The air hummed with barely contained energy as Victor made the final adjustment to the crystalline structure before him. His hands trembled—not from exhaustion, though he'd barely slept in days, but from the sheer magnitude of what they were about to accomplish.
Buzz~
The sound resonated through the cavernous workshop as Victor's cane connected with the crystal matrix. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, like a star igniting in the darkness, the foundation of the crystal tower flared to life. Countless points of light began converging toward the center of the foundation, swirling in patterns that seemed almost alive.
"Come back and prepare for the next stage!" Marcus called out, his voice carrying easily over the growing hum of energy. He stood at the edge of the foundation, arms crossed, watching the light show with the calm satisfaction of someone who'd seen this miracle before. "We're halfway there."
Victor pulled himself away from the mesmerizing display, his mechanical leg clicking against the stone floor as he retreated to safer ground. The young inventor's mind was already racing ahead to the next phase. The foundation was complete—the heart that would continuously draw in ambient energy from the environment. Now they needed to install the Kalinda Crystal Tower itself, which would take that gathered power and project it outward, creating the energy field that would transform the Undercity forever.
It was an elegant system, really. The foundation gathered, the tower released. One inhaled, the other exhaled. Perfect balance, like a living organism breathing in harmony with itself.
"First, we need to transport the crystal tower core to the foundation," Marcus said, turning toward the other side of the workshop. "Then we can start testing."
Victor followed his gaze to where the core sat waiting. After weeks of construction on the massive foundation, the actual tower looked almost comically small by comparison—barely three meters tall, constructed from layer upon layer of carefully calibrated crystals. It reminded Victor of the difference between a seed and the tree it would become.
"The coverage area depends entirely on the size of the Kalinda Crystal Tower," Marcus explained, more for the benefit of the gathered workers than for Victor, who'd heard this lecture a dozen times already. "Bigger core, bigger field. This little guy will only cover about two blocks, but that's perfect for our test run. If something goes wrong, we won't take down half the Undercity with it."
The casual way Marcus mentioned potential catastrophic failure made several workers exchange nervous glances. Victor couldn't help but smile. He'd gotten used to Marcus's matter-of-fact approach to world-changing technology.
Under Marcus's direction, a team of workers carefully lifted the crystal core using a series of pulleys and supports. The core itself wasn't particularly heavy—the crystals were surprisingly light—but one wrong move, one crack in the structure, and weeks of work would be wasted. Everyone held their breath as the core was slowly transported across the workshop floor toward the glowing foundation.
The journey felt like it took hours, though it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. Finally, the core was positioned directly above the foundation's center point, suspended on cables that would be released once the connection was established.
"Activate the crystal core, Victor."
Victor stepped forward, his heart hammering in his chest. This was it. The moment that would either prove their theories or send them back to the drawing board. He raised his cane, channeling energy through the device Marcus had helped him modify, and pointed it at the dormant crystal core.
A light blue beam shot from the bottom of the cane, striking the crystal core dead center. For a fraction of a second, nothing happened. Then the entire core lit up like a beacon, internal structures suddenly visible as energy cascaded through its crystalline lattice. A answering beam of light drifted downward from the bottom of the core, reaching out like a tentacle toward the foundation below.
The moment the two energies touched, something extraordinary happened.
The crystal core began to rise, the cables going slack as some invisible force pulled it upward. It floated there, suspended in the air above the foundation, slowly rotating as streams of energy flowed between the two structures. The sight was so beautiful, so impossibly elegant, that for a moment everyone in the workshop simply stared in silence.
This was it. This was the beginning.
The beginning of change for the Undercity. The beginning of a future where the people below didn't have to scrape and struggle for every scrap of progress. Where children like Powder and the others didn't have to breathe poisoned air and drink contaminated water. Where people like Victor didn't have to watch their bodies slowly fail because they couldn't afford proper medical care.
This was the beginning of hope.
Under the collective gaze of everyone present, the crystal core settled into its final position, hovering at the perfect distance from the foundation. Then, like a dam breaking, the energy stored in the foundation erupted outward. It poured into the small crystal tower in a torrent of light and power. The core absorbed it all, processed it, and then—
Huh~
A hemisphere of translucent blue energy burst outward from the crystal tower, expanding in all directions like a ripple on the surface of a pond. It passed through walls, through people, through everything in its path. And as it washed over the assembled crowd, everyone felt it.
The air changed. The oppressive weight that always pressed down on the Undercity—the toxic smog, the industrial runoff, the accumulated misery of generations—suddenly lifted. It didn't disappear entirely, but it lessened. The air tasted cleaner. Breathing became easier. Even the dim workshop seemed somehow brighter.
"We... we did it?" Victor whispered, his voice barely audible. He stared at the Kalinda crystal suspended in the air, watching light pulse through it in steady, rhythmic waves. "This is real?"
His hands were shaking again, but this time it had nothing to do with his illness. He'd done it. He'd actually done it. Built something that would change the world. Not with Jayce and his golden reputation and easy access to Piltover's resources—but here, in the depths of the Undercity, with scraps and determination and people who believed in a better future.
"Yes, the Kalinda crystal tower is complete," Marcus confirmed, though his tone carried a note of amused criticism. "But it's barely a tower at all right now. You'll need to keep adding crystals, expanding the core, until it's large enough to cover the entire Undercity. What you've built here is more like... a crystal shrub."
Victor barely heard the joke. He was still processing what they'd accomplished. The crystal towers Marcus had described from his own world were massive structures dozens of meters tall, capable of powering entire cities of advanced civilization. This tiny thing was barely a proof of concept by comparison. But it worked. It worked.
"Let's test its capabilities," Marcus said with a slight grin. He pulled out what looked like a standard energy weapon—one of the ones Victor had seen him use before. But this one was different. It had no crystal energy cell installed, no visible power source at all. Yet when Marcus held it up, Victor could see the weapon's energy indicator glowing softly.
"The Kalinda crystal tower is our energy center," Marcus explained, noticing Victor's expression. "Within its field, it provides constant power to all crystal-based technology. No charging, no energy cells, no limitations. As long as you're in range, you have unlimited power."
Victor looked down at his own cane, then at the crude machinery scattered around the workshop. These heavy, inefficient tools had been essential for building the foundation and the crystal core. Conventional power sources, mechanical advantage, simple leverage—the technological level of the Undercity working at its absolute limit to create something beyond its grasp.
"I understand," Victor said quietly. His mind was already spinning with possibilities. "Give me some time. I'll show you what we can really do."
For years, he'd been designing devices that used crystal energy—filling notebooks with schematics and calculations and theories. But without a practical way to test them, without access to sufficient power sources, those designs had remained nothing but dreams on paper. Now, finally, he could bring them to life.
"Take all the time you need," Marcus said. His tone softened slightly, becoming almost gentle. "When things here are stabilized, I can help you with your body. The damage from your illness, the deterioration—it can be reversed."
Victor's breath caught. He'd grown so used to the constant pain, the weakness, the knowledge that his body was slowly failing him, that he'd almost stopped thinking about it. Almost.
"And you too, Singed," Marcus continued, turning to the chemist who'd been standing quietly to the side, observing the proceedings. "The chemical scarring, the disfigurement—all of it can be restored."
"Thank you," Singed said simply. His voice was calm, almost emotionless, but Victor caught the brief flash of something in the chemist's eyes. Hope, maybe, or simply the recognition that someone had offered him a kindness he'd long ago stopped expecting.
The crystal tower had completed its initial construction. The foundation was active, the core was installed, and the energy field was operational. What remained was the relatively straightforward task of continuous expansion—adding more and more crystals to the core until it grew from this small prototype into a true Kalinda crystal tower capable of blanketing the entire Undercity in its protective field.
It was work that would take time and resources, but it wasn't technically complex. Which meant Marcus's direct oversight was no longer necessary.
"I'm leaving this in your hands," Marcus told Victor. "Vander and Silco's people are stationed all around this area. They'll provide security and whatever resources you need. And I'm sure those two will be showing up in person pretty regularly now that you've got this thing actually working."
Victor nodded. The implication was clear—this crystal tower was now the most valuable asset in the Undercity, and it would be protected accordingly.
With that settled, Marcus turned and headed back toward the training area he'd established. As he walked, he could hear the sounds of combat—the impact of fists on practice dummies, the scrape of boots on stone, the occasional grunt of effort. Vi and her friends were still at it, pushing themselves under the intense training regimen he'd designed for them.
The progress had been remarkable. In just these few weeks, all three of them had improved dramatically. Vi's fighting style had evolved from pure aggression into something more refined—she was learning to protect herself while attacking, to think tactically instead of just throwing herself at every problem with her fists. Mylo was developing his own approach, focusing on speed and precision. And Claggor, naturally the strongest of the three, was learning to use that strength more effectively.
Even without the enhanced weapons Marcus had provided, they could each take on multiple opponents now. With the weapons they were genuinely formidable. Not quite ready for prime time yet, but getting there.
Of course, once the weapon authority was revoked and they had to rely on standard equipment instead of Marcus's custom gear, they'd probably struggle a bit. But that was part of the learning process. Understanding how to fight with anything, not just the best tools available.
As Marcus approached the training area, he spotted Powder and Ekko sitting at a small table off to the side, supposedly studying from the books he'd assigned them. But both kids kept sneaking glances at the ongoing sparring session, clearly more interested in the action than in whatever theoretical knowledge the books contained.
They didn't notice Marcus approaching until he was right behind them. Then they both jumped slightly and quickly ducked their heads back toward their books, making an exaggerated show of intense concentration.
"Don't pretend," Marcus said with a chuckle. "If you want to go play, just go play."
Learning was important—the technical knowledge in those books would serve them well in the future. But cramming information into unwilling students never worked. They needed breaks, needed time to process what they'd learned, needed to actually be kids sometimes instead of always pushing toward some distant goal.
"Really?!" both kids shouted in unison, their faces lighting up. Without waiting for confirmation, they leaped off their stools and sprinted toward where Vi and the others were training, already arguing about who got to spar with who first.
Marcus shook his head, smiling. Kids.
Meanwhile, across the Undercity, Vander and Silco were in the middle of yet another heated debate. The topic, as usual, was the future of the Undercity and how exactly they were going to transform it from a lawless collection of gangs and desperate survivors into an actual functioning society.
The two men had very different ideas about how to proceed, and neither was particularly inclined to compromise. Vander wanted gradual reform, working with the various faction leaders to bring them into a united coalition. Silco preferred a more direct approach—identify those who would cooperate, eliminate those who wouldn't, and impose order from the top down.
They'd been arguing in circles for the better part of an hour when one of Silco's people burst into the room.
"The crystal tower is active," the messenger reported breathlessly. "The energy field is working. Victor says you both need to see this."
Both men stopped mid-argument and stared at the messenger. Then they looked at each other. Whatever their disagreements about implementation, they were united in recognizing the fundamental importance of what Marcus had been building.
Without another word, they abandoned their debate and headed for the crystal tower site.
They arrived to find the workshop transformed. The energy field was visible as a faint blue shimmer in the air, and everyone within range moved with a new energy, a new sense of purpose. The oppressive atmosphere of the Undercity felt lighter here, almost breathable.
And there, in the center of it all, floated the crystal tower core. It was small—impossibly small for something so significant—but the steady pulse of light emanating from it was mesmerizing. This tiny thing was going to change everything.
"Is this the crystal tower?" Vander breathed, his gruff voice softened by awe. He stepped closer, drawn to the gentle light. "It's just the core, I know, but I can see it. I can actually see the future we've been fighting for."
Silco stood beside him, equally transfixed. For once, the cynical revolutionary looked almost at peace, his scarred face illuminated by the crystal's glow. "Incredible," he murmured.
"Gentlemen." Victor's voice cut through their reverie. The young inventor approached with his characteristic uneven gait, though he seemed to be moving more easily than usual. Was it the energy field? Or just the euphoria of success? "The Kalinda Crystal Tower is indeed operational. The next phase is continuous expansion of the core, but what we should focus on right now is practical application."
He gestured toward Marcus with his cane. "Marcus and I have already conducted preliminary tests. Within the energy field, crystal weapons operate at full capacity with no energy limitations whatsoever. We're literally surrounded by usable power."
Vander raised his right arm, focusing his will the way Marcus had taught him. The wrist gauntlet he wore hummed to life, and a brilliant blue energy blade erupted from the housing. The blade was sharp, stable, densely concentrated—nothing like the flickering, unstable prototype he'd used before. This was a weapon of war, precise and deadly.
"Damn," Vander whispered, staring at the blade. He'd thought the previous version was impressive, but now he understood what Marcus had meant when he'd called those early models "underwhelming." This was the real thing. This was what crystal technology could truly do.
"Try your cane, Silco," Vander suggested.
Silco frowned slightly—he didn't particularly enjoy taking orders from Vander—but curiosity won out over pride. He pressed the activation switch on his cane, channeling energy through the crystal matrix embedded in the shaft.
A blazing crimson beam erupted from the tip, punching into the ground and instantly superheating the stone. Where the beam touched, rock melted and ran like water, leaving a glowing crater.
"The power increase is substantial," Silco observed, his analytical mind already assessing combat applications. He'd known the enhanced crystals were superior, but seeing the difference in action was something else entirely.
"Gentlemen, I believe it's time we began the transformation of the Undercity in earnest," Victor said. His voice was steady, confident. "The Kalinda Crystal Tower will serve as the center of our new society. We'll develop around the energy field, building infrastructure and technology that Piltover can't even imagine. They'll never be able to suppress us again."
Both Vander and Silco turned to look at the young man. There was steel in his voice now, a determination that hadn't been there before. Building this tower had changed Victor—given him confidence, purpose, proof that his ideas could actually shape reality.
"We're already planning for it," Vander said carefully. "But you have to understand, it's not going to be simple. Silco and I might control the two largest factions in the Undercity, but there are dozens of smaller gangs, chem-barons, independent operators. They're not going to just fall in line because we tell them to."
"Then we force them," Silco said bluntly. "The transformation is necessary. Those who cooperate will prosper in the new order. Those who resist..." He shrugged. "They can serve the cause as test subjects for Singed's experiments."
Vander winced slightly at the brutal pragmatism, but he didn't argue. He'd been thinking along similar lines himself, even if he didn't like admitting it. There were people in the Undercity who would never willingly give up their little fiefdoms, who'd rather see everything burn than accept any authority but their own. Those people couldn't be reasoned with.
"Before you start your purge," Victor interjected, "there's something I want to show you."
He pulled out his notebook—the same one he'd been carrying for years, filled with designs and calculations. But now those designs had a new focus. He flipped it open to a series of detailed schematics and held it out for Vander and Silco to see.
"In terms of pure weapons, what Marcus has already provided will serve our needs adequately for now," Victor explained. "So I've been focusing my efforts on something else—enforcement equipment. If the Undercity is going to become a real society, we need real laws. And laws require enforcement."
He walked them through the designs, page by page. Body armor with integrated crystal matrices for energy shielding. Non-lethal stunning weapons that could incapacitate without killing. Tracking devices that could mark suspects within the energy field. Communications equipment that worked over longer ranges. Mobility gear that would let enforcers navigate the vertical terrain of the Undercity.
Every piece was designed to work in conjunction with the Kalinda crystal tower's energy field. Outside the field, the equipment would function at reduced capacity. Inside, it would be operating at peak efficiency—giving home field advantage to anyone enforcing the Undercity's new laws.
"I'm calling it the Enforcer Series," Victor concluded. "Purpose-built equipment for maintaining order and protecting the innocent. This is how we transition from gang rule to actual civilization."
The three men stood in silence for a moment, looking at the designs. The implications were staggering. With this kind of equipment, they could establish a legitimate police force. Not thugs loyal to whoever paid them, but actual law enforcement working to protect the community.
"How long would it take you to produce a complete set?" Vander asked, his mind already racing through logistics.
"For a full set, handcrafted? About a month," Victor admitted. "But Marcus has taught me about assembly line production—breaking the manufacturing process into specialized steps that can be performed simultaneously by multiple workers. Using that method, I can produce a complete set in half a day."
"Half a day?" Silco repeated, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Half a day," Victor confirmed. "Per set. Which means within a few weeks, we could have enough equipment for an entire enforcement division. Enough to lock down the Undercity and impose order by force if necessary."
Vander and Silco exchanged glances. This changed everything. They'd been planning for a slow, grinding campaign to unify the Undercity—years of negotiation and conflict. But with this technology, they could do it in months. Maybe weeks.
"You'll have whatever you need," Vander said firmly. "Materials, workers, space—anything. But we need that equipment as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more time the other factions have to organize against us."
"Agreed," Silco added. "The Enforcer Series equipment will be the foundation of the new order. Produce it, and we'll handle the rest."
Victor nodded, his expression serious. This was his moment—his chance to prove that he was every bit as capable as Jayce, that the Undercity could innovate just as well as Piltover. Better, even.
"I'll start immediately," he promised.
As Victor turned to leave, already mentally organizing the production process, Singed stepped forward. The scarred chemist had been watching the whole exchange with his usual unsettling smile.
"While Victor is preparing for the future of enforcement, perhaps you'd like to see what I've been working on?" Singed suggested. "After all, production takes time. But chemical solutions can be deployed immediately."
"The Shimmer formula?" Vander asked, his tone cautious. He'd heard stories about that drug—people who used it becoming violent, barely human. Strong, yes, but at a terrible cost.
"Not exactly," Singed replied. His smile widened slightly. "Shimmer research has been suspended, actually. But I've been deconstructing the formula, isolating specific components. Marcus has been... educational... in his critiques of my previous work. I've derived several new compounds from the base Shimmer research. I think you'll find them quite interesting."
There was something in Singed's tone that made both Vander and Silco slightly uneasy. But they followed him anyway, curious despite themselves. If Singed had found a way to make his chemicals less horrific while maintaining their effectiveness, that could be another tool for the transformation they were planning.