Nora and Bangalore moved cautiously through the dimly lit corridors of the Black Market, their weapons drawn and senses heightened. The air was thick with tension as they neared the open space where Jack usually conducted his trades—a chaotic mix of crates, makeshift stalls, and debris from past battles. The sound of clinking metal and murmurs of unseen enemies filled the atmosphere.
The two women ducked behind a pile of crates, taking cover as a large group of Raiders and Legionaries converged on their position, weapons gleaming in the dim light.
Bangalore, breathing heavily, glanced at Nora, concern etched across her face. "Nora, we're outnumbered. Where's that extraction you were talking about?"
Nora quickly checked her Pip-Boy, fingers moving deftly over the screen. She could see the helicopter's location on the map, but the situation was becoming dire. She looked up at Bangalore, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's close—it should be here soon."
Before they could form a concrete plan, gunfire erupted from the other side of the room. Raiders and Legionaries began dropping like flies, caught off guard by an unexpected attack. Bangalore and Nora peeked out from behind their cover, their eyes widening in shock.
Charging in with precision and deadly efficiency was Bangalore's long-lost team—Octane, Loba, Lifeline, Bloodhound, and Wraith. The squad moved as one, each member perfectly in sync, taking down enemies with practiced ease.
Mirage, grinning mischievously, expertly landed two headshots with his Wingman revolver, sending the Raiders crumpling to the ground. As another raider rushed toward him, Mirage threw out a decoy, confusing the attacker long enough for him to circle around and deliver a lethal shot to the back.
Octane, a blur of speed, dashed between the Legionaries with his Stim-enhanced reflexes. He fired his R-99 SMG with pinpoint accuracy, taking down enemies as he zipped across the battlefield. One Legionary attempted to corner him, but Octane slid under his legs and fired upwards, a rapid burst of bullets sending the Legionary crashing down.
Loba, poised and graceful, sniped enemies from afar with her Sentinel rifle. She spotted a group of Raiders behind cover and threw her teleportation bracelet into the air. In a flash, she materialized behind them, her rifle raised. Calm and collected, she took them down one by one with precise, deadly shots.
Lifeline, ever the supportive force, wielded her Mozambique shotgun with deadly efficiency while her D.O.C. drone tended to her teammates. A Legionary tried to advance on her, but a single shot from her shotgun sent him sprawling, and her drone buzzed over to patch up Octane's minor wounds, keeping him in the fight.
Bloodhound, equipped with their trusty G7 Scout, activated their Beast of the Hunt ability. Their vision sharpened, allowing them to see through the smoke and chaos. They tracked a group of fleeing Raiders, picking them off with swift, accurate shots.
Wraith moved like a shadow through the battlefield. She phased into the void, reappearing behind a Legionary who was reloading. In a quick, fluid motion, she slit his throat with her tactical knife before vanishing again, evading enemy fire with ghostly precision.
Within moments, the combined efforts of Bangalore's team decimated the enemy forces. Raiders and Legionaries lay scattered across the ground, their weapons silent. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the remnants of battle, but the fight was over.
Bangalore, still in shock, slowly rose from her cover. Her heart pounded as she stared at the sight before her—her team, alive and well after two long years of separation. She took a hesitant step forward, emotions flooding her as tears welled up in her eyes.
Mirage, ever the jokester, holstered his weapon with a playful grin. "Sorry about that, boss. Had to take a detour to pick up some friends along the way for our awaited reunion."
Bangalore's voice trembled with emotion as she stepped forward. "You... you're really here?"
Lifeline, her expression soft and warm, approached Bangalore. "We never gave up hope, B. We knew you'd find us."
Bangalore couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She broke into a smile, embracing each member of her team in turn. They stood together, their bond as strong as ever despite the trials they had faced.
Nora, watching from behind, smiled softly, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She had witnessed something special—the reunion of a family forged in the fires of battle. For a brief moment, the chaos of the Black Market faded away, replaced by the warmth of friendship and loyalty.
Back on Earth-749,
The fight raged on with brutal intensity. Vi had just knocked Sevika to the ground, but Sevika wasn't finished yet. Slowly, she rose to her feet, fury burning in her eyes. Her lips curled into a sneer as she faced Vi and Caitlyn, her voice dripping with venom.
"Is that all you've got, Vi? I expected more from you. Guess you've gone soft," Sevika taunted, her mocking smile widening.
Vi didn't waste time responding to Sevika's taunt. Instead, she charged at her with all her strength, determined to end their feud once and for all. Sevika met her head-on, and the two collided in a flurry of punches and blocks, each strike resonating with the force of their enhanced strength. Caitlyn stood back, trying to provide cover. But as she pulled the trigger, a sinking realization hit her—she was out of bullets.
"Damn it..." Caitlyn muttered under her breath, frustration filling her as she quickly began reloading. The process took precious time, leaving Vi to handle Sevika alone for the moment. The battle between the two warriors intensified, every blow charged with their determination to win.
Meanwhile, in Cortana's world, Ezio struggled to recover from the powerful kick that had sent him to the ground. Mason, barely holding on, was locked in a desperate battle with Crazy Jack. Jack's speed, amplified by shimmer, made him a nearly unstoppable force. Mason did his best to block and parry, but it was clear he was outmatched.
Jack, sensing Mason's weakening defense, pressed his advantage. With a swift move, he slashed Mason's leg with his katana, causing Mason to cry out in pain and fall to one knee. Jack followed up with a brutal knee to Mason's face, knocking him further down. Mason's vision blurred as he struggled to stay conscious.
Jack stepped back, relishing the chaos he had caused. Looking down at Mason and Ezio, he grinned wickedly. "Oh man! That shimmer, it hits the spot!" Jack laughed maniacally, his voice filled with cruel delight. "Look at you two—barely able to stand. What's the matter? Too much for you?"
Despite the taunts, Ezio, determined not to let Jack's words break him, slowly rose to his feet. Blood trickled from a cut on his lip, but his eyes remained sharp and focused. Reaching behind him, he pulled out a crossbow and aimed it squarely at Jack. Mason, despite the pain, forced himself to rise as well, ready to continue the fight.
Back on Earth 749, the fight between Vi and Sevika reached a fever pitch. Caitlyn, still struggling to reload her weapon, watched with growing frustration as Vi overextended herself in her attacks. Fueled by anger, Vi's punches became reckless, and Sevika, with her enhanced agility, dodged them effortlessly. As Vi threw another punch, Sevika seized the opportunity. Grabbing Vi's arm, she countered with a series of brutal punches, finishing with a devastating uppercut that sent Vi crashing to the ground.
Vi lay momentarily stunned, and Sevika's gaze flicked to Caitlyn, who had just finished reloading her rifle. A vicious grin spread across Sevika's face as she charged at her. Caitlyn quickly raised her gun, but before she could fire, Sevika drew a hidden blade from her augmented arm and sliced through the rifle, rendering it useless. In one swift motion, Sevika grabbed Caitlyn by the neck, lifting her off the ground and choking her.
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Meanwhile, in Cortana's world, Ezio fired his crossbow at Crazy Jack. But Jack, moving with unnatural speed, dodged the bolt effortlessly. Ezio fired again, but Jack deflected the shot with a swift slash of his katana. While Jack was momentarily distracted, Mason, despite his leg wound, charged at him in a desperate attempt to tackle him. But Jack anticipated the move and grabbed Mason mid-charge, throwing him to the ground with brutal force.
Ezio, realizing the crossbow was ineffective, put it away and drew a dagger, sprinting toward Jack. The two engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle. Ezio dodged Jack's katana strikes while trying to land a blow with his dagger, but Jack's enhanced speed and skill were overwhelming. He parried Ezio's attacks and, with a powerful strike, disarmed the assassin, sending him to the ground.
As Jack raised his katana, ready to deliver the killing blow, Mason, bleeding heavily from his leg, forced himself to his feet. Seeing Ezio in mortal danger, Mason ran with everything he had left. Just as the katana came down, Mason threw himself in front of it, the blade sinking into his body. He cried out in pain and collapsed, mortally wounded.
"No!"
Ezio screamed in horror as he watched his friend fall. Enraged, he quickly scooped up dust from the ground and threw it into Jack's eyes, temporarily blinding him. In the split second that Jack was disoriented, Ezio tackled him to the ground. Activating both his hidden blades, Ezio drove them deep into Jack's body. The blades found their mark, and Jack's struggles weakened as the poison from the hidden blades took effect, paralyzing him and rendering him unable to continue the fight.
Back at the warehouse on Earth-749,
Chaos reigns, Sevika's cruel smile widens as she chokes Caitlyn, savoring the sight of her struggling. Caitlyn fights with all her strength, her hands clawing at Sevika's, but her strength is rapidly fading. Vi, lying nearby after taking a brutal uppercut, opens her eyes to the horrifying scene. She sees Caitlyn's face turning pale, her breath growing shallower. A surge of pure rage courses through Vi.
"No!" Vi screams, her voice full of raw desperation.
With a powerful burst of adrenaline, Vi charges at Sevika, slamming into her with all her might. The impact sends Sevika crashing to the ground. Vi doesn't stop. Fueled by fury, she throws punch after punch, her fists landing with bone-crushing force. Sevika's smirk fades as she struggles to block the blows, each hit knocking the air out of her. Caitlyn, coughing and gasping for air, watches in shock as Vi continues the relentless assault, her fists moving faster and faster.
"Vi, stop! Don't kill her!" Caitlyn pleads, her voice desperate.
But Vi is lost in her rage. She raises her fist one final time, ready to deliver a finishing blow, but Caitlyn's voice cuts through the haze. Vi hesitates, her fist hovering in the air. The primal rage inside her turns into something deeper, something more painful.
Caitlyn cries out again, "No!"
Vi screams, her voice echoing through the warehouse, and slams her fist into the ground next to Sevika's head. The impact cracks the concrete, sending a shockwave through the floor. Sevika lies motionless, her breath shallow, as Vi pulls back, her chest heaving with ragged breaths. Tears begin to well in Vi's eyes, the adrenaline draining from her body, replaced by a deep, painful sorrow. She closes her eyes, her fists trembling as she tries to regain control.
Caitlyn, still shaking, rushes to Vi's side. She kneels beside her, wrapping her arms tightly around Vi. "It's over, Vi," Caitlyn whispers softly, her voice soothing. "It's over."
Vi, trembling, clings to Caitlyn, her tears finally falling as silent sobs wrack her body. The two women hold each other, the battle behind them, the dust settling around their bruised and battered forms. The intensity of the moment fades, and for a brief time, all is quiet.
In Cortana's world,
The aftermath of the battle begins to settle. Ezio sprints across the battlefield toward his mother, Maria, who still lies on the ground where Crazy Jack had left her. His heart pounds as he falls to his knees beside her, hands shaking as he quickly unties the ropes that bound her. The moment Maria is free, Ezio pulls her into a tight embrace, his breath catching in his throat as tears well in his eyes.
"Madre... I thought I'd lost you," Ezio whispers, his voice trembling with relief and emotion.
Maria, her own eyes filled with tears, returns the embrace, holding her son as if afraid to let go. "Ezio, my son... You've saved me. I knew you would," she says softly, her voice gentle yet filled with overwhelming gratitude.
They hold each other for a moment longer, letting the relief wash over them. For a brief moment, the rest of the world fades away, and they are just mother and son, reunited at last. But the reunion is cut short when Michael arrives, his voice urgent as he surveys the battlefield.
"Ezio! Mason's hurt—badly!" Michael shouts, his eyes landing on Mason, who leans heavily against a nearby crate. Blood pours from a deep wound in his side, staining the ground beneath him.
Ezio pulls back from his mother, his expression instantly shifting to one of concern. He looks into Maria's eyes, giving her a final glance of reassurance, before rushing to Mason's side. Maria follows closely, her face etched with worry.
When Ezio reaches Mason, his heart sinks at the sight of the wound. Crazy Jack's katana had sliced deep into Mason's side, and blood is pouring from the gash. Without hesitation, Ezio presses his hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Mason's face is pale, and his breathing is shallow, but he manages a weak, strained smile as he looks up at Ezio.
"Hold on, Mason. Just hold on," Ezio says desperately, his hands slick with blood as he applies pressure to the wound, praying for some kind of miracle.
Ezio activates his comms, his voice strained with urgency.
"Mason is hurt, we need help!" Ezio's panicked voice echoes through the comms.
Bangalore's voice crackles on the other end, confused and concerned.
"Ezio, what's wrong with Mason? Is he...?" she asks, her words filled with uncertainty.
But before Ezio can respond, Mason, weak and barely conscious, raises a trembling hand, signaling for Ezio to stop. He looks up at Ezio with a sad, knowing expression, his voice faint and strained.
"Ezio... you're a good man. You've still got your family... treasure that. I've lost... too much already. Woods... and now... it's my turn." Mason (Variant) whispers, managing a faint smile.
Ezio's heart sinks as the weight of Mason's words hits him. Mason's eyes begin to close as his strength fades with each passing second. He fights to utter a few more words, his voice barely audible.
"Don't... lose... yourself," Mason says with his last breath.
His body goes still as he takes his final breath, leaving Ezio to feel the weight of the loss settle over him. Mason, a man who had sacrificed everything, was gone. Tears well up in Ezio's eyes as he leans down, placing a hand on Mason's shoulder in a gesture of respect and mourning. Maria, who had been silently watching, her eyes brimming with tears, places a comforting hand on Ezio's other shoulder. Beside them, Michael Torres stands somberly, his expression grave.
Ezio speaks softly in Italian, his voice heavy with grief.
"Requiescat in pace," he whispers.
The three of them stand in silence for a moment, mourning the loss of Mason as the grim reality of their situation sinks in. The battle may be over, but the cost had been unbearably high.
Back at the Warehouse,
Vi and Caitlyn, still tightly embracing after the harrowing battle with Sevika. Vi's voice is heavy with guilt and emotion as she speaks softly into Caitlyn's ear.
"I'm sorry, Cait... I lost control... I almost..." Vi chokes on her words, unable to finish.
Caitlyn, holding Vi close, gently strokes her back, her voice soft yet firm with understanding.
"It's okay, Vi. It's over now. We're okay. That's all that matters," Caitlyn reassures her, soothingly.
She pauses, catching her breath, then fixes her cold, piercing gaze on Vi. Her next words are filled with grim certainty, cutting through the moment of relief like a knife.
"It's not over. Not until Jinx is alive," Sevika sneers, a twisted grin forming on her lips. "You think she's changed, don't you? Three years... with you. But mark my words—Jinx will return to her old ways. She'll finish the revolution she neglected. Sooner or later, she'll remember who she really is. She'll bring this city to its knees... and when she does, all of your so-called victories will mean nothing."
Sevika's words hit Vi like a hammer, the weight of the warning sinking into her chest. She tightens her grip on Caitlyn, her jaw clenched, struggling to push away the fear and doubt creeping into her mind.Vi and Caitlyn remain silent, too wrapped up in their emotions to respond. Sevika's voice weakens, but her defiance remains strong.
"I won't let them take me... I won't give them the satisfaction," Sevika says with finality, a twisted smile curling her lips.
With her last bit of strength, Sevika pulls out a small vial of shimmer from her augmented arm. She glares at Vi and Caitlyn one final time before injecting the substance into her system, overdosing herself. A moment later, her body convulses violently, then goes still. Her eyes glaze over as life leaves her, taking control of her own fate, choosing death over capture.
At that moment, Brimstone arrives on the scene, closely followed by Piltover Officers, The Foundation, Frank Woods, and Alex Mason. They take in the aftermath of the brutal fight, weapons still drawn. Woods surveys the scene, his sharp eyes taking in the silence and the still forms on the ground.
"What the fuck happened here?" Frank Woods asks grimly, assessing the situation.
The Foundation steps forward, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats. His voice is calm but commanding, with the weight of a leader seeking answers.
"Is it over?" he asks, his tone firm yet concerned.
But Vi and Caitlyn remain silent, too caught up in their shared grief and exhaustion to respond. Caitlyn focuses on comforting Vi, who is still grappling with the emotional toll of what just transpired. The others exchange glances, realizing that, for now, there are no words to describe the depth of what Vi and Caitlyn have just endured.
Brimstone, recognizing the gravity of the situation, lowers his weapon and steps back, giving them the space they need. The rest of the team follows his lead, understanding that the aftermath of a battle sometimes leaves scars that are not easily healed.
The atmosphere heavy with the weight of loss, as the team processes the reality of the victory that came at such a high cost. The silence in the room speaks volumes, punctuating the end of the battle, but marking the beginning of new challenges that lie ahead.