Duke's Workshop, Operating Room.
"It would normally require the patient or a family member to sign the consent form, but given your situation, we'll skip that step."
Duke stood beside the hospital bed, speaking casually to Vi, a surgical plan in his hand.
"You never change, do you? Still talking to me in that tone. Can't you be a little nicer?"
Vi rolled her eyes weakly. The poison in her body had been purged, but the physical damage was irreversible. All Duke could do was stabilize her so it wouldn't worsen.
"When you used to pin me to the ground and steal my toys as a kid, did I complain?"
Duke rolled his eyes right back. In his predecessor's memories, Vi and Jinx were defined by a single feeling.
Fear.
But things were different now, the body had a new master, and Vi had grown. Some things were better left in the past.
"Alright, while you're still awake, let me explain the procedure."
He opened the surgical plan. "I'll be implanting artificial muscle fibers into your body and replacing most of your bones, including your spine."
"Your organs will undergo micro-adjustments too, strengthening them accordingly."
"When it's over, you'll be part human, part machine, a cyborg. But don't worry, it won't affect your ability to marry or have kids in the future."
"Oh, how thoughtful of you to consider things down to 'three-three-seven' like that."
Vi let out a faint laugh, her spirit still sharp despite her weakness.
"Rest well. When you wake up, you'll be reborn."
Duke pushed her bed into the operating chamber, transferring her onto the surgical table. Wally was already making preparations.
"Where's Cupcake?" Vi asked softly.
"He's waiting outside." Duke slipped on his surgical gown and gloves with Wally's help, giving Vi an encouraging glance. "Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it."
"Then I'm counting on you."
With effort, Vi raised her arm, fist-bumping Duke. At that moment, Wally pressed the anesthesia switch, and as the drug coursed through her veins, her eyes slowly shut.
"Good night," Duke whispered, watching her fall into slumber. "When you wake, everything will be better."
Zaun.
Two vehicles, completely out of place in the city, crept down the streets. The probing stares from the alleys made Pride, who had transformed into a motorcycle, bristle with irritation.
"Big bro, what do we do now?"
The voice of Gluttony rang in his ears. Pride glanced at the tracker linked to his system, then steered toward Dance Corridor.
"First, we go to Dance Corridor. Find that blue-haired brat, then head back."
"Got it!"
Gluttony's tires slid forward smoothly, gliding across the streets as the two made their way.
Dance Corridor, sitting between Zaun and Piltover, was the tightest knot tying the two cities together. Their architectural differences clashed vividly here. Pilties descended to seek curiosities and novelties, while Zaunites hustled their goods upward. The wares weren't just from Zaun, they came from across all of Runeterra.
Pride and Gluttony, now in combat mode, pushed through the throngs of people. Pride smacked Gluttony's head with his tail, forcing her to drop the hand of a reckless pickpocket who had tried dismantling them for spare parts.
"Stop shoving random junk into your mouth. Have some standards."
Gluttony pouted, watching the thief vanish into the crowd. "But I'm hungry..."
"Eat this."
Pride shoved a crystal brick into her hands, his gaze fixed on the tracker, then on a slender figure cloaked ahead.
"Found her."
He stashed the tracker and shoved his way forward, scattering the crowd like bowling pins. Curses erupted, but one glance at his murderous eyes silenced them instantly.
This was not someone to mess with.
Jinx, cloaked and trying to stay inconspicuous, noticed the shift in the crowd. She turned, and saw Pride and Gluttony bearing down on her.
"Little brat, you're coming with us."
Pride stretched out his massive hand. Jinx nimbly leapt aside. "I'm not going anywhere! Not until I find the bastard who hurt my sister. Even if Duke himself came, I wouldn't leave!"
"That's not your choice, shorty!"
Pride lunged, his hand clawing at her.
"You big dumb lizard, catch me if you can!"
Jinx dodged, tearing off her cloak. Beneath it gleamed the Madness Tower battlesuit Duke had given her. The mana engine roared to life, launching her skyward onto the rooftops.
"Neener-neener, too slow, big dumb dragon!"
"I'm outta here!"
Her twin ponytails whipped through the air as she darted along the roofs. She wasn't going back, not until she found the one who hurt Vi.
Not even Duke could stop her.
Pride's eyes flickered between red and blue. Gluttony sidled up beside him, glancing at the displeased crowd and muttering, "Big bro, what now?"
"Catch her. Bring her back. That's Father's command."
"No one disobeys Father."
Engines roared as Pride vaulted onto the rooftops, his motorcycle form blazing after Jinx. Gluttony followed, her body morphing into particle modules that streaked in his wake.
"This thick-headed dragon... can't he ever think for himself?"
Jinx spotted the transport pipeline leading down to the undercity and dove in, leaving a shimmering blue trail in the air.
Pride and Gluttony, naturally, followed. As Jinx darted through the tube, she felt the killing intent closing in. She flung out three Chompers, their snapping jaws locking onto Pride as targets.
"Out of my way!"
Mid-air, Pride transformed, tail-whipping the Chompers away before reverting and tearing down the tunnel wall in pursuit.
The explosions lit the tube in flashes, but Gluttony simply slithered along the walls, defying physics as she raced after them.
Jinx burst out into Zaun's alleys. She knew these streets better than anyone, she had grown up here.
"Little bug."
Pride's sonar pinged through the cityscape, predicting her path. He shot into the sky, diving down at her.
Gluttony split off, moving to cut her off from the other side.
Then,
Thwip!
White webbing rained from above. Jinx flickered side to side, dodging strand after strand. She whipped out Pow-Pow and opened fire.
Pew-pew-pew!
Blue energy beams riddled the air, streaking toward Pride. He crossed his arms, crystallizing a shield to block the barrage.
"Tch."
Jinx lowered Pow-Pow and hefted Fishbones, aiming straight up.
Boom!
A Hextech blast cannon roared from the rocket launcher. Pride met it head-on, cleaving the beam in half with his weapon.
"You think you can beat me with the weapon my father created? Where did you get the courage for that?"
His eyes flared red as he dove. The wall beside Jinx shattered, Gluttony burst through in a cobra form, maw gaping to swallow her whole.
Webbing gushed out, splattering against Jinx. Before she could react, she was pinned to the wall.
"Not fair! Two against one? That's cheating!"
Pride landed, glaring at her. "We didn't even use lethal force. If we had, you wouldn't last a single breath."
"Now be good, and come with us."
"No! I need to find the one who hurt my sister, I, "
A bolt of lightning snapped from Pride's fingertips, striking her squarely. Jinx went limp, unconscious.
"Take her. We'll report to Father."
He turned to Gluttony, whose cheeks were stuffed full. A glance revealed the rubble of the wall she'd just eaten.
Pride slapped his own face with a growl. "Stop eating!"
Back at Duke's Workshop.
Duke emerged from the operating room, surgical gown soaked in blood. Stripping it off calmly, he glanced at Vi, whom Wally wheeled out. She slept peacefully now, the weakness of the 5.0 toxin gone from her face.
"Take her to the recovery room. I'll check on Caitlyn."
The moment Duke stepped outside, Caitlyn was on him. "How is she?"
"The operation was a success. She's just under anesthesia. She'll need seven or eight more hours of sleep."
"But listen, during her adaptation period, you'd better avoid physical contact with her."
"Why?" Caitlyn asked, puzzled.
Lighting a cigar, Duke gave her a strange look. "Unless you want her to hug you and accidentally snap your ribs, keep your distance."
"The surgery went perfectly, but she needs time to get used to her new body."
"Otherwise, guess who'll be the next patient on my table?"
"So… you're saying Vi isn't an ordinary human anymore?"
Duke shrugged. "The moment she stepped into my operating room, she stopped being one."
"But don't worry. I'll sponsor you a new set of gear, so you won't fall too far behind her."
"After all, the safety of the two cities will still rest on you both."
End of chapter....
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters + 3 BONUS CHAPTERS
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