"You're certain of your plan?" Leblanc asks, glancing at the machine herald who was gazing up at Piltover with a look of hesitation.
Sneering, the augmented male nods and waves her off. "Of course I'm certain! I'm no fool, woman. My plan will work I've made sure of that."
Glancing towards the mechanical creations, Leblanc lets out a sigh. "You realize that by now we have probably been spotted, yes?"
"I'm well aware woman. I highly doubt it would have been possible to sneak in undetected with an entire army of humanoid machines!" Viktor snaps, glowering at the female. Averting her eyes, the female mage lowers her head. "Forgive me herald. I didn't mean any offense."
Shaking his head, Viktor ponders of what he would do next as he tapped his staff on the ground repeatedly. "It should be obvious to those of Piltover we're here so why is it so quiet? Do they have a plan in mind already?"
"Herald, what troubles you?" Leblanc asks, giving the male a concerned look as her head tilts to the side. Waving her off, the augmented male snorts. "I'm fine woman. Just thinking how I'll go about this plan is all."
Nodding, the female mage looks around cautiously with keen eyes, her staff clenched tightly as though awaiting some form of attack.
"I've had enough of this waiting. The hell with it, tear down the gate!" Viktor snaps, his staff pointed towards Piltover. As though causing some form of affect in the machines, their eyes flicker for a moment before obediently moving forward and heading to the gate as they began to bang and tear down anything that was holding the gate together.
Watching from behind his creations, Viktor scoffs as he taps his foot impatiently. "These clattering fools may be obedient but they're far from intelligent. I should have programmed them with a more sophisticated A.I."
Immediately after stating his sentence, a bullet is heard and just as Viktor turns his head he does it directly in front of him as it prepares to shatter his mechanical face. Before the bullet lands however, Leblanc's staff appears out of the blue to deflect the attack as she quickly steps in front of the herald defensively.
"Viktor, are you alright?" she asks quickly, keeping her gaze ahead and towards the direction the bullet had been fired.
For a brief moment the machine herald didn't say a word since he was far too confused with what he had just heard. Normally Leblanc referred to him as "herald" yet this time she had gone out of her way to say his actual name-why that was he had no clue. It truly didn't matter in this moment thus he snapped out of his thoughts and growled lowly. "Yes I'm fine woman. Don't forget the damned plan! You're supposed to flank the enemy from behind."
"But herald, if I leave you here-" Leblanc had begun to say, only to be given a cold stare from Viktor that told her she shouldn't argue. "Just go, woman. I'll make sure not to allow these Piltover pests to get in my way" the machine-like male mutters.
With a hesitant sigh, the female mage nods and places her hand on Viktor's shoulder. "If anything happens at all, tell me herald and I'll return to your side immediately."
In that brief moment, the pair met each other's gaze without a word until Viktor finally broke the silence. "Go on then, woman. Don't delay this plan any further."
"As you wish herald" Leblanc replies softly with a nod as she begins walking quickly, heading for the opposite side of Piltover. Raising his staff, Viktor calls out, "Follow the woman and ensure she isn't killed. Your lives are nothing! Defend her at all costs and make sure to obey her command if need be!"
Several of the machine humanoids suddenly turn in the direction that Leblanc had headed in, following behind her.
A distance away, inside the walls of Piltover, Caitlyn scoffs. "Can't believe I missed that shot...it should have been a hit."
"Hey don't worry about it cupcake! It happens. Besides it just leaves more action for me!" Vi boasts as she smirks proudly. Sighing, Caitlyn raises her rifle and aims once more, attempting to get a clear shot at Viktor.
"No Cait. Don't take the shot" Jayce suddenly calls out. Turning in confusion, the Piltover sheriff gives the male a confused look. "What? Why not?"
"Leave Viktor to me. It's my fault he even wants revenge in the first place. He's my responsibility," the male replies, clenching his augmented hammer tightly. "Besides...he was my friend at one point. Maybe it's not too late to talk some sense into him."
"Jayce buddy...maybe you've forgotten but he was our pal too...I just don't see it the way you do. He's too far gone" Vi insists, her arms crossed as she leans against a wall. "Just give me a chance alone with him. That's all I ask" the defender of tomorrow pleads, a determined look on his face.
With a hesitant look at Vi, the sheriff lets out a sigh and shrugs. "Do what you will Jayce. Just don't put your guard down. He is still rather dangerous regardless."
Meanwhile back down attempting to break through the front gates of Piltover, Viktor tapped his foot impatiently as his machines continued on. By now at least a third of the gate had been torn off, creaking being heard as loose screws scattered throughout the pavement below the feet of the humanoid machines. Groaning with annoyance, the augmented male raises his staff and fires off a purple beam that blows off another hinge holding the gate together as it comes tumbling down, crushing several of his own machines in the process. Regardless, the machine herald points forward once more and in a determined voice calls out, "Onward! Push into this damned city and lay it to ruin! Spread out and destroy anything you see in your path!"
Immediately following the fall of the gate, the robotic creations began to move forward, splitting up in different directions to wreak havoc throughout all of Piltover. Unfazed by the screams of the citizens, Viktor marches ahead alone. The sound of sirens began to increase from behind the machine herald until he finally heard a robot voice call out, "Freeze. Surrender at once or you shall be terminated."
Scoffing, Viktor cocks his head to the left to get a quick glance at the police force that had been sent to deal with him which happened to be several machine units. "Oh please" the male mutters while shaking his head as he aims his staff at one of the units and fires at it, blasting it apart as its machinery clatters through the air. Before the remaining police units could open fire, Viktor raises his staff into the air and chuckles. "Witness my evolution, you pitiful fools. Taste my chaos storm!" he boasts as rays of electricity boom above the units, tearing them to shreds in an instant while also causing the police vehicle to be destroyed in the process. With a sneer, Viktor turns his back to the destruction behind him and continues onward, his cape trailing behind him while his staff remained at his side.
Through the screams of the Piltover citizens and the sound of gun fire in the distance, Viktor manages to hear a voice call to him from ahead.
"Vik...you certainly look good. Upgraded parts or something?"
For a moment, the machine herald looked around since he couldn't find where the voice came from despite hearing it relatively close. As he looked up however, his eyes met with Jayce's-the male having been standing on the roof of the Piltover bank. Clenching his fists, Viktor lets out a low snarl as his eyes flicker with anger at the sight of the male. "You..."
"Hey now, easy there Viktor. I didn't come to fight. Well not if it could be prevented" Jayce says casually, his left hand raised in an attempt to ease the male. The machine herald didn't seem to buy it, his eyes too buys staring at the mechanical hammer that Jayce held. "If you came to simply talk, I find it difficult to understand why you brought that thing with you" Viktor grunts, his grip on his staff tighter than before although he made no sudden movements.
Sighing, the defender of tomorrow smiles sheepishly. "What can I say? I'm a cautious man...especially around you Vik. You came here with an entire army, what did you expect?"
Shaking his head, Viktor glares up at his rival. "There's nothing to talk about. All that can be done is to face me have one of us emerge victorious."
"Viktor...come on man, you don't have to-"
"Enough! Come down here and face me! As long as you remain in my path, my glorious evolution will never come true!" the augmented male snaps, his voice booming with anger. Licking his lips, Jayce remains where he is as though still not wanting to fight the male. "What's the matter? Afraid to face your doom, fool!" Viktor snaps furiously, still glaring up at the man who had destroyed his past life.
"This is about what I did to you isn't it...you're still holding onto that grudge huh, Vik?" Jayce mumbles through an exasperated sigh.
"What are you on about? This has to do with my evolution-"
"No it doesn't and you know it! You're obsessed with me, man! When are you gonna learn to let the past go! If you did then maybe we could-" Jayce began to say but was forced to roll off the roof when Viktor fired at him from his staff. "Let it go? Let it go!? Just how daft are you!" the augmented male yells out as he storms towards Jayce, his death ray aimed at him. As the ray fires, Jayce quickly turns to his side to avoid the beam from slicing through him. Panting slightly, the defender of tomorrow gets to his feet as he clutches his hammer tightly to face Viktor.
"You did this to me! You ruined me! For that you will pay!" the machine-like male snaps, his staff pointed at the sky as he prepared to fire his signature move-chaos storm. Before the staff could project any electricity however, a single bullet pierces his augmented hand, causing Viktor to stagger and drop his staff in disbelief. "Blasted fools...! You'll all pay!" the machine herald snaps as he reaches for his staff, only to be shot in the shoulder with such force that he's sent reeling back onto the canvas.
"Damn it Cait...I didn't want you to interfere with this" Jayce thought to himself as he gets to his feet and raises his hammer, prepared to attack. "I really wished it didn't go down like this Viktor" the defender of tomorrow says grimly as he strikes Viktor across the side of his augmented face as he had gotten to his knees. Grunting, the machine herald stumbles back down with the side of his face crushed, wiring hanging out from the fracture.
A distance away, hiding behind an alley way was none other than Leblanc. Clutching her staff tightly, she watches the scene and musters up all of her will power not to reveal herself. For some odd reason it hurt her to watch the herald beaten down so easily. Glancing up towards the roof that she had heard the bullets fired, she catches sight of Caitlyn who was aiming again, prepared to take another shot. "Not happening, sheriff" Leblanc mumbles harshly as she raises her staff and shoots out a magical beam towards Caitlyn.
Since the sheriff of Piltover hadn't been looking in that particular direction, the beam that came at her caught her off guard. With a gasp, Caitlyn tumbles to her side, dropping her rifle in the process which manages to catch the attention of Jayce.
Having heard the thump of the rifle and a beam being fired, Jayce had looked up to where his friend was, taking his eyes off the machine herald. "Cait? What happened!" the male calls out with worry in his voice. Normally Vi would have been around to help out but she was too busy destroying the humanoid machines that were up ahead.
With that short moment where Jayce took his eyes off him, Viktor managed to get back onto his knees. "Bad mistake fool" the machine herald mutters, making Jayce turn his head to look back in surprise.
With a death-like stare in his eyes, Viktor fires off his death ray at Jayce, hitting the male across his chest. Letting out a yell, the male's rival is sent backwards, his chest sizzling and burning from the effects of the ray. Despite not saying anything, Viktor couldn't help but feel...good. Hearing Jayce yell and flail about in pain was like music to his ears. He wanted more, much much more.
Standing up on his feet, Viktor walks over to Jayce who was still on the floor. While he towered over Jayce, he began to kick at his sides. Groaning in pain, the male on the floor winced. "Viktor...stop..." Jayce pleaded, grunting with each kick he was given. Laughing, the machine herald kneels down and grabs the male by his hair forcefully. "Are you begging me to stop now? Oh how I have longed for this day all too much! I'm going to make you suffer!" Viktor boasts, clutching Jayce by the neck with his free hand. With the intent of murder on his mind, the augmented male began to tighten his grip. As the cold iron hands press tighter onto Jayce, the defender of tomorrow feels his face flush a shade of red as he coughs out, sputtering from the lack of oxygen while his eyes water and blur his vision.
"Viktor. That's enough don't you think?"
For a moment, the machine herald tensed up as his grip on Jayce loosened. But after recognizing the voice as Leblanc's, he goes back to his iron-like grip on his rival, keeping his back to the female mage. "Enough? It'll never be enough until I know that he draws his last breath. Let me have this" Viktor mutters harshly, his eyes locked onto Jayce's.
Sighing, the female deceiver shakes her head. "Is this truly what you want? What you wish for? To end the life of this man?"
"Yes" the augmented male replied immediately, feeling Jayce's breathing start to falter, a sign that he was on the verge of death. For a second, not another word was said-the only sound heard was Jayce's wheezing as his breathing became unstable. As Viktor kept his gaze locked on his rival, he felt a gentle hand touch the back of his shoulder. The male felt his grip slightly loosen at the feeling of Leblanc touch him. "Look at the condition he's in. This man is no longer a threat to your evolution," the woman mage insisted. When Viktor gave no reply she continued to speak in an attempt to convince him. "Would it truly satisfy you to end the life of a defenseless opponent? He's beaten Viktor. Its over. Rivals or not-you've won."
Pausing, the machine herald almost entirely loosened his grip on Jayce although was still holding him by the neck. Turning his head to the side, he stares at Leblanc with uncertainty. "He did this to me. Made me this...monster. Its his fault, he has to pay" the male utters just barely above a whisper. Nodding slowly as if she understood, Leblanc takes her hand and places it on Viktor's fractured face. "I know Viktor. But today isn't the day to do it. The day will come when you'll be satisfied with your vengeance but it just can't be today" she tells him soothingly. Looking from Leblanc to Jayce, the male lowers his face to gaze upon the floor. "Why are you trying so hard to stop me, woman?"
"Look at yourself, herald. You're a wreck...You're running on hatred and worn out parts...this isn't you. The true Viktor is intelligent and plans ahead-he doesn't kill in the middle of a street with his bare hands." the female tells him, trying to look the herald in the eyes. Shaking his head, Viktor snarls lowly and glares at Jayce. "No. I'm a monster. A murderous machine...Its his damned fault. He will suffer for what he has-"
Before he could continue, he feels Leblanc throw her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace. It was most definitely one of the biggest surprises of his life. Ever since becoming the man known as the "machine herald' he hadn't felt such affection. Although he couldn't feel her touch due to his inhumane body-the action itself was enough for him to drop Jayce. Coughing and murmuring quietly due to his body's weakness, Jayce eventually passes out on the floor in front of the augmented male. "Let's go home, herald" Leblanc whispers, her forehead resting on his back.
Without a word, the male stands up and begins walking with the female mage who leads him out of Piltover through the back where she had originally entered to flank the enemy. It was almost as though Viktor had entirely forgotten his plan to overthrow the city and kill Jayce due to the simple actions of his ally; Leblanc. The woman rested her hands around the male's arm, leading him out of Piltover without a word. In truth she had only told him those words because if they had stayed, they would have surely died. Vi had nearly destroyed all of the herald's machines and Caitlyn had just about regained consciousness. In a way, she only talked the herald out of killing Jayce for her own good intentions. Yet...her final words and actions somehow had made her own body feel different. It was strange in a way how she had begun to feel the moment she pressed her head against the male's back and held him. But she didn't dare say a word...the only thing left to do was return to Zaun with Viktor now and hope for the best.