Piltover - The Memorial Ceremony
The air was heavy with sorrow and anger as Piltover gathered to mourn and reflect. The ceremony at Progress Square was somber, the ruins of Progress Street looming in the background, a grim reminder of the attack that had shaken the city to its core. A large crowd filled the square, their murmurs subdued as Mel Medarda stood on stage, addressing the gathering.
Her voice carried through the quiet, firm and resolute. "We will find those responsible. And they will account for their crimes," she said, her words striking a chord of determination amidst the despair.
In the crowd, Mason and Woods stood side by side, their eyes scanning the scene with the sharp attentiveness born of years in the field. The crowd stirred slightly, but it wasn't Mel's words that caught Woods' attention. His sharp gaze locked onto an Enforcer moving suspiciously along the side of the stage, his demeanor out of place amidst the otherwise solemn guards.
"9 o'clock on the stage," Woods muttered to Mason, keeping his voice low and his movements subtle. "Enforcer. Something's off."
Mason followed Woods' gaze, his sharp eyes narrowing as he tracked the figure. "The hell is he doing?" he murmured, suspicion rising in his tone.
The Enforcer seemed to be edging closer to the stage, his hand hovering near his utility belt, his movements deliberate but too cautious to blend in. The unease in Mason and Woods grew instantly.
"Come on, Woods." Mason said, urgency creeping into his voice.
Without waiting for confirmation, the two began pushing through the crowd, their bodies tense and ready. Woods took the lead, his larger frame cutting a path as Mason stayed close behind, both of them careful not to draw undue attention to themselves.
The crowd murmured in confusion as they brushed past, but the two didn't stop. Their focus was locked on the Enforcer as the tension in the air thickened. The ceremonial atmosphere of grief was giving way to a more dangerous undercurrent, one they could feel but not yet see.
On stage, amidst the mourning crowd, a woman stood quietly behind Jayce Talis, her face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat and sheer curtains that masked her identity. Her voice, smooth yet chilling, cut through the somber atmosphere. "Awful, isn't it? Losing a loved one."
The tone was enough to send a shiver down Jayce's spine. Slowly, he turned his head toward her, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
In the crowd, Vi struggled against an Enforcer holding her arms back. Her eyes widened as she spotted another Enforcer moving purposefully toward the stage, a pistol clutched tightly in his hand. She gasped sharply, her instincts screaming danger.
On stage, Mel heard the approaching footsteps and turned just as the Enforcer reached her. His pistol swung like a hammer, slamming into her side of her face with brutal force. She staggered back, crumpling to the ground.
Mason, pushing through the crowd, froze for a split second before his instincts kicked in. "Shit!" he growled, quickening his pace.
The tension exploded as the woman behind Jayce removed her hat with a dramatic flourish, revealing her features. Her hair was cropped short, and glowing green tubes connected to her nostrils—a hallmark of Zaun's undercity enhancements. Her lips curled into a wicked grin as she activated a menacing weapon: a chainsaw that roared to life. She swung it with deadly precision, the teeth barely missing Jayce's neck as he stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. The crowd erupted into chaos, people screaming and backing away as the weapon's metallic whine filled the square.
Mel, still dazed on the ground, turned her head toward the Enforcer looming above her. He aimed his weapon directly at her but hesitated, his movements unnervingly calm. Instead of firing, he raised the pistol skyward and pulled the trigger. A single, bright flare rocketed into the sky, piercing through the cloud cover before detonating. A brilliant burst of light revealed a massive blip in the sky—a dark shape looming above the city, its presence ominous and foreboding.
Mason's heart sank as he saw the signal. "Flare!" He shouted.
The crowd surged in panic, fleeing toward the exits in a frantic wave. On stage, the Enforcer who had fired the flare turned back to the audience, his voice a venomous snarl. "You aren't safe up here, toppers. None of you are safe!" His words were a chilling declaration, cutting through the chaos.
Before he could act again, another Enforcer, Steb, charged forward. Tackling him to the ground, the two wrestled violently, their struggle adding to the pandemonium.
Meanwhile, Mason and Woods reached the stage, their weapons drawn. "All units, this is Mason! the ceremony is compromised! I repeat, the ceremony is compromised! Any available Enforcers or Marines, report in immediately!" Mason barked on comms, his eyes darting between the chaos unfolding. Jayce, still dodging the chainsaw's relentless swings, tried to maintain his footing, his face pale but determined.
The stage had become a battlefield, the once-solemn ceremony shattered into chaos as Piltover faced yet another insidious threat.
High above the chaos, the ominous blip in the sky began to shift. Metallic groans echoed as large bay doors slid open, revealing six figures silhouetted against the glare of the flare's light. For a moment, they hovered, their forms obscured by the height. Then, like missiles, they dropped, diving straight toward the ceremony below.
The first figure smashed into a nearby building, the impact sending debris flying. The force of the landing propelled the figure forward, clotheslining an Enforcer mid-run and sending him sprawling to the ground. The other five figures landed in quick succession, the ground shaking beneath their weight.
As the dust settled, the six figures stood revealed—hulking Chemtanks, their bodies enhanced by crude Zaunite technology. Green fumes hissed from vents embedded in their armor, and their glowing eyes scanned the chaos with a predatory menace. Their jagged weapons, each brimming with toxic energy, glinted in the dim light.
Woods froze for a moment, his mouth dropping open. "What the fuck?!" he muttered, disbelief flashing across his face.
Reacting quickly, dove toward the nearest downed Enforcer. Snatching up the Enforcer's rifle, he aimed it at the Chemtanks, his hands steady but his voice betraying the growing tension. "What the hell are these things?!"
The Chemtanks moved with purpose, their heavy steps reverberating through the square. One of them raised a massive sword-like weapon, its head crackling with unstable energy, and swung it into a nearby barricade. The force sent it flying, crashing into a group of fleeing civilians. Screams filled the air as the other Chemtanks began advancing, their movements methodical, their intent clear—chaos and destruction.
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"Don't let them near the civvies!" Mason barked into his comms, his voice rising above the din. He squeezed the trigger, unleashing a burst of gunfire toward the closest Chemtank. The rounds struck its armor but ricocheted harmlessly off, leaving faint scorch marks. The Chemtank turned toward Mason, its glowing eyes locking onto him.
Woods, recovering from his shock, unslung his rifle, his voice sharp with adrenaline. "These bastards are armored to hell!"
Woods steadied his rifle, the single-shot weapon primed and aimed directly at the Chemtank advancing toward him. He fired, the bullet striking the armored beast dead-on—only to ricochet harmlessly off its thick plating. The Chemtank roared in defiance, its glowing eyes locking onto Woods as it prepared to charge.
Woods scoffed, glancing at the downed Enforcer's rifle beside him. He snatched it up, inspecting the weapon briefly before growling in frustration. "Useless piece of shit!" he spat, as he scrambled for better cover.
Meanwhile, across the square, Caitlyn was locked in a deadly dance with another Chemtank. The hulking figure charged at her, its glowing sword slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Caitlyn dove and rolled under the swing, the blade narrowly missing her by inches, kicking up sparks as it struck the ground.
In a fluid motion, Caitlyn twisted around, her sharp eyes analyzing the Chemtank's design. Spotting a vulnerable tube along its upper side, she raised her rifle and fired a precise shot. The bullet punctured the tube, and a burst of purple gas spewed out, hissing violently as the Chemtank staggered. Its mechanical limbs faltered, and with a guttural groan, it collapsed in a heap, rendered useless.
Caitlyn didn't waste a second, her voice cutting through the chaos as she yelled toward Mason and Woods. "Aim for their tubes and valves! That's their weak spot!"
Mason, hearing her, snapped his attention to the nearest Chemtank. His eyes then scanning the creature as it advanced toward him. Spotting a glowing valve on its back, he adjusted his aim and fired. The shot struck true, and a rush of purple fumes erupted from the breach. The Chemtank stumbled, emitting a low growl before toppling over. Mason seeing the effect yelled towards Woods shouting, "Woods! Hit them on the tubes and valves!"
Woods, now crouched behind a barricade, gritted his teeth as he reloaded. "About damn time someone said something useful." He muttered, peering over the cover.
He popped up, taking aim at a Chemtank bearing down on a group of civilians. With careful precision, he fired a single shot into the exposed valves along its side. The Chemtank sputtered and groaned as it collapsed mid-charge, its frame crumpling under its own weight.
"Gotcha, you bastard!" Woods growled, his confidence returning.
Across the square, Caitlyn continued to direct Enforcers and civilians alike, her sharp commands cutting through the chaos. "Focus fire on the weak points! Don't waste ammo on their armor!"
As the tide began to shift, the Chemtanks' imposing presence was tempered by the organized resistance forming against them. But the battle was far from over, the air still thick with danger and the sound of destruction echoing through the square.
A Chemtank loomed over a downed Enforcer, its massive sword raised high, ready to strike. The Enforcer, helpless and dazed, braced for the inevitable. But before the blow could land, Vi appeared behind the hulking figure, gripping a nearby tank with all her strength. With a determined cry, she slammed it against the Chemtank's exposed valve. A hiss of purple gas erupted as the valve ruptured, forcing the Chemtank to stagger and turn sharply.
Vi lost her footing from the sudden movement and hit the ground hard, the Chemtank's glowing eyes now fixed on her. It roared, raising its sword high again, this time targeting Vi. Scrambling, she rolled to the side and pushed herself up, fists raised instinctively despite the absence of her gauntlets.
The Chemtank roared again, its sword swinging down toward her—but before it could strike, an electrified bolt shot through the air, striking the Chemtank square in the chest. Sparks danced across its armor as the surge of electricity caused it to stagger, temporarily immobilized.
Vi's eyes darted toward the direction of the shot. Standing at the square's entrance, cloaked in a white robe and signature outfit, was Enforcer Ezio Auditore. His crossbow, a sleek hybrid of Hextech technology and craftsmanship, was raised and aimed. The faint blue glow of the device reflected off his determined expression.
"What the hell?" Vi muttered under her breath, momentarily stunned by the sight.
The Chemtank, though staggered, grunted and tore the electrified bolt from its chest, dropping it to the ground with a heavy clatter. Before it could recover, a sharp hiss cut through the chaos. Another projectile, this one green and hissing, struck its arm. The Chemtank roared in agony as its metallic arm began to corrode and melt, purple fumes rising from the wound.
Standing beside Ezio was Enforcer Viper, her iconic green snakebite launcher from her wrist still aimed at the Chemtank. Her piercing eyes fixed on her target, she stared at the Chemtank with cold precision. "It's distracted," she called out, her voice sharp and commanding. "Octavio, Lena—now!"
From the edge of the battlefield, Octane, clad in his sleek Enforcer armor, grinned wildly. "Here we go!" he yelled, his voice charged with adrenaline. In a blur of motion, he sprinted forward, his augmented legs propelling him with unnatural speed. Sliding across the ground, Octane struck the Chemtank's legs with a perfectly timed kick, causing the hulking figure to stagger and collapse with a resounding crash. "Haha! Boom, baby!" Octane screeched, leaping to his feet with an exaggerated flourish.
Before the Chemtank could recover, another blur zipped into view—a streak of dark blue and gold that stopped just short of the fallen behemoth. Enforcer Tracer, donning her iconic outfit now accented with the Enforcer's official colors, appeared in a flash. The Chemtank swung its massive arm wildly, trying to strike her, but Tracer darted nimbly out of reach, her movements leaving glowing trails of light behind.
"Woops!" she teased, grinning as she vaulted onto the Chemtank. In one swift motion, she planted a glowing pulse bomb on its chest. The powerful, sticky explosive blinked ominously as she flipped off the Chemtank with effortless grace.
Viper, seeing the bomb in place, yelled out, "Get clear!" Her voice rang sharp and commanding, cutting through the chaos.
Vi, still near the Chemtank, glanced up in alarm. She turned to run, but the explosive timer ticked down too quickly. Before she could move far enough, Tracer blurred toward her in an instant, grabbing Vi by the arm and pulling her to safety just as the Chemtank let out a final, guttural roar. The pulse bomb detonated, consuming the hulking figure in a fiery explosion. Shrapnel and smoke filled the air as the blast reverberated through the square.
From a safe distance, Vi's hands dropped to her knees, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her hands rested on her thighs as the adrenaline coursing through her veins slowly subsided. Tracer, standing beside her, bent slightly at the waist, peering at Vi with a concerned yet playful grin. "You alright, love?" she asked, her voice warm and tinged with her distinct accent.
Vi didn't respond immediately, still too winded to speak. Tracer chuckled softly, her tone light. "No worries, yeah? You don't need to answer." She straightened up, placing her hands on her hips. "Lena Oxton, Enforcer, at your service."
Vi, still recovering, glanced up at Tracer and gave her a faint nod, acknowledging her. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Suddenly, something clicked in Vi's mind. Her eyes widened, the realization hitting her like a bolt of lightning. She straightened abruptly, panic flashing across her face. "Caitlyn," she breathed, her voice laced with urgency.
Without another word, Vi turned and sprinted back toward the ceremonial square, weaving through the wreckage and debris. Tracer's brow furrowed, her lighthearted demeanor fading as she called after her. "Wait—Caitlyn? Is she... alright?"
But Vi was already gone, her boots pounding against the ground as she disappeared into the chaos. Tracer exhaled sharply, her focus shifting as her comms crackled to life.
"This is Viper," the voice came through, sharp and tense. "We need backup now—more of those machines just arrived. It's not looking good out here."
Tracer tightened her grip on her chronal accelerator, her expression hardening. "On it," she responded, her voice steady despite the rising tension. In a flash, she disappeared, leaving only a blur of light in her wake as she raced to assist.
The square was far from safe, and the fight was only just beginning.