RNP Page 38
Page 38
An ordinary Mrs. Piltover might be unable to accurately judge how complex the outside world is due to the many influences of her upbringing. But for these trading nobles who frequently negotiate with warlords, city lords, and chiefs around the world, do they really understand that this world believes there are always people more powerful than themselves, and they also clearly know that violence is the source of all power and order?
Now, although they say they don't care, after feeling the threat posed by Fain, almost every family has sent their hired henchmen to hunt him down.
The first to arrive was a lion-man—or rather, a lion-dog—who was nearly 2.4 meters tall, with bulging muscles all over his body and a thick mane.
It's not Rengar, the Pride Hunter from the game—it's a Fleshtooth Beast.
It's also the race name from which Rengar, the lion dog, originates. Within the Vastayan lineage, they belong to the land-dwelling Vastayan, but not all flesh-toothed beasts have the silver-gray fur of Rengar. Their fur color varies depending on their tribe and habitat. In most cases, this fur provides better camouflage and naturally possesses properties of warmth, cold resistance, and dirt resistance.
Compared to ordinary humans, the Flesh-toothed Beasts are terrifying. This race averages over two and a half meters tall, with muscle density three times that of an average human. Their reverse-jointed lower limbs grant them the ability to run at high speeds and leap long, powerful jumps in any environment, making them natural hunters. Their most proficient method is to leap out from a distance, out of their prey's blind spot, before the prey has a chance to react. Often, their prey never discovers who killed them until they die.
Now, with its wild, beastly eyes fixed on Faen before it, it leaped out of the shadows, its right arm on the flesh-toothed beast Moguta's arm flashing past in a blur, and a finely crafted dagger—a serrated dagger that would be considered a woodcutter's knife by ordinary standards—sliced through the air.
In the hands of this muscular, flesh-toothed beast, the moon-white blade left a crescent-shaped flash in the air. Speed is power, and with this visible afterimage of speed, almost no one would doubt that even a piece of steel standing in its way would be sliced in two in an instant!
No, it wasn't a feeling, but a tangible severing. A master of attack, Moguta had used this Shadow Strike countless times to hunt down monsters far larger and stronger than himself!
The hunt is complete! — A flicker of excitement flashed in Moguta's eyes the instant the blade touched Faen.
He never expected that his risky attack would actually expose the guy's facade of strength!
But just as Moguta was still thinking, the next moment, Fain's face suddenly appeared in front of him, smiling and almost face to face, asking:
Do you know Rengar?
Update later tonight.
As the title suggests, updates will be delayed. I've been busy moving recently, doing a lot of shopping during the 618 shopping festival, and my old house also needs to be redecorated. I've been busy from morning till night every day, and I didn't get home until after 10 pm today. My head is buzzing, and I've basically run out of drafts. For the next few days, I'll probably just upload whatever I write. I'll resume regular updates once the move is finished.
77. Swarming in
Upon seeing Faen suddenly appear in his sight, Moguta, who was charging ahead, showed a look of surprise. Then, he also displayed the superhuman physique and strength of the flesh-toothed beast race, almost forcefully driving the force of his charge into his spine.
With a series of cracking sounds coming from his spine as he struggled to break free, Moguta forcefully twisted his body. His lower limbs, with their reversed joints, exploded outwards, causing his body to snap to one side, attempting to escape the sudden close-range attack from Fain.
Moguta's decision was not wrong, it's just a pity that the enemy he faced was clearly beyond Moguta's strength.
Having dodged Fain's figure, Moguta looked behind him with disbelief. Fain was still standing there, glancing at him slightly with a strange smile on his lips, which made Moguta feel intensely uneasy.
However, as a hunter, such superfluous emotional fluctuations were almost instantly dismissed—the opponent wasn't pursuing? No, did the opponent realize they couldn't catch up? If that was the case, then speed was their advantage.
Enduring the pain radiating down his spine, Moguta knew that even for a flesh-toothed beast, forcing force in any direction was far from comfortable. Especially since Moguta had redirected the force of his Shadow Strike, the immense strain passing through his spine created a tremendous burden. Even though he had managed to withstand it thanks to his superior physical abilities, the slight strain on his bones and swelling in his muscles meant that, at least for the time being, Moguta didn't intend to attack again.
We must wait for an opportunity.
Moguta thought quickly, a multitude of thoughts swirling through his mind.
Never giving up is a hunter's virtue. Especially as a flesh-toothed beast, no matter the situation or the prey, Moguta has never truly given up. Even stopping the attack now is just a prelude to a better surprise attack later.
Those guys will be here soon; wait until they rush in and wear us down. If we seize the opportunity and time the final blow perfectly, then everything...
Just as Moguta was still thinking, he suddenly paused, his attention focused on what was behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw what appeared to be a figure in front of him as he sped away.
Because it happened so suddenly, although he noticed it out of the corner of his eye, by the time Moguta felt it, he couldn't even straighten his eyes, let alone twist his body again. With a thud, Moguta suddenly felt his body lighten and then flew straight into the air.
Turning around, he saw that Fane had appeared behind him at some point. He didn't launch an attack, but simply stood there with his arm outstretched, looking calm, like a passenger hailing a taxi.
Unlike ordinary travelers, however, it seemed he had collided with something, as splattered blood stained most of Farn's body crimson. Looking away from the direction of the bloodstains, the familiar flesh-toothed beast's lower limbs still maintained their charging posture. Only, having lost its upper body, its lower body had also lost its self-regulating function. With a thud, it collapsed to the ground, its mangled flesh and blood gushing forth, the shattered organs emitting a nauseating stench.
That body... it looks so familiar...
Lost in thought, Moguta's upper body collapsed to the ground. The adrenaline rush ended, his narrowed beastly eyes gradually unfocused, his breathing stopped, and his thoughts sank into the long night... And what about Fain? Standing there, he shook his arms, letting the flowing water and gentle breeze wash away the bloodstains on his body and fling them on the ground. Fain shook his head with a sigh.
This is how Rengar works: build him with damage items and make him a glass cannon, then he'll surrender immediately if he faces a Guardian Angel. Build him with tank items and he lacks reliable crowd control; jumping into a crowd without bushes turns him into a super minion. After witnessing Mogu's gruesome death, Stevan, who had been hoping his secret weapon would bring him a resounding victory, surprising all those who looked down on him and making them look at him differently, was utterly astonished.
"No...impossible, absolutely impossible! I saw Moguta hunt an oak rhinoceros all by himself! That kind of monster can even smash through city gates! And Moguta was hit head-on and was completely unharmed! How could he be like this, breaking at the slightest touch?!"
Camille remained silent, only slightly frowning, a hint of seriousness appearing in her eyes.
Although his younger brother was a fool, Camille, as the head of the Feros family, possessed considerable insight. Furthermore, Camille had personally vetted Moguta before hiring him. Even from Camille's perspective, Moguta was undoubtedly a powerful hunter. In fact, disregarding his familiarity with the environment and the formidable capabilities of his Hextech weapons, even Camille himself wasn't entirely confident he could gain the upper hand in a fight against Moguta.
And now... he's just dead? Camille felt she needed to reconsider her attitude and approach towards Zaun.
Seeing his sister remain silent, Stevan lowered his head, pursed his lips, and revealed a hint of resentment in his eyes.
Especially when he saw the arc of the Hextech Crystal on Camille's chest, Stivan's eyes even flashed with jealousy and hatred. However, Moguta was dead, and Stivan suppressed his inner dissatisfaction without expressing it.
'Damn it, they're probably mocking me in their hearts right now, aren't they? Damn it... if I got the Primal Stone Surgery... one day I'll make them all know that I'm the best one...'
Stevan kept his thoughts to himself in silence. Camille, however, seemed oblivious, focusing her attention solely on Fane.
Meanwhile, after witnessing Fane easily kill the powerful flesh-toothed beast Moguta, the family mercenaries who arrived later slowed down, their gazes towards Fane filled with vigilance, solemnity, and a touch of amusement and interest.
But regardless of their emotions, it all shows how much pressure Farn's appearance has brought them.
Scanning the arriving crowd, even Fahn had to admit that Piltover, as a trade hub, was indeed teeming with talent. A glance revealed Noxians, Demacians, Shurimas, Freljords, Vastaya, and even Yordles—a veritable gathering of exceptional individuals.
Warriors, mages, assassins… all sorts of classes appeared in Faen's field of vision. Faen even had good reason to believe that without the protagonist's halo or the protection of the scriptwriters, even the so-called heroes in League of Legends, that is, the playable characters, would be dead.
Ultimately, many playable characters are simply ordinary people who have specialized and honed their skills in a particular area. For example, Sarah, the Lady of Fortune, who is similar to the future Empress of Bilgewater, almost lost her life due to a misfired weapon…
Especially with the release of Twin Cities 2, Ambissa, Mel's mother, became the first character confirmed to be dead... Of course, this death is only temporary. After all, in Runeterra, a land teeming with monsters and demons, the resurrection of the dead is not uncommon. Places like the Shadow Isles, corrupted by the out-of-control life runes, have been like the underworld for decades, with the dead roaming the material realm everywhere.
But in any case, the heroes' strength is what it is, and the advantage of numbers is really effective for them—except for a few high-ranking individuals.
Looking at the crowd before him, Fain's gaze didn't show much seriousness—except for the guy standing at the very back.
Although draped in a black robe, it was clear that this was a woman. Even the loose-fitting spellcaster's robe couldn't properly conceal her tall and shapely figure. Holding a withered wooden staff, the hood of her robe covered her entire face, and the magical darkness swallowed all light, giving her an alluring, mysterious, and dangerous aura.
Aside from this person... let the rest be as they are.
Looking at the black-robed figure standing at the very back, Farn's eyes narrowed slightly, and then a smile appeared on his lips.
He sensed it, and the other person sensed it too. Farn was curious about who this person was and decided to uncover the secret himself.
Thinking this, Fan stretched his neck a couple of times, glanced at the mercenaries watching him warily, and said casually, "Aren't most people here? Why are you still standing there? Just watching?"
As he spoke, Farn opened his arms wide, seemingly waiting for the crowd to attack him.
While seemingly looking at the crowd, Fan's gaze was actually fixed on the woman in the black robe. The woman seemed to have guessed Fan's intention, and simply gestured for him to show off.
Seeing this, Farn's smile became even more pronounced and clear.
During this process, upon hearing Fan's words and looking at the hesitant crowd around him, a man clad in black steel armor, wielding a black battle axe, and with a blood-red ribbon tied around his shoulder, sneered and said, "Ha, I thought you were so capable to stand here with me. Now it seems you're just a bunch of cowards! With so many of us attacking at once, even if he's strong, do you think he can kill us all?!"
Everyone just watched coldly – what a load of rubbish! Why don't you do it yourself?!
------
There will be another chapter tonight, probably around 1 or 2 AM... Moving back and forth is exhausting, both physically and mentally.
78. Scattered in a Hurry
None of them are fools.
With Moguta's fate still fresh in their minds, they coveted the enormous bounty on Fain's head, which was being increased layer by layer by various families, but they were also worried about ending up like Moguta. Sensing the fear in everyone's hearts, Fain didn't stay idle any longer, but simply lowered his center of gravity.
As the focus of attention on the battlefield, Fane's every move attracted the attention of everyone present. As he sensed that everyone's attention was gradually concentrating, the emotion in Fane's eyes became more and more composed. Then, under the power of Osiris, this composure transformed into a purer form of wild hunting.
boom--!
The instant he moved, a violent force erupted from beneath Farn's feet, the surging impact piercing the solid ground of Piltover and creating numerous cracks. These fine cracks then burst open under the force of the eruption. Simultaneously with the flying debris, a white shockwave appeared.
Without any gradual acceleration, the astonishing speed of the starting line compresses the surrounding air the instant the Farn begins to move, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into clouds, like a white umbrella forming from the Farn.
Before the Noxian soldiers could react, the bronze-colored, muscular warrior who had been standing still with a battle axe in hand, his muscles bulging and his face fierce, was smashed to pieces by an impact that, even with all their attention focused, only a very few people could catch a faint afterimage of him thanks to their superior dynamic vision.
There were no flying fragments; the area of the shattered flesh exploded directly into a pink, foul-smelling cloud. Those pieces of flesh that were not directly hit remained intact for a brief moment—it's said for a brief moment because immediately afterward, with the arrival of the shockwave, the violent airflow caused Farn's rapid movement to highly concentrate the surrounding acoustic energy, creating what is known as a sonic cone.
Many people didn't actually see Fane's figure; they only heard an extremely short but deafening explosion. Then, the Noxian soldier who had been standing still was reduced to a cloud of blood mist, and even his black steel armor, enough to strike fear into the hearts of enemy nations, vanished. Only a few tiny iron filings remained, swirling in the air.
With Janna's blessing, the Twin Cities are Fahn's home ground. In fact, Fahn hasn't truly broken the sound barrier yet—or rather, there's no need for him to break it.
Landing on the spot, Fain looked at the group behind him and said, "This guy is wrong about one thing."
Holding up a finger, Farn smiled calmly and said, "Even if you all swarm me, I can kill you all. But his choice is understandable."
"Even if you all scatter, I can still kill them all."
Upon hearing Fain's words, everyone present fell into a brief silence. But immediately afterward, a crazed Yordle with a distinctly Zaunite style shouted, "This guy's lying! If he could, he would have done it already!"
Upon hearing the Yodl's words, Farn merely glanced sideways.
The Yordles are a fascinating race. Their most prominent characteristic is their unwavering devotion to whatever interests them. Because of this, good Yordles are truly exceptional, capable of steadfastly upholding a promise for decades, centuries, or even millennia, waiting and wavering. But those Yordles who stray from the right path are, without exception, utterly wicked, born evil.
Sure enough, upon noticing Fain's gaze, the Yordle not only showed no sign of nervousness, but even widened its eyes in excitement. Its head, covered in patches of skin like a bald chicken, bore strangely disproportionate features. Staring at Fain, its mouth, corroded by the Glimmering Potion, held only a few large teeth. But this mutilation didn't detract from the Yordle's overall impression; rather, it added a morbid quality to its already incredibly crazed appearance.
Just as the Yordle was about to speak, Fain moved.
As before, its towering figure vanished from sight in an instant, only to reappear before the Yordle. The opponent's diminutive stature did not affect Fahn's aim. However, just as Fahn's toes were about to touch the Yordle, a distant wave crashed against the rocks, the vibrations shaking the beach and creating a complex pattern on the deserted sand dunes. Sunlight shone upon it, and the Yordle subsequently disappeared from everyone's view.
Seeing this, Fain secretly curled his lip.
Yordles are among the most difficult creatures to kill in Runeterra. This difficulty doesn't stem from their inherent strength, but rather from their origin in Bandle City, located in the spiritual realm. Each Yordle leaves a unique mark upon entering the physical realm, allowing them to send out distress signals in case of danger or be pulled back to Bandle City by the power of the Tree of Life.
Of course, not all Yordles can escape this way. For example, the Alchemist Baron Smith was also a Yordle. However, relying on the hope and joy the people of Zaun felt because of Faen, combined with the aid of the Janna faith, even if the Tree of Souls itself were to try and snatch him from Faen, it would be extremely difficult. But leaving Zaun and entering Piltover, where there wasn't much joy associated with Faen and the Janna faith was extremely weak…
Alright, at least the mark has been made.
Feeling the flickering, ever-present coordinates of the mad Yordle in the mental realm, Farn withdrew his gaze and looked around.
Seemingly anticipating Fane's actions, the moment Fane launched his attack on the Yordle, the other family mercenaries swarmed forward without hesitation. It was clear they weren't targeting Fane specifically, but rather using the Yordle as a trap, launching a merciless attack on their so-called comrade along with him.
Now, they didn't care why the Yordles had disappeared, or even whether they were alive or dead. What truly surprised them was seeing Fane appear in their sight as they had expected!
Then, he wielded his sharp blades and various weapons even more rapidly.
In response, Farn threw a punch, smashing the head of one of them to pieces.
Before the first drop of blood could even fall from the shattered skull, the people around it followed suit.
79. Noxus Idea King
Blood dripped from his fist. At that unimaginable speed, all people could see was Fane surrounded, and then the crowd attacked him. But they had barely leaped up; before his weapon could even touch Fane, the people surrounding him instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist. And in Fane's hands lay broken bones and bits of flesh.
What happened in the blink of an eye was condensed into the time it took for a drop of blood to flow from a person's body to splatter on the ground. The speed, far exceeding the limits of ordinary human reaction and vision, made it impossible for most people to understand what had just occurred. Fortunately, with Janna's blessing, through mental magic, people could more or less sense the speed and violence of that instant.
Washing his arms with running water, Fain looked at the crowd—in Fain's sudden burst of speed, most of the mercenaries were instantly blasted to pieces upon contact. However, some astute individuals sensed the looming danger and instinctively dodged—or perhaps they never intended to lead the charge from the beginning, but rather to hide behind the crowd and wait for their chance to strike.
And now it seems their decision was undoubtedly correct. Even though they were hit by the sonic boom, suffering minor wounds, or even being scraped and fractured by the force, compared to those who collided head-on and ended up not even a corpse, they only had a few bones broken. They didn't even dare to make a sound, for fear of attracting Farn's attention.
Fann paid no attention to them, only looking at the woman in black robes behind him. After a moment of silence, he lowered his center of gravity slightly and then launched another fierce attack.
But unlike before, this time Fain's eyes were fixed on the woman wearing a black spellcaster's robe.
After sensing Fan's undisguised fervor and curiosity, even though his face was completely covered by the blackness under the hood, Fan could sense a playful smile on that face covered by darkness.
Despite sensing the other party's contempt, Fain felt no anger. Instead, with a soft laugh, in the shadow of the Piltover Brass Building, streams of water blades flew out from behind Fain, bursting forth in an instant as the light water flow formed scattered lotus-shaped whips that tore through the air.
With a light step, Farn's rugged face broke into a smile as he walked across the cracked cobblestones. "Interested in introducing yourself, witch?"
Before Fane could even finish his question, the woman in black robes brandished her staff. The magic in the surrounding atmosphere rapidly condensed, instantly transforming into countless crimson chains that shot out like venomous snakes, their iron rings clashing and scraping as they lunged towards Fane's throat. But before these blades could reach his body, the lotus-like blades, as if possessing their own consciousness, shattered the incoming chains.
Although it appeared to be just a thin stream of water, under the enhancement of Osiris's power, the high-pressure water shattered the magical structure of the chains almost instantly upon contact. Along with the shattering fragments, Fane's figure also traced a swift arc through the air in that instant.
A surging storm enveloped him, causing his clothes to billow wildly. The mingling water and swirling winds created a white mist. With air resistance at zero, Fann took a deep breath. As his blood energy erupted, Fann's robust body instantly swelled to a size larger. Veins bulged on his streamlined frame like the roots of an old tree.
"Flowing water has no form!"
As he spoke, his heart pounded, and Farn's blood and water began to pump oxygen and energy at an astonishing rate. The moment he swung his arm, a rapid hiss echoed through the air.
Upon seeing Farn approach, the mage, who remained stationary, showed no alarm. Instead, he raised his staff and lightly tapped it against the ground. With a crisp sound, crimson and purple magic surged from the witch's body, transforming into a crystalline flower bud that enveloped the woman entirely.
The instant the fist made contact, a ring of thorns sprouted from the crystal bud at an astonishing speed. With such rapid impact, even Fain himself couldn't tell whether he had forcefully driven the thorns into his fist, or whether his opponent had manipulated the thorns to pierce Fain's defenses—or perhaps both?
Feeling the stinging pain from the fist, even Fain couldn't help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes—it was so hard.
Seeing that the heavy punch had only left a few cracks on the crystal bud, even Fane couldn't help but marvel at the opponent's defensive strength. It's important to understand that the enhancements from Janna and Osiris, even though both were weakened—one from a fragmented ancestral form, the other having only recently escaped—were still far beyond the capabilities of ordinary people, given their status as deities of the spiritual realm and the most ancient primordial demons, even in terms of sheer numbers.
Thinking this, Fane didn't feel the slightest bit tense. Instead, a smile appeared on his face, accompanied by inward surprise and the stinging pain from his fist—pain and surprise are both sensations. And as the most ancient demon, Fane could forcefully steer the final result towards pleasure!
The sensory stimulation of pain caused Faen's body temperature to surge again, and the storm around him intensified, swirling up the water in the atmosphere to form mist. The muscles in his back bulged continuously, and the moment he swung his arms, his fists left countless afterimages in the air. A series of air explosions rang out, and the intense friction generated a high-pressure atmospheric backflow, locking the flower bud in front of him firmly in place.
Sensing something amiss, the black mist covering the witch's face trembled and dissipated slightly. Without hesitation, the witch immediately gripped her staff, and a surge of magic erupted from her tall figure, causing the cracks that Fane had previously shattered to heal at a visible speed.
Unfortunately, before the cracks could fully heal, a barrage of fist shadows, gushing with intense blood energy, rained down, accompanied by Farn's maniacal laughter.
"Extremely joyful!!"
Fists rained down, whipping up gusts of fierce wind. From beside Fain, fan-shaped, flowing blades of light poured forth like a torrential downpour. Almost instantly, the flower bud crystal, which had been mostly repaired, was shattered once more, cracking open again. Suddenly, with a crisp sound, a flowing blade pierced through the crystal and became lodged in the middle.