Dawn at the Wild Rift (Book IV)

Chapter 22

"What's taking that bastard so long?" Gusion mumbles as he pulls another weed sticking out just beside him. Grinding his teeth and impatience in his eyes, it makes him look like the past villain he used to be during the war.

"I understand why you're antsy but complaining won't help at all, baby-faced Paxley," Lesley interjects.

Hearing his nickname that Lesley has not called him for a while, makes Gusion stare at the red-haired woman. Though her words sound demanding but the smile she flashes to him is gentle and sweet. It is enough to knock him off his feet and fall for her all over again.

Whilst having that staring moment with the woman who captured his heart before he even noticed, Granger plucks off some weeds and throws it right on Gusion's face. A grin is plastered on his face as he suppresses a burst of laughter.

"Start bickering and I'll shove my swords into your mouth," Fanny warns the two, straightening them up within seconds.

She leans away from the wall and starts to face the whole team with her arms crossed. She raises an eyebrow at Harith who has been having this sour look on his face.

"It seems that Harith has something to say, mind sharing it with the whole team?"

Harith looks at her with a wrinkled forehead and he, too, crosses his arms together and tries to delve deeper into his mind.

"I ain't sure but there is definitely something wrong in this place..." he pauses for a while and shifts into another position, placing his hands on his hip. "How should I explain this? Hmmm... you know the feeling that the atmosphere, like the whole atmosphere, is really odd."

This time, Gusion smirks for it is not only him who senses that feeling. If Harith, a fully-fledged mage, senses that oddness, then it confirms that the place they entered into is something truly unknown.

"They may not be able to feel that abnormality because they do not have the blood of a mage running through their veins," Gusion interjects. He stands beside Fanny and with a troubling grin plastered on his lips, he says, "This place is distorted."

Before anyone could ask further questions, a puff of black smoke bursts in front of the team, making them stand on their feet and draw their weapons ready.

"Only one dead body is in there, but it's definitely not Hanabi," Hanzo reports. Behind his mask, he smirks upon seeing the relieved expressions of his comrades. It didn't cross his mind that his sudden appearance would make them feel unsettled—that thought satisfied him.

Lesley cocks her head to the side upon seeing the weapon that Hanzo is holding. She is more than sure that the Akuma ninja doesn't wield a bronze cross blade. Moreover, Gusion finds the weapon familiar, though he could not remember where exactly he had seen it. But after a few seconds, he manages to recall.

"That cross blade, that's the weapon that Sivir possesses. How did you manage to get it?" he asks.

Hanzo secures the weapon on his back and replies, "It is displayed down at the temple. And that Sivir you just mentioned, her body is rotting inside and since I sense this demonic power from this one, I thought of bringing it with me."

Harith, being a curious cat he is, raises his hand.

"What if the enemies find us because of that? This wouldn't be called a secret mission anymore."

"I have a feeling that this is not just a mere weapon. Besides, it would be no fun if we don't play around with some ancient warriors. We came here already so let's make the most of it."

That being said, their team starts moving forward with Harith and Gusion discussing the peculiar state of Runeterra. As they head towards the north that is leading towards the abandoned Ironspike Mountain, Evelynn and her team luckily founded themselves in the same mountain range—due to the distortion in space—drawing them closer towards their targets.