Legends of Runeterra

They all obeyed Shahib's orders, sometimes stopping suddenly, sometimes moving at a slow, steady pace. Jaheje could only hope that Shahib's experience was truly effective.

But the black rock seemed to elude them. No matter how far they walked, the distance seemed to shrink. So they ran, and then the dark clouds cast shadows over the sun. They ran, their tracks scattered by the wind and sand. They ran, knowing the Xer'Sai was close behind them, knowing it could hear every stumble, every falter. They ran, knowing it was pursuing them, knowing every misstep would bring it closer.

At first glance, Jaheje thought it was a giant mouth growing from the stone, emitting a malevolent mist. The entrance to the cave was so large that he could stand upright and walk straight in.

"Rek'Sai," he whispered, his voice thick with fear. Then he looked around, realizing that the black rock around them was riddled with the creature's massive burrows.

The younger Zali gasped as they all realized a terrifying truth: "She can dig through rock." They had thought they would be saved by reaching the rock face, but they had actually walked into Rek'Sai's lair.

"We should go back and try to get back to the caravan," Zali suggested.

"I won't stop you from going," Shahib replied.

"We can take a quiet walk."

"A day's journey," Shahib calculated carefully. "Can you walk all day in silence?"

“What are you going to do, Shahib?” Jaheje asked.

"If we turn back, we shall surely die in Carrickseri. I intend to go forward and pray for the protection of the patron saint."

Zaresh asked, "Where does this canyon lead to?"

"It doesn't matter where it leads. This is our only choice."

They carefully advanced along the rock face, entering a wind-carved ravine, hoping for water not far ahead. Avoiding the terrifying caverns was impossible. Each young man silently prayed that the target Rek'Sai was tracking and pursuing was the distant caravan, not them.

The sun crested the canyon's summit, casting a chill over the desolate barrier before them. Walking silently through the canyon was impossible, for bones lay scattered beneath their feet. Every footstep evoked a hollow, dead echo.

She emerged from a hidden, seemingly abandoned cave behind them. Everything in Jaheje’s vision blurred.

"Retreat!" Shahib yelled to the others. "Run with the wind!"

His warning was too late for Zali. The beast pounced on the young man like a hungry wolf on a mouse. Her massive teeth pierced Zali's spine, and he died without even a cry.

Rek'Sai loomed directly over Jaheje, towering over him. Her powerful forelimbs lashed out left and right. Her tail, like a leech and the size of a crocodile, dragged heavily behind her. Her long tongue darted out, dancing like a cobra, sniffing the wind.

Every muscle in Jaheje's body ached, and he wanted to run. But he remained motionless as the massive Ax'Sai turned to face him. Its eyeless, razor-beaked face was smeared with blood and flesh.

Jaheje's mouth dropped open in shock at Rek'Sai's grotesque, perfect execution. The young man gripped his spear, certain he wouldn't be able to penetrate her hide if she attacked.

"Get down!" Shahib yelled.

All the boys hunkered down to the ground as Rek'Sai's dorsal fin glowed an unholy green. Jaheje could feel an invisible energy crackle above him.

Rek'Sai turned, facing the distant caravan. She sniffed the air again, estimating the distance. Suddenly, her dorsal fin returned to its original purple color, and she dragged Kal's body away, disappearing into the burrow.

Apart from a pool of thick blood on the ground and the disappearance of Zali, the giant beast left no evidence of its existence.

Shahib whispered to everyone to leave. The survivors retreated without a word, heading deeper into the canyon.

No one spoke. The black stone floor, riddled with holes, made it impossible for them to speak, cry, or grieve.

After overcoming the spell of terror, fatigue crept in. Jaheje surveyed the canyon walls. He instantly realized the terrifying nature of what was pursuing him, and why Shahib had decided to cling to the nectar. Back in the days of Azir, before clay formed stone, before Shurima scorched the sun, Rek'Sai had ate here. This canyon belonged only to her. Everyone believed that Ex'Sai existed solely to eat.

“But why are they staying here?” Jaheje blurted out.

Suddenly, the monster appeared. It emerged from the ground in front of them and lunged at Jaheje.

Jaheje ducked, narrowly avoiding Rek'Sai, her massive frame blocking out the sun. As she landed, her forelimbs tore through the ground before disappearing beneath the ground.

The youngest boy, Vizka, was hiding in the brush, motioning Jaheje to come closer. His mouth dropped open in terror as Rek'Sai's dorsal fin unleashed a bolt of dark energy, tearing the ground apart. She followed, charging at Vizka. Rek'Sai broke through the earth, launching the youngest boy into the air. The remains of Vizka's body scattered across the ground as Rek'Sai's dorsal fin began to charge at them both again.

Shahib and Jaheje ran as fast as they could.

The beast slowed and angled sideways, matching the end of its prey's circuitous path. She drove them deeper into the canyon, blocking any other avenues of retreat.

There was no point in walking still. Rek'Sai was too close. All I could do was run.

Kalib's breath was choked out, and Rek'Sai snatched him away. Seeing this, Shahib paused, picked up Kalib's spear, and waited. The air around him stirred, like ripples reflecting on water.

“What are you doing?” Jaheje asked softly.

"I'll be the camel. You walk quietly." Shahib glanced at the rock face around them. "Tell others what you saw."

Jaheje followed Shahib's gaze. Behind him, the rock wall was dotted with holes, forming a regular circular pattern. Between the holes, a strange, dark energy flowed, dripping like a viscous liquid. Through this strange matrix, a reality that seemed poised to emerge was stretched and distorted, as if another dimension was about to enter our world.