Vander had originally assumed the young inventor who'd created the magical crystal technology had developed it independently through pure genius. But now he understood the truth—Jayce had designed it based on witnessing actual magic.
The term "magic" carried legendary weight in the twin cities. Nobody here possessed magical power. In fact, one major reason their ancestors had settled this location was specifically to avoid disasters brought by magic's destructive potential.
And now someone had apparently brought magic here through an indirect method—crystallized and harnessed. The realization made Vander smell approaching danger.
"We need to remain vigilant," Vander said gravely. "We haven't personally experienced magic's devastation, but we absolutely must guard against it."
He refused to fall into despair again just when they were finally glimpsing the dawn of independence.
"Agreed. Though the person Jayce encountered should be the wandering wizard Marcus is searching for," Benzo nodded thoughtfully.
The information Benzo could collect remained limited to areas near the twin cities. After all, time was extremely tight. Without long-distance communication infrastructure, gathering intelligence naturally required substantial time investment.
"I'll inform Marcus immediately," Vander declared. "But we must accelerate information collection about this mage. Our entire future depends on finding him."
After speaking, Vander turned to leave. Beyond Benzo, he needed to recruit additional people.
Having individuals who mastered the technology wasn't sufficient—they also needed workers to implement it practically. Fortunately, the undercity's most abundant resource was labor.
After all, the most subsistence-level employment undercity residents could find involved hard manual labor—carrying cargo for Piltover merchants at docks and airship ports for meager wages.
Instead of selling their labor for those pathetic salaries, they'd be better off working with Vander. He would lead everyone toward genuine prosperity.
Several Days Later – Silco's Factory
Marcus had begun teaching everyone in a building Silco provided specifically for this purpose.
Before him stood not only Vi and the others, but also people Silco had recruited—the pharmacist Singed and Viktor, who'd been convinced to return from Piltover.
Powder and Ekko remained quite young. Though both possessed remarkable talent, they couldn't contribute meaningfully yet. Most of their time was spent learning fundamentals from the mechanical hound Marcus had created.
Vi and her friends had minimal interest in the technical instruction. They attended primarily because Marcus continuously increased gravitational pressure on them during lessons, forcing their bodies to strengthen under high resistance training.
Marcus's real focus was on Singed, who constantly asked about potion configuration, and Viktor, who demonstrated extraordinary intuition regarding technology.
"Your formula has numerous problems," Marcus observed, examining Singed's Shimmer sample critically. "While accepting costs for gaining power makes sense philosophically, your current potion's side effects are genuinely excessive. The dependency it creates is also dangerously severe."
Marcus analyzed the Shimmer that Singed had brought during his first visit, having asked Will to run comprehensive tests. The potion's enhancement effects were impressive, but the damage inflicted on users' bodies was catastrophic.
Shimmer could temporarily transform users into violent warriors with dramatically enhanced strength. But the formula's problems were fundamental—users lost self-control after administration, and the substance proved highly addictive.
"I understand completely," Singed acknowledged with a slight nod. "These are precisely the issues I'm attempting to resolve. However, this represents my research's best achievement so far."
Singed recognized Shimmer's flaws intimately. But he'd found no superior solution despite extensive experimentation. The current formula represented the optimal ratio he'd achieved after countless trials.
"Then why not separate the potion's functions?" Marcus suggested. "Since comprehensive enhancement Shimmer proves uncontrollable, why not divide capabilities into multiple potions with distinct purposes?"
As he spoke, Marcus also wrote out a formula for an antidote and handed it to Singed.
"This counteragent is specifically configured to neutralize your Shimmer formula. You can use this as reference to separate the comprehensive potion into specialized functional variants."
After addressing Singed's concerns, Marcus turned to Viktor, who was thoroughly absorbed in reading technical manuals.
"Well? Are you satisfied with these materials?"
"Satisfied? Extremely satisfied!" Viktor's excitement was palpable. "These texts are extraordinary—even the Academy doesn't possess this knowledge."
Viktor had been somewhat unhappy when Silco initially brought him back from Piltover. But now he felt the decision had been genuinely worthwhile.
He'd gone to Piltover seeking recognition, wanting to prove himself by studying as an assistant instructor at the Academy. But this? This represented a far better opportunity. Simply mastering the contents of these books would enable him to create mechanical innovations surpassing anything Piltover currently possessed.
"Haha, naturally the Academy doesn't have these," Marcus laughed. "Your civilization's technology has barely begun developing. You're still in the earliest stages."
Seeing Viktor's shining eyes, Marcus couldn't help but feel amused.
As expected of the future Machine Herald—someone who would eventually transform his own body into mechanical components. His passion for machinery was absolutely genuine.
However, even in the future, Viktor's mechanical research would contain fundamental flaws. The most critical was emotional loss. Though removing emotions increased rational thinking capacity, Marcus viewed that transformation as creating an actual machine—just one that happened to possess human-level cognition.
Viktor's motivation for self-mechanization stemmed largely from physical limitations. His deteriorating body couldn't support his research ambitions, so to survive and continue working, he'd begun replacing biological components with mechanical ones until almost nothing organic remained.
"Is there anything in these books you don't understand?" Marcus asked.
"Yes! Many sections are extremely advanced," Viktor admitted without hesitation. "I can't comprehend the underlying principles fully. I can only make educated guesses based on concepts I've already mastered."
Viktor didn't shy away from acknowledging knowledge gaps like Piltover Academy students typically did. He understood perfectly what transformative changes this technology could enable—he intended to seize this opportunity completely.
"Everything in those books represents fundamentals," Marcus explained with an encouraging smile. "You'll understand through practical application. Try building something and the concepts will clarify."
After offering that guidance, Marcus withdrew a mechanical device he'd just finished crafting—something only Rubik's Cube-sized.
"The most important core concept in those manuals is this energy provision system."
While speaking, Marcus opened the device. Inside was a crystal secured by various precisely-fitted mechanical components. The crystal emanated a gentle glow that felt warm and welcoming.
"Can something this small genuinely provide meaningful energy?" Viktor questioned skeptically.
The device was absurdly compact, and Marcus had used those inferior-quality crystals everyone complained about. Could such a thing actually deliver the power Marcus claimed?
Marcus wasn't offended by Viktor's doubt—quite the opposite, he felt pleased.
"Excellent question. But this is merely a prototype. The actual energy supply installation hasn't been constructed yet."
The clarification stunned Viktor. He'd heard Marcus's word choice very clearly—not "manufactured" but "constructed." That suggested something on an architectural scale.
He could probably imagine how enormous the full-scale version must be if this Rubik's Cube-sized model required the term "construction."
"Let's set that aside for now," Marcus continued. "You'll be involved in that project soon enough. For now, I'll explain this device's functions to both of you."
Marcus began explaining the prototype's operation to both students. Though just a model, it could genuinely supply energy—albeit quite limited amounts.
While explaining, he quickly assembled a simple sound generator. The moment it connected to the energy device, a basic melody began playing through a speaker.
"See? This device activates using sunlight. Once activated, it forms an energy field that both replenishes power to maintain its own operation and releases energy throughout a certain radius."
Though the demonstration was simple, both observers recognized a completely different technological paradigm from anything they'd previously studied. The principles Marcus was showing bore no resemblance to conventional Piltover engineering.
Suddenly, Viktor looked at Marcus as if struck by inspiration.
"Can I attempt something?"
He wanted to test whether Marcus's crystal technology was superior to what Jayce had been researching.
Yes, Viktor had read Jayce's notes and helped the inventor avoid arrest after his illegal experiments. But because of Viktor's undercity origins, nobody had acknowledged his contributions. Additionally, after Marcus's confrontation with Piltover, Viktor's life in the upper city had become substantially harder. Even Jayce and Dean Heimerdinger couldn't provide meaningful assistance.
That was one reason why Silco had successfully recruited him. Viktor's freedom had been severely restricted in Piltover. Aside from Heimerdinger's office, he encountered hostile stares wherever he went—expressions mixing disgust with morbid curiosity.
Though he'd long grown accustomed to such treatment, after returning from Piltover in defeat, his identity had become a liability. If not for Heimerdinger's protection, Piltover citizens would have forcibly expelled him back to the undercity.
Now, though Silco had brought him back, Viktor had discovered an entirely new field he'd never explored. Perhaps he could use this technology to compete with Jayce directly.
He eagerly anticipated Jayce's expression when he stood before his rival wielding this superior technology.
Thinking about that moment, Viktor's hands moved faster. He utilized various components available in the workshop and quickly assembled a finger-mounted device.
As the attachment connected to the energy supply prototype, a light blue beam erupted and illuminated whatever he pointed toward.
The beam sustained for several seconds before Viktor deactivated the finger device. At the point he'd aimed, a faint red glow appeared—the color metal took after prolonged heating.
"The output power is impressive," Marcus observed. "Though you could improve these connection points for better efficiency."
Viktor creating a beam weapon didn't surprise Marcus at all. After all, this young man with his cane genuinely possessed talent far exceeding ordinary engineers.
Following Marcus's guidance, Viktor began modifying the finger device's problematic elements. He understood his fundamental concept was sound—this was precisely how energy devices should be utilized.
"What do you plan to do with this design you've created?" Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow while watching Viktor work intently.
"I hope what I design can benefit undercity people," Viktor replied with passionate conviction. "Make the undercity as prosperous as Piltover, instead of perpetually filled with smog, toxic gas, and wastewater like currently."
This had always been Viktor's vision. He wanted to become healthy himself while making undercity residents live rich, fulfilling lives like Piltover citizens enjoyed.
He'd spent considerable time in Piltover without meaningful progress. Until Jayce's appearance had shown him hope, and Marcus's arrival had opened an entirely new door.
"Change people's living conditions?" Marcus looked at the finger device Viktor wore, then laughed knowingly.
Viktor might genuinely believe that motivation, but the equipment he'd created was unmistakably powerful. If Viktor chose, his devices could easily transform into weapons against enemies. Simply increasing the beam's power output would let it penetrate most metals in this region.
"Keep working. You'll see that day arrive," Marcus encouraged.
He returned to crafting new crystal weapons. Not long ago, Silco and Vander had delivered another crystal shipment. The quantity was modest, but purity was substantially higher. Both had requested Marcus manufacture a weapon batch for them.
They'd each found their own paths forward. Vander, who yearned for peace, planned to transform the undercity's entire atmosphere before Khaydarin Crystal Tower construction—preparing everyone psychologically for new lives.
Silco's plan was simpler and more direct. He intended using Marcus's weapons to establish a caravan that would continuously transport supplies to the undercity.
All these initiatives required Marcus's weapons as foundation. Only by obtaining his equipment would they possess sufficient power to implement their respective visions.
Marcus taught everyone daily, occasionally providing guidance to Singed regarding his potion interests, until one particular day...
"Excellent news! Silco's crystal shipment has returned!"
Marcus, who'd been teaching Viktor about assembly line engineering's importance, stopped mid-explanation. Silco had been working frantically for weeks—had he finally brought back the crystals?
"Let's go see," Marcus said, turning toward the exit.
Outside was absolute chaos. Nearly every undercity resident had gathered around a factory building. The structure overflowed with crystals Silco had just transported back.
After leading everyone through the crowd, Marcus approached Silco directly. He was genuinely curious where Silco had obtained such quantities. The money from Shimmer sales absolutely couldn't have funded this volume.
"Let me inspect the quality."
Silco stepped aside, allowing Marcus to examine the crystal collection. When Marcus opened the first sack, his eye twitched involuntarily.
"Tell me truthfully—where did these crystals come from? Even if you sold the entire undercity, you couldn't afford this quality and quantity."
Hearing Marcus's assessment, Silco smiled and gestured toward guards holding energy weapons.
"We located a crystal vein in Shurima. It was originally controlled by sand bandit groups."
Understanding dawned on Marcus's face. He nodded with satisfaction.
The Crystal Tower could finally be constructed.