Piltover.
Caitlyn, having received a Level-One Emergency Alert from the AI, swiftly organized her elite enforcers and mechanical units to guide civilians toward the spatial teleportation arrays installed in each district. Over in Zaun, Marcus worked alongside Vander and Silco to coordinate the evacuation. Vi and Claggor, now fully graduated from the Enforcer Academy and seasoned officers, maintained order in the Lanes, while Jinx, Mylo, Ekko, and Zeri stood guard at various Janna shrines.
Kai'Sa, as one of the city's top combatants, remained stationed in Piltover, supported by Seraphine and Sona, who had been staying in the city. Even Orianna, after years of training and body augmentation, was now a capable ally. In the years that had passed, the once-youthful group had matured, growing into prominent figures who could independently shoulder the responsibilities of Piltover and Zaun.
Jayce, Heimerdinger, Viktor, Camille, and the heads of other leading families diligently managed Piltover's affairs, striving to maintain order during the crisis. Meanwhile, in Zaun, many of the region's mines near the Sump had been sealed off due to Void-related dangers, with mechanical units guarding them vigilantly.
Silco, being more of a strategist than a fighter, remained at his base in Zaun's upper city to coordinate responses. Vander, Dr. Mundo, and Zaun's head enforcer Marcus led a team of mechanized combat units and enhanced super-soldiers into the Sump, ready to confront any sudden incidents.
"Marcus, Vander, Mundo—what's the situation on your end?" Caitlyn, Piltover's Chief Enforcer, asked as she teleported into the Sump after overseeing the orderly evacuation of the upper city.
"The AI's energy readings haven't detected any anomalies for now," Marcus replied, his eyes locked on the mines from which the Void creatures had previously emerged. The grotesque monsters that had erupted from the depths had terrified him, despite Li Lin's repeated warnings about the Void and the videos he had shared. Seeing the endless swarms of Voidborn firsthand was an entirely different level of horror.
Vander, burdened with a heavy heart, turned his gaze to Caitlyn. "Miss Kiramman, how's Li Lin doing? Why was the Level-One Alert issued so suddenly?"
Zaun's prosperity had been the life's work of Vander and his followers, a dream brought closer to reality with Li Lin's assistance. Though it couldn't rival Piltover, Zaun had progressed far beyond other nations. The thought of abandoning their home because of these monsters was heartbreaking to many, including Vander.
"Our boss will be fine, right?" Mundo blurted, his straightforward nature unchanged over the years, even after being trained by Li Lin.
"Stop jinxing it," Caitlyn snapped, glaring at Mundo. She then turned her worried gaze toward the eerily quiet mines illuminated by floodlights. "The AI reports that the Ice Witch, responsible for sealing the Watchers, has been corrupted. The Watchers are beginning to stir."
"That's not a good sign," came a raspy voice from behind them—it was Sevika.
Vander's brows furrowed deeply. He instinctively reached for his pipe but was reminded of his armored suit when his hand touched the hard plating. Now was no time for smoking. "Is Li Lin still reachable?" he asked, attempting to connect to Li Lin's comms, only to hear intermittent signals that made communication impossible.
[The Master descended to the depths of the Howling Abyss hours ago. You won't be able to contact him through your suits' communication systems.]
"Howling Abyss?" The term puzzled everyone except Caitlyn.
"All we can do now is avoid causing him any trouble," Caitlyn said, biting her pale lower lip. She was deeply worried about Li Lin. According to him, the Howling Abyss was the place where the Watchers were sealed—a single mistake could lead to unimaginable disaster.
"What about Zoe?" Caitlyn suddenly asked the AI. "Send her to assist Li Lin. She's the only one capable of helping him right now."
[Apologies, Miss Caitlyn… Zoe has already returned to Mount Targon.]
"What?!" Caitlyn exclaimed in shock. "This morning, before the alert was issued, I saw her at the Kiramman Estate!"
The AI remained silent. Zoe's movements were unpredictable; she could traverse parallel universes without relying on Project Genesis suits or teleportation devices. Even the AI couldn't track her exact whereabouts. However, given the urgency of the situation, the AI had observed her destination—Mount Targon—before she left through a portal.
It had been over two years since Zoe last returned to Mount Targon. As a Star Guardian, she had responsibilities beyond the mortal realm. Caitlyn understood this, but with the Watchers awakening, she hoped Zoe might have returned to discuss strategies with the Celestials. For now, she could only console herself with this thought.
After some hesitation, Caitlyn considered Janna, but quickly dismissed the idea. Janna's powers were strongest within Piltover and Zaun, and she needed to protect her followers. Shaking her head to clear her doubts, Caitlyn sighed.
"Forget it…" she murmured.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Moments later, Silco's voice came through the comms. "Hey, how are things on your end?"
"No anomalies for now," Vander replied. Despite their rocky history, years of collaboration and lingering guilt over past events had allowed him and Silco to maintain a working relationship.
"It's been hours without any reports of Void creature attacks. People are starting to complain," Silco said calmly. "What's the update on Li Lin? Can the alert be lifted?"
"No news yet," Caitlyn replied. "The AI suggests we wait for Li Lin's return before doing anything."
"Hmm… tricky, but manageable. I'll inform the public that you're heroically battling the monsters. With the previous attacks as evidence, they'll believe it." Silco's tone remained composed. "As long as the free supplies keep flowing, they won't cause trouble… but don't drag this out too long."
Vander opened his mouth as if to speak but fell silent, his expression tinged with helplessness. While he disliked the idea, Silco's approach was the best way to maintain order for now.
As they exchanged updates, an ear-piercing screech—far beyond anything a living creature could produce—shattered the silence of the mines.
Everyone's hearts sank.
[Warning! Warning!]
[A Radiant Diamond-tier Voidborn has breached containment!]
…
As the invasion of Piltover unfolded, similar occurrences erupted across Runeterra. Vast fields beyond Demacia's capital suddenly collapsed, and just as Jarvan IV and Galio were preparing to investigate, a corrupted dragon—its flesh reduced to little more than rotting meat and brittle bone—emerged from the ground.
This was the second fiery dragon, Katrogorim, a creature that had once spread devastation and fear, known for its attack on Demacia. However, it had been slain by Shyvana two years earlier. Thanks to Piltover's research using Shyvana's mother, Yvva's, data on hextech, they had created the Hextech Dragons, and Katrogorim's corpse had been recovered by Demacian mages, buried deep underground after being stripped for valuable materials.
Now, however, the Void had corrupted the dragon and was controlling it, causing it to rise from the earth and head toward the densely populated capital.
"Your Highness, we have a battle on our hands!" Galio shouted, his wings creating a gust of wind that slammed into the corrupted dragon. However, his attack had no effect.
"Use antimatter weapons!" Jarvan IV's voice boomed, amplified by his suit's speakers. "That should destroy this monstrosity!"
"Understood!" Galio responded, his newly upgraded miniaturized star furnace funneling energy into his chest. A pale, grayish light flashed as he unleashed an antimatter beam that vaporized the corrupted dragon, reducing it to nothingness.
Yet before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the ground trembled. The earth around the capital cracked open, and various Void creatures, each more twisted than the last, began to crawl out. They emitted chilling, soul-rending roars, their forms varying wildly in size. Some were monstrous beings far larger than Galio, towering over even him.
"Quickly, inform Father! Have the capital and surrounding towns activate the teleportation arrays and evacuate the citizens to the Starfall Fortress!" Jarvan IV ordered urgently, his gaze drifting briefly toward the northeast, toward Freljord. "I hope you are safe, my friend…"
---
It wasn't only Demacia under attack. Noxus and several central nations on the continent of Valoran were facing similar assaults by the Void, though the intensity varied. The further from the Conqueror's Sea, the weaker the Void invaders were, but the closer one got to the Frostguard Bastion, the stronger the Void creatures became.
"Rugen Port has fallen, but the citizens were evacuated with only a few dozen casualties."
"Ironspike Mountain is under attack by elite Void creatures."
"The teleportation array in Dreyune was struck by Void-corrupted liquid, and the mayor has died. The mechanical forces are now in charge of the battlefield, but casualties are over seven hundred!"
"General, Digworth Fortress is requesting assistance! Several Void creatures, rivaling the rank of grandmasters, have appeared, and the mechanical army is being overwhelmed!"
The reports kept flooding in as several communications officers rushed to Swain's side in the Immortal Bastion's operations room. Even Swain, usually composed, was visibly agitated.
To prepare for the Void invasion, he had permitted Li Lin to deploy a significant number of mechanical armies across Noxus's cities and remote villages, even setting up teleportation arrays. The moment the highest-level alert was issued hours ago, Swain had called upon the intelligence network to arrange everything in the country. But now, the situation was far worse than expected.
"Where are Darius and General Du Couteau?" Swain asked his tactical officer, his tone sharp.
"They've already led the genetically modified soldiers and mechanical units to confront the Void creatures outside the Immortal Bastion."
Swain's mind raced as the scale of the Void's invasion became apparent. It wasn't just an isolated strike. This was the full-scale invasion Li Lin had feared. "This isn't just a level one alert anymore… We're in the endgame now."
After a long pause, Swain raised his hand, silencing the room. He turned toward the communications officer. "Prioritize civilian evacuations. Minimize casualties as much as possible. As for Digworth Fortress, contact Li Lin. If he's unreachable, dispatch mechanical forces. We must withdraw from the other cities and villages, focusing on consolidating our remaining strength."
---
Meanwhile, in Ionia and Shurima, the situation was relatively more stable. Due to their distance from the Void's source, Ionia faced only Void creatures of lower levels, easily handled by mechanical armies. However, the Void's corruption of the land was still a threat, as the energies from beneath the earth and oceans empowered the invaders, accelerating their evolution. Fortunately, the Ionian populace had evacuated in time, and the spirits of nature, under the guidance of Karma, kept the Void at bay. The nature spirits appeared to protect the land, preventing the Void from feeding too much on the citizens.
Shurima, protected by the combined efforts of Malphite and the Ascended, saw minimal damage despite the ongoing corruption. Over 500 newly Ascended warriors had been deployed to the borders of Icathia to prevent any breach by the Void.
However, Emperor Azir had been caught off guard when Icathia did not fall into chaos as expected. Instead, only low-level Void creatures, barely above the rank of Silver, emerged. Meanwhile, in the Conqueror's Sea, terrifying Void sea monsters threatened, but the timely return of the Twilight Star Spirit, along with the Solari, the Moonsilver Star Spirit, and new guardians like Taric and Atreus, helped mitigate the damage.
At the Sunspires of the Ascended, Azir, Nasus, and the armored Sivir stood united. Soon after, the towering form of Aatrox descended from the skies, kneeling before the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, you summoned me?"
"Aatrox, Li Lin's forces are in trouble. Take fifty Ascended and head to his aid," Azir commanded, his voice resonating with imperial authority. "That is the location where the Void Watchers are sealed. We cannot afford any mistakes."
"Understood, Your Majesty!" Aatrox rose and took flight.
Azir turned his gaze toward the north, his eyes narrowing. "Nasus, the invasion is spreading across the continents. We must hold our ground and keep the civilians safe. We can only hope the remaining forces can hold their positions…"
(End of Chapter)