Ian informed Ge, instructing him to lift Demacia's Anti-Magic Edict, and to deal with resistors as he saw fit.
Inside the Council Hall, Ge's gaze swept over every high-ranking Demacia official.
"Within three days, the entire Demacia will lift the Magic ban. This is an order, not a negotiation."
Jarvan III's expression was complex. He wanted to say something, but in the end, it turned into a sigh, and he nodded. The other Nobles kept their heads down, not daring to raise any objection.
Leaving the Council Hall, Ge headed straight for the Mage Seeker Prison. The building was unassuming, yet it was the nightmare of countless Mages.
The gates opened, and a smell of decay wafted out. Along the dark corridors were cells holding Mages. Most were in rags, their hands and feet bound by Anti-Magic Stone Chains, their eyes vacant.
As Ge walked forward, he read the prisoners' memories.
Fragments of memory flashed in his mind: A youth arrested for controlling insects; a mother captured for using Healing Magic to save her child; an elderly person imprisoned for accurately predicting the weather...
'Their crime is just possessing Magic?'
However, some Mages had indeed committed crimes—using Magic to harm, steal, or even kill others.
Yet, these people were the minority. Most prisoners were treated as heretics simply because of their inherent Magic Power.
In the depths of the prison, Ge discovered Eldredge's Secret Laboratory.
The Mage Seeker Commander outwardly hated Magic, but secretly, he was studying how to utilize it.
'Damn it!' Ge decided to apply to Ian to have Eldredge locked up in a Secret Prison.
This incident also reminded Ge that he should thoroughly investigate the other Nobles of Demacia. He was sure there were many more damnable individuals among them.
Following the prison corridor downward, Ge reached the deepest level. There was only one cell here, its walls entirely constructed of Anti-Magic Stone, making it much more secure than other areas.
Sitting inside the cell was a gaunt man. His messy long hair and beard covered most of his face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like flames in the dark.
"Silas," Ge softly spoke the name.
Hearing footsteps, Silas looked up, and his pupils contracted when he saw who it was. That face—it was identical to the portrait Lux had secretly shown him!
'Garen?' Silas's heart raced, his mind churning. 'Was Lux's risky visit to him discovered? Is she in danger? No, I must not panic. I have to protect her.'
Silas suppressed his inner panic, stood up feigning composure, and sneered, "Well, well, what brings our esteemed Knight Lord here? To visit a wicked Mage like me?"
Ge ignored him, walked straight to the cell door, and gripped the lock.
With a "crack," the solid Anti-Magic Stone lock was forcefully ripped off.
Silas was stunned, wide-eyed.
Ge walked into the cell, drew his Greatsword, and with one swing, severed the Anti-Magic Stone Chains on Silas's wrists. He stepped back, signaling Silas to come out.
Silas looked down at his freed hands, feeling the Magic Power slowly reviving within his body. For the first time in over a decade, he was free from the suppression of the Anti-Magic Stone.
Beyond the shock, Silas's mind raced. 'Is this a trap? Or does someone want to use me? Either way, this is a chance to escape.'
He secretly built up Magic Power, preparing to find an opportunity to control Ge and use him as a Hostage to escape.
"Don't be nervous. I am not Garen," Ge saw through his intentions.
"My name is Ge, and I come from an Otherworld. Demacia has now submitted to Our God, and Our God has lifted Demacia's Anti-Magic Edict."
Silas frowned deeply, doubting his hearing.
"You have been designated as the first President of the Demacia Mage Association," Ge continued. "The Association Headquarters have been built and are just waiting for you to take charge."
Anti-Magic Edict lifted? Mage Association? President? These words sounded absurd to Silas.
Fifteen years of imprisonment, countless tortures, and daily despair had made him nearly forget what the outside world looked like.
"This... this isn't possible..." Silas muttered, lost in thought.
"Let's go," Ge patted his shoulder. "They are waiting for you."
Silas, dazed, followed Ge out of the prison.
The sunlight hit his face, stinging his eyes, but he did not close them. Only this sunlight could convince him that none of this was a dream.
When he came to his senses, he was already seated on the President's Platform in a magnificent building.
Below the platform were hundreds of Mages, some newly released prisoners, others who had been hiding in the shadows.
"Silas! Silas!" the crowd chanted his name.
"We are finally free!"
"The Anti-Magic Edict has finally been abolished!"
"Long live!"
Looking at the excited crowd below, tears filled Silas's eyes. He had dreamed of this day, but never imagined it would come true this way.
He stood up and raised his hands, Magic Power dancing at his fingertips. The Mages below also released Magic, weaving multi-colored lights throughout the hall.
Silas took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over every excited face below. He knew a new era had dawned.
The strategy for conquering Noxus was much simpler.
Liu led Du Qiangwei and Rui Mengmeng straight to Noxus Royal City, coincidentally interrupting an emergency meeting of the Trifarix.
In the center of the Council Chamber, three people sat at a massive stone table—in the middle was the Grand General of the Empire, Swain. Strands of gray mixed into his black hair, and his sharp gaze scanned the room.
To the left sat the Deceiver, LeBlanc.
To the right was the Hand of Noxus, Darius. The General wore Heavy Armor even during the meeting and held a Battle Axe.
"Regarding Piltover, I believe—"
With a thunderous boom, the palace roof was cleaved open by a streak of axe light. Debris flew as Liu, holding a Battle Axe, descended from above, accompanied by a Black Giant Wolf.
Following him were Du Qiangwei and Rui Mengmeng.
The high-ranking Noxus officials in the hall were exceptionally calm, with not a single person fleeing in panic. The Council members all rose, hands on their weapons, watching the three warily.
"Uninvited Guests," Swain slowly stood up, the Raven on his shoulder giving a low cry.
Liu didn't bother with pleasantries, raising his hand for a Jumping Cleave. Darius reacted quickly, stepping forward and raising his Battle Axe horizontally to intercept.
"For Noxus!" he roared and charged forward.
The two axes collided, and the result was inevitable—Darius's Battle Axe was instantly broken into two pieces.
Liu changed his attack direction, slamming his axe into the floor. A massive crack split the hall floor, extending from the entrance right up to the Council table, splitting the palace in half.
"What kind of power is this?" exclaimed one Council member.
Darius's weapon was destroyed, but he did not retreat. Grabbing the broken axe, he roared again and rushed at Liu.
This defiance and courage were admirable, but useless against absolute power. Liu sidestepped, striking Darius's chest with a punch.
"Cough—" Darius was sent flying, crashing heavily into the wall. The wall collapsed, raising dust. The Hand of Noxus fell to the ground, incapacitated.
Red light flickered in Swain's eyes, and the Demon Power inside him stirred restlessly.
Liu turned and cleaved towards Swain. At the same time, Du Qiangwei had met LeBlanc.
"I've long heard the name of the Black Rose." Du Qiangwei smiled faintly, Temporal-Spatial Energy dancing at her fingertips.
LeBlanc gracefully waved her Staff: "Your power is indeed surprising." She split into several Phantoms, attacking Du Qiangwei from various angles.
On the other side of the hall, Rui Mengmeng and Vladimir were locked in combat.
Blood Magic was indeed strong, but he was now facing the Dawnbringer, Rui Mengmeng.
The battle was quickly decided. Liu shattered Swain's defenses with an axe strike, suppressing him along with his Demon Power.
Du Qiangwei easily saw through LeBlanc's Illusions and targeted her true body; Rui Mengmeng and Vladimir fought all the way to the Gladiator Arena.
In less than half a minute, Noxus's high-tier combat power was completely crushed.
"Swear allegiance to Our God, or continue to resist," Liu's authoritative voice resonated throughout the place.
After the battle ended, Du Qiangwei spotted Du Couteau and Katarina behind him in a corner of the Council Chamber. The two Assassins exchanged glances, and Katarina's eyes were full of curiosity.
Du Qiangwei smiled faintly back at her.
Meanwhile, Rui Mengmeng pursued Vladimir into the city's Gladiator Arena. After severely damaging him many times, she finally captured him.
She then noticed a familiar figure in the center of the Arena—a white-haired woman, holding a Broken Sword, covered in scars but still standing upright.
"Riven?" Rui Mengmeng called out softly, walking toward her.
Riven was startled by the familiar face before her: "Who are you?"
Rui Mengmeng extended her hand, smiling: "A friend from an Otherworld."
She gently helped Riven up from the Gladiator Arena, and a strange feeling arose in both of their hearts.