Void Beetle Evolution Guide

"It's a blessing that not a single one was lost."

"Thank you for protecting my child."

The female dragon sheltered her cub under her wings; her appearance was relatively simple, with only a tuft of mane from head to tail. The male dragon, on the other hand, was much more magnificent, with colorful feathers on its wing membranes that emitted a mesmerizing glow in the dim forest.

“I can leave with peace of mind after handing the children over to you intact. However…” Portilton paused, looking at the desiccated corpses scattered on the ground and the wound that tore the earth apart, and then said, “You should find another place to nest as soon as possible, this place is no longer safe.”

Watching the white dragon couple leave, Portil had no intention of following or escorting them, so that they could take the young dragons to a place where no one knew them and raise the children.

Despite the scene of families fleeing for their lives, she sensed a touch of warmth in it. She wanted to tell Wild Hunt her thoughts, but after thinking about it, she decided not to say it.

After all, none of the other family members had yet given birth to any children for her, so it was a bit premature for her to be the first to try something new.

……

Walking alone in the dimly lit deep forest, Lux hunched her neck and cautiously made her way forward, startled even by a single drop of dew that landed on her.

The damp, earthy fragrance did not bring a sense of freedom; instead, it made her recall the nightmarish experience in the basement, sending chills down her spine.

Rewind a few hours, before Lux could even rejoice at her recovery, a white-haired female mage suddenly took her away, leaving her in this dark and desolate place, forcing her to seek out the legendary Mother of the Veils to judge her sins.

At first, Lux was terrified. The days of confinement had made her almost forget how to summon her magic. She trembled in the dark forest, afraid of encountering nocturnal beasts.

As dawn broke, a rare ray of sunlight pierced through the oppressive canopy, casting dappled patterns of light. Lux finally mustered the courage to touch the sunlight above her head.

The sensation at her fingertips stirred the magic within her body, and she let it flow out. The light deep within her mind and body acted like a remedy, gradually spreading throughout her entire body.

Magic filled her senses and illuminated her world, making the colors in the forest extraordinarily vibrant and alive.

She saw the small orb of light floating in the air and heard the trees breathing and the earth sighing.

The world before my eyes is so incredible, all living things are thriving in the flow of energy, whether it is an unnamed blade of grass or a sturdy ironwood tree.

The forest light speaks of the contrast between light and darkness, shimmering colors and leaping rays. She sensed distant starlight drifting in like a thin mist, light scattered across other worlds, illuminating other life.

Where the light of Demacia fades into darkness, she shrinks in fear. Where the light nourishes life, she finds peace and tranquility.

Lux closed her eyes, stretched her arms to the side, and let the magic ripple through her fingertips and shimmer at the tip of her staff.

The light dispelled the darkness, and only then did she feel that she had truly emerged alive from that dark basement.

Wild grass spread out, and there was no path left by anyone before her. Every step she took left a hole, and she could clearly feel the softness of the soil. She began to miss the little white horse named Xinghuo that she had raised in her hometown.

Suddenly, Lux frowned, for the forest light flickered. She sensed a shadow appear where it didn't belong; a mysterious dark figure lurked in the forest, watching her with ill intent.

The crisp sound of a branch snapping, mixed with the screeching of metal, immediately put Lux on alert. She concealed shimmering magic beneath the skin of her fingertips, ready to unleash a radiant arrow of light at any moment.

The bushes in front of her parted, revealing two cavalrymen.

They were powerful and strong, clad in gleaming armor from head to toe. Their warhorses were fine grey steeds, broad-shouldered and robust, at least seventeen feet tall, and draped in identical cobalt blue cloaks.

They were Demacian soldiers! And heroes of the Dauntless Vanguard! Lux instinctively wanted to call for help, but her throat seemed to be choked, and she swallowed her cries for help.

"Miss Laksana! What are you doing here?!" one of the cavalrymen asked, his voice muffled by his helmet, but his surprise was still palpable.

"Uh, I'm lost." Lux didn't know how to explain for a moment; she couldn't lie without batting an eye.

"Perfect timing! Commander Garen has been looking for you everywhere; he's even posted missing person notices in Rivendell on the border. Come back with me quickly, so the commander won't worry."

"No! I...I have a mission to complete!" Lux's expression changed, and she refused firmly.

"Task?"

"Yes! It was a task assigned to me by Aunt Tiana, and even Garen doesn't know about it. Please tell Garen that I'm safe and not to worry."

"Grand Marshal?!"

Lux invoked her aunt's name, which immediately intimidated the two soldiers, but only for a moment; they were not easily fooled.

"But what kind of mission would require a young girl to run into the deep mountains and forests?"

"Since it's a secret mission, I can't tell you. I can only say that it's related to those mages who escaped from Xiongdu. The rest you can guess..."

"Could it be?" The two fearless vanguards looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing Lux's answer.

In the dim forest, any change in light was particularly noticeable. Although they couldn't see it directly, they sensed from a distance that an unusual light was extinguishing as they approached.

If the person who came wasn't Lux, the two of them would have taken her down immediately.

Based on the information provided by Lux, they had reason to suspect that Lux was hinting at her spy identity and was a hidden pawn planted by Grand Marshal Tiana into the mage community.

Even if it were true, is it really appropriate to let a young girl with little experience do such a dangerous task? It's simply unbelievable.

Almost instantly, the two exchanged glances.

"Understood! We promise to keep the secret for you, Miss, and we will also pass the message on to Commander Garen."

"Well... thank you for your help."

Lux didn't think much of it, bowed deeply, and quickly left. The fearless vanguard suddenly became more agreeable.

She was still feeling fortunate, unaware that the two soldiers were shaking their heads in disapproval as they looked at the footprints she had left behind.

"They can't even cover their footprints, how can they be good spies? They're probably lying to us."

"Now I know why she disappeared. I just didn't expect Miss Crown Guard to be a mage too. What a pity."

"Commander Garen has treated us well, so let's not expose Miss."

"I don't want to be the bad guy either. I'll just take her back to the commander and let him deal with her as he sees fit."

"No rush, let's follow them and see. If we can find the camp of those mages, maybe we can help Miss redeem herself and repay the captain's kindness."

Just as the two were about to follow Lux, a chaotic miasma suddenly appeared around them.

Having inhaled the sweet scent, they became dazed and momentarily forgot their purpose, turning to ride away in a direction far from Lux.

Then, a graceful, alluring figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes gleaming with an eerie light that seemed to be both smiling and not smiling.

"This charm magic is really useful," she muttered to herself, quite satisfied. Turning her head to look in the direction Lux had left, she seemed thoughtful. "Such a good opportunity, and you didn't even think about running away? You're so eager to prove yourself? Too bad, another trap awaits you ahead."

Seemingly anticipating what was about to happen, the Phantom let out a soft, bell-like laugh and disappeared back into the shadows to follow.

Chapter 543 Mother of the Veil, Daughter of Radiance

Guided by Cassiopeia, Lux stumbled along the way, but overall arrived at the Veiled Mother's cave relatively smoothly.

Even Lux, with her impeccable lineage, had heard the legend of the Veiled Mother. Furthermore, within the Crownguard family, there was a long-lost epic that recounted the origins of the winged guardians, even directly stating that the Veiled Mother was one of the twins—Morgana.

The brighter the light, the longer the shadow.

Light and darkness complement each other, and opposing forces balance each other.

The enemy was terrified of Morgana's power.

Demacia was thus safe.

But she foresaw the bitter consequences—

Seeds sown in darkness will only yield evil.

The sweet rain, born of compassion, forgiveness, and atonement,

Nurturing fine virtues,

It ended the cycle of war and death.

Morgana was not the mother of mages, but she did give those who were exiled and abandoned a chance to be reborn.

She casts protective shields and chains of dark flame from the shadows of Demacia to fight those who seek to suppress the truth.

Lux needs an authoritative judge like this, who can set aside her identity as a mage and judge her right and wrong fairly and impartially, and she will accept whatever the outcome may be.

She took a deep breath and faced her destiny with unwavering determination.

Inside the cave, many candles were lit, and water dripped from the ceiling, converging towards the altar in the center. Strange potions were placed in the recesses carved into the cave walls, and the air was filled with the smell of grave soil and moss. Dozens of raven-black feathers were scattered on the ground.

She looked around; there wasn't even a table. Piles of books were haphazardly stacked in corners and on wooden crates. Birdcages hung from the ceiling, but no birds were inside.

"Excuse me, is anyone here?" Lux called out politely, her voice echoing through the cave.

"Are you here seeking refuge, or to repent?"

A figure emerged silently from the shadows, her bare feet touching the cold, rocky ground, her hands reaching out to hold her wings bound by chains. A black veil concealed most of her face, but her strange, tear-streaked eyes gleamed with a purple light through the veil.

Morgana, the Mother of the Veils. Yes, this is the person she's been looking for.

Lux recounted the events to Morgana, including her capture by the Wild Hunt, while Morgana stared at her intently the entire time.

“It seems your actions were not accidental,” the masked woman concluded. Though few heard her, her voice was sharp as a thicket of thorns. “Your purpose was clear. Yet now you suffer for the rebellion you have instigated.”

“Yes. I hope to atone for my mistakes and cleanse myself of my sins,” Lux said.

“Sin can teach a sincere and humble soul many things. Come with me.” Morgana nodded, and her long dress suddenly burst into flames of shadow. Her figure disappeared as the flames burned, leaving only a ball of fire in its place.

Lux stepped into the flames, arriving at Morgana's execution ground. The cave was surrounded by statues of various shapes, some pleading for mercy in a posture of torture, others in a repentant pose, all looking quite eerie under the reflection of the amethyst.

One statue stands out from the rest: a fallen angel tightly embraces a repentant believer, like a loving mother embracing the latter with her broad bosom. The folded wings completely conceal them, with only the believer's legs visible protruding from beneath the angel's skirt.

It's not hard to see that this statue aims to embody the maternal radiance of the Veiled Mother, who treats the penitent as if he were her own child. However, after witnessing Cassiopeia's copulation with her master, Lux's eyes have been corrupted, and she feels that the posture is somewhat off.

It looks like... it's connected in some unseen place.

"Why did you escape that basement?" Morgana's voice appeared out of nowhere, echoing through the cave. She was watching her. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

Lux snapped out of her daze and quickly banished the disrespectful thought. "I said I should be judged by the law, not by torture, and they let me through."

“This is pointless,” Morgana said. “You’re just being subjected to vigilante justice here.”

“It’s different. I think you can give a fair trial. And don’t you want to know what kind of lynching it was? They stuffed me into a bucket, didn’t give me food, and didn’t even let me use the toilet. I was treated worse than livestock…” Lux recalled that nightmarish experience with lingering fear.

"So what? Thousands of people have died because of you. This little bit of torment cannot atone for your sins."

Morgana glanced sideways, her voice cold and devoid of any pity. Lux was shocked. Even the magnanimous Morgana felt that the punishment was too lenient. Did she have to atone with her death?

Her voice suddenly became aggrieved, "I know I have committed grave sins, I just want a less humiliating form of punishment... even if it means spending my whole life to atone for them."

Morgana narrowed her eyes; beneath her headscarf, her gaze seemed to pierce her flesh. "What kind of person would choose punishment?"

"I--"

"You have a high opinion of yourself, but you don't realize that only terrifying torment can truly leave a lasting impression. This mistake will make you regret it deeply! I assure you, the pain you have caused to others will backfire on you, tormenting your soul in every way. You will either confess your sins or be tormented to death by them."

Before Lux could even defend herself, a chain lashed her cheek, the humiliating pain causing her to clutch her face in disbelief that Morgana would attack her without even letting her finish speaking.

"and many more--"

She wanted to say something more, but Morgana had already opened her palm, binding her with illusory chains burning with shadow flames. The flames flickered with a ghostly purple light, but no matter how much Lux activated her magic or struggled, she could not break free.

“Foolish people have so much to learn, and they will never stop until they die. You must personally experience the pain you have caused before you can never hurt others again,” Morgana told her very seriously, with no room for negotiation.

Through the chains that bind her, Lux endures all the torment she inflicts on others—not just pain, but also countless hatreds and loneliness.

Imagine the resentment and sorrow those innocent souls and their loved ones would feel towards the culprit after learning the truth. Even if Sylas was the one who killed the man, isn't Lux, who released the tiger back into the mountains, completely blameless? Why can a noble mage commit such a heinous crime and then disappear without a trace?

There was also the prince's grief over losing his father, and the further bloodshed he caused by delegating power to the demon hunters out of hatred, leading to the lockdown and arrest of mages. These events escalated layer by layer, each link connected to the next, ultimately plunging the entire country into turmoil. The butterfly had only flapped its wings a few times, yet now it had to endure the tearing of the storm.

These emotions that Lux couldn't directly perceive were all returned to her by Morgana.

In that instant, Lux's heart stopped, as an unprecedented weight bound her soul. She collapsed to her knees, frozen in agony, unable to move, as the shadowy flames licked at her flesh, tears of regret streaming down her face.

Chapter 544 The Enjoyment of the Wild Hunt

Painful screams echoed through the execution ground, as the flames of shadow burned the souls of the sinners bound by chains.

Morgana didn't actually do anything; she simply took back the pain Lux inflicted on others and felt it herself.

If she had only made a minor mistake, she could have endured the pain. But Lux's sins were countless, and the torment inflicted by Darkflame was like casting her into hell.

As expected of a professional, Morgana felt the pain she had inflicted on others, and Lux ​​almost immediately recognized her sins.

But this lesson won't end easily; it will continue until Lux becomes numb to the pain, until it leaves a deep mark on her soul, making her breathless whenever she recalls it.

Leaving Lux to continue her torture, Morgana turned and gracefully entered the secret chamber. In the warm yellow candlelight, a naked man sat on the bed, waiting for her; his robust physique held her captive. "Is Linlin here yet? Are you free, Linlin...?"

“I have given her the most severe punishment as you requested. But you still haven’t told me why you targeted her like this?” Morgana asked.

Generally speaking, she is more lenient with those who sincerely repent. Only those sinners who are unrepentant will be severely punished without taking their lives.

Lux was clearly set up.

"Therefore, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, starve their body, and leave them destitute... The lesson I asked you to give her is to help her become a better person. Only in this way can she truly join your cause and become a fighter to liberate Demacia."

The speaker was none other than the Wild Hunt. Even inside the secret chamber, he could still hear Lux's screams.

"I'll need your guidance afterwards to help her learn her lesson completely..."

Morgana nodded. She couldn't bear the consequences of refusing. If making Lux suffer would bring a brighter future for the mages, then she had no choice but to accept it against her conscience. She would find a way to make it up to Lux later.