Because of Li Lin's words, Shen ultimately chose not to leave. He found a quiet corner in the council hall, far from Zed and his disciples. Akali, who maintained a relatively neutral relationship with Shen despite her conflicts with Karma, naturally sat beside him and Kennen.
Not long after, Ashe, the Warmother of the Avarosan Tribe representing the Freljord, arrived with her Frostborn allies. Tryndamere did not accompany her—one of them had to remain behind to oversee the tribe's affairs. As they entered, the True Ice weapons carried by the Frostborn warriors caused the hall's temperature to drop several degrees, drawing attention from everyone present.
Sarah Fortune had arrived early. But upon noticing the icy auras radiating from the Frostborn warriors, she quickly retreated to a distant corner alongside her first mate, Rafen, preferring not to draw any unnecessary attention.
Shortly afterward, both the Demacian delegation led by King Jarvan III and the Noxian representatives headed by Swain arrived. Though they refrained from open conflict like Shen and Zed, the tension between them was palpable. Li Lin managed to seat them apart, with the Frostborn warriors and Caitlyn's group in between as a buffer. Thankfully, Swain did not bring Darius' younger brother, Draven. With his temperament, it was almost certain that today's meeting would devolve into a shouting match.
As the minutes passed, the celestial warriors finally arrived, instantly becoming the center of attention. Even the latecomers—Kayle, Morgana, and Atreus—faded into the background in comparison. From Shurima, Emperor Azir personally attended, showing immense respect for Li Lin's efforts. He brought only Sivir along, leaving Nasus to govern the Sun city while the other Ascended were preoccupied hunting their former Darkin brethren. Janna also attended, assuming her bluebird form and perching on one of the beams above the hall.
Excluding the isolationist Ixtali cities and the mysterious lands east of Ionia, this marked the first historical gathering of prominent leaders and dignitaries from across Runeterra. All of this was orchestrated by Li Lin.
As the host of the League of Legends conference, Li Lin stepped onto the podium. The once noisy hall fell into silence. Suppressing his excitement, he surveyed the room, taking in the varied expressions of the hundred or so attendees scattered throughout. Clearing his throat, he began, his voice strong and commanding, echoing through the spacious hall without the need for amplification.
"My name is Li Lin. Most of you here already know me, so I'll spare the lengthy introductions.
"Thank you for honoring me with your presence at this inaugural League of Legends conference. Let's get straight to the point."
Li Lin's words carried a certain weight, drawing everyone's attention.
"You're all likely aware of the purpose behind the creation of this League. It's to unite all nations, all factions, and all extraordinary individuals into Runeterra's final line of defense.
"For nearly ten millennia, Runeterra has endured hardship and suffering. From the Freljordian Three Sisters' battles against the demigods of nature to the ancient conflicts between Vastaya and the invading Titans in the First Lands."
He continued, his tone shifting slightly.
"Later, humanity's great migration from the far eastern lands brought new life to the Blessed Isles, Shurima, Mount Targon, the Serpent Isles, and Ixtal. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for humanity."
He paused before emphasizing a critical turning point.
"Then, the Star Aspect deceived Aurelion Sol—the grand architect of creation itself—stealing his knowledge and power. They used this to guide the people of Mount Targon to Shurima, where they constructed the Sun Disc, leading to the birth of the first Ascended. This heralded the most glorious era in human history: the Age of Ascension."
But Li Lin's tone darkened as he continued.
"Yet, humanity has faced even greater perils since."
He turned his gaze toward Ashe's group, locking eyes with the Avarosan leader.
"The Freljordian legends tell of how Avarosa and Serylda, along with their allies, were betrayed by Lissandra. She sought to amend her catastrophic mistake of summoning the corrupting darkness from the Abyss. Her actions drained the magical power of the Yetis and ultimately froze the Watchers beneath the Howling Abyss."
The room filled with hushed whispers. Li Lin noted how Ashe's companions looked eager to respond, though she held them back.
Raising his voice slightly, Li Lin continued, "Though the Avarosans may not welcome the Frostguard, it was Lissandra's forces that saved the Freljord from annihilation. Avarosa and Serylda gave their lives in the effort, and Lissandra inherited their legacy, becoming the living saint of the Freljord."
Ashe's clear and unwavering voice rang out from the crowd.
"Lissandra gifted us with knowledge and the truth. Without her, there would be no Freljord as we know it today."
Li Lin smiled faintly, meeting Ashe's gaze.
"It seems you aren't fully aware of the history buried beneath the ice."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Ashe had yet to speak, but an irate Warmother at her side was quick to interject.
"Lissandra is not the savior you believe her to be. Beneath the Frostguard Citadel, in the Howling Abyss, lies the frozen forms of the Void Watchers—beings you refer to in your legends as the Iceborn Watchers."
Li Lin's expression grew stern as he pointed behind him. A projector in the hall displayed various images—recordings from his past encounters, satellite images of the northern Freljord, and Void creatures from Icathia.
Among the projections was an enormous creature, towering above the clouds with a long neck and four legs. Its single eye radiated a chilling aura, instantly recognizable to the Avarosan as the "Beast of Calamity" from their folklore. Known as the *Harbinger*, this creature was said to destroy the sanity of anyone who met its gaze. Entire clans had perished, not at the hands of raiders or winter, but because of these monsters.
Before Ashe's group could respond, Li Lin pressed on.
"These monsters are all manifestations of the Void's influence on this world. Many of them possess power on par with celestial warriors or demigods."
He turned to Azir, Kayle, Morgana, and Atreus.
"This can be attested by the Shuriman Emperor and the successors of the celestial powers from Mount Targon."
Azir's commanding voice echoed through the hall.
"Li Lin speaks the truth. Not long ago, we combined our strength to defeat a horrific being that infiltrated this realm from the Void."
King Jarvan III leaned forward, recalling the scenes Li Lin had shared with him previously.
"Was it the creature shown in your earlier recordings?"
The image of massive mechanical units battling the Void beast flashed in Jarvan's mind—hundreds of meters tall, dwarfing Demacia's proud colossus, Galio. Each mechanical titan radiated power like magic itself, their coordinated attacks a dazzling display of might.
In the vast hall, one could almost feel the lingering echoes of ancient battles and whispered secrets.
One after another, figures that seemed to embody the brilliance of celestial beings descended, standing tall as if they were deities walking among mortals. Opposite them loomed a void-born city, its enormity rivaling several Demacian capitals, with its enigmatic ruler at its helm. Together with the Ascended of Shurima, Li Lin had once unknowingly saved the world from complete annihilation. Yet, this was not what astonished King Jarvan III the most.
As an ordinary mortal untouched by Ascension's divine power, Li Lin had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ascended, relying solely on his mechanical creations. At times, Jarvan III could not help but marvel at how Li Lin seemed blessed by the world's favor, as if fortune itself bent to his will. Even Orlon, the revered founder of Demacia and its greatest king, seemed overshadowed in comparison.
"Li Lin is right," Swain's voice cut through the air with his usual confidence. "The Ice Witch, Lissandra, is far from a benevolent soul."
With even the Ascended Emperor Azir standing in support of Li Lin, the combined authority left Ashe and her Frostborn companions with little room for protest. Nevertheless, Li Lin could sense the skepticism lingering among some of them. To dispel it, he activated his AI, projecting a visual recording of the battle against the Void Empress. It played like a raw, unedited epic—a film devoid of any special effects, its authenticity undeniable.
"Lissandra made a pact with the Void Watchers to defeat the demigods, betraying Avarosa and Serylda in the process. The cost of this deal was the entire Runeterra—and in return, she gained immense power.
"The frostblood magic that flows through your veins originates from the Void. However, after millennia of dilution, its Void essence has diminished, leaving you with little trace of its original corruption."
"Lies! How could our power come from those grotesque monsters?" a Frostborn follower of Ashe exclaimed indignantly.
Li Lin, understanding the cultural gap, chose not to engage with the fervor of these warriors, whose lives were defined by survival and battle. Instead, he gestured toward Azir, signaling for the God-Emperor to speak. Among the crowd, Azir's overwhelming magical presence alone commanded reverence, even from those unfamiliar with him.
"Shurima has faced the Void before," Azir began, his voice measured but firm. "Not long ago, we triumphed once again over their twisted creatures. I know their taint well." He paused, letting his golden gaze fall upon the dissenting Frostborn. "There is indeed a faint trace of the Void within your blood. You should be grateful it did not erode your minds or devour your souls."
He continued, addressing the room as a whole, "When the three sisters—Avarosa, Serylda, and Lissandra—led humanity against the natural demigods, their power could not have originated from those very beings they opposed. Consider this: how has your frostblood lineage persisted for nearly ten thousand years without fading?"
The weight of Azir's words silenced even the most defiant. After a moment of contemplation, Ashe spoke up, her tone subdued with regret. "I apologize for doubting you earlier, Li Lin. It's just… difficult to believe that Lissandra would commit such an act."
"I'll prove it to you," Li Lin reassured her. "But not today."
Redirecting the conversation, he gestured toward Miss Fortune in the corner and then at King Jarvan III. Behind him, the holographic battle scenes abruptly shifted, now depicting the shadowy mists of the cursed Shadow Isles.
"I assume most of you are familiar with the phenomenon known as the Harrowing," Li Lin began, his voice steady but grave. "Every year, the Black Mist originating from the Shadow Isles extends its reach. The nearest target is always Bilgewater.
"Every few years, during a particularly powerful Harrowing, the mist becomes strong enough to cross the Conqueror's Sea, threatening even Demacia."
Jarvan III nodded solemnly. "Indeed, in recent years, the Black Mist has grown increasingly rampant, reaching the western cliffs of Demacia's Black Haven multiple times. I fear it's only a matter of time before a major Harrowing overwhelms our coastal settlements, leaving tens of thousands displaced."
Taking a deep breath, Li Lin continued. "The source of this calamity lies with the Curse of Ruination, which began over a thousand years ago with the once-mighty King Viego of Camavor. His desperate attempt to resurrect his late wife unleashed the curse, consuming the idyllic Blessed Isles and transforming them into the Shadow Isles we know today."
Pointing to the holographic display, he added, "My instruments indicate that the Ruined King's dormant soul is nearing reawakening. When that happens, the Black Mist will engulf the world. The Mistwalkers will spread far and wide, leaving devastation in their wake."
Azir spoke up again, his regal voice unwavering. "We must venture to the Shadow Isles and put an end to this disaster before it begins. I will dispatch my Sunborn warriors to assist you."
"That is exactly what I had hoped for, Emperor," Li Lin replied with a respectful nod before his expression turned grim. "However, the Ruinous Curse is merely the beginning of our troubles."
Li Lin's gaze shifted to Swain, who stepped forward, his voice heavy with foreboding. "A greater nightmare looms—a threat not seen on the continent for over a millennium. Mordekaiser, the Iron Revenant, gathers his strength within his necropolis, Mitna Rachnun. He is preparing to breach the veil between the dead and the living, and when he does, Runeterra will face a catastrophe like no other."
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Li Lin resumed. "And let us not forget the Void Watchers. One has already broken free beneath the ice of Freljord, and others are tearing open rifts between the Void and our reality. Together, these threats mark the beginning of an apocalyptic chain of events."
Scanning the assembly, his voice grew impassioned. "Our world, Runeterra, stands on the brink of annihilation. Yet, instead of uniting against these threats, we remain divided—locked in petty wars and internal conflicts, squandering the very forces we need to survive. It breaks my heart to witness such self-destruction."
Li Lin's tone grew fervent, his words resonating with the weight of urgency. "From the beginning, my goal has been singular: peace. Every action I've taken has been for this cause.
"No matter the disputes between nations or factions, we must set aside our differences and stand together. The challenges we face dwarf our rivalries. That is why I called for this summit at the Institute of War, why I've summoned all of you here today: to unite against the coming darkness and form the final bastion for all life on this planet—the League of Legends!"
And so, the assembly marked the first step in humanity's desperate bid to stave off extinction.
(End of Chapter)