CHAPTER 158 - Missionaries of the Void

From the rear entrance of the Marrowmark to its front, it was just over two hundred meters away.

However, due to the density of vendors and the crowded streets, even these 200 meters seemed "unreachable."

Even for Li Lin and Kassadin, who were wearing powered armor and leading the way, it took them more than ten minutes to traverse the street.

However, situations like these had some benefits for them—they couldn't help but overhear others' conversations.

Along the way, Li Lin and his companions heard many recent rumors.

For instance, the Sun City had risen from beneath the yellow sand, and the emperor of the Shuriman Empire had returned.

Recently, a desperate caravan was completely annihilated in Sai Kahleek, becoming food for those Void creatures.

There were also rumors of the return of Renekton, the Desert Butcher, after thousands of years, who was rampaging in the desert, trying to find out where his brother Nasus was from those who knew him...

Of course, what interested them the most was the news from Vekaura. A few days ago, two god-warriors engaged in a great battle in Vekaura, causing destruction on a massive scale. The aftermath of the battle nearly destroyed half the town.

Later, King Azir, with his army of Sand Soldiers and the ancient flying beasts, which had reappeared in the world, joined the battle and together defeated another demigod.

Li Lin was very interested in this and approached the person who was boasting to learn more.

However, it turned out to be just hearsay, just empty talk, and Li Lin felt speechless.

Outside the skull of the desert behemoth, Kassadin led the way while muttering

"If such rumors are true, it means Azir arrived in time to support Nasus. With the combined strength of those two god-warriors, I think Xerath must have truly been defeated, as they say."

"Is the battle between the god-warriors really as exaggerated as that guy said?" Sivir couldn't imagine how Nasus, who was barely three meters tall, could engage in such fierce and brutal combat as described by others.

Li Lin guessed what Sivir was thinking and chuckled, "That's just the ordinary form of Ascended beings. They can't always maintain the size recorded in the scriptures, can they?"

"True..."

The two followed Kassadin's footsteps into the grand hall of the skull.

According to Kassadin's introduction, anyone who could open a shop inside was influential and wealthy, and no one was easy to mess with.

In Marrowmark, these people were the rulers, the law.

And the guy Kassadin knew, if not interfered with by others, should be the most powerful figure here.

However, in these declining years, this person still took care of the poor and was quite generous when buying and selling various items.

When Kassadin was down and out, this person even provided him with financial assistance.

The three of them wandered around the maze-like skull hall, separated by various partitions, and finally reached the innermost part.

Kassadin noticed that the decorations were almost exactly the same as they were four years ago when he last came here, and a smile appeared on his face.

It seemed that his old friend was still here.

He removed his mask, explained his intentions to one of the guards whom he knew, and then continued forward with Li Lin and Sivir.

However, as they approached the main door, they heard a commotion coming from inside.

"Get lost! I'm not interested in the ideals of you cultists!" a middle-aged man's deep voice rang out.

It sounds like my old friend... But I don't remember him ever getting so angry.

Cultists?

Kassadin's brows furrowed involuntarily as he caught a key word.

He paused his steps, preparing to listen to what was being argued inside.

"Holerytus, I showed you our great doctrine out of friendship! Only the Void is our destination!" another voice, very hoarse and sounding like an old man, came from inside.

"The Void? Can I make money from this stuff?" Holoretes slapped the table and sneered, "No! And you want me to prepare a batch of livestock every week, even live people as sacrifices! Do you think I'm an idiot to be fooled?!"

The Void?!

At the mention of this word, a sharp gleam flashed in Kassadin's eyes.

Between him and the Void, there was an irreconcilable blood feud.

Even as a devotee of the Void, he was unwilling to let them go, believing they had already strayed and their hands were stained with blood.

If it weren't for Li Lin pulling him back, he would have summoned the Nether blade and charged into the house, ready to slay the Void missionaries who still sought to sway his old friend.

"The end of all things is nothingness. We will all eventually be embraced by the Void! If that's the case, why not hasten the process?" The old man's voice was persuasive, dripping with allure.

"To hell with hastening! I still find myself lacking in years!" Holerytus's voice carried a hint of anger.

"Out of old friendship, I'll give you two options: either leave the marrowmark market and stop preaching your cult's theory, what was it called? Malzahar's, right? Yes, his heretical theory!"

"Or, I'll have my men throw you out. Of course, they're used to rough work, so they may not be gentle."

"The end is inevitable, the Void will surely come, cleansing this world and all its sorrows, and along with it, all of us!" 

Unable to endure his words any longer, Kassadin pushed open the unlocked wooden door and stormed in.

Li Lin left his four floating machines outside the door, following closely behind Kassadin with Sivir.

Inside the house, Holerytus and an old man, barefoot and wearing a deep purple robe wrapped in a purple turban adorned with various obscure ancient Shuriman symbols, were both surprised.

"What's going on?! Didn't I tell Sebon that nothing was important and not to disturb me?" 

"Don't blame the boy; you know he wouldn't stop me."

"Kassadin?!"

Holerytus sat on a dilapidated chair, his previously furrowed brows instantly relaxing, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

"You old rascal, I thought you died in the desert, becoming food for those Kmiros beetles or the Xer'Sai!"

"How could I die in front of you, you old rascal?"

Holerytus completely ignored the Void missionaries he was just talking to, got up from his chair, and walked over to Kassadin, laughing as he hugged him.

"Wow, nice armor you got there, is it Hextech technology from Piltover? How much, can you sell it to me?"

"Forget it, I have important matters to attend to with it."

Kassadin shook his head, not mentioning that the inventor behind it was actually Li Lin standing behind him.

"And who is this gentleman behind you... or should I say, lady?"

Holerytus noticed Li Lin standing behind him, also wearing powered armor, and politely smiled.

"Sir, I'm Li Lin." Li Lin removed his mask, also smiling politely at him. "Greetings, Holerytus."

"Also, greetings to you, Li Lin, and to this beautiful lady."

Holerytus gave a gentlemanly bow to Sivir, but none of his movements were quite right.

Just as he was about to ask about the powered armor, Li Lin, who had already anticipated his intentions, preemptively declined

"I'm sorry, but you must have heard of the Kiramman family of Piltover, right? I am their artisan, and this technology is not to be shared."

Sometimes, invoking the power and influence of one's family directly behind can deflect most problems.

Holerytus's face stiffened slightly, "Oh... I see, so you're an artisan from the Kiramman family. I've heard of them."

He often bought goods from Piltover caravans and naturally knew about those top-tier Council families.

Even if they weren't Council families, any family ranked high could not be provoked by him, the manager of this small Marrowmark market.

Holerytus quickly changed the subject, "Please, have a seat. It's been years since I last saw you. What brings you here today?"

As he spoke, he noticed the Void missionary still standing in place, not intending to leave, and couldn't help but sternly reprimand:

"Why are you still here? Do you need me to have the guards escort you out?"

"Wait a moment!"

Kassadin suddenly grabbed Holerytus's arm.

"What's wrong? Do you have a grudge against this Anseal?"

"A grudge..."

Kassadin looked at the old man in front of him, whose skin was as dry as seasoned leather, adorned with inexplicable purple markings, and almost gritted his teeth:

"I swore that I would never rest until I've dealt with all Void creatures, including its believers... no matter what it takes!"

(End of Chapter)

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