Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Ekko woke with a start, his heart pounding as fragments of strange dreams slipped away like smoke. His body felt... different. Stronger, heavier, and yet more agile all at once. He pushed the thin sheet off his body and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet hit the cold floor of his small room in the Firelights' hideout, but he barely noticed.

Running a hand through his hair, Ekko froze. His locks, once dark and rich, now felt... softer, lighter. His fingers trailed down to where his hair fell past his shoulders, and he caught a glimpse of white strands glinting in the low light.

"What the...?"

He stumbled to the cracked mirror propped against the wall, staring at his reflection in disbelief.

His hair had transformed overnight. Once dark, tightly coiled, and gathered in his signature dreads, it was now snow-white, the locks bundled on top of his head. The stark contrast between the white hair and his deep brown skin gave him an almost otherworldly appearance.

But it wasn't just his hair.

Ekko leaned closer, taking in every detail. His eyes seemed sharper, their dark brown irises now glinting with a golden hue in the dim light. His jawline was more pronounced, his cheekbones higher. He looked older, more refined, like someone carved him from stone with deliberate precision.

Then he noticed his height.

Ekko stepped back from the mirror, his head brushing against the low ceiling of his room—a stark difference from before. He used to stand just under average height, but now he towered, his athletic frame filling out in a way that radiated raw power.

"Is this... the serum?" Ekko murmured to himself.

The Perfected Shimmer serum. His future self had injected it into him with a cryptic explanation: that it was meant to help him survive the challenges ahead. But Ekko hadn't expected this.

He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing muscles that looked more defined than they ever had before. His hands clenched into fists, and he felt the strength in them, a coiled force waiting to be unleashed.

"Damn," he muttered, testing his balance and feeling an uncanny ease in his movements. He bent his knees, jumped, and landed silently. It was as though his body had been rebuilt from the inside out, optimized for agility, speed, and power.

Ekko didn't waste time. He needed answers, and there was only one person he trusted to help him figure this out.

He threw on a shirt and headed out of his room, his footsteps echoing through the Firelights' compound. The early morning light filtered through the high windows, casting a golden glow over the space. A few Firelights were already awake, stretching or preparing for the day.

Powder was leaning against a wall, tinkering with one of her grenades. She glanced up as Ekko approached, her expression shifting from casual amusement to shock.

"Ekko?" she said, standing up straight and setting the grenade aside. "What the hell happened to you?"

He gave her a wry smile. "Good morning to you too, Powder."

"No, seriously," she said, stepping closer and eyeing him up and down. "You... you look different. Taller. Stronger. And your hair—" She reached out but stopped herself, her fingers hovering just above one of his white locks. "It's white."

"I noticed," Ekko said dryly.

Powder crossed her arms, studying him with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Is this... from the serum?"

"Probably," Ekko admitted. "I woke up like this. My whole body feels... different. Better."

Powder insisted on gathering Vander and Vi, both of whom were sparring in one of the training rings. When they saw Ekko, their reactions mirrored Powder's.

"Kid," Vander said, his brows furrowing as he took in Ekko's new appearance. "What happened to you?"

"It's the serum," Ekko explained, keeping his tone calm even as their gazes bore into him. "The one my future self gave me. I guess it's... doing more than just boosting my strength."

Vi whistled low, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "You look like you've been hitting the gym nonstop for a year."

"Feels like it too," Ekko replied.

Vander scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Shimmer's a dangerous thing, even in its 'perfected' form. Are you feeling... stable? Any side effects?"

Ekko shook his head. "Not so far. I feel fine. Better than fine, actually."

"Still," Vander said, his tone serious, "we should keep an eye on this. If that serum's changing you physically, who knows what else it could be doing."

The group decided to put Ekko's newfound strength to the test. Vander and Vi stepped into the ring with him, both seasoned fighters with years of experience.

"Don't hold back," Vander said as he raised his fists. "We need to see what you're capable of now."

Ekko nodded, stepping into a fighting stance.

The sparring match began, and it quickly became clear that Ekko's transformation wasn't just cosmetic. His reflexes were sharper than ever, allowing him to dodge Vander's heavy blows and counter with precision. His punches landed with a force that made even Vi wince.

"Damn, Ekko!" Vi said, ducking under a swing and retaliating with a kick. "You're faster than me now!"

"And stronger," Vander added, shaking out his hand after blocking one of Ekko's strikes.

Ekko felt the power coursing through him, a seamless blend of agility and strength. But he also noticed something else—a clarity in his movements, as though his mind and body were perfectly synchronized.

The sparring session ended with Vander calling for a break, a proud yet wary look in his eyes. "You're something else now, kid. But don't let it go to your head. Strength is only as good as the person wielding it."

As Ekko toweled off and caught his breath, he couldn't shake the feeling that this transformation was more than just a physical upgrade. It was a responsibility—a sign that the fight ahead would demand more from him than ever before.

Powder approached, her expression softer now. "You okay?" she asked.

Ekko nodded, giving her a small smile. "Yeah. Just... processing."

She reached out, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "Whatever this is, we'll figure it out. Together."

Ekko placed his hand over hers, their fingers intertwining briefly. "Thanks, Powder. I'll need you more than ever."

As the Firelights regrouped and began planning their next moves, Ekko couldn't shake the feeling that his transformation was just the beginning. The shadowy crow, the new enemies from Noxus, and the challenges ahead—they all loomed like storm clouds on the horizon.

But for the first time in a long time, Ekko felt ready. Whatever came next, he would face it head-on, with his newfound strength and the unwavering support of his friends by his side.