In Soraka's eyes, Faen was undoubtedly a complex and difficult-to-handle anomaly. Although Faen knew very well that he was a transmigrator, rather than a so-called "individual outside of destiny," to Soraka, Faen fit the description of an "outside-of-destiny" entity in every aspect as defined by her and her kin.
He possessed the power to change destiny, yet he also carried the essence of the soul that had once charged the Immortal Celestial Realm in pursuit of extreme pleasure (Ashlesh). Without restraints, Runeterra could easily be led astray into madness with the slightest misstep. Even if the world itself possessed the power to self-correct, it would inevitably suffer irreversible destruction across multiple regions before the threat was terminated. Under these circumstances, although she didn't know exactly how Faen obtained this power, Soraka had already prepared to read destiny to find a hero capable of defeating him.
But ironically, while Soraka was still searching for this hero, shocking news came from Zaun and Piltover. Under the interference of the bearer of this maddened soul's essence, the people of the two regions quickly reached a mutual understanding after a brief period of painful transition. Or rather, under Faen's absolute command, the higher-ups of both cities had to forfeit the vast majority of profits that rightfully belonged to them, forcibly redirecting the funds into public infrastructure and technological development. This "Philosopher King" style of governance inherently possessed massive flaws, because all achievements would fluctuate along with the "Philosopher King" himself.
This was especially concerning since the essence Faen wielded was the pursuit of ultimate pleasure... Yet oddly enough, Faen had almost zero desire for political power. Instead, he possessed an extraordinarily intense craving for personal, physical enjoyment. This should have negatively impacted the happiness of many individuals. However, because of Faen's unusually twisted sense of satisfaction, the many girls who fell victim to his wicked hands actually found immense joy in it.
Undeniably, the power originating from Ashlesh played a massive role in facilitating this. The intense thrill of victory and spiritual dependency caused those girls to experience a multitude of false sensations and misjudgments. Sometimes, it was like the suspension bridge effect: a man and a woman alone in a dangerous area. The heart-pounding fear induced by the environmental crisis is easily mistaken for the thrill of romantic attraction. Given the circumstances, it was hard to say Faen's girls weren't affected by something similar in the beginning.
Perhaps they would have had the chance to turn back? But Faen obviously wasn't the type to just take a quick taste and stop. This led to the girls being devoured completely, step by step, in their subsequent interactions. Yet, also during this process—perhaps due to environmental factors, or perhaps psychological ones—the reality was that those girls showed almost no resistance. After accepting their reality, they became even more uninhibited, channeling all their focus into their convictions and careers.
This allowed them to concentrate entirely on practicing their ideals. On the other hand, with their focus honed, their remaining energy resulted in an almost bottomless indulgence of Faen whenever they were with him.
"I decided a long time ago that I am merely an observer. I will only provide necessary guidance and choices; I will not interfere with the natural progression of this world. Because that predetermined destiny does not account for the wildness and unpredictability of the world and its living beings."
Soraka sighed and said, "Your actions have undoubtedly benefited many people. But equally, many people have bowed and submitted under your intertwined power and desires. The fact that those girls accepted reality and actively pursue their ideals makes it impossible for me to judge the right or wrong of what has already happened... Regardless, I hope you can walk the right path, even though I cannot be certain what the 'right' this world pursues truly is."
With that, Soraka looked at Faen and added, "And beyond all these things, there is also the matter of you."
"Me?" Faen raised an eyebrow.
"That maddened soul will not wait forever." Feeling Faen's gaze, Soraka warned, "Ashlesh can draw power from all joy. Even emotions created by other demons will still have portions flowing to her and her kin—those primordial emotions born at the dawn of this world."
"And now, your interference has sparked corresponding ideological shifts in multiple regions. These ideologies themselves will become sources of power for her. I believe this is why she has delayed acting against you—you devoured her essence, but your actions are simultaneously accumulating power for her. Please, make your preparations in advance. Otherwise, everything you have now will merely serve as a wedding dress for that maddened soul."
She paused, then added with a touch of helplessness, "If you are willing to trust me, please accept my help."
Hearing Soraka's words, Faen didn't doubt her. He simply opened his hands directly and asked, "What do I need to do?"
"Just give me your hand." Seeing Faen trust her so readily, Soraka was slightly surprised, though her expression didn't show much. When Faen reached out, she took his hand.
Immediately after, Faen clearly felt a warm—almost scorching—energy flow into his body. That energy was even more condensed and pure than Spirit Realm energy. It felt as if endless light and heat were hidden within it, momentarily making Faen feel as though his veins were being roasted.
Although it was painful, Faen didn't feel nervous. He could sense that Soraka wasn't attacking him; it was a... blessing?
Faen wasn't entirely sure, so he just waited silently. A moment later, on the back of his hand—aside from Karma's Mark of the Twin Dragons and Ashlesh's Seven-Hand Curse Mark—a crescent moon-shaped mark appeared. The mark itself didn't have many flashy patterns, but due to Soraka's power infusion, the energy of the Immortal Celestial Realm caused it to display faint, mysterious starlight, making it look exceptionally extraordinary.
Is this... another one?
Faen's expression was a bit weird. Is the stamper destined to be stamped? But the problem was, the Marks of Joy on his girls could be hidden according to their own will. They weren't like this, stamped right on his skin and completely un-erasable...
Despite these thoughts, Faen could distinctly feel a new power coursing through his body.