Legends of Runeterra

"What's the matter, Vladimir?"

"Hehe~! Nothing much, I just heard that Li En, whom you trained, defeated Abesa Midalda in Piltover, so I was a little curious for a moment."

"curious?"

A hint of murderous intent rose in Leblanc's heart, but she still maintained a faint, mask-like smile on her face.

"Tell me about it, maybe I can answer one or two questions for you."

"Ah, is this...really appropriate?"

As expected, Vladimir showed a look of surprise.

"After all...I know how much you value Li En."

"It doesn't matter. It's just a pastime to pass the time in my long life."

"Actually... I'm not that curious..."

Facing Leblanc's calm gaze without a trace of emotion, Vladimir casually turned his head and looked at the scroll that was constantly flowing and composed of countless pieces of information.

"By the way, 'that guy' has reappeared recently. Based on the connection between 'that guy' and its owner, I suspect..."

"Yeah, I know, so I'm just going to take care of it."

"Okay, if you need any help, just let me know."

"Of course. Thank you very much."

"Haha! You're too polite, Leblanc. After all, we have been working together for such a long time."

Vladimir waved his hand and turned to leave the space.

Leblanc looked at the other person's disappearing back, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Just as Vladimir never trusted himself, LeBlanc never trusted the other party.

After all, neither of them is naive, and both of them once worked under an extremely cruel and tyrannical person. This is one of the reasons why Leblanc was able to cooperate with this "bloodthirsty demon" in the first place.

As for the truth, LeBlanc didn't think much of Vladimir, who was tortured and turned into a darkin similar to the one who tortured him.

However, the blood magic of the Darkin was extremely useful to Noxus, which was on the verge of collapse at that time.

Only this kind of magic can control as many people as possible in the shortest time.

"But...if Vladimir has any feelings for Li En..."

Leblanc narrowed her eyes slightly, and stood up with a hint of murderous intent.

Even if Vladimir vented his anger on the nobles and ordinary people who had been bewitched, Leblanc could turn a blind eye.

But Leblanc would never allow the person she identified to have plans against Li En to appear.

"The means of preparing for Mordekaiser must not be interfered with by anyone!"

Leblanc thought so in her heart. As for the real thoughts, perhaps even she herself did not see it clearly, or under the endless pressure from Modkaiser, she was unwilling to see it clearly.

Turning back to the center where all the information converged, a figure stopped in place while Leblanc turned around.

"Katash Lu, leave it to me."

"Well, I'm done."

As the magic power surged, Leblanc, who remained in place, was covered with a pitch-black robe, and the next moment she disappeared silently in this space.

...

Scarlet Courtyard, quiet, lightless darkness enveloped the space from beginning to end.

Vladimir leaned casually on the soft bench, holding a transparent tall glass and shaking it gently.

The overly viscous scarlet liquid in the cup gave the cup a beautiful scarlet color as it was shaken.

Holding the cup close to himself, Vladimir took a gentle sip.

The scarlet liquid in the cup suddenly turned into a hazy mist and flowed directly into his mouth and nose.

"Hoo~!"

Vladimir let out a long sigh and a look of intoxication appeared on his face.

Casually placing the cup on the table, he raised his left hand, which was clad in sharp steel claws, and lightly stroked it over the upside-down figure.

As a mortal who had been enslaved by the Darkin, the prince who had been held hostage had long since disappeared, leaving only Vladimir the Scarlet Reaper.

The bright red and warm blood was the only thing that could bring him comfort in his long life.

“Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick~!”

The empty cup was filled again. Vladimir felt the warmth from the scarlet liquid through the glass, and a sick smile appeared on his face.

But the next moment.

"Uh..."

The smile on Vladimir's face suddenly changed, and he covered his heart with his hands and frowned.

“Boom boom! Boom boom!”

The violent heartbeat accelerated at an unimaginable speed, and in a few breaths it exceeded the limit of what mortal life could bear, and the sound like a drum resounded in the courtyard.

"Uh...ah..."

The dark red blood vessels bulged under the pale skin, and coupled with the scarlet eyes, Vladimir instantly changed from an elegant nobleman to a hideous and terrifying demon.

After an unknown amount of time, the drum-like heartbeat finally subsided, and Vladimir, who had collapsed on the ground, struggled to get up.

His pale face was covered with strands of long, sweat-soaked hair. His scarlet dress had already been completely soaked with sweat. He looked disheveled and weak.

"Huhuhu~!"

Leaning on the bench, Vladimir's face, with the dark red veins gradually fading, had an unsightly expression.

"No... This damn summons... is getting stronger... I can't drag it on like this..."

Suddenly, Vladimir seemed to have thought of something. He dragged his body with difficulty, walking faster and faster to a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror.

He simply used the sharp blade in his hand to tear off his clothes, revealing his entire upper body.

On that pale but still strong chest, countless dark red flesh and blood, like scars, twisted and tangled together, eventually forming a hideous face with closed eyes.

Looking at his chest reflected in the mirror, Vladimir's face was now filled with fear and panic.

"How...how could this happen..."

I subconsciously raised my hand to touch the face on my chest, but put it down the moment it was about to touch.

"No! This is absolutely not true!!!"

"boom!"

"Click~!"

The pale fist smashed hard on the floor-length mirror, shattering the mirror into countless marks. The face reflected on his chest became more and more strange and terrifying, as if it could open its eyes at any time.

“Hoohoo~!!”

Gasping heavily, Vladimir's expression was ferocious and trembling with anger.

However, beneath this angry look lies a deep fear and helplessness.

"How could it be... How could it be... I clearly... clearly ate you up!!!"

Crazy roars echoed, but no one answered Vladimir in this dead silent space.

"Yes... and He... He is the same as the Darkin... No! He is a tyrant who is even more brutal than the Darkin. As long as I help Him to come into this world, then I..."

The more Vladimir spoke, the more excited his face became.

Vladimir's face was distorted and weird, with the fear that always remained on his face.

"Hehe, I must survive!!"