Inside Viktor's laboratory.
"To be honest, the design and concept are impressive, but I'm curious, what exactly was your purpose in creating him?"
After sending away Pride and Gluttony to stir up some trouble for Heimerdinger, Duke sat on the workbench, a cigar between his fingers, and said to Viktor, "When I created Pride and Gluttony, I had a fundamental reason and purpose."
"So what about you?"
"Me?"
Viktor froze for a moment at the question, then slowly shook his head. "Honestly, I never thought about it. I just had the idea, and I acted on it."
"That won't do."
Duke tapped the ashes from his cigar. "No matter what you do, you need a foundation, a starting point.
My purpose in creating Pride and Gluttony was simple: power."
He clenched his fist tightly. "Pure power!"
"That's the reason I made them. Sure, there's a bit of obsession mixed in, but it's all part of relentlessly pursuing my goal.
But you, Viktor, what about you?"
"I can see you want to achieve something remarkable, but what is it you truly desire?"
"I…"
"I know this sounds a bit like a lecture, but hear me out.
Having ideas is good, but you need a pursuit of your own."
"I do have my pursuit. For the sake of Zaun and Piltover's progress, to make both cities better."
When Viktor said this, a strange light flickered in his eyes.
"As someone born in the undercity, I've always felt like an outsider. But after meeting Jayce, and then meeting you, and taking part in the Hextech experiments… I felt different, no longer so insignificant.
I didn't have to remain a bystander anymore, didn't have to keep being the outsider.
Now I'm using real, tangible methods to inch closer to my dream."
As he spoke, it seemed to drain every ounce of strength from him.
"Honestly, I don't see it," Duke shrugged. "I really don't. What I see is someone who throws himself into research he likes just to find a sense of existence."
"I know those words sting, but I think you should reflect on that.
The Hextech gemstones and Hexgate projects are great, yes, they give Piltover opportunities for growth and bring change to the world. But at this stage, to be frank, they don't have much to do with you anymore.
Most of the responsibility is on me and Jayce. Well, mostly Jayce now. I'm just overseeing things to ensure the Hexgates roll out smoothly.
But you?
What are you chasing?
Do you really want to follow Jayce forever as his assistant, staying in the shadows while he shines under the spotlight?"
Duke hopped off the workbench and walked over to the Blitzcrank prototype, patting the massive frame.
"I don't think so.
You built this prototype. That proves you have your own pursuit, your own dream, your own… ambition!"
"People instinctively chase greatness, but along the way, they often lose themselves and forget their dreams.
You're a good man, Viktor," Duke said, tossing away his cigar. He clasped his hands behind his back, fixing Viktor with a serious gaze. "A pure man."
"I think you should pursue something of your own. This prototype could be a perfect starting point.
Whatever you want to do, you shouldn't lose sight of the dream you began with."
A smile touched Duke's face after he said this. "Alright, it's getting late.
I won't stay longer. Pride alone won't be able to handle that gluttonous fool, so I'd better check on them before they cause trouble."
"Mm."
Viktor nodded slightly, watching Duke leave. Once the lab doors closed, he turned his gaze to the prototype beside him. Duke's words echoed again and again in his mind.
"My pursuit… my dream…" Viktor murmured softly, raising a hand to touch the machine's shell. His thoughts drifted back to long ago.
Back when he had first arrived in Piltover, mocked and dismissed for his crippled body and lowly origins.
He had survived only by sheer will, by refusing to bow his head, by fighting for a future, for Zaun's future.
Step by step, he had clawed his way to where he stood now.
"Duke was right. I've lost my way.
I forgot why I came here in the first place, it was to make Zaun better!"
His eyes gleamed as he looked at the prototype. "Perhaps you…
You'll be the first true step I take toward my dream."
"I might have lectured him too much. Wonder what Viktor will make of it.
Still, that Blitzcrank prototype really is a fine design. Too bad without a Hextech core crystal, it'll be difficult to succeed with mere gemstones."
Duke strolled across the Academy grounds. Tracking down Pride and Gluttony was simple enough, he just had to follow the trail of crystal tiles left behind.
Gluttony, as always, was an eater through and through.
Even though Duke had created her himself, he sometimes felt the girl was just too greedy.
"Jayce Talis, I made my choice. I don't need you telling me what to do!"
"I came to you for help, not a sermon!"
A familiar voice rang in Duke's ears. His brows arched slightly. Though his steps had been heading forward, instinct drew him aside, following the source of the voice.
"Caitlyn, I'm only thinking of your safety. You know how grueling an enforcer's job is.
Your partner's already ended up like that, yet you still won't give it up?"
Jayce's voice pressed on. Duke reached the window where the sound came from and leaned against the frame, listening. The argument involved Vi.
"I came to you for help, but you're just like my mother, always trying to push me away from the work I love! What happened to Vi was nothing but an accident!"
"But it proves how dangerous the job is!
There are other ways to contribute to Piltover!"
"So you're telling me to just abandon Vi? To let her die?"
Caitlyn trembled with anger. Jayce looked conflicted, arms folded, one hand covering his mouth as he frowned deeply.
"Ahem."
Duke coughed softly, drawing both their attention.
"Did you two forget this is the Academy? Public place. If you argue too loudly, you'll draw a crowd, and that won't look good."
"Duke!" Caitlyn's eyes lit up in surprise. "Perfect timing!"
"Duke, you're back?"
"I've been back for a while, just chose today to show my face."
Swinging himself casually through the window, Duke perched on the frame and looked at Caitlyn. "From what I hear… something happened to Vi?"
"Vi was ambushed while patrolling the undercity."
"That wasn't patrol duty, it was personal business!" Jayce interjected, only to earn Caitlyn's sharp glare.
"I know the truth better than you. Save your lectures."
"Alright, tell me the details," Duke raised a hand to silence Jayce and nodded for Caitlyn to continue.
By his judgment, with the prototype gauntlets he had crafted for Vi, her combat ability ranked among Piltover's top tier. For something serious to have happened, it had to be no ordinary incident.
"Recently, an unknown batch of alchemical drugs has been flowing into Zaun. Vi and I were investigating. Early this morning, while following leads, we were ambushed.
At first, we thought it was one of the Chem-Barons' men, but among them was something else… something that could move unseen, striking from the shadows.
It attacked us, and Vi, while covering me, was struck by a poisoned crossbow bolt to the spine."
"Now she's in the hospital. The poison is vicious, and the doctors say her chances are slim. That's why I sought Jayce's help. But this bastard doesn't care whether Vi lives or dies, he just wants me to follow my parents' orders!"
"I never said I wouldn't help!" Jayce snapped back, only for Caitlyn to shoot right back at him.
"But you haven't said you would either!"
As the two squared up again, Duke stepped between them.
"Enough. Stop arguing. Vi's situation, I'll handle it. We grew up together. If I don't help her, who will?
As for the poison, I'll deal with that. Don't worry too much."
His words calmed Caitlyn. Then he shot Jayce a look, leaving the meaning for him to figure out.
"Does Jinx know about this?" Duke asked as he led Caitlyn out of the office.
Jayce, left behind, sighed heavily.
"I haven't dared to tell her. If she finds out her sister is in this state… there's no telling what chaos she'll unleash."
Duke pulled out a tracker and activated the signal from the devices he had secretly placed on Jinx's weapons and armor. His brow furrowed.
"Heh. That girl already knows. She's in Zaun right now."
"What do we do?" Caitlyn asked anxiously.
"First, tell me everything in detail. Then we'll head to the hospital to check on Vi.
Saving her comes first. The rest we'll sort out step by step.
I'll take care of this."
End of chapter....
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters
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