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Under the tense and watchful gazes, Ryan commanded the water golems to dig through the ground.
Slowly, more and more tentacles emerged from beneath the surface. They were limp and motionless, occasionally squirming slightly within the pale, barren soil.
The grotesque tentacles oozed a thick, purple viscous liquid that filled the air with a sickening, nauseating stench.
As the excavation continued, the entire mass was finally exposed—a monstrous, incomprehensible abomination that defied the very definition of a living creature.
It had no limbs, no organs, nothing that resembled a body. Instead, countless writhing tentacles coiled around a massive, grotesque purple eyeball, its lid tightly shut with only a thin, narrow gap revealing an eerie violet gleam.
The sight of this aberration unleashed a wave of revulsion and unease.
Ezreal felt his stomach churn, a physical discomfort that sent shivers down his spine.
For Seraphine, however, it was far worse. She staggered, clutching her head, as whispers clawed at the edges of her mind.
The voices were chaotic—fragmented thoughts that carried an overwhelming sense of disorder, emptiness, and madness.
The babbling seemed to twist her very soul, suffocating her until she thought she might lose herself entirely.
"Make good use of your stage. It's the best amplifier—and the best suppressor."
Hearing her teacher's calm voice snapped Seraphine back to her senses.
Gritting her teeth, she reached out and connected her consciousness to the Hextech crystal embedded within her stage.
The stage lit up with a bright blue glow, and a protective shield enveloped her.
The chaotic whispers faded into silence as if swept away by a gentle breeze.
Seraphine exhaled shakily, her face pale with lingering fear.
"Teacher," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"I could barely handle just its unconscious murmurs."
"That's normal," Ryan replied calmly.
"You're still young. Don't let the ease of our recent victory fool you—this creature is far more powerful than it seems. If it were in its prime…"
Ryan trailed off, shaking his head slightly. Seraphine didn't need him to finish.
She understood what he meant: even someone as formidable as Ryan couldn't guarantee victory against such an entity.
Turning back to the abomination, Ryan observed it carefully, mentally cataloging everything they had learned.
It fed on magic. It was nearly impossible to kill. It lacked true consciousness, yet its chaotic murmurs could unravel even the strongest minds.
He was certain now—this thing shared the same origins as the horrors that had once ravaged Icathia.
The ancient texts left by the Ascended of Shurima had a name for such deformed entities. A name that, now seeing the creature with his own eyes, felt disturbingly fitting.
The Void.
"Teacher, what are we going to do with it?" Seraphine asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and concern as she gazed at the Voidborn creature.
"We'll take it somewhere safe," Ryan answered.
"Somewhere it can't do any harm."
"But… how do we transport it?" she asked, frowning.
"The Shurimans buried it here in Salt of Earth to restrain it. This place is barren—no life grows here, and no magic lingers on it."
"Exactly," Ryan replied.
"That's why we'll use the same material. It's the safest method."
Raising his hands, Ryan conjured four cascading curtains of water that fell from the air around the creature.
The water, soft and fluid at first glance, hardened into razor-sharp blades. They sliced cleanly into the ground, isolating the creature and the surrounding soil.
With a subtle motion of his fingers, Ryan lifted the entire mass into the air. The sand adhered to the Voidborn like a protective shell, burying it once more as layers of sand encased it tightly.
"Teacher, doesn't it absorb magic?"
Seraphine asked, her insatiable curiosity shining through even in the midst of tension.
Ryan glanced at her with a faint smile.
"Why do you think Ezreal's armguards managed to harm it?"
Seraphine paused before answering confidently,
"Those armguards are relics of the Ascended, imbued with their power."
"Exactly," Ryan said, reinforcing the binding spell as he spoke.
"Magic alone isn't enough. Only the power of the Ascended, the very beings who fought against the Void, can suppress creatures like this. Never forget that, Seraphine."
The young songstress nodded, her gaze lingering on the sealed Voidborn.
For the first time, she truly grasped the magnitude of the threat they faced—and the delicate balance between victory and annihilation.
Ryan smiled faintly.
"The essence of the Ascended's power is indeed magical, though it may go by a different name. But it cannot be devoured by creatures like this. Do you know why?"
"Um... is Arcane different from normal magic?" Seraphine asked after a long pause, struggling to find a plausible answer.
Ryan's smile widened at her confusion. Under her puzzled gaze, he began to explain.
"Arcane and magic are indeed different. Think of it this way: we all know that the hardness of stones differs greatly from that of loose dirt. If the magic of an ordinary mage is like sand, the magic of a Champion-level mage is like compacted clay. However, the power of the Ascended is akin to solid rock—enchanted rock, to be precise."
"Ah, so it's like water," Seraphine said thoughtfully.
"It can exist as steam, liquid, or ice. The state determines its strength. But, didn't it devour your magic earlier, teacher?"
Ryan nodded slightly, his hands still weaving spells to manipulate the Salt the earth that floated in the air.
"Your analogy is quite apt. This creature can devour sand and water, but it struggles with rock. If it were in its prime, it might have drained me instantly. But now, it's exhausted—barely able to absorb even clay."
He could feel the Void creature's desperate hunger, its yearning to consume. But its depleted state left it powerless.
As long as he maintained strict control over his magic, it couldn't exploit him.
"So," Seraphine reasoned, "for someone like me, or Orianna, we'd serve as its food. But in front of you, teacher, it's helpless."
"Not quite," Ryan replied with a chuckle.
"Orianna is different."
Seraphine tilted her head in confusion. Ryan's smile deepened as he clarified.
"The Hex gem within Orianna functions like a stone—or even an ice block—resilient and difficult to absorb. Additionally, Orianna's mechanical body leaves her devoid of the life force that the Void craves. If the Voidborn from Shuriman records return, Orianna would face it with far more ease than I could."
"You flatter me, Mr. Ryan," Orianna said modestly, lowering her gaze.
Though she was unaffected by Void creatures, Orianna knew her combat capabilities were limited.
Without proper training, her mechanical body offered enhanced resilience but minimal offensive ability.
In a melee fight, she doubted she could even hold her own against someone like Katarina.
"Done!" Ryan announced at last.
Under his control, the sand coalesced into a massive white sphere, encasing the Void creature within. It now appeared dormant, trapped in its improvised prison.
"Let's go," Ryan said.
"There's nothing more to be done here. As for the rest of this area, we'll leave it untouched for now. In a few months, I'll have the imperial specialists deal with it."
"Today's events won't stay a secret, though," Ezreal interjected, holding a stone tablet with a frustrated expression.
He had envisioned this expedition as his chance to make a name for himself, but now it seemed that glory would have to wait.
Still, Ezreal wasn't foolish. If Ryan deemed secrecy necessary, he wouldn't object. Fame was important, but not at the cost of causing a disaster.
If his discovery unleashed further Void creatures, he'd be infamous for eternity.
"Mr. Ezreal," Ryan said with a knowing smile, "your performance this time has been commendable. I'm willing to privately fund the establishment of a new Explorer's Guild for you. However, I have one condition."
"Name it," Ezreal said quickly.
"I'll keep today's events a secret if that's what you mean."
"The guild's headquarters must be in Noxus," Ryan explained.
"Additionally, the empire must have access to any historical information gathered by your guild. In return, we'll provide support—such as assistance from the Noxian military and access to the best expedition equipment."
"Deal!" Ezreal exclaimed, his mood shifting dramatically.
A patron this generous was a rarity. Sharing historical information in exchange for military and logistical support?
It was an offer too good to refuse. He'd gladly set up shop in Noxus—and he'd even consider becoming a Noxian citizen if it meant exploring freely.
"Mr. Ezreal," Ryan said with a teasing tone, "as the chairman of the Noxian Explorer's Guild and the first explorer of the empire, your discovery of the Oshera Va'Zuan ruins will be celebrated worldwide in just a few months."
Ezreal's eyes lit up.
"I like the sound of that! A few months, then!"
He was already imagining the accolades awaiting him.
To be acknowledged as a legendary explorer, revered by adventurers everywhere—it was a dream within reach.
He didn't mind the wait. The more the empire gained from his discovery, the more they'd support him in return.
Ezreal smirked to himself. Today had been a resounding success.
The legendary explorer Ezreal was well on his way to becoming a name spoken with awe across Runeterra.