Chapter Text
The air inside the Hexgate tower was thick with smoke, the faint flicker of broken lights casting shaky shadows across the wrecked walls. Jinx balanced on a crumbling beam high above the chaos, her glowing pink eyes scanning the scene below. One glance told her everything she needed to know—and just how much danger Vi was in.
Her sister stood frozen on the edge of a shaky ledge, staring at the hulking monster that used to be Vander. Jinx’s chest tightened. Vander, who had once been their protector, was now a twisted, shimmer-fueled beast. His body was massive, glowing, and full of rage.
"Vi!" Jinx shouted, her voice cutting through the crackle of wires and distant alarms. "You have to move! Get to the other side! He’s gone—he’s not coming back!"
Vi didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at her. She leaned forward, clutching the ledge as tears rolled down her face, her eyes locked on the creature.
"Vi, listen to me!" Jinx yelled again, panic creeping into her voice. "You can’t save him!"
But still, Vi didn’t move.
The beast suddenly stirred, letting out a deep, guttural growl that made Jinx’s skin crawl. Its glowing eyes snapped open, locking onto Vi like a predator spotting its prey. With a roar that shook the tower, it lunged straight at her.
"Vi!" Jinx screamed, her heart pounding in her chest.
The creature’s massive claws swiped at Vi, forcing her to stumble back. But it didn’t stop there. It slammed its fists into the ledge, shaking the structure and breaking chunks of metal. Vi fell to her knees as bits of debris rained down around her.
Jinx didn’t think—she just moved. Activating the shimmer in her veins, she launched herself forward, moving faster than her thoughts. The world blurred as she crashed into the beast, knocking it away from Vi. Together, they tumbled off the ledge.
"Jinx!" Vi’s scream cut through the air, filled with panic and pain.
Jinx barely noticed the sharp claws digging into her sides as the beast grabbed hold of her. All she could see was Vi’s terrified face, her hand reaching out. At the last second, Vi caught Jinx’s arm, their hands locking in a desperate grip.
The ledge groaned under their weight, creaking as it threatened to collapse. Jinx looked up, locking eyes with her sister. She could see it in Vi’s face—the fear, the heartbreak, and the understanding of what was about to happen.
Jinx smiled, a small, sad smile. She knew what she had to do.
"Always with you, sis," she whispered softly.
Before Vi could stop her, Jinx used her free hand to punch the glowing hextech crystal on Vi’s gauntlet. The light faded, and the device deactivated. Vi’s grip slipped, and Jinx let herself fall.
"No! Jinx, no! NOOOO!" Vi’s scream echoed through the tower as she fell backward onto the ledge.
Jinx plummeted through the air, the wind rushing past her. The beast’s claws tightened around her, crushing the air from her lungs. For a moment, everything was still, like the world had stopped. Memories flashed through her mind.
She thought of Vander’s warm smile, the way he’d promised to keep her and Vi safe. She thought of Isha, her gentle laugh, and the way she’d believed in Jinx.
Tears slid down Jinx’s face as her heart swelled with a bittersweet mix of sorrow and courage. Her hand found the monkey bomb strapped to her side.
Her thumb hesitated over the pin.
Then she heard Ekko’s voice in her head, a memory from just a few days ago: "No matter what happened in the past... it’s never too late to build something new."
Her eyes lit up, glowing brighter. A spark of hope flickered in her chest—a feeling she hadn’t felt in years.
"For you, Vander," she whispered, her lips curling into a small, hopeful smile. "And for me."
She yanked the pin, activating the bomb. It whirred to life, glowing brighter with each second. The beast roared, its grip tightening, but Jinx didn’t flinch as a sudden, blinding burst of pink shimmer formed around her body.
The explosion erupted, filling the air with light and sound.
When the smoke cleared, Vi lay trembling on the ledge, her sobs shaking her entire body.
"Jinx!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Jinx!"
But there was no answer. Just silence.
Vi clutched the ledge, scanning the debris, her heart pounding as she searched for any sign of her sister.
But there was nothing. No body. No trace. Just the faint, lingering shimmer of pink that slowly faded into the void below.
Tears spilled down Vi’s face as the weight of what had happened crushed her.