I've Got Something Better! (update)

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Deep within the Undercity, in Singed's laboratory.

"Behold, this is my most satisfactory creation to date."

Singed led Link Star into his lab, where Vander hung from the ceiling, eyes closed, his body transformed by the experiments.

"Vander's will to survive and his endurance are truly remarkable!" Singed's voice was filled with admiration. "What would be unbearable for an ordinary person, he not only endured but also evolved under the stimulation of the mutations."

Link remained silent, instead circling Vander to observe him closely.

The current Vander was exactly as he appeared in the story—a hybrid of man and beast, his massive frame covered in short, steel-like bristles. His muscles, forged like iron, exuded an intimidating aura.

His limbs had completely mutated, and the catalyst in the chem-pump on his back occasionally bubbled. Tubes protruded from his body, connecting the pump to the mechanical limb on his right arm. A fan valve on his shoulder blade served as a heat vent.

Link frowned as he studied Vander for a long time. Singed, sensing that Link was deep in thought, didn't rush him and instead waited patiently.

After a moment, a heavy sigh escaped from Link's respirator.

"Doctor, I'm afraid Vander's transformation wasn't as smooth as you made it sound, was it?"

Singed's eyes showed a hint of surprise. "You actually noticed!"

"I can understand your experimental approach," Link said calmly. "You located the midline between the shoulder blades and spine, used bone plate drilling to secure the chem-pump, and sutured the pump's wires to the arteries and veins."

"Additionally, your chem-pump must be connected to his spinal nerve fibers. Such a precise surgery is hard to imagine being completed by one person."

"Indeed, installing the chem-pump took a lot of effort and thought, but that wasn't the most challenging part," Singed said, his hands clasped behind his back. Link continued, "Maintaining the stability and correctness of the mutations was the hardest part, wasn't it?"

"Correct," Singed nodded slightly. "Can you imagine the scene when his right arm fell off at the elbow during the experiment?"

"At that time, I thought the experiment had failed. But I discovered that, under the catalyst, his blood had begun to accept the transformation and mutation from the chem-pump, granting him a regenerative ability far beyond that of a normal person."

"With this ability, a bud grew from the stump of his severed arm. Like a gardener, I crafted a unique chem-enhanced body to guide the growth of the bud."

"During this process, I introduced external stimuli to promote the mutation and development of his bones."

Singed sighed softly. "It was a grueling process. I don't know how many times I broke his bones just to ensure the skeleton grew correctly."

"But it was all worth it. Now, he has truly become a beast."

Singed's eyes sparkled with pride. Such a masterpiece could only be achieved by him in all of the Twin Cities.

But alas!

The pride in his eyes faded as he thought of his daughter.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break the boundary between life and death to bring back his beloved.

While Singed was lost in his thoughts, Link continued to observe Vander.

This version of Vander wasn't yet the true Beast of Zaun.

That meant there was still hope to save him!

If Singed were to fully transform him into a beast, Vander's humanity and memories would likely be erased forever.

"Doctor, I admire your technical skills, but I hope you can—" Link turned to face Singed, "—shift the focus of the experiment to awakening his humanity."

"Awaken his humanity?"

Singed was puzzled. "Why? The current Vander is incredibly strong, swift, and utterly ruthless—the perfect biological weapon. Don't you want to use him to fulfill your ambitions?"

"No, Doctor," Link shook his head. "I have no desire for domination, only a vision for creation."

"Vander is of no use to me."

"Rather than turning him into a weapon for slaughter, why not let him help a lonely little girl rediscover the warmth of family?"

"Besides—" Link removed his cloak, revealing the exoskeleton beneath. His voice carried a hint of pride. "I have something better!"

Singed's eyelids twitched as he stepped closer to examine the exoskeleton.

After a moment, he let out a sigh of admiration.

"What exquisite gear construction, what ingenious构思, what a remarkable design philosophy!"

"This is a truly incredible masterpiece. I've never seen a scientist who could advance clockwork technology to this level!"

"What is it called?"

Singed looked up. Link stroked the exoskeleton armor on his arm. "Clockwork Exoskeleton."

"It's just the 0.1 version. There will be further upgrades in the future."

"Hmm, starting with the energy source?" Singed noticed the triangular engine on Link's lower back. He crouched down, reaching out to touch it, feeling the gentle ticking of the gears inside.

"That's one aspect."

Link sighed. "The current clockwork exoskeleton places high demands on the user's physical fitness. Additionally, when the gear system overloads, it can cause burns to the user. Most importantly, the attack modes are limited, and the engine's power output isn't ideal."

"Even with these flaws, it could still serve as an excellent weapon for equipping an army."

Singed stood up, his eyes filled with admiration.

"You're a genius—"

"Thank you for the praise, Doctor."

"But in my opinion, the applications of exoskeletons aren't limited to warfare. If applied to civilian use, the potential would be even greater."

"Are you planning to use clockwork technology to rival Hextech?" Singed raised an eyebrow. Link shrugged. "No, the two technologies aren't on the same track, so there's no need for competition."

"Hextech, at its core, is humanity's attempt to harness magic and arcane arts. But clockwork technology is humanity's ultimate exploration of physics, mathematics, and mechanics!"

"You're an outstanding scientist," Singed said with admiration. "And outstanding people are never satisfied with the status quo. You will inevitably challenge Hextech."

"Who knows—"

Link didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he turned to Singed and said, "Doctor, how long would it take to relocate your lab?"

"Excluding the necessary experimental materials and data, if I have enough manpower, it shouldn't take more than a day!"

"Then please start preparing for the move. I'll arrange a new laboratory for you and a new room for your daughter."

Singed glanced at the iron door not far away and nodded slightly. "Very well, but I'll need access to the experimental logs afterward."

"No problem, I'll make sure you have them."

"Also, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

"What is it?"

Singed's gaze shifted away from Link's exoskeleton.

"Doctor, do you know anything about Janna—"