Chapter 116 - 116: Rune Suit
In the Undercity, the crisis of the "Shimmer" inhalation had finally begun to stabilize. Thanks to Kael and Viktor's Type-B Serum, the irritability and addictive symptoms among the Zaunites were neutralized before casualties could mount. This string of successful interventions had bought Kael more than just gratitude; it had bought him territory.
Kael was on a buying spree. Land and chemical plants in Zaun were dirt cheap compared to the ivory towers of Piltover, and with Silco currently "out of the picture," the mining of Hextech crystals could proceed without interference.
Back in the Upper City, Kael presented his latest "finished products" to Madame Kiramman.
"Cosmetics?" the Councilor asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. "I thought you were studying under Heimerdinger. Has he traded his wrenches for alchemy sets?"
Madame Kiramman warned him not to waste his brilliant mind on "useless things," offering to give him more funding if he was short on cash. She didn't understand the vision. Kael knew that in any world, women's beauty was the most lucrative market. But his true goal wasn't just profit—it was the resources needed for his Orichalcum Rune Armor.
Orichalcum was the only material with the magical conductivity required to carry the weight of his runes. To forge a full suit would require tons of gold—an investment even the Kirammans would hesitate to provide while their capital was tied up in the Hexgate.
Inside his private workshop, Kael was a blur of focus. He had used Jayce's Hextech as a reference, but he was building something entirely different: the Ark Rune System.
The suit was designed with three distinct layers of runic engraving:
The Outer Layer: Focused on defensive magic and structural integrity.
The Middle Layer: Distributed kinetic energy and power across the frame.
The Inner Layer: Assisted the Ark Rune Reactor, stabilizing the magical energy output and pushing the reactor's limits.
Engraving runes was back-breaking work. For the inner layer, Kael had to etch symbols onto gears the size of rice grains. If Viktor had attempted it, his ossifying muscles would have given out within the hour. But with the Power of Ten Kaels, Kael completed the outermost shell in a single marathon session.
He slotted the Ark Rune Reactor into the chest piece. As it lit up, the golden orichalcum hummed with life. Kael picked up a carving knife and, with enough force to pierce a tank, stabbed the suit's chest.
The blade didn't penetrate. Instead, the force was swallowed by a Spatial Membrane—a ripple in the air that vanished instantly. It was a defense far superior to the energy shields of the Titan World.
"Is that for me?" Caitlyn asked, peering into the workshop.
"Don't even think about it," Kael said, removing the reactor. "This suit alone nearly bankrupts me."
Caitlyn pouted. "Mother sent me to find you. She says it's urgent."
Kael smirked. He knew exactly what this was about. When they arrived at the Kiramman estate, the transformation was undeniable. Madame Kiramman looked ten years younger. Her skin glowed with a clarity that no Piltovian treatment could match.
"Kael! How are the effects so staggering?" she asked, clutching his hand. She had forgotten her lecture on "useless things" the moment she saw her own reflection. That morning, her husband's back had been severely strained from his "renewed interest" in her.
"The makeup can be harsh long-term," Kael explained, playing the expert. "But I'm already developing a skincare line to counteract it. Skincare, slimming, muscle enhancement... I have it all mapped out."
"And the production cost?" Madame Kiramman asked, already calculating the noble market. "One gold coin per bottle?"
"One silver coin," Kael replied.
"What?"
"One silver coin can produce an entire bucket," Kael added.
Madame Kiramman nearly choked on her tea. She realized that while Jayce was trying to change how the world moved with Hextech, Kael was about to control the wealth of the entire aristocracy. The profit margins were beyond obscene.
"Forget the Hexgate for a moment," she whispered. "We need to talk about distribution."