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

At the recruitment training ground, Riven and Ato were surprised to find that the soldiers who had previously belonged to Riven's squad were all waiting there instead of going home.

"Swordsman! You've recovered?" Laza was the first to rush over, touching Riven all over.

The next second, Laza was captured by Riven with her hands behind her back.

"Ouch...please be gentle! I won't touch you anymore!"

"Stop fooling around, Laza." Riven released her grip. "Admiral Amistan's orders were for you to join General Darius's warband. What are you still doing here?"

“Actually, we all want to go to Ionia with you…” said the blond soldier named Leon.

"You are soldiers! Not pirates who do whatever they want!" Riven shouted at her team. "After you get home, head straight to General Darius. Don't delay the march!"

“We just came to say goodbye to you…” Laza said aggrievedly, “It’s okay to go home a day later, the Empire has given us plenty of time.”

“You guys…” Riven saw the shadows of her former companions in them.

“I have a piece of advice for you,” Ato stepped forward. “You still have families waiting for you to come back alive. Cherish yourselves.”

“This is not asking you to desert. Darius is a man obsessed with victory to the point of madness. You can follow his orders and keep moving forward, but be careful to protect yourselves and don’t risk your lives.”

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. After the training Ato had received over the past two days, they naturally knew how powerful Ato was, and thus imagined how much effort Ato had put in to become stronger.

They naturally wouldn't easily ignore Ator's advice.

The soldiers had to re-evaluate the mission.

Laza pouted: "You talk as if you know Freljord very well."

“I just returned from there not long ago.” Ator glanced at her indifferently. “Just assume that all Freljordians possess the strength of a swordsman.”

"How is this possible?" a soldier exclaimed.

"Also, buy more thick cotton shoes and cotton clothes. Don't worry about them being heavy; you'll need them."

“Do as Harris says.” Riven’s expression was heavy. She suddenly felt that she might never see these people again.

"...Yes, sir."

After saying goodbye to Riven, they picked up their packed luggage and left the training ground, turning back every few steps.

"The time is too short. I've only trained them for two days. Their strength is not enough." Atto was somewhat pessimistic about their future.

“This is an order from the Empire.” Riven frowned, but inwardly she questioned the Empire’s decision.

Why did you suddenly transfer your own squad away and bring in a new squad?

Knowing the reason, Ato didn't explain. There are some things that Riven has to experience herself to truly understand.

"Let's solve your rune sword problem first. It's abnormal that using the rune sword drains your strength after just one use."

“Alright.” Riven drew her runeblade and laid it flat on the ground.

Although she was very worried about them, there was nothing she could do.

Last night, after learning that Atto possessed magic, she had the idea of ​​having Atto improve the Rune Blade. If the number of times the runes could be used could be increased, it would greatly enhance her strength.

At this moment, the runes were not activated, and the entire sword was pitch black.

Atox lifted it up, and at the same time communicated with Aatrox in his mind: "In a moment, I will trigger it according to the method Riven gave me. It may trigger some seals that LeBlanc will notice. Please help me avoid the seals."

"There's no need. Let's be direct. Last time she activated the runes, that person named LeBlanc already knew."

"What?" Aatrox's words disrupted Aatrox's plans. "What do we do now?"

"From your description, I can imagine what kind of person LeBlanc is."

"Since she hasn't made a move, it means her attention isn't here, or she wants to keep waiting. If she really comes, why bother looking for her? We can just chop her up, right?"

Ato thought for a moment and said, "She most likely won't come in person, but will send her subordinates to investigate secretly..."

“But this is indeed an opportunity. If she really sends someone, it will allow Riven to see in advance that someone in Noxus is targeting her, and I can take her away from here.”

"Ato? Is something wrong?" Riven asked, seeing that Atto hadn't moved for a long time.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something." Atto got into position. "I'm going to begin."

“Okay.” Riven stepped back a little.

Atto tightened his grip, squeezing the hilt with even greater force. The green runes on the sword suddenly lit up, and at the same time, Atto felt a suction force, his stamina steadily decreasing.

Riven didn't notice that a sliver of red light burrowed into the Runeblade along Ator's finger.

The red light traced a circle along the lines of the runes, revealing the complete pattern hidden within the sword to Atto.

If Atto were to describe it, the structure inside would be like a strenuous lever he had seen in his past life.

This will greatly increase Riven's burst damage, but a few attacks will drain her stamina.

If the enemy has not been completely eliminated by this time, the exhausted Riven will be killed by the remaining enemies.

Was LeBlanc doing this on purpose?

She had long wanted to get rid of Riven, so she tampered with the runes, hoping that Riven would be exhausted in a battle and die at the hands of the enemy.

But Riven has yet to encounter an enemy that requires activating runes to defeat; she's only used them during practice and when sparring with me...

LeBlanc underestimated Riven's strength.

"Old man, can you do it?"

"one little thing."

Blood energy enveloped the runes within the sword, symbolizing the fulcrum of leverage. With a forceful pull, it was moved from near the hilt to the center of the entire runic structure.

Although Riven's total stamina hasn't changed, she doesn't need that much explosive power at all, and she can easily shut it off when she feels exhausted.

Atto loosened his grip slightly, and the runes on the sword gradually faded.

"Okay, give it a try, it should last longer."

"So fast?"

Riven had no idea what Ator had done. She reached out and took the Runeblade, activated the rune, and immediately felt something different.

If it was like a black hole before, it is now at best the gravity of a star.

Of course, this is Ator's metaphor.

"Boom!"

An invisible shock emanated from the rune sword, causing even Ator to feel a brief dizziness.

Riven glanced around, quickly extinguished the runes, grabbed Atto, and ran towards the gate.

"Let's go!"

"What happened?"

Before crossing the gate, Atto finally saw that countless cracks had appeared in the walls surrounding the training ground.

"Is this the power of the runic sword? Why didn't I sense it when I blocked the energy wave before?"

"Nonsense! Do you think the Celestial Warriors can't even withstand an attack of that level?"

Aatrox's roar echoed in Ato's heart.