First, take down the Sword Demon, then save Runeterra.

Ator pushed open the gates of Frostguard Fortress, and the frigid air of Freljord rushed out.

"That old hag, she didn't live for nothing in her ten thousand years. She lured me in, then disappeared as soon as the banquet started, leaving me to be kept in Frostguard Fortress for a whole day by other people..." Ato muttered to himself.

“Be content. Food is scarce here, but the Iceborn are using their stored prey to prepare a feast for you, teach you traditional dances, and tell you ancient legends. It’s not like they’re treating you unfairly,” Aatrox said dismissively.

As the divine sheath forged by Ornn took further effect, more corruption was expelled from Aatrox's body.

Furthermore, with the deepening connection with Aatrox, their spiritual communication was no longer just a matter of voice; they could now manifest physical forms, albeit in Aatrox's Darkin form.

"We stayed in the warm fortress, but poor Anaka, she really stood in the freezing cold for a whole day and night..."

Anaka stood not far away, her posture exactly the same as when Ato entered the fortress yesterday, without any change.

Aatrox sighed and said helplessly, "Actually, there's no need to worry at all. Temperature has no effect on Darkin. She could stand there for a hundred years without any problem. It's just because she lacks rationality and no one is giving her orders."

"Now that Lissandra has gained initial trust in Anaka, we only need to take the final step."

Just then, Lissandra, who had been missing for a long time, appeared behind Ator.

“Go ahead, this time you command her.” Ator didn’t turn to look at Lissandra; he understood what “the final step” meant. “Neither I nor this guy will participate. You can command her to explore the Howling Abyss again.”

Lissandra silently walked past Atto.

"That old hag, she's been gone for so long, I don't even need to guess, she's definitely observing Anaka from some corner of the fortress," Ato couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Lissandra approached Anaka, her voice muffled by the distance and the cold wind, but Anaka, who had been like a statue, finally reacted.

She leaped over the edge of the stone bridge, jumped into the howling abyss, and quickly disappeared from sight.

“Even though I knew the outcome, seeing it with my own eyes still feels unreal,” Ato exclaimed. “Even I, the wielder of the Demon Sword, couldn’t command Anakka, but Lissandra did.”

“Anaka is going to stay here to monitor the Abyss. What’s the point of ordering her to stay? You might consider it if you encounter any of your other brothers.”

"I was just saying..." Atto pursed his lips.

“Once Anaka comes aboard, we’ll leave. Noxus’s conscription shouldn’t be over yet. We’ll take this opportunity to infiltrate the army and travel to Ionia on their warships.”

Aatrox analyzed from the general's perspective: "If their commanders are smart enough, they will wait until the harsh winter is over before sending out troops, and will not do the foolish thing of splitting their forces into multiple groups."

"When that purple-skinned mage disembarked, I could sense the special nature of that land even across the sea. There were some beings there that I couldn't underestimate. In addition, I also sensed a few familiar auras."

Ato stroked his chin, recalling the events he'd witnessed in the real world: "I remember that tyrannical emperor did indeed divide his forces, sending Darius, his strongest warrior, to Freljord. What a terrible emperor..."

"Is LeBlanc behind this? It seems she's only good at scheming and plotting; she knows nothing about warfare but is giving blind orders..."

"LeBlanc? Who's that? Some kind of vaudeville performer?"

Ato and Aatrox chatted idly for two hours before Anaka jumped from the abyss onto the stone bridge.

She didn't bow to Lissandra, but instead reported the situation at the bottom of the abyss in a low, husky voice: "The seal... is intact... in the True Ice state... just like last time..."

Anaka's current state is like a computer program... There is a top-level command, and only after this command agrees to run will the next level of commands continue to run...

“It’s over.” Ato exhaled a cold breath and came to Lissandra’s side.

“We have proven everything. Anaka helped you monitor the Abyss, and you no longer sow discord between the Avarosan and Winterclaw tribes. I think you should remember that, right?”

He controlled the Darkin Demon Sword to release a wisp of power, enhancing his aura, and by the time he finished speaking, it already carried a hint of threat.

He had gone to such great lengths to gain the old hag's trust, and if she remained wary, Ator wouldn't mind showing her the power of the numerical monster.

It's one thing to not want to clash with her, but it doesn't mean that Ato is really afraid.

“…I will keep my promise.” These were the first words Lissandra said to Ator today. “I will no longer interfere in the development of those two tribes that have inherited the will of my sisters.”

“I hope so,” Ato said calmly. “Anaka will stay here for now. We’ll come when the watchers beneath the ice break the seal. If there’s nothing else, we should head to the next location.”

Before Lissandra could speak, Atto walked towards the other end of the stone bridge.

Anaka's gaze remained fixed on the Darkin Blade, but she stood still, neither moving nor saying a word.

"Wait a minute," Lissandra suddenly called out to Atto.

"Is there anything else?" Atto asked without turning around.

"Are you going to that empire in the south?"

"That's right, but that's none of your business."

“I set up magical coordinates at the border that can teleport you there, bypassing the journey in Freljord. I apologize for your probing; consider this my compensation.”

Ato, who was about to step off the stone bridge, finally turned around.

"……it is good."

Lissandra didn't say anything more. Her blue arms emanated a chill, and after several changes in her hand gestures, a layer of pure ice appeared beneath Ator's feet. However, the preparation time was significantly longer than when she teleported to the nearby mountains last time.

"Congeal!"

Lissandra raised her right hand, and a beam of transparent light shot from her into the air. After reaching a certain height, it turned and gradually descended, enveloping Atto.

Ator's feet grew pure ice, sealing him off.

"ice!"

With a flash of blue light, Ato disappeared from the spot.

Lissandra slowly lowered her arms, her chest rising and falling slightly; the long-distance teleportation had taken a heavy toll on her.

Anaka took one last look at the spot where Ator had disappeared, then turned her gaze to the abyss.

……

As the ice melted, Atuo looked around at his surroundings.

He stood atop a high mountain.

This place seems to be the dividing line between polar climates; to the north, the view is dominated by white, while to the south, green shoots can already be seen sprouting from the mountain walls.

“At least she’s sincere.” Atto shook off the remaining ice from his body. “Next, we need to figure out how to infiltrate the Noxian army.”

The mountain path posed no obstacle for Atto, and he soon arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Ahead lies a sizable city, with three main roads extending from it all the way into the mountains.

On the way down the mountain, Atto saw many caves and mine carts, and the name of the city was clearly written on the sign below the mountain.

"Deviburg".