DISCLAIMERS

This chapter is the first of Act VI in the The Unofficial Acts series. It is optional, yet advised, you have read all chapters of TUA Acts IV and V (series here) before proceeding.

While being fanfiction, each chapter was formatted as if it were a 'scene' of a whole episode which is this work, as part of a hypothetical season which is the The Unofficial Acts (TUA) series.

This, once again emphasized here, is a HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO and UNOFFICIAL, established far before the release of the trailers in 2024, so it shouldn't be taken with severe scrutiny. Care was taken to approach this work as close to the canon element as possible, but there are no guarantees of non-discrepancy, especially in regards to added elements that are introduced here. Some other elements from the original LoL universe (especially but not limited to origin stories) have been altered in as much a sense as they were originally in the series.

The elements depicted here contain multiple SPOILERS from Arcane: League of Legends Season 01. This is a warning to those whom have not completely watched the entire series, prior to start reading this fanfiction.

Elements of graphical violence, angst, psychosis and paranoia might be included across not only this chapter, but also the series. You were warned.

Based on Arcane: League of Legends by Netflix and Fortiche Studios. League of Legends universe and characters by Riot Games.

MAN AND BEAST

There is no end to the Rain. Or the Lightning and Thunder. That's what the Man knows. That and that he must climb to the top.

No matter the fatigue or the condition. He must not fall. He cannot.

Else there won't be stopping... that.

We're all born with something. Something we just can't explain. Something that's just there.

He lost the number of times he had been forced back into the Cave. As he did lost the number of times he had to face... that. Especially when it *was* needed. To avoid it from drawing more blood. More misery.

And the one sure way, unless out of pure desperation, was to reach the top. By *any* means, which he hadn't.

He had only his body, and that had to make due.

Some of us are just born more curious. Others are more cunning. Others are just... a bit more hot-headed.

He was on the Climb, once again. His hands tried the hardest to keep the body aloft, the feet working like never before to keep his standing on the steep mountain. Attempting to prop himself up, harder as it appeared to be.

Approaching, as dragging as it seemed it be, towards the top.

-
This something is what makes us what we are. Beyond the growing-up, and our education and where we come from, this is what we're born with. For best or worst.

The Man hears the sound again. That growl, that gets his attention, to see it staring at him, in a predatory manner.

The Beast.

It wasn't his first encounter with it.

It wouldn't be the last.

And, as usual, the beast struck first as the Man had to dodge it's strike. The Man's sole advantage was his speed in retreating, instinctively, as the beast attempted viciously to hit him, attempting to relocate, but bound by the same rules of the Mountain as the Man was. The Beast, too, could not afford to fall either. It was in it's nature to survive by any means, first and foremost.

So was in the nature of *every* beast.

And that's the one thing no Society can control. Maybe that's why they're all so jumpy. Society did start with fear.

The Man had to dodge the Beast's attacks, the Beast itself not allowing the Man to climb and further, only forcing him down.

And then the Man heard it, echoing across the Skies above all. Distant, almost fading, but he could hear it. And so could the Beast.

The Wail. The one thing that was *always* out there. And it did attract the Beast more than the Man.

The Rain turns crimson. The Thunder and Lightning pick up in pace. The Man knows what it means.

The Wail would be silenced, in the most *direct* way possible.

The Man cannot take this. He never could. The consciousness of it weighted far too much on him than it ever did on the Beast. Thus, as the Beast looked back up and seemed to start to climb back up, the Man immediately climbed forward and, with all the strength it had, it lunged at the Beast's back.

The Rain and furious Thunder and Lightning kept on, furiously.

That's why Society goes and forces us to be something else. Something more in control. Or that can be controlled. Like if we were all bombs, ticking.

The Man kept on wrestling with the Beast, trying to hold it. Keep it from reaching the top as well. From finishing the Deed. The Man knew, as long as the wail was there, it couldn't let the Beast have it. The Man *had* to fight on, as long as the Rain was crimson. That was how it learned, from all the times it couldn't stop the beast or it didn't intervene at the first time.

Because the Man could share the same sight as the Beast, and thus realize the harrowing consequences. The Man fought on as long as it could, but the Beast was stronger, particularly with the crimson Rain that somehow fed it.

Eventually, the Beast itself loses patience and bashes it's back against the Mountain, making the Man lose balance and release his grip on the Beast, falling and grabbing the rocky walls of the mountain, mostly out of pure luck.

As the Beast rages in fury for the disruption, the Man is forced to return to the Cave to lick wounds. Gather strength back up. And try again. The Man noticed the Rain was no longer crimson. The Thunder and Lightning have also slowed down, being as frequent as they were before the Rain first turned crimson. The Man could only rest, back in the safety of the Cave, and that was hardly a victory.

Because else, if Society just could accept who we are and what we are... who knows what a something-else-world it could've been.

Outside the Cave, the Man could hear the Beast howling, as it always did.

To assert it's rule of the Mountain.

ACT VI

MAN MADE MONSTER MADE MAN

CAITLYN & VI

The iron gauntlets served well in holding firm, sometimes shoved, against the rocky walls of the fissures. If anything, Caitlyn had to admit Jayce had done something truly worthwhile with Hextech for once.

Ever since both left Jinx behind, Caitlyn noticed Vi's pained attitude all along, including the uncommon silence, only speaking when needed to go forward. This clearly was not due to the recovering of the gunshot she inflicted, but something else *did* happen in the 'healing' process. And it was clear that was the final straw in the sisterly relationship.

Also another thing Caitlyn so much wanted... and she got, and could only feel the *wound* of it, as much as making Jinx pay for all she did... also another thing Caitlyn had got.

No wonder the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' had a godlike sense of truth to it.

Ever since reaching the highest building possible, which turned out to be the very building Jinx first busted in with Vi, and now Caitlyn had followed, Caitlyn had little idea into how to be able to go further higher, especially considering Vi's condition. If only the elevators and stairway access weren't all destroyed in a futile effort by Camille to isolate the so-called nutjobs of the Dreadnought, the trip would've been simple... though the conditions didn't make it any easier. The enforcer couldn't just carry her partner and try to climb to the top with just one gauntlet.

Hence it took a while before Caitlyn could come with an idea, in spite of it being as risky. Searching through the building, she could a find a rope which she had Vi use to tie both up, tight to Vi's diaphragm and Caitlyn on her shoulders, using the torso to support the weight. From there, Caitlyn would 'lead' with the gauntlets that would help prop both up, using the gadget's strength to her advantage in propping herself up. The most complicated of it was indeed finding a *firm footing, but other than this, it became manageable.

Managing to get to the edge, Caitlyn was able to bring herself to the surface - and the ruined buildings - of the southern isthmus, and thus pull Vi to the surface as well, whom rested on her knees. Caitlyn took the chance at glancing at extended fissures, though mostly covered by the nocturne sky, that now engulfed far more the isthmus, as a wound or scar that Piltover would now have to live with. If it didn't *already* in the past, that was, the experiences of the weeks before being enough of an evidence of a city, two cities, desperately needing to heal.

Just as she needed. Just as Vi needed, as well.

Caitlyn took a breath, feeling the relief of the climb. Despite it all, it somewhat felt good to be back to safety again, in spite of the hard work it took, especially from a place where it was apparently quick to go down, but all the more difficult to get back up, all jokes on gravity aside.

Indeed the metaphor of an exit from hell made present.

But she also knew this wouldn't be the last that'd be seen of the Undercity. Not after all that just happened. The menace of the Dreadnought was still present to deal with...

She took a glance at the scarred Vi, whom was on her knees but then got on her feet, if almost tumbling, because of the Shimmer she took, no doubt more than the last time, when she was just stabbed. She tried walking only to almost trip down because of the rope that was still between them, which prompted Caitlyn to get on her feet, drop the Gauntlets, help Vi back up and tie off the rope.

But Caitlyn did notice one thing - even when naturally turning around, Vi forced herself into turning her back to the fissures or looking down, when she had to face the enforcer.

As if she were anathematizing that place... just as it did anathematize her, days before, because of that lynching mob.

"Vi.", Caitlyn called, as Vi headed to wear the Gauntlets back, nearly tumbling, on which Caitlyn picked her up again. "Vi, I-"

"Leave it, Cait.", Vi cut her off, the voice almost monotone. Soulless.

"I can't.", Caitlyn replied, staring into Vi, grabbing her by her shoulders, even as the former brawler looked down. "It was my fault."

"It wasn't.", Vi said, laconically. "It was mine."

"It was my shot!", Caitlyn insisted.

"Exactly.", Vi raised her head to stare at her, the eyes expression as if Vi was dead inside as well. "You had her. And I got in the way.", she lowered and wore the gauntlets again, as she turned to head back to the Bridge of Progress. "It was all my fault. Leave it."

"Vi-", Caitlyn tried pushing, a second later.

"LEAVE IT!", the brawler suddenly shouted, as she stared at Caitlyn, jumpscared by that, and then taking a breath. "Leave it, Cupcake..."

Vi nearly tumbled again, one more time, before Caitlyn, resigned and not wanting to start another fight, went to pick her back up again and start the long walk back home.

So concerned she was with bringing Vi back home she failed to notice the absence of the weapons belonging to... her.

Else, if she did notice, the thoughts would've been coming back to Jinx.

To what Caitlyn did.

To how it all ended...