Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Ekko's heart pounded in his chest as Ambessa's crescent blades swung down toward him, the sharp, gleaming edges cutting through the smoke-filled air. The battlefield around them was a blur—thousands of soldiers clashing, explosions lighting up the sky, and the smell of blood and gunpowder thick in the air. But in this moment, there was nothing but Ekko and Ambessa, locked in their deadly dance.

Time seemed to slow as the blades descended toward him. Ekko's instincts kicked in, but with no weapon in hand, he was left with only his speed and strength. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding one of the blades as it sliced through the air where he had just been standing. His body hit the ground hard, and he rolled quickly to his feet, his senses on high alert.

Ambessa was already on him, relentless in her pursuit. Her twin blades whipped through the air, each strike faster and more deadly than the last. She was like a storm—swift, violent, and unyielding. Ekko barely had time to react as the chains wrapped around him, their hooks tearing through his clothes and armor. He gritted his teeth, the pressure of the chains squeezing the air from his lungs, but he wasn't done yet.

With a surge of strength, Ekko pulled against the chains, using his enhanced speed and agility to break free. He launched himself backward, narrowly dodging another swing from Ambessa's blades. He needed to regain his footing, find a way to counter her, or this battle would be over before it even began.

His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching for anything he could use. The smoke was thick, and the sounds of combat echoed around him, but he saw his sword, his Swordbat, lying just a few feet away. It was within his reach—but so was Ambessa.

She was already moving in, her gaze locked on him with cold, calculating eyes. She knew he needed the weapon. She knew he was at his most dangerous with it in his hands.

Ekko had no choice. He couldn't let her take control.

With a burst of speed, Ekko sprinted toward his weapon, his legs pumping with the force of his newfound strength. Ambessa followed, her blades snapping through the air in a deadly arc. The first one missed, but the second one wasn't so lucky. The chain wrapped around Ekko's ankle, yanking him off balance.

But as he fell, Ekko reached out, grabbing his Swordbat just in time. The moment his fingers closed around the handle, the power surged through him once again. The blade hummed with energy, and Ekko's senses sharpened to an almost superhuman degree.

He swung the Swordbat with all his might, the weapon crackling with energy as it clashed against Ambessa's chain. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

Ambessa grunted, her feet sliding backward as she tried to regain control of the battle. She wasn't used to being pushed back—not by anyone. But Ekko was different. He was faster, stronger, and more determined than he had ever been before.

With a snarl, Ambessa swung both of her crescent blades in a wide arc, the chains ripping through the air toward Ekko. But this time, Ekko was ready. He sidestepped the attack, moving with a fluidity and grace that left Ambessa's strikes missing by inches.

Before she could react, Ekko closed the distance between them in a flash, bringing his Swordbat down in a powerful arc aimed directly at her head.

Ambessa raised her blades to block, but the force of Ekko's strike sent her sprawling backward, her blades skidding across the ground. She growled in frustration, her eyes flashing with fury. "You think you can defeat me, Ekko? I am a Medarda! I am the future of Noxus!"

Ekko didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste time with words. Instead, he advanced, his movements swift and calculated. He knew the battle wasn't over. Ambessa was relentless—she would fight to the last breath, and if Ekko let his guard down for even a second, she would take advantage of it.

Ambessa recovered quickly, using her chains to propel herself back onto her feet. She raised one of her blades in a defensive stance, her eyes narrowed with hate. "You've been playing with fire, Ekko. And now, you're going to burn."

With a savage roar, she lunged forward, the chains cracking through the air like whips. Ekko barely had time to react, but he wasn't about to let her take control. He spun to the side, his Swordbat flashing through the air as he parried her attack. The clash of steel rang out, but Ekko didn't falter. He was stronger now, and he could feel the power flowing through him.

Ambessa growled, frustration evident on her face. She swung her blades again, this time aiming for Ekko's midsection. But Ekko was faster. He sidestepped, using the momentum to bring his Swordbat crashing down on her weapon.

The resulting shockwave sent both of them stumbling backward. Ekko's heart raced as he fought to keep his balance. He could feel the sweat pouring down his face, the exhaustion setting in—but he couldn't stop. Not now.

Ambessa, however, was relentless. With a roar, she summoned her full strength and charged, her crescent blades slicing through the air with deadly precision.

But Ekko was already moving.

He leaped high into the air, his Swordbat raised. Time seemed to slow as he descended, his blade cutting through the air toward Ambessa's exposed side.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of Ekko's breath, the rush of air, and the flash of steel.

Then—

CRASH.

The impact of Ekko's strike sent a shockwave through the battlefield, knocking Ambessa off her feet. The force of the blow left her lying motionless on the ground, blood seeping from the wound in her side.

Ekko landed with a thud, his knees buckling as he absorbed the impact of the landing. He stood over Ambessa, breathing heavily, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any further threats. The Noxian army was still pushing forward, but without their leader, they were faltering.

Ekko's grip tightened on his Swordbat as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The ground was littered with the fallen—Zaunites, Piltover enforcers, and Noxian soldiers alike. The air was thick with the stench of death and the acrid smoke of burning debris.

Ambessa, bloodied and battered, was still alive—but for how much longer?

Just as Ekko stepped forward to finish the fight, the ground beneath his feet began to rumble. A low, guttural sound echoed through the air, and the sky darkened as if the very heavens were closing in on them.

A new threat had arrived.

And Ekko could feel it in his bones. The battle was far from over.

As Ekko turned to face the source of the rumble, the earth cracked open beneath him. Out of the darkness, a massive shadow emerged—something unlike anything he had seen before.

The battle had only just begun.