Piltover - Veteran's Center - [The Future]

Woods chuckled, the faintest glimmer of excitement flashing in his eyes. "The battle for Piltover," he began, his voice carrying a strange mix of nostalgia and chaos, "was pure madness. Absolute chaos—just how I like it."

He leaned back in his wheelchair, a faint grin tugging at his lips as he recounted the events. "You had Jinx and her crew from Zaun, the Enforcers, the Marines—hell, everyone—going head-to-head with Ambessa and Atriox. Explosions, gunfire, shimmer-enhanced lunatics tearing through the battfield. And above it all, up in the sky? The Autumn." He paused, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "They were locked in their own damn space battle against Atriox's ship, both sides going at it like the fate of the universe depended on it."

Woods let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "But here's the thing. It wasn't just us out there. Someone else joined the fight. Someone who..." He trailed off, glancing at Lawson with a knowing look.

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Lawson, now completely hooked, leaned forward on the edge of his seat.

Woods paused, his expression growing grim. "We almost lost. As a matter of fact, this war against Atriox and Ambessa? It's tied to one man—Viktor, Jayce's old science partner. But let me tell you, he was... different. Almost unrecognizable."

Woods leaned back, his voice tinged with disgust. "He almost turned Piltover into some lifeless husk of a city with his so-called vision of 'perfecting humanity.' But to me? That was pure bullshit."

Woods exhaled, shaking his head as he continued. "We were all caught in some kind of trance—some transition into becoming lifeless, soulless shells under Viktor's control. It was like our very essence was being drained, leaving nothing but... emptiness." His voice lowered, laced with unease. "But then, just like that, it stopped. As if something—or someone—broke the spell, saved us all from turning into something worse."

Lawson leaned forward, his curiosity evident. "Do you know who it was?"

Woods shrugged, his rough demeanor softening ever so slightly. "People say it was some kid named Ekko. I don't know how he did it, but somehow, he pulled it off. Saved the world from its worst."

He leaned back again, the faintest hint of a smile crossing his face. "The kid's a damn miracle worker, if you ask me."