Player: Lin Wen
Level: 15
Strength: 155
Agility: 170
Intelligence: 90
Psi: 0
Skills: Advanced Repair, Basic Swordsmanship, Relentless Force
Hero Cards: [Piltover Enforcer ★★★], [The Demolition Diva ★★★]
Items: [Chrono Ring (10 meters)], [Doran's Blade ★], [Health Potion x3✩], [Damaged Unknown Rune Shard x1], [Rejuvenation Bead ✩]
Remaining Lottery Draws: x1
Activating The Demolition Diva champion card has boosted Lin Wen's agility by 100 points. This gives Lin Wen more confidence in the tasks ahead.
Now, looking at his attributes alone, Lin Wen is no longer just an ordinary person.
Although... after Vi obtained her full set of Hextech equipment, her attributes should be similar to Lin Wen's now, or even higher in strength. However, Lin Wen can also equip himself!
When it comes to Hextech and such, he'll try to get a set later.
Speaking of which, how did Jayce come up with this stuff?
Lin Wen stepped out of the dark alley, found an empty place, and then lit a lamp. In the light, Lin Wen prepared to conduct his research.
He wanted to study the stones Powder brought back.
[Hextech Crystal (Material)]
Quality: ★★★
A man-made crystal that can produce strange energy without needing heat or pressure, containing the power of arcane.
Effects:
1. Can develop and integrate the crystal into apparatuses, possibly resulting in unexpected effects.
2. Crushing the gem will generate immense energy.
Under the lamp, Lin Wen squinted.
All his knowledge of technology came from old Zoran. However, even though old Zoran was a good alchemist in the Undercity, the technological level of the Undercity couldn't be compared to the Upper City.
While Lin Wen knew about Hextech crystals, and even knew the uses of Hextech gemstone and Hextech cores, he held a Hextech crystal in his hand now and had spent half an hour under the lamp, yet he didn't know where to start.
"Crush it, maybe..."
After much consideration, Lin Wen looked at the Hextech crystal placed on the stone and finally decided to follow the system's instructions.
In terms of technology, he didn't need to think. If Hextech technology was something easily developed, they wouldn't need to wait for Jayce.
Remember, Jayce was the first person in Piltover to merge magic and technology. No... since the birth of Runeterra, magic and technology were never meant to mix.
However, Jayce's appearance merged the forces of nature and man-made power, two forces that never had an intersection, and actually merged them.
He was a genius who astonished the world, destined to be remembered in the history books.
Though Lin Wen didn't think he was stupid, but with the skills he had learned from old Zoran... he really didn't think he could figure out this piece of stone.
So, smash it!
"Thud!"
He smashed the Hextech crystal onto the stone, and then Lin Wen witnessed, as cracks emerged from the impact, blue light bursting out from the tiny cracks. Soon, the surroundings were as bright as daylight because of it. Lin Wen felt something strange, feeling his body becoming light. As he looked down at his feet, he felt a powerful force rushing towards him.
No heat.
But a rush of air.
Although he wasn't knocked over, Lin Wen was surprised by the force.
His current power measurements combined were more than enough to defeat several Vanders, but this small stone... required his full strength just to resist being blown away?
Plus, with the explosive effect...
Now Lin Wen understood why Powder and the others were unharmed in the explosion incident in the Upper City.
Because this thing's explosion didn't produce heat.
Explosions and high temperatures are the first things Undercity scientists need to understand.
So, it's wind force? No... Lin Wen is very familiar with wind, and it's not electric power either.
Although the blue flashes initially look like lightning, the patterns created by the interactions of various blue light particles are not the movement patterns of electricity. Lin Wen is very familiar with this thing.
Moreover... Lin Wen keenly felt it - did he lift off the ground a second before the energy explosion was born?
Hovered about a foot.
Could that be the power of magic?
Looking at the remaining three Hextech crystals, Lin Wen frowned.
This thing isn't dangerous for him, and it's not even dangerous for Vander. As long as he pays attention beforehand and finds an open space, after all, the energy generated by its explosion has no substantial harm. What it produces is a kind of kinetic energy that Lin Wen can't understand now.
It's an energy wave.
But if it's placed in Powder's hand... and accidentally smashed one in the room, this kinetic force flying around would definitely cause harm.
He's not making excuses for himself after grabbing a child's stuff.
This thing is very dangerous for Powder!
Lin Wen put away the remaining three Hextech crystals and then headed towards the dark alley.
————————
"It's late, I'm closing the shop. If there's anything, come back early tomorrow."
Inside a grocery store, the stout shopkeeper with a rosy beard was packing up. Hearing the noise behind him, he quickly spoke up.
"Benzo, it's me."
"Why are you here?"
Seeing Lin Wen, Benzo frowned.
When Lin Wen casually walked into the shop and found a chair to sit down, Benzo looked at him and said, "You and Vander... what happened this afternoon?"
"Different beliefs, Benzo. Vander did something foolish again, and I needed to knock some sense into him."
Lin Wen said as he walked towards upstairs. He was going to find a little fellow.
"So, can I consider this as just a minor misunderstanding between you two? You haven't broken ties with him right?"
"How could I break ties with him? I have a great relationship with Vi and Powder, I treat them like sisters."
"That's good. To be honest, I was terrified when I heard this news. If you really had an unpleasant falling out with Vander, Black Alley would definitely not be peaceful. You should know how... sought after you are in the eyes of those damn gangsters."
"Benzo, Vander and I are also gangsters."
"Him? He wanted to quit a long time ago, and you, your way of doing things doesn't seem like that of a gangster," Benzo chuckled, holding his belly.
Lin Wen waved it off, then pushed open a nearby door.
When the three inside saw Lin Wen, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
"Big bro, how come you're here?"
Mylo and Claggor rushed over, while Ekko blinked his eyes, hesitating, and slowly backed away, clutching his backside.
Once he gets to the window, he can escape!
Ekko thought Lin Wen had come to settle scores.
Could it be that he's going to get a beating from Lin Wen tonight...
Ekko wanted to say he's already eight years old, and the eight-year-olds in Zaun are starting to figure out how to survive on the streets. But here he is, enduring the physical pain of being disciplined...
"Ekko, I need to talk to you," Lin Wen grabbed Ekko's collar, then lifted him up.
"Big bro, don't beat me!" Ekko shut his eyes and quickly said, "I know I was wrong, I promise I won't eavesdrop on your conversations next time."
"I'm not beating you, but I need your help," Lin Wen said as he lifted him, giving him a little shake. When Ekko opened his eyes, Lin Wen spoke, "Can you understand this? Zaun's little inventor."
Lin Wen pinched a Hextech crystal between two fingers and presented it to Ekko.
"Wow, it's a beautiful gem."
After putting Ekko down, Lin Wen stared at him, then placed the gem in his hand, "Take a look, see if you can find something from it."
"Wow, is this for me?" Ekko asked, surprised.
The gem is so beautiful, and Powder likes beautiful things. If he takes this and gives it to Powder, she'll be really happy.
"Don't even think about it, this thing is very dangerous. The reason Mylo and them caused an explosion in the Upper City is because of this little thing."
Ekko tensed up upon hearing this, his hand shook, almost dropping the Hextech crystal, but Lin Wen immediately grabbed his hand.
"Calm down, Ekko. As long as there's no intense impact, it won't explode."
"This thing..." Mylo, rubbing his chin, came over, and when he saw it clearly, he exclaimed, "It's Powder, I knew it was Powder! She said it wasn't. Big bro, Powder lied, you said she's not allowed to lie."
"Shut up! She didn't lie."
"Alright....."
Mylo slinked away to find solace with Claggor.
Lin Wen sat on a chair, legs crossed, looking at Ekko.
It's not some sudden decision. After all, despite Ekko's young age, he's a true genius.
No, he's a monster.
Someone who can repair simple devices right after learning to crawl, isn't that a monster?
It's just like in the eyes of Benzo and Vander, Lin Wen isn't just a fifteen-year-old kid.
The reason Lin Wen came to find Ekko is that in the League's universe, there are quite a few champions who can use Hextech, like Vi, like Camille... In short, Hextech can be used by any being, which is why it's so powerful. However, the individuals who can develop Hextech technology are just a handful.
Piltover has some, and there are two people on Zaun's side who can handle Hextech.
However, currently, there's only one.
Because Viktor is certainly capable, being a mechanical prodigy, but he should be in the Upper City now, not in Zaun.
Naturally, Ekko became Lin Wen's first choice.
The night passed, and neither Lin Wen nor Ekko slept.
"Big bro, I don't understand."
When Ekko walked up to Lin Wen holding the gem, looking a bit disheartened, Lin Wen patted his shoulder, "It's okay, you'll understand when you grow up."
Future Ekko could independently develop the Z-Drive after receiving a Hextech crystal fragment, and it's related to "time" abilities.
Lin Wen had confidence in him.
After all, Vi and Powder are three-star cards, while Ekko is a four-star card, indicating his immense potential.
Ekko, seeing Lin Wen wasn't reprimanding him, propped himself up with his hands on Lin Wen's legs and looked up at him, saying, "But big bro, if I could disassemble this thing, I think I could understand its manufacturing principles. Right now, I've only found this information, not sure if it's useful to you."
Ekko took out a piece of paper with scribbles all over it.
Lin Wen took a look at it.
Then...
Impressively, Ekko, in just one night and with the help of the system, had gathered a lot of information about the Hextech crystal, which Lin Wen couldn't comprehend.
The paper contained Ekko's understanding of the Hextech crystal.
1. The internal structure is very unstable and incomplete, yet it holds tremendous energy. What is the source of this energy?
2. It cannot withstand collisions; even slight impacts will affect its structure. Airflow can move small yet complicated structures inside it, which can lead to energy being drawn out. But if the internal structure can be improved to stabilize it, it should endure impacts. Copper wires cannot be used this time.
In Zaun, copper wires are the common choice for scientists, as gold wires, a better option, are affordable only to those in the Upper City.
3. A single fragment doesn't contain energy; its energy source is collisions between different structures, linking to... or, to put it another way, an unknown power source.
"My discoveries, did they help you?" Ekko looked up at Lin Wen, eyes filled with hope.
He was very scared of Lin Wen, but at the same time, he really liked him.
This wasn't contradictory.
Because while Lin Wen always bossed everyone around, he was also always protecting everyone.
If Vander was the gang leader of the Back Alley, then Lin Wen was their boss. Whenever something happened to Vi, or Powder, or Mylo, or Claggor, or even Ekko himself, they'd immediately seek Lin Wen's help.
They all knew Lin Wen would help them.
And now, Ekko really wanted to help his big brother.
"You're a genius."
Lin Wen ruffled little Ekko's head and affirmed.
Though he's a genius, it's a no-go to court Powder, at least not now!
Lin Wen chuckled, seeing Ekko's happy face.
Yup, definitely