"Hmm, I didn't expect the Eye of God to have such strong adaptive capabilities!"
Duke studied the surgical footage Wally had transmitted to Edith, his gaze thoughtful. The initial steps had been executed perfectly, no surprise, considering how many lab animals this fellow had "experimented" on over the past five days.
But in the final stage, the adaptive potential the Eye of God displayed left Duke astonished.
"Looks like I'll need to do a lot more research on this eye."
Signaling Edith to shut off the projection, Duke rubbed his left eye and picked up a nearby mirror. The left eye staring back at him was completely different from the right, yet it had automatically morphed to mimic the appearance of an ordinary human eye.
"This way, no one will notice."
Satisfied, he set the mirror down, got out of bed, and changed his clothes, ready to head out for a stroll.
Ever since returning to Piltover, he hadn't once stepped out of his workshop.
There were still places he needed to visit, like Corinne's workshop, to check on Orianna and her father. As for Neeko, Duke had left her back in Ixtal.
That little girl had been lost in confusion ever since her ancestor's cryptic hints. Duke had tried to comfort her, but it hadn't helped much.
Since persuasion was useless, it seemed better to let her spend some time away on her own. She'd come back when she sorted things out.
He had left her with a communicator, making it easy to keep in touch.
Once dressed, Duke stepped out of the workshop and crooked his "three-three-seven" fingers at Gluttony, who was still busy devouring construction rubble.
"Gluttony, come out with me. Stop eating for once."
"Coming, Father."
Stuffing the last few bricks into its mouth, Gluttony slid forward, then abruptly disassembled into particles midair before reconfiguring into a sports car.
Duke got in, and Pride morphed into a motorcycle to follow as escort.
The roar of engines echoed across Blue Lavender Manor. In the pavilion at the center of the flower fields, Camille glanced toward the red-and-black sports car speeding off.
"So he's finally willing to step out. I thought I'd have to wait until we set off for Demacia before he'd move."
"That new Gluttony of his does make for a fine waste processor," remarked Dakal.
Camille shot her a cold look. "Never underestimate any of his inventions. You see Gluttony as a garbage disposal. I see it as a machine capable of erasing a nation from the map."
Her gaze lingered on the sports car leaving the manor, her tone heavy.
"A terrifying mechanical creation."
Not far away, Zyra was entirely absorbed in tending to the lavender garden.
On the wide streets, the engine's growl drew stares from every passerby. Arms folded, Duke let Gluttony drive itself.
Colorful pennants lined both sides of the street, signs that another large-scale event was approaching.
Stopping at an intersection to yield to pedestrians, Duke suddenly caught a familiar voice.
"Sky, just let me explain!"
Viktor, now walking without a cane, followed alongside Sky, brow furrowed. "I really didn't mean it. It's just… my research reached a critical point, and I couldn't afford any distractions."
"I know your research is important, Viktor. But you promised to meet my parents with me!"
Sky halted, her eyes clouded with disappointment.
"Do you know what happened? My whole family sat waiting at the dinner table for three hours. We didn't see you all night."
"I can understand you, but my parents can't."
"Just give me another chance, please?"
Viktor reached for her hand. Sky hesitated, her heart softening, but the thought of how he ignored everything else for his work steeled her resolve.
"Sorry, Viktor. Let's take some time apart. When you've sorted out your priorities, then come find me."
She pulled her hand free, adjusted her glasses, and walked off quickly, leaving Viktor standing alone, staring blankly at her retreating figure.
"I think you should run after her."
Viktor jumped at the sudden voice. Turning, he spotted Duke in the red-and-black sports car parked at the curb.
"You're back," Viktor said with a wry smile.
"Been back almost a month. But you know how we are, when it comes to research, the rest of the world ceases to exist."
Duke shrugged, glancing toward Sky, who hadn't gone far.
"Buddy, chase her now and you can still fix this."
"She's disappointed in me."
Viktor rubbed his face. Duke leaned on the window frame, coaxing, "Trust me, run up to her, pull her into your arms, and give her a deep, passionate kiss. Works better than anything."
"Forget it. I'm not as reckless as you." Viktor shook his head, then eyed Duke's car. When he spotted Pride's motorcycle behind it, he stepped closer for a better look.
The car Duke sat in looked nothing like Piltover's current designs. The vehicles on Piltover's streets weren't even fit to polish its wheels.
"Is this your new…?" Viktor began, puzzled.
"My newest creation, Gluttony," Duke replied proudly, patting the car door.
"It's gorgeous. My own work isn't even fit to be called scrap compared to this."
Viktor ran his hand along the door, eyes dimming. Duke noticed and encouraged him.
"Don't sell yourself short. Don't forget, it was the three of us who built the Hexgate together. And you're the one overseeing its operation here in Piltover."
"Don't comfort me. I know my limits."
"What's its power source? Hex crystals?" Viktor asked.
"That's part of it. But I've integrated steam tech and biotech as well."
"You mean… you've merged biological and mechanical systems?"
"Something like that."
"Incredible."
"Want to take a ride?"
Duke tapped the steering wheel, and Gluttony opened the passenger-side door.
"While you're at it, show me what's kept you so busy you forgot your girlfriend."
"Perfect. I've been wanting you to see my design."
Viktor climbed into the passenger seat. Duke patted the dashboard. "Academy District."
"Yes, Father," Gluttony's voice echoed inside the cabin. Viktor felt its gaze on him.
"Hello, sir."
"Uh… hello."
Viktor, a little stiff, greeted it back. Gluttony studied him curiously.
"You look like you'd taste rather good."
"Uh…" Viktor looked at Duke, baffled. "Is that a joke or some kind of slang?"
"Don't mind her, she's a glutton. Wants to taste everything she sees."
"You mean… she can actually eat?"
"More or less. Gluttony converts whatever she consumes into fuel and power, making herself stronger."
"How is that even possible?"
Viktor was too intrigued to notice the scenery speeding by.
"Unbelievable."
"Just some steam tech," Duke said with a shrug. He didn't elaborate, Viktor wouldn't understand. The Trisphere was technically steam technology, but of an extremely advanced kind. Even Duke couldn't fully replicate it.
Because the Trisphere… seemed alive.
Moments later, Gluttony rolled to a stop in the Academy District. Duke and Viktor got out. Gluttony almost shifted into combat mode, but seeing her "big brother" unmoved, she stayed parked outside the lab building.
"Come on, let me show you my work."
Viktor hurried Duke into his laboratory. The moment Duke stepped inside, his attention was caught by a rotund figure in the room.
A hulking brass body covered in rivets, its small head fitted with a crystal lens drooping lifelessly, its arms and legs hanging limp.
Its chest plating was open, revealing an interior lined with runes and set with a Hex crystal mount.
"You're working on artificial mechanical life?"
Looking at the machine, Duke immediately recalled a certain champion, and realized Viktor really had been the one to create it.
The steam golem: Blitzcrank.
"Yes. But this is only a prototype. There are still many problems I haven't solved."
Viktor handed Duke a sheaf of sketches. As Duke scanned the formulas and schematics, surprise flickered in his eyes. Viktor was attempting to create a truly sentient machine with his own hands.
Duke's creations, Pride, Wally, Gluttony, had only been possible because of his magical talent. He could make real artificial intelligence if he wanted, but with magic at his disposal, why labor over a purely mechanical mind?
"Not bad," Duke said. "Using the power of Hex crystals to carve a new path to consciousness… clever choice of rune combinations, and the design's interesting too."
"But I can't get it to develop an independent mind," Viktor admitted, frowning at the unfinished golem.
"Hmm…" Duke set the sketches aside. "Have you heard of primal Hex crystals?"
"What's that?"
"It's complicated, but think of them as the prototype of the Hex crystal, naturally occurring magic crystals of extremely high potency."
"You mean the Hex crystals Jayce invented already existed long ago?"
"I only confirmed it recently. Jayce himself said he found shards rich in magic power, which he used to make the Hex crystals."
"I see…" Viktor's eyes lit with thought as Duke pressed the sketches back into his hands.
"Why not try using a primal Hex crystal?"
"Where would I find one?"
"From what I've read, probably in Shurima."
Camille's ancestor had indeed discovered primal Hex crystals there, and stolen the home of a certain scorpion in the process. But she'd only brought back two pieces: one became Camille's heart, the other now rested inside Pride.
Duke had asked Camille if more could be found. She'd said the valley where they'd been discovered had collapsed and been buried. The Ferros family's later expeditions to Shurima had found only a few clues.
Finding more would take time and careful searching.
"Shurima, huh?" Viktor's gaze returned to Blitzcrank's prototype.
"With a primal crystal… could I really succeed?"
"Probably." Duke's answer was deliberately vague. In the official history, Blitzcrank had indeed been brought to life with a primal crystal, but who knew how things would unfold in this timeline?
He was only telling Viktor what he knew. The rest would be Viktor's choice.
"Oh, right, you've heard about the Distinguished Innovators' Competition coming up, haven't you?"
Viktor mentioned something Duke already knew. In Piltover's storylines, it had even come up in conversations between Viktor and Jayce.
It was an annual event, like Progress Day, held only at year's end.
"So that's why the streets are full of banners," Duke mused, stroking his chin. Each year's competition had a theme.
"What's this year's theme?"
"Racing."
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters
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