Once the mayhem died down, peace once again returned, and the people who ran away earlier, went back to the area to finish up the evacuation safely within the safe perimeter.

“What is this thing?” asked Ruby as she looked at the banged up scarecrow.

“We don’t know what it is,” responded Ryze as he took a step forward to analyze the scarecrow, or at least, the remains of the scarecrow. “We just know that it is a type of demon.”

“Demon?” asked Blake. “And who’s we?”

“We, as in the inhabitants of Runeterra,” confirmed Ryze as he continued his to talk. “But I suppose you won’t know anything about it since you come from a different world.”

“What? A different world?” asked Ironwood curiously.

“Yes,” said Ryze. “It seems that under some circumstances, your world has merged with ours. It happened about four days ago.”

“Four days?” Ironwood replied suspiciously. “Then how did we not get any reports about this matter? An island appearing out of nowhere would be too suspicious to not investigate. And how did we not experience any sort of aftereffect of the merge?”

“You see, that’s the problem,” said Ryze as he looked towards Ironwood as he finished analyzing the scarecrow. “It all happened so suddenly, the magical power in the air suddenly increased by an abnormal amount so I was able to know something was amiss. I sensed the influx of magic in the air coming in from the west so I investigated the shores.”

Ryze then looked towards the landscape of this area and recalled what he saw here before all hell broke loose. The buildings, clothing, and even transportation were incredibly advanced, more so than in Piltover. But then he recollected the scene he saw back on the shored of Demacia.

“But there was nothing,” said Ryze as he looked towards Ironwood again. “No abnormalities, no dangerous objects, and most importantly no seen land. It was only three days that the land showed up like it was unveiled by a curtain, and mustering the power I had, travelled here using Realm Warp, well, at least one of the huge land east of here, and then it took another day to come here. That was probably the reason why you people weren’t able to notice that there was an extension to the worlds as we know it.”

Ironwood was about to respond by saying that it was impossible because of all the airways that the airships used to get around Remnant, but then held it back. He didn’t know who, but Salem could never had done this, so there should probably be an external force at work here, and if its power was on par with a God, then bending reality should be possible. Instead, what he did next was one made with his entire heart.

“I thank you once again for helping us,” Ironwood thanked as he bowed his head. “Even if Cinder, that woman that you and that man over there helped repelled, was able to flee, as long as the students and the common populace are unharmed, then we consider it as a victory.”

“Nice words from a good man,” replied Ryze with a faint smile before it turned into a frown. “But that doesn’t solve the problem. It would be better if power hungry people like her just perish.”

“I can agree with you,” Ironwood nodded his head in agreement.

While Ryze and Ironwood were talking, the group of friends from Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Team SSSN were huddled in a corner and analyzing the mangled scarecrow.

“What do you think it is?” asked Ruby.

“Didn’t Mr. Ryze call it a demon,” responded Weiss with a sarcastic frown.

“But since it’s a demon, is it dead?” inquired Yang as she poked at the metal cage that still contained something black. “I mean, demons are hard to kill right?”

“Are you for real?” asked Sun baffled by her question. “Didn’t you see that samurai guy cut it to pieces earlier? It was awesome!”

“I know right?” said Nora in response with awe. “He was fast, crazy fast!”

“I must say, he is skilled, as well as strong,” nodded Ren as he took a quick glance at the sulky samurai.

“I wonder what his semblance is?” asked Neptune.

“It’s controlling the wind, stupid,” retorted Weiss. “Isn’t it obvious from how he fought earlier?”

While the teams were discussing, huddling around the mangled scarecrow, Ryze noticed them and quickly shooed them away.

“Hey! Get away from there!” shouted Ryze as he stomped his way towards the teens. Since the teens saw firsthand his strength, or probably only part of it, they followed his warning and moved away from the scarecrow. “It’s dangerous staying near it. Or actually, this area is still in danger because of this thing.”

When Ryze pointed at the scarecrow lying on the ground, the people around were shocked. They saw firsthand that the samurai guy sliced and diced him to shreds, but hearing that Ryze say that it is still dangerous loitering around him, or even the whole area might still be in danger, they had doubts.

“Ironwood,” called out Ryze. “I suggest you evacuate this area too, A. S. A. P.”

Hearing the seriousness in his voice, Ironwood had the Hunters double their efforts in the evacuation. While all that was happening, Ryze gathered his remaining energy and tried to vanquish the demon lingering inside the scarecrow’s chest cage. But while doing so, the scarecrow quickly fell back, countless black limbs sprouting from the cage in its chest, and used it as legs. It was so quick it looked like a giant cockroach running after being startled by a falling slipper.

Ryze didn’t lose focus as he channeled the energy within him, and shot an orb of Runic Energy at the escaping figure. It landed and slowed the scarecrow a bit, only for a millisecond though. He then trapped it in a Rune Prison using half of his remaining energy that was already low from travelling and fighting.

The demon shrieked, the sound of a fork grating against a glass plate resounded through the area. All of the people that heard it instinctively closed their ears because of the ear-inducing agony, Ryze included. Because of that, the scarecrow was able to leap away and escape from the clutched of Ryze.

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“Damn it,” Ryze cursed. “It’s loose again.”

“Mr. Ryze,” Ironwood approached obviously anxious. “What was that thing?”

“I told you earlier,” Ryze looked back. “It’s a demon.”

“But what kind of demon?” Ironwood requested. “I cannot rest, knowing that that demon is loose and hunting around Remnant. I need to know what kind of demon it is so I can apply countermeasures.”

“…” Ryze stayed silent for a moment, before giving Ironwood a fact. “It’s impossible.”

“… What?” Ironwood, baffled at his response, pleaded confirmation.

“I said you can’t protect your citizens from it,” said Ryze with anger in his heart. “That demon is known as Fiddlesticks,” he ignored a chuckle from the background as he continued. “Fiddlesticks was spread around Runeterra as a legend to scare children. But never did I think that it was real, a demon, that fed on fear and is fear itself. I’ve lived for over a millennia now, and I’ve never seen, nor heard of it, but it was only recently that an entire village was destroyed, although I only heard of it while travelling Demacia. But if I piece together the way it acted, then that scarecrow was the culprit behind the destruction of the village.”

Shocked at the revelation that Ryze lived for more than 1000 years, the people that heard it couldn’t believe their ears. Ironwood however, was flabbergasted that a single scarecrow ravaged an entire village on itself. Much more since he understood why he can’t protect the common populace.

Fiddlesticks, was strong, and worse, it acted like a Grimm but more drawn to fear than other negative emotions, so there was no way to expect where it would go, and where it would strike first. Also, another thing, it was elusive as a phantom, incredibly hard to detect.

“However, you can at least limit Fiddlestick’s influence,” Ryze said, calm once more. “All you have to do is to have a strict watch over all villages, towns and cities. Do not forget to include sewers and other unmonitored places. Another thing is to keep your people happy. Fiddlesticks gets drawn in when fear is heavy, so I suggest to do whatever it takes to keep them happy, and ignorant about Fiddlesticks.”

Ironwood gratefully accepted this advice and planned to implement it when the time comes. Although Ryze may come off as an unapproachable, grumpy, old man, he still has a heart of gold, caring to the inhabitants of the world. If not for this, Ryze would have never endured for a millennia, seeking for the World Runes to avoid the destruction of the world, as well as the people who dwells within it.

But Ryze wouldn’t ask for help, no, he did want help, but he refused to do so. The reason being that of all of his entourage over the course of a millennia, all of them save for one, were corrupted by the power of the World Runes, forcing Ryze to end them with his own hands. One of which, was Kegan Rodhe who, tempted by the power of the World Runes, lost his soul in a scorching flame, and his body a vessel of the living flame. He now roams Valoran in search of the World Runes swearing revenge for wrongs he could never possibly have suffered in a dozen mortal lifetimes.

This tore at Ryze. His burden was so heavy, that not even close friends could help him in his mission to seek the World Runes. But in turn, while resisting the temptation of World Runes, his own body absorbed the energy from the World Runes, granting him immense arcane power and a boundless constitution. He harnessed and controlled that power to aid him in his mission, and through the millennia, it grew stronger. It wouldn’t be a surprise if one said that Ryze was the strongest person in Runeterra, quite possibly stronger than the Aspects from Targon.

The only reason why Ryze had a bad time fighting with Cinde, was because he held back, not because of pity, but because of burning through his arcane energy through the days it took to travel here, as well as fighting against an enormous amount of Grimm that not coincidentally, headed his way. He wanted to reserve some of it in case something goes horribly wrong, just like earlier, when a demon from Valoran made a surprise encounter with them.

In reality, the demon feigned faint. The reason was it couldn’t sense any fear in any of the mortals around here, and it probably gave a sound judgment, if it could that is, to leave to find some more, suitable prey. If Ryze wasn’t here, then probably, everyone here would be dead by now, including that powerful woman who escaped, as well as this Ionian blademaster.

But enough said, Ryze right now had to leave. Although he wanted to go with them in those airships, now that Cinder escaped, he now had no reason to stay. He still had to continue seeking for the World Runes. A few mortals dying to that demon and Cinder won’t equate to anything if the whole world is destroyed by the misuse of those World Runes. Ryze’s work in the past millennia would have been in vain, and he didn’t want to stop, not until he can ensure the safety of the world.

“By the way Mr. Ryze,” called out Ironwood. “Would you like to come with us? You could use some rest.”

“Yes, I do need some rest,” said Ryze as he faced Ironwood. “But I cannot rest, and will not rest until I finish my mission.”

“Excuse me, but what is your mission?” asked Ruby with curiosity in her eyes. As a goody two-shoes she was, she wanted to help Ryze in his mission, and also see the new, unexplored world.

“None of your concern,” and as with Ryze’s signature style with not letting anyone at arm’s length, he left after conjuring Runic Energy and activated Realm Warp. With his remaining energy, it could get him to at least the shores of Dawnhold in Demacia, though he would be avoiding the villages since they loathe magic and mages.

And after a few seconds, he was gone.

“Well he left quick,” said Qrow as he took his canteen and downed a swig. Yasuo glanced at him for a moment, but averted his eyes the next moment.

“So, what do we do now?” asked Qrow towards Ironwood.

“For now, we leave,” replied Ironwood. “With that demon, or Fiddlesticks, on the loose in this area, Vale and its citizens are in constant threat. I’ll have to dispatch a force to subjugate it, or in the worst case, repel it and hope that it never comes back. In the meantime, we’ll have Vale in constant lockdown, while the victims of the Grimm attack will have to seek refuge in other Kingdoms. We’ll also have a talk about Cinder tomorrow.”

“On what authority do you have to give this command to Vale?” asked Qrow, but still agreeing with Ironwood’s judgment as he saw the power that ripped the demon to shreds but walk out like it never happened.

“I’ll have to give the details to Professor Ozpin when he wakes up,” said Ironwood as he looked towards Ozpin still lying on a stretcher that was about to sent in one bullhead.

“And you students,” Ironwood then looked towards the hunters-in-training, or the students of Beacon, or at least, most of them. “I will call you tomorrow noon to discuss about the, information you heard from Ryze, is that clear?”

“Yes, sir!” The students gave an enthusiastic response to Ironwood’s declaration.

“Good, for now, you’ll have to come with us to Atlas, since tomorrow, we’ll be giving you something that might surprise you all.” Ironwood nodded then looked towards the samurai guy nearby, ignoring the squealing students. “By the way, I didn’t quite catch your name. May I have the honor of knowing your name?”

“Yasuo,” replied Yasuo in a curt manner. “By the way, is there anywhere here I can have a good night’s rest?”

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Deep within the confines of the Immortal Bastion in the region of Noxus, a group of sorcerers could be seen conduction a ritual. They stood atop a magic circle, with a huge suit of black metal standing in the middle. It towered more than 2 meters, and in its hand, a huge metal mace that has the strength to destroy thick castle walls.

The ritual continued for days on end, their purpose, to revive a legendary being, now forgotten through the sands of time. In the past, he was the ruler who united the whole world. It was he who constructed the Immortal Bastion. And it was his powers that made the Immortal Bastion stand up until this day, even through the chaos unfolded through the Rune Wars

And now, he was about to rise again once more.

From the Death Realm, and back into the Mortal Realm, he rose. From the ashes of betrayal and death, he returned. And now, he seeks to unify the world once more.

“I have returned,” a deep and powerful voice resounded through the chambers adorned with strong pillars and weapons hanging along the walls, the banners of Noxus flowing down from the ceiling. The ground trembled beneath his feet, as he looked towards the sorcerers that summoned him back from the dead. They all bowed and wept, as if a God had descended to grant them the salvation they have so desired.

The next moment, they were all silenced to death. A huge mace impacted all of them, leaving only a lump of flesh as well a blood. Then, their souls floated towards the iron giant.

“Your souls shall serve me well,” said the iron giant with a strong gaze. The souls looked euphoric as they continued to worship the nightmare they had summoned.

“Noxus,” the iron giant said as it looked above. “Your rightful ruler has returned.”

This was the day, the Iron Revenant, Mordekaiser, walked through Mortal Realm once again.

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Within the vast cosmos of space, Aurelion Sol was amusingly examining the happenings all around Runeterra and the new world that merged with it, Remnant.

“Surprising that language is automatically translated when a mortal from Remnant speaks to a mortal from Runeterra,” said Sol with a hint of interest.

And then, a portal popped up right beside him. His mood immediately went sour.

“I’m back space dragon!” yelled Zoe. “Did you miss me?”

“Not in the slightest,” Sol replied, annoyed by the antics of the Aspect of Twilight.

“Oh come on, lighten up already!” said Zoe with her goofy smile. “After all, I made something for you to enjoy anyway!”

She pointed at the world that was now twice its size because of the merging of planets. By the laws of physics, the two should have been destroyed when the two collided, but because of Zoe’s power, it was made possible to do so without any aftereffects.

“Incidentally, why did you bring that mortal up here?” said Sol as he pointed towards the sleeping man wrapped inside a bubble. He wore a white coat, with black on his legs. He wore a top hat on his head, with two black leather shoes on his feet. He had orange hair which extends over his right eye and wore black gloves. In his hand, he held a cane. His name was Roman Torchwick.

“I just wanted to ask you if there was someplace good to throw him in?” said Zoe in an innocent tone.

“For what reason?” asked Sol again, this time with an interested tone.

“He smooshed my mooncake!” pouted Zoe.

“Oh for – I mean, what a terrible thing to do,” Sol agonized sarcastically.

“See!” replied Zoe with a smile. “I knew you would think the sam – hey wait a minute. You didn’t really mean that did you!?”

“You just found out?” said Sol with a smirk.

“Ugh whatever!” sulked Zoe. “I’m going to dump him anywhere on Runeterra. Not the sea though.”

And with that, Zoe tossed the man through a portal.

“By the way, I still have things to do!” shouted Zoe. “Buh-bye space dragon!” and she left.

“Ugh,” sighed Sol as he looked towards the vast cosmos. “I just hope she doesn’t touch one of my stars.”

Aurelion Sol once again began to observe the interesting things happening on Runeterra and Remnant.