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"Oh, such a speech is really exciting!" Kled exclaimed, his face smeared with blood and lit with excitement.
"General Kled, would you like to have your own seat in the council hall?" Ryan asked with a sly smile.
"Bah, too much trouble discussing things. Just call me when there's a war to fight. Oh! My lizard! Skaarl, where are you?!"
Kled suddenly remembered his missing mount and stormed out of the hall, shouting madly.
"Is that what all yordles are like? I've heard everyone in Bandle City, their hidden haven, uses magic," a cold, inquisitive female voice said behind Ryan.
Ryan turned slightly. Syndra, clad in her signature black robes, had appeared silently and seated herself in one of the council chairs.
Her deep, midnight eyes scanned the room, brimming with curiosity.
"Bandle City," Ryan began softly, "is said to be a realm woven entirely from magic. According to legend, only the yordles hold the key to its gates."
Without turning to fully face her, he continued, "Our prior assumptions about magic deviated from reality. Based on what you uncovered in Piltover, we can refine our understanding and draft a new theory."
Syndra's delicate eyebrows arched slightly, and a faint smirk of pride played across her elegant face.
"You seem busy today," she remarked.
"Tell me tomorrow. Your grasp of magic is remarkable—you learn far faster than I did."
Ryan chuckled. "Flattery, Syndra? I'm honored."
"Hmph!" Syndra's expression darkened as if recalling a bitter memory.
Frost crept into her tone.
"Mortals always fear what they cannot understand. Such ignorance!"
"And that," Ryan said evenly, "is why Noxus suits you. Here, strength commands respect. Become powerful enough, and no one will dare to oppose you. Just as no one questions my right to sit in this council seat."
Syndra's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"I like that. Power above all else—it suits me."
Swain concluded his inaugural speech to the council as they spoke, his commanding presence casting a long shadow across the hall.
Noticing Syndra's arrival, he gave her a subtle nod of acknowledgment.
Syndra's strength was undeniable—powerful enough, in fact, to warrant a seat on the council if she desired it.
She could even replace one of the current three members, and no one would dare object.
"I enjoy following you, Ryan," Syndra said, leaning back in her seat with a trace of amusement.
"Power takes precedence. It's exactly how it should be."
Ryan gave a faint smile, his gaze drifting back to the chamber's center.
The world was full of mediocrity, but Noxus provided a stage for the ambitious and strong.
That was the purpose of the Trifarix Council—to elevate those who had the will to seize greatness.
Swain handled internal affairs, while Ryan focused on external matters. For now, his duties were light.
With the defense resolved, all that remained was to sit through Swain's proclamations—formal announcements outlining the empire's new doctrine under Trifarix rule.
Tomorrow, these words would spread across Noxus, reaching every citizen of the empire.
As the reading neared its end, Ryan's brows lifted slightly, his expression turning amused.
When Swain finished, his sharp eyes flicked toward the massive stone doors at the hall's entrance.
Ryan tilted his head subtly, and the heavy doors swung open with a low rumble. He spoke softly, his voice laced with curiosity:
"The Executioner... Draven. I've heard much about you."
Standing at the threshold was Draven, his muscular frame exuding swagger.
He wore his trademark grin, though there was a hint of unease in his sharp gaze.
Resting a hand on his axe, he scanned the chamber warily before stepping inside.
"So..." Draven began, his tone carrying its usual bravado, though it faltered slightly.
"I hear council seats are earned through strength, huh?"
Draven hadn't paid much attention to Swain's speech. The moment he heard that strength could earn a seat on the council, he rushed over without delay.
His sharp eyes immediately locked onto the vacant vice-president seat in the hall, and they lit up with excitement.
"I like that one!" he exclaimed, pointing at the seat with a grin.
"That seat is already taken," Swain said calmly, his deep voice unwavering as a six-eyed raven landed on the unassuming chair behind Darius' position.
"I should sit—" Draven began, but his voice faltered as he met Ryan's half-amused, half-icy gaze.
His mind flashed back to the dark orb of magic Ryan had summoned earlier, and he let out an awkward laugh.
"Well... I'll just sit back here. Back seats are fine. Yep, no problem at all!"
Draven quickly backtracked, slinking to one of the ordinary council seats.
After taking his place, he suddenly slapped his forehead as though he'd just remembered something. Looking back at Ryan, he raised a hand.
"Wait a second—don't we respect strength here in Noxus?" Draven asked.
Ryan's expression remained calm, but the corners of his lips twitched upward in a faint smile.
"If you have the strength to take my position, I wouldn't mind giving it up."
"Whoa, whoa, no need for that! You and Swain—top dogs, no question," Draven said, giving Ryan an exaggerated thumbs-up.
But after a moment, he jabbed a finger toward the vice-president seat in front of him.
"But this one? Nah, I'm not buying it. In Noxus, other than you two, who could be better than me?"
The arrogance in his tone was unmistakable. In his mind, there wasn't anyone in the empire who could match him in sheer force.
He cast a glance at the woman seated near Ryan and Swain—Syndra—and scowled.
To Draven, the idea of being on equal footing with a woman was insulting. Surely, Noxus wasn't serious about that.
Ryan's voice, calm but firm, cut through Draven's thoughts.
"That seat is reserved for someone who will command the Trifarix Military. If you have any objections, I'd be happy to prepare the arena for you."
A faint smirk tugged at Ryan's lips as he lifted his arm. With a casual wave, a rune matrix materialized beside him.
The intricate magical design shimmered, glowing faintly as it connected to a faraway location—his personal castle.
The matrix extended across thousands of miles, opening a portal in the frozen north.
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Freljord, Noxian Camp.
Darius stood amidst his troops when the rune matrix appeared before him. Resting his massive battle axe on his shoulder, he turned to his soldiers.
"Stay put and await the empire's orders!" he barked.
With that, he stepped into the matrix, his massive frame disappearing in a flash of light.
Moments later, he reappeared in the familiar council hall of Noxus.
No sooner had Darius materialized than he heard a familiar, obnoxious voice echoing across the chamber.
"I'm telling you, I'm not exaggerating! When this guy shows up, I'll drop him with one axe! He'll beg for mercy, call me 'Big Brother' with the second axe, and that'll be it!"
Draven's boastful words trailed off when a massive, pitch-black axe came hurtling toward him with terrifying speed.
Boom!
The axe buried itself deep into the floor, mere inches from Draven's feet. The sheer force sent cracks rippling through the stone. Draven froze in place, his bravado vanishing in an instant.
As the blue light of the rune faded, the towering figure of Darius stepped forward, his menacing silhouette now fully visible.
Draven's wide-eyed stare met his brother's glare, and, in his panic, he stumbled backward, landing on his knees.
From Ryan's vantage point, it almost looked as though Draven had been struck down by the axe itself.
A faint chuckle escaped Ryan's lips as he leaned forward slightly.
"Darius, long time no see," Ryan greeted him.
"However, it seems we have a challenger for you to deal with."
Darius' voice was a low, gravelly growl brimming with authority.
"Give me a moment."
His massive frame began to move, each step deliberate and heavy with intent. The air in the hall seemed to grow heavier as he advanced toward Draven.
"You wanted to cut me down with an axe, did you?" Darius said, his voice dripping with menace.
Draven gulped, his usual confidence utterly shattered.
"Cough... If I still had my axe, I'd show you! Yeah, that's the only reason—totally the axe!" he stammered, refusing to meet Darius' eyes.
Darius sneered. "Draven, my foolish brother. After all these years, you still haven't learned to respect true strength."
Without effort, he yanked his axe from the ground, lifting it as though it weighed nothing. The massive weapon gleamed ominously in the light, its edges razor-sharp.
"I welcome your challenge," Darius growled, his gaze boring into Draven.
"But be ready to die."