"The woman who attacked me was wearing an arm-mounted crossbow!"
Shyvana's voice carried raw fury as she spat out the words. Duke froze, his brows knitting together. That didn't add up.
Vayne's signature look had always been the same, tight black leather bodysuit, a cape flowing behind her, red-tinted night-vision goggles covering her eyes, and her long black hair tied into a high ponytail. She always carried a massive crossbow strapped to her back, her hidden ace.
But according to Shyvana, the huntress who ambushed her wore armor, and wielded a weapon she had never seen before.
Since when would an ADC seriously build armor?
"What kind of weapon was she using?" Duke pressed.
"It looked like a long stick," Shyvana recalled, her golden eyes narrowing. "One end spat fire, and it launched volleys of bolts all at once!"
Her anger trembled beneath her words as the memory burned in her mind.
"I've never seen such a weapon before. It didn't just flash fire, it roared with thunder loud enough to scare off beasts. And the bolts came not one or two, but by the dozens."
"You mean something like this?"
Duke reached into his inventory and drew out a peculiar crossbow. At first glance it looked like a firearm, but it had harpoon-like mechanics, fitted with glass alchemical tubes and cooling vents.
"That's it! That's the exact weapon! How do you have this?"
At once, sparks of flame flickered in Shyvana's eyes, and even her breath carried the sulfurous tang of a dragon barely holding back.
"This is my design," Duke said matter-of-factly. "A hybrid crossbow that fuses clockwork and alchemy. It can fire projectiles or bolts, depending on preference. Each volley can launch dozens at once."
He set it down on the table with a casual slap. "I modeled it after Bilgewater's harpoon guns, just a little toy I whipped up to pass the time."
"A toy? You call something that dangerous a toy?"
Shyvana slammed her hand down on the table, glaring. Duke only pressed a firm palm onto her shoulder.
"At most, this thing could take down a drake lizard or two. It's nothing serious. My family demanded a batch of inventions to sell, so I tossed in a pile of half-baked prototypes."
"This kind of weapon is far too dangerous!"
"That's child's play."
With a faint smirk, Duke pulled out yet another device, a Hextech railgun, setting the massive weapon heavily on the table.
"This is a Hextech electromagnetic cannon. A single shot could flatten the walls of Demacia's capital."
Shyvana blinked, momentarily stunned at the sheer menace of the weapon in front of her.
"This," Duke declared proudly, "is my real workhorse."
"Now, you tell me," he gestured between the railgun and the crossbow, "which one's more dangerous?"
Shyvana stared at him, her face darkening with disbelief. "What kind of person are you?"
"I told you," Duke replied evenly, "I'm a scientist."
"A scientist who specializes in creating weapons of mass slaughter?"
"That's just your biased stereotype," Duke countered. Raising his hand, he summoned Pride. The mechanical dragon landed with a heavy thud, only to immediately knock its head against the low ceiling.
"This," Duke said proudly, pointing at the towering construct, "is my masterpiece."
Shyvana's eyes widened. "You… built a dragon?"
"Something like that. And if he wanted to kill you, it'd take him only a few dozen breaths."
Pride turned its head, noticing Shyvana for the first time. A low growl rumbled from its chest. "Weak little lizard. Want to test your strength against me?"
"Unbelievable…" Shyvana whispered, still staring.
"The woman who attacked you probably bought one of my family's shipments of weapons to Demacia," Duke explained. "But those models are outdated junk, relics of the past. They'd only impress those who've never seen real power."
He casually stowed away the railgun, leaving the crossbow on the table. "This one's yours now. Consider it a gift. And here, something else to keep you entertained."
He dropped a few game consoles onto the table, stretching his arms lazily. "Talking with you has been fun, but I've got private matters to handle. Need to step away for a while."
As Duke moved toward the stairs, Shyvana instinctively called out, "Wait!"
He turned back. "What is it?"
"How… how do I use this?" she asked, biting her lip as she pointed at the game console he'd left behind.
Duke sighed. "What kind of life have you been living, to not even know this much? Seriously…"
Shyvana's voice softened. "I lived with my foster father all my life… until my mother returned, and everything changed. That's when I decided to join Demacia."
Her words were quiet, almost vulnerable.
Duke walked back and patiently showed her how to operate the console.
"Then you'd better brace yourself," he said flatly. "Demacia despises anything tied to magic. And you, magic is in your blood. It's who you are. Living there will be torture."
"But I'll try. I finally found a new home," Shyvana insisted, a glimmer of determination in her eyes.
"Ha." Duke couldn't help but ruffle her hair before setting down a tray of snacks. "If it ever gets unbearable, come to Piltover. You can do whatever you want there."
"Do whatever I want…?" she murmured, watching him leave the chamber. She picked up the crossbow, then set it aside and powered up the console.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "That doesn't sound so bad."
Later that evening, a cloaked woman carrying a heavy case approached the snowy stone archway of the Crownguard estate.
"Halt, madam, this is private property," one of the guards said firmly.
The woman pulled down her goggles, revealing striking emerald eyes. Her voice was cold as steel. "I am Shauna Vayne. Lord Petyr Crownguard sent word, there is an inhuman presence here that requires my attention."
At once, the guards stiffened. "Apologies, Lady Vayne. Please wait, I'll inform the master immediately."
Soon after, the butler himself arrived to escort her. "Welcome, Lady Vayne. Please, follow me."
"Good. Night is falling. I won't waste even a breath of hunting time."
Her words cut like the very bolts she loosed, sharp, merciless, devoid of warmth.
The butler led her through the grand hall, down the steps, and into Lord Petyr's private study.
Inside, Petyr had been speaking with Barrett. He looked up, momentarily surprised at Vayne's abrupt entrance, but quickly composed himself.
"You must be Shauna Vayne?"
"I am," she replied curtly. "Your message said there's a non-human threat in Mithril City. I came immediately. Do you have details?"
Her grip on the case never loosened.
Barrett, sensing the frost in her demeanor, tried to ease the tension. "There's no need to rush. It's still early."
"For me, hunting non-humans brooks no delay. There is no room for hesitation."
"Such fire in one so young," Barrett chuckled lightly. Petyr retrieved the compiled files, records of every victim, neatly archived.
As Petyr busied himself, Barrett glanced at the case in her hand. "That's a Piltover exo-suit, isn't it? Didn't expect you to be using one."
At the mention, Vayne's expression softened slightly. She lifted the case. "A brilliant design. With it, even someone fragile can fight wolves and tigers barehanded. This suit has saved me countless times."
"Judging from the wear, I can believe it," Barrett nodded.
Scanning the room, Vayne's sharp eyes caught another exo-suit propped against the wall, sleeker, more advanced than her own.
"May I ask where Lord Petyr acquired that model?" she asked. "In Demacia, such technology is rare to come by."
Petyr smiled. "That suit was a gift from Master Duke himself. He's staying here at the manor. The inventor of exo-suits."
"What? Master Duke is here?"
Vayne's voice quivered, betraying a rare hint of emotion.
Barrett nodded. "Indeed. He was just out walking earlier. Likely resting in his chambers now."
"Could you introduce me to him?" she blurted, almost desperate. "I know it's sudden, but I've long wished to meet Master Duke. The suit he created has aided me greatly. And many of my weapons, rumor says they were his work."
"Of course," Petyr replied warmly. "But first, you've had a long journey. Rest, review the case files. I'll arrange a meeting with Duke for you."
Vayne hesitated, but the promise of meeting Duke was irresistible. She nodded.
No one could have known just how much that exo-suit had meant to her. From the very first day she wore it, it had given her strength, strength that fueled her vengeance. Every time she felt its power flow through her, her curiosity about its creator grew deeper.
The desire to meet the man behind it had taken root in her heart long ago.
"Then I'll trouble you no further," she said softly.
"It's no trouble at all." Petyr gestured to the butler.
When Vayne was escorted away, Petyr summoned another servant. "Go inform Duke. Tell him Lady Vayne requests an audience."
Not long after, in his chamber, Duke was studying the dragon's blood samples when the message arrived. His brow arched slightly.
"You're saying a hunter named Shauna Vayne wants to meet me?"
"Yes, Master Duke. She's here in the manor."
"Oh?" Duke leaned back, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Well, this should be interesting."
End of chapter....
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