Hextech Core II, codename: Clockwork Genie.
Nestled on Piltover's vibrant shopping street, Colin Leveque's workshop stands as a testament to his genius. Renowned for crafting exquisite prosthetic limbs, Colin weaves intricate brass components into creations so refined they often surpass the original flesh.
Orlan, familiar with Colin's techniques from the Project universe, earned this knowledge as medical compensation for treating Colin's daughter, Orianna. Her presence altered this timeline: Valoran lost its Clockwork Enchantress, but gained a happier family. Orianna's flair for clockwork mechanics rivals her father's. Though her body transformed, her ingenuity endured, birthing the innovative off-body core control method.
This idea came to life across the ocean.
Sizzle~sizzle!
A fierce electric current surged through the laboratory, louder than when Blitzcrank was born. Orlan, clad in an exoskeleton, and Kate, hardened by her heart transformation, stood unfazed. Blitzcrank, forged of pure metal, instinctively stepped forward, shielding them by absorbing the excess energy into his frame.
The chaos was brief. The energy soon found its mark, converging on the dormant figure atop the experimental table. A horn on its head, now a lightning rod, drew the core's unleashed currents. A cylinder near the ears, designed to capture external signals and regulate energy flow, hummed softly.
Boom!
As the current flooded the new body, surrounding equipment faltered, spewing black smoke under the strain. Precise instruments and glowing data screens warped into chaotic distortions. The air grew thick with the acrid scent of scorched electronics, like the dying cry of a digital soul.
The room's lights flickered out. Wires along the walls twisted like furious serpents, their insulation charred, exposing sparking cores. These sparks danced in the darkness, casting fleeting beams across Orlan's face. Yet he remained calm, a faint smile curling his lips.
At the lab's heart, the newborn robot stood still. Flickers of electricity traced its bionic metal skin, and its once-closed eyes now glowed.
"Frankenstein?" Orlan asked.
"Yes, my name is Frankenstein."
Unlike Blitzcrank, the first-generation Hex II machine bore surprises Orlan hadn't foreseen: yellow and blue pupils absent from his designs, and a slightly faltering sound system.
"Fran. Dad, brother, sister?" Her soft voice scanned Orlan, Blitzcrank, and Kate, taking in the world with tentative curiosity.
"Blitz welcomes you, family," Blitzcrank declared.
"Meow, same~" Kate chimed.
To Blitzcrank's logic, Orlan was his creator—his father. Born earlier, Blitzcrank claimed the role of elder brother. Kate, with her modified heart, was a sister, though not biologically.
Frankenstein's eyes flickered with emotion at their words. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in Orlan's outstretched palm, her caution betraying her unfamiliarity with the world. Unlike Blitzcrank's rigid logic, Frankenstein's perception mirrored a newborn's—her internal program fragmented, leaving only scattered memory shards.
In the wrecked lab, Orlan ran simple tests, drawing early conclusions: The language system is slightly damaged, but her thinking remains clear. This time, something unique emerged by chance.
Experiments are unpredictable. History's breakthroughs often stem from serendipity. As first-generation machines, neither Blitzcrank nor Frankenstein received final emotional upgrades. Blitzcrank's emotions, self-compiled, fell short of true feeling. But Frankenstein, infused with a devil fruit and the Hex II core, seemed to harbor something deeper.
Logical cognition needs reshaping and further study, Orlan noted. Without proper guidance, her undeveloped concepts could lead to future errors.
Frankenstein, meanwhile, explored the damaged equipment, sensing the world through touch. Her warhammer, tied to her core, stayed close—an inseparable extension, like breath itself. Orlan's design included an internal energy storage device, with a manual clockwork backup. Yet, to Frankenstein, straying from her core felt unthinkable.
"Orlan, what's her fruit ability?" Kate asked. "You fused a devil fruit with her core, like Kuma's. How does it compare?"
"I haven't tested it yet," Orlan replied. "The manual calls it a parahuman-type energy-saving fruit, absorbing intangible energy to restore the body. Its full effect post-fusion is still unclear."
The manual's records were incomplete. Not all devil fruit users unlock their full potential, and many abilities remain undocumented. Securing a recorded fruit for study was already a win.
"Kate, prep for combat drills with Frankenstein later," Orlan instructed.
"Okay, meow! I'll set up the test site," Kate replied.
"Shoot, Sidilir Orlan," a voice sneered. "An experiment gone wrong? This mess is embarrassing."
From the half-open lab door, Caesar strutted in, arrogance in every step. "Per MADS rules, experimental results dictate funding. Sidilir, I challenge you!"
"Caesar Courant, you're asking for trouble," Kate snapped, rolling up her sleeves.
But Caesar didn't back down. He stepped closer, his expression brazenly provocative.
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