Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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A dark blue light glowed from Ryan's ring and eyes as a massive rune magic circle formed above the rooftop. The intricate runes rose in glowing, ethereal strings.

Within the magic-infused circle, Silco found it increasingly difficult to breathe. His eyes widened in shock as he turned toward Ryan, who was casting the spell with ease.

Hum!

The rune's brilliance flared momentarily before dissipating. When the light cleared, Ryan was holding a strange mechanical claw in his hand.

"This is..."

Viktor's expression grew complicated as he stared at the Hextech masterpiece Ryan now wielded.

Hex crystals were an unstable natural source of magical energy. Building on that, Viktor and Jayce had refined the technology to create Hex gems—sources of stable and efficient energy.

But this mechanical claw, powered by a Hex gem, was unlike anything Viktor had seen. Designed to be shoulder-mounted, the claw was as flexible and dexterous as a third human hand.

More impressively, it could emit high-energy rays capable of slicing through iron with ease.

It was a tool Viktor had intended to unveil during Progress Day, but due to Jayce's intervention, that day might never come.

"The weapon that suits you best," Ryan said, his voice calm but firm.

"With this final process, it's complete."

Ryan paid no mind to Silco's presence. Blue light flared from his fingertips—magical energy as he began to trace complex patterns in the air.

Mysterious runes materialized and floated gently toward the Hex gem embedded in the mechanical claw. When they landed, they fused permanently with the crystal.

"In addition to stabilizing the crystal and extracting greater energy output in a single shot," Ryan explained,

"I've added a rune for a magic force field. If you sustain unexpected damage, the force field will trigger automatically, freezing everything around you."

Viktor nodded as Ryan finished his adjustments. He then skillfully attached the mechanical claw to his shoulder, the device clicking into place.

Ryan smiled. "The force field might be hard to test, but let's see the ray's power now."

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Viktor lifted the claw. The mechanical hand turned smoothly, its palm aiming at a thick iron pole about ten meters away.

Chzzz!

A blazing orange-yellow ray burst forth, reaching the pole in an instant. As Viktor moved the claw horizontally, the iron was sliced cleanly in two, as effortlessly as cutting paper.

Viktor stared at the results, letting out a dry chuckle.

"The original design was meant to help craftsmen carve materials more efficiently."

Silco, watching the iron pole crash to the ground in pieces, felt a shiver of terror run down his spine. His fear was not of Viktor but of Noxus itself.

"This is a tool for craftsmen?" he thought, horrified.

Do miners in Noxus wear gloves that can crush stone with a single punch?

In that moment, Silco realized just how far behind Zaun truly was.

The gap between their city and an Empire like Noxus felt insurmountable—a chasm of power and innovation.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Silco forced a smile and turned to Ryan.

"This housekeeper—what's your name? We'll need to cooperate more closely in the future. If you need my help, just ask."

"Wes. You can call me Mr. Butler," Wes replied calmly, his tone professional.

"Mr. Butler," Silco said, his smile remaining polite yet strained,

"I'll have to trouble you to assist Sevika with her mechanical arm."

Nearby, Sevika nodded stiffly, her expression unusually cautious. She glanced at the mechanical claw with wariness, clearly unwilling to end up cut in half like the iron pole.

Viktor observed the scene silently, a strange discomfort settling in his chest. What is this?

In less than an hour, he'd gone from being a humble research assistant to someone who now commanded Zaun's respect—thanks to Noxus and Ryan's intervention. The weight of this shift was not lost on him.

Zaun and Piltover weren't massive cities; he'd crossed paths with Silco and Sevika before.

Back then, he was just another insignificant scientist while they had loomed large as powerful underworld figures.

Now, watching the two of them show him this level of respect, Viktor couldn't help but feel his perspective shift.

He glanced back at Ryan, his eyes filled with gratitude. Before he could say anything, Ryan waved a hand dismissively, smiling.

"Noxus doesn't look down on Zaun—we believe in a win-win partnership."

Silco's face lit up with what appeared to be relief. "Understood! Sir, I'll show you Zaun's sincerity tonight."

"Your will... and win-win?"

Viktor met Ryan's gaze, as though understanding something unspoken, and gave a slight bow of acknowledgment.

As Ryan's words faded, the runes began to rise from his body once again. In an instant, Katarina dissolved into shimmering light and vanished.

"Sevika, you know what to do," Silco muttered, his tone firm as Ryan left.

Without further words, Silco gestured for Viktor to follow him, intending to guide him to a temporary residence.

"Ms. Sevika..."

Viktor's voice broke the silence, stopping the dark-skinned woman as she prepared to climb through the window.

"Allow me to repair your mechanical arm first. If you're to face the strength of Piltover, you'll need to be in optimal condition."

"You're the boss," Sevika replied with a sharp grin.

She hoisted her damaged robotic arm effortlessly with one hand and fell into step behind Viktor and Silco.

"Mr. Butler, what materials do you need?" Silco asked as they walked.

"Roughly a hundred kilograms of iron ore, though Piltover-grade steel would be preferable. Her current design lacks finesse," Viktor replied, his tone analytical.

"Additionally, shimmering potion reservoirs could be built inside the arm instead of relying on injections during combat. It would streamline efficiency."

Viktor listed several pieces of forging equipment typically found in Piltover workshops.

"We have all of that," Silco said confidently.

"I'll get you Piltover-grade steel immediately. How long will it take? I need to show His Excellency my sincerity tonight."

Silco led Viktor into a surprisingly tidy room and immediately barked orders for Sevika to gather the necessary materials.

"An hour will suffice," Viktor replied, his voice steady as he turned to face Silco.

His thin, frail frame leaned on a cane for support, yet there was a quiet authority in his posture.

"But before I begin, there's something else I'd like to discuss."

Silco raised an eyebrow but gestured to two wooden stools. He picked one up for Viktor, setting it down gently before taking the other for himself.

"I think it's time we got to know each other better..," Viktor said calmly, sitting down.

Silco smiled thinly, his calculating demeanor returning.

"I imagine His Excellency has further instructions. If there's anything you need, Zaun is at your disposal. My influence here is... considerable."

"You'll learn soon enough," Viktor replied, his expression serious.

"But before that, I want to understand something."

He fixed Silco with an unwavering gaze.

"What do you see for the future of Piltover and Zaun? I've read of your actions—how you overthrew Vander under the banner of revitalizing Zaun. And yet, these past years, you've done little but consolidate power. In the end, you've become another Vander—holding Zaun back while its people suffer."

Silco's expression darkened. "Holding Zaun back? I've never done that," he said, his voice low and sharp.

"Others can slander me all they like, but don't compare me to Vander. I want to revive Zaun more than he ever did."

Viktor remained unmoved. "At least Vander took action. Ten years ago, he led the charge to the border bridge. What have you done since?"

Silco's calm veneer cracked slightly, his voice rising with frustration.

"Charge the bridge, storm Piltover, and force them to listen! That was Vander's goal. But he stopped at the brink. The man had blood on his hands but chose to be weak when it mattered most. If he had pushed forward—if we had broken through—Zaun would not be where it is today."

Viktor fell silent, his mind drifting back to that time. He had been a student of Heimerdinger's when Vander's rebellion occurred.

Back then, the professor had preached that violence could solve nothing. Viktor had agreed, believing the words of his mentor.

But Heimerdinger had also said something else.

"Any threat to Piltover's peace must be eliminated."

Shortly after, Viktor had learned that during the bridge incident, three members of Piltover's council had agreed to negotiate with Zaun. Success had been within reach. Vander had chosen to retreat, and that decision had shaped Zaun's fate.

"At the time," Viktor said finally, his voice measured, "three members of the council were open to negotiations. If you had continued fighting, Zaun might have succeeded."

Silco let out a bitter laugh. "Exactly! And what did Vander do? He let Piltover's politicians whisper sweet lies in his ear. He believed them—trusted them—and so he crawled back to his tavern to rot away as a weak, broken man."

He took a slow breath, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

"So, I killed Vander," Silco said coldly.

"I took his place to finish what he wouldn't. I will fight for Zaun's independence, no matter the cost."

"But you haven't," Viktor said, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

Silco's expression flickered, but he said nothing.

Viktor studied him closely. The truth of Zaun's recent years was becoming clearer to him—revealing cracks he had never seen before.

Until now, Viktor's understanding of Zaun had been distant and idealistic. He'd believed in technological progress and innovation as the key to improving lives.

But here, face to face with Silco, Viktor saw the reality: power, desperation, and betrayal.

He adjusted his cane and met Silco's gaze once more.

"This is not about Piltover's superiority or Zaun's weakness. It's about vision," Viktor said softly.

"What future do you truly see for this city, Silco? Is it violence and ruin, or something better?"

Silco's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

In the quiet that followed, Viktor felt the weight of his hometown's struggles more acutely than ever before. Empty words about progress could no longer be enough.

And for the first time in years, Viktor realized that Zaun's future—its survival—was far more fragile than he had ever understood.