Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

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Clang—

The triangular, outdated upgrade module was placed on the table as Link Star removed his lab coat. After spending so much time in the salty sea breeze of Bilgewater, the stench of blood and decay had clung to him like a second skin, impossible to shake off.

After a quick, refreshing shower, Link glanced at the calendar on his desk. The Harrowing was less than a week away, and his workload was only growing. Lucian's exoskeleton, Vander's unfinished armor, the weapons for the spies, and the specialized tools to combat the Black Mist—none of it was ready.

"Time is like water in a sponge. If you squeeze hard enough, you'll find some," Link thought to himself as he buttoned up a clean shirt. From now on, sleep would have to wait. The Harrowing demanded his full attention.

Miss Fortune was busy dealing with Bilgewater's local bosses. Had she found Twisted Fate yet? Among the champions tied to the Harrowing, he'd already recruited quite a few. Twisted Fate was still out there, Lucian was on board, and then there was Olaf.

As he sat down at his workbench, Link picked up the Hextech communicator and dialed Dakora, who was back in Piltover.

The call connected, and the silver-haired girl appeared on the screen, her expression calm, regal, and slightly bored—eerily similar to Camille. Who was imitating whom here?

"What now, my dear boss?" Dakora crossed her legs and sipped her tea. "Another brilliant idea?"

"How's the progress on Janna's faith collection?" Link asked. Janna's power was crucial. Only with enough faith and restored strength could she stand a chance against the Harrowing.

"The chapels for Janna are set up," Dakora replied, setting her cup down. "Shrines are spread across the city. The Seabird Guild's product launch was a success, and the wind-powered tricycles are slowly taking over Piltover's transportation market."

"What about Zaun?"

"Since Janna is a native deity of Zaun, spreading her faith there has been even easier than in Piltover." Dakora rolled her eyes. "Unlike the fat, lazy elites of Piltover, the people of Zaun are much more... enthusiastic. They've embraced Janna's faith without hesitation. Shrines are being set up, and we've started building a church in the most polluted area."

Link nodded. Building a church in the heart of Zaun's smog was a brilliant move. The contrast between the toxic air outside and the clean atmosphere inside the church would serve as the ultimate advertisement for Janna's power.

"Use the Seabird Guild to fund Zaun. Distribute respirators, but make sure everyone who receives one prays to Janna."

"Yes, yes, of course," Dakora sighed.

"Any news from Piltover and Zaun?" Link asked.

"News?" Dakora paused. "Hold on, let me grab the reports."

She disappeared from the screen for a moment before returning with a stack of documents.

"Let's see..." She flipped through the pages. "The Zaun Academy construction is in full swing. Heimerdinger's having a second wind down there. Ekko's Firelights are working with Caitlyn's Enforcers to clean up the remaining Chem-Barons."

"What about Caitlyn's rat problem?" Link remembered their last meeting, where she'd gone to Jayce and Viktor for new equipment to deal with the mutated plague rats.

"Most of the rats have been dealt with, but a few escaped."

Link shook his head. Caitlyn still had a lot to learn.

"Tell Caitlyn to track down those escaped rats. We can't afford any loose ends."

Dakora nodded and made a note.

"The Council's formation is almost complete. I'll send you the list of members later."

"Good."

"Viktor's been keeping to himself lately. Our spies can't get close to his lab. No idea what he's up to."

"Ask Singed. He's been working with Viktor."

"Got it."

"Anything else?" Link's mind raced as he processed the information, already planning his next moves.

"Yes." Dakora's expression turned serious. "Remember what I told you about my great-aunt?"

"You mean Ixtal?" Link raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly. The family's planning to expand south, into Ixtal's forests and mines."

"Develop Ixtal?"

Link frowned. Ixtal was home to Ixaocan, a hidden kingdom ruled by the proud and diminutive Elementalist, Qiyana. And the champions there were no joke.

There was Malphite, who was busy holding the line against the Void underground. Then there was Zyra, the Thorny Menace, who could move through any root system in the jungle. Even if her plants were cut down, they could regrow and serve as her eyes and ears. If they accidentally stumbled into her territory, they'd end up as dried-up husks wrapped in thorns.

And that wasn't even counting Rengar, the Pridestalker, who could leap out of the bushes and take someone's head off in an instant. Or Nidalee, whose spears never missed. And then there was Kha'Zix, the Voidreaver, hunting in the jungles, or Rek'Sai, tunneling beneath the earth.

And let's not forget the dragons—elemental dragons of wind, fire, water, and earth, and their various subspecies.

"I think it's a bad idea," Link said slowly.

"But the family's expansion plans are running out of options," Dakora countered. "With Piltover and Zaun growing, if we don't move into Ixtal, someone else will. We need to act first."

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 156 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 100 power stones I will publish the next chapter.