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

Atto carried the heavily wounded Swain far westward, finally stopping in a deserted forest.

During the flight, Ato used the magic sword's power to stop the bleeding of Swain, in order to prevent the rebels from finding him through the bloodstains.

After all that, Atuo couldn't help but brag to himself.

"How's it going, old man? Do you seem to be strategizing now?"

"Hahahaha~ Little thing, brilliant!"

At the start of the war, Atto escorted the prisoners away from the battlefield and, after reaching a safe location, returned to the Temple of the Saints.

He opened the scabbard space in advance, changed out of his black robe, took out the iron spike armor that Riven had given him when he joined the army, and then used the scabbard to change his appearance.

At this moment, Ator reverted to being the Noxian soldier Harris.

As for the scabbard, he simply wrapped it in his black robe, making it impossible to tell what it was from the outside.

When he returned to the battlefield, the Battle of Stand was nearing its end, and Atto breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Swain was only seriously wounded.

Just as Irelia was about to finish off Swain, Ator intervened and saved him.

Ator wasn't worried that Irelia would notice anything amiss.

That was all done by Noxian soldier Harris. What does it have to do with me, Master Ji? And what does it have to do with me, Atuo?

The Holy Land of Presidium must be returned to the Ionians; they need this victory to encourage more people to join the resistance.

A moment later, Swain, who had fallen into a coma due to the impact of the flight, awoke.

His last conscious thought was seeing someone coming to rescue him.

However, he still has no strength and can only lie on the ground.

Upon waking up, the first thing I saw was a terrifying-looking demonic sword stuck not far away, and I almost fainted again.

"woke up?"

Swain looked in the direction of the voice and saw a person wearing Noxian armor standing next to the demon sword, but his face was Ionian.

"It feels so good to have my own face..." The man pinched his nose.

“Are you… a soldier of the Empire?” Swain asked weakly.

"I am neither a Noxian soldier nor an Ionian."

Ato gripped the hilt of the magic sword: "It's not convenient to talk like this, let me heal you first."

The next moment, blood energy emerged from the demonic sword and slowly drifted over.

Swain instinctively wanted to resist, but he was completely unable to move.

The treatment process was painful, but after the blood and qi were absorbed, Swain was surprised to find that it really worked!

If someone could sever Ator's limbs, they could regrow thanks to the magic sword's regenerative abilities.

But it can't be used on other people; the magic sword can't repair other people's limbs.

After receiving basic treatment, Swain was able to sit up on his own, as his physical condition as a soldier was still intact.

His right kneecap has been shattered by Irelia, making it unlikely he can stand up.

Swain leaned against a large tree, observing the man and the demonic sword before him, but even with his extensive experience, he couldn't discern anything.

"Why did you save me? You said you weren't an Imperial soldier, then who are you?"

“You saw it, didn’t you? That raven, and the truth about the Immortal Fortress.” Ator didn’t answer the question.

"You... know too?" Swain instinctively tried to stand up, but the sharp pain in his right leg forced him to give up.

What a nostalgic feeling! The last time I saw through someone's underwear was with Lissandra... Wait, I'm not interested in that old hag's underwear!

Putting aside his inner thoughts of discontent, Ato carefully chose his words and said, "You cannot die. Your empire still needs you to save it."

"You probably already know that Darkwell is a puppet, and all the orders he gives are the work of the Pale Lady behind him."

“The Pale Lady…” Swain recalled the white figure he had seen in the raven’s eyes, and the hand that gripped the chains.

"Why did she use such a scheme to isolate me? I've always been wary of the Empire..."

Swain seemed to remember something.

Decades ago, he personally executed his parents on charges of treason.

They formed a secret society in an attempt to overthrow Darkwell, and one of the masterminds was called "The Pale Lady"!

Because of his meritorious exposure, Swain officially came to the attention of Emperor Darkville and was given important responsibilities by the emperor.

After that, several people came to Swain and introduced him to "The Black Rose," but Swain refused and ordered his soldiers to arrest and execute them.

Swain only suspected that the Pale Lady was not dead at all and was secretly gathering strength to rebel, but he did not expect that even the emperor was a puppet of the Pale Lady!

"So, the reason for starting this war, the immortality artifact His Majesty sought, was all a hoax? All the work of the Pale Lady?"

"It seems you've figured it all out." Ato nodded slightly; with Swain's intelligence, figuring these things out wasn't difficult.

"Can you tell me? What is the true identity of the Pale Lady?" Swain couldn't wait to return to the Empire and expose this parasite of the Empire!

He figured that since Ator had saved him, he must be on the opposite side of the Pale Lady, and he also possessed a powerful magic sword, indicating considerable strength.

In his view, Ato and the Pale Lady belonged to two unknown ancient forces. He didn't care about Ato's identity; he only wanted to know who the Pale Lady was.

Atto saw through his thoughts and reminded him, "Are you really planning to go back like this? With a crippled body? The Pale Lady thinks you're already dead!"

“That’s perfect.” Swain clenched his remaining right fist. “I’m crippled, so I’m no longer a threat. This time, she’s in the open, and I’m in the shadows.”

“Interesting.” Ato said with some curiosity, “How can you be sure that after we return to the Immortal Fortress, she won’t arrest you, lock you up in a cell, and secretly execute you?”

"I can't be sure, so my return must be a big deal. The more people know I'm coming back, the safer I will be."

"As expected of Swain, his thinking is indeed very clear," Ato exclaimed.

Swain looked at Ator and said seriously, "Soldier, I don't know who you are, but you are wearing Imperial armor. Since you are unwilling to reveal your identity, I will just call you soldier for now."

"Could you help me return to the Empire? It would be best if you could create some momentum for it; I know you have that ability."

"After resolving the 'Black Rose' issue, I will grant you everything you desire, as well as Noxus's friendship, within my power."

Ato was momentarily speechless; before he could say anything, Swain had already said everything he needed to say.

"What do you think I saved you for? It was to let you restrain LeBlanc. Alright, you can't travel like this, I'll go find a carriage in a nearby village."

"LeBlanc, is that the Pale Lady's name... Soldier, how will you help me return to the Empire?"

"Go find Riven."