The Guardian Of The Multiverse

(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)

Ace slept soundly on his bed, experiencing a level of peace he hadn't felt in half a century. For the first time in what felt like forever, it seemed possible that he could get a full eight hours of sleep. The constant fighting, jumping between dimensions, battling villains, and even taking on 300-foot monsters had all become routine. What he hadn't realized—until now—was how deeply it had affected him. Not physically—his body had adapted to the grueling challenges—but mentally. The endless cycle of conflict and the weight of countless unfortunate events stacked upon his shoulders. It was heavier than he had ever imagined.

When he first gained his new powers and learned the truth about his origin, he thought he could handle it all. But he had severely underestimated the burden of his role. His first "official" mission had spanned half a century, and even after completing it, there was no reprieve. He was captured, tortured, and then forced to fight someone who might as well have been a god in his own right. The mental scars ran deeper than he cared to admit. He owed Peter more than he could ever express—without his intervention and the power boost that allowed him to surpass immeasurable speeds, the battle might not have ended in Ace's favor.

Now, after what felt like an eternity of relentless battles and hardship, Ace finally had the chance to rest. Yet, even in the stillness, something gnawed at the back of his mind. It wasn't the Sarah Fortune he had briefly encountered in this dimension that haunted him—it was the Sarah he had known in another. The one he had fought alongside for fifty long years. No matter how much time passed, those memories refused to fade.

Would this world's Sarah Fortune be anything like the one he knew? The question lingered in his thoughts. If she was the same—if they shared even a fraction of the connection he once had with the other Sarah—what would that mean for him? For her?

The thought pulled him from his slumber. Ace blinked groggily, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and his hair a disheveled mess. For a moment, he simply sat there, caught between the haze of sleep and the weight of memories that refused to let go.

...

"Ugh..." Ace muttered as he gently rubbed his eyes, staring blankly ahead. He stretched his arms, the satisfying pop of his joints echoing through the room, and sighed in relief. The others must be in that lab the Guardian mentioned in our group chat, he thought as he cracked his neck.

Heading toward the bathroom, he quickly handled his business before exiting his room. As he walked through the castle's hallways, he couldn't help but be mildly impressed by the changes Artoria and Adriel had made. Even with his limited observation, he could sense the improvements to the castle's defenses.

His original destination had been the Guardian's room, but his stomach growled loudly, forcing him to change course and head toward the kitchen instead.

When Ace arrived, he spotted a group of chefs chatting among themselves. As soon as one of them noticed him, the group straightened immediately, their postures stiff with formality.

"Lord Ace," they said in unison, the head chef stepping forward. "It's great to see you in good health."

Ace blinked twice, caught off guard by their reverent tone. He wasn't used to being treated like royalty. Sure, he'd been treated with respect plenty of times before—whether as a member of Whitebeard's crew or during his travels across dimensions. Adriel had once explained that it was due to his Guardian Aura, which naturally attracted narratives toward him, including the characters in each verse. According to Adriel, it was essentially "max-level Passive Rizz by default," much to the Guardian's annoyance.

Ace couldn't help but reflect on how many times women had thrown themselves at him thanks to this passive skill—he had grown mostly immune to it. Still, he was far from fully comfortable with the attention. The only benefit, he figured, was how much easier it made forging connections.

"Please," Ace said, waving his hands dismissively. "Y'all don't have to talk to me like that. I'm not used to it, and honestly, I don't like it." He sighed before continuing. "Just treat me normal. I'm not royalty or anything close to it."

The chefs exchanged confused glances. "Then... how should we address you?" a vastaya cook asked hesitantly. "Sir?"

"Ace—or Captain is fine. Just not all that royalty stuff," he replied firmly. "Anyway," he said, changing the subject quickly, "I'm starving. Could y'all make me something?"

The head chef perked up instantly. "Of course, Sir! You don't even have to ask—just tell us, and we'll start right away!" The group of cooks bustled into action.

"Do you have a large appetite?" the head chef asked.

"Very," Ace replied simply. That was all the chefs needed to hear before they started preparing rows of dishes, each more elaborate than the last.

In the meantime, Ace waited at the large dining table. As he sat, he could sense the lingering presences of those who had been there before—the Champions, a couple of Guardians, and even Sarah, he thought.

He sighed, running a hand down his face. She's not the same one you knew, dumbass, he mentally scolded himself. But still, the memories of the Sarah he had known for fifty years refused to leave him. "I would've liked to talk to her..." he muttered quietly to himself.

Suddenly, he felt a presence enter the room, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned his head, and his heart skipped a beat. The person who had walked in froze mid-step.

Sarah Fortune stood at the entrance, holding a plate of food. She looked slightly startled at first but then smiled warmly when her gaze met his.

"It's you," she said softly, her voice carrying a gentle warmth and a hint of happiness.

"Uhhh..." Ace stammered, his brain struggling to process this version of Sarah. "Hi?" was all he managed to say.

"Hi!" she replied, her tone suddenly chirpier. Walking toward the table, she placed her plate down and sat a few feet away from him. She hesitated for a moment, fidgeting slightly before speaking again. "I... I'm so glad you're okay!"

What the hell is going on with her personality? Ace thought, utterly confused. This isn't like the Sarah I know from the League of Legends lore. But then he reconsidered, Maybe I'm overthinking it. She's been through traumatizing events—heck, all of them have. A little personality shift is understandable. Satisfied with his conclusion, Ace let the moment linger without overanalyzing it further.

"Um... Did you rest enough?" Sarah asked, her tone overly enthusiastic. "I heard about what happened with you and... Spider-Man?" She tilted her head thoughtfully before nodding. "Yeah! Spider-Man!" She waved her hands animatedly. "You two had an intense fight that left you both completely exhausted. So..." Her voice softened as she looked down, her enthusiasm giving way to concern. "I was worried..."

Ace's initial reaction was to simply stare and blink. She reminded him of a high school girl nervously trying to talk to her crush—completely lacking subtlety. So this is what you meant, Adriel? Ace thought. Now I get why it's such a pain in the ass.

Despite the awkwardness, Ace couldn't help but let his thoughts wander to the past, to a time 50 years ago when he had shared a fleeting connection with Lux. That memory felt bittersweet, like a love stolen by the relentless chaos of his reality. Back then, he had been caught in a brutal territory war with kaiju's from the Godzilla universe. The timing had been terrible, and in the end, he had accepted that their relationship was doomed from the start—just love at the wrong time.

And now, here he was, faced with another version of the same dilemma. It was painfully obvious that this Sarah harbored affection for him. Ace could see it in her eyes, in the way she talked to him, and he felt like an asshole for pretending not to notice. Her feelings, he realized, had formed because she saw him as a hero—a guardian angel in a world where despair had become the norm. For her, he and the other Guardians were the only remaining symbols of hope and salvation in a universe consumed by darkness.

Ace hated the pressure that came with being seen as a savior. It wasn't just the weight of expectations—it was the fact that the burden was shared by so few. He and his companions were the last of their kind, the only ones left to fight this war across the vast expanse of fiction.

He sighed deeply, his thoughts heavy. What now? he wondered.

"...Do you want more food, Sir Ace?" The maid's voice snapped him out of his daze.

"Huh?" he blinked, realizing he had been eating without even noticing. I've been zoning out this whole time, he thought.

"Are you okay...?" Sarah asked, her concern evident. After a brief pause, she added hesitantly, "Ace... right?" She turned to a maid for confirmation.

"Yes, Ace D. Portgas is his name, Miss Fortune," the maid confirmed with a polite bow.

He then addressed the maid's previous question, "And no, I'm fine."

The vastaya maid nodded politely before leaving the room, likely heading off to gather assistance for clearing the large number of plates from the table.

Ace nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts still swirling. What the hell am I supposed to do about this? he wondered.

Sarah's concern lingered, her eyes studying Ace carefully. "You seem... distracted," she said softly, her earlier enthusiasm giving way to a gentler tone. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Ace leaned back slightly, rubbing the back of his neck and offering a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind, you know? The fight, everything we've been through..." He trailed off, unsure of how much to actually say.

Sarah nodded, her expression softening further. "I can't even imagine what it must feel like for you. For all of you, really." She paused, as if debating whether to say more. Finally, she added, "But... if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I mean that."

Ace glanced at her, surprised by her sincerity. There was no mistaking the earnestness in her voice. "Thanks, Sarah," he said simply, his voice quieter now. "I appreciate that."

For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint clatter of the kitchen staff working in the background. Sarah shifted in her seat, her hands fiddling nervously with the edge of her plate.

"Can I ask you something?" she said hesitantly, breaking the silence.

Ace looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. "Sure," he replied cautiously.

Sarah hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "When... when you're out there, fighting all those battles, risking your life... do you ever wonder if it's worth it? I mean, with how much you've been through—does it ever feel like... too much?"

Ace's gaze dropped to his empty plate, her question hitting deeper than she probably intended. He took a long breath before answering. "Yeah," he admitted, his voice low. "More than I'd like to admit. Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, the Darks keep coming, the losses keep stacking up, and the fight never ends. But..." He looked up at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's worth it when I see people like you still standing. Still fighting to live. That's what keeps me going."

Sarah's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked down, her fingers nervously tracing circles on the table. "You're... amazing, you know that?"

Ace chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nah. I'm just doing what I can."

A maid approached, clearing away his empty plate and breaking the moment. Ace took it as his cue to leave. He stood, stretching slightly before glancing back at Sarah.

"Thanks for the company—and the food," he said with a small smile. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Sarah looked up, her smile warm and genuine. "You too, Ace."

With that, he turned and left the room, his mind already shifting to the lab where the other Guardians were likely waiting. As he walked down the hallway, his thoughts churned with the weight of everything he had been through and everything still to come.

She's not the same Sarah, he reminded himself. But maybe, just maybe... it doesn't have to be the same.

...

Ace walked along the castle walls, his mind blank, moving on autopilot. It wasn't until he reached Adriel's room that he finally snapped out of his daze. He knocked the required number of times, allowing the door to shift into the pocket dimension, and stepped inside the lab.

The three Guardians inside immediately noticed his presence and greeted him.

"Oh, shit, Ace? You finally woke up?" Peter asked, raising a brow.

"He was out like a log. Bro was gone," Adriel snickered as he continued tinkering with the core of Peter's suit after their earlier test.

"Well," Artoria added with a small, approving smile, "it's good to see you in good health, Ace."

Isn't this the first time I'm actually meeting them in person? Ace thought. Up until now, the only way he had communicated with his new team was through messages. He had gotten to know them a bit that way, but finally meeting them face-to-face was a different experience.

Damn... is it the Guardian aura, or is everyone here just ridiculously good-looking and overpowered? He mused to himself.

"Thanks, Saber. I had a very nice nap," he said, scratching the back of his head before his gaze shifted toward Adriel, who was still fiddling with the power source of Peter's suit. "So... what are you guys doing here?"

"Just chillin'," Peter answered casually. "In a few days, we're diving back into the war, but even we have to take a break every once in a while." He let out a dramatic sigh, slumping his arms. "I don't even remember the last time I slept in an actual bed. Before coming to this dimension, I saved an entire omniverse by myself. And just when I thought I could finally get some rest, I get flung here and have to fight a psychotic AI in a mental torture match."

"Sounds about right," Adriel mumbled lazily. "Story of our lives. Imagine dying and reviving over 900 decillion times—"

"We get it, Adriel," Ace cut in, rolling his eyes. "We know how badly Yogiri messed you up."

"Well, can you blame him?" Peter chimed in. "I'd be traumatized too if I had to fight someone whose ability is so broken it took me an eternity to kill them. Hell, I still don't know how you even managed to kill him, Adriel." He crossed his arms, frowning. "I mean... he's the embodiment of the End of everything. He says you die, you die. You have a weapon? It dies. You're in another multiverse, and you even think about killing him? You die. No matter what you do to him—you die. So... how?"

"To be honest, I still don't even know how I killed him," Adriel admitted, shrugging. "All I did was destroy an Inaccessible Cardinal and a Mahlo Cardinal and made the whole dimension collapse on purpose."

Artoria furrowed her brows. "You... made a dimension with those concepts... explode?" she asked, baffled.

"Yup. And trust me—it hurt like a bitch," Adriel grunted.

"Wait... you took that explosion to the face?" Peter asked, eyes widening.

"Yup. With Yogiri right there with me. It killed him, but I survived," Adriel said nonchalantly.

"How did you even know that was gonna work?!" Ace blurted out, completely dumbfounded.

"Well," Adriel started, resting his chin on his hand, "Mahlo Cardinals usually make a character Boundless—if I'm not wrong. Either Boundless or High Outer, maybe even higher. So, if I just made that whole place explode and forced Yogiri to take an infinite amount of infinite explosions, each more powerful than the Big Bang, I figured it probably would've killed him." He shrugged like it was the most casual thing in the world.

The room fell silent.

The three Guardians just stared at Adriel.

There were a lot of things they had learned about him so far. But this?

He took an infinite number of infinitely increasing explosions, each stronger than the Big Bang, an infinite amount of times...

And survived.

Their unified thought?

Scary.

...

Artoria sighed. "Well, I'm certainly glad you talked things out when you fought against me and my knights," she joked.

"Well, sometimes it doesn't take these hands. Talking can work too," Adriel said with a smirk.

"So far, I haven't met a Dark that's willing to talk things out," Peter added tiredly.

"That makes two of us," Ace chimed in.

Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the lab. Artoria's stomach.

Her face flushed instantly as she looked away, pretending nothing happened.

Adriel snickered. "Hungry? Again?"

"Shut up..." she mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

Adriel chuckled, shaking his head. "Go ahead. It's already late afternoon anyway," he said, glancing at the clock hanging on the lab's wall. His gaze then shifted toward Ace, his lips curling into a teasing grin. "Not like Polar Bear over here didn't already sleep through most of the day."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Polar Bear? Seriously?"

"What? Would you rather be called a gummy bea—"

"No. That just sounds fruity. No pun intended," Ace shot back immediately.

"Kinda gay if you ask me—"

"Shut up, Peter," Adriel interrupted, casually flicking a Tic Tac at him.

Peter blinked as the mint bounced off his forehead. "The fuck? Since when did you have a Tic Tac?"

"I don't even remember!" Adriel replied with way too much enthusiasm. "Anyway!" He spun his chair toward Artoria, pulling up a holographic screen filled with JavaScript code. "Little Saber! Go ahead and get yourself some dinner! I'm gonna tinker with this for a little bit."

Ace glanced at Peter and shrugged. "Guess we'll accompany you then."

Peter gave him a deadpan look. "Didn't you literally just eat?"

"So?"

Peter sighed. "I forgot you're an anime character."

"Exactly~," Ace grinned smugly.

Artoria perked up, instantly marching toward the exit with determination. "Then let us feast!"

Peter groaned. "She's doing it again."

Ace smirked. "It's always the same—she starts spamming me when she eats and writes entire paragraphs about one plate's flavor..."

Artoria gasped dramatically. "Wha—?! I do not!"

Peter pulled up their chat logs. "I can, in fact, confirm that he's right. You do the same to me."

"No!" Artoria pouted, then speed-walked out of the lab, her face burning.

"Hey! Wait for us, you foodie!" Peter called after her.

"Shut up!!!"

Her voice echoed down the halls as the three of them disappeared from view.

Adriel watched them go, then leaned forward, resting his head against the table. A small, genuine smile formed on his lips.

"It's definitely more lively."

...

As the trio made their way through the castle halls, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter than before. For the first time since meeting, there wasn't a looming sense of urgency pressing down on them. No battles to fight, no enemies to chase—just a moment to breathe.

Ace stretched his arms behind his head, yawning. "So, be honest. How long have you two actually known each other?" He tilted his head toward Peter and Artoria.

Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "Technically? Only a few days. But we were in contact through messages before that, so it feels longer. Plus, Adriel informed me about Artoria when he raided Ixtal and told me what happened."

Artoria glanced at him. "And you still trusted me?"

Peter shrugged. "Trust is a strong word. But Adriel vouched for you, and from what I heard, you weren't exactly thrilled about being a Dark in the first place."

Ace gave her a side glance. "Yeah, that's something I wanted to ask. What made you turn your back on the Darks? I mean, you were deep in it, right?"

Artoria folded her arms, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she exhaled. "I was... lost." She hesitated, as if carefully choosing her words. "Everything I did, I told myself it was for a cause. But in truth, I was only following orders. Orders from beings that only saw destruction as the ultimate end. And when I realized that was all there ever was to them... I suppose I started to doubt."

Peter nodded. "Doubt's usually how it starts. Then you start asking the hard questions."

Artoria smiled faintly. "And then Adriel appears, with that maddening ability to talk anyone into a headache."

Ace chuckled. "I knew it. That guy has a skill tree dedicated to bullshitting people into rethinking their lives."

Peter smirked. "It's actually worse in person. I got caught in his nonsense so many times, and I didn't even realize it until after the conversation was over."

Artoria nodded. "I see I wasn't the only one."

Ace laughed. "Okay, okay, so ya'll all got played by Adriel at some point. That's fine. But what about you, Peter? I mean, I saw you come in like a damn comet during my fight. I didn't even know who the hell you were, but you came in like my guardian angel or some shit."

Peter scoffed. "Yeah, well, let's just say it wasn't planned. I was supposed to be resting. Next thing I know, I'm running faster than I ever have in my life, chasing a frictionless flame through the damn multiverse."

Ace shook his head, still amazed. "That speed boost was insane. You ever done anything like that before?"

Peter hesitated. "Not... like that." He glanced down at his hands. "I mean, I've always been fast, but the core that my suit has which contains the Speed Force? That was different. That was omniversal speed. For a few seconds, I was everywhere at once, and let me tell you—" he exhaled, running a hand through his hair, "—it was terrifying."

Artoria studied him. "And yet you still chased it down. Despite how much it could have overwhelmed you."

Peter smirked. "Well, yeah. What, was I supposed to just let it go? Ace would've died."

Ace blinked. Something about how Peter said it made him pause. There was no hesitation in his voice—no bravado, no exaggerated heroics. Just a simple statement of fact.

Ace rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn, man. You're really that ride-or-die, huh?"

Peter shot him a lopsided grin. "Comes with the mask."

There was a brief silence as they walked, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the stone halls. Then, Artoria spoke up, her voice softer than before. "I'm... glad we met."

Both Ace and Peter turned toward her.

She looked ahead, eyes distant. "I've spent so long following orders, following a cause I barely understood. Now, for the first time, I feel like I'm actually choosing to be here. Fighting alongside people I can respect." She glanced at Ace and Peter. "People I can trust."

Ace crossed his arms, nodding. "Well, that makes three of us then."

Peter grinned. "Guess we're stuck with each other, huh?"

Artoria smirked. "It would seem so."

As they finally reached the dining hall, the tension that had once existed between them had faded. They had fought separately. They had survived separately. But now, they were something more.

They were together.

And when the war resumed, they'd fight as a team.

But for now?

Now, they were just three warriors about to enjoy a meal.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity—

They could just breathe.

...

The grand dining hall of Ixtal was lively yet subdued. The warm glow of the enchanted chandeliers bathed the long wooden table in golden light, illuminating the faces of those who had gathered. It was one of the rare times when there was no immediate war to fight, no overwhelming crisis to handle—just a moment of reprieve.

Ace, Peter, and Artoria entered the hall together, still caught in the warmth of their earlier conversation, but the atmosphere shifted slightly as they took their seats. The surviving champions of League of Legends—Kindred, Sarah Fortune, Neeko, and Qiyana—were already seated, their conversations lowering as the Guardians approached.

Neeko was the first to react. She perked up at the sight of Ace, her vibrant eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ace! Neeko sees you are finally awake!" she chirped cheerfully, bouncing slightly in her seat.

Ace offered a relaxed grin as he pulled out a chair. "Yeah, finally got some sleep. Feels weird not waking up inside a torture chamber for once."

Peter took a seat next to him, smirking. "You mean it feels weird actually getting a bed for once?"

Ace chuckled. "Yeah, that too."

Across from them, Sarah Fortune leaned forward, her eyes filled with intrigue. "So, you Guardians do rest after all? Here I thought you were all running purely on godly stamina or something."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Trust me, if we could, we would. But even we have limits," he muttered, then paused. "Sometimes we don't..."

Artoria, ever composed, took her seat beside Peter, mostly quiet as the conversation carried on. But it didn't take long for her to notice Qiyana's sharp gaze locked onto her, unreadable yet unmistakably cold.

Ace, picking up on the tension, set his fork down and sighed. "Something wrong, Qiyana?"

Qiyana's piercing blue eyes flickered toward him before returning to Artoria. "Just... thinking," she said vaguely.

The table grew momentarily quiet, with only the faint clinking of utensils against plates breaking the silence.

Neeko, ever the optimist, attempted to lighten the mood. "Neeko thinks it is good that everyone is together like this! Even if the world is ending outside, at least inside, we have food, friends, and... um... not as much fighting?"

Kindred's Lamb tilted her head. "An optimistic way to view things. The end is never truly the end... just another beginning."

Wolf let out a low chuckle. "Unless you're devoured. Then it's the end."

Neeko flinched, while Peter sighed. "Can we not talk about getting eaten at the dinner table?" Memories of when Adriel ventured into the Russian Sleep Experiment flashed in his head, making him cringe.

Qiyana, however, wasn't as easily distracted. She leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, her eyes narrowing. "Forgive me if I'm not as quick to celebrate," she said, her voice cool but edged. "I just find it interesting how we're all so... welcoming of someone who once ruled over us as a Dark."

The room's warmth seemed to dim at her words.

Artoria, who had remained silent up until now, finally lifted her gaze, meeting Qiyana's glare head-on.

"I expected nothing less from you," Artoria said simply, her voice steady—not defensive, not apologetic.

Qiyana's fingers drummed against the table. "Did you? Then tell me, how does it feel to be here, at a table with people you once enslaved?"

The tension thickened.

Peter glanced toward Ace, silently asking if they should step in, but Ace remained still, shaking his head slightly while watching Artoria closely.

Artoria took a measured breath before answering. "Like a second chance. One I do not deserve, but one that was given to me regardless."

Qiyana's eyes flared with something between anger and disbelief. "That's it? You admit everything, and all you have to say is that you don't deserve redemption?"

Artoria remained unmoved. "Because I don't."

The blunt admission made Qiyana falter—only for a second. "Then why are you here?"

"Because someone believed I could be better," Artoria answered plainly. "And because I want to be."

Qiyana scoffed, looking away. "Words mean nothing."

At that moment, the doors to the hall creaked open, and Adriel finally entered. He was still dressed in his lab attire, his sleeves slightly rolled up as if he had just stepped away from an intense experiment. His sharp eyes scanned the room, and immediately, he caught onto the tension in the air.

"Oh, I certainly love the tension in the air. I missed something, didn't I?" he muttered, making his way toward them.

Peter smirked. "Just in time for the fun part."

Adriel pulled out a chair beside Artoria, glancing between her and Qiyana. "Let me guess—someone doesn't trust Artoria."

Qiyana scoffed. "Should I? Would you trust someone who once took part in enslaving your people?"

Adriel's expression remained unreadable as he picked up a glass of water, taking a slow sip before answering.

"No," he said simply. "Honestly, I wouldn't."

Artoria glanced at him, but there was no surprise on her face—only quiet understanding.

Qiyana straightened slightly, not expecting that response.

Adriel set his glass down, folding his hands together. "But I did trust her enough to make her a Guardian. And that's not something I do lightly."

Qiyana's jaw clenched. "That doesn't erase what she's done."

"No, it doesn't," Adriel agreed. "But it does mean she's standing here now, fighting against the same darkness she once served. I didn't ask her to be forgiven. I asked her to be better."

Artoria finally spoke again, her voice quieter this time. "You have every right to hate me. If I were in your position, I wouldn't trust me either."

Qiyana looked at her, then at Adriel, then back again.

After a long pause, she exhaled sharply. "I don't hate you," she muttered. "But I also don't trust you."

Artoria nodded. "Fair."

For a moment, it seemed like that would be the end of it.

Then Neeko—blissfully unaware of the lingering tension—grinned. "Neeko thinks that was a very good talk! Much less shouting than expected!"

Ace sighed, shaking his head with a small smirk. "Glad we kept it civilized."

Adriel chuckled, taking a bite of his food. "Alright, now that we've gotten the drama out of the way, can we please eat before the food gets cold?"

Peter leaned back, crossing his arms. "For once, I agree."

Qiyana remained quiet for a moment longer before finally picking up her fork. She wasn't happy about any of this, but for now, she would tolerate it.

Artoria, despite everything, allowed herself a small breath of relief. She wasn't forgiven. She probably never would be.

But she was still here.

And for now, that was enough.

"So..." Peter spoke, breaking the relative silence. "What's the plan for when we head out again?"

The maids brought food to the table, and the inviting aroma filled the air. The plate in front of them radiated comforting warmth, enticing indulgence. A golden-brown sirloin cutlet, perfectly breaded and crisp, sat proudly beneath a generous layer of melted mozzarella. The cheese stretched slightly with each subtle movement, melding effortlessly with the rich tomato sauce draped over it. Roasted tomatoes, slightly charred at the edges, added a burst of deep, smoky sweetness, their juices blending into the sauce in tantalizing contrast.

Beside it, a delicate mound of spaghetti glistened under a roasted tomato pink sauce, each strand coated in a velvety sheen. Flecks of finely grated cheese clung to the pasta, melting just enough to deepen the flavor with every forkful. A final touch of fresh herbs was sprinkled across the dish, the vibrant green standing out against the warm reds and golden hues.

Adriel took the first bite, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. Then, as if the food had triggered his tactical mindset, he spoke. "I was thinking of sending you and Ace north of Runeterra while Artoria and I head west."

The champions listened intently, silently eating as they absorbed the conversation between the Guardians.

"So, Peter and I will be dealing with Noxus, Demacia, and Ionia?" Ace questioned, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Yup. Artoria and I will handle Shurima and Targon," Adriel confirmed between bites.

Peter tilted his head slightly. "Is there a specific reason why we're covering three regions while you two take just two?"

"I'm certain that somewhere in the West, we'll run into either Mangog or Hercules," Adriel said matter-of-factly. "Because of the difference in power levels, I'll handle the more difficult threats with Artoria. I'm confident you two can handle Juggernaut and Red Goblin. As for the additional Dark... well, Artoria can inform you who it is when you reach Demacia."

Ace's eyes narrowed slightly. "That means you already know who it is."

Adriel smirked but didn't elaborate. "You'll find out soon enough."

Peter sighed, crossing his arms. "And after all that, we meet up in Piltover, I'm guessing?"

"Exactly," Adriel confirmed, tapping his fingers on the table. "That's where Arcane's second season takes place, and thanks to the massive hype it got in the real world, the narrative weight of Piltover has skyrocketed. Whatever Anasis is doing, he's definitely tapping into that power surge. So, I'd rather we all be there together to face him instead of just sending in a duo."

A heavy silence settled over the table as the Guardians continued eating, the weight of their words lingering in the air. The Champions of Runeterra, though unable to fully grasp the meta-level discussion, could sense the gravity of what was unfolding. Even if they couldn't understand the depths of what the Guardians were talking about, they knew it was beyond anything they'd faced before.

Neeko was the first to break the silence. She twirled a strand of spaghetti around her fork and tilted her head. "Neeko wants to help, but Neeko does not know how... You Guardians fight enemies that sound like gods. But still..." She frowned slightly, her vibrant eyes searching the faces of the Guardians. "Is there really nothing we can do?"

Peter exchanged a look with Ace before sighing. "It's not that you can't do anything, Neeko. It's just... you're not equipped to fight them," he admitted. "The Darks are beyond your power scale, and if you die, it makes things a lot harder for us to restore this world."

Neeko pouted but nodded reluctantly. "Neeko understands... but it still feels bad."

Lamb, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, her voice calm yet tinged with frustration. "It is difficult to sit idly while the world crumbles, Guardian. Do you truly believe we should do nothing?"

Adriel, who had been eating quietly, wiped his mouth with a napkin before speaking. "I get it. You all feel powerless, and that's frustrating. But you need to understand that you're not powerless." He leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Your existence alone anchors this world. If even one of you survives, I can still rebuild what was lost. But if you rush into battle against a Pure Dark and die, then there's nothing left. No traces, no records. You don't just die—you cease to exist. There is no resurrection from that."

Sarah, having finished her meal, leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Yeah... after what I saw back in Bilgewater, I'm not eager to pick a fight with these things again." Her eyes flickered toward Ace for a brief moment before she looked away. "I'll stick to handling cleanup duty. Someone's gotta help keep the survivors alive."

Peter nodded approvingly. "That's actually more helpful than you realize."

Just as the conversation was beginning to ease, Qiyana, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, her tone colder than before. "And what about her?" she asked, her sharp gaze locking onto Artoria.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Artoria, who had been listening patiently, slowly placed her fork down and met Qiyana's gaze without flinching. "You still distrust me," she stated plainly, not as an accusation but as a simple fact.

Qiyana scoffed. "Should I not? You and your knights enslaved my people when the Darks took over Ixtal. We suffered under your rule while you sat on a throne built on our backs. And now, suddenly, we're supposed to believe you've turned a new leaf?" Her voice was steady, but the venom in her words was unmistakable.

Ace and Peter tensed slightly, watching the exchange carefully. Adriel, however, remained impassive, merely observing.

Artoria sighed, folding her hands on the table. "You are not wrong to feel that way, Qiyana. I do not expect your forgiveness, nor do I seek to justify my past actions. What I did under the influence of the Darks is unforgivable." Her voice, usually composed and regal, carried a quiet weight. "I was a Dark, and under their corruption, I ruled as one."

Qiyana clenched her fists. "Then why the hell are you sitting here with us?"

"Because Adriel gave me a second chance," Artoria answered without hesitation. "And because I chose to take it."

Qiyana opened her mouth, ready to fire back, but Adriel finally decided to intervene.

"That's enough," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I understand your anger, Qiyana. You have every right to feel it. But I need you to understand something—Artoria was a Dark, yes. But she's not anymore. I made her a Guardian." His eyes sharpened. "And if you trust me at all, you'll trust that I don't make that kind of decision lightly."

Qiyana's jaw tightened. She glanced between Adriel and Artoria, her frustration evident, but she didn't argue further. She simply exhaled sharply and looked away. "Fine. But I don't have to like it."

Artoria gave a small nod. "That is fair."

The tension lingered for a few moments longer before Neeko, sensing the heavy atmosphere, tried to brighten things up. "Neeko thinks... maybe we should finish our food before it gets cold?" she suggested with an awkward chuckle.

Peter smirked, deciding to roll with it. "Good idea, Neeko."

Ace let out a breath and picked his fork back up. "Yeah. Last thing I want is to go back to war on an empty stomach."

Slowly, the conversation began to shift away from hostility, returning to the quiet comfort of shared meals and momentary peace.

Even if it was temporary, the Guardians—and the Champions—would take whatever peace they could get.

To be continued...