CHAPTER 286 - Giving World Runes as Gifts? That's So Like You

Zoe is a mischievous, capricious girl who loves playing pranks and flouting conventions—a true embodiment of a "problem child."

Yet, to say she has no redeeming qualities wouldn't be entirely fair. Her boundless imagination could be considered a virtue.

After the Darkin War, Zoe, who was born and raised among the Rakor tribe on Mount Targon, stood out for her unique personality.

To "escape boredom," she often skipped her sacred text studies.

One day, as she mimicked her teachers' angry shouts while darting around the village, she found herself cornered at a cliff's edge with nowhere to go.

At this moment, the celestial Twilight Aspect, who had been watching her for a long time, descended. Intrigued by Zoe's kindred spirit, the Aspect decided to test her.

The Twilight Aspect offered Zoe six choices: a bag of gold coins, a sword, a completed study notebook, a kneeling mat for rituals, a silk rope, and a toy ball.

Though any of the first five choices could have helped Zoe escape her predicament, she chose the toy ball. Laughing, she bounced it against the walls and her teachers.

Thus, Zoe was chosen by the Twilight Aspect.

Unlike other people of Mount Targon, who needed to climb the mountain and earn the approval and blessings of the Aspects, Zoe was directly given a portal by the Twilight Aspect. This portal transported her to the mountain's peak, offering her the chance to explore the vast universe.

Without hesitation, Zoe leapt into the portal, merging with the Twilight Aspect.

As the messenger for the celestial Aspects, the Twilight Aspect was tasked with delivering crucial messages to them.

However, Zoe never liked following rules or fulfilling her responsibilities.

Deliver messages? Govern the Aspects' rules? 

Sorry, not interested.

For centuries, Zoe has traversed multiple dimensions and parallel worlds, challenging limits beyond mortal comprehension.

According to Li Lin, Zoe has only returned to Runeterra twice since merging with the Twilight Aspect.

The first time was over a thousand years ago, during the chaos caused by the Darkin. She witnessed the Ruination, the Rune Wars, and even the founding of Demacia.

This was her second return to Runeterra.

"Twilight Aspect," Li Lin muttered nervously.

Though she looked like an innocent, mischievous young girl, her pranks were as common to her as eating and drinking.

If you didn't show hostility towards Zoe, her pranks wouldn't be life-threatening.

"Oh~~ Twilight Aspect! Yes, that's my title!"

Zoe waved excitedly, diving through a golden portal and appearing before Li Lin.

She wore a modern-style deep blue crop top and shorts, paired with toe-exposing socks that moved rhythmically with her light hum. Her petite figure was adorned with long hair that changed color with her mood, resembling a radiant starry sky.

Though she appeared to be no older than fourteen or fifteen, her age far exceeded even the ancient mage Ryze's by hundreds of years—a true legal loli.

"You actually know me!"

Zoe's face lit up with a smile as she flew circles around Li Lin, occasionally tapping his armor.

She seemed to be speaking in an ancient Targonian dialect, different from the languages of Ionia, Shurima, and Piltover that Li Lin knew.

Yet, somehow, he understood every word.

"And your armor, it's so much cooler than that 'Armor Bad Guy's.' Do you know him?"

"Oh no... Your armor is way more powerful, with the power of the sun itself! And it's not stolen from 'Space Dog' or 'Cold Sun'!"

Zoe hovered in front of Li Lin, eyes wide in astonishment, quickly replaced by a mischievous grin.

"Space Dog will be so mad if he knew a mortal mastered his sun-creating knowledge."

Space Dog...

Cold Sun...

Li Lin's mouth twitched involuntarily.

If he guessed correctly, Zoe's "Cold Sun" likely referred to the Aspect of the Sun, a nickname based on their personality.

As for the "Space Dog," it refers to one of the strongest beings in this universe, Aurelion Sol.

"Can you tell me how you did it?" Zoe blinked her eyes, looking curious.

Then, she approached Li Lin's helmet, her gaze seemingly piercing through the armor to meet his eyes directly.

"To be precise, we didn't steal the knowledge of... that being you mentioned. The core of my armor is powered by special materials and scientific technology. We call it nuclear fusion."

"Nuclear fusion? Hmm, that's a mouthful. I'll just call you 'Iron Sun!'"

Hearing the nickname Zoe gave him, Li Lin didn't know how to respond.

After a long pause, he took a deep breath and said, "My name is Li Lin. You can just call me by my name."

"Don't you like the nickname I gave you?" Zoe pouted, looking disappointed.

Suddenly, a wave of pity and sadness inexplicably rose in Li Lin's heart.

If it weren't for the metallic, sour taste in his mouth reminding him, he would have thought these feelings were his own.

Li Lin suppressed the mixed emotions, gritting his teeth as he said, "Could you please not use magic to influence me?"

"Hehe, you found out... I didn't expect you to know about magic."

Zoe's expression changed, her face lighting up with a smile again. She sat cross-legged in the air, reaching out to gently touch Li Lin's armor.

As the cold metal touched her fingertips, a thought occurred to Zoe: "You're special. Of all the humans I've met, you're the most unique! I want to be your friend! I haven't had a normal playmate for a very, very long time..."

To play with you normally, one would need to be a celestial host at the very least...

I can't handle that!

Just as Li Lin was about to refuse, Zoe made an offer he couldn't resist: "According to the customs of my kind, true friends exchange gifts! I can give you a beautiful stone if you give me your armor."

"Oh, the stone Zoe gives you isn't an ordinary beautiful stone! When I returned to Runeterra, those rude people used the power of such stones to destroy each other's homes. They were so barbaric!"

As soon as she said that, Li Lin's breathing quickened.

Using beautiful stones to destroy homes... Could she be referring to the World Runes?!

Giving a World Rune as a gift, that's so you!

Li Lin's excitement didn't last long before he hesitated again.

If it truly was a World Rune, he wouldn't be able to handle it.

Throughout history, anyone who tried to wield even a fragment of a World Rune's power was consumed by their inner evil, polluted, or had their soul devoured, ultimately losing themselves.

Even Ryze, a mage with unyielding willpower, nearly had his mind corrupted by the Runes.

I'm just a mortal, with only my body strengthened by potions. My spirit and will remain fragile.

Just touching a World Rune would likely consume me, turning me into an extremely evil being...

"But if it's you..."

Zoe propped her chin with her hand, her eyes scanning Li Lin with a meaningful look.

Before long, her face lit up with a smile again. "Your soul is special! I've seen it in another world, or more precisely, another dimension!"

Damn!

Hearing this, Li Lin's heart skipped a beat.

Zoe can travel through dimensions and universes, even visiting Earth—this is part of her official lore.

At first, he thought it was just a joke by the designers.

But if Earth and Runeterra both truly exist, then her reaching Earth isn't impossible...

Fortunately, Zoe's carefree nature meant she didn't think too much about this. "It's a pity that world was devoured by the Void. It would have been so much fun."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "But it seems that you carry the hope of that world and are also favored by this world. So the beautiful stone, or World Rune, won't affect you!"

"Wait!" Li Lin's breath caught, his voice trembling. "You said you went to that world, and what about me... what happened?"

(End of Chapter)

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