until Yenma was in front of Zed.

'Better of to be something related to my performance these days and not something wrong with me.' Renzo thought to himself.

"Kae, Ikko and Usan, is good to see you well." Yenma greeted at the current leaders of this village, amidst the various cheers and chats around them.

"I can say the same for you Yenma, I'm glad to see you without injuries after facing so many enemies. Come, let's go inside and chat." Said Kae as he gesture them.

Both Ikko and Zed, or currently know as Usan, just nodded at Yenma.

"Come, let's go inside too." Yenma gestured to the various squad captains alongside Renzo and Karya.

Shun Ti naturally was alongside them, as he was the current captain of their squadron.

When all of them entered the building, it was clear for the many people in the room that an upgrade was needed around the place to be able to contain such numbers of people.

Still, they moved inside and stand in front of the table that have the large map of Ionia.

Seeing the amount of people so close to him in the full packed room, Renzo couldn't help but feel a little bit claustrophobic.

Being illuminated by a warm light, he moved his gaze towards Yenma who was a few steps in front of him, while behind the table were Kae, Ikko and this guy called Usan, who clearly was Zed.

Yenma didn't waste time nor words as he began to report "In these four days that we were outside the village, near nine thousands Noxians were eliminated. A few scouts have already reported that the main army was hastening their preparations."

When the people in the room hear his words, various murmurs could be heard as they shared their opinions to each other's.

"Now that we have a clear pathway, we can move our forces towards the Placidum and reinforce the place for the upcoming battle. We cannot let the Noxians encircle the Placidum as with their numbers they would surely kill everyone that is there currently. We cannot let these vile scoundrels to capture our sacred land." When Yenma finished his words, an incensed expression was on his face.

Until now, the Brotherhood was having a hard time fighting just against a battalion, and with the entire region invaded by at least a dozen of them, they were unable to head towards the Placidum.

"Well begin organize our people, the current village would only be left with the necessary personal to function. We will use every people capable of fighting that is currently here. As we have agree previously, every hand is necessary to fight the enemy." The icy voice of Zed spread in the room while making the people nod at him.

The noise also reduced to almost a complete silence when he spoke.

"I'll be moving alongside the rest of the acolytes to attack the troops near the Ionia City. We can hope to at least gain enough time for our troops to move there once you finish with the army heading to the Placidum." When everyone heard the words said by Zed, they couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

What they would do was basically a suicide mission, even for them.

After all, the amount of acolytes from the Kinkou Order that followed his orders weren't many. There were only sixty of them.

Still, none dared to say anything, after all, until this time, the missions that they carried were successfully completed and really helped to stall and affect the enemy troops.

It was enough to say that his actions led to ensure the lives of thousands during all this time. As they not only forced various battalions and warbands to reduce their speed giving enough time to villagers and peasants to flee towards the safety of the various resistance villages.

But they forced many battalions to change their missions and force some to retreat due to the low amount of supplies.

They were also responsables for killing various officials and captains.

Thus, their help until before Renzo's arrival was the most outstanding one. And they were the responsables of taking the most dangerous missions.

"Don't worry, with our tremor boy here we would finish the enemy quickly and assist you in the time you see an empyrean flying in your head." Yenma assured Zed while also trying to lift up the atmosphere.

Zed just nodded while he glared at Renzo, he then asked "Its him the reason that you were able to destroy the enemy?"

When the many onlookers turned their gazes to the person in question, Renzo started to felt uncomfortable.

After all, a bunch of assassin's and skilled warriors were focusing their attentions to him.

Still, he gulped down and nodded his head, while returning back the glare to Zed and relaxing his body.

"Yes, since he was added to our numbers, he displayed an outstanding ability to reduce the enemy to minced meat, I was able to personally see his power in action and theres no doubt in his capabilities." Yenma answered to Zed with a great amount of satisfaction in his voice.

After all, during these four days he was able to talk with Renzo and know him better.

It was clear to him that he was just a normal boy like many around Ionia, although he came from a different continent, he didn't doubt to lend a hand to their plight.

His easygoing and carefree personality was a charming point when one talk to him, add that his current inability to talk to them and you couldn't bring yourself to think bad of the guy.

He have a great power running through his body, but most importantly for Yenma, he still have a heart.

When Zed heard this, he stayed silent for a moment, as he then said "Actions speak louder than words and intentions, although you're not from Ionia, you put yourself in danger willing to defend this land when not even some of Ionians themselves are willing to do it. For that, you have my gratitude."

When everyone heard the amiable tone in Zed voice, different by his cold and harsh one, many were surprised.

Renzo who until the point was with his heart on his throat, couldn't contain the smile on his face as he simply said "I will stand for those who lend a hand to me."

After finishing saying that, he quickly cursed himself for being too nervous in front of Zed.

'I need to work into controlling my emotions if I wanted to meet other champions.' He couldn't help but say to himself.

Zed simply said "Indeed." As he keep silent.

Although he still have some doubts about the person responsible for their victory streak. He couldn't bring himself to say something against him, there was no reason for it.

Not only he was willing to lend a hand in Ionia times of need, but he was willing to drop his blood for this land when not even some Ionians were willing to.

For those traitors who put their selfish ideas before their homeland, Usan couldn't help but despise them.

'And it wasn't only his strength that he lend to us, but the chance we were waiting for and the breath of air we were in dire need.' He thought to himself.

Kae laughed heartily after seeing the action take place, after all he was the person who recruited him alongside Zan.

Ikko smiled at this and he then glared at the people around and said "You can all leave and rest well, eat to your heart content, drink enough to celebrate and enjoy our victory." Hearing him, everyone started to cheer as they encourage the various captains.

"However, be sure to prepare yourself for tomorrow. We'll march at noon toward the Placidum." When Ikko finished, the majority of the officers and captains quiet down and quickly started getting out from the building.

Yes, they won the battles, but the war was still raging their lands.

And the officers knew one grim truth, many of those who were now in front of them would die.

That's an inevitable truth. Only the strong and lucky would be able to rise from the battle.

The trio was about to head outside too when they were stopped by Yenma "You three, stay here." He simply said.

The trio returned back to the middle of the building while the people around leave the room empty.

Only Yenma, Kae, Ikko, Zed and a few guards stayed behind.

"Now, we need to plan our path towards the Placidum, Renzo, although I would like for you to have a rest, we all know of your importance." Yenma looked apologetically towards him, who only smiled and nodded.

"Shun Ti, your squadron will be the one leading the way, and also you'll be in charge of quickly disposing of the enemy. Since we now have a chance to slip into the Placidum, we will immediately mobilize the other villages around us, every man will be send, leaving behind the minimum personal to maintain the villages and supplies." When saying this, Yenma gathered a few figures around the map and started position them in their current position.

"There's at least thirteen other villages that could mobilize in the nearby zones, due to this is extremely important for you to correctly scout and destroy any possible battalion, we cannot let our forces to face some loses before the big battle." When Zed hear these words, he quickly cut Yenma and added.

"That would not be necessary, we have already received reports that the various battalion seemed to be heading towards three different armies that are heading towards the Placidum." When he said this, he moved various figure representing the Noxian troops and formed three columns in different directions.

"It seemed that the general leading the Noxian army have already smelled our intention of reinforcing the Placidum, as he most likely would try to encircle us to prevent we regrouped alongside the current defenders." When the others heard what he said, a few sighed in relief while others maintained a complicated expression.

"Well, its good news for us, we only have to rush into the Placidum before them. If we can do that then its enough." Said Yenma.

Kae shook his head as he say "We may be able to rush, but the other reinforcements coming from the other side won't be able. Remember that we are not the only ones that wanted to mobilize from the Placidum." He said sternly.

It was here that Renzo decided to ask "So how are we planning to using my power? I think you already know how it would end if I have to fight alongside others" He said while looking at Yenma.

The later sighed when he remembered the poor luck of a handful of fellas who died due to being too close of Renzo's epicenter, at such, he simply answered " I forget about that."

Seeing the defeated expression on Yenma face while hearing Karya's words, Zed couldn't help but ask "Is there something wrong with his power?"

Renzo didn't let others speak before him as he answered "Nothing wrong with them, it's only that my power isn't suited for a battlefield mixed with allies, as not only is harmful for them if they're too close, but it also force me to contain myself and not be able to be useful."

Shun Ti nodded at his words, as Yenma did the same.

"The usual way I'm used that showed to be successful, is to have me making the first attack and then once my allies charge, cover their retreat if necessary." Renzo explained

Shun Ti then added "Sorry to cut you, but I want to explain too" He said to Renzo and then glanced back at the leaders "This way of deploying him worked for us, mostly because his attacks are extremely destructive towards the enemies, we just only need to charge at them and killed the remaining enemies. What's better is that most of the times, the enemy is stunned, so there's not much danger aside from the officers and captains."

When they heard his words, they understood the current situation.

"So, we cannot use this same strategy here, I think." Shun Ti looked for Renzo who shook his head.

"I can't really face such large army with my power, it's not viable." He simply said. However he quickly changed his expression and said doubtfully "Unless you let me destroy the terrain and close the places we need to put our forces to defend."

When Karya finished translating his words, she glared at him with bad look while at the same time he heard everyone in the room vehemently rejecting the idea

"Theres no way we let you do that."

"Better think of anything else than that."

"We won't let you destroy the sacred land."

"That can't be done son."

Seeing the the answers and energy behind them, Renzo simply murmured under his breath "I was just saying..."

"There's at least three fronts were we would need your strength at the same time, this really look bad." Kae said as he sighed profoundly.

"Can't you move towards their position to make preemptive attacks before they reach the Placidum? That way we make sure you reduce their numbers while also decreasing their morale." Asked Zed

Only to receive wry smiles from Yenma and Shun Ti while Renzo answered with a weird tone.

"Hehe... well... the last time I tried to do that I was injured pretty nasty on the back. And I was lucky that it didn't went well for the one who tried." As he said that, he turned and pointed his back.

"Although hes pretty good to create a frontal attack or an ambush, is necessary for a back up for him to defeat those who can withstand his power and could retaliate." Answered Shun Ti.

"I can fight, I think, most guys one on one, but if they know who to trespass my attacks and exploit my weakness such as lack of preparations towards assassins and the likes then I'm good as dead." Renzo answered truthfully.

"With the amount of capable people in the main army of Noxus, I don't think is wise for us to put him in such a risk, not when he's a powerful triumph card for us." Added Yenma while giving his insight.

However it was the person that was translating at this point that seemed to give the best idea "Why don't we mobilize a rapid action team and use, not only Renzo, but those capable of destroying various amount of enemies, and use them to flank the enemies or destroy large amount of numbers?" She asked.

The various leaders remained silent while thinking of such option.

Although moving those individuals front the various fronts would undoubtedly weaken the lines, as after all they would be removing fire power that could be used as a cover for organize the lines.

They would compose a heavy shock unit that could be deployed in various positions.

"Use us as cavalry? Thats a good idea." Said Renzo, but then he asked something "But what if the enemy have the same kind of unit? We would be forced to counter them, leaving us in a stale mate."

When they heard his argument, they have to nod too.

Although they would prefer to have such unit, than not.

"We would use your suggestion young lady. But Renzo's have a point, we need to think further to prevent such outcome." Said Zed.

"Although it would be dangerous for me, I can move between the fronts alone and force large chunks of enemies to retreat. Or if we have the people, someone could just throw me in the middle of them and then take me back, I could create a lot of damage like that too." Renzo added, but seeing the complicated gaze that the leaders were given he knew the answer.

"Like captain Shun Ti said, you can act as a cover if something went wrong. With your abilities you can cover a retreat for us that could save many of our troops lives, we cannot risk you like that." Kae shook his head as he sighed.

Seeing that the plans weren't going anywhere, Yenma proposed "Why don't we leave this whole thing for tomorrow? I'm sure that captain Shun Ti and his men would want to rest." Hearing his words, the rest nodded and signaled for them to return to their camp.

However, just before Shun Ti and the rest exited the building, a guard entered and informed loudly "A swordsman that claim to be user of the Wuju technique request to speak with the leaders."

When Renzo heard these words, something clicked on his mind as he opened his eyes wide.

Wuju, there's only one person in the whole league of legends that use that word.

"Master Yi!" he couldn't help but exclaim. Hearing him, Karya and Shun Ti looked at him as they were about to ask him something.

However they quickly shut up when they heard someone's else voice.

"Wuju you said? Let him enter!" Zed ordered to the guard.

The latter nodded and went outside.

Renzo's mind meanwhile was running wild, he didn't remember if Master Yi was from Ionia, however he knew that the Wuju thing was related to him, in case that the person wasn't him, then it must be someone that use the same power as him.

'I actually don't know how powerful such technique is, but with Zed, this guy and me... We can work this out!' He thought to himself, only to curse to his mind when he remembered that Zed would leave to other place.

A few moments later the door was opened again, this time Renzo's eyes opened and his heartbeat increased, the smile on his face couldn't be hide as he tried to suppress any kind of expression.

Entering the room, a person surpassing the 1.80 meter was wearing a plate armor with golden lines, on his head a strange looking helmet with seven visors could be seen. On his back, a yellow-green sword with two rings could be seen.

It was him, it was really Master Yi.

"Greetings my fellow brothers, name's Yi and I came from the Wuju village to aid in help." A calm voice reached everyone's ear.

As for Renzo, he hardly contained his excitement.