Void Beetle Evolution Guide

Anyway, Kai'Sa didn't want to look at it a second time. She carefully explored the land corrupted by the Void, like a scavenger in a post-apocalyptic world, searching for any useful clues in the ruins.

Places corrupted by the void rarely retain much human civilization, but the Purple Sea of ​​Piervis is an exception.

She doesn't seek mere destruction, but rather to reshape the world into the way she desires. As a result, countless inverted buildings can be seen in the Pale Purple Sea, arranged and rearranged in bizarre ways.

The ancient city of Icathia survived simply because it was large, and because the native void creatures had no interest in lifeless buildings.

However, judging from the shapes of these damaged buildings, it is not difficult to imagine the scene of the Icathians desperately hiding in their homes, only to be dug out and eaten by huge monsters.

Even those with limited imaginations, walking through this dilapidated ancient city and seeing those shocking ruins, can easily feel a chill run down their spine and shudder with a single, unintentional thought.

"Are you afraid, Kai'Sa?" Wild Hunt asked knowingly.

He could sense Kaisa's panic by monitoring changes in her vital signs such as heartbeat and breathing through her skin and nails. The reason he asked this extra question was that he felt frequent communication could alleviate Kaisa's anxiety.

Kasha didn't answer directly, but instead described her feelings in a more subtle and indirect way.

"Ever since I stepped into Icathia, my skin has been constantly tingling and itchy, as if it is instinctively excited by the changes in the environment and breathing in the high concentration of void energy in the air. Yet, I am trembling at the sight of these changes."

Wild Hunt took some time to calm the armor down, while simultaneously simulating the feel of skin-to-skin contact beneath it, before embracing her tightly from behind.

Faced with unknown dangers, the Wild Hunt had no intention of playing around, but took it very seriously, wanting to overcome the difficulties with Kai'Sa.

"If you're still scared, I'll call the others over to give you some courage."

"No need, I'm not afraid as long as you're with me. Besides, they can't adapt to the environment here, and bringing them along would only be a burden."

Kasha is very rational, and even in this situation, she doesn't want to drag unrelated people into the mess.

So the Wild Hunt came up with another idea.

The return of the support panel after a long absence surprised Kaisa. What delighted her even more was that many things she was completely unfamiliar with and had no clue about could now be displayed and explained through the support panel, which greatly stimulated her desire to explore.

The Wild Hunt is not an omnipotent system capable of identifying everything in the world; it can only label what it understands, and display anything beyond its cognitive scope as a question mark.

Even so, it was enough for Kai'Sa to use. By checking the instructions, she could quickly understand what had happened in this place, just like playing a horror survival game.

The setting is an ancient city destroyed by the Void. Kai'Sa needs to evade the Darkin and Void monsters roaming the city, secretly explore the cruel truth of its history, and at the same time uncover the Darkin's schemes to prevent them from dragging the world into chaos once again.

The early game is relatively easy. There aren't many Darkin yet; their massive size makes them seem like background figures—visible from afar without revealing their presence. Many areas in the city are unclaimed territory; you only need to be wary of the Void creatures lurking in the shadows to explore at your leisure.

As the game progresses into the mid-to-late stages, the Darkin will have almost completely filled the city. They will no longer be just background characters, but rather regional bosses. At that point, Kai'Sa may encounter them wherever she goes, leading to a fierce battle, followed by an attack from other Darkin who will arrive at the sound of the commotion, causing her mission to fail.

Kai'Sa's immediate priority is to find a safe haven for herself, a secluded place where no Darkin or Void creatures will notice her, so that she can continue to lie low in this city.

Kai'Sa certainly wouldn't have this kind of gaming mindset; these are all just Wild Hunt's attempts to find amusement in his mind.

However, he can use storytelling to let Kaisa experience the fun of the game firsthand and present his companionship in a direct way, so that she no longer feels panicked and lonely.

Incidentally, provide guidance in stages. For example, setting a stage goal like "find a place to stay in the city" will clearly show her what she should be doing at this stage.

Wild Hunt thought this ancient city should be given a name, such as Zone Zero, the Land of Decay, or the Wound of the World, which might make it more immersive.

As expected, after the support panel was re-released, Kai'Sa's exploration efficiency improved significantly.

She found a hovercraft that had crashed out of control and into a residential area during the disaster, located in an alley.

The tank had crashed, and the heavily armored carriages, which were as big as three-masted sailing ships, were severely damaged, but this also caused the originally sealed carriages to be broken open.

The war machines that were originally mounted on it have fallen off; they resemble navigation astrolabes, and their outer glass shields are completely shattered, leaving only a ring of sharp shards around the edge.

Several magic crystals embedded in the star chart as nodes have also fallen off and disappeared. Although a few have been preserved, their magic power has been completely lost due to their age.

Kasha knew absolutely nothing about magic, let alone magical machinery; she fiddled with it a few times and then ignored it. (The last two lines appear to be random characters and are left untranslated.)

She entered the carriage and found it to be very spacious, divided into several different spaces for different purposes, like a ship's cabin.

Kaisa casually picked up a torch staff to use as a cane for scouting, and arrived at a place that might be an ammunition depot.

"There are some fire orbs stored in the compartment, probably munitions that weren't used up during the war," Wild Hunt whispered in your ear, explaining. "Your intuition tells you that your staff can ignite these fire orbs like a match, unleashing powerful ancient magic. However, you're well aware of your almost idiotic magical talent, and rolling dice to identify them would be pointless. Seeing the less than one percent success rate, you chose to ignore these munitions."

Kasha rolled her eyes, then calmly accepted the fact and turned to explore other cabins.

She is mentally mature enough not to really treat this as a game that can be restarted, nor would it arouse any rebellious feelings that would make her want to try it.

Kasha carefully explored the carriage and found that each compartment had windows, allowing her to observe the outside world, and there was more than one exit.

Considering all these factors, this place is quite a good safe house.

More importantly, the interior space of the carriage was divided into relatively small areas, making it impossible for those massive Darkin to squeeze in.

The Darkin, having once been celestial warriors of Shurima, must have been intimately familiar with the interior of the carriages. Based on this knowledge, they instinctively assumed that no one could hide inside.

Kasha took advantage of this psychology, which allowed her to spend the next few nights in the train carriage.

Chapter 373: Dark Descent Gathering (1)

Over the next two weeks, the Darkin arrived in Icathia one after another.

Aside from the previous few, the first to arrive in the city was Ibarros, who had set out from Bilgewater. This Darkin's true form was a harpoon.

His large, burly body was encased in thick armor, with even his neck tucked inside, making him look like a crab that had shrunk into its shell.

Ibarros is a hero of the dunes, and the same familiar longing that he felt years ago flows in his blood: a longing to serve, to obey, to submit.

The second to arrive was Balkux, who had been exiled to Bandle City. This Darkin's true form was a one-eyed staff.

Bandle City is the home of the Yordles, a bizarre and fantastical place separate from the material world, accessible only through the legendary portal opened by the Yordles.

Although he was carrying a staff, this mage was the largest of the Darkin.

He flew all the way here, his entire body made of trees, his shape resembling a giant spaceship, with a single, scarlet eye serving as his windshield. Around this giant eye was a ring of smaller, vertical pupils that rotated in sync with the central eye.

Barcox has long, slender arms on both sides, making an adult look as tiny as a mosquito in its hands. Several graceful branches grow from its back, and each leaf is large enough for a person to stand on.

Upon seeing this Darkin, Wild Hunt couldn't help but think of the portal to Bandle City.

Those magical portals are actually circles formed by the curling tips of the branches of a strange tree called the Bandel Tree.

The host that Balkux possessed happened to be a tree. This similarity makes it hard not to connect the two and suspect that he might have dismantled the station in Bandle City and taken it with him.

The third to arrive was Horaz, who was kept on a high shelf by Mount Targon; her true form was a unique one-eyed magnet.

Her figure was very similar to that of a human, somewhat like a combination of an angel and a demon. She had angelic white wings on her back, but her legs were demonic reverse-jointed hooves.

Horaz gained a broader perspective within the burning celestial matter that imprisoned her. She glimpsed the mysteries of the universe and the infinite flow of time before and after her existence, but she still harbored resentment towards the being that had betrayed her.

Next to arrive are the trio the Wild Hunt first encountered: Anaka the Spear, Taroosh the Halberd, and Jorah the Shield, who were sealed away in Freljord, the Shadow Isles, and Demacia, respectively.

……

Aatrox dealt with the stubborn Void Beast, but instead of immediately returning to the ground, he remained suspended in the low-lying clouds.

Its wings flapped slowly, not enough to sustain flight. (The last two lines appear to be random characters and do not translate directly.)

In reality, they are like battle banners, more symbolic than practical. The Darkin's flight, like that of dragons, relies primarily on magical assistance.

He looked down at the ruins below. Every time he saw the ruins of the city, Aatrox's anger would burn fiercely, and he would desperately want to destroy something.

But those were just futile acts of malice. Look at this desolate scene, ravaged by the void; there's nothing left for him to destroy.

The Darkin have been arriving one after another, and some may still be on their way, but Aatrox is not ready to wait any longer.

He slammed the living giant sword in his hand down from the sky, and the giant sword, like divine punishment, crashed heavily into the center of the Icathian monarchy. The shockwave it generated destroyed the already crumbling palace complex into shattered ruins.

The shockwave spread to every corner of the city, which served as a signal. The Darkin in the city moved to gather in the ruins, silently waiting for Aatrox to speak.

This commotion naturally alerted Kai'Sa. As she left the hovercraft and disappeared into the city center, the enormous Balkux flew overhead but did not notice her.

The Darkin who had gathered from all over the city formed a tacit circle around the greatsword. Aatrox slowly descended into their midst and pulled out the greatsword from which the heart was growing.

His arrival immediately made the air in the area tense and heavy, just like the atmosphere when the gods summon their armies.

Aatrox's piercing gaze swept over his fellow Darkborn.

They were once brothers and sisters, and this bond and responsibility were once their unbreakable tie.

But practice has shown that what is supposedly indestructible is actually just as easily broken as glass.

Their bodies were once reforged by an unimaginable force from a realm beyond comprehension, sculpting their earthly flesh in a way that no living being could imitate.

But in the hands of their creators, this body is nothing more than a clay toy, which can be easily crushed into a puddle of mud.

Time has passed, and these brethren have long since degenerated into beings unrecognizable to Aatrox. Their lightforged bodies have been destroyed, forcing them to attend the gathering in this wretched form. Many of them are even unable to maintain their human form, a truly tragic situation.

“Who remembers the last time we gathered together like this?” Aatrox spoke, his words echoing throughout the palace through the magically formed resonant structure.

“It’s the Thousand Gods Painting in front of the walls of Parnesa,” Jolar blurted out. He was Aatrox’s most loyal soldier, and the general’s words were like orders to him.

Aatrox nodded in agreement. That vivid memory rekindled deep within their souls, reminding them of their former selves. They were beings who had ascended to godhood; trivial pleasantries were beneath their stature.

"That mural depicts our glorious past, with Setaka leading our Ascended Legion to expand the Emperor's territory to the very edge of the world. I remember it clearly. It was an age of glory, an age of heroes!"

Aatrox spoke in a calm voice, his deep gaze sweeping over everyone one by one. He then changed the subject: "But times have changed. Now, take a good look at each other. How much of your former selves do you still resemble? One by one, you have all become this vile and inferior form, crudely reshaping the flesh and blood you have stolen to imitate your former image. Many of you can't even maintain a human form. It's truly tragic!"

The Darkin, who had been listening quietly, became agitated by Aatrox's words. Angry growls erupted from the pack of Naafiri dogs, as if they wanted to tear him to pieces. "Aatrox, don't tell me you called us here just to say this?"

“Even in our most destitute times, we commanded legions of over ten thousand men. Queens and princesses of mortal kingdoms vied to be our saviors, willing to pay the price of blinding themselves. For no other reason than seeking divine protection—the only way to survive in this chaotic world.” Naganekia’s gaze was hidden beneath her cloak’s hood, her slender frame huddled within her scale-armored robes, as she hissed maliciously, “No one wants to be like this, and no one can accept this fall from grace. Aatrox, we came to this meeting out of respect for you, without even having time to find a suitable host. You must at least make our trip worthwhile.”

“Flattery is too empty and tedious. You’ve heard enough of it from those tormented choirs when you were alive. I don’t sing about the pain of death. I’m just reminding you…” Aatrox paused, his eyes blazing with hatred, his voice growing increasingly strained and menacing: “We have all fallen to this state because of certain people!”

“I believe some of you have already guessed or sensed that the coward from Icathia has been resurrected. She comes from these ruins where we are standing. That is why I have gathered you here.”

Chapter 374 Darkborn Gathering (Part Two)

"Zorani!" Taroosh shouted the traitor's name, his dragon form making his voice roar: "That coward is nothing to fear! If it weren't for the Twilight Protoss interfering, I almost could have killed her!"

“Aatrox, do you want us to help you kill her?” Anaka asked.

"Help? I don't need anyone's help. I can finish her off myself." Aatrox slammed his greatsword into the ground again. "I'm warning you—anyone who dares to associate with her will be considered my enemy!"

“Zorani is our common enemy, that much is certain. She betrayed everyone, and no one will help her.” Balkux, a gigantic figure with a dozen eyes that darted around simultaneously, his voice booming, “Fighting alone will surely lead to defeat!”

"But have you figured out how to kill her? The celestial matter that imprisons us still has no way to be destroyed. It is both a dark prison and an indestructible safe house."

Horaz voiced the doubts in everyone's hearts: no matter how much they hated Zolani, they could not truly kill her; at most, they could only force her back into her sealed state.

“The Twilight Protoss taught mortals how to seal the Darkin, so they naturally know how to kill the Darkin. Therefore, I will destroy this world, starting with Zoranny, dragging the entire world into the final battle of the apocalypse, until I drag the Twilight Protoss down with her and get the answer from her.”

“I will kill her after I know the answer, then I will kill Zoranny, and finally myself.” Aatrox stared intently at the beating heart on the living greatsword, his tone becoming threatening and judgmental, though he himself was unaware that, “Only in this way can I destroy this cage that imprisons me and be completely free!”

Surprised whispers spread like waves across the ruins. As if sensing a threat, the blades on Nayafili's body clashed and hissed under Naganeka's cloak.

No one expected Aatrox to have gone this far. Many of them had just gained their freedom, and to ask them to commit suicide right away was something few were willing to do.

Kai'Sa, lurking in the corner, clenched her fists tightly. If it were just about hunting down Zolani, she wouldn't care about the grudges and feuds among these Darkin. But now that Aatrox wanted to start a war among the Darkins, she absolutely couldn't stand idly by.

"So this is your real purpose? You want to drag us into declaring war on the whole world... even on the heavens?!" Anaka stood with her sword drawn, pointing her spear at the Destroyer.

If Aatrox decides to wage war, no one can remain uninvolved. The Protoss and mortals won't care whether they're on the same side or not; they'll all retaliate equally.

"Stop pretending to be high and mighty. Who here didn't obtain their body through the plunder of flesh and blood? This vile body needs to be constantly reshaped through slaughter. We are inherently destined to be enemies of the world!" Aatrox clenched his fists and pounded his chest in grief and indignation, asking himself, "If we don't kill, we can only return to that dark cage. Killing only moves us to a larger cage. I've had enough of walking on this earth with a cursed body. Only by destroying everything can I find an end."

Destroying the world is to destroy oneself. Killing is to stop killing. Such extreme rhetoric plunged the Darkborn into an extraordinary silence.

They were well aware of what Aatrox was talking about: the Darkin's energy was too powerful, and the flesh and blood of mortals were too fragile. If they did not replenish their flesh and blood frequently, their bodies would continue to collapse. This characteristic made it impossible for them to live peacefully with humans.

Moreover, to live on with this ugly body is nothing short of a curse, a humiliation, and a mockery for a proud celestial warrior, a mockery of his former glory.

Aatrox could not accept living in such a despicable state, nor could he destroy the greatsword that imprisoned him, so he chose to destroy everything until he personally obtained the method of self-destruction from the Protoss.

"The end of the world is a blind expectation. Even back then, we were no match for the combined forces of the Protoss and Humans, let alone now that only we are left." Horaz, soaring through the air, broke the silence with a superior, all-knowing tone. (The remaining text appears to be random characters and doesn't translate directly.)

“What if we could unite against the common enemy this time?” Nayafili wagged his tail excitedly. “I’m not interested in destroying the world, but I am very interested in how much of a threat we can pose to it when we are united. If we each stick to our own opinions and fight our own battles, we will only go through another thousand-year cycle and be torn apart like last time.”

"No matter how many times we have to do it again, I will always be loyal to the General!" Joral seemed to sense Nayafili's interest in the leadership and immediately declared his stance. The burly Ibarros followed suit, making Nayafili pace back and forth, baring his teeth in anger.

"Everyone, please calm down," Naga Neka advised. She was usually the kind of shady character who would listen silently without offering her opinions and secretly plot, but her encounter with the Wild Hunt made her feel that she needed to say something.

She hissed, “We’ve been out of touch with the world for too long and we lack knowledge of it. On the way here, someone told me that the Void has invaded the depths of Shurima and that a near-goddess has been born among them, possessing the power and wisdom of millions. None of us are a match for her.”

“Do you think a destroyer of the world would care about these things? The Void is the source of our Darkin's suffering; for countless years we have silently endured its poison. Now, I only want to bring this suffering to the whole world, to let them feel my pain.” Aatrox didn't even glance at her, his deep gaze fixed on the west, in the direction of Mount Targon.

"Before you even awoke, I had already severely damaged the Protoss of War, causing cracks to appear in the constellations of the sky. Although I was also reduced to my original form, as long as my weapons remain intact, I can be reborn again... And that is the source of my confidence. The Protoss are not invincible; they only have one chance to make a mistake, while we can start countless times!"

Aatrox displayed the Darkin's arrogance and conceit to the fullest extent, prompting Naganek to furrow the scales on her forehead and say, "Aatrox, I just want to tell you, don't just focus on those few Protoss. The world is undergoing many changes, and even among mortals, there are those who can cause us trouble."

"Are you scared? Naganeka. Do you want to become the second Zolani, after the coward of Icathia?"

"I'm just a corpse collector. Take it or leave it." Naga Neka took off her hood, revealing numerous hypnotic eyes embedded in the ashes, and long black fangs hanging from her scale-covered lips.

"Hmph, then let's vote. Those who are willing to join me in waging war against the whole world, stay. The rest of you, as long as you don't block my way, you can go wherever you want." Aatrox ignored her, soared into the sky with his arms crossed, and stood proudly looking down at the crowd.

"I'll stay!" Jolar was the first to step forward, his blood boiling at the thought of fighting alongside the general again.

The others expressed their opinions, with only Joral, Ibarros, and Stratholme expressing their firm support for Aatrox, while the rest remained undecided.

"Others may have ambitions to rule the world, but destroying everything is definitely not among them," the Wild Hunt analyzed.