Void Beetle Evolution Guide

“You’ve gone off-topic,” the Wild Hunt asked Portil to remind him. The Darkin had all lost their minds in the war against the Void and would occasionally exhibit signs of madness.

"Can't you be a little more understanding? I'm talking to you while enduring the pain of being devoured by thousands of Void Beasts. Ugh... Anyway, the only people Aatrox hates most are these traitors, besides that Protoss. Until we were separated and sealed away, I had no idea how many of them were still alive, or how many were left now..."

Speaking of traitors, besides Tayanari mentioned by Naganeka, the Wild Hunt also has an impression of another Darkin.

"Could it be Zolani?" He knew that the Twilight Protoss had been replaced at this point in time, so he immediately ruled out this answer.

“Ah. That’s quite possible. After all, that coward from Icathia dared to openly oppose the Emperor before her ascension, believing that the Emperor’s suppression of Icathia led to the outbreak of the Void War. She’s been calling for an end to the war ever since, but nobody’s listening to her.” Naganek’s remains were almost entirely gone, letting out a weak, cold snort: “Healers who haven’t been on the front lines have no idea what kind of terror our warriors face, what kind of monsters they fight. The scenes of them being killed by those…things are still vivid in our minds…”

Zolani was an Icathian. Having obtained crucial information, the Wild Hunt continued to press Portil on his questions: "Why could someone who opposed the Emperor still ascend to immortality?"

"Before Azir, the power of ascension was always in the hands of the priests, and the emperor only had the power to recommend. I don't know the specifics, because I stopped caring about politics after I ascended to godhood. But thinking about it, it's probably because the sun priests chose her as their representative in order to fight against the royal power."

"So the priesthood didn't want the emperor to suppress Icathia at the time?"

Wild Hunt vaguely remembered that the Icathians rebelled against Shurima because they, as a vassal state, had been denied the opportunity to ascend and felt that Shurima had never recognized them.

Meanwhile, Ixtal, another vassal state, was able to have an Ascended like Nezuk, which made them feel resentful and ultimately led them to rise up in rebellion.

It was during that suppression that the Icathians, facing the Ascended sent by Shurima, recklessly unleashed the Void, escalating the war and turning it into the Void War...

After reviewing history, Wild Hunt suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

Zolani is an Icathian, so it's no wonder she's so vehemently opposed to war. She comes from a suppressed nation and witnessed her country's destruction by the Void; how could she stand idly by?

This background also influenced how other Ascended viewed her... Aatrox hated her, partly because she came from a suppressed kingdom.

If the Icathians hadn't unleashed the Void, he wouldn't have had to watch so many of his comrades perish at the hands of monsters on the front lines. Not just killed, their existence was completely erased, even their souls were devoured…

Why are the Icathians, who committed such heinous acts, allowed to ascend to immortality like heroes? How can one not feel indignant standing within their force field?

As for why an Icathian was allowed to ascend during such a sensitive period, that remains unknown.

Was it because of the emperor's remorse for the destruction of Icathia? Or did the priesthood want to seize the opportunity to gain control and cultivate their own ascendants?

Wild Hunt wanted to hear Naganeka's opinion, but she didn't answer. (The last two lines appear to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

"Cough cough cough... I've said enough, can you take me away now?" In the blink of an eye, Naganeka had been devoured by the burrowing beasts, leaving only her head and the ballista connected to her spine.

"We'll talk when you've been eaten away and only your original body is left," Portil said sternly, not daring to relax for a moment.

Chapter 365 From Beginning to Abandonment

Wild Hunt watched as Naganeka was devoured by the beast horde until only her physical form remained as a weapon.

Ascended beings have a normal form and a celestial form, and Darkin beings can also change their size. Correspondingly, to adapt to their body size, Darkin weapons can also change size depending on the situation.

At this moment, Naganeka had shrunk to a size that a normal person could pick up, but the Wild Hunt certainly wouldn't let Portil risk his life to descend and pick her up.

He personally tore through space above the vortex, extended his giant claws to retrieve weapons from the dense horde of beasts, and flew away from this raging place with Portil.

"What is this? How can you use the power of the void?!" Surrounded by the giant claw, Naganeka cried out in shock and anger, as if she had been betrayed.

"The Void is not what it used to be. Aren't you curious why there are so many Void Beasts in Shurima?" Wild Hunt was annoyed by the thought of having to explain his stance every time, otherwise he would be regarded as a mortal enemy by these Darkin.

"Hiss... What's going on in Shurima now?" Naga Neka's fragmented memories left her with no idea where these Void Beasts came from; the Darkin were ancient beings who had been separated from the mortal world for thousands of years.

"You didn't completely seal that underwater rift from which monsters kept pouring out. After Shurima was destroyed, you were too busy fighting amongst yourselves to send anyone to check it out. After thousands of years of infiltration, these monsters have made their home underground in southeastern Shurima. Moreover, an empress has even been born among them..." Wild Hunt said casually. "If you ask me, instead of fighting amongst yourselves, you should discuss how to deal with this empress who covets all of Shurima."

The Wild Hunt wanted to use someone else to do his dirty work. Even though he thought the Darkin was no longer a worthy opponent for Bervis, it would still be good to dampen her spirits.

However, Naganeka was not a reckless and aggressive woman. Even among the Ascended, she was a cunning and scheming character. Otherwise, she would not have been able to keenly sense the danger and escape from the Twilight of the Gods.

“Interesting. It seems you’re not with that empress…” Naganeka said in a wet, venomous voice, like a viper’s hiss.

"If that were the case, why would we have pulled you out of the beast tide?"

"Ah, the glory of Shurima is gone. There is nothing left to protect. We live only for ourselves."

Naganek's answer made the Wild Hunt realize that they were unlikely to become allies. After thinking for a moment, he changed his question: "What if I told you that Azir could be resurrected? And in the form of an Ascended being?"

“You’re even crazier than me.” Naganekia smiled coldly. “I watched him die with my own eyes. If he could be resurrected, I would gouge out my own eyes.”

"If Azir really does come back to life someday, don't go back on your word." Wild Hunt laughed along.

These Darkin, initially under the guise of restoring Shurima, wreaked havoc and fought endlessly across this land. If they were to witness the true Shurima emperor rising from the dead, their expressions would surely be priceless.

Similarly, when Azir saw his once valiant and glorious warriors reduced to such inhuman and grotesque forms, it's hard to tell whether he was heartbroken or furious.

However, it's hard to say how many of these Darkin will still listen to Azir by then.

“Since you’re so sure, let’s make a bet. I’ll bet my eyes, what about you?” Naganeka seemed intrigued and pressed on relentlessly.

“Self-harm is pointless; your body can regenerate at will. We don’t need to gamble anything; just don’t refuse when I let you witness it.” Even knowing he was certain to win, the Wild Hunt didn’t ask Naganekia to pay any price.

Forgiveness is a tenet of cooperation. If possible, he would like to win over a powerful force like the Darkin. He can lay the groundwork now and prepare for future cooperation.

“What are you planning to do?” Naganeka asked.

Wild Hunt retorted, "The statues at the entrance of imperial tombs, did you make the hands and feet on them?" (The last line appears to be a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly.)

"You even discovered that mechanism?" Naganek's voice carried a hint of surprise. "I did participate in the design of the tomb, but I must warn you, never think of opening it. There is a terrible thing hidden inside. I placed a curse on the statue to prevent anyone from releasing it."

"You don't need to tell me, I know what I'm doing."

……

Portil flew southeast until the Wild Hunt landed her in a valley overgrown with gynostemma.

This is the small valley where Kai'Sa was born, and also the place where the Wild Hunt first met her. It's not far from Icathia.

“Why did it stop?” Naganeka asked. She had thought the Wild Hunt would keep flying her toward Icathia, instead of stopping near the border.

"The ride has arrived at the station. It's time for this passenger to get off."

Wild Hunt glanced at the ballista in his hand. Unlike other Darkin weapons, the ballista did not have a strange heart or a single eye on it. Its black body was covered with golden patterns, like molten gold that had suddenly solidified.

Then Wild Hunt threw her into a dried-up well, which Kai'Sa used to love to sit by and chat with her friends.

"Huh? You're just going to leave me here? Don't you want to come to the party with me?"

"Come on, I don't want to be eaten up by a bunch of Darkin."

Naganekia wanted to try again, but the Wild Hunt decided to stop there. They'd already extracted a lot of information from her; now all they needed to do was go to Icathia to confirm the exact number of Darkin and whether the situation was true.

"It's fine if you don't go, but at least you can't abandon me after starting something. You should find me a new body, right? I don't have high requirements. A human host is best, but a snake or a lizard will also work."

"Pah! What do you mean by starting something and then abandoning it! Stop trying to get close to me!"

Before the Wild Hunt could respond, Portil started yelling, clearly dissatisfied with Naganek's ambiguous wording.

The training she received a few days ago only intensified her attachment to the Wild Hunt, and she would never allow any unknown person to harass her man.

"Where am I supposed to find a host for you in this desolate place?"

Upon hearing Wild Hunt's reply, Bodil became even more anxious, "You're not really going to agree to find her a physical body, are you?"

“This place has been swallowed by the void, and there are no living creatures to be found.” Wild Hunt looked at the saline land and then said to Naganeka, “It’s better if we continue with the status quo. I only agreed to rescue you from the beast tide, not to help you find a physical body. You can wait here for other Darkin to pass by.”

Naganekia snorted coldly and then fell silent.

Chapter 366 Sand Dune Hounds

Wild Hunt definitely cannot allow Portil to venture deep into Icathia, where the dragons' powerful bodies will not only be no advantage, but their enormous size will make them easier targets for attack.

In dragon form, not only is she unable to receive the protection of her armor, but without Kai'Sa's World Rune, even resisting the erosion of Void energy becomes a problem.

Furthermore, the Darkin are capricious and arrogant, and they don't submit to anyone. If other Darkin want to take action against Portil, even if Naganeka is willing to step in to protect her, it won't work. It's better to stop here and wait for Kaisa to take her place.

In human form, Kai'Sa's strength far surpasses that of other members of her clan, and she is extremely experienced in dealing with Void creatures, making her the best candidate to track the Darkin and infiltrate Icathia.

However, since Portil had successfully completed his intelligence-gathering mission, he naturally deserved a good reward.

During the time he was waiting for Kai'Sa, Wild Hunt rewarded Portil in every way imaginable, having sex under the stars and even trying out his dragon form, which made the latter beam with joy, her cold eyes melting and sparkling with hearts.

She was originally terrified of tracking the Dark Ones, but now she would probably agree to go to Icathia without hesitation, as if she were afraid of missing out on the reward.

Unfortunately, the next part of the time belongs to Kai'Sa.

Just days after the Wild Hunt threw Naganekal into the dry well, a message finally arrived from Kasha, who was far away in Nashram.

"The Wild Hunt and the Darkin trio have passed by me. Tarouch and Du have both gained bodies, and Anaka is stronger than before."

"You didn't have any conflict with them, did you?" Wild Hunt keenly sensed that Kasha's voice sounded slightly tired, clearly due to lack of sleep caused by fear.

"No, they didn't pass through the city, and my mother and father are both safe and sound."

"That's good. I need you now. Come over after you say goodbye to your parents. You'll never guess where I am right now."

The Wild Hunt cannot exist alone, so he has to bring Kaisa over first, and then send Portil away.

No sooner had Portil left than the Wild Hunt eagerly extended its protrusions from within the armor, wrapping them around Kaisa's smooth, flat abdomen several times before encircling her plump, full breasts, examining the two luscious stamens.

"It seems to have gotten a little bigger in just a few days. Is your milk coming in?" Wild Hunt breathed hot air into Kasha's ear, making her hunch her shoulders and blush slightly.

"You're being vulgar... It's just that I ate a little more of my parents' cooking at home, it shouldn't have that effect. Even if it were to get bigger, it should be my belly that gets bigger."

"Really? Let me touch it again."

"Why are you so thirsty?" Kasha chuckled and scolded him, but didn't stop him. They were an old married couple, and it was nice to have a little romance now and then.

After the two played around for a while, Kasha finally noticed where she was and frowned slightly.

How did I get here?

Dark stone pillars, jagged and interlocking, rise from the valley, reaching towards the sky. Dead creatures coil on the branches. Below lies a small village buried years ago, its childhood memories, intertwined with hers, completely destroyed by monsters.

"It's just a coincidence, don't overthink it." Wild Hunt realized that Kai'Sa was being reminded of unpleasant memories by the scene, so he comforted her.

"Okay, did something happen that made me come over so early?"

"Does missing you count?" Wild Hunt whispered without thinking, which made Kaisa's eyes, which had just dimmed, light up again, and her face turned red to the roots of her ears.

"I guess so." She fidgeted and smoothed her hair, somewhat caught off guard by the Wild Hunt's changed style.

Wild Hunt chuckled and said, "Actually, I just heard you sounded a bit tired and wanted to soothe you."

"I've thought of a place. Let's go there."

Kaisa found the way down the mountain in her memory and led the Wild Hunt to a narrow cave located in the valley.

"Isn't this the cave I dug out to lure you in?" Wild Hunt immediately recognized the traces of void energy corrosion on the cave walls.

"Hmm. It's actually quite infuriating. You ate my family's goat, lured me into the cave, and then deliberately popped out to scare me when I was stuck and couldn't get out. It gave me nightmares that night."

"That was to warn you. Back then, if I dared to show up, I would be beaten to death by the villagers."

“You were weak too.” Kasha covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone suddenly becoming somewhat nostalgic. “But this was also where my mother and I hid when the disaster struck. Wild Hunt, I truly thank you for saving my family.”

Wild Hunt didn't say anything; Kai'Sa was the host he had chosen from the beginning. Although he knew Kai'Sa wouldn't die without him, since he had intervened, he had to change something, otherwise it would be too boring.

"You can lie down in it now and relive the feeling."

"Ah."

Kaisa obediently lay down, backing away into the cave to lie down. Wild Hunt then manipulated his armor to massage her, relieving her physical and mental fatigue.

He didn't do anything unnecessary; there would be plenty of opportunities after that.

Gradually, Kasha closed her eyes comfortably during the massage and gently fell asleep.

Kai'Sa was woken up by Wild Hunt. She was still half asleep when she heard Wild Hunt whisper in her ear, "A Darkin is coming."

Those few words instantly snapped Kasha back to reality. She immediately disappeared and crawled out of the cave, making sure to cover herself up with dust as she did so.

To get a better view, Kai'Sa went up to the mountaintop where she had been before under the cover of night, and then peered out to look down into the valley.

Which Darkin will it be this time? Kai'Sa wondered to herself, ruling out the trio of conflicting factions.

Given their speed, it's impossible for them to have arrived here so quickly, so it must be a Darkborn she doesn't recognize.

The other party did not have a conspicuous size like a giant. After scanning around, Kaisa discovered that a group of wild beasts had sneaked into the valley.

"These are... Dune Hounds?" Kai'Sa was quite surprised, never expecting a pack of hounds to wander into this desolate place.

“Take another look,” Wild Hunt said.

“Something’s not right…” Kasha put on her mask to enhance her vision and suddenly realized that these hounds were very different from the Dune Hounds she remembered.

They were about the same size as ordinary hounds, but each one had at least one fragment of a Darkin weapon embedded in its body, giving all of the dozens of hounds a Darkin enhancement.

The tan fur that could have blended perfectly into the desert has been replaced by bare muscles with red and black stripes exposed to the air. The body looks more agile, but also more terrifying. At first glance, it looks like a strong hunting dog that has been skinned.

The pack leader was a hunting dog with white fur still on its head. Its body was covered with a layer of tough iron skin, and a ring of sharp blades like a mane protruded around its neck, each blade bearing a long, narrow, scarlet eye.

It even had pierced earrings hanging from its ears, and its sharp teeth and mouth stretched out in an evil and cruel arc. It was using its keen sense of smell to search for the scent of its kind hidden in the valley, giving people a feeling that it was not coming with good intentions.

Seemingly realizing that someone was watching from the shadows, the dog leader suddenly looked up at the sky above the valley, his fierce eyes revealing a murderous intent, which startled Kasha, who quickly shrank back.