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

We'll be at Presidium soon!

The rebels' eyes burned with a raging fire that could only be extinguished with the blood of the invaders.

Presidium was a sacred site to the Ionians, and the invaders showed no reverence whatsoever for it.

"Teachers, wait for me."

Irelia gripped the ribbons around her neck, equally eager for battle.

Upon hearing the news of the intruders, she said goodbye to her teacher and ran home, only to find that her entire family had been killed by the intruders.

Now that Presidium has fallen for more than ten days, her teachers are probably in grave danger as well.

Presidium had come into view, but the rebels were stopped by another group.

"Who are you?" Irelia asked warily, looking at the people who had suddenly appeared in front of her.

Their attire was similar to that of the rebels, both wearing inferior armor.

“We are a self-organized militia fighting the invaders,” the leader of the Ionians said.

"Then what are you doing here? Why didn't you go and take back the Holy Land after it fell?" Irelia asked, somewhat displeased.

"Do you think we don't want to reclaim the Holy Land? The invaders have captured all the Holy Land guards, as well as many civilians. If we attack, they will execute all of them!"

"What? You despicable outsider!"

Irelia's expression turned grave as she asked, "Master Ji, what do we do now? We can't abandon the lives of our prisoners for the sake of the Holy Land!"

Atto stroked his chin and began to think.

Now, including the rebels and militia, the number of people on the Ionian side has exceeded five hundred.

Although Swain was constantly being drawn from his troops, he certainly had at least five hundred men, so the two sides were evenly matched.

Swain's possession of prisoners made the Ionians hesitant to use force to reclaim the Holy Land.

"So the key lies with the prisoners. If we can rescue them, there won't be any problems, right?"

"Master Ji, do you have a solution?" Irelia asked in surprise.

Atto glanced at the surrounding terrain. There was only one building in front of him, the Great Hall of the Saints, which was the entrance to Presidium.

With towering mountains on both sides, the familiar sight reminded Ato of Huarong Road in the Three Kingdoms period.

The sunlight that reaches us is very limited, as most of it is blocked by the mountains, creating shadows on the ground.

shadow?

“I will go and rescue the prisoners. When you see the invaders starting to stir, begin the attack on Presidium.” Atto already had a plan.

The new ability I just acquired is perfect for this kind of situation!

"After rescuing them, I'll escort them out of here first. You guys hold off the invaders from the front!"

"Wait, Master Ji, how are you going to save him...?"

Before Irelia could finish speaking, she saw Ator's body sink into the ground, turning into a shadow and running towards the Temple of the Saints.

"Is this... the power of the Wuji Sect?" Irelia murmured.

"He's a master of the Wuji Sect? He can rescue the prisoners?" The militia leader became excited.

The militia had been watching the holy site for over ten days, but they couldn't launch an attack, and they were burning with rage.

"We have no choice but to trust him." Irelia signaled to the rebels behind her to prepare.

As Ato followed the shadows of the mountains closer to the Holy Temple, he was able to see more details.

This was a four-story classical building, with Noxian soldiers standing guard on each floor, but Ator simply ignored them.

Passing through the Temple of the Saints, you will truly arrive at Presidium, the sacred site of Ionia.

Ator was so stunned by the scenery of Presidium that he almost lost control of his Shadow Cloak.

"Now is not the time to admire the scenery; we must find the prisoners first."

Once you reach this point, you've already left the area of ​​the mountain's shadow. If someone pays attention to the ground, they'll see a shadow moving around.

Presidium is essentially a small, gradually rising mountain range with steps leading from its base to its summit.

Ato hid in the shadows as he climbed the steps. Although the mountain's shadow was no longer obscuring his view, the lush vegetation around him still blocked his view.

None of the soldiers on the road noticed him.

Finally, Ato spotted a garden halfway up the mountain, where soldiers were drawing their weapons and patrolling vigilantly.

The captured Holy Land guards and civilians sat in the garden, their faces showing weakness; there were probably more than a hundred of them.

“So this is where it is…” Ator dispelled his Shadow Cloak and drew the demonic sword from behind him.

Rebel camp on the outskirts of Presidium.

Irelia noticed that the soldiers standing guard in the Holy Temple seemed to have received orders and left their original positions.

Moments later, chaos erupted in the Holy Temple.

"Success! Master Ji has found a prisoner!" Thirty-one fragments of the family crest floated around Irelia.

The rebels and militiamen simultaneously took up arms, ready to fight.

"Reclaim our holy land!"

Before the words were even finished, Irelia charged out first, followed closely by the rebels and militia, roaring as they charged toward the Temple of the Holy Ones.

"Forget about the prisoners, let's face the enemy head-on!"

Swain hastily changed his orders, not expecting that before reinforcements arrived, the hostages in his hands would be lost first!

These seven or eight hundred men were his last remaining force.

How could someone have infiltrated and rescued the hostages without being discovered? Could it be that some cult intervened?

These days he keeps asking when the reinforcements will arrive, and the adjutant always says they're already on their way.

By the way, where is the adjutant?

Swain's face was extremely pale; he had just realized this was a trap!

There were no reinforcements at all! All the intelligence I saw had passed through my adjutant's hands; it was all fake!

Dukur? Or is it His Majesty who wants me dead?

why?

Swain couldn't understand it.

He was utterly loyal to the Empire, he pacified the western borders for the Empire, and he erected countless Noxian monuments on the sands of Shurima for the Empire.

With no time to consider the conspiracy behind the incident, Swain, trapped in a desperate situation, had no choice but to personally join the battle.

He drew his longsword and went to the front of the Holy Temple, where Imperial soldiers were already fighting with the rebels.

The battle cries continued, and the Imperial soldiers, with their heavy armor and weapons, initially held the advantage.

But the girl surrounded by throwing knives was different; rather than fighting, she was more like a dancer on the battlefield.

Any soldier who tried to approach would have their neck precisely slit by a throwing knife, taking their life.

Swain removed the long robe he was wearing, revealing the black armor underneath, and pointed directly at the girl throwing knives.

Without the robes to conceal their figures, the rebels discovered that the invaders' commander was as strong as an ox.

He was not just a civil official who could sit in the command room and give orders; even without his hereditary noble status, he could have achieved this through his own abilities.

People often praise Swain for his intelligence, but overlook the fact that he was also a soldier who went to the battlefield.

Just then, a group of haggard Ionians ran out of the Temple of the Holy Ones.