Glorious Evolution

"Don't be nervous. I broke down the door simply to better convey my message."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Viktor's expression didn't change much. He simply said calmly, "Then you'd better give up. I won't agree to any conditions."

Your theory is wrong.

Upon hearing this, Viktor paused slightly, then shook his head and said:

"I admit that your words just now stirred my emotions. But unfortunately, I've already experienced this level of doubt back in my school days."

"Removing nerves will not exempt you from destructive emotional impulses."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Viktor, who had already prepared to see his guest off, fell silent.

Even with scarce resources, he could still choose to coldly chew on his ideas. But now, upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Viktor almost instinctively frowned.

"If you're trying to provoke me this way, then I can only tell you that all you'll get is my anger."

"Do you still have anger?"

Upon hearing Viktor's threat, Yuan Chen shook his head speechlessly.

"Having returned to the mission of improving humanity and resolving destructive emotional impulses, having already completed numerous neurotomies and eliminated almost all unnecessary emotions, can you truly be considered a normal and healthy human being in terms of emotions now?"

"A healthy human being is not perfect."

Perhaps because it involved philosophies, Viktor, unusually, began to discuss things with Yuan Chen.

It doesn't just refer to Yuan Chen, but rather that Viktor hasn't had a normal conversation with anyone for a very, very long time.

But things are different now; principles are extremely important. Viktor can tolerate others slandering him, but he will not allow others to slander his principles and dreams.

"The technology of this world has limitless potential, but unfortunately, as things stand, it's unlikely that we can eliminate the influence of magic through similar means..."

At least, your abilities are far from sufficient.

Looking at Viktor in front of him, Yuan Chen could sense that after the rigorous mental and technical means employed, it would be almost impossible to persuade Viktor through conventional methods.

So Yuan Chen simply raised his hand and reached out to Viktor.

"If you truly believe you've succeeded, or that you've eliminated all unnecessary emotions, then reach out your hand."

Upon hearing this, Viktor remained silent for a moment, then nodded and placed one of his hands in Yuan Chen's hand.

The next moment, the power of Temperance was activated. The Temperance from Runeterra's primal emotions forcibly entered Viktor's body.

Although no sound was made, not even Viktor himself made a sound.

However, Viktor could clearly feel that his mind, which had been technically censored and remained as calm as an ancient well, was beginning to stir violently.

This restlessness is not caused by the power of Temperance, but rather by a rejection reaction resulting from regaining something after a long period of loss.

Like a long-time vegetarian suddenly encountering meat, the sudden sense of chaos almost overwhelmed Viktor's entire being.

His expression shifted between light and shadow, while indicator lights on Viktor's chest flashed red continuously.

"What did you do to me!"

Sensing Viktor's intense tone, Yuan Chen silently shook his head and said:

"The primal emotion of Runeterra, an energy that transcends the material world and originates from the spiritual realm."

"While physically eliminating neural influences can indeed exempt most of the effects stemming from destructive impulses, such physical methods are rarely effective in the realm of the mind."

"You should be able to sense that the sudden return after a long period of emotional deprivation produces a far more intense stimulus than under Normal State."

As he spoke, Yuan Chen began to adjust and control Temperance power input. In just a moment, Viktor clearly felt his condition rapidly recover, and even the mechanical indicator lights on his body stopped flashing.

Recovering from the intense emotional shock, Viktor, covered in sweat, looked to the side.

Through his connection with the modified body, Viktor is able to see various quantifiable metrics of his own body.

Although physiological functions were not affected during the process, the emotional fluctuations exceeded the original warning standards.

Once again, Viktor's gaze turned to Yuan Chen with intense intensity. This time, however, his eyes were no longer calm and collected; instead, they were filled with deep hesitation.

Who exactly are you?

"A scholar from Ixialia," Yuan Chen said calmly.

"If you want to delve deeper into the study of the spiritual realm and become completely immune to its impact, then I have two good methods for you."

"... What method?"

"Originating from Ionia's Spirit Theory."

Yuan Chen said:

"Located in the northeastern seas beyond the Valoran Continent, in the Ionian Islands, the boundary between the spiritual and material realms is not clear. Based on this unique natural environment, Ionia's Spirit Theory is an exploration of the taming of emotions."

"Of course, you can ask me directly."

Yuan Chen reached out and picked up a mechanical part placed on a nearby table.

With a relaxed and casual air about him, Yuan Chen stacked and intertwined gears like building blocks. In just a short while, he had created a rather aesthetically pleasing gear device on the table.

Pushing one of the gears, the entire machine began to operate in an orderly fashion. Infused with magic, the friction and collision of the gears produced delicate musical notes.

Despite its simple structure, the mechanical gears exhibit an unexpected agility. The rigid levers seem to have lost their rigidity, displaying an indescribable fluidity and harmony within the flowing musical notes.

"I haven't yet explored the relationship and connection between Spirit Theory and Hextech, Chemtech in great detail. However, Ixialia's Yuan Chu Axiom share many similarities with magical technologies in terms of constraints, logic, and thought."

"Having been passed down for over three thousand years, you might want to try learning about Ixialia's Yuan Chu Axiom."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Viktor simply stared silently at the gear mechanism before him.

"... How did you do that?"

"You'll find out when you get to Ixialia."

Raising his head to look at Yuan Chen, Viktor said decisively after a long silence:

"Okay, but I need to finish what I'm doing before I can leave."

"For how long?"

"About a day... I need to organize the results."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Viktor nodded, then turned and went to a chair, extending his arm across the workbench beside the chair.

It was at this moment that Yuan Chen learned what Viktor's so-called "business at hand" really was...

It is indeed something I have on hand.

With his right arm resting on the workbench, Viktor's third hand emitted a very thin beam of light.

The intense light was extremely hot, but the energy output was incredibly stable. It sliced his arm open with perfect precision, and then welded a piece of metal that had been prepared beforehand into his left arm.

As the laser cut, the room began to fill with the smell of burning human flesh. This made Yuan Chen feel slightly uncomfortable, but Viktor was obviously used to it. He even calmly watched his left wrist being torn open.

Noticing Yuan Chen's gaze, Viktor didn't care, as he was already used to being treated this way.

Even in Zaun, a place teeming with scholars of no moral compass, Viktor's actions of erasing humanity, dismembering the body, and abandoning life are heretical.

But no one would lay a hand on Viktor. On the one hand, Viktor always helped clean up factories where leaks occurred, free of charge.

On the other hand, his human modification services were inexpensive and of excellent quality. Many workers who had lost their limbs in alchemical accidents would come here specifically to beg Viktor for help with modifications.

Some even commented in a detached manner:

"Flesh and blood are too fragile; the real enlightenment brought by technology is enabling humanity to transcend the limits of nature."

As he spoke, a hint of pride flickered in Viktor's eyes.

He didn't remove too many of his positive emotion glands, because Viktor believed this would strengthen his will and solidify his ideals.

Just like now, watching as blood vessels, tendons, and mechanical reinforcements intertwine and merge.

He felt a strong sense of accomplishment; in his view, this seamless integration of synthetic and biological materials was precisely the inspiration that mechanics had given to people.

Watching Viktor mechanically modify his arm, Yuan Chen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Yuan Chen had previously thought Viktor was a gentle and refined person. But after seeing the morbid excitement in his eyes while he was modifying his arm, Yuan Chen suddenly understood why Viktor was not accepted by others...

No, many people still believe in Viktor. However, most of these people have only grasped fragments of Viktor's "Glorious Evolution" theory and have developed a strong, almost religious, belief in it.

Those people didn't realize that this would only make Viktor even more disgusted.

Because this is precisely the emotional flaw that Viktor wants to completely eliminate.

He desperately wanted to eliminate blind faith in things that could not be proven.

Viktor's idea is to find new ways to guide humanity beyond its emotional shortcomings and into a new, more rational stage of evolution.

In this context, his research would almost inevitably cross the ethical boundaries that Piltover could tolerate.

This even includes the ethics and morality of Zaun.

In that case, take him to Ixialia.

Yuan Chen thought to himself—this kind of intense, radical, even out-of-control thinking is the best kind of challenge to traditional thinking.