Clockwork or Frankenstein

Chapter 37: Clockwork or Frankenstein?

Hextech Core Type II, Codename: Clockwork.

On Piltover's bustling shopping street stood a workshop belonging to the renowned inventor, Colin Revik.

He was most famous for his skill in crafting exquisite prosthetic limbs. Colin used intricate brass components to make his artificial limbs so beautiful that they were often superior to the original flesh.

Besides the cybernetic technology from the Project Universe, Oran was also familiar with Colin's techniques. This was the medical compensation Oran received for treating his daughter, Orianna.

Due to Oran's presence, this timeline had also seen a change: the continent of Valoran had lost a hero known as Clockwork, but gained a happier family instead.

Orianna's talent in clockwork mechanics was no less than her father's. Though her body had changed, her inspiration remained. This method of controlling a core detached from the body was one of Orianna's ideas.

And on this sea, that idea was truly realized.

Zzzt!

Furious electrical currents surged through the laboratory. The commotion this time was far greater than during Blitz's creation.

Oran himself was wearing an exoskeleton, and Kate, after her heart modification, had developed a special tolerance to electricity, so neither was affected.

However, Blitz, constructed entirely of metal, instinctively stepped forward, blocking the current with his own body and absorbing the excess power.

This situation didn't last long. After a brief period of fury, the energy seemed to find its destination, finally gathering on the dormant automaton on the test bench.

The automaton's head originally had a special horn, which now, like a lightning rod, continuously attracted the current released by the core.

Near the back of the head, roughly parallel to the ears, was a special cylindrical component. In its design, it was meant to receive external signals and regulate the energy flow within the body.

BOOM!

As the current transferred to the new automaton, the surrounding equipment, unable to withstand the energy, began to emit plumes of black smoke.

The once precise instruments and flashing data screens became distorted and chaotic under the sudden surge of current.

The air was filled with the smell of burnt electronics, like the last dying wail of an electronic soul.

The lights in the room suddenly went out. The wires on the walls twisted and expanded like enraged snakes, their insulation burning away from the high temperature, revealing sparks within.

These sparks danced in the darkness, forming dazzling beams of light that illuminated Oran's face. However, Oran showed no panic; a faint smile could even be seen on his lips.

In the center of the laboratory, the newly created automaton stood quietly. Its bionic metal skin still showed flickering currents, and its previously closed eyes had now opened.

"Frankenstein?"

"That's right, your name is Frankenstein."

Unlike Blitz, as the first unit of Hextech II, Frankenstein had some unexpected aspects that Oran hadn't anticipated. For instance, one pupil was yellow and the other blue, which was not part of Oran's design. The voice system also seemed to have had some issues during activation.

"Fran... Daddy, brother, sister?"

Her gaze swept over Oran and the others, her voice very soft. She was currently absorbing everything about this world.

"Blitz welcomes you, family."

"Meow, me too~"

According to Blitz's current thought process, Oran was his creator, which held the same meaning as the word "father." As the earlier-born unit, he was naturally the older brother.

As for "sister," Kate's modified heart also had some connection, but she couldn't be considered a biological sibling.

The words of acceptance by her ear caused a flicker of emotion to appear in Frankenstein's eyes. Seeing Oran extend his hand, she tentatively placed her own on it, her naivete about the outside world making her slightly cautious.

Unlike Blitz's complete logical framework, Frankenstein's cognition of certain things was more akin to that of a newborn infant. Some of the programs recorded within her internal systems had been damaged, leaving behind fragmented memories.

Afterward, in the damaged room, Oran conducted some simple tests and initially reached some conclusions.

[Language system suspected to be slightly damaged. Thought logic is relatively clear, but it seems something different was accidentally created this time.]

Experiments have randomness and contingency. Sometimes, unexpected things are born, and many historical discoveries originated from chance.

Oran had not upgraded Blitz and Frankenstein, as they were both first-generation units, with the final emotional modules. The emotions Blitz currently displayed were derived from his self-compilation and differed slightly from true emotions.

However, with the fusion of the Devil Fruit and the Hextech II core, Frankenstein seemed to have developed special emotions.

[Logical cognition partially reshaped, requires further learning.]

Although Oran's control remained intact, if her cognitive concepts were not properly cultivated, unexpected incidents might occur when she executed tasks in the future.

At this moment, Frankenstein was touching the damaged equipment, gradually sensing the outside world in this way. Throughout this process, the Warhammer stayed by her side; it was her core, and the two could not be separated for long.

In Oran's design, Frankenstein's automaton also had an energy storage device. After the electrical energy was depleted, it could even be manually powered by a clockwork mechanism. However, in Frankenstein's perception, not being separated from her core was as natural as breathing.

"Oran, what are her Devil Fruit abilities? Didn't you fuse a Devil Fruit into the core? How does it compare to Bear's?"

"I haven't tested the specific effects yet, but according to the records in the illustrated book, that fruit was the Paramecia-type Absorb-Absorb Fruit, which can absorb intangible energy to restore one's body. I wonder what effect the fusion will achieve."

The records in illustrated books are often only partial. Not all users can utilize the full capabilities of a Devil Fruit, and many abilities are not recorded at all. Obtaining a recorded fruit for research was already a good thing.

"Kate, get ready. We'll have a practical combat drill with Frankenstein later."

"Okay, leave it to meow. I'll go prepare the testing grounds first."

"Heeheehee, Xidilier Oran, I didn't expect you to have experimental failures too. Look at this place, you're quite a mess."

Before Kate could leave, a few figures appeared from the half-open laboratory door. Caesar strode in with an exceptionally arrogant gait.

"According to MADS' rules, the allocation of funds is determined by the comparison of experimental results. Xidilier, I challenge you!"

"Caesar Clown, I think you're itching for a fight."

Kate rolled up her sleeves, ready to deal with this guy for Oran. However, this time Caesar didn't back down; instead, he took a step forward, provocatively making a face.

(End of Chapter)