My Body Had Never Felt This Good

Katarina, standing guard in the shadows, responded, opened the basement door, and quickly headed out.

Before long, she returned carrying a bucket and set it before Ryan and Viktor.

"This is... Shimmer?"

Viktor watched in surprise as Katarina removed the lid, revealing the purple liquid inside.

"You should be familiar with it. I have heard about your past," Ryan said with a smile.

"Its creator was once my first teacher."

After hesitating briefly, Viktor answered honestly:

"I do not agree with some of his views, but I was deeply influenced by him in certain ways."

"The past can be intoxicating, but you cannot become trapped in it. Viktor, your past made you who you are today, and the choices you make now will determine your future."

Ryan pointed at the dark purple liquid, his expression calm.

"This was Medarda's gift to me on my first day in Piltover. Of course, there is also another treasure of mine."

He fetched a candle lamp from nearby. A grayish-white flame burned on its wick, and merely looking at it gave one the feeling that their soul was being drawn away.

"Shimmer enhances the odds of fusing with the gemstone. The Soul-Snatching Underworld Lamp is a little trinket I acquired from the Immortal Bastion. It can use magic to forcibly absorb an ordinary person's soul."

Ryan looked at Viktor solemnly.

"If you fail, I will use it to bind your soul and prevent it from dispersing when your body dies. But then I can only place you in an ordinary mechanical body—stronger than Jayce is now, but weaker than Hero-tier."

This treasure was said to have been a toy belonging to the Immortal Bastion's original master, used to punish disobedient slaves. In any case, Ryan had not obtained anything particularly wholesome from the Immortal Bastion.

Even in terms of runes, aside from the basic ones, every other rune was related to souls.

"My lord, this is already enough." Viktor wore a carefree expression. "What should I do? Inject it into my body?"

"Silco popularized Shimmer, and they generally administer it by injection. The method is extremely crude and makes it difficult to precisely control the body's changes. In my eyes, there has only been one successful case so far."

"Lady Sevika?" Viktor asked curiously.

Ryan shook his head. "No. Jinx."

"Jinx..." Viktor murmured the name. "In Zaunite slang, it means disaster, misfortune, or ill omen. Anyone given such a name must have something extraordinary about them."

"She is still only a young girl, yet her physique is already close to Jayce's. Her mind has some issues, but her strengths outweigh her flaws, and her future is promising." Ryan smiled. "She was the one behind the disturbance at Stillwater Hold that day."

"I will remember her."

Viktor nodded, understanding that Ryan was discussing Zaun's future development with him, indirectly putting him at ease about the danger at hand.

There was not the slightest hesitation on his face. At Ryan's instruction, he removed his shirt, exposing his gaunt chest.

"Let us begin, my lord. I must trouble you again." He looked apologetic.

"It is no trouble. In return, let me witness a splendid showdown between the Twin Cities."

Ryan smiled as his eyes and the ring on his right hand simultaneously glowed deep blue.

In an instant, a mass of Shimmer was slowly drawn out by magic and flew toward Viktor.

"My method will be very precise, but it will hurt more. Prepare yourself."

Seeing Viktor nod with a serious expression, Ryan said no more. He guided the Shimmer through Viktor's skin and into his body.

At that instant, Viktor's face immediately twisted in agony, and his body trembled involuntarily. Even Katarina, standing some distance away, could feel the pain within it.

Yet it did not take long for Viktor to force his expression under control. He tried to calm himself as he endured the excruciating pain coursing through every part of his body.

Shimmer surged into his body from all directions without end. First, his skin turned slightly purple, then it merged into his blood vessels, embedded itself in his bones, and corroded his internal organs.

The fusion had begun. Viktor felt as though insects were gnawing at every inch of his body. His entire body trembled involuntarily, yet he still clenched his teeth and remained silent.

But the pain was still too intense, and he unconsciously put a little force into his feet.

Crack.

The ground split apart like a spiderweb, causing Viktor's eyes to widen.

Normally, even putting force into his left foot was difficult. How could he possibly possess such strength?

Only after quite some time did the pain in his body gradually fade, replaced by a tingling numbness.

"Congratulations. You have passed the first stage."

Ryan's congratulatory voice rang out, bringing the somewhat lost Viktor back to his senses.

He twisted his body slightly and felt as though the shackles binding him had been removed. Gratitude appeared on Viktor's face.

"Thank you so much. This body has never felt this good."

"Perhaps you should thank its creator more. He invented this medicine capable of bringing limitless possibilities. You will need time to adapt to your body and allow your consciousness and soul to grow," Ryan reminded him.

Consciousness corresponded to the soul, while the soul's strength depended on the body and the mind. Whether one strengthened the body or increased mental power, it would strengthen the soul.

But if external forces were involved, the soul needed time to grow.

"About three to seven days. You will need to hold on during that time. Miss Caitlyn and Lady Camille will both be looking to cause you trouble," Ryan teased.

"Evolution is right before my eyes, and Zaun's vision is gradually becoming reality. No one can stop me."

Viktor put his shirt back on, concealing the faint purple tint on his body. His face bore a determination unlike anything before.

"I believe that too. But everything must be done step by step. Try out your new body."

Ryan smiled and gestured for Viktor to take a few steps.

Viktor now showed a trace of hesitation. Perhaps he feared the sensation in his leg was an illusion, or perhaps he simply did not dare believe he had truly reached this point.

He took a deep breath and raised his left foot, so light that he could not even sense its weight. He moved it slightly forward, then gently set it down. Leaning forward slightly, he lifted his right foot and placed it beside the left.

Such a simple stepping motion filled his face with joy.

Then he began taking large, cheerful strides. He walked faster and faster, eventually breaking into a jog. His speed was certainly not slow, far surpassing what he had once been capable of.

"This is the first time I have experienced what it feels like to be normal." Viktor's expression was unusually vivid, filled with overwhelming joy beneath the nostalgia.

"This is only the first step. I do not oppose you maintaining your current state. I think retaining your emotions is not bad either," Ryan said with a smile.

"The happiness emotions bring is only temporary. Ascension alone can bring me eternity." Viktor quickly calmed down and shook his head, refusing Ryan's suggestion.

"I respect your choice. Whichever path you take, you will not fare poorly." Ryan's tone carried a hint of regret.

"Speaking of that, I have made some progress on what you asked me to research, my lord."

Viktor took out a set of blueprints from the bag he had brought from Zaun.

"This is a new type of soldier's equipment I have been researching. Using the alloy data you provided, I incorporated Piltover's technological innovations and arrived at this first concept."

Ryan looked at the black-and-red knight armor depicted on the top blueprint, instantly drawn to its magnificent appearance. But just then, Katarina flashed to his side and whispered something into his ear, causing him to raise a brow.

"The design suits Noxus's tastes very well. If Miss Camille were not about to meet with me, I would truly be delighted to hear you explain it in detail."

"My lord, I can explain it to you at any time. I will leave the blueprints with you for now. It is time for me to return to Zaun as well."

Viktor also realized that he had disturbed Ryan for too long. Tactfully, he gave a bow, then left the basement.