Caleb held a new little sword as he chased the troops ahead through the wind and snow.
But compared with the main road they were taking, Caleb planned to cross the mountains instead.
With Aery's help, as well as the speed brought by Phase Rush, Caleb climbed rapidly through the mountains.
After crossing the summit, Caleb looked into the distance, trying to find the team below the mountain.
But even after the wind blew tears from his eyes, Caleb still could not see the team below.
"Forget it. I'll just keep looking."
Caleb leapt down from the mountaintop, kicking up snow dust all the way.
This was how he and Kai'Sa had first met Sejuani, so Caleb believed she would recognize him.
"Do you think those two comets could have been the result of Caleb going all out?" Ashe asked.
Hearing those words, Kai'Sa fell silent too.
During Azir and Xerath's death match, Caleb had also summoned Yaanogel and forcefully broken the stalemate.
So, did Caleb have the ability to summon comets that huge?
Kai'Sa's answer was that she did not know.
She truly did not know.
"Up there!"
Olaf also spotted the snow dust on the mountain.
Generally, only fully equipped cavalry dared make such a huge commotion.
And in this region, the Frostguard's influence could already reach this far.
"It isn't cavalry. Cavalry would kick up a much wider trail of snow dust."
Sejuani looked at Olaf. It had only been a few days, yet he had completely forgotten Caleb's way of making an entrance.
"It's Caleb."
Sejuani did not panic at all. She even had Ashe fire a whistling arrow.
Unfortunately, Caleb, who was descending at high speed, could not see the thin arrow at all, nor could he hear that long, sharp whistle.
"Where are they?"
Caleb frowned, searching his surroundings with all his might.
According to everyone's directions, his general position should not be wrong.
Next, he needed to look for the others' signal.
At the foot of the mountain, a dense series of explosions finally drew Caleb's gaze.
"That is..."
Kai'Sa's Icathian Rain!
But had its range gotten wider?
Caleb's pupils narrowed slightly, then he headed toward the front of the explosion.
...
That night, inside the tent.
Caleb still could not fall asleep. The sleeping experience these three rough men provided was terrible.
Caleb had not slept this badly even in Stillwater Hold.
The cold ground and such were actually minor issues.
But the thunderous snoring inside the tent had already disturbed Caleb so badly that he could not sleep.
Caleb could only come out and admire the vast night sky.
Because the Freljord was covered in accumulated clouds and snow all year round, it was usually difficult to see the stars in the night sky.
At a time like this, Caleb actually found himself missing Shurima.
But no place was probably as good as the Twin Cities. Only in the Twin Cities could Caleb enjoy his life without worry.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kai'Sa's figure unexpectedly appeared in Caleb's vision.
"Why are you here?"
This was completely beyond Caleb's expectations.
Although Caleb knew Kai'Sa could endure it, everyone was used to living according to a normal person's schedule.
That was not only to relax their minds, but also to keep themselves in better condition during battle.
Because of that, people generally did not sacrifice their own rest time.
Ninety-nine points was indeed very close to a hundred, but in battle, any single oversight could become a fatal mistake.
"That night in the village, you were wandering outside too. That was why you were the first to arrive at the scene, right?"
Looking at the considerate Kai'Sa, Caleb could not help smiling.
"They're way too loud."
Caleb rubbed his temples in frustration.
As a human, Caleb did not like trying to sleep beside thunder.
It was a little too much atmosphere.
Caleb still missed the days when he fought alone.
Well... fighting together with Kai'Sa and Yuumi was not bad either.
But those rough guys could stay far away from him.
Caleb thought for a moment, but still could not decide what to say.
"Do you miss home?"
Seeing Caleb fall silent, Kai'Sa thought he was trying not to make her sad.
"A little, I guess."
After thinking for a bit, Caleb nodded.
If Zaun and Piltover could continuously produce Mecha suits on their own, Caleb could sit at home and conquer the world.
But Caleb could not. Caleb could only run all over the world.
Then he had to complete the system's damn missions and deal with all kinds of demigods and Ascended who could casually kill him.
Still, now that he had the power of a World Rune, Caleb felt his own ability had already reached a tier-two level.
He just did not know whether Ryze would come chase him down.
Caleb silently put the World Rune away. This kind of thing was even more addictive than Shimmer.
That feeling of being able to wield overwhelming power really could make a person feel as if the world was in the palm of their hand.
That was why, during the journey afterward, Caleb had used the World Rune as well.
Under the effect of Shadow Step, Caleb's mana constantly recovered, and with swift footsteps, he shifted through the forest.
In just half a day, he caught up to the main group ahead.
And he had done it by taking the shortest route across the mountain.
Although the route was not long, it was extremely dangerous.
If Caleb had been in his usual state, climbing over it would have been less practical than simply catching up from behind.
"Even though my village is gone, I know there's no place in the world better than home."
Kai'Sa's voice was warm and gentle.
In the pitch-black night, Caleb instead felt something different.
"Yeah... Unfortunately, I don't really have a home in this world."
Caleb was telling the truth. The first place he had arrived in this world was prison.
If cremation was popular in the Twin Cities, maybe that little box would be his eternal home.
"Maybe you'll have a new home someday."
Kai'Sa's voice sounded a little distant for a moment, and she seemed somewhat hesitant.
"Maybe..."
Caleb shrugged.
But that would probably have to wait until the Ruination faded away and the Void retreated.
If Caleb was asked to enjoy himself for a day or two now, he could still accept it with a clear conscience.
But wasting years in reckless indulgence, forget it.
All Caleb wanted was for people, himself included, to be able to live out the rest of their lives in peace and stability.
But since he already knew the truth, he naturally could not live like a numb lamb inside a lie.
The Twin Cities would rise in one leap and become the greatest power in the world, uniting every side to oppose the forces standing against the entire continent.
Arcane light lit up in Caleb's eyes, like a swaying yet undying candle flame in the night.
"Something's wrong!"
The hair on Caleb's body stood on end. For a moment, it felt as if an evil spirit were staring at him.
It was as though he was being watched from somewhere, and an overwhelming sense of danger came pouring in from every direction.
"Hoofbeats! It's Frostguard cavalry!"
Olaf emerged from the tent. He often slept with his two axes as his pillow, so compared with Caleb and Kai'Sa, he picked up on the situation faster.
"Hurry! Get ready!"
In this place, a cavalry unit had appeared, and the sound was growing louder and louder. Even Caleb, standing where he was, could hear it now.
"There may be a battle coming..."
When the trolls were under Trundle's leadership, they were Lissandra's capable servants.
In order to cover the village, Caleb and the others had indeed gone to the trolls' lair.
But now, that troll tribe had been almost completely wiped out.
All of them had become materials Aatrox used to piece together a body.
Perhaps the Frostguard had come for that.
Or perhaps they had come for...
Something more.
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