A/N
Right, here we go Part 2.
Sit back, brace yourselves, and get ready… it's a heavy one, very sad.
Enjoy (or cry, that's valid too).
Chapter 22 - Sacrifice Act 4 (Finale) P2
Back in the camp's centre, Ambessa stepped closer to Vi. "You've caused enough trouble," Ambessa said, her voice like a cold blade. "You're nothing but a pawn in a larger game, and pawns are meant to be sacrificed."
Vi met her gaze with unwavering defiance. "You really think you've won?" she asked, her lips curling into a smirk.
Ambessa ignored the remark, drawing a massive axe from her side. The weapon gleamed in the firelight as she raised it high, preparing to deliver the final blow. But as she swung, she realized too late that something was missing.
Part of Caitlyn's rifle...
A metallic click echoed in the air as Vi shook off her restraints with practiced ease, pulling a small device from her sleeve. With a triumphant grin, she tossed the net bomb from Caitlyn's rifle toward Ambessa. The net deployed mid air, wrapping around the Noxian general and pinning her to a nearby table. Electricity surged through the bindings, causing Ambessa to convulse as her grip on the axe faltered. The massive weapon clattered to the ground, and her body slumped, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Singed worked with single minded focus, preparing to inject the serum into Warwick's trembling form. The beast flinched in its sleep, its massive claws scraping against the floor of the cage as the scent of blood filled the air. Singed held the syringe steady, his movements slow and deliberate.
But before he could deliver the injection, Caitlyn wrapped an arm around his throat, pulling him into a stranglehold.
"You're not going to hurt him," Caitlyn hissed, her voice filled with cold fury.
Singed clawed at her arm, his face contorted in surprise and pain. The syringe fell from his grasp, shattering on the ground as he struggled against her iron grip. His rasping breaths grew fainter until his body went limp, collapsing into unconsciousness.
Jayce wandered through the commune, each step felt heavier than the last, the whispers growing louder, more insistent.
"Destroy it..."
"End it all..."
"You're the only one who can fix this..."
Jayce pressed a hand to his temple, trying to silence the voices, but they only grew louder, drowning out the peaceful hum of the commune around him. His grip on the Mercury Cannon tightened as the whispers took on a darker edge, urging him to act.
Ahead, a young child stood near a garden, no older than six, their small hands holding a basket of herbs. The child's laughter broke through the noise in Jayce's head, a brief moment of clarity. But as the arcane visions surged again, the laughter distorted into a sharp, grating sound. The world around Jayce twisted and blurred, the vibrant commune dissolving into a chaotic blend of colours and shapes.
Before he realized what he was doing, Jayce raised the Mercury Cannon, pointing it directly at the child. His hands shook violently as the weapon hummed to life, its barrel glowing ominously.
The child froze, their wide eyes locking onto Jayce's. They didn't scream or run only stared at him with a mixture of confusion and fear.
Jayce's breathing quickened as the voices roared in his mind. "Do it. End the curse. Destroy it all!"
His finger hovered over the trigger, his vision swimming with overlapping images of destruction and despair. But as he looked into the child's eyes, a single voice softer, clearer pierced through the chaos...
Naruto.
"Don't let it take you, Jayce. My father once believed in you, and now I do too"
The child tilted their head, curiosity replacing fear. They stepped closer to Jayce, their small hand reaching out to tug gently at his sleeve. Without a word, they gestured for him to follow, their expression calm and serene.
Jayce hesitated, his heart still pounding, but something in the child's demeanour compelled him to move.
The child led him to the building at the heart of the commune. Jayce's eyes widened as he took in the structure it radiated a strange energy, both foreign and familiar, that made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
The child stopped at the entrance and looked up at Jayce, their gaze unwavering. With a small nod, they turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone before the doorway.
As Jayce entered he froze, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. Viktor's face was calm, his eyes closed, his breathing steady. The arcane tendrils pulsed in time with his heartbeat, creating a mesmerizing display of light and energy.
"Viktor..." Jayce's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried through the room.
Caitlyn stood beside the sleeping form of Warwick. His massive frame rose and fell with each laboured breath, his claws twitching intermittently as though caught in the throes of a dream. Caitlyn hesitated, her hand hovering near his furred shoulder. She had faced many dangers in her life, but few carried the weight of this moment.
She placed a hand on him, her voice soft yet commanding. "Vi sent me... Wake up. I'm going to get you out of here."
For a brief moment, his breathing slowed, his muscles stiffened, and Caitlyn thought she had reached him. But before she could act further, a shadow loomed over her.
A cruel laugh echoed through the chamber. "Ambessa, believed in you" sneered Rictus as he stepped out from the shadows, his massive frame dwarfing Caitlyn, holding his weapon "Your death will be deep cut."
Picking Caitlyn by the throat, Rictus was getting ready to deliver the final blow, a sharp crack echoed through the room as the blast of a shock pistol lit the air, streaking toward Rictus. He twirled his glaive with practiced ease, deflecting the energy shot with the shimmering runes etched into its blade.
Caitlyn's gaze snapped toward the commotion just as the sound of breaking glass filled the air. Jinx smashed through the window, her wild grin belying the fire in her eyes.
"You're lucky," Jinx said, sparing Caitlyn a quick glance. Her tone was sharp, but her words carried a hint of sincerity. "I only saved you since Vi asked so nicely." Then her gaze locked on Rictus, her expression shifting to one of manic glee as she swung her pistol onto her shoulder.
"You've got some nerve, girl," Rictus sneered, as he recovered from the first attack. "Playing hero in a place like this. What happened to the little Zaunite queen I used to hear about?"
Jinx smirked, her fingers twitching over the trigger of her pistol. "Oh, she's still here," she purred, her voice laced with mock sweetness.
With a roar of laughter, Rictus lunged at her, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. Jinx sidestepped at the last second, the sharp edge grazing her arm. She fired a shot, her pistol releasing a crackling bolt of energy that narrowly missed Rictus but struck a nearby wall, sending sparks flying.
"Nice try, sweetheart," Rictus taunted, advancing on her with calculated steps. "But you're gonna have to do better than that."
Jinx's grin widened, her mind already racing with strategies. "Better? Sure, let's make this fun!" She pulled a small grenade from her belt and hurled it at Rictus. The explosive detonated mid air, releasing a burst of smoke and blinding light.
Rictus growled, his vision momentarily obscured. "Cheap tricks!" he barked, swinging his blades wildly to keep her at bay.
From the smoke, Jinx's maniacal laughter echoed, sending a shiver down his spine. She darted out from behind him, landing a swift kick to the back of his knee. Rictus stumbled but recovered quickly, whirling around to slash at her. Jinx ducked, her movements fluid and unpredictable, her shock pistol firing again and grazing his shoulder.
"Not bad for a little pest," Rictus admitted, shaking off the sting of the shot. "But you're out of your league, kid."
Jinx shrugged, spinning her pistol as she backed away. "League? Nah. Just having a blast!" She fired another shot, this time aiming for his legs. Rictus used the runes on his weapon again deflecting the shot. He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, trying attack Jinx as she dodges all his attacks.
Rictus then grabs her hair her back as he knocks her pistol out of her hand. "Let's see how you fight without your toys," he snarled, it clattered to the ground.
Jinx hissed in pain but didn't lose her composure. Instead, she grinned wider, leaning in close to his face. "Who said I needed toys?"
She drove her knee into his gut with all the force she could muster. Rictus grunted, his grip loosening just enough for Jinx to twist free. She rolled backward, grabbing a wrench from a nearby and swinging it at him. The weapon collided with his jaw, sending him backwards.
"You little—!" Rictus spat blood, his grin now twisted into a snarl. He lunged again, his blade slicing through the air.
Jinx dodged, as he just missed her hair as strands of it fell onto the floor.
"You're slowing down," Rictus taunted, his confidence growing as he pressed the attack. "Getting tired already?"
Jinx wiped some blood from her lip, her eyes narrowing. "Nah, just getting started."
She grabbed a handful of scrap metal from the floor and hurled it at his face. Rictus batted it away, but the distraction gave Jinx enough time to dive for her shock pistol. She rolled to her feet, the weapon humming with power as she took aim.
"Say cheese!" she shouted, firing a bolt of energy directly at his chest. The impact sent Rictus stumbling back, his armour sizzling from the shock.
Before Jinx could press her advantage, Rictus roared in fury, charging at her like a bull. He slammed into her, knocking her to the ground. His blade hovered inches from her throat as he grinned down at her.
"Game over," he growled.
Jinx's hands scrabbled for anything she could use, her fingers closing around a loose pipe. She swung it upward with all her strength, smashing it into Rictus's face. He roared in pain, giving her just enough room to wriggle free.
"Not today, big guy," she said, panting as she scrambled to her feet.
Rictus wiped the blood from his nose, his eyes blazing with rage. "You're dead, you hear me?! DEAD!"
Before Rictus could strike, a deafening roar filled the room, shaking the very walls. Both Jinx and Caitlyn froze as Warwick's eyes snapped open, glowing with a fierce, primal light. The massive beast rose to his feet.
"Don't... touch... my daughter," Warwick growled, his voice guttural and filled with a terrifying intensity.
Rictus barely had time to react before Warwick moved with lightning speed. The beast's massive claw caught Rictus mid-swing, gripping him like a ragdoll. With a feral snarl, Warwick hurled Rictus through a nearby window. The sound of shattering glass and Rictus's pained scream
Warwick turned back to Jinx, his glowing eyes softening as he knelt down, his massive frame towering over her. Jinx stared up at him, her wide eyes brimming with tears. Slowly, she reached out a trembling hand hugging him.
Caitlyn, still recovering from the attack, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of disbelief and emotion. Jinx give her a cheeky smile when the door opened up.
Vi and Isha burst into the room, their expressions shifting from alarm to relief as they saw Jinx and Warwick. Without hesitation, Vi ran to them, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around Jinx and Warwick. Isha followed, her small hands clutching Warwick's fur as she buried her face against him.
The four of them held onto each other tightly, their breaths mingling as they shared this rare moment of unity. Warwick's massive arms encircled them all, his once monstrous growls replaced by soft, pained rumbles.
From her spot on the floor, Caitlyn felt a lump rise in her throat. She wiped a stray tear from her cheek, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the turmoil within her.
The chaos erupted in an instant...
The air within Viktor's sanctuary crackled with raw energy, the sound of the Mercury Cannon firing piercing through the stillness. The arcane projectile struck Viktor square in the chest, the force of the blast obliterating part of the ceiling and showering the room in debris. Viktor's body was flung backward, crashing into the floor with a sickening thud.
For a moment, there was silence... stillness as if time itself had paused to process the act. Then, as if triggered by Viktor's fall, every one of his followers collapsed where they stood. Their bodies convulsed as their markings flared to life, glowing brilliantly before beginning to fade.
Viktor's breath came in ragged, shallow gasps. He lay on the floor, his once serene expression now twisted in pain, the glow of his arcane-enhanced form dimming rapidly. The tendrils of magic that had connected him to the commune now writhed aimlessly, seeking their anchor but finding nothing.
The screaming began...
One by one, Viktor's followers clutched their heads, their voices raised in agonized wails. Their bodies writhed as though an unbearable force tore at their very beings. The arcane markings that had adorned their skin glowed fiercely, then dissipated like dying embers, leaving behind scars that pulsed with residual energy.
Jayce stood amidst the chaos, his face pale but set in grim determination. The Mercury Cannon hummed faintly in his hands, its power depleted for the moment. He stared at Viktor's crumpled form, his eyes shadowed by the weight of his actions.
"This... this had to be done," Jayce muttered, as much to himself as anyone else. His voice wavered, the conviction in his tone faltering. He glanced at the screaming followers, the sight of their suffering chipping away at his resolve. "Hextech is a curse... I had to end it."
But even as he spoke, the tortured cries of Viktor's followers clawed at his conscience. He took a step back, his hands trembling as he lowered the cannon. His arcane visions flickered in his mind, whispering doubt and despair.
Naruto stood at the edge of the camp as he finally set foot inside, his glowing blue eyes narrowing as the screams of Viktor's followers echoed through the air. He clenched his fist, the energy humming around him as he turned to Sevika and the others.
"It's now or never," he said firmly, stepping into the camp. "Get ready."
Sevika, taken aback by his sudden resolve, hesitated for a moment before nodding. She waved her crew forward, her mechanical arm sparking as she prepared for whatever was to come. "You heard him! Move in, and watch each other's backs!"
As Naruto crossed the threshold, the sight of Viktor's followers writhing in agony and the marks on their skin fading confirmed the worst. His jaw tightened.
He had waited too long?
The stakes had climbed too high.
At that moment, Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, and Isha all ran outside, their expressions a mixture of confusion and fear. Jinx's shock pistol was clutched tightly in her hand,
"What the hell is going on?" Jinx shouted, scanning the camp.
Vi's eyes locked onto Naruto. "What did you do?" she demanded, stepping forward.
Naruto ignored the question, his focus drawn to a deep, guttural roar that shook the ground beneath them. The sound sent a chill down everyone's spine, and they all turned toward the source. Warwick staggered out from the shadows of the commune, his massive frame illuminated by the fiery red glow that now radiated from his body. His form seemed to ripple with molten energy, lava like fluid seeping from his wounds and dripping to the ground, where it sizzled and smoked.
"Vander?" Jinx's voice wavered, a mixture of concern and fear.
Warwick let out another roar, this one even more agonized than the first. He clawed at the ground, his massive talons carving deep gouges as he struggled against the overwhelming pain. His eyes burned red, his snarls becoming more erratic as he lost himself to the torment.
Rictus, who had managed to stumble out from the shadows, saw his opportunity. Grinning wickedly, he reached for his weapon.
But before Rictus could strike, Warwick's head snapped toward him, his glowing eyes narrowing with feral intensity. With a speed that defied his size, Warwick lunged. His massive claws raked through Rictus's body as if it were paper, eviscerating him in a single strike. Blood sprayed across the ground as Rictus's body collapsed, lifeless.
"Vander!" Vi shouted, stepping forward, but Jinx grabbed her arm, holding her back.
"He's not in control!" Jinx said, her voice breaking. "We have to help him!"
The ground trembled as Warwick's molten aura intensified, the heat radiating from his body scorching the ground beneath him. He roared again, this time with a mix of agony and fury, the sound reverberating through the camp.
Naruto stepped forward, his glowing blue eyes locking onto Warwick. "Get everyone back," he ordered, his voice calm but commanding. "This isn't just him losing control. It's something else... something worse."
Vi hesitated but nodded, pulling Caitlyn and Jinx away from the chaos. Isha, clutching Jinx's hand tightly, followed without protest.
Sevika and her crew formed a loose perimeter, their weapons raised, though they exchanged nervous glances. The sheer intensity of Warwick's transformation made it clear that this was no ordinary fight.
Naruto clenched his fist, the core within his chest flaring to life as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation. "Vander," he called out, his voice steady. "If you can hear me, fight it. Don't let this thing win."
For a brief moment, Warwick's glowing eyes flickered, a faint glimmer of recognition cutting through the haze of rage and pain. But it was fleeting, drowned out by the molten fury consuming him.
The ground trembled as Ambessa's forces stormed into the camp, their crimson banners unfurling in the wind. At their head, Ambessa loomed like a force of nature, her massive armour gleaming under the fiery red glow of Warwick's transformation. Her soldiers spread out, weapons ready, as they took in the chaos. The sight of Rictus's eviscerated body sent a ripple of unease through their ranks, but Ambessa's thunderous voice cut through the air.
"Forward!" she commanded, pointing her massive blade toward Warwick. "Take down the beast!"
Her soldiers surged into the fray, a tide of red clashing against the flickering flames and molten ground Warwick now commanded. The creature roared, its massive form barrelling through the lines, scattering soldiers like leaves in a storm. Claws raked through shields and armour, leaving destruction in their wake.
Naruto stood on the battlefield, his grip on his weapon tightened. With a deep breath, he charged forward, energy crackling around him as he cut through the enemy lines. Each swing of his blade was precise, each step calculated.
"Get out of my way!" Naruto growled, his voice echoing with the power coursing through him. He weaved between Ambessa's soldiers, his blade slicing through their ranks with devastating efficiency.
Jinx and Vi darted through the chaos, keeping low as they tried to get closer to Warwick. Jinx's pistol was primed, the hex crystal inside glowing faintly. "We have to reach him!" Jinx yelled over the din of battle.
"Stay behind me!" Vi shouted, her fists slamming into an oncoming soldier, sending him flying into the dirt.
"I don't do 'stay behind!'" Jinx retorted, vaulting over Vi and firing her pistol at another attacker. Sparks flew as the shockwave knocked him unconscious. "Come on, Vander's in there somewhere!"
Caitlyn moved alongside them, her rifle trained on Ambessa's forces. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, covering Vi and Jinx as they closed in on Warwick. But her focus was broken when a blade swung toward her side. She twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding the strike, only to find herself cornered by a group of soldiers.
"Damn it," Caitlyn muttered, readying herself for a fight.
A streak of blue light cut through the air as Naruto appeared between her and the soldiers. His blade flashed, and in an instant, the attackers were down. He turned to Caitlyn, his glowing eyes meeting hers. "Watch your back next time," he said with a small smirk.
Caitlyn's eyes narrowed, annoyed slightly. "I had it under control," she snapped, reloading her rifle.
"Sure you did," Naruto replied, already moving back into the fray.
Ambessa watched the battlefield from atop a small rise, her gaze narrowing as she took in Warwick's rampage. The molten fluid dripping from his body scorched everything it touched, creating an inferno around him. Her soldiers were struggling to keep their ground, and even her commanding presence wasn't enough to turn the tide.
"Enough," Ambessa growled. She raised her massive blade and charged into the fight herself, her movements swift and precise for someone of her size. She swung her weapon in a wide arc, scattering flames and clearing a path through the chaos.
Meanwhile, Jinx and Vi finally reached Warwick's side. "Vander!" Jinx shouted, her voice breaking. She fired her shock pistol at his feet, the burst of energy slowing him down but not stopping him. "Come on, it's me!"
Warwick hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes flickering with recognition. Vi took the chance to step forward, her voice steady despite the chaos around her. "Dad, listen to us. You can fight this."
As the battle raged on, Naruto found himself facing Ambessa's elite guard. They moved in unison, their training evident as they tried to surround him. But Naruto's glowing blue eyes burned brighter, and the core in his chest pulsed with renewed energy.
"You're in my way," he said coldly, the ground beneath him cracking as he released a surge of power. He leapt into the air, his blade slicing through the guards with precision. Landing gracefully, he turned his gaze toward Ambessa.
Flames roared, steel clashed, and screams filled the air. Warwick loomed over Vi and Jinx. With a deafening roar, his massive claws swept outward, knocking both sisters aside like rag dolls. Jinx's pistol skittered across the ground, coming to a stop just feet away from a trembling Isha.
Naruto's focus was locked on one target, Ambessa. She was cutting down anyone in her way, her massive blade a beacon of destruction amidst the chaos.
Naruto slashed his way through Ambessa's soldiers, his movements fluid and precise. His glowing blue eyes blazed as his blade carved through the opposition, each strike taking him one step closer to the woman who was turning the tide of battle against them. Sevika and the others fought fiercely behind him, keeping the remaining forces occupied. Yet no matter how fast Naruto moved, it felt like time was slipping through his fingers.
"Ambessa!" Naruto shouted, his voice cutting through the battlefield. But she was too far, too consumed by the fray. Desperation clawed at him as he pushed forward, slashing and dodging with relentless determination.
Isha, watching from the edge of the chaos, trembled as she saw Jinx and Vi struggling. Her small hands clenched into fists, she darted forward, weaving through the chaos, until she reached the discarded pistol. Her fingers wrapped around it, and she pulled it close, her gaze shifting to the glowing hex crystals in her pocket.
Jinx scrambled to her feet just in time to see Isha loading the pistol with the two hex crystals from Vi's gauntlets, alongside the one already in the chamber. Her heart dropped. "Isha, no!" she screamed, panic flooding her voice.
Isha looked up, her small frame trembling, yet her resolve burned brighter than ever. Her hands clutched the weapon tightly as her determined gaze locked onto Warwick. Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, weaving through the chaos and dodging blows aimed at her from all directions.
Warwick's claws slashed across her stomach, the force sending her tumbling back and driving the air from her lungs. She gasped, clutching at the wound, but sheer adrenaline forced her back to her feet. Teeth gritted, tears streaming down her cheeks, Isha pushed through the pain, running directly toward the monstrous figure.
As she ran, her mind flashed with images, vivid and warm, like a lantern in the dark. The first memory came easily.
Naruto's laugh, hearty and unrestrained, as he ruffled her hair after she'd managed to sneak up on him during one of their games. She could still hear his voice, teasing and full of pride. "You're like me now, Isha. No one can stop you!"
Another memory surged forward Jinx's infectious grin as she showed Isha how to paint her hair blue with wild streaks of colour. They'd both been covered in dye by the end of it, laughing so hard they couldn't breathe. Jinx had called it "battle paint," promising that together, they could take on the world.
Then came quieter moments, Naruto sitting cross legged beside her, showing her how to fold a piece of paper into the shape of a bird. His single hand moved deftly, and when he placed the finished crane in her palm, his glowing eyes softened with pride. "See? You can make anything if you believe in it."
And Jinx, whispering stories late at night, her voice low but filled with wonder. "When the stars are out, they're watching over us," she had said, tracing patterns in the sky. "Someday, we'll be up there too, watching over Zaun and everyone we love."
Isha's heart ached as she thought of them. They had given her a home, a family, and a reason to believe in something brighter. In her short life, they had been her everything. She knew the pain they carried, the battles they fought within themselves every day. And she couldn't let them lose each other. Not now. Not ever.
Her tears mingled with blood as she clutched the shock pistol tightly, her steps hollow as she had one single thought.
"Naruto... Jinx... I'll protect you," she thought to herself, the words barely audible over the roar of the battle. Her small frame trembled, but her resolve burned bright.
She could hear Naruto's voice again in her head, not scolding or protective this time, but encouraging, full of that unwavering belief he always had in her. "You've got this, Isha. You're stronger than you think."
Jinx's playful smirk flashed in her mind, followed by the warmth of her words. "Don't hold back, kiddo. Show the world what you're made of."
As the distance between her and Warwick closed, the memories didn't fade they fuelled her. They were her strength, her courage, her reason to keep going. She knew this was her moment, and she wouldn't falter. For Naruto. For Jinx. For everything they had given her.
With a deep, trembling breath, Isha leapt forward, the pistol primed, her heart full of love and determination.
Finally, she slid beneath Warwick, her small hands trembling as she positioned the pistol beneath him. Her lips quivered, but a faint, determined smile broke through her tears.
She turned toward Jinx and, mimicking the motion of firing a pistol with her fingers, softly whispered, "Pew."
Jinx's chest tightened painfully at the sight. Her voice cracked as she screamed, lunging forward, "Isha, don't do this! Please!"
Before Jinx could reach her, Vi grabbed her arm, holding her back. "Let me go!" Jinx shrieked, thrashing violently against her sister's grip. "Naruto! Help her!"
Naruto turned sharply at the sound of Jinx's desperate plea. His heart seized as his gaze locked onto Isha standing fearlessly beneath Warwick.
"No!" Naruto roared, his voice ripping through the battlefield like a thunderclap.
The blue electricity surrounding him surged violently, flashing into a deep, menacing crimson. A raw, unrestrained power erupted from within him, propelling him forward with blinding speed. The world blurred around him as his vision tunnelled, focused solely on reaching Isha.
Warwick's claws descended, but Naruto reached her just in time. His arm wrapped around her small frame as the crimson electricity surrounding him crackled and flared with destructive intensity. In one fluid motion, he zapped away in a flash of red light, narrowly escaping the monster's strike.
The pistol in Isha's hand discharged, its hex crystals releasing an immense surge of magical energy. The resulting explosion was cataclysmic, a blinding wave of power that engulfed Warwick, Ambessa's soldiers, and a massive swath of the battlefield in an instant.
Naruto crashed to the ground a short distance away, his body trembling from the sheer exertion of the effort. Crimson sparks flickered and faded around him as he knelt on the ground, clutching Isha tightly in his arm. Her small frame felt too light, too fragile, as it lay limp against his chest.
His voice cracked as he whispered, "Isha…"
Naruto knelt on down on the battlefield, his body trembling as he cradled Isha's small, fragile frame against his chest.
His glowing blue eyes flickered with pain and desperation, his hand trembling as he gently touched her pale face. The gash across her stomach, inflicted by Warwick's claws, was deep. His chest tightened as tears welled in his eyes, streaking silently down his face.
"Isha…" Naruto whispered, his voice cracking as his thumb gently wiped away a smudge of dirt from her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open weakly, the spark in them dim but still present. Slowly, she raised a trembling hand and began to sign, her movements slow and deliberate.
"Did… I do good?" she signed, her tiny fingers struggling to form the words.
Naruto's throat tightened, and his vision blurred as he fought to keep it together. He nodded quickly, his voice low and steady despite the tears streaming down his face. "Yeah," he said, forcing a soft smile. "You did great, Isha. You were amazing."
Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles, her fingers moving again, slower this time. "Good... Everyone… safe?"
Naruto felt his heart shatter as he saw the hope in her fading eyes. He swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to consume him. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice trembling. "Everyone's safe. Because of you, Isha. You saved us all."
Her smile grew faintly wider, a flicker of peace crossing her face as her breathing grew shallow. Naruto's chest heaved, the pain in his heart unbearable as she raised her hand one last time to sign...
"Can we… go home?"
Naruto's body stiffened as those words struck him like a dagger to the chest. His lip quivered, and his tears fell freely now, but he forced himself to smile. He couldn't let her see his pain. He had to stay strong for her.
"Yeah," he whispered, his voice trembling as he pressed his forehead against hers. "I'll take you home, Isha. We'll go home, okay? you can rest now, close your eyes. Everything's going to be okay."
Isha's fingers twitched one last time, her faint smile lingering as her eyes fluttered shut. For a brief moment, her small body relaxed in his arms, her face peaceful. Then, the light faded from her eyes, and her hand fell limp at her side.
Naruto knelt on the battlefield, the blackened earth beneath him cracked and scorched, a reflection of the torment consuming his heart. His single arm cradled Isha's small, lifeless frame tightly against his chest, his trembling hand cupping her head as if the warmth of his touch could bring her back.
Tears streamed down his face, carving paths through the mud, as his entire body shook with raw, unrestrained sobs. He lowered his forehead to hers, his hair falling over his glowing blue eyes, now flickering like a dying flame.
His breaths were shallow, erratic, and punctuated by gasps as he struggled to form words.
"Isha," he croaked, his voice hoarse and broken. "I… I was supposed to keep you safe. I was supposed to… protect you…"
The words caught in his throat as a sob wracked his body, and he clung to her with a desperation that bordered on madness. His fingers tightened, his grip trembling, as if holding her tighter could somehow reverse the inevitability of her stillness. His tears fell onto her pale cheeks.
"I promised," he whispered, his voice shaking as he rocked back and forth. "I promised you'd be okay… I promised you'd get to go home."
He repeated the words, over and over, his voice growing quieter with each iteration until it was barely a whisper. His mind spiralled, fragments of memories flashing before his eyes.
Isha's bright smile, her wide eyed curiosity, the way she signed her words with such joy. Each memory stabbed at his heart, breaking him further.
"I shouldn't have let you…" he began, but the sentence dissolved into a pained cry. His head snapped back, his glowing eyes wide with anguish as he screamed into the air.
The sound echoed across the battlefield, a raw, guttural wail that carried the weight of his shattered soul.
His single hand clutched at his head, fingers digging into his scalp as his mind spiralled further. His voice grew louder, his words tumbling out in a chaotic torrent.
"This wasn't supposed to happen! You were supposed to live! You were supposed to grow up, to laugh, to be happy. Not… not this."
He slammed his fist into the ground, the force sending a shockwave through the earth. Cracks formed outward from the impact, and faint traces of his crimson energy sparked erratically around him. "It's my fault," he muttered, his voice trembling. "It's always my fault…"
His breath hitched, and he began to laugh a hollow, broken sound that teetered on the edge of hysteria. "What a joke, right?" he said, his voice rising as he looked down at Isha's peaceful face. "I'm supposed to be the hero… the one who saves the day… and look at me. One arm. Useless. Couldn't even save a kid."
The laughter dissolved into sobs, his shoulders shaking violently as he bent over her, clutching her as if the weight of his body could shield her from further harm. "Isha," he whispered again, the name a prayer, a plea, a curse. "Come back. Please… I'll do anything. Just… come back…"
The core in his chest flickered weakly, its light dimming as his will drained away. The ground around him smouldered, the heat of his anguish radiating in waves. His arm fell limp at his side, and his grip on her slackened, his strength leaving him completely.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry I wasn't enough…"
He stared at her lifeless face, his vision blurred by tears, and for the first time, Naruto felt utterly lost. The unbreakable resolve that had carried him through every fight, every hardship, now crumbled beneath the weight of his failure.
He was no longer a warrior, a leader, or even a survivor.
He was just a broken man, holding the shattered remains of a promise he could never keep.
Naruto barely noticed the sound of footsteps on scorched earth as Jinx approached, her breath ragged, her pink eyes wide and flickering with insanity, a look that had been dormant for far too long. Her steps faltered as she saw them Naruto kneeling on the ground, cradling Isha's lifeless body. The scene hit her like a freight train, the air ripped from her lungs as if she'd taken a direct hit.
Her shock gave way to fury, and her hand instinctively went to the pistol at her side, that she had found on her way here.
Jinx gripped it tightly, her knuckles whitening as she stared at Naruto, his body trembling, his head bowed. His single arm clung to Isha's small frame as if he could shield her from the truth, but it was too late.
"What… what did you do?" Jinx's voice cracked, raw and accusing. She took a step closer, the fire of her rage consuming her shock. Her breathing quickened, her thoughts spiralling out of control. "What did you do?!"
Naruto didn't respond. His glowing blue eyes, now dim and dull, stared blankly at the ground. The once brilliant core in his chest flickered weakly, like the dying embers of a fire that had lost its will to burn.
Jinx's head jerked as her own voice whispered from the depths of her mind.
He let her die...
Just like before...
Just like everyone else...
She clutched at her head, her fingers tangling in her blue hair as she shook her head violently.
"No, no, no, no!" she muttered, her voice rising with each repetition. Her pink eyes darted between Naruto and Isha, the sight tearing at her heart. Memories of laughter, of quiet moments where they'd felt like a family, now twisted and burned in her mind.
Gone. All of it, gone...
"She was just a kid!" Jinx shrieked, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. She pointed the pistol at Naruto, her hand trembling. "You were supposed to protect her! You were supposed to—"
Her voice choked as she staggered back, gripping the pistol tighter as the whispers grew louder.
He failed...
He failed you...
He failed her...
Just like always...
Naruto finally lifted his head, his tear streaked face blank, his gaze empty as he looked at Jinx. "I… I couldn't save her," he whispered, his voice devoid of life. "I couldn't…"
The words sent Jinx over the edge. She screamed, the sound primal and filled with anguish, and pulled the trigger. The shock pistol fired, the blast of energy striking the ground inches from Naruto. The force sent a spray of debris into the air, but Naruto didn't flinch. He remained still, as if the world around him no longer existed.
"You didn't even try!" Jinx yelled, tears streaming down her face as she stepped closer. Her voice cracked, the pain in her words as sharp as a blade. "You let her die, Naruto! You let her—"
Her voice faltered as she saw the way he looked at her, his glowing eyes dim, his body slumped as though the weight of the world had crushed him.
He looked like a man who had already died inside. For a fleeting moment, her anger wavered, replaced by something colder, something darker.
It's always the people closest to you, the voices taunted.
They'll always let you down...
Always leave you behind...
Jinx's grip on the pistol tightened, her pink eyes blazing as she pointed it at him again. "Why?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Why do you always survive? Why do you get to live, and they don't?"
Naruto didn't answer. He simply lowered his head again, his single arm cradling Isha protectively as if shielding her from the wrath of the world even if it was too late.
"Answer me!" Jinx screamed, her finger hovering over the trigger. The voices in her head grew deafening, a chaotic symphony that threatened to consume her completely.
But then, she hesitated. Her gaze fell to Isha, her small face so peaceful despite the chaos that surrounded them. The sight tore at Jinx's heart, and the pistol wavered in her hand. Her tears fell faster now, mixing with the dirt on her cheeks as the fight drained from her body.
She dropped to her knees, the pistol falling from her hand as she pressed her palms to her head. "No… no… no…" she muttered, her voice cracking. Her body trembled as she rocked back and forth, the weight of her grief and guilt crashing down on her.
"Isha…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Isha…"
The whispers in her head subsided, replaced by a deafening silence that left her hollow. She looked at Naruto, her pink eyes filled with anguish. He still hadn't moved, his body hunched over Isha's, his glowing core now barely a faint ember.
For the first time, Jinx didn't see the unshakable leader she had always looked up to.
She saw a broken man, as lost and shattered as she was.
And it terrified her...
Caitlyn's boots crunched against the uneven ground as she approached, Vi's limp body cradled carefully in her arms. Her sharp, calculating eyes scanned the devastation around her.
Fires still burned, and the air was thick with ash and the distant cries of Ambessa's soldiers searching for survivors. But Caitlyn's attention locked onto the haunting scene before her, Naruto and Jinx, shattered in a way she had never thought possible.
Naruto knelt on the ground, cradling Isha's small, lifeless body as if it were the most fragile thing in the world. His head was bowed, his once brilliant blue eyes dim and lifeless, his core barely flickering with faint light. Beside him, Jinx sat hunched over, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Her pink eyes, usually alight with manic energy or mischief, were dull and empty as they stared at nothing.
Caitlyn swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat. She had seen them beaten before, pushed to the edge.
But this… this was something else.
They were the unshakable pillars of Zaun's chaos and resilience, and now they were nothing but hollow shells.
"I'm taking Vi to Piltover," Caitlyn said firmly, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice, though steady, was tinged with urgency. "She needs medical attention, and fast."
Jinx's eyes flicked to Vi for the briefest moment, a spark of something perhaps guilt or longing crossing her face. But then she returned her gaze to the ground, her shoulders sagging as she muttered in a dead tone, "Okay. At least… at least she'll be safe."
Caitlyn stared at them, her frustration mounting as they refused to engage, refused to fight. "What about you two?" she demanded. "What are you going to do?"
Naruto didn't answer. He didn't even look up. Jinx remained silent as well, her hands gripping her knees tightly, as though holding herself together was the only thing keeping her from unravelling completely.
Caitlyn's jaw clenched, her composure fraying. She saw Ambessa's forces combing through the wreckage, their shouts and orders growing closer. "We need to leave," Caitlyn pressed, her voice sharp. "If Ambessa captures us, it's over."
Still, they said nothing. Naruto sat frozen in place, and Jinx didn't even flinch. Caitlyn's frustration boiled over, and she snapped, "Fine. You're both under arrest for all the crimes you've caused, for the chaos you've unleashed. If you won't move for yourselves, then you'll move because I'm taking you in."
Naruto finally looked up, his dim eyes meeting hers. His face was pale, streaked with tears and exhaustion, but his voice was quiet, steady, and hollow. "That's fine," he said, slowly rising to his feet, Isha's small body still held protectively in his single arm. "I surrender."
Jinx's head shot up, her eyes wide with a flash of emotion anger, sadness, disbelief. But she didn't argue. She didn't yell or fight back. Instead, she pushed herself to her feet, her movements slow and deliberate, and raised her hands. "Yeah," she said flatly. "I surrender too."
Caitlyn hesitated, her sharp gaze flicking between the two of them. She searched their faces for any hint of a trick, any spark of defiance, but found only emptiness. Nothing but hollow acceptance.
Finally, she nodded. "All right. Let's go."
Caitlyn adjusted Vi in her arms, carefully balancing her unconscious form, and began to walk away from the ruins of the battlefield. Naruto followed silently, his steps heavy as he carried Isha's lifeless body close to his chest. Behind him, Jinx trailed, her eyes locked on Naruto's back. Her heart ached with a mixture of anger, sadness, and a profound emptiness she didn't know how to name.
As they walked, the whispers began. Soft at first, barely more than a murmur, but unmistakable.
"It's good to finally be back."
Jinx froze, her breath hitching as her head snapped to the side. She saw him the younger Naruto, vibrant and full of life, his bright blue eyes gleaming with mischief and confidence. He grinned at her, an expression that sent a shiver down her spine.
"See? I told you I'd never leave you, Jinx."
Her hands balled into fists, her breathing unsteady as the hallucination laughed, the sound echoing like a haunting melody in her ears.
The once feared Demon of Zaun and the manic girl known as Jinx now walked in silence, broken and defeated...
The weight of their loss hung heavy in the air, and as the hallucination continued to laugh softly in her mind, Jinx's gaze remained fixed on Naruto's back, her heart breaking all over again.
Chapter 22 - Sacrifice Act 4 (Finale) P2
A/N
Jinx and Naruto both acted very differently here. Naruto, losing the will to fight and carry on, was completely down and out a side of him we don't often see. Meanwhile, Jinx, fiercely protective over Isha, found herself spiralling as the voices crept back in.
And we all know what that means...
They're both so broken right now, in ways that are heartbreaking to watch.
I wrote this chapter while listening to Cardigan and Somewhere Only We Know, and man, it hit me hard. It felt so sad, fr.
But with that, the finale of Act 4 is done.
What a ride ay!
I really hope it was good. I've been struggling to like my newer chapters lately, but these last two felt right, and I'd love to hear what everyone thought about them.
I'll be taking another break to recharge and work on Black Myth and The Spider, but I just have to say…
Isha was truly the GOAT of Season 2.
We're getting close to the end of this story, and I want to thank everyone who's been reading. It means the world to me. I hope this has been as enjoyable for you as it's been for me to write.
Next act will be the AU, maybe two or three chapters.
Then we'll have three chapters for the ending.
So only 5–6 updates left!
Happy New Year, I wish you all the best!
Until next time,
Byebye!