Void Beetle Evolution Guide

"Huh, you're... an Ionian?" Ahri asked curiously, looking at Sona's clothes.

Sona nodded subconsciously, still not used to speaking. For such a simple answer as yes or no, her actions were enough. Because Sona was called, Lux eventually came up and took the water bottle, watching them curiously.

"I didn't expect to meet someone from my hometown here. Which province are you from?" Ahri asked.

“Galin”.

“Galin, I’ve been there many times. There are a lot of monasteries and temples there, lots of monks, and lots of refugees too. Hmm…” Ahri seemed to have thought of something, and looked Sona up and down suspiciously: “I smell magic on you. You have magical talent, yet you came to Demacia. You didn’t come here as a refugee, did you?”

Chapter 729 Mutual Aid Exchange Meeting

When magic was mentioned, Sona couldn't help but clench her fists nervously.

Seeing that she was unwilling to answer, Ahri smiled and condensed a spirit orb in her palm: "Don't worry, I mean no harm. Look, I have magic too."

“I am indeed a war orphan seeking refuge, but my adoptive parents have treated me very well, so please don’t worry about me.” Seeing that Ahri still looked suspicious, Sona paused and added, “I… am currently working as an apprentice here.”

"I see." Ahri didn't ask any more questions, because she saw that other people had arrived.

"Welcome to my humble abode." The owner of the cave finally appeared, Morgana, dressed in special attire, leading Kayle to the tree. (The rest of the text appears to be nonsensical and unrelated to the previous sentences.)

She looked at the several unfamiliar faces, including two Star Spirits from Mount Targon, and was somewhat surprised, but quickly put on a kind and gentle smile.

"I'm very pleased that everyone has accepted the invitation to come here. Please have a seat and let's chat over tea."

The group sat down, and Ah Li took a sip of tea, asking curiously, "So, what is the theme of our tea party?"

Morgana glanced casually at Kyle, who seemed distracted. She had organized the meeting mainly to help Kyle overcome his trauma, but she couldn't appear too blatant about her purpose. She had to subtly guide the conversation towards that topic.

"Speak freely, say whatever comes to mind." She added with a smile, "Let's start with self-introductions."

"Then let me start by throwing out an example. My name is Ahri, and I'm a Vastayan from Ionia. I must be over a thousand years old by now..."

Ahri is great at livening up the atmosphere; she only mentioned her age, which attracted countless shocked glances.

It's often said that a woman's age is a secret because she doesn't want others to notice that she's getting old and wants to maintain a vibrant, youthful state.

However, when a woman can live for hundreds or thousands of years and maintain her youthful appearance, then age becomes a source of pride. Others won't think she's old; they'll only envy her for having been beautiful for so long.

When it was their turn to introduce themselves, Ahri silently labeled them in her mind. After everyone had introduced themselves, she discovered that more than half of them were Protoss. If a Protoss's daughter counts as a Protoss.

Therefore, the conversation naturally revolved around the Protoss identity. Morgana also understood the Wild Hunt's purpose in bringing these people here; starting with their identities would easily lead to Kayle.

Leona was currently leading the Rakhoians in rebuilding their homes, while Diana was trying to figure out how to get the two sects to accept each other. Both were struggling with leading their subordinates, so they consulted Morgana on how to improve their leadership skills.

In their view, Morgana and Kayle, as Protoss predecessors who had governed the early Demacia hundreds of years ago, must have a wealth of experience that they could pass on to them on the art of managing subordinates.

Morgana patiently answered all their questions, while Lux and Sona listened with rapt attention, amazed by the real-life examples she casually cited and astonished by the history of Demacia.

Although Ahri couldn't join the conversation, she had Wild Hunt by her side. Enjoying tea and snacks while listening to others talk about history she didn't know was quite a unique experience.

On

Wild Hunt didn't get involved either. He wasn't omniscient; he only knew about most of the key historical events. Besides, saying too much would be detrimental to maintaining his mysterious and enigmatic persona.

When men get together, they talk about history and politics, or women. Women, on the other hand, often seek validation by belittling others—in other words, they gossip and chatter.

Wild Hunt had expected things to unfold that way, but these women turned out to be quite serious, all discussing important matters. It seems heroes can't be lumped together with ordinary people.

While answering their questions, Morgana would occasionally steer the conversation towards asking Kayle. Kayle had gone to Mount Targon to find her birth mother long ago, hence her presence in the legends of Mount Targon.

The Sun, Moon, and Celestial Spirits had heard many tales of the Righteous Celestial Spirits and were eagerly awaiting her advice; however, Kyle showed little interest in responding. She herself had begun to doubt whether she had been doing anything wrong all along, so what advice could she possibly offer the two of them?

Her refusal to communicate also caught Ahri's attention. With Wild Hunt's prompting, Ahri inquired about the Purple Sea, seemingly casually.

Kyle's pupils constricted sharply upon hearing this. Pierre Vermouth was dead, but her shadow lived on in Kyle's mind.

She was swift and perfect, invincible like a god. Before her, Kyle felt utterly insignificant as a celestial being, and couldn't even conceive of a way to fight her.

Kyle was filled with lingering fear. If she had known that provoking the gods would lead to such a tragic end, she might not have chosen to save Kaisa... Her body was cut in half at the waist, and her wings were torn to shreds.

But in retrospect, her sacrifice seems to have been worthwhile. Because the opponent she so undeservedly defeated was ultimately killed by Kai'Sa.

But why was it them who saved the world?

Those beings she considered sinners were actually the walls that blocked the void tide! And she was nothing more than a well-protected clown within those walls.

"Kyle! Kyle!" Kyle was lost in thought for a while, until he suddenly heard a voice calling his name from afar, and realized that he had been daydreaming for a long time.

"Is something on your mind?" Ahri asked.

Kyle met the questioning looks of the group, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "If faced with a threat concerning the life and death of humanity, would you still uphold justice?"

"Of course! Isn't defeating the void and protecting the world a form of justice in itself?"

Leona's righteous and resolute answer made Kyle even more conflicted.

Admittedly, Kai'Sa and her companions' actions can be considered entirely righteous. But does this mean that she herself failed to make the correct judgment, categorizing Kai'Sa as evil, and was blinded by hatred towards the Darkin, repeatedly opposing Kai'Sa and her companions?

Yes, it wasn't until Diana mentioned that Kai'Sa climbed Mount Targon only to obtain the Moonstone to seal the Abyss that Kayle realized she had made another mistake. She thought Kai'Sa and her allies had ulterior motives towards Mount Targon or wanted to seek revenge, but in the end, it was her insistence on revenge that ultimately led to that epic battle.

If she hadn't started the war, the strength she preserved might have been enough to protect Mount Targon from the Fallen Dragons. Even if Kai'Sa really came seeking revenge, it was because she had indiscriminately interfered in the Darkin war in Narimar, failing to fulfill her duty as a champion of justice.

Chapter 730 Ahri's Talk Therapy

Kyle would have been better off not asking; asking only made him more confused.

Am I really using the name of justice to do unjust things?

"Protecting the world and upholding justice are not contradictory, are they?" Ahri countered. "Aren't you asking whether we should stand by our beliefs when faced with matters of principle?"

Seeing Kyle frown, Ahri continued, "Perhaps you could let me examine your memories. This would help me understand your experiences and give the most accurate answer."

Asking someone to examine one's memories is something no normal person would easily agree to. However, Kyle was no ordinary person. On one hand, she wanted to know if she had really done something wrong, and on the other hand, she felt that the judge of sinners should be able to withstand scrutiny. So, without much hesitation, she nodded to Ahri.

Everyone else looked at Kyle with strange expressions, while Wild Hunt sensed something was off but couldn't quite put his finger on it. Was Ahri so easily convinced? Had she secretly used charm magic?

Ali first took out a specially made incense and lit it. This incense can help people get rid of distractions and concentrate. She would also light it when she encountered difficult problems in her research.

She then approached Kyle, sat down facing him, closed her eyes, and began to activate the magical energy field around her. The environment was filled with readily available, mature magic; she traced the flow of Kyle's mind, gathered the magic, and then pushed it forward.

Ahri opened her eyes and met Kyle's gaze. A mental shock followed her gaze directly to Kyle's head, causing him to freeze on the spot, his previously dim pupils instantly turning amber gold.

“Kyle,” she said, “come closer and let me see what you’re thinking.”

“Yes, miss,” Kyle replied listlessly. Her voice was hollow and weak, as if it came from a deep well.

She leaned forward, her face just inches from Ahri's. Ahri began to inhale, drawing out Kyle's life essence with each breath, and began to savor the memories within.

Kayle's memories begin in Demacia, where Ahri saw a streak of fire flash across the sky, and a longsword, wreathed in celestial flames, pierced the ground between Kayle and her sister, splitting them in two.

Kyle clutched one half tightly, wings bursting from her shoulder blades. From that moment on, Kyle felt a bond with her mother and wanted to follow in her footsteps.

The scene shifts, and Kyle transforms into a spirited young woman. She has participated in numerous battles, leading the ever-growing militia at the forefront, and infusing her sacred flame into the weapons of those worthy of her services.

Ahri continued to absorb Kyle's life force, savoring the memories of his most primal emotions. These memories felt rich and fulfilling in Ahri's mouth, each emotion leaving a lingering aftertaste. She instinctively wanted to swallow them, but she resisted.

As time passed, Kyle's pursuit of justice began to backfire on her. Seeing potential dangers everywhere, both internal and external, she created the Tribunal, enforced the law, and frantically hunted down rebels and bandits. Many who were not entirely heinous were also severely punished, going too far.

It was at this time that Ahri discovered that Kayle's emotions had become singular, no longer possessing the richness of her former self, leaving only a blind pursuit of justice—she wanted her mother's approval, she couldn't wait to achieve results, so Demacia did not improve under her rule, but instead became filled with anxiety.

If there's one word that perfectly describes Kyle's obsessive state at the time, it's "rushing to meet year-end targets."

With a heavy heart, Ah Li continued watching, her long life condensing into a series of images that flashed before her eyes.

The sisters' argument escalated into a major battle, ultimately resulting in the accidental killing of their father. Instead of reflecting on her actions, Kyle abandoned her last shred of humanity and flew to Mount Targon to find her mother.

There's not much to say about the time Kyle spent on Mount Targon afterward; he lived a secluded life, and his state of mind remained unchanged.

Until recently, the mother and daughter, fearing the Darkin war would spill over onto Mount Targon, intervened in a war they had no connection to, which led to the mother's death in battle...

Then, there's Kyle's recent emotional journey. Ahri already has a good idea of ​​what's going on.

She spat out all the life essence she had drawn in; to be honest, Kyle's memories were dull, and she didn't like them.

"Kyle." As Ahri gently awakened him, Kyle's pupils returned to their original color.

"Please don't mind if I'm being too blunt. You can think of it as a conversation with another version of yourself." You Merlin, where am I? Merlin, where are you...?

Ahri's smiling face made Kyle feel uneasy.

She nodded and said, "Go ahead and tell me."

Ahri's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression: "Kyle, you've been running away all along. Even though you know you're wrong, you've never dared to admit it."

"Escape...what do you mean?"

"The death of Ziram".

As soon as she said this, a teacup slammed heavily onto the table. Morgana waved her hand, indicating that everyone should not mind, but she couldn't calm down inside.

Qiram is their father's name. Ahri being able to say this name shows that she has some real skills, and perhaps she really can untangle Kyle's knot in his heart.

“What do I have to run away from?” Kyle said unhappily; she was someone who wasn’t even afraid of death.

"You not only abandoned your humanity, but also your memories?" Ahri shook her head: "He died because of you, yet you didn't even bother to collect his body before turning around and leaving this place of sorrow."

Kyle tried to explain, but Ahri shut him down with a barrage of words: "You not only abandoned Ziram, but you also abandoned the Order that followed you. You left the mess left after the war to Morgana, who suffered the same pain as you. I bet the ruins were rebuilt under her leadership."

"Is this true?" Kyle stared blankly at Morgana, she had never thought about this question before.

Morgana nodded heavily: "If you want to visit your father's grave, I can take you there."

These words struck Kyle like a thunderbolt. Her father had raised her and her sister, yet she had no idea where his grave was.

“Morgana took all the blame, but you are just a coward who only knows how to run away and never dares to face your mistakes. Kayle, the justice in your heart cannot tolerate any flaws, but you can't do that yourself, so you choose to turn a blind eye to your mistakes and run to Mount Targon to start over.”

"However, even so, the justice you uphold is not true justice, but an order that cannot tolerate any evil and is so harsh as to be almost pathological."

On

Chapter 731 Sudden Change

When Ahri exposed his true thoughts with such sharp words, Kyle's face turned ashen.

They actually called her a deserter! How could someone who embodies justice be a deserter? Yet she couldn't refute it, because on that day she abandoned her father, abandoned all those who followed her, left a city engulfed in war to her sister who had just suffered the pain of losing her father, and chose to pursue the justice in her heart.

"Did I really... do something wrong?" Kyle looked at Morgana in disbelief, wanting an answer from her.

Morgana averted her gaze, her posture clearly indicating that she didn't want to tell the truth and hurt her.

However, facts speak louder than words, and everything is self-evident.

Kyle's actions back then, though claimed to be a pursuit of justice, were essentially an escape from the truth.

Justice is inherently a very broad concept, and it changes with one's perspective. The justice that Kyle pursues is a morbid order that even she herself cannot uphold.

Because you can't do it, you choose to start over somewhere else. Isn't that just escaping reality?

Even though she continued to uphold her beliefs, she still did not respond to the mistakes she made back then.

"Now I can answer your question, Kyle." Seeing Kyle's silence, Ahri continued, "Your definition of justice has been flawed from the start. What you've always wanted to protect is order, not justice. And the order you demand can't even be achieved in peacetime, let alone in a life-or-death crisis." (And Merlin, are you free? Are you even here...?)

At this moment, Kayle suddenly realized why she was so confused. Why did Morgana's Burning Sinful Flames cause her so much pain? Why was she puzzled when she saw Kai'Sa and the others fighting against the Void?

She suddenly remembered the duty of the Winged Guardians: to protect the infant Demacia from foreign invasion. And what Kai'Sa was doing was so similar to what she had done before, only on the whole of Runeterra.

Why couldn't she understand? Because she started making mistakes from that day on.

Abandoning humanity makes it impossible to empathize with human beings, to think from their perspective, and therefore impossible to make just judgments. Instead, it resorts to the most stringent laws to arbitrarily judge everything, turning justice into a cold, inhuman iron law.

After figuring this out, Kyle suddenly felt a warmth in his chest, as if something long forgotten had returned.

She closed her eyes and clearly felt a warm bond that had once again entwined her soul, and at the other end was the humanity she had abandoned long ago.

Golden light burst forth from behind her, and the warm, gentle light wrapped around her skeletal wings, weaving them into pure white feathers, making her wings full again.

When Kyle opened her eyes again, her entire demeanor had changed. A faint smile appeared on her face, but it was this smile that made her less stern and more human.

A series of crisp applause suddenly rang out. Ahri put away her previous sharpness, a smile appeared on her lips, and she clapped her hands lightly: "Congratulations! Congratulations on finally finding your true self."

The others joined in the applause and congratulations, but Wild Hunt frowned. Although Ahri was someone he had invited to provide psychological therapy for Kyle, the results were far too good.

Did she really not use any magic potion on Kyle? Could that stubborn angel of justice really be changed so easily?

Without realizing it, Wild Hunt noticed that the applause had abruptly stopped.

The lively atmosphere vanished instantly, leaving only the quiet of the wind and the veil of moonlight. He suddenly realized, why was a tea party being held at night? Shouldn't it have been in the afternoon?

Raising his eyelids and glancing around, Wild Hunt found that everything around him was still... no, it should be said that everyone except him was still.

The leaves overhead were still rustling, but at some point, Ahri and the others all became completely still, not even blinking.

"What the hell is going on?" Wild Hunt suddenly stood up, frowning deeply as he looked at his familiars who were caught in a strange situation.

He reached out and touched Ahri, who was closest to him. When his fingers touched Ahri's sensitive ear, the latter did not instinctively flinch, as if it could not react to the outside world, not even with an instinctive reflex.

The Wild Hunt could achieve a similar effect through its armor, invading the mind and rendering the host immobile. However, he clearly hadn't done anything; he hadn't even deployed the armor. Why was this strange thing happening?