"No saving her now. Give it up."
Duke waved his hand dismissively. At this point in time, Cassiopeia had vanished in Shurima — most likely trapped within the Lost City of the Shuriman Empire.
When she first arrived in Shurima, the Serpent Woman, Cassiopeia, had immediately hired her old acquaintance — the Battle Mistress, Sivir — to use her power and connections to help locate the ruins of the ancient capital.
But then, at the most critical moment, Cassiopeia turned on Sivir and stabbed her in the back.
Use them and throw them away, huh?
That single betrayal set off the chain of events that would shape Shurima's fate.
The Shuriman Empire rose once more into the sunlight. Emperor Azir, recognized by the Sun Disc after saving Sivir's life, successfully ascended after a thousand years.
Those who had once been buried — the crocodile Renekton and Xerath — broke free from the ancient tombs where Nasus had sealed them long ago.
Xerath sought to eradicate Azir's bloodline; Renekton wanted vengeance against his brother.
Azir, unable to bear the pain of Xerath's betrayal, would in turn vow to destroy him.
Duke could already foresee the chaos that was about to unfold in Shurima.
Especially with so many secrets buried beneath its endless sands — even the failed Ascended, the Bakai, still hiding in tombs, clinging desperately to life.
Shurima was about to become a deadly place.
Was it really a good idea to meddle in that mess right now?
The Ascended of Shurima didn't scare Duke. After all, he still had his five-second Superman Experience Card, more than enough to crush anyone if needed.
But there were too many forces entangled there — not only the local conflicts but also Noxian interests. That alone would make things even more chaotic.
"I don't have anyone else I can count on right now," Katarina said softly, staring down at the tablet communicator in her hands. "Please… I need your help."
"Katarina, I've warned you before — and you didn't take it seriously."
"Now something's gone wrong, and you come crawling back to me at 413… Do you even realize the price you'll have to pay for this?"
Duke took a long swig from his flask, letting her sit with the thought — was she truly ready to take that risk?
In the original storyline, the Serpent Woman would safely return to Noxus, but not without consequence — a curse from Shurima would leave her forever changed.
She would no longer be human, but something half-serpent, half-woman — the agony of that transformation was beyond words.
Katarina stayed silent for a while before saying quietly, "I'm willing to offer everything I have."
"Save it." Duke waved his hand. He had no intention of getting involved in Shurima's affairs — Cassiopeia would survive and make it back on her own.
If he agreed to go all the way there searching for her, it would all end up being for nothing.
After all, she wasn't dead — only cursed — and most likely hiding because her new form had twisted her appearance.
"But I can give you a lead," Duke said finally, taking another drink.
Katarina's eyes lit up. Duke wagged a finger at her. "What will you offer me in return?"
"Anything I can give!" she said firmly. "Anything you want!"
"Fine. Then let's leave it at that. When I need it, I'll come to collect."
"As for now… try checking your sister's place in Uzerys. If I'm not mistaken, she should be there — probably hiding in the cellar."
"If she's not, then just wait. She'll show up eventually."
"Are you serious?" Katarina narrowed her eyes at him.
Duke shrugged. "Believe it or not — your call."
"…Fine. I'll go to Uzerys," she muttered. "But how do you even know this?"
"My dear," Duke replied with a sly smile, "some people can glimpse both past and future through the river of time. Some choose silence; others, revelation."
"I understand."
Katarina nodded, her expression complex. "I owe you one."
"Be sure to repay it."
Duke waved her off and ended the call unilaterally.
Sitting back in his chair, he turned the flask in his hand, deep in thought.
"Piltover and Shurima aren't that far apart," he murmured. "And once, Zaun was under Shuriman rule… Now that the Emperor has returned, things are about to get complicated."
After a moment, Duke pulled out the Bluebird Amulet.
"Beep, beep, beep—Calling the Broom-Headed Goddess! Come in, Broom-Headed Goddess!"
A sudden gale tore through the workshop, blasting from behind him. Duke raised a Force Shield, blocking the hit.
"Heh! Missed! Mad yet?"
Janna appeared amidst the swirling wind, glaring at him. Every time she met Duke, her divine composure went right out the window.
"What do you want this time?" she huffed, hugging her staff. "You never call me unless it's trouble."
"I remember you once witnessed Shurima's golden age, didn't you?"
"That's right. Why?"
"I just found out something, and I wanted your thoughts."
"Talk." Janna's voice was curt.
"The last Emperor of Shurima, Azir, has awakened. He's ascended — and the royal bloodline remains unbroken, so…"
"What!?" Janna's hair stood on end, eyes wide with disbelief. "Is that true?"
"It's true."
"I see…" Her tone grew grave. "If the Shuriman Empire rises again, Piltover and Zaun could be in danger. You know, long ago, Zaun — or Oshra Va'Zaun — was one of Shurima's port cities. If Azir really intends to reclaim his lands…"
Duke nodded. He understood her concern — in Shurima's prime, even a goddess like Janna had been struck down.
"Got it." Duke rubbed his face. "The tree wishes for calm, but the wind refuses to rest… Guess that's how it always goes."
"Looks like I'll have to move faster."
As he murmured to himself, Janna frowned. "Are you sure this information's accurate?"
"Very. I'm going to start preparing, but we'll see how things play out in Shurima first."
He waved her off. "Alright, you can go."
Thonk!
Janna's staff smacked the top of his head. She glared and shook her fist.
"Next time you summon me like that, I'll blow you into orbit!"
"When you leave, help me change the air, would you?"
"Hmph!"
With that, Janna turned and vanished into a gust of wind, leaving Duke alone in the lab.
He opened his Quest Log, muttering to himself.
"Time to pick up the pace."
"Create the Third Sin."
He pulled out a collection of rare materials, draining his wealth points as he began another round of draws. Prizes flashed before his eyes one after another — none satisfactory — until finally, after countless attempts and tens of thousands of wealth points, he gathered all the components he needed.
"The creation of the Third Sin… begins now."
Duke stretched his fingers and cracked his neck.
Eight days later—
Bloodshot-eyed, Duke stared at the enormous three-headed beast before him and began the final phase of the process.
This was the final stage before the birth of the Third Deadly Sin.
Thump… thump… thump…
A massive, green heart pulsed with unstoppable vitality — even outside its body.
It was none other than the Hulk's Heart.
He'd spent over a dozen lottery rounds to get it. Without this as the core, the Third Sin wouldn't be worthy of its name.
Unlike the first two — Pride and Gluttony — which he'd created from scratch, Duke had chosen an existing specimen for this one: Angr, the Three-Headed Hound.
He would remake the beast, transforming it into the embodiment of Wrath.
The Third Sin — Wrath.
"Report status."
As Duke inserted the Hulk's Heart into Angr's chest and reconnected the major vessels, Edith quickly reported, "All vital signs stable — no abnormal readings."
"Good. Proceed to the final step."
He activated the final switch. The newly grafted heart thundered to life, pumping molten-red quantum blood through Angr's veins — a fusion of rage and energy.
Each beat sent power surging through the beast's body, awakening a new, burning life force.
Angr had always been special — once an unremarkable Frostfang Wolf, then reborn through the Beast Crate, unlocking dormant bloodline powers and transcending his limits through sheer rage, evolving into a mighty three-headed hound.
After witnessing Angr's second evolution, Duke had decided to use him as the base for his Third Sin — not from scratch, but as a living template for something even greater.
The wounds on Angr's chest and abdomen sealed rapidly. His hybrid mechanical-biological form gleamed with potential — limitless.
Thump… thump… thump…
The heartbeat grew louder.
The middle head opened its eyes first, followed by the other two.
"ROAR!!"
A deafening roar shook the entire lab. Obsidian-like patterns glowed across his body, glowing like molten magma.
"Hello… my Wrath," Duke said, extending a hand.
The central head looked down at him. Slowly, the colossal beast stepped forward — shrinking with each stride until it was only waist-high.
"Arf!"
End of chapter....
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