novelraw Chapter 534
Chapter 534
The wealthy families and major merchants of Zaun had long since relocated to Piltover.
What remained below were laborers, scavengers, and factory hands.
Piltover controlled the continent’s main land and sea routes. Trade poured through its gates, swelling its coffers and accelerating its rise in culture and technology.
Zaun, stripped of opportunity, was left with chemical plants, alchemical workshops, and dangerous industrial labor. Its people sold their bodies to Upper City factories for scraps.
Above, the streets were clean, bright, and orderly.
Below, toxic runoff, chemical fog, and sickness soaked into every brick.
Enforcers rarely came down without gas masks. Inspections were rare.
And so the black market flourished.
Six years ago, the Undercity finally snapped.
Led by Vander and Silco, they tried to seize the Upper City by force. They wanted their children to breathe clean air. To live and study like Piltover’s kids.
They were crushed.
Cold steel against rifles was never a fair fight.
They never crossed the bridge.
Tonight, they did.
Under Vi’s command and Rowan Mercer’s impossible strength, the Undercity fighters stormed across the bridge, shattered every defensive line, and smashed into the Council Hall.
The six ruling councilors were taken alive.
The Enforcers were disarmed.
Piltover’s entire armed force fell in a single night.
"Finite Incantatem."
Only then did Rowan finally collapse onto a bench in the Council chamber, pretending to pass out drunk.
At the same time, the sleeping curse on Vander quietly unraveled.
Far below, in the cellar of the Last Drop, Vander stirred.
He sat up, groaning and rubbing his forehead.
"That kid... drinks like a demon. I actually lost..."
He managed a weak laugh.
"I’m never going to hear the end of this."
"Vander!"
Powder threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Vi and everyone fought the Enforcers! The Upper City! Please, you have to save her!"
Vander froze.
"What?"
They told him everything.
He grabbed his gauntlets and ran.
He expected blood.
He expected bodies.
He expected disaster.
What he found instead was a street littered with unconscious Enforcers... and Silco’s men.
No Vi. No Black Lane fighters.
"They crossed the bridge," someone babbled. "They won. It was Rowan. He did everything."
Vander stood there, stunned.
One drunk kid.
Bare hands.
Flattened Piltover’s army.
It sounded like a myth.
He ran again.
Across the bridge.
Across the line he had never been able to cross six years ago.
His eyes burned as he reached the other side.
The Upper City was under Undercity control.
Black Lane banners hung from towers.
Enforcers were bound in the streets.
In the Council Hall, Vi was still standing.
Covered in blood. Shaking. Alive.
"Vander!"
She ripped off her gloves and ran into his arms.
"We did it. We took Piltover. They can’t look down on us anymore."
Vander held her tightly.
"You did good, kid. I’m proud of you."
Only then did he look toward Rowan.
The boy lay sprawled on a bench, snoring.
Piltover had fallen.
But holding it would be harder.
The city’s wealth would attract predators.
Noxus most of all.
Without the Enforcers or the council’s political shield, Piltover would be devoured.
Vander stared at Rowan.
Drunk Rowan had conquered a city.
Sober Rowan could protect one.
"...I need to keep him here."