Void Beetle Evolution Guide

Philol's Dream Pool is not considered a core secret within the Black Rose.

Even Cassiopeia knew that a powerful witch was sleeping in the Dream Pool.

Her existence directly prompted Black Rose to secretly build the fortress around the Dream Pool.

The purpose was not only to guard this sleeping witch, but also to unleash her as a weapon when necessary, thus influencing the course of the war.

"So you're after that Sleeping Witch." Cassiopeia understood the Wild Hunt's meaning and immediately left her residence without any guards, heading towards a mountain peak in the fortress.

“She is very strong, and I need her power.” Wild Hunt did not deny it. After losing Kai’Sa, his greatest ally, he desperately needed to find a powerful host.

“But I’ve heard she has a bad temper. If we wake her up, are you sure you can control her?” Cassiopeia was starting to worry that the witch might strangle her in her morning grumpiness.

Philol was not originally designed as a fortress.

A far cry from the fortress, this place was once a center of tranquility and enlightenment, where talented young Ionia would come from all directions to learn how to better harness their innate abilities.

This island, once teeming with life, learning, and peace, is now a barren wasteland and a prison.

Almost no vegetation grows on the islands surrounding the fortress; only barren thickets of thorns and ghostly gray moss thrive here.

Numerous birds and other wildlife from the nearby islands now avoid this area, except for the dark, hateful crows and ravens that came with the Noxians and have never left.

And it all started with a woman named Syndra.

Syndra was born in Navori province of Ionia, where she displayed terrifying magical talent from a young age. During a children's game, Syndra was wronged, which awakened the dark power dormant within her, instantly draining the spirit willow offered by the village.

So her family was driven out of the village, and later they came to the seaside where they met a hermit priest. He told them about his temple on the island of Philo and took Syndra back there to receive his guidance.

However, years of training failed to teach Syndra how to control her power; instead, it weakened her magic. It turned out that her master hadn't taught her how to control power, but rather how to dissipate it, simply because her energy far exceeded his abilities as her mentor.

Syndra felt an unprecedented betrayal. She abandoned everything and silently watched over the sea with the dark, ancient bricks. She had wasted so many years, only to receive this result.

The dawn that day was exceptionally tragic, the foundations of the temple trembled violently, and in a fit of rage, Syndra killed her mentor, forcing him to experience all her bitterness and fury before he died.

The roof was gone, rubble rained down, and the Garden Sanctuary was buried in dust. Syndra unleashed her power upon the ruins of the temple, shockwaves rippled throughout Philo, and the island's primal magic was completely drained.

Never before had so much gloomy energy been concentrated in one place. Its power even made the Soul of Ionia itself wary, forcing it to muster its strength to resist it.

Thick tree roots burst forth from the ground, binding her in a pool of flowing water, suppressing her power, and plunging her into a magical slumber.

It wasn't until a century later, when Noxus conquered Philo Island, that Syndra was freed from the Sentinels' watch.

However, it is conceivable that once she awakens, she will be filled with the rage of being oppressed for a hundred years, and anything that appears in her sight may become the target of her anger.

Cassiopeia couldn't help but feel worried about such an untamed wild horse. The Wild Hunt, however, didn't offer a definitive answer, deciding to take it one step at a time.

However, before Cassiopeia could get close to the cliff where the Dream Pool was located, a patrol of soldiers marching along the battlements called out to her from above.

"Miss, this is a restricted area. To pass, you need to present Lord Kalan's decree. Do you have it with you?"

"No, I just came out for a walk. If you won't let me through here, I'll go for a walk in the courtyard."

Cassiopeia left without making a sound, but she muttered to herself, "Even an inconspicuous cliff has sentries guarding it. It seems Governor Kalan also knows about the Dream Pool. What should I do?"

"Let's go back first, we'll think of another way," Wild Hunt said helplessly.

He had begun to miss the days when Kassa was by his side. Kassiopeia's skin armor could not transform into its corrosive form, so she could not use her invisibility ability, and even simple infiltration had become a problem.

Back in Cassiopeia's room, and after confirming that no one was around, Wild Hunt summoned Elise to join the party temporarily.

Elise's armor is in an erosion form, which allows her to use invisibility. It's very convenient to teleport her back later using Iser as the anchor point.

"Elise, I hope you don't mind if this takes up some of your time?"

“Of course, Iris is more than happy to be able to get away from her busy work. If it’s not urgent, it would be even better to come in the evening when people are free.”

"It's urgent."

"Then everything should be done according to God's will."

Elise smiled and bowed slightly, then removed her helmet and looked up at Cassiopeia, her eyes lighting up immediately.

Although both are Noxian nobles, members of the Black Rose, and members of the Wild Hunt, this is the first time the two have met.

"Ah, if I'm not mistaken, this is Du Kekao's youngest daughter. What a beautiful and kind-hearted girl. I must thank you for recommending me to the God."

"Mrs. Elise, you're too kind." Cassiopeia smiled, knowing that Elise was, after all, her superior in the organization, and she had to maintain proper etiquette.

"So what if we don't stand on ceremony?"

Elise grasped Cassiopeia's delicate arm, the armored arm touching her skin directly. Taking advantage of Cassiopeia's habitual reaction, Elise took advantage of the situation and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly.

Cassiopeia gasped at the unexpected move. Elise then reached her hand behind her and pinched her buttocks with excessive affection, her sharp nails leaving clear, fleshy indentations.

What does the Wild Hunt like to see? Nothing more than the allure of beautiful women, and she is displaying her feminine charm to him, trying to arouse his primal and wild desires.

However, this action was stopped by Wild Hunt, "I don't have that kind of thought right now. Go back after you're done!"

"So you called me here not to do that kind of thing?" Iris pushed Cassiopeia away from her arms with some disappointment. She really wanted to have a threesome and release her pent-up desires.

Chapter 455 The Consequences of Poseoring

The Wild Hunt was single-mindedly focused on finding Kai'Sa; he made it his top priority, and everything else had to take a backseat.

"So, what do you need me to do?" Lady Elise sat down on the bedside without any hesitation, crossed her legs, and rested her chin on her hand as if listening attentively.

"Help me dive into the Dream Pool and awaken Syndra."

"Oh, so you've found a new love interest." Elise said sourly, then paused, brought her sharp nails to her lips, parted her red lips to reveal fangs sticking with venom, and gave a knowing look. "Shouldn't this be Kasha's job? Or should we keep it from her knowing?"

“Kasha has gone missing. Master wants you, Madam, to come here to find her,” Cassiopeia said, blinking hard to signal her.

"Hiss..." Elise covered her mouth in surprise, only then realizing the seriousness of the problem.

Kaisa has disappeared! What happened? In any case, she knew very well how important Kaisa was to the Wild Hunt; none of them could compare to her position in the Wild Hunt's hearts. So she immediately put away her frivolous attitude.

“Syndra is a crucial piece LeBlanc has placed in Ionia. If she gets rid of her, LeBlanc will be furious,” Elise explained. “Noxus lost a lot of people in the last war, and the empire’s internal supply and demand have temporarily returned to balance. There’s no need for frantic territorial expansion until the next population boom. In addition, with the Shadow Isles diverting resources, Swain is already considering withdrawing his troops, but LeBlanc doesn’t think so. She wants the war to continue so she can fish in troubled waters and profit from it. And this Syndra is the key to starting a second war.”

"Are you listening to her or me?" Wild Hunt didn't care whose interests were affected or who would die because of it; he only wanted to find Kasha.

"Of course I'll listen to you. I'm just reminding you. Besides, this Kalan is no pushover either. A Vastayan from Ionia, yet he can become the governor of a Noxian fortress, commanding more than fifty warships and merchant ships, as well as thousands of Noxian warriors. There must be some shady dealings involved."

The implication is that even Elise, a core member of the Black Rose, doesn't know what secrets Governor Karan possesses.

Wild Hunt sighed; he happened to know the truth. “He’s neither LeBlanc’s man nor Swain’s man; he doesn’t belong to either side. He betrayed his own people to fight alongside the enemy, solely because of a prophecy that only by staying in Philorl and watching over Sindra forever could his family be spared from being dragged into the war and die peacefully.”

The prophet who foretold Karan's future is a figure of great significance. She is the mortal incarnation of a benevolent giant god from the heavens, an existence even more powerful than the celestial spirits.

She had also made a prophecy for Kalista, but Kalista did not heed the advice and returned home, insisting on searching for the Blessed Isle, which ultimately led to the Great Devastation.

"Taking Syndra away will inevitably be hindered by many parties. Many people don't want us to touch this piece of the pie, so this matter must be handled discreetly." The armor moved with the Wild Hunt's thoughts, as if a hand was placed on Elise's fragrant shoulder, gradually increasing its pressure, reminding her to be extra careful.

"Let's not delay, let's set off." Seeing that the sky was gradually darkening, Elise immediately got up and disappeared into the shadows as she made her way toward the cliff that Cassiopeia had been unable to reach before.

With invisibility, the difficulty was reduced by a lot. Elise easily passed by squads of patrolling soldiers on the ramparts and arrived at a tall tower in the courtyard.

Elise's folded appendages unfolded like umbrella ribs, and she lazily stretched her limbs. Unexpectedly, the Wild Hunt suddenly extended tentacles from beneath her armor, tightly coiling around her body. The toothed tips aimed at her delicate buds and forcefully sucked at them, as if trying to squeeze the nectar from the flower's bloom. The warm, moist cavern was also forcibly stretched open, and peeled wooden sticks were shoved inside and driven in relentlessly.

A tingling pleasure and a sharp pain surged forth, causing Mrs. Elise to let out an extremely passionate gasp, as her long-suppressed desires found an outlet.

"Ah... My God..." Her dreamy eyes seemed to stretch out like silk threads, and her jade-like lips exhaled a sweet fragrance. Any man who saw this expression would go crazy for her and would be willing to become her devoted subject.

With a captivating beauty that has been meticulously maintained for four hundred years, coupled with a lustful body that can be aroused at any time, even the Wild Hunt would find it hard to resist the alluring aura she exudes with every move.

"You're always posing and flirting in front of me. If it weren't for an emergency, I would have just killed you both! Get moving. I can play with your body, but you can't stop."

"Yes..." Hearing her god so frankly affirm her beauty, Elise instantly reached a climax. Her long legs trembled, and she could only climb to the top of the tower by using her limbs.

Passing by the tower window, a slightly aged veteran was looking out when the invisible Elise passed right in front of him, completely unaware. Spiders aren't slugs; they don't leave a trail of glistening threads as they crawl. [Unintelligible text]

The cliff at the top of the tower was sloping, and only spiders could climb up upside down. Elise used the numerous tiny hooks on her appendages to snag on the crevices of the rock surface, dragging her occasionally convulsing body upwards.

Even after nightfall, guards still patrolled the stone steps carved into the cliff. The steps were very narrow, and even if one walked through them invisibly, collisions were inevitable. That's why Elise chose an alternate route.

The wishing lanterns lining both sides of the stone steps were all black. Before Noxus conquered this sanctuary, these lanterns burned continuously, day and night.

Hanging upside down from the high cliff, Elise looked at the tranquil harbor in the distance and the Noxian warships lined up neatly within it, and suddenly calmed down.

She wondered if the Sleeping Witch, who had been forcibly awakened, would destroy Philo Island again in her rage.

With her limbs constantly climbing, Elise soon reached the top of the mountain, where she stood radiantly before the ancient temple.

She saw two guards standing at the temple entrance, both muscular and clad in heavy black armor, each holding a massive shield in one hand and a serrated meat-slicing axe in the other.

Just as Elise was wondering if the noise from opening the temple gate would disturb the two people, and whether she should subdue them beforehand, she noticed that the door leading into the temple was open, and it seemed that someone was already inside.

Now there was no need to worry. She silently passed between the two guards. The dark environment behind the door made her feel very comfortable; it was familiar territory for her.

Chapter 456 Dream Pool

The stone steps in the dark cave were wet and slippery, and the temperature dropped lower and lower as you went down. Because of her armor, Elise felt no discomfort.

She went straight to the deepest part of the cave, where the last ten feet were rugged rocks leading to a shallow pond, where a woman lay in the depths of the pond.

The woman was submerged completely underwater, her long, untrimmed white hair cascading lazily around her, floating and scattering in the water.

Syndra. It is both her name and a synonym for destruction, representing succumbing to one's darkest fears and rage. To this day, her name is still cursed in many provinces of Ionia.

Half of the cave had collapsed, while the other half was barely supported by the massive root system of an ancient tree, which was also wrapped around Syndra's limbs and torso, just enough to block all possible angles from which she could be exposed.

The tree roots appear as if a loving mother is cradling her baby, or as if they are suppressing and binding her, depending on the observer's perspective. She could easily be mistaken for dead, but her chest rises and falls rhythmically as she breathes the water from the pool.

Her appearance is utterly deceptive; she doesn't look fierce at all and is so serene that you can't see any evil in her. But this is the witch who almost killed the entire island. She can only be controlled because the soul of the nascent earth personally dragged her down and captured her in this strange stalemate.

"Syndra was imprisoned for over a hundred years, during which time she had the same recurring dreams. Although her body had matured, her perception remained stuck in the past, a girl who felt betrayed by the whole world."

Elise did not answer the Wild Hunt, for there was someone else in the cave. It was a Vastaya clad in Noxian armor, with the physique of an upright feline, two horns on its head, three tails hanging down its back, its entire body perfectly blending into the darkness, its golden pupils gazing at the water's surface.

This man was Kalan, the governor of the Fortress of Philol, a shameless traitor of Presidium who betrayed his people and Ionia to surrender to the enemy, and Philol was a reward bestowed upon him by the Empire.

Elise remained silent, but the Wild Hunt asked her with a touch of emotion, "Family or country, what would you choose?"

She silently shook her head, meaning she wouldn't choose either of them. Her family was using her as a tool for political marriage, and she had long since distanced herself from the center of power; both were disposable to her.

Only those who lack strength are bound by prophecy; only by dedicating themselves to the gods and firmly grasping power in their hands can they control their own destiny.

"If it were Kai'Sa, she would probably choose her family," Wild Hunt remarked, then fell silent.

Kalan appeared to be merely conducting a routine check of the seal, and left after confirming that Syndra was still asleep. Elise, noticing the small spider left at the entrance, confirmed that Kalan had left the temple before stepping into the pool.

"This pond is the so-called Dream Pool. We must not fall into it." Elise hid in her armor, afraid to come into direct contact with the water, lest she fall into a deep sleep like Syndra.

She waded through the water to Syndra's side, ripples rippling her long hair. As she drew closer, Elise noticed that Syndra's brow was constantly furrowed, as if the events of her dream had left her rather unhappy.

Elise raised her hand, and a pool of oily black substance dripped from her palm. It floated on the surface of the water, wriggled, and formed tentacles. Then, like tree roots, it burrowed into the water and wrapped around Syndra's heaving chest. It then spread along her body to form a skin armor that covered her entire body, leaving only her head exposed.

The invasion began, and Elise consciously returned to the pond to protect the Wild Hunt, partly to stay away from the soon-to-awaken witch and avoid becoming her first victim in her rage.

Wild Hunt gradually enveloped Syndra, feeling the warm temperature emanating from her skin, completely different from the icy pool water. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)

Perhaps due to the long period of slumber causing her muscles to atrophy, Syndra's entire body felt soft to the touch, perfectly embodying the phrase "soft as if boneless."

He tasted a contrast in her; no one could have imagined that such a volatile and domineering witch would have such an unusually delicate body.

Her clenched fists were crossed in front of her chest, her two rounded breasts were suppressed under the Five Finger Mountain, and the mad hunter controlled her hands to pull them out of the tree roots, freeing her high and milky white breasts.

Syndra's breasts were softer than others', like delicate tofu that could be broken at a touch. The Wild Hunt carefully wrapped them in armor, supporting them in a suitable shape.

Even in her dream, Syndra could sense unusual movements on her body, so Wild Hunt moved with exceptional gentleness. He didn't want to wake Syndra before the connection was complete and leave a bad first impression.

The obstructive tree roots were cleared away, and these roots were relentlessly drawing energy from Syndra to nourish the earth, which she had drained of its magic.

However, the parasitic growth over hundreds of years failed to deplete Syndra's power. Her innate magic was simply too strong; even while she slept, her power continued to grow, exceeding the rate at which the tree roots absorbed it.

As the skin armor completely covered even the fingertips, the Wild Hunt shifted its exploration of Syndra from the surface to the inside. Countless tiny synapses pierced her neck, establishing a connection with her nerves through weak bio-currents, and entering Syndra's dream.

……

The forest, gradually darkening, was breathtakingly beautiful. Wild Hunt spotted an angry, dark-haired girl stomping her feet as she walked along the winding path.

The glowing fireflies danced in the twilight, leaving luminous shadows in their wake, but the girl swatted them away, unconcerned by their fleeting elegance. Her eyes were fixed on the ground as she kicked aside a stone, letting it leap among the tangled roots, oblivious to the setting sun filtering through the dense canopy. The petals of the purple sable slowly unfurled, releasing a shimmering pollen into the warm twilight, but she, passing by hastily, snapped the stem in two.

Her cheeks burned red with shame and anger. Her mother's rebuke still echoed in her ears, and the mockery of her brother and other children lingered.

She stopped, turned back to look at the broken petals on the path, and frowned. Something was off... as if she had already experienced all of this. She shook her head and continued walking, deeper into the dense forest.

She finally arrived before the sacred willow. Its languid branches seemed to float on water, rubbing and colliding as they whispered like wind chimes.

Although the anger within her was still burning fiercely, she closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and slowly took a breath, trying to suppress her rage, just as the elder had taught her.

She was hit by something, something hard, striking her squarely on the back of the head. She fell forward and knelt on the ground. She touched the spot where she had been hit with one hand; her fingers were covered in blood. Then she heard laughter, and her rage surged.

She stood up, facing her brother and the other children. Her eyes shone with a dazzling darkness, her breathing was heavy and rapid, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides. All her previous efforts to calm herself were instantly overwhelmed by a flash of rage. Anger burned fiercely within her, like a vicious disease, relentlessly attacking and expanding. The air around her seemed to shimmer, while the spirit willow behind her began to fade and wither. Red sap fell like tears, the willow leaves curled and turned black, and her hair turned white.

Long ago, in a time no one could remember, the magic of this land began to nourish this spirit willow, which in turn nourished the land and its people in the same way. But now it was dying; its supple branches had become withered and brittle like dry bones, and its roots in the soil curled up in agony. The wind chimes on its branches tolled a death knell, but the girl heard no spirit willow; she was lost in a raging inferno.

As the ancient, primordial spirit tree vanished, the girl left the ground and floated in the air. Three spheres of utter darkness, devouring all light, began to orbit around her.