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Ekko's speech finally wrapped up, leaving the crowd buzzing with a newfound sense of purpose. Most of them looked ready to charge into a chemical fire for the future of Zaun.
Chen, however, was struggling to stay awake. He'd heard enough "calls to action" in his previous life to last a century; any orator from Earth's history could have talked circles around Ekko. To pass the time, he dove into his system. Joining the Firelight Squad had granted him another Talent Point, and it was time to spend it.
He looked at his options in the Resolve tree. Demolish was for taking down turrets, but since there were no magical laser towers in the Sump, it was a waste. Shield Bash required a shield he didn't have. That left only one viable choice.
Talent Learned: Font of Life Effect: Impairing an enemy's movement marks them. Allies attacking them heal for a percentage of your max health.
Perfect, Chen thought. I stun them with Jax's Counter Strike, and every time Powder or Ekko lands a hit, they get a small heal. I'm basically a walking fountain now.
Beside him, Powder wasn't thinking about tactics. She was a little glutton, her mind fixated entirely on the "Magic Marsh Frog" (Gromp) meat Chen had promised her.
The Strategy Meeting
After the crowd dispersed, Ekko pulled Chen and Powder aside. "The three of us are the first squad. We need a private briefing to discuss our next move."
Another meeting? Chen groaned internally. Does this kid ever stop talking? But as they settled into a small room with some basic rations, the system pinged again.
Side Quest: The Rise and Fall of Zaun (Optional) Objective: Assist Ekko in expanding the Firelight Squad. Reward: 1 Talent Point.
Suddenly, the meeting became a lot more interesting. Chen perked up, his eyes gleaming. He knew a thing or two about military organization—he came from a world with the most sophisticated land armies in history.
For the next few weeks, things were surprisingly stable. They practiced hoverboard formations, refined their gadgets, and Chen even started building his first electrical generator. But mostly, he spent his time brandishing a rusted streetlamp he'd salvaged. "Who needs a real weapon when you're a Weapon Master?" he'd joke.
Nearby, Powder was busy too. She wasn't just making toys anymore; she was tapping away at heavy gun barrels. Chen recognized the silhouette: she was building Pow-Pow, her signature three-barreled Gatling gun.
The peace was shattered when Ekko burst in, his face grim. "It's happening. Grab your boards. Now!"
As they soared out of the sanctuary, Chen pulled his board—shaped like a massive, blunt longsword—alongside Ekko. "What's the emergency?"
"Our scouts found one of Silco's main foundries," Ekko shouted over the wind. "They aren't just making Shimmer anymore. They're mass-producing Shimmer Warriors—mutants armored in heavy plate. We have to shut it down before they're deployed."
Chen's brow furrowed. He remembered the Shimmer Warriors from the show. They were the ones who could take on Enforcers and win.
Main Quest: The Twin Cities War Objective: Destroy Silco's Shimmer Warrior Factory. Reward: One random Champion Ultimate Ability. Note: [DIFFICULTY: HIGH]
The reward was massive. An Ultimate? That could change everything. But the "High Difficulty" tag was no joke. Without Jinx as his adoptive daughter to keep him "human," Silco was becoming a much more efficient, cold-blooded monster.
The Infiltration
They reached the factory and landed silently on the corrugated metal roof, peering through a jagged gap. Inside, the air was thick with purple haze. Huge iron cauldrons bubbled with liquid Shimmer.
In the center of the room was a large iron cage holding dozens of terrified civilians. Nearby stood glass tubes—incubation vats—containing humanoid shadows floating in a thick, purple sludge. In front of each vat sat a suit of armor that looked like a steampunk bomb-disposal suit.
"Unless the tech tree here is weirder than I thought," Chen whispered to Jinx, who had already switched in for Powder, "that armor is bulletproof. Thick metal, heavy plating."
Jinx tilted her head, a manic glint in her eyes as she checked her pistol. "The faceplate is just glass, right? Glass breaks."
"This isn't your average window glass, Jinx. But it's our best shot." Chen turned to Ekko. "What's the play?"
Ekko rubbed his temples, his eyes scanning the room. "Shimmer is highly volatile. We split up. First, we plant charges on those cauldrons and the incubation vats. Then, we spring the cage. Once the civilians are clear, we blow the whole place to the grey."
He pulled out several of his Time Bombs—clocks strapped to bundles of explosives.
"Too slow," Jinx grumbled, reaching for a Flame Chompers! grenade. "Why not just toss these down and watch the pretty colors?"
Chen quickly shoved her hand back. "No. We do this right. Ekko, you're the fastest—you handle the cages. Jinx, you're the best shot—you plant the charges on the vats. I'll be the distraction and handle the guards."
Ekko nodded. "Let's move."
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