Arcane: Let's Burn Down Runeterra!

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"Put on the gear we captured and take a rest. We'll have the final battle soon. Hey, you two over there, stop fighting!" Vi walked over, kicked apart the two squabbling over a bulletproof vest, grabbed it, and tossed it to Justin. "Rest? Shouldn't we strike while the iron is hot?"

"We're the ones attacking. Rest here for half an hour. They're the ones who should be anxious, not us," Justin glanced at the newly acquired watch. They had five hours, and half an hour had already passed. For the guards at the entrance, the period just after assembling and before reinforcements arrive would be their tensest, when they'd be most vigilant. In the first two hours, they'd be on high alert, but as time drags on with no action, they'd grow restless and naturally let their guard down. When reinforcements are about to arrive, they'd rally again. So, waiting another half hour was the optimal time to strike. They held the initiative; there was no rush.

"How's Powder doing?" Vi sat down beside Justin. Only now did he manage to take a good look at her. Vi had been tomboyish since she was a child, with short hair and a strong build. She was fond of fighting, impulsive, courageous, and responsible. Born in the Upper City, she might have become a cop, but having been raised in the Lower City, she ended up as a prisoner instead. Vi changed a lot since their childhood. Her face was more chiseled, her muscles increasingly robust, her tattoos exaggerated and shoddy. She even wore a ring, making Justin a little uneasy as he subtly edged away.

"Who did those tattoos for you? They look terrible..."

"I did them myself."

"You did them yourself?" Justin was startled. "Are you worried you're too pretty? There's really no need to be concerned..."

"In this prison, having clean skin makes you an easy target."

"Just like Jinx, you're two of a kind."

"Did... did Powder get tattoos too?" Vi's eyes mirrored a disturbed well with ripples after a stone throw.

"She wanted to, but I stopped her."

"Thank you." Vi surprisingly managed to express gratitude, followed by an enduring silence. Justin gazed at her face, both familiar and foreign, wanting to talk about Powder or about himself, yet struggling to find the words. It felt like divorced parents reuniting to talk only about their child. One had left her, and the other felt guilty for not taking better care. Both Vi and Justin felt guilt when they thought of Jinx, making it all the harder to speak.

"Sigh," Justin suddenly exhaled. Since that night, he had developed a penchant for sighing. "I can only tell you that Jinx... Powder is still bouncing around, walking and running just fine. Mentally, she's just somewhat..."

"What happened?" Vi appeared anxious.

"A little girl unintentionally blew up her dad and two companions, then got slapped by her sister. How do you think she'd be?"

"I'm sorry," Vi hugged her knees and buried her head, hiding her expression. Justin placed a hand on her shoulder, unsure of how to comfort her. The incident had scarred Vi as much as Jinx, but Vi had always been strong, so it didn't show. "Do you still hate her? You disappeared after that night." "No! I never hated Powder!" Vi suddenly lifted her head. "I've been in prison these past years!" 

"I see," Justin finally felt relieved. Once Vi returned, Jinx's mental state might improve significantly. That is if they could escape from Stillwater Hold. "Rest time is over! Form up! We're about to face the final battle. Once we win, we'll break out of this cage, like fish into the sea, like birds into the sky, no longer restrained!" Consecutive victories had given Justin immense authority among the prisoners; even the most defiant ones obeyed without question now. 

"There's only one exit in Stillwater Hold, heavily guarded. We've fought skirmishes before, but now we face a siege. We can't just charge in recklessly. I'll divide the team into three groups: shooting, defense, and assault." Justin didn't expect this makeshift group of prisoners to be well-organized or disciplined. The division of labor had to be clear, and orders simple: "The defense team with shields stays upfront. Your riot shields can block bullets, so don't be afraid. Protect those behind you. The shooting team, press the trigger and don't let go during battle. I don't expect you to kill anyone, just don't hit our own. The assault team is the key. Our tactic is simple — play to our strengths, avoid weaknesses. Once we break through their line of fire, the assault team will scatter their formation for close-quarters combat." 

After giving orders, most prisoners scrambled for guns. They weren't stupid; it was best to stay at the back, and having a gun made post-escape easier. "Defense team, prioritize protecting the assault team. The shooting team is just cover, don't mind them." With just that, the prisoners scrambled to join the assault team. 

"You seem suited to leadership." Since childhood, Vi had found Justin's maturity intimidating, making him stand out among the children. Although she was the leader, everyone usually followed Justin's advice whenever he spoke. Except for that last time — their willfulness and recklessness had led to the disaster. 

"It's just the circumstances. Don't be fooled by how articulate I am; I have no idea how things will turn out in the chaos. Honestly, when you step into a leadership role, just appearing confident ensures some will follow you, no matter how idiotic your plan is. Wasn't that how you did it before, Vi?"