Void Beetle Evolution Guide

As the first rays of dawn touched the sun's disc, the enormous disc floating above the city seemed to awaken from its slumber.

It was quickly bathed in a shimmering gold, like a gleaming golden mirror reflecting sunlight onto the ground through its heavy rotation. The terminator swept across the entire city below in the blink of an eye, gilding everything with a golden glow.

People erupted in cheers. At that moment, the sun's disk was shining brightly, but not blindingly, filled with a sacred aura, as if a miracle had occurred.

A staircase leading to the heavens slowly rose under the light, and on the platform at the top of the long staircase, Azir stood there receiving the admiration of the masses.

"Look! That person wearing golden armor is Eagle Father!"

"Incredible! Your Majesty!"

The emperor did not reorganize the Ascended Priests Council, firstly because there were no suitable candidates to take on this important task, and secondly because such an arrangement would diminish his divine authority, so it was better to do it personally.

He looked up at the starry sky, now a thousand years later, where the stars had shifted and the world had changed, quietly waiting for the moment to approach, lost in thought.

Behind him were two well-known Ascended beings, who held a position akin to door gods in the hearts of the Shurima people and were therefore highly revered.

Beneath Nasus' calm exterior lay a turbulent undercurrent. How long had it been? He had witnessed similar scenes hundreds of times, but never before had he felt so agitated.

He had thought Shurima was completely beyond saving, but in the blink of an eye, he was standing in the same place again, feeling as if he were in a dream.

Knowing the significance of this moment, Renekton was trying his best to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his mind, but when he experienced the ascension ceremony again, the first thing that came to his mind was the scene of Xerath stealing the godhood.

This was undoubtedly a painful memory, and every time he thought about it, the muscles in his neck would twitch uncontrollably. Fortunately, no one could tell from a distance, so it was harmless.

Sunlight shone on Kai'Sa, who, as a spectator of the ascension ceremony, had chosen a rooftop with a panoramic view of the inner city. Unfortunately, Syndra had also arrived uninvited, floating right behind her.

"Where's Talia? I saw her yesterday, why isn't she here today?" Kasha muttered to herself. At this once-in-a-millennium moment, Talia had vanished without a trace. She wondered what she had done.

To her surprise, Wild Hunt didn't respond to her mutterings as usual. She wondered if Wild Hunt was communicating with Syndra and hadn't noticed her, but when she turned around, it didn't seem so, because Syndra was also silently gazing at the altar.

Kasha didn't think much of it. After all, Wild Hunt couldn't be watching over her 24/7, so it was normal for him not to respond to her every few words.

The time came, and the priests arranged by Azir ascended the golden road. A procession of ten thousand sand soldiers followed behind her, and cheers from the crowd resounded throughout the city.

She wore a cloak woven from golden fleece, and openwork lantern pants embroidered with gold thread. Barefoot, she walked step by step toward the altar. Her outstretched hands held a weapon high in her hands, but it was completely covered by the golden cloth, making its true form impossible to discern.

Although the veil was in the way, Kasha felt that the priestess's back looked familiar, especially the braids with pebbles wrapped in them, which reminded her of someone.

"That person...could it be Talia?"

“That’s right, you were right.” Wild Hunt spoke up again: “She has been chosen by Azir to be a priestess.”

"No wonder I haven't seen her much these past few days, turns out she was called away to help out."

After thinking for a moment, Kai'Sa realized that Azir needed some talented individuals to enhance the prestige of the ascension ceremony.

He also needs to preside over the ascension ceremony; he can't very well have himself carrying the Darkin weapon onto the altar, that would be too beneath the dignity of an emperor.

A pure-blooded Shurima prodigy like Talia would be a perfect fit. She could place stones beneath Darkin weapons and cover them with cloth, creating the illusion of the weapons levitating by supporting the stones, thus showcasing her extraordinary nature. Furthermore, her purity allows her to stand as a priestess on this path to ascension, an exception to the usual rules.

Hearing the soldiers' orderly marching, Kasha couldn't help but worry. "Talia's bound to get nervous in this kind of situation, and when she gets nervous, she's prone to losing control. Wild Hunt, why don't you go over and calm her down?"

In her mind, although Talia had grown a lot, she was still not mature enough in many ways.

"Leave it to me."

Without a word, Wild Hunt switched the perspective to Talia's side. As soon as he arrived, he felt a severe pressure through Talia's senses.

The sound of synchronized footsteps came from behind, the imposing presence of a thousand soldiers making Talia's legs tremble uncontrollably. She longed to turn around, but she couldn't.

The colossal statues of Shurima's earliest rulers stand on either side of the Emperor's Road, watching her advance, while a few steps further out are crowded spectators, all intently watching her every move.

The Darkin weapon hidden beneath the cloth in front of her emitted a clear and powerful heartbeat, the increasingly intense rhythm seemingly urging her to move forward faster.

The emperor, standing at the top of the stairs, was also watching her from above, expecting her to walk down this long staircase to the gods in an impeccable manner.

Talia was now filled with regret. Why had she so impulsively agreed to Azir's request in the library? No one had told her the occasion would be so grand; it felt like the entire population of Shurima had come. Where is Mei? I think Mei is here...

“Talia, Kassadin sent me to check on you. You look nervous, are you alright?” Wild Hunt asked in her ear.

"Ah, thank you. I can still manage..." Talia answered softly under her veil, the hissing sound of her teeth chattering quite noticeable.

"Don't push yourself too hard; the ascension staircase is just ahead."

The ascension staircase is made up of many suspended golden stone slabs, with no safety measures on either side, making it very unfriendly to people with a fear of heights, as every step feels unsettling.

"I...I'll try my best not to look down." Wild Hunt's words only made Talia more nervous.

Chapter 502 Abnormal Phenomena

A massive honor guard escorted Talia to the base of the Ascension Staircase, where she would then ascend the next few hundred steps alone.

In the past, only the emperor's most trusted ministers, the priesthood, and members of the royal family were allowed to ascend these steps. They would line up along the path to offer their blessings to the ascendant, but now these positions are vacant.

Talia bravely took her first step, but after climbing only a few steps, she felt dizzy.

The suspended platform beneath her feet was also made of gold, which wasn't good news for her. It meant she couldn't stabilize herself by manipulating the rocks, making her feel very insecure.

Talia didn't want to mess things up, but the higher she went, the stronger the wind became. Unlike those who had been granted ascension, she also had to distract herself from trying to keep the cloth in front of her from being blown away.

Azir didn't want the Darkin to appear before the world in this form, so he covered them with cloth. While escorting the weapons, Talia also had to be constantly careful to avoid direct contact with them.

“Don’t be afraid, Talia,” the Wild Hunt comforted her. “If you are afraid, look ahead at Renekton.”

"Look at him? Why?" Talia looked at the crocodile god at the end of the stairs with some confusion. Extreme tension made her unable to think calmly and connect the situation to the information that the Wild Hunt wanted to tell her.

"Renkerton carried the seriously ill Nasus step by step up the stairs in the same way. As long as you find your goal and move forward firmly, you will no longer see anything else to distract you. When you look back, you will find that you have reached the top."

Wild Hunt wanted to use Renekton's story to inspire Talia, and the girl was very perceptive, immediately finding herself a magnificent vision.

"I want His Majesty Azir to personally announce to everyone that he will completely abolish slavery and that the rise of an empire will not deprive everyone of their right to survival!"

"Keep trying, I'll be there for you."

Wild Hunt smiled. Talia's idea was quite pragmatic, since Azir had already promised her. As a feudal emperor, Azir's abolition of slavery was already a very bold move.

Afterwards, Talia climbed the ascension stairs without any distractions. (The remaining text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the preceding sentence.)

She reached the top and, at Azir's instruction, placed the Darkin weapon on the altar. Unveiling the cloth revealed the Darkin weapon to be a living greatsword with a heart.

Although the Darkin Wars did not end in a complete victory, Aatrox, who fought the hardest, was still granted the qualification to be the first to ascend.

Once a promise has been made, it cannot be easily broken.

But... what will be the attitude of the giants in the heavens when Azir tries to grant Ascension to such a Darkin who has committed countless blood feuds?

After finishing her part, Talia retreated to Azir's side, watching the emperor pour royal blood onto the tip of his staff and sword.

He thrust his blood-stained staff and sword straight into the sky, and the enormous sun disk tilted under his divine power, like a mirror gathering and reflecting the energy of the sunlight, forming a pillar of blazing flame that crashed down onto the altar below.

The powerful impact caused the entire ancient capital to tremble. The intensity of millions of suns distorted the surrounding light, and the energy released was enough to reduce people to ashes.

Azir erected a barrier, shielding Talia from the terrifying scorching winds behind him. On the distant rooftop, Kai'Sa and Syndra squinted, enduring the blinding light as they tried to discern the changes occurring within the altar.

Under the bombardment of solar energy, the altar gradually lit up with a magical array. If it were an ordinary person, they would be instantly shattered and reassembled under such a powerful energy impact. However, the Darkin weapon, forged from the core of a dead star, remained in its original form despite the terrifying heat, and even the heart on the blade continued to beat strongly.

Azir had already anticipated this situation; if the Darkin weapons could be easily destroyed, the Darkin would not suffer so much.

He increased the power of the solar disk, and the Darkin weapons, under the continuous bombardment of the celestial flames, gradually showed signs of melting, emitting an orange-red glow. The heart, too, swelled violently, emitting a silent, painful howl, as if it might explode at any moment.

The scorching light flowed along the forked veins of the sword. As the heart exploded completely, the sword shattered into pieces, and there was no more movement on the altar.

Will Aatrox be utterly destroyed like this? The ritual is not over yet, and the Wild Hunt waits patiently.

Another change occurred on the altar. He saw ashes swirling up and gradually forming a tall human figure. The power of the sun was reshaping Aatrox's divine body. Blazing light began to accumulate within the god, and long-forgotten magic overflowed within him, constructing bones and flesh.

The ceremony ended, the light disappeared, and a celestial warrior appeared on the altar.

He wore a suit of gold and bronze armor, gleaming like polished amber. He rested his hands on a greatsword of light, and behind him unfolded a pair of banner-like wings, their color the brilliant starry sky. A winged helmet inlaid with aquamarine obscured his face, revealing only a cold, aloof mouth.

At this moment, Aatrox looked more like an angel than an angel. Wild Hunt suddenly understood why Azir had chosen Aatrox as the first person to ascend: his ascended form was the best advertisement.

Cheers erupted throughout the city's streets and alleys as people were overjoyed to witness the successful ascension. Nasus, knowing how difficult this had been, nearly burst into tears, and whispered to Azir, "Your Majesty, we succeeded!"

“Yes, but don’t rush into holding the next ceremony. We may need to observe for a while afterward.” Azir looked up at the sky, his tone serious, without the expected joy and ease.

"Has Your Majesty discovered something?" Nasus looked up as well, but all he could see was the sun disk gradually returning to its place.

“I feel… like something is watching us…” Azir hesitated for a moment, speaking with some uncertainty.

The moment the ascension ceremony began, he sensed something in the darkness; his actions seemed to have awakened some enormous being, which then cast down its disdainful gaze.

As soon as he finished speaking, an unusual burst of burning meteors suddenly appeared overhead, streaking across the sky like a celestial fire.

Azir and Nasus were so captivated by the unusual astronomical phenomenon that they failed to notice the distant Mount Targon, its summit shrouded in a mysterious twilight.

Chapter 503 Next Stop, Demacia

A sudden shower of meteors is hard to miss. Others might assume that this strange astronomical phenomenon is a celebration of the successful ascension ceremony, but the Wild Hunt believes it has a deeper meaning.

Even the oldest ascendants may not know that what forged their divine bodies was not simply the power of the sun, but rather extracted from a star dragon.

In the distant past, when history is beyond our reach, the Star Spirits lured the Dragon King, who forged the stars, to this place and, taking advantage of his weakness for flattery, sent mortals to present him with a crown.

That crown was actually a magnificent curse, binding his head with unimaginable force, making it impossible for him to remove. It not only prevented him from approaching this world but also stole the knowledge he held within his mind about the creation of the sun.

The treacherous Protoss proclaimed themselves "Colossi," and they commanded mortals to build colossal golden discs. In this way, they extracted his celestial power to create immortal celestial warriors, in preparation for some conflict yet to unfold.

Lacking care and attention, the other stars in the sky began to dim, so the Dragon King struggled to break free from the crown's control. This process wouldn't take him long, for in the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed in the world.

In the blink of an eye, he saw the collapse of the sun disk, the celestial warriors slaughtering their enemies, followed by rustling, purely dark creatures, and finally, they turned on each other.

As Azir restarted the Ascension ritual, drawing away his power, the retiring Dragon King opened his eyes once more, casting a disdainful gaze upon the newly erected Sun Disc. The meteor shower streaking across the sky was the golden dust scattered as he scratched at the Crown of Curses.

However, Wild Hunt wasn't too worried about the Star Forger Aurelion Sol posing any threat to Runeterra, because by the time he broke free of his restraints, Runeterra would be thousands of years in the future, something he didn't need to consider at all.

Besides, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. He should settle accounts with the Protoss, and only then with the Celestials who were once their pawns. Azir only knows that the Sun Disk was the work of the Titans. If he knew the truth was so dark, would he still feel honored by the Ascended blood flowing through his veins?

Worrying about Aurelion Sol now is like needless anxiety, but the Twilight appearing on Mount Targon might warrant some attention.

Wild Hunt isn't sure if it's a Twilight Protoss reappearing, but considering all factors, this is the most likely possibility.

The previous generation of Twilight Protoss and Darkin were sworn enemies. Now that Aatrox has ascended again, it is normal for her to react, not to mention that the Protoss of Justice recently perished in the Darkin War.

In addition, this generation of Twilight Protoss is the only Protoss whose relationship with Aurelion Sol is not so strained. Considering Aurelion Sol's awakening, this may also be the reason for her reappearance in the world.

An ascension ceremony stirred up a stagnant pool. The Wild Hunt now felt a sense of unease in Shurima, and he thought it was time to leave and lay low for a while.

After the ceremony, Azir gave a speech to the public.

The speech was nothing more than that the Oasis of Dawn would protect all the people of Shurima, and that he had done what Talia had hoped for, personally announcing to tens of thousands of people that the new empire would no longer continue slavery.

It is worth mentioning that Azir also used Aatrox as an example, promising that anyone who performs great deeds will have the opportunity to be granted ascension, which immediately brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Although everyone knows this is Azir's way of winning people over, the promise he's made is so good that countless people are going crazy for it.

Remember history, and don't forget that Icathia went to extremes for a single Ascension spot.

……

That same night after the ceremony, Nasus approached Syndra and handed her a box.

"Here's what you wanted. Keep it safe and don't let Aatrox see it."

Syndra wanted to open the box to take a look, but Nasus stopped her with his hand and then shook his head meaningfully.

“Opening it here now might alert Aatrox; we should wait until we leave,” Kai’Sa explained.

Syndra didn't speak, but directly put the box into the hive space for Wild Hunt to check. After confirming that there was a pair of familiar blood-red chain scythes lying in the box, he nodded in relief.

"It was a pleasure working with you. Please contact Talia if you need anything in the future."

“Eh, me…?” Talia was stunned when she heard her name mentioned.

Nasus glanced at the group and left. Talia saw the Grand Scholar off and then quickly asked what had happened.

“We plan to leave Shurima,” the Wild Hunt replied.

"Where to?" This was a decision the Wild Hunt made on the spur of the moment, and even Kai'Sa didn't know.

“We’re going to Demacia,” Wild Hunt explained. “Talia, that place has enshrined the prohibition of magic in its laws, so it’s not suitable for you to go there. It’s better if you stay in Shurima and deliver this message for me.”

Wild Hunt explained why he wasn't taking Talia: he needed someone to stay in Shurima to maintain contact with the Ascended.

As for why Syndra can go while Talia can't, it's mainly because of her terrible personality. Without him watching over her, she's prone to causing trouble; she's practically inextricably linked to him. (The rest of the text is unrelated and appears to be spam/advertisement.)

Furthermore, given Syndra's magical talent, Demacia's anti-magic stone would likely have little effect on her. Taking all factors into consideration, Talia is the best candidate to stay behind and provide support.

"Am I going to be separated from everyone again..." Talia muttered to herself, somewhat dejected, but not entirely unreasonable. With the situation in Shurima so turbulent, staying behind was the best way for her to protect her family.

"Why Demacia?" Kai'Sa asked, arms crossed. She couldn't understand what the connection was between going to Demacia and their main storyline of fighting the Void, since that place hadn't been invaded by the Void.

"Do you think I took Zoranny for nothing? I still remember the losses I suffered in the Darkin War." The Wild Hunt said vengefully, "Whether it's Kayle or Ryze, I will make them pay the price! And Zoranny will be my weapon to launch a counterattack against them."

"Revenge? That's interesting." Syndra wasn't interested at first, but when she heard that Wild Hunt was going for revenge, she suddenly wanted to see who could make her suffer such a setback.

"To conquer a city is the least desirable; to conquer a heart is the best. Kayle's hometown is Demacia, where her younger sister Morgana is also located. I plan to target her only surviving relative and undermine her divine status. As for Ryze, he also has something extremely important stored in Demacia. This time, I'll take down his hometown as well."