Chapter 5
The blaring sirens, accompanied by the heavy commotion have now ruined the stillness of night in the city. Muffles shouts and orders out the inn walls drowned the streets, bringing it back from the dead of silence. Artrix flipped open the window blinds and saw a sea of alternating red and blue flashes in the blackness of night. From inside the bathroom, Artrix heard clumsy wet footsteps. The door then swung open and out came Riven whose hair was now flat and dripping wet with a towel wrapped around her above the chest.
"What is the meaning of this?" Artrix asked.
Riven quickly glanced at the window and recognized the blue and red flashes, along with the signature cracking sounds of the only sniper rifle in Piltover.
"The law enforcers," she replied. However, after the gunshots, even louder smashing noises shook the room. It was like an earthquake here in Piltover. The sounds of chaos outside grew louder and louder, now escorted by thundering explosions that would light the room over and over.
"Perhaps they require assistance," Artrix said.
Riven, wanting to avoid having to do anything with the Piltoveran officials, was suddenly interrupted by a massive explosion that tore through the streets outside. A tunnel of blazing inferno screeched past their windows, nearly melting it. With the realization that they may require the aid of a Champion, she quickly dried herself off; leaving only her messy hair slightly wet and got dressed in her usual battle wear. She took her broken sword which was leaning against the inn walls and proceeded to the door.
"Wait, I shall go too," Artrix said, getting off the bed.
Riven shook her head in disapproval. "Nah-uh, you are staying right here."
"I'm a very capable fighter," Artrix protested.
"No, not after what happened to you. You almost got killed twice already, stay here for your own safety," with that, Riven that hastily left the room and to the scene of battle, leaving Artrix behind. Artrix crossed his arm like an angry child and blew out air. He wondered how does he even tolerate that mortal… Riven. At the same, he knew her words were true. He felt powerless. He was a mortal now. He clenched a fist and gazed thoughtfully at it. No bolts of lightning, no planet shattering energy, no strength, no anything. But he could not overcome this feeling of uselessness. Otherwise, how can he return from his exile? How can he prove to his father, along with all the other gods that he was more than a spoiled child? He went to the stuffed closet and took out his armor. The reflection of his face shined on the jagged edges of the breastplate. Who was he really, if he was no longer the Prince of Heaven. Just a mortal?
Outside the inn, Riven stepped onto the metallic street now covered in ashes and debris. Chaos and destruction, the result of a, intense battle, littered the scene. Columns of smoke bellowed from seas of blazes which were desperately battled by the firefighters. Men and women worked frantically to restore order to the area. In the middle at an intersection, the Head of Law Enforcement, Caitlyn stood with her signature sniper rifle. Beside her was a tall pink haired woman who had two gigantic mechanical gauntlets.
"Where did the bastard go?" Vi asked, flexing her arms and reconfiguring complex features of her weapon.
Caitlyn however, seemed more annoyed than anything else.
"Vi! Stop with this madness. You probably caused more property damage than Pyro did. Every single time, I ask you to tune down your… strength," Caitlyn said. "So vexatious."
Vi scoffed and did a few practise punches into the air. "Calm down cupcakes, if I had punched harder, Pyro's ass would've been in jail by now. Or dead."
Caitlyn gave a moan of annoyance and pulled down her hat so much that it almost went straight through her head. But, she just merely shook it off. Another day with Vi to her.
Riven walked over to the two when Vi spotted her.
"Hey, that's Whitey!" she said, waving her giant hands in the air. Caitlyn turned and saw her.
"What just happened? The city looks like it's at war," Riven asked.
"Riven, didn't expect your company to be in Piltover," Caitlyn said. "As you can see, Piltover is under attack by another 'master criminal mind." She gave a tired sigh. There has been nothing Caitlyn hasn't seen, from evil mind controlling villains, to those who threatened to freeze the entire city and now, Pyro.
Riven offered her help with a gesture of her great sword.
"Well… Now that he's escaped, we need to first get back to headquarters and do the paperwork on damage control, then-" Vi then suddenly stuck her gauntlets in Caitlyn's face, interrupting her.
"We ain't got no time for paperwork cupcakes, we need to hunt the bastard down. I say, nothing can't be solved with a punch to his face," Vi said.
Caitlyn shoved Vi's oversized hands away from her face. "Those are the rules."
"To hell with the rules, if we let that Pyro guy roam Piltover any longer, he'd probably blow more stuff up. And then you do can the paperwork, doubled the amount."
Riven nodded in agreement. "She is right. If we wait, there may be more casualties."
Caitlyn sighed and pondered for a moment. She gave a defeated expression to Vi. "Fine, we can start our manhunt. But please, Vi, for the love of the god, don't break anything you don't need to. In fact, don't break anything at all."
Vi gave a mocking salute and a devilish grin. "Yes Captain Cupcukes."
Caitlyn annoyingly groaned. Just then, Artrix stumbled out of the inn, now in a light green tunic and black pants with a soft vest over.
"Riven, what in Heaven's throne is this," he called out.
Riven turned to meet him and was surprised by his new attire.
"Where'd you get those clothing," she asked.
"Courtesy of the innkeeper, after I broke his will. And nose," he replied.
As Artrix came under the light of the fire, Vi whistled. "Wow Whitey, never told us you had a hot boyfriend."
Riven looked at her insulted. Artrix gave a puzzled expression. He knows of courting and sorts, but never heard of the term, 'boyfriend'.
"Yes, I'm a male aquintance to Riven, although I'd prefer it if you had called me 'Manfriend', my years of adolescence is long over," Artrix cluelessly said.
Vi threw her head back and burst into tearful laughter. "You didn't mention he was a blockhead too!"
Riven groaned again as Vi now was rolling on the floor laughing, her legs kicking wildly and in joy. Artrix already disliked this mortal. He didn't understand why what he said was so humorous, he thought perhaps this is the weird side of mortality; random joy for the reason of null. Caitlyn, who was on the mature side, cleared her throat.
"Enough Vi," she told the still hysterical Vi. Realizing that it was futile, she turned back to Riven. "I see you've brought an ally. Good, we will need all the manpower we can get if we are to track down Pyro."
"No no no, he cannot be involved in this he-"Riven began but was cut off by Artrix.
"Yes I can!" Artrix clearly stated. "I am a warrior, even back in my home world. I was only defeated back because I was already injured, but I can fight," He then pulled out a relatively compact sword, about 3 feet long, adorned with dedicate jewels and decorations.
Riven squinted her eyes at the sword. "Where did you get that?"
"Did you think my armor was a costume? It had the purpose of battle."
Just as Riven was about to protest, Caitlyn along with Vi, who had finished her hysteria, interrupted them.
"If he can fight, then bring him along. Pyro is a tough nut to crack," Caitlyn said. Before any words could come out from Riven, Caitlyn turned to her men and gave orders.
"Alright, listen up. I'm issuing a manhunt on Pyro, he cannot be far. We are not to stop until he is attained and if need be, eliminated. Squad 1, search the southern perimeter. Squad 2, search the residential area. Squad 3, you have the techmaturgy centre. Squad 4, with me."
In a synchronized series of salutes and approvals, the men hastily and professional scattered to their destination, leaving behind only firefighters and Caitlyn's squad. Their squad consisted of four people; two young blond haired human males who are twins, one slender female human with too many freckles on her face and lastly a yordle. All of them wore a dark blue uniform with the words: Enforcer sewn onto its backs. They held fancy gadgets and tools like holographic wristwatches and small, energy pistols. Caitlyn ordered them to group in a circular formation.
"Alright, form up on me. Pyro cannot be far, and he's mostly likely to have escaped to the foundries where his suspected base of operation has been. We will secure its perimeter and followed by a breach and assault. Understood?"
Vi punched her two gauntlets together. "Born ready baby."
Caitlyn scanned around for any questions before proceeding northwards to the foundry. Riven and Artrix stayed behind the group.
"Artrix, you need to stay back, just look at what that Pyro can do," Riven ordered.
"No, do not stop me. I will prove my worth,"Artrix said. As he attempted to go forward, Riven grabbed his arm to halt him.
"You can't go. All you have is a sword, you are powerless against him."
That motion set Artrix infuriated. He was not powerless, he refused to believe so. He can still fight, he told himself.
"No! I'm NOT without power, unhand me! You know nothing!" he then violently shook Riven's arm off and followed Caitlyn. Riven was bewildered at Artrix's outburst. She pondered if it was something she said. How could it be though? She shook her head to clear her mind and quickly caught up to the group. However, Artrix had intentionally ignored her, causing Riven to wonder some more about Artrix. He was so strange. His life completely unknown to her, save for his name and his exile. But perhaps Artrix could say the same about her. Both of them, an exile, lost. Both of them faced with their changing beliefs. So many similarities, yet so little is known. Their whole trek to the foundry was silent except for the continuous banter between Caitlyn and Vi.
"Hey Cupcakes."
"What."
"Nothing."
"Hey, Cupcakes, may I ask you a question."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Cupcakes…."
"WHAT? If you wish to annoy me, do so later at the headquarters Vi. Not now!"
"You're no fun."
After some of that ordeal, the foundry was finally in sight. The building was a strangely backwards in contrast to futuristic city. Its walls, crafted from basic iron and impure steel, was much different than the glass or metallic or silver building back. It was a large rectangular metal box, reaching three stories high. In its central area was a single, towering construct almost twenty stories. It too was completely iron and similar to its straight base except for the protruding deadly spikes on the sides. Molten metal poured out from all the holes scattered everywhere in this fortress, giving it a sinister appearance. In the darkness of light, the radiating color of molten fire burned away the blackness and gave it almost an aura of invincibility.
Vi whistled. "That's huge foundry."
The squad quickly scattered and scouted around the foundry and soon regrouped at a back entrance.
"All clear ma'am," the yordle reported.
"Same here ma'am," the twins said in unison. And then, with a final nod from the final squad mate, Caitlyn formulated her plan.
"Alright, here's the plan. We don't know for sure if Pyro's in here, but it is a high possibility. We will enter through here and search for any signs of his presence. At the first sightings, we will immediately contact each other as well as the other squads, copy?" she said.
Everyone nodded in unison as Caitlyn turned to open the iron door. However, it was bolted shut and did not budge to any of Caitlyn's attempts.
"Step aside Cupcakes, let me handle this," Vi said as she prepared her whirling gauntlets She took a step back, charged up one fist and gave a mighty smash. With a boisterous slam, the gates bended and twisted and flew back a significant distance. Vi triumphantly brushed her hands as the squad poured into the building. When Artrix entered his face was blasted with a fierce heat wave. Inside the foundry, even the air seems to bend and curve as it succumbs to the torrid atmosphere. Iron chains and carapaces accompanied the fiery molten liquid boiled about, making even some parts of the walls dangerously hot to touch.
Caitlyn took two of the squad mates and headed right, Vi, who insisted that she could handle herself went left, leaving Riven, Artrix with the twins. They took the only path left, which was forward and proceeded with great caution. Weapons hoisted and eyes scanning, the twisting iron corridors seemed to never end. Each turn would bring them to an identical area save for a few less or more spikes and chains. The unpleasant heat which beat on Artrix now caused streams of sweat to pour down his face.
After some time, they were met with a long, iron suspension bridge hung up by dangling chains. Far below was a lake of molten inferno with hot flames spewing out of its hungry surface.
"Anyone willing to go first?" one of the twin asked. They looked at each other and back at Riven and Artrix. "Does the couple want to go first?"
"We are not in affection," Artrix coldly said before stepping onto the wavering bridge. He dared not look down at the destruction below, keeping both arms our so that the flimsy bridge does not flip over. With confident strides, he soon reached the other end. He looked back at the remaining people and waved for them to cross. Riven was the next to traverse the bridge. All seemed well until at the halfway when suddenly, a sinister voice bellowed from the blazing smoke.
"Ha! Foolish creatures that dare tread into my domain?" the voice boomed. Then, a stout figure hovered into view above the bridge. He was clad in iron armor covered by bolts and rivets. No skin was exposed, only an eerie metallic exoskeleton showed. His helmet was like a large round fishbowl with a black void that spewed out devouring flames. All in all, he resembled a flaming diving suit than a true villain. However, he was still dangerous with his power over fire.
Riven, who was now trapped on the centre of the bridge, brought up her sword and pointed at Pyro. However, the imbalance caused by the sway made her give up her battle stance to hold onto the chains for her life.
"Pitiful creatures, die now!" Pyro announced as he conjured a ball of flame in one of his gloved hands and then threw it with all his might at Riven. The agile warrior was able to barely dodge it by rolling forward with the inferno just licking the side of her shoulder. The bridge now tossed about violently, forcing Riven to take careful steps as she attempted to make her way to the end.
Artrix could only grab the dangling chains in an attempt to make the bridge more stable for her. "Quicken your steps Riven!"
"Trying!" Riven hollered as she staggered to Artrix.
Pyro readied another flame and aimed more carefully this time. By now, Riven was just feet from Artrix when Pyro chucked it at his target again. This time, the flames connected with the chains holding up the bridge, instantly eating away the metal. For a split second, the bridge held itself and then immediately collapsed, sending Riven falling forwards. Without even thinking for his own safety, Artrix instinctively dove himself to the edge with his arm extended as Riven just barely manages to catch onto it with the rest of the bridge falling into the greedy fire. Riven hang on just barely as Artrix strained himself on the edge. The inferno below reflected off his sweated face, turning it a bright orange. His face contorted with stressing effort as he attempted to pull her up. However, Pyro saw this as the perfect opportunity to end his adversaries' lives.
"Leave me! Go before both of us get killed!" Riven shouted. Artrix stubbornly shook his head.
"I will not leave you to die."
Pyro, using both hands and a double charged attack, he launched it with great speed as it soared towards Artrix and Riven. Artrix did not blink once as he fearlessly held onto her arm without even a single notion of releasing his grip. Their eyes soon locked, each of them lightly sparkling with a thousand different stories, all of them being exchanging in these final moments. Time seem to slow down to a halt as the fire was just inches away from ending their lives.
Then, out of nowhere and fast as lightning, a massive Hextech hammer swung in clockwise and extinguished the assault. Pyro was surprised by the new hero that had just entered the fray.
Standing before the struggling Artrix was the Defender of Tomorrow, Jayce. His handsome face and chiselled jaws bared a wide smile as if taunting Pyro. Then, he turned around and helped Artrix pull Riven back up, away from the danger of the molten lake below. "Sorry I came late."
"Well well well, look at what we have here. A third victim to fall before the glory of Pyro!" the villain announced with pride, flame in hand.
"We'll see about that," Jayce retorted.
"Ha! What can you do when I'm up here and you're down there with your little hammer?" Pyro said with a mocking voice.
Jayce did not answer but merely changed his stance to a hunched position. With a flick of his wrist, the Mercury Hammer twisted and turned, transforming into a completely new weapon. "Cannons engaged."
Then, with a quick aim, the end the weapon blasted out a shot of pure energy. It flew directly at Pyro at speeds greater than he can fathom. Without time to dodge, the blast struck him and blew off a proportion of his iron armor, his bare shoulders now exposed. With a loud painful grunt, he temporary fell out of the air but then managed to return to his hovering superiority.
"Why you little…" fire burst from his helmet as he let out of boisterous holler. His flames, in sync with his rage, consumed his body in a whirlwind of flames. "I will end you with my own hands!"
Then, without hesitation, Pyro dove towards Jayce with his fiery hands stretched out in a fashion to strangle the life from him. However, Jayce's smug smile returned as he fluently switched stance, changing back to Hammer Form. He did not even flinch in the incoming onslaught as if he was already ready, and prepared for something to happen.
"Catch this!" Caitlyn's voice hollered suddenly. Then, from the screen of smoke across the fiery chasm, a heavy net entangled Pyro midflight, causing him to stumble and lose his aggressive form. He barrel rolled midair and crashing into Jayce's path. In one, fluid motion, Jayce swung his hammer sideways, connecting it with Pyro's back. It caused a massive cracking sound as sparks and shrapnel exploded from his armor and sent him flying back. Vi then appeared from the smoke above and plunged down with her fists locked above her head. In a series of well executed combo, Vi smashed the villain down, stopping his flight and burrowing him into the iron platform. An explosion of smoke and debris shot down from the landing zone. When the chaos cleared, a now half naked sad old man in his mid 40's, plagued by a balding problem, laid flat on his stomach at the mercy of Vi's fists. They pressed against his face, almost crushing his skill. Pieces of the armor laid broken and scattered around.
"Woohoo! That was kick-ass!" Vi exclaimed in a dance of victory.
Caitlyn rushed in from the smoke, along with the squad.
"I apologize deeply, I came as fast as I could when the twins reported to me," she said, breathing heavily.
Jayce swung his famed hammer over his shoulders and extended out a hand to help Riven up. Then, he turned and crouched beside the defeated Pyro.
"What did you say about my hammer not being able to touch you?" he mocked victoriously.
The man simply grunted in defeat as Vi's fists pressed harder onto his skull.
"Jayce, so glad you were here. Otherwise I'd have to send two more bodies to the morgue," Caitlyn said.
"Not a problem, my pleasure to be here. Came as quick as I could when I got the signal that Pyro has been found."
Caitlyn directed her squad to the old man as they picked him up and dragged him away. "Cuff him boys, make sure he gets his fair share in prison time."
Artrix walked over to Riven. "I… I do apologize for my outburst earlier. I shouldn't have done so."
Riven looked up in surprise at this reconciliation but was quickly replaced by a reassuring grin.
"And I shouldn't have doubted you too. I should be the one apologizing."
Vi, being the most charismatic and understanding person ever, rudely budged in and interrupted them.
"Enough sweet talks Whitey, just kiss him and get it over with!" she teased.
Riven nearly blushed at the thought of that but simply pushed Vi away, showing her annoyance with her. Vi held out both hands and laughed.
"Well, shall we be off then?" Jayce suggested. Caitlyn, who had just remembered all the paperwork that awaits her back at the headquarters, threw her head back and groaned.
"Yes, let's go. I'm feeling it's going to be an all-nighter," she said with a sigh. Vi came up from behind her and jokingly massaged her shoulders with her oversized gauntlets.
"So much paperwork, oh how will I have enough time for tea now?" Vi said with a mocking English accent. The trio then proceeded to exit the foundry, leaving Artrix and Riven alone.
For a moment, awkward silence accompanied the muffled sounds of boiling magma below.
"Hey, Artrix. Thank you for saving me," Riven said, breaking the silence.
Artrix smiled and said, "Why need to thank me. I'm just helping others in need."
"Oh? I thought you saw everyone as pathetic little mortals, oh great prince. What changed your mind?"
Artrix pondered for a moment and then looked back at her. "Does there need to be a reason to assistance others in need?"
Indeed, Artrix felt alive, joyous and comfortable. He had aided others without even thinking, especially a mortal. He felt strong. Even without his godly powers he had just saved a life and aided someone even if his own life was in peril. Is this the true strength that his father had spoken of? Perhaps this was a side-effect of becoming mortal. Even then, he felt nothing wrong. Perhaps mortals are more than meets the eye. Perhaps they truly are strong, and that no will of any tyrant will ever be able to rule over them.