Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

"How did an alchemical baron manage to infiltrate Piltover? And at the memorial event, no less!"

"Enforcers, what are you even doing?!"

"What's in that bag? Is it a bomb meant for an attack?"

"Who's this masked guy ripping off the baron's disguise? Is he on our side?"

The scene was utter chaos. The enforcers on duty were overwhelmed—letting an alchemical baron into the venue was an unforgivable failure on their part.

Look at those high-profile figures with their grim expressions.

This year's, next year's, and probably many years of their budgets... gone!

The elites and nobles were fuming.

At a solemn event like the memorial, an alchemical baron infiltrated—what a disgrace!

Worse, it seemed premeditated, like an attack was imminent.

What were the enforcers doing? Useless!

Cut their funding, all of it!

Mel Medarda's expression was ice-cold. While fury surged within her, her sharp gaze shifted between Renni, who was restrained, and the mysterious figure cloaked in black veils.

This person seemed to know beforehand that the alchemical baron planned to attack the venue. That's why they caused the earlier commotion.

Who was this person?

A warrior secretly trained by Piltover's aristocracy? Or one of her mother's agents sent for her protection?

Such strength, combined with their decisiveness, didn't feel like the work of a typical Piltover native.

As everyone speculated, Link was busy searching the unconscious thug's attire.

He pulled out a signal gun, tossing the thug aside as he approached Caitlyn.

"This is a signal gun, used to summon reinforcements," Link explained, altering his voice as he handed it to Caitlyn.

"Who are you?" Caitlyn asked with suspicion.

"Just a concerned citizen of Piltover, your friendly neighborhood spide—" Link coughed to stop himself. "Ahem, just a helpful neighbor. That's all you need to know."

"By the way, Renni infiltrated the venue because someone's backing her from the shadows. She plans to exploit the tension between Zaun and Piltover to launch an attack and profit from the chaos."

"Renni might be blinded by hatred, but she's not stupid. This isn't over yet."

As Link spoke, he glanced at the domed ceiling above the venue.

Caitlyn followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing as she pieced together his meaning.

"Evacuate everyone immediately!" Caitlyn's sharp command rang out. "Now! Leave the venue!"

Mel, standing at the podium, caught Caitlyn's shout. Pairing it with the exchange between the mysterious figure and Caitlyn, she instinctively looked up.

The alchemical baron's direct involvement was bold, but upon closer thought, it felt like bait—a distraction. The real danger came from—

—Above.

Mel's heart sank into ice.

They had access to an airship, capable of launching the next phase of the attack from above.

Realizing this, Mel gripped the brass microphone in front of her, yelling hoarsely, "Everyone, evacuate in an orderly manner, now!"

"Enforcers, call for reinforcements! Watch the skies and prepare for an aerial assault!"

Her announcement froze the crowd momentarily before panic set in, and people began rushing for the exits under the enforcers' guidance.

In mere moments, the bustling venue emptied into eerie silence.

During the evacuation, enforcers called for every available unit to converge on the site.

Amidst this, Link felt something was off.

In the "script," Renni was supposed to grab the alchemical punk chainsaw sword. Then, a thug disguised as an enforcer would storm the stage, shoot Mel with the signal gun, and terrify the crowd with threats.

The signal would summon shimmer-enhanced soldiers who would descend from the skies, wreaking havoc.

That was the "correct" progression.

By apprehending Renni early and dispersing the crowd, Link had disrupted this sequence.

Yet the shimmer soldiers hadn't arrived.

Why?

Because no one fired the signal gun.

But with so much at stake, would the airship abort the mission simply because the signal wasn't given?

Of course not!

Instead, without a signal, the shimmer soldiers would scatter across Piltover and launch indiscriminate attacks on its citizens.

"Hand me the signal gun!" Link demanded.

Caitlyn, after inspecting the weapon briefly, handed it back. "What's going on?"

Grabbing the gun, Link quickly explained, "Renni has a squad of shimmer soldiers waiting aboard an airship. Without a signal, they'll spread across Piltover, attacking indiscriminately."

Caitlyn's eyes widened in realization.

"You mean—"

"We have to fire the signal gun!" Link interrupted, pulling the trigger.

The triangular flare shot through the ceiling, shattering the glass as it exploded into bright light above the venue.

"This will draw the shimmer soldiers here. If they scatter, Piltover will be defenseless, and chaos will reign!"

"This way, we can concentrate our forces and avoid a bloodbath across the city."

Caitlyn shouted for the enforcers to prepare for combat. Mel, now standing with Jayce, confronted Link.

"Why fire the signal gun?"

Caitlyn explained everything in hurried detail, leaving Mel pale with understanding.

Link turned to Jayce. "Get your hammer—now!"

Jayce nodded and sprinted toward the Academy.

Link's eyes fixed on the shattered dome above. Black dots appeared in the sky, growing larger with every second.

"They're here!" he shouted.

The shimmer soldiers smashed through the ceiling, landing amidst shattered glass and rising dust.

Their alchemical suits emitted low growls as they stood.

Link removed his veiled cloak, revealing his intricate and formidable exoskeleton armor underneath.

Pressing his hat down, he leaned forward slightly, taking a deep breath.

"Let's see what alchemical tech is really made of!"

In the next moment, he launched forward like an arrow.