At the foot of Mount Targon.
Mount Targon was universally recognized as the highest point in all of Runeterra.
The endless mountain ranges reflected dazzling golden light beneath the setting sun, creating a breathtakingly magnificent sight, almost like a beautiful painting.
The main peak was even more majestic and awe-inspiring. Even from far away, one could see it piercing into the clouds, its summit nowhere in sight.
The surrounding mountains were already extraordinarily tall, yet Mount Targon towered even higher, like a giant overlooking the countless peaks beneath it, magnificent and unrivaled anywhere in the world.
Legend said that this mountain, which rose beyond the clouds, was composed entirely of unyielding stone, forever bathed beneath the blazing sun.
It was the dwelling place of gods.
Anyone standing before it could easily recognize how insignificant they truly were.
Scattered around the mountain ranges surrounding Mount Targon were numerous clans and tribes. Most had originally come here voluntarily in pursuit of the legendary mountain. As time passed, more and more people settled in the region.
At this very moment, Luke stood near the foot of the range, listening to someone who resembled a tour guide explain Mount Targon's ancient history and the legends concerning the Aspects who dwelled upon the mountain.
Very few people had ever personally witnessed the mighty Aspects.
Yet everyone who came here firmly and devoutly believed in their existence.
Luke had encountered this group, which looked almost like a sightseeing tour, not long ago and had simply decided to join them.
It was a convenient opportunity to hear whether there was anything about the region he didn't already know.
By the time the guide led everyone into the camp, darkness had gradually descended, signaling the end of the day's journey.
Luke was assigned a simple tent for the night.
Mount Targon was also famous for its spectacular scenery.
Countless stars glittered across the night sky. Simply looking upward allowed people to see bright stars that seemed almost close enough to touch.
Starlight spilled over the immense mountain, reflecting into countless colors and causing the entire range to glow brilliantly.
Walking through the mountains felt almost like drifting through outer space.
It was extraordinarily beautiful.
And this was only the outer region.
Luke could only imagine what the scenery would look like closer to Mount Targon itself.
After admiring the view for a while, Luke returned to his tent and quickly sank his consciousness into his mental space.
As he guided the rune energy, strands of power spread through his body like newly formed meridians.
Only the final step remained.
Luke controlled the energy with absolute concentration, guiding it carefully throughout his body.
Time passed slowly.
Eventually, the last strand of energy connected with the opposite end.
The countless threads suddenly became complete.
Once the beginning and end were joined, the energy began circulating on its own, no longer requiring Luke to divide his attention to control it.
The energy he had separated from the rune fragments was now being absorbed by his flesh, merging into every drop of blood and every cell.
A tingling sensation spread through his body, like countless tiny electrical currents flowing everywhere at once.
Luke relaxed his body, yet strangely enough, he also felt incredibly tense.
It was as though every muscle in his body was contracting with all its strength while immense power surged within them.
Finally, when that contraction reached its limit, everything abruptly released.
The accumulated force erupted like floodwaters breaking through a dam, instantly surging throughout Luke's body.
The sensation was like breaking through some invisible bottleneck or shattering a set of restraints.
Both body and mind suddenly felt clear and renewed.
Once Luke had completely adapted to the power, he moved his body slightly.
A dense series of cracks immediately erupted from his bones, sounding almost like thunder.
People outside the tent glanced over in confusion.
Fortunately, the noise quickly stopped.
Luke slowly exhaled.
His gaze was sharp and brilliant, a striking light shining from his eyes.
"That should do it."
He raised a hand and clenched his fist, carefully feeling the changes.
He had now separated an independent portion of the rune energy and fused it into his body.
This avoided any harmful consequences while allowing him to call upon a portion of the runes' power whenever he needed it.
At the same time, the energy had thoroughly refined his body, causing his physical strength to increase yet again by a considerable margin.
At this point, Luke suspected his body had already surpassed normal human limits.
He had also constructed a complete energy cycle inside himself, making the system extremely stable.
There was no need to worry about exhausting the energy after using it either.
Working together with Sun-Moon Meditation Arts, the cycle could automatically absorb surrounding energy to replenish itself, greatly increasing his endurance.
The next day, the guide discovered that Luke had already left without saying goodbye.
He didn't pay much attention to where Luke had gone.
After all, people like that appeared every year.
There was a good chance he would never see Luke again.
By then, Luke was already moving rapidly toward the foot of Mount Targon.
His figure flashed across the landscape like a gale, crossing one area after another in moments.
He had finished his preparations.
Today, he would climb the mountain.
Mount Targon's environment was highly unstable.
It was almost as though all four seasons existed simultaneously.
Even in summer, snow could still be seen covering entire mountainsides.
The temperature was also considerably lower than in most other places.
Bright sunlight shone equally across every part of the mountain, yet somehow failed to melt the snow.
Around noon, Luke finally reached the base of the main peak.
Here, he could clearly feel the temperature dropping further.
It felt like walking through a snowy landscape in the depths of winter.
This was the climbing point chosen by most people because there was an established route leading upward.
No one knew how many climbers stepped onto this path every year and never returned.
Even so, despite countless years having passed, the area was anything but deserted.
In fact, a small market had developed here.
The stalls sold reliable climbing equipment, along with supposedly secret guides to shortcuts up the mountain.
Naturally, very few people purchased the latter.
Wouldn't taking a shortcut prove that your devotion wasn't sincere?
If it angered the gods, the consequences would hardly be worth it.
Luke couldn't care less about such concerns.
At the moment, he was holding a book titled Everything You Need to Know About Mount Targon and reading it with considerable interest.
He had to admit that whoever wrote the book was clearly an experienced Mount Targon fanatic.
Many of its explanations were surprisingly interesting.
Through the book, Luke gained a somewhat deeper understanding of Mount Targon.
First, the higher one climbed, the harsher the environment became and the more extreme the climate grew.
That was one of the primary reasons only a tiny fraction of people ever reached the summit.
Even powerful individuals could die here from a single careless mistake.
The author repeatedly warned every climber to exercise extreme caution.
Generally speaking, Mount Targon could be divided into five regions.
The Foothills, the Snowfield, the Blizzard Zone, the Gemstone Region, and finally, the summit of Mount Targon.
Mount Targon also had no map.
That was because no one could possibly draw a complete and accurate map of the mountain.
For reasons no one fully understood, the mountain periodically underwent bizarre changes.
As a result, every climber experienced a different journey.
Some required several months to reach the summit.
Others needed only a single day.
As for shortcuts, they did indeed exist.
After all, humans also lived on the mountain.
Luke finished reading the information he needed.
When he raised his eyes again, someone had appeared ahead of him.
The man was handsome, with long flowing hair and an extraordinarily peaceful gaze. He was noticeably taller than the average person.
It was Taric.
He was dressed like an ordinary traveler, apparently unwilling to reveal his identity here.
Luke therefore walked outside the market.
Taric followed.
"I knew you would come."
Luke looked at him.
"Was there some other reason you wanted me here?"
"No."
Taric calmly shook his head.
"I merely thought this information might be useful to you."
Luke looked at him with interest.
"Then why are you helping me?"
"I'm simply repaying a debt, one I've owed for many years."
Nostalgia entered Taric's eyes.
Though he had long since separated from Demacia, that place had never left his heart.
"Back then, because of my negligence, everyone in my unit lost their lives. I should have been executed by hanging, yet instead I was merely exiled to Mount Targon, where I eventually received the opportunity that made me what I am today.
"I can no longer fight for any single nation or individual, but I still have to repay what I owe from those days."
After being exiled to Mount Targon, Taric had resolutely chosen to climb the mountain in search of redemption.
That decision ultimately led to him being chosen by the Aspect of the Protector and granted divine power.
His mission was to protect everything within Runeterra.
Whenever something was being destroyed excessively, he was meant to intervene.
For example, if a certain flower was harvested too aggressively, it could eventually disappear forever.
Taric would have to prevent that before it happened.
Even after all these years, he still remembered the sin he had committed.
He had sworn to become a brave knight.
Yet when his comrades needed him most, he had neglected his duty.
"I see. Then just take me directly to the summit."
Luke asked without the slightest hesitation.
Taric fell silent for a moment.
"The path of ascension is governed by a celestial power that watches everything from among the stars. Even I don't have the authority to casually bring someone directly to the summit.
"If you want to reach the top, you must rely on yourself.
"The climb is extremely dangerous. I came here to..."
"All right."
Luke waved a hand, interrupting him, and started toward the climbing path.
"I'll see you at the summit."
Taric fell silent.
Watching Luke's retreating figure, he found himself unable to say the rest.
He had originally intended to remind Luke to think carefully before attempting the climb.
Now, however, there was no point.
For some reason, Taric had a strange premonition.
He felt certain he would see Luke again at the summit.
As Luke approached the climbing path, he quickly attracted considerable attention.
People gathered nearby and began whispering among themselves.
"Another climber."
"Do you think he'll reach the summit? He looks pretty confident."
"I doubt it. He doesn't even look particularly muscular. He probably won't make it halfway."
"Yeah, I don't think he has much chance either."
"Whatever happens, let's pray for him. Every person willing to attempt the climb deserves respect."
"True. May he have a safe journey."
Eventually, everyone fell silent together and offered Luke their prayers and respect.
Luke held a playing card between his fingers and activated Destiny.
However, the moment his awareness began spreading upward, it quickly encountered something resembling a barrier.
"Not allowed, huh?"
Luke withdrew the card.
He decided not to take the easy way.
He could probably force his way through that obstruction, but doing so would obviously cause serious consequences.
There was no point.
Luke began walking up the mountain path one step at a time.
His figure quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.
The trail beneath his feet had been carved out by countless climbers over countless years, extending steadily upward.
It wasn't long before Luke reached the Snowfield.
The temperature here was bitterly cold.
Snow lay several feet deep in places, easily swallowing a person's entire foot.
But it posed virtually no challenge to Luke.
He accelerated with Wind Underfoot.
Soon, heavy snow began falling.
Wind and snow battered Luke's face, while the path beneath him became increasingly rugged and difficult.
He had entered the Blizzard Zone.
According to the book, this was also the most difficult section of the climb.
Yet no amount of wind or snow could stop Luke.
Instead, he moved even faster, charging into the overwhelming blizzard like a warrior confronting an impossible storm.
The snowfall suddenly intensified.
That meant he had reached approximately halfway up the mountain.
The path became steep and treacherous, while the air grew incredibly thin.
An ordinary person reaching this height might have needed every ounce of strength merely to draw a single breath.
The blizzard continued roaring like a wailing ghost.
Its force was astonishing.
The freezing wind seemed determined to tear climbers from the mountainside and throw them into the abyss.
Luke occasionally stumbled over objects buried beneath the snow.
Sometimes they turned out to be bones left behind by earlier climbers.
He had already grown accustomed to the sight.
He had encountered far too many corpses along the way.
The snow became unnaturally violent, falling with incredible speed and force until it was almost impossible to see the path ahead.
It felt like walking through a sandstorm made of snow.
The temperature also dropped to an absurd level.
A single drop of water would freeze instantly.
Ice continuously formed across Luke's body, only to shatter and fall away whenever he moved.
The process repeated again and again.
Even Luke had to circulate the energy within his body to maintain his temperature.
But at his current level of strength, even this hardly qualified as a real trial.
And the Blizzard Zone still wasn't over.
The conditions ahead would become even more extreme.
The path narrowed until there was barely enough space for someone to place both feet side by side.
Climbers could only advance along tiny ledges protruding from the mountainside.
Countless people had probably been blown from these cliffs over the years.
Luke continued onward.
Then he encountered a frozen river flowing upward.
It seemed to run in reverse along the mountainside.
Its crystal-clear blue waters had been permanently frozen in place.
And countless corpses were frozen within them.
Rumble!
The mountain suddenly trembled.
A torrent of rocks fell from overhead, concealed by the blizzard until they were almost upon him.
Luke drew his sword.
With several swift slashes, he shattered every incoming boulder.
Then strange roars emerged from within the storm.
Massive beasts resembling tigers and panthers clung to the mountainside before suddenly launching themselves at Luke with incredible speed.
They failed to delay him for even a single second.
Swordlight flashed through the snow.
Several monster corpses immediately fell into the abyss below, disappearing into the storm where they would remain forever.
Farther ahead, even the mountain path disappeared.
From this point onward, climbers had to use both hands to scale the slightly angled rock face.
Only now did the true ascent toward the summit begin.
For Luke, it still felt almost as easy as walking across flat ground.
He simply jumped.
Each leap carried him more than thirty feet upward.
Then he threw one of his blades and embedded it into the rock wall, giving himself another anchor point.
Repeating this process again and again, Luke rapidly climbed higher.
His figure was almost invisible within the raging snow, yet he continued ascending at incredible speed.
Not long afterward, Luke reached the fourth region.
The Gemstone Region.
A path appeared once again.
He could even see strange creatures unlike anything he had encountered before.
Many possessed traits resembling stars, almost like luminous spirits.
They sparkled beautifully while staring at him with curious eyes.
But the most common sight was crystal.
Brilliantly colored gemstones covered the surroundings almost casually, refracting gorgeous rays of light.
Every gem was so beautiful that it was difficult to look away.
Wonderful colors enveloped the entire region.
The cold seemed to disappear from Luke's body, replaced by soothing warmth.
Both body and mind instinctively relaxed.
It seemed like the perfect place to stop and rest.
Luke ignored everything and continued climbing.
The moment he stretched out a hand, the bone-chilling wind suddenly returned.
He had already seen through it.
Those supposedly beautiful gemstones and spirits were nothing but illusions.
If someone truly became entranced by them and decided to stop here for a rest, their body would probably freeze stiff without them even realizing it.
Luke continued upward.
Eventually, the blizzard finally disappeared.
Only then did he reach the true Gemstone Region.
Ahead of him appeared a staircase ascending toward the summit.
Crystals of every imaginable color lined both sides, some simply floating in midair.
Without Luke realizing it, night had fallen.
Starlight covered the region, filling everything with strange and beautiful colors.
Countless stars densely filled the sky, connecting into one constellation after another.
Every constellation was clearly visible from here.
None resembled those Luke was familiar with.
In the distance, enormous white-feathered birds flew overhead, their cries echoing through the mountains.
A unicorn covered in shimmering silver light drank from a crystal-lined lake, while a young unicorn played beside it.
Translucent butterflies fluttered lazily through the air.
Elsewhere, an enormous creature lay upon a protruding cliff, its back burning with flames resembling the night sky itself as it watched Luke with a deep, unreadable gaze.
Even farther away stood a vastly larger two-headed celestial beast.
Its entire body carried the colors of the cosmos.
Powerful and mysterious, it stood atop a raised hill, one eye on each of its heads fixed upon Luke.
Perhaps this was Mount Targon's true appearance.
All kinds of strange creatures unknown throughout the rest of Runeterra lived here together in harmony.
Human communities also inhabited the mountain, coexisting with these beings.
Just as Luke prepared to step onto the staircase, a voice came from behind him.
"Once you ascend those stairs, you will face the final trial. If you fail, every effort you've made to reach this point will have been wasted.
"And even if you pass the trial, the celestial gods may still refuse to favor you.
"Alternatively, you could consider joining us. Become one of the Godwatchers and live alongside the gods at the summit."
Luke turned around.
A short elderly man approached with a walking staff.
His gaze was peaceful, and he wore a cloak embroidered with constellations, giving him a mysterious presence.
Luke looked at him once, then turned away and stepped onto the stairs.
"I won't fail."
He continued climbing.
"And I don't seek the favor of celestial gods. Whether they approve of me or not means nothing."
The old man froze.
He watched Luke's back slowly recede up the staircase, opening his mouth before ultimately saying nothing.
This was the first time he had ever heard a climber who had reached this point say something like that.
Was the young man simply trying to appear different?
Was he hoping to attract the attention of the celestial gods by acting this way?
The old man had no idea that before much longer, he would witness a moment destined to remain unforgettable.
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