Arcane: Twin Cities Mechanic

Li Lin exchanged a few brief words with the two, and to his surprise, Caitlyn proposed testing his current abilities in a sparring session.

The outcome was predictable.

Once able to dominate Li Lin purely with her combat skills, Caitlyn found herself subdued in a single move before she could even react. To add insult to injury, Li Lin lightly tapped her lips in the process.

And that was without him utilizing the super-speed enhancement that allowed him to break the sound barrier effortlessly.

The third-stage genetic enhancement surgery had elevated his physical capabilities to a whole new level, far surpassing the results of the second-stage active stimulant injections. It was a qualitative leap.

Witnessing Li Lin reach such heights with just his body, Kai'Sa was elated. She immediately pleaded with him to perform the same procedure on her. Caitlyn, not wanting to be left behind, made the same request.

The AI worked efficiently, and the sterile laboratory's surgical station, previously damaged, had been fully restored by mechanical drones. Its facilities were now upgraded with zero-element materials, making it perfectly suited for a new round of procedures.

Caitlyn, having undergone both prior stages of body enhancement, was the ideal candidate for the first surgery.

Kai'Sa, however, had not consumed any genetic enhancement serums or undergone active stimulant injections. Her powers stemmed solely from the energy purified by her living skin, making her physiology more complex and requiring further study.

Before beginning, Li Lin donned protective gear and stood by Caitlyn's side throughout the surgery, letting her tightly grip his hand as she endured the excruciating pain.

In just over a minute, the nano-genetic modification bots emerged from the injection site, signaling the surgery's completion.

Much like Li Lin's experience, Caitlyn now exhibited signs of difficulty adjusting to her newfound strength, granted by enhancements in superhuman strength, intelligence, and agility. She would require the AI's assistance for adaptation training.

However, compared to her beloved, Caitlyn lacked one specific superpower: the "Steel Body" ability.

Li Lin's genetically enhanced body was already immune to most physical harm, but with the "Steel Body" trait, even without his armor, he could shrug off any attack from ordinary humans.

While these abilities offered decent resistance to magic, the diverse and unpredictable sorcery of Runeterra, such as the Black Mist's curses from the Shadow Isles, was another story entirely.

Ordinary humans who ventured there would have their life force drained endlessly by the Black Mist until their bodies withered, transforming into cursed, undead beings.

Li Lin wasn't confident enough to traverse a soul-devouring magical fog with just his enhanced body, unaided by the energy shields of his battle armor.

After all, even with third-stage enhancements, his physical form had limitations compared to the mechanical advantages of his armor—unless he were like Superman or other Kryptonians, who are nearly invincible under a yellow sun.

Indeed, the pinnacle of genetic engineering could be epitomized by Kryptonians. That saying was no exaggeration.

Within the genetic advancement system Li Lin could now access, the "Genetic Ascension" branch bore similarities to the Kryptonian framework.

It involved absorbing solar energy to sustain oneself and unlocking abilities like "biofield" generation, granting even more extraordinary powers.

In short, pursuing the genetic enhancement route ultimately led to the level of Superman, Clark Kent.

What remained uncertain for Li Lin was which version of Superman he would align with after fully unlocking the "Genetic Ascension" theories.

Given the current pace of his upgrades, that point was still far off, and there was no need to dwell on it for now.

That morning, Li Lin and Kai'Sa accompanied Caitlyn in the Piltovan mountains to help her quickly acclimate to her new abilities.

Upon returning to Piltover, Li Lin focused on analyzing Kai'Sa's unique physiology. He discovered her physical capabilities were equivalent to having undergone one to two injections of the active stimulant, leaving her slightly short of the threshold required for the third-stage enhancements.

For Li Lin, compensating for insufficient physical attributes with custom genetic modifications was a trivial matter.

After lunch, with the AI's assistance, he tailored a specialized procedure for Kai'Sa and performed the surgery. Piltover now had its third individual capable of overwhelming conventional Ascendants.

Hours later, Kai'Sa had mostly adapted to her transformation. She, Li Lin, and Caitlyn sat atop a mountain, savoring snacks delivered by the mechanical drones, as they watched the golden sun sink toward the horizon.

Caitlyn leaned against Li Lin's shoulder. "It's been a long time since we watched a sunset together."

Li Lin gently placed a sweet pastry in her mouth and smiled. "Well, here's our chance, isn't it?"

"Hmph! If it weren't for adjusting to these new powers, we might not have had this opportunity at all," Caitlyn grumbled playfully, her words slightly muffled by the pastry.

Sitting beside Caitlyn, Kai'Sa silently nibbled on her snack, her expression tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Noticing this, Caitlyn nudged Li Lin with her elbow before standing and turning her attention to the seemingly forlorn girl. Caitlyn wrapped an arm around Kai'Sa's slender waist and rested her chin on her shoulder, speaking in a deliberately lighthearted tone. "What's on your mind? Spacing out like that?"

"Come on, no secrets between us," Li Lin added with a chuckle.

Kai'Sa bit her lip and hesitated before saying, "Li Lin, Caitlyn…"

After a brief silence, she sighed. "When I was a kid, I often climbed the hills with my friends to watch the sun dip behind the western mountains… But now, they're all gone."

Li Lin and Caitlyn exchanged a glance, a moment of realization passing between them.

Kai'Sa had been reminiscing, recalling the days before the Void consumed her homeland. Watching the sunset had brought back memories of her lost companions. 

"You are never alone. You still have us."

Caitlyn gently stroked Kai'Sa's silky hair, her voice full of tenderness.

"At that time, we can also invite Orianna, Seraphine, and the others to the mountain. Whether it's sunrise or sunset, we will stay by your side."

"Thank you..." Kai'Sa's voice cracked slightly, and she half-lifted her eyelids, trying her best to prevent the tears from welling up in her eyes.

Li Lin sighed quietly in his heart, feeling deeply melancholic.

The Void had destroyed far too much, and his world had already been consumed by emptiness. Runeterra could not suffer the same fate.

After a brief silence, Li Lin broke the heavy atmosphere. "Speaking of which... Kai'Sa, the AI told me that the mechanical soldiers it sent to Shurima have contacted Kassadin and even provided him with a satellite phone. Have you managed to get in touch with your father?"

As soon as this topic came up, Kai'Sa's gloom lifted, and her eyes immediately brightened. "Yes, I've spoken with Dad on the phone! He told me he's doing well and not to worry about him!"

Her conversation with Kassadin had occurred before Li Lin launched the second communication satellite, Morning Star.

Back then, although the reconnaissance satellite, Heaven's Eye, was equipped with communication receivers, it couldn't yet support long-distance face-to-face video calls.

After the launch of the communication satellite, Li Lin was away from Piltover, and Kai'Sa hadn't made any specific requests for communication—she hadn't even mentioned it in her regular talks with Caitlyn, Orianna, and Seraphine.

As a result, the AI didn't make any arrangements to send Kassadin the new communication equipment that would allow him to have face-to-face chats with Kai'Sa.

"Didn't you directly confirm your father's location and teleport to meet him?" Li Lin asked in surprise.

"Well... Dad's been wandering around the borders of Icathia these past few months. He told me it's too dangerous there, and he doesn't want me to go after him."

Kai'Sa's tone sounded somewhat melancholic. Since leaving Shurima for Piltover, she hadn't seen her father for over a year.

Adding to that the three years of "life-and-death separation," her longing for Kassadin had grown stronger each day. She wished she could teleport to him right now, share everything that had happened in Piltover, tell him how she had freed herself from the Void's influence, and talk about the new friends she had made.

"But Dad said he would be returning to Vekaura soon to rest for a while. I'll be able to see him then!"

"I can accompany you." Li Lin smiled.

Kai'Sa's violet eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?!"

"Perfect timing. I also need to go to Shurima to take care of some matters." He nodded. "Like dealing with Malzahar, and I still need to find Emperor Azir."

Li Lin paused for a moment. "It's time to resolve the matters with the Darkin and Xerath."

(End of this chapter)

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