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

Atto was disappointed by the inaction of the Wuji Sect. He could not understand their so-called "balance" and their choice to remain on the sidelines in order to maintain balance.

"If you don't get hit, you won't wake up, so it's better to get hit."

Ato sensed Riven's location and found that she was still on Philor Island, probably preparing to build a military fortress.

Since Riven was out of danger, Ator turned his attention to the northern province of Navoli.

"That's the main battlefield, old man. Do you still feel like getting involved in this war?"

"If possible, I would really like to get involved myself and see how it differs from what we did back then."

"If you join the war, wouldn't you become a perpetual motion machine? With a constant supply of flesh and blood, you'll never run out of strength as long as the war continues."

“This wasn’t originally my power,” Aatrox sighed. “What you’ve gained is what I acquired after I became a Darkin.”

"Any kind of power is fine as long as it can be used to fight the void."

Many of the things Ator has done are actually in order to find allies to fight against the Void, and now he has found Ryze and Lissandra.

Today is only the second day of the war, and the battle lines are still concentrated near the western coastline of Navori province. Many people are unaware that Ionia has been invaded by foreign enemies.

Atto rushed down the mountain, and by the time he arrived at his destination, it was already completely dark.

He came to a small town called Tivas in the northern part of the province of Baru, where boats travel daily between Presidien in Navoli and Baru.

Because news of the war had not yet arrived, communication with Navoli had not been cut off.

"It's too late, the ships have already stopped operating..." Ato said helplessly, hoping that the war would not reach here tomorrow.

He went into a tavern near the harbor and handed some loose silver coins to the waiter.

The recipient accepted the gift with delight and sincerely thanked Atto for his generosity.

Before leaving the Immortal Fortress, Ator exchanged No coins for a lot of silver ingots and a small amount of gold.

Although currencies differ, precious metals are hard currency everywhere.

He booked a room upstairs in the tavern to observe everything around him.

He had just opened the window when he saw a commotion coming from the northern port.

"Damn it, they're refugees! Tomorrow's flight routes might be affected!"

Like the Smyrium tribe, those who fled the battlefield after learning of the war are gradually spreading throughout Ionia.

As soon as the small boat reached the shore, people jumped off.

It was a small wooden boat that could only carry two or three people. The refugees relied solely on their hands to row to get here.

As he ran, he shouted, "Foreign invasion! Foreign invasion! Philol has fallen!"

"What? Foreign enemies have invaded?"

Hearing the commotion, the Ionian quickly grabbed the man and asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

"Dead! All dead!" The refugee was clearly no longer mentally stable.

More and more people gathered around him, listening to him recount what had happened on Philol Island.

“Those soldiers…they kill anyone they see! My wife! My daughter! They were just a step too slow, and they caught and killed them!”

"They are stronger than the monks in the monastery! We had no time to prepare!"

"They also have ships that are taller than mountains! You can't even imagine!"

"I want to go to Presidium! I want to seek refuge in the Sanctuary!"

With that, he rushed out of the crowd, returned to the boat, and, with a burst of strength, headed north.

Upon hearing this news, some others expressed indignation, cursing the invaders for not understanding the principles of balance.

But most people went home to pack their things, preparing to escape to Presidium as well.

In their view, Presidium is now the safest place in all of Ionia.

In no time, the bustling street became deserted.

"Old man, don't you have any brothers around here? The kind who can swim?"

“I sensed several presences, but none of them are my brothers.” Aatrox frowned.

“Ancient Shurima did not require naval warfare, so there were not many Ascended whose abilities were related to water.”

“I know there is only one person with water-related abilities, and he is not here.”

Atto said, "There are just too many islands in Ionia. It's really troublesome not having a boat."

"Old man, even if they aren't your brothers, you are still the second most powerful person in the empire after the Empress. Do you think they would disobey your orders?"

Aatrox pondered for a moment, then said uncertainly, "I can't guarantee that."

“I value each and every one of them, but apart from my brothers, I don’t know all the Ascended.”

"In the empire's most glorious period, they might have obeyed my commands, but for now, to be on the safe side, it's best not to awaken them."

Ator became interested: "So you also value Laaste?"

“Of course!” Aatrox said matter-of-factly.

"Although he is not my subordinate, he is half a friend. He is not Zolani, and I have no irreconcilable hatred with him."

Seeing that the conversation was steered toward that name, Atto didn't say anything more and continued to worry about the troublesome situation tomorrow.

"If all else fails, we can just swim there..."

The next day, before dawn, Ato was awakened by the noise outside.

He didn't know how many had come, but all he could see were residents of Tivaser, gathered near the port.

"Huh? So Ionia also has markets?"

Atto scratched his still-dazed head.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'going to a market'? These are the Tivas of Presidium who are about to take a boat to Presidium!"

Just because of a piece of war information that may or may not be true?

Shouldn't the normal procedure be to first question the authenticity, then wait for official confirmation, and then have the resistance army come out to protect the town?

No, there is no official government in Ionia, and there is no resistance army!

Only the various religious sects remained on the sidelines!

Just a piece of information, whether true or false, can cause this result!

This is Ionia, a country that has been closed off for ten thousand years and blindly believes in the way of balance!

Atto frowned slightly, as if sensing an impending storm.

"Then let me see just how 'balanced' your so-called way of balance really is!"

Ato thought of the Balance Cult in the province of Navori, where various factions in Ionia considered themselves to be their leaders, given that even the cult's name included the word "Balance".

He climbed out the window and onto the top floor of the tavern, where the view of the harbor was now even clearer.

He saw sailors working in the port standing behind the railings, looking fearfully at the dense crowd.

The people of Tivas remained silent, scanning their surroundings with wary eyes.

As the sun rose in the east, at the time when ships were scheduled to operate, an unexpected event occurred.