Vi could feel the enger crackle along the tips of her fingers. The leather gloves slid on almost perfectly, as if they had been made for her to wear.

Soft blue light pulsate along runes and strange threads that appeared to serve a purpose for a mechanism. It was strangely satisfying to see all the bits and pieces entwine and work together.

Whoever had made these must have been a master of their craft. Unfortunately for Vi, she did not know what this craft was exactly.

She wasn't stupid either. These gloves were probably meant for something destructive and were not yet proven to be safe. Tests needed to be run. And she was one of them.

But in this moment there was no other way. She was about to fight in the arena all by herself, without your expertise or support. And she sure as well wasn't willing to give up so easily.

This was just a small sacrifice for survival. And once the fight was over she was going to enjoy a nice, long and hot shower. Or a bath. Yes, that was much better.

For a brief second a smirk grew on her lips while she thought about asking you to join her for a hot soak. But the shenanigans in her mind did not last long.

The gate of the cage started to open and a bright, cold light hit her right in the face. Blinded, Vi shielded her face with one hand while also taking a slow step into the arena.

Once more it was dead silent. It was odd, considering that you had told her that this place was like an illegal underground place for enforcers to blow off some steam.

But just like the time before the ranks were now empty, not a single trace of people to be seen. Confused, she blinked away the light and let her eyes wander up.

Unlike the time before there were no figures move behind the tinted glass of the jaw. Somehow she felt like this was better. And still. There was this feeling tingling in the tips of her fingers.

She wanted to know who they were. And why she got sponsored.

Then again, there was a hint of a clue growing in the back of her mind. She had recognised Sevika the first time she had shown up. It was hard to tell if Silco knew of her being in on all of this but if not that didn't make a difference anyways.

And yet she knew that today had nothing to do with goons from the Undercity. Not even Sevika would have managed to get her hands onto something like the gloves. And it wouldn't have made any sense for her to give them to Vi.

Everyone in this place seemed to be interested in getting rid of her. These gloves, however, had just improved her survival chances. At least she hoped so.

"Alright.", with a crooked grin, Vi rolled back her shoulders and cracked her knuckles. "Who's up?"

Within the next second the cage on the other side of the arena jumped open. Out came a creature that could have only been described as grotesque.

It was a man, or at least once had been. Confused and a little worried, Vi took a quick step back. Greying flesh pulsated, swollen from rapid muscle growth and something she had thought was long gone.

Shimmer.

Small, purple veins throbbed beneath ripped, ashy skin. Dirty blond hair stood to all sides, messy and stained. Vi needed a moment to realise who it was.

"Deckard?", she asked, eyes narrowed.

Caught in a state of daze, the man she once knew as Deckard eyed her. His teeth were clenched, dirty and the gums a little bloody.

He was more like an animal than a human at this point. Vi remembered him as a smaller boy, narrow with blue eyes and an attitude. He had once threatened her with a knife after he had failed to steal her loot from Piltover.

Back then she and her siblings, Powder, Claggor and Milo had managed to get into a fancy laboratory or something and had stole a few good things. Deckard and his gang had tried to mug them.

She and her siblings had stomped him to the ground.

He had run to Silco instead and had gotten himself in some trouble. Huge trouble, considering how he looked in that moment.

Mumbling and grumbling he approached Vi. His eyes did not focus on her. Almost as if she did not exist to him. The white had turned black and the former blue was now glowing.

This was now a wild animal. Not a person anymore.

At the sight of him, a shiver chased down Vi's spine. And a strange feeling of nausea. There was something so unsettling about this guy.

Vi could only imagine how the Undercity had changed over the past six years. She hadn't been home in a while and people weren't known for getting better.

Something inside her chest pulled together. Back when Vander had been in charge it was chaotic but peaceful. People were still unsatisfied, yes, but they hadn't been at the verge of another war.

A war that had taken her parents from her.

Deckard came closer. All of a sudden his eyes focused and took note of Vi. Muscles flinched. Growling, Deckard approached another step.

The ground trembled below his feet. He was heavier than Vi remembered. Less agile. Then again, judging from the way he looked it was safe to assume he would hit a whole lot harder than before.

And she wasn't in the place to risk it.

Clenching her hands into fists, Vi got ready to answer violence with violence. All the hairs in the back of her neck stood up straight.

She could feel her own breath echo inside her ears. The beating of her heart pressed against her rib cage.

Deckard fixed his entire attention on her. Violet shimmer pulsated along his body. Anger burned in the blue of his eyes.