Piltover - The Hexgate - [Continued]

Just below the Hexgate,

The tension in the air was palpable as the battle neared its devastating conclusion. Inside the crumbling structure of the Hexgate, the sound of sparking machinery and groaning metal echoed. Vi lay on her side, battered and bruised. Blood trickled down her temple as she grimaced, wrestling with the malfunctioning gauntlet on her left arm. With a guttural yell, she yanked it free, tossing it aside, and screamed in pain as she pushed herself to her feet. Her body shook with effort, her right gauntlet still intact, but it wouldn't matter if the floor gave out beneath her.

The grated ledge beneath her creaked ominously, bolts loosening one by one, the entire structure threatening to collapse. High above on a rusted pipe, Jinx crouched like a panicked bird, her wide eyes flickering between Vi and the danger below.

"Vi!" Jinx shouted, her voice strained and frantic.

Vi didn't move, clutching her injured arm tightly. She glanced down to where Vander's monstrous form lay unconscious, sprawled across the fractured floor. A chasm loomed nearby, and it seemed like one wrong move would send them both plummeting into oblivion.

"Vi, hurry!" Jinx cried, pointing toward a sturdier ledge to Vi's left. "You can make it the other ledge!"

Vi didn't budge. Her gaze lingered on Vander's hulking body.

"Vi! What are you—" Jinx's voice cracked with desperation as Vi limped toward Vander instead.

Vi dropped to her knees beside Vander, her tears spilling onto his twisted, inhuman face. Memories came flooding back—the nights they shared as family, the promises Vander had made to protect her and Powder, the sacrifices he'd endured. Her chest heaved as she grasped his face with trembling hands, turning it to meet her gaze.

"You can't save him!" Jinx called down, her voice shaky and uncertain.

Vi ignored her. Her tears fell freely now, dripping onto the scars that crisscrossed Vander's face. She continued to sob for Vander. The moments seemed to stretch endlessly until—

His eyes snapped with light.

They glowed a feral red as an inhuman growl rumbled from his throat. Vander's monstrous form erupted to life. His massive clawed hand shot out, striking Vi with such force that she barely managed to block it with her right gauntlet. The impact sent her sprawling backward with a grunt.

"Vi!" Jinx screamed, her voice shrill with panic.

Vander loomed over Vi, his growls morphing into guttural roars. His claws slashed downward with terrifying speed. Vi raised her gauntlet just in time to block, sparks flying as the claws scraped against the hardened metal. She groaned, the sheer force driving her back. The ledge beneath them groaned in protest, more bolts popping loose.

Jinx shifted on the pipe above, gripping it tightly. Her breathing was ragged, her hands trembling. She couldn't lose her sister. Not again.

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Her decision came in a heartbeat. Jinx stood, ready to leap into the fray, but just as she crouched, eyes squeezed shut, a deafening crack rang out.

A gunshot.

Jinx froze mid-motion. The loud sound echoed through the collapsing chamber like a final verdict. Smoke curled in the air.

Vi blinked, stunned, as Vander froze mid-swing. His monstrous frame jerked once, then twice. A smoldering hole had appeared square in his skull. The glow in his eyes flickered, dimmed, and finally went out. He fell forward, lifeless, his claws skidding against the floor just inches from Vi's face.

Panting, Vi slowly lowered her gauntlet and looked up. Across the ledge, a shadow emerged through the thick haze of smoke and dust. The figure stepped forward, their presence commanding, unshakable.

It was him. Master Chief.

The Spartan's towering form was unmistakable, his armor battle-worn yet pristine. In his hands was a Heavy Sniper Rifle, the barrel still smoking from the shot. He stood like a statue, calm and silent, lowering the weapon with an air of finality.

Vi, still on the ground, stared at him, struggling to catch her breath. The adrenaline in her veins kept her frozen. Jinx, perched above, exhaled a long, shaky breath of relief, her body sagging.

But the relief was short-lived.

The ledge beneath them trembled violently, the metallic groan of straining bolts cutting through the air. The structure shook, and Master Chief instinctively widened his stance. Vi's eyes widened in alarm as the ground beneath her gave way.

"No!" Jinx screamed from above.

The grating snapped with a loud metallic crack. Vi gasped as she plummeted, her body sliding with the crumbling debris. Vander's lifeless body tumbled alongside her, his massive form twisting in freefall.

"Chief!" Cortana's voice rang urgently in Master Chief's helmet.

Reacting instantly, Master Chief dropped the sniper rifle with a clatter, sprinting to the edge. His armored boots pounded against the unstable floor as it fractured further beneath him. With a precision that defied human reflexes, he lunged forward, one hand reaching down just in time to grab Vi's arm as she fell.

Vi grunted, her legs dangling over the abyss, her breath ragged. Her gaze darted downward, her heart sinking as she saw Vander's body disappear into the dark depths below. The thud of his lifeless form hitting the distant ground echoed faintly, a grim reminder of how close she'd been to the same fate.

Tears welled in her eyes as she squeezed them shut, unable to watch. Her chest heaved with sobs, a mix of grief and relief overwhelming her.

With one powerful motion, Master Chief hauled her up, placing her on solid ground. Vi collapsed to her knees, panting heavily, her trembling hands clutching the floor beneath her. The metallic taste of fear lingered in her mouth.

Jinx didn't hesitate. She leapt across the crumbling gap, landing unsteadily but upright, and rushed to her sister.

"Vi!" Jinx cried, dropping beside her. She grabbed Vi's face, checking her over before pulling her into a fierce embrace. "Are you okay?" Jinx sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh Powder..." Vi leaned into the hug, her strength fading, but she managed a weak, raspy response. "I'm okay... I'm okay..." She wrapped her arms around Jinx, holding her tightly, as tears of her own fell freely.

Master Chief stood nearby, silent as ever. He observed them for a moment, the two sisters clinging to each other amidst the destruction and chaos. Slowly, he turned toward the broken edge of the ledge, his boots clinking softly against the metal as he approached the precipice.

He peered into the darkness below. Vander's body lay far beneath, crumpled and motionless. Cortana's voice returned, softer this time. "Is it... over?" she asked, the question heavy with meaning.

Master Chief's voice was low, resolute. "Not yet."

He straightened, turning his gaze back to Vi and Jinx. The sisters were still locked in their embrace, their sobs filling the silence. He watched them for a moment longer, his presence an unyielding sentinel amidst their grief and relief.

Jinx, noticing him out of the corner of her eye, still holding Vi. She glanced at the towering figure. Her voice was barely a whisper, but it carried a deep sincerity.

"Thank you..."

Master Chief didn't respond, his visor betraying no emotion. He stood like a guardian, his imposing figure radiating calm strength. Without a word, he turned slightly, standing watch as the two sisters clung to each other, safe for now, in the aftermath of chaos.