The pillar of light doubled in size again, burning with the heat of the sun as though it could incinerate everything in its path. The terrifying power within it tore straight through the Rune's protective field.
Singed's expression changed. He immediately manipulated the Rune's power and diverted the attack elsewhere while taking the opportunity to dodge.
The beam struck a wall and instantly blasted through it, leaving behind a massive, superheated hole.
As the pillar of light gradually faded, a long scorched trail appeared across the floor, still radiating intense heat.
"What terrifying power."
Even Singed was secretly alarmed. It was precisely because forces like this existed that he felt humanity was so weak.
Without the Rune's power, he would probably have been obliterated instantly by such overwhelming light magic.
Luke rode the wind toward him and unleashed a full-strength slash from the side.
A massive shock wave surged through the air as powerful Sword Intent shot directly toward Singed's head.
His protective Runic field had only just been broken, so Singed had no intention of taking Luke's full-force strike head-on.
He released the Rune's energy with a backhanded motion. The energy gathered into an enormous sword and met Luke's attack.
Luke redirected the impact created by the collision, swiftly used his footwork to appear beside Singed, then unleashed several more slashes.
Every strike carried powerful Sword Intent. Enhanced by Chain Slash, they came at a terrifying speed. Afterimages of countless cuts filled the air as the razor-sharp Sword Intent repeatedly tore through the Runic field.
Even Singed was forced backward under the relentless assault.
"I'm joining in!"
Poppy charged forward with her hammer at the same time. She brought the sacred hammer down with all her strength and sent Singed flying.
Singed quickly stabilized himself, only to be surrounded and attacked by Luke and Poppy once more.
He had not yet fully adapted to the Rune's power, but as time passed, he was becoming increasingly proficient at using it.
Sona made her move at that moment.
She plucked the strings of her etwahl, sending notes through the air like invisible shock waves that slammed directly into Singed.
His body suddenly became heavy, as though it had stopped obeying him. However, the Runic energy within him quickly neutralized Sona's sonic attack.
"Take this!"
Poppy brought her hammer down with all her strength, smashing Singed several inches into the ground.
Luke seized the opening and slashed downward.
Just as Singed's attention focused on his sword, Luke raised his left hand toward him and cast Fireball.
Boom!
Violent flames instantly engulfed Singed.
Luke and Poppy quickly retreated from the blaze and watched as the fire swallowed him.
A level-seven Fireball was already an exceptionally powerful spell.
Lux took the opportunity to throw several spheres of light into the flames, then detonated them all.
For the next several seconds, Singed experienced nothing but explosions.
As the aftershocks gradually dissipated, they revealed a battered and disfigured Singed. Numerous wounds covered his body, which had been twisted badly out of shape.
Even the Runic energy that had blazed so brilliantly moments earlier had dimmed.
Then, in the next second, the Rune fragment lit up again.
Lines of energy spread across Singed's body, releasing what appeared to be a healing force.
His wounds recovered in an instant.
"Just how much punishment can this guy take?"
Even Lux was shocked. She finally understood that this was the power of a World Rune.
Everyone else also found it difficult to believe.
They could not imagine how Singed had survived an assault like that.
"Hahaha! This is the greatest power in existence, the power of the Runes!"
Singed laughed wildly.
He had become even more skilled at controlling the Rune's power. As time passed, he would only continue growing stronger.
This was only a fragment. He could not imagine how powerful he would become if he collected a complete World Rune.
Luke also felt the situation growing increasingly dangerous. He contacted the spirit goddess through his mind.
"Do you have any ideas? I feel like he's about to start walking all over us. Why don't you just step in and erase him?"
"I can't."
Even Janna had not expected the situation to develop this way. Her voice was solemn.
"My power hasn't fully recovered yet, and World Runes are naturally opposed to my power. Even if I intervene, I can only restrain him for a short while. You'll have to seize the opportunity."
Luke nodded, exhaled slowly, and focused completely.
At the same time, Janna invoked her power.
A violent wind rose around them and converged upon Singed.
Singed appeared to sense something and immediately mobilized the Rune's power.
The wind began rotating around him, spinning faster and growing larger with every second. It radiated an oppressive force.
The Runic energy surrounding Singed became unstable. He realized that some mysterious being had intervened.
"As I am now, I may have nothing to fear from you!"
Even more Runic energy erupted from his body as he fought against Janna's power.
"Now!"
Janna notified Luke through their mental connection.
Luke did not hesitate.
He directly awakened the two demonic powers that had remained dormant inside him for so long.
Dark energy enveloped his body, radiating a cold and terrifying aura.
Even the surrounding temperature dropped. Both of his hands transformed into demonic claws, while something resembling demonic armor covered his entire body.
The women nearby found this sight completely unfamiliar.
None of them had ever seen Luke in this form.
The powers of the Agony Demon and the Nightmare Demon pushed Luke's strength to its absolute peak. Combined with a fully stacked Conqueror, the aura emanating from his body alone was enough to make it difficult to breathe.
The next instant, Luke charged forward.
His figure vanished from where he stood and reappeared beside the enormous tornado.
Seeing Singed release Runic energy to resist Janna's power, Luke unleashed a full-strength slash without hesitation.
Singed raised one hand. Runic power gathered around it, forming a substantial force that blocked Luke's blade.
Their powers seemed to enter a stalemate, but Luke advanced slightly with every passing moment.
Powerful Sword Intent spread in every direction. Sword marks appeared across the walls and floor, and even those standing far away felt a razor-sharp pressure, as though countless blades were bearing down upon them.
"I will not be stopped here!"
Singed widened his eyes and released a hoarse roar. The Runic energy surrounding him erupted once more.
Luke's sword shattered the barrier and collided with the exploding energy.
Boom!
Another violent explosion erupted.
Luke was thrown backward from the blast, while Janna's power dissipated at the same moment.
He landed on the ground, his expression growing even more serious.
Only Luke knew that the result of that attack had been far from ideal.
The power of a World Rune was simply too great.
Even if this was only a fragment, it still came from one of the forces that had once nearly destroyed Runeterra.
Even after using the demonic powers inside him, Luke had failed.
Then he felt streams of strength being absorbed through Snowglance.
The sword had clearly struck Singed, but unfortunately, it had not achieved the desired effect.
"It didn't work. We failed."
Janna's grave voice rang out again.
"My power can't interfere with him. I suggest that all of you retreat immediately."
Luke could not help smiling helplessly.
"Do you really think retreating is that easy now?"
They had come here, beaten the man senseless, then decided to run when things started looking bad. That would only work if Singed was willing to let them leave.
"I understand now. This is the true power of a Rune."
Singed's excited voice rang out.
Using the Rune's energy, he floated into the air. The power surrounding him grew increasingly overwhelming and oppressive.
His wounds healed again in an instant.
He looked down at everyone and spoke with delight.
"As I am now, I am invincible. You will become the first experimental subjects obtained through my Runic power. No one will leave this place alive tonight."
Looking at the seemingly unkillable Singed, everyone felt a trace of despair.
"I refuse to allow anyone this ridiculously overpowered to exist in Runeterra!"
Lux refused to accept defeat.
She raised her staff, her golden hair floating around her as her entire body was bathed in brilliant light. She appeared as sacred as a goddess.
The next second, she released a sharp cry.
Dazzling radiance burst across the laboratory, and an enormous pillar of light blasted toward Singed.
A full-power Final Spark!
Singed had not dared to take this attack directly earlier, but now he raised both hands and released Runic energy, confronting Final Spark head-on.
Lux gritted her teeth and held on as her magic rapidly drained away.
As she gradually began to lose strength, her light magic also weakened.
Singed had no intention of allowing the clash to end there. He immediately counterattacked. The Runic energy overwhelmed Final Spark and rapidly surged toward Lux.
Seeing this, Luke flashed forward, swept Lux into his arms, and carried her out of the way.
The next instant, the Runic energy struck the ground.
A thunderous explosion erupted, leaving behind a massive crater.
"Damn it."
Still in Luke's arms, Lux had no time to think about anything else. She gritted her teeth in frustration.
For the first time, her ultimate had failed her.
The first time!
How could Lux possibly tolerate that?
No, she had to remember this lesson.
From this day forward, she never wanted to experience this feeling again.
"Quinn, Yurna, Poppy, take the others and retreat. Don't forget Vander over there. Viktor, you're going with them too."
Luke released Lux and motioned for everyone to withdraw first.
The power of the Rune was far too great. If Singed deliberately targeted them later, even Luke might not be able to stop him in time.
"Will he really let us escape?"
Although Lux was angry, she had not lost her reason. Judging by Singed's expression, he probably had no intention of allowing them to withdraw so easily.
"Don't worry. I still have one final trump card."
Luke smiled faintly and calmly walked forward.
"You have a final trump card? Then what the hell do I have to be afraid of?"
After hearing that, Lux decided she was not leaving.
"I'll stay and support you."
In truth, she was worried about Luke and suspected that he intended to forcefully buy time for them to escape.
She still had a mana crystal filled to capacity, so she should be able to help him.
Quinn and Yurna obeyed Luke's instructions and had already begun leading Seraphine and the others outside.
They understood that remaining here would only make them liabilities, so they did not waste any time.
Sona and Poppy, however, stayed behind with Lux.
Since matters had already reached this point, Luke prepared himself.
"Then watch closely."
Singed was not particularly curious about Luke's trump card. He simply raised his hand and fired another powerful surge of Runic energy.
"Eat my hammer!"
Poppy did not hesitate for even a moment.
She leaped forward and raised the sacred hammer high above her head. At that moment, the weapon radiated an incomparable holy light before crashing downward.
The blow directly shattered the approaching Runic energy, but Poppy was also blasted backward. She struck the ground, rolled twice, then climbed up without appearing injured at all.
Luke could no longer pay attention to anything else.
His consciousness sank into his body, and he quickly located the dormant orange-gold Rune fragment.
Ever since that fragment had entered his body, he had never willingly examined it or attempted to interact with it.
There was only one reason.
World Runes were far too dangerous, and even Luke felt they were beyond his ability to control.
But now, he had no other choice.
"You've been sleeping inside my body for long enough. It's about time you paid some rent!"
Luke no longer hesitated.
He directly awakened the Rune fragment's power.
In an instant, brilliant light erupted.
As though responding to Luke's call, the Rune fragment suddenly activated and released an immeasurably vast torrent of energy, surging like floodwaters through a broken dam.
Luke immediately felt his entire body being occupied by the Rune's overwhelming power.
It was an indescribable sensation.
He became stronger with every passing second.
Runic power could effortlessly destroy a human body. Countless people throughout history had attempted to seize the power of a World Rune, only to be destroyed the instant they obtained it.
More importantly, World Runes could corrupt the human mind.
Even someone who successfully acquired their power could eventually descend into a bottomless abyss.
Then Ryze would show up and take the Rune away without mercy.
Luke would never have willingly done this unless he had been left with absolutely no alternative.
He currently possessed level-seven Righteous Aura Guard, level-seven Bastion, level-nine Conqueror, and level-nine Body-Hardening Arts. All of these abilities had drastically strengthened his body.
On top of that, he currently wielded the power of two demons and possessed the protection of the Wind Goddess.
Only with all of these advantages combined did Luke have enough confidence to deliberately provoke the dormant Rune fragment.
However, once the Rune's power filled every part of his body, Luke felt nothing beyond an unprecedented sense of strength.
That discovery surprised him.
He had expected to endure some kind of additional trial.
Instead, once the Rune fragment awakened, it seemed to completely surrender itself to his control.
Lux was stunned.
Her lips parted slightly as she stared blankly at Luke in the distance.
His body was bathed in an orange-gold energy field. Even the demonic armor covering him had been dyed brilliant gold.
He resembled a god descending into the mortal world, radiating inviolable majesty and an incomparably powerful aura.
Lux's brain could barely process what she was seeing.
There was no doubt about it.
That was another World Rune.
And unless she remembered incorrectly, it was the same fragment Eldred had produced back then.
How had it ended up inside Luke?
So this was the trump card he had been hiding?
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