Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The smell of smoke and blood hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of charred earth. The battlefield, once a scene of chaos, now lay eerily silent save for the distant clatter of armor and the muffled groans of the wounded. Ekko stood on the edge of the battlefield, his hand still clenched around the hilt of his newly forged Swordbat, its blade slick with blood. His breath was steady now, but the adrenaline was still rushing through his veins.

The last remnants of the Noxian forces were scattering, retreating from the relentless assault they had faced. Their commander's disappearance had struck a fatal blow to their morale, and now it was just a matter of cleaning up the mess they had left behind. The Firelights and the Piltover enforcers were already moving through the field, securing the area, tending to the wounded, and mopping up the stragglers.

"Ekko!" Vi called from across the battlefield, her voice cutting through the grim stillness. She was moving methodically, her fists a blur of motion as she knocked down any remaining Noxians who dared to fight back. Her face was streaked with dirt, her fists bloodied from the brutal hand-to-hand combat, but she looked as fierce as ever.

"Let's finish this," Ekko said, his voice low. His eyes scanned the horizon, watching for any signs of movement. Despite the chaos of the battle, there was a strange calm that had settled over him. He had always been quick on his feet, but today, with his new strength and power, he felt almost invincible. It wasn't just about the fight—it was about protecting what he had built, what they had built.

"We'll push them back to the outskirts," Vi said, giving Ekko a firm nod. "We don't leave any Noxian standing."

Ekko turned his attention back to the battlefield, narrowing his eyes at the remaining Noxian forces. They had retreated into the wreckage of a ruined building, regrouping and trying to reorganize. But Ekko knew better than to give them the chance to catch their breath. The Firelights had already begun the process of tightening the noose, boxing them in from all sides.

"Claggor! Mylo!" Ekko shouted, motioning toward the two leaders of the Firelights. "Move in from the left flank. Mylo, make sure those turrets are set up. Claggor, get your people ready for an ambush."

Mylo nodded from across the battlefield, directing his group to set up a series of traps and barricades. The Noxian soldiers wouldn't have anywhere to run now. Ekko could feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't just a victory—it was a statement. A sign that Zaun had the power to defend itself, that they weren't going to be pushed around by anyone, not even the mighty Noxians.

The Firelights moved in with precision. Ekko led the charge, his enhanced strength and speed making him a blur as he cut through the remaining Noxian soldiers. His new weapon, the Swordbat, was an extension of his will. It cut through the air with deadly precision, each swing landing with bone-shattering force. The Noxians, still reeling from Ambessa's sudden disappearance and the brutal surprise attack, were disoriented, unprepared for Ekko's brutal onslaught.

Powder was right behind him, her new weapons in hand. She moved like lightning, her pink minigun—Pow-Pow—blasting through the air with a relentless barrage of fire. The Noxians scattered in all directions, but there was nowhere to run. Powder's shock pistol—Zapper—sent arcs of electricity crackling through the air, incapacitating anyone who got too close.

"Watch out!" Powder shouted, her voice sharp as she threw a Flame Chomper at a group of Noxian soldiers hiding behind a barricade. The explosive grenade erupted in a shower of fire, sending the soldiers flying in all directions. Ekko smirked at the explosion, but his focus never wavered.

They were in this together.

Meanwhile, Vi had found herself face-to-face with a particularly stubborn group of Noxians. They had regrouped near the ruins of a building, but Vi wasn't about to let them get away. Her fists were covered in blood as she marched forward, each punch sending shockwaves through the remaining soldiers.

"Come on!" she shouted, cracking her knuckles. "Is that all you've got?"

The Noxians, undeterred, lunged at her with a series of wild strikes. But Vi's reflexes were sharper now, more precise than ever. She sidestepped one of their blades and countered with a crushing uppercut that sent the soldier flying backward, his armor crumpling under the force. Another soldier swung at her from the side, but she blocked the strike with a powerful elbow, knocking him to the ground.

"Stay down," Vi muttered as she drove her knee into the last Noxian's chest, pinning him to the ground. "We're not finished yet."

But just as she was about to deliver the final blow, a shout came from the rear.

"Vi! Ekko!" Mylo's voice carried over the battlefield. "We've got movement on the eastern flank! More Noxians are pushing forward!"

Vi cursed under her breath, grabbing the soldier by the collar and tossing him aside. "Dammit. They're not giving up."

Ekko was already on the move. His mind was working faster than ever, calculating the enemy's next move. They had pushed the Noxians back to the outskirts, but he knew this wasn't over yet. Ambessa might have disappeared, but there were still plenty of her soldiers left to deal with. And the Noxians weren't known for retreating quietly.

"Powder, stay with the front lines!" Ekko shouted as he sprinted toward the eastern flank. "Vi, Mylo, Claggor—keep pushing! We'll finish this!"

The Firelights, under Ekko's leadership, had begun to encircle the Noxians, their numbers dwindling with every passing minute. But Ekko's focus was on the new threat—the Noxian reinforcements coming from the east. The wind was changing, and Ekko could feel it. He needed to finish this before it escalated any further.

His body surged with energy as he moved through the battlefield. His sword struck with unrelenting force, cleaving through Noxian soldiers as if they were mere obstacles in his path. His heart raced, but his mind was calm, focused on the task at hand. His new strength—his power—had elevated his combat skills to a level he had never imagined possible. He was no longer just a leader of the Firelights. He was a force of nature.

As he moved closer to the eastern flank, he could see the Noxian soldiers amassing behind a set of makeshift barricades. They were preparing for one final push, hoping to break through the Firelight defenses. But Ekko wasn't about to let that happen.

With a battle cry, Ekko surged forward, leading the charge. His Swordbat swept through the air, its blade carving through Noxian armor like butter. He could feel the resistance as his sword met flesh and bone, but it didn't slow him down. He was unstoppable.

Powder's laughter echoed through the battlefield as she tore through the Noxian ranks with her minigun, cutting them down in a hail of bullets. The Zapper in her other hand sent arcs of electricity jumping between enemies, sending them twitching and convulsing as they crumpled to the ground.

Vi was beside them, her fists a blur as she sent Noxian soldiers flying with each punch. She grinned through the sweat and blood on her face, her ferocity unmatched as she fought alongside Ekko and Powder.

In mere minutes, the Noxian reinforcements were in full retreat. The battlefield, once alive with the sounds of battle, was now eerily quiet. The only movement left was the occasional groan of the wounded and the distant crackling of fires.

The aftermath of the battle was a grim sight. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of fallen Noxians and Zaunites alike. The Firelights and the Piltover enforcers worked tirelessly to tend to the wounded, their spirits high despite the carnage.

Ekko stood at the edge of the battlefield, staring at the horizon. His heart was heavy with the weight of the battle, but there was no time to mourn. They had won this round, but the war was far from over.

"Ekko," Vi's voice broke through his thoughts. She walked up beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. "We did it. We pushed them back."

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "It's not over. Ambessa's gone, but the Noxians are still out there. And whoever—or whatever—took her, they're still a threat."

Vi sighed, her face darkening. "I know. But for now, we've won. We've shown them what we're capable of."

Ekko didn't answer. Instead, he turned toward Powder, who was helping tend to the wounded. His mind was racing. They had won, yes. But the battle for Zaun was just beginning.

The shadow in the sky had only just begun to cast its dark influence over their world.

And Ekko knew, deep down, that the hardest part was yet to come.