The terrifying Rune Wars had ended only three years ago. Since the beginning of the Titan Wars, the war-torn continent of Valoran had finally welcomed a precious peace, and new nations began to rise across its lands.
Unlike Demacia, which lay beside the Conqueror's Sea and had already begun building cities with artificially created magic-forbidden stones, the Noxii Tribe and the surviving remnants of the Rune Wars directly occupied the Immortal Bastion, establishing a new nation called Noxus.
This fortress of iron and black stone became the capital of the newly founded state.
The former warlord, Sahn-Uzal, now sealed in the underworld by the Black Rose and the Noxii Tribe under Mordekaiser, had no idea that his own stronghold was giving birth to a new, powerful nation.
As Noxus's soldiers spread their calendar throughout the land, human forces beyond the Immortal Bastion realized immediately that their neighbor, this entity called "Noxus," had inherited some of the tyrannical traditions of the Dark Ages.
The desire to expand had been deeply engraved into the granite plains surrounding the Immortal Bastion.
For this reason, human tribes unwilling to join Noxus chose to migrate far from the bastion, heading to the western coast to join the growing Demacian city-states.
Some tribes, unwilling to face the harsh lands of Freljord, settled on the Nockmirch Plain, establishing cities and states between Noxus and Demacia.
Relying on the southern Shimmering Mountains and the northern treacherous Ulrus Range, tribes led by the Mombia clan built their nation, Nockmirch, in a circular basin. Using the mountains' natural quarries, they hastily erected a low stone wall on the eastern border—of little practical use, but highly insulting.
Unconcerned with their western neighbor's defensive measures, the blacksmiths of the Immortal Bastion hammered day and night at their anvils, forging crude but deadly weapons in the flames of the forge, steadily growing stronger.
At this very moment, the newborn Noxus faced new challenges. Before embarking on conquest, it first had to avoid being conquered.
The Immortal Bastion stood tall on high walls, its grand gates cast from engraved monoliths. Narrow, claustrophobic streets made it nearly impenetrable. Anyone attempting to conquer the city had better be prepared to spill blood.
The Noxii Tribe concentrated skilled craftsmen to repair the great walls, yet even so, they could not replicate even a fraction of the Dark Age tyrants' grandeur.
Within the solemn fortress, Nadalz, the Noxii chieftain, frowned as he discussed matters with the other elders. On the side, a beautiful woman sipped red wine, smiling silently. Soon, a lightly armored tribal soldier carrying a spear entered. The murmuring elders immediately fell silent.
"Chief Nadalz! I caught a strange spy in the inner city!"
"You fool, Dault! I've told you before—you call me Leader! Or Sir! We're no longer wild beasts wandering the wilderness. Show some respect!"
Already irritated, Nadalz kicked the soldier, but Dault just scratched his head and grinned.
"Stupid! Just execute the spy—no need to say more. Go!"
"No, Chief Nadalz! This spy is different—really different!"
Dault gestured to his face, stammering nervously while cautiously glancing at the beautiful woman.
Noticing the soldier's gaze, she half-smiled and nodded. Dault's resolve softened immediately.
"The foreign spy is a man… radiant like the sun… and… as beautiful as Lady Rose. His tattered clothing is strange, unlike anything I've ever seen. I think, Chief, you should see him yourself."
Looking at his childhood friend Dault, Nadalz couldn't fathom how this scarred, pockmarked, and rough-looking man could have any aesthetic sense.
Ah… Dault's description of that cunning Rose is actually pretty accurate.
If only Rose could climb into his bed and become his wife, maybe he'd grant Dault's request.
"You mean… that man… is as… beautiful as I am?"
Setting down her glass, Rose gracefully stepped in front of Dault. Her dark purple eyeshadow made him forget Nadalz was his superior.
"Yes, beautiful Lady Rose. I swear I speak the truth! I'll bring him to you right now!"
Nadalz scowled, watching Dault dash off, mesmerized by the cunning woman, his eyes wide with annoyance.
"Lady Rose, we haven't made an agreement yet. You shouldn't be using magic on my men—it's disrespectful."
"Oh, Chief Nadalz, you're mistaken."
Returning to her black wooden chair, Rose smiled slightly, twirling a strand of hair with her pale right hand.
"I didn't use any magic on your men, teehee~"
Damn fairy!
Watching the elders flounder, Nadalz cursed silently but could not look away. The truth was, even the most beautiful woman in his tribe could not compare to this survivor of the Immortal Bastion's dark depths. No wonder he lacked restraint.
Damn it—if she doesn't care, why should he? He might as well enjoy looking.
With that thought, Nadalz no longer bothered hiding his greedy gaze.
Seeing Nadalz's fiery eyes, Rose tilted her head, unbothered.
"Lady Rose! Chief! I've brought the man!"
Dault's booming voice matched his running speed—another reason Nadalz chose him as messenger.
Soon, a strong man, bound by the tribal soldier, was brought in.
Rose's bright eyes sparkled, and she instinctively licked her lips.
The man's upper body was nearly bare, but strange black-and-white cloth strips hung across his chest and abdomen. His sculpted muscles fit the human aesthetic perfectly, radiating an inexplicable allure that made even the elder men's hearts skip a beat.
His lower body was clad in tight black trousers of a fine, unknown material, cut with flawless craftsmanship—beyond even Rose's considerable experience to replicate. The design alone proved that this handsome black-haired man was no ordinary person.
Perhaps there were many secrets to uncover in him…
Rose reached this conclusion without rushing to make any decisions; after all, the leader of the Noxii Tribe was Nadalz.