-97- I will protect you

Communicating with Kai'Sa turned out to be quite unexpected for Powder. 

Despite Kai'Sa's seemingly aloof appearance, she was surprisingly easy to talk to. Whenever Powder spoke, Kai'Sa responded, even if just with a few words, but her attitude was friendly, making it clear she was genuinely answering.

Powder found it amusing – not only was Kai'Sa attractive and fit, but her personality seemed pleasant too.

Deciding to take a break, Powder asked, "I need to use the restroom. Want to come along?"

"I don't need to use the restroom," Kai'Sa replied.

Powder was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"I don't need to use the restroom," Kai'Sa repeated.

"." Powder stared at Kai'Sa, inspecting her carefully under the moonlight and artificial light. "Are you joking? Is this some kind of joke?"

"No, I really don't need to use the restroom," Kai'Sa explained. "Can't you notice this layer on my body?"

Kai'Sa wanted to say that the food she consumed would be digested, but she wasn't sure how to explain it to Powder. In her understanding, once her body absorbed the necessary nutrients, her skin would then extract the remaining nutrients and residue.

Her skin could eat.

It could also be hungry.

Moreover, it could evolve!

So, Kai'Sa really didn't need to use the restroom!

Linwin had already expressed his thoughts on Kai'Sa's physiological aspects, stating that real beautiful girls don't need to use the restroom.

"Isn't that a tight-fitting suit you're wearing?" Powder asked.

"No, this is my skin," Kai'Sa raised her arm, attempting to show Powder carefully.

Powder was quick to approach. She was even curious enough to reach out and touch Kai'Sa's arm. Though Kai'Sa instinctively wanted to retract her hand, Powder had already grabbed her arm, using her fingertips to explore Kai'Sa's skin. The action made Kai'Sa feel ticklish and strange.

Attempting to pull back, she realized her efforts were in vain. Remembering Linwin's advice about controlling force, Kai'Sa endured the strange sensation of being touched by Powder.

After a while, Powder looked up at Kai'Sa with amazement, her scientific curiosity ignited, eyes gleaming. She loudly asked Kai'Sa, "What are you?!"

"..." 

Kai'Sa thought, "Is she cursing at me?"

Powder also realized her words were inappropriate and hastily explained, "I mean, what is this on your body? Is it your skin? But that can't be right. It moves. Does it have life, or even consciousness? Does it make any sound?"

Kai'Sa nodded, "Yes."

"Wow! Don't move; let me touch!" Powder's small hands explored Kai'Sa's waist. Powder squatted down, hands sliding down Kai'Sa's thighs and buttocks.

Powder's eyes carefully examined the purple carapace patterns.

Powder discovered that, upon her touch, the skin felt slightly rough and cold, and it actually had life!

It contracted!

This was too amazing!

This revelation sparked great interest in Powder. Leaning her face against Kai'Sa's waist, Powder used both hands to encircle Kai'Sa's waist, preventing her from moving.

Eager to hear any potential sounds, Powder pressed her ear against Kai'Sa's stomach.

"Do they talk? If they have life... they must have consciousness, right? Will they cause any movement?"

Kai'Sa placed her hands on Powder's head, gently pushing it away. She was surprised by Powder's sudden curiosity.

No one had ever been so close to her before. Never!

Kai'Sa whispered, "Please don't do this. It makes me uncomfortable."

"Don't move, don't move. Let me study you properly!"

"How did you get this purple skin? Is it magic? A curse? Or is it the science of Shurima?"

Powder circled Kai'Sa, inspecting her from top to bottom.

"Ah!"

"Wait, I suddenly realized a problem. Since what you're wearing is your skin—"

"Do you have clothes on now?" Powder blinked, observing Kai'Sa's exceptional figure. She suddenly noticed something.

If this isn't padded, without clothes holding it up... isn't that too much?!

I've got a bit of padding, at least.

Kai'Sa froze, standing there in silence. She knew what Powder was about to ask because Linwin had asked her the same question before.

Even though everything that should be covered was covered, Kai'Sa... indeed wasn't wearing clothes.

"You—"

"Okay, I won't ask. I already know the answer."

Looking at Kai'Sa, who had lowered her head, Powder let out a hollow chuckle.

Suddenly, the interest in her research disappeared.

So it's the real deal?!

Oh, Goddess Janna, the blow to my morale is too significant!

Powder looked forlornly at the sky, feeling that her life was bleak.

Then, Powder noticed a sudden grayness in front of her.

A strange, gray object obscured her vision.

The next moment, sensing danger, Powder swiftly lunged forward, evading the object in a rather undignified manner.

When Powder climbed back up, she saw the thing that had attacked her.

It was a metal grappling hook!

"Run!"

Powder hastily shouted to Kai'Sa, then saw the owner of the grappling hook.

It was a tall woman with white hair. She stood on the wall, looking down at Powder with an indifferent expression.

Beside the metallic blades of her legs, there were two devices that shot out two grappling hooks—one hooked onto the wall, and the other pierced the spot where Powder stood.

"Shoo!"

The grappling hook swiftly retracted. The peculiar woman hung on the wall, scrutinizing Powder. Then, she murmured, "Interesting. The head of Zaun's Weapon Department?"

"It matches the picture."

Powder eyed her, recalling Silco's words.

"Are you Camille?"

Powder blurted out.

Silco had warned that this woman was dangerous. Powder had seen her picture!

What is she? Oh, yes, Piltover's top-secret agent!

The white-haired woman on the wall was momentarily surprised. She hadn't expected the Zaun girl to know her name.

"In that case, I can't let you go."

Camille whispered, then her two blade-like legs tensed. In the next moment, she catapulted off the wall, leaving two huge blade marks behind.

In the air, Camille's delicate leg-mounted devices shot out two grappling hooks towards Powder.

Powder resisted, pulling out the small pistol that had been hanging from her waist. Powder quickly aimed at Camille.

Although she's fast, I'm confident in my shooting!

Powder squinted her eyes, pre-emptively aligning the tiny gun towards where she predicted Camille would appear!

Then, in the next moment, Powder's body flew a bit backward. The small pistol, only about the size of Powder's palm, erupted into a tremendous spectacle. A hextech gem embedded in the gun cracked open, and from the barrel, a thin blue beam shot towards the flying woman. Powder aimed for her chest!

"Child's play."

Camille looked at the electromagnetic beam rapidly approaching her chest, coldly remarking. She quickly changed the color of her shining eyes from blue to yellow, then swiftly back to blue.

Finally, it settled on yellow.

A yellow barrier appeared in front of Camille's chest, blocking Powder's attack.

Camille lifted her leg slightly, controlling the grappling hook she had previously shot out. The hook underwent a mid-air change and then stabbed towards Powder, who was lying on the ground after being blasted away by the gunshot.

Camille's expression remained indifferent.

She seemed to foresee that in the next moment, her grappling hook would pierce through the heart of the young girl in front of her.

However, Camille's inner emotions remained undisturbed.

It was as if she were performing a routine, mundane task.

Powder, on the other hand, panicked. She hadn't brought all her weapons since she was supposed to meet Linwin and only had her electromagnetic pistol.

But this thing had no protective capabilities!

Firing it even sent her flying!

Gritting her teeth, facing the incoming grappling hook, Powder opened her mouth to scream.

But the tip was already at her chest.

As if about to pierce through her chest in the next moment.

I'm already small, ugh...

And she still targets there!

Just as Powder was about to succumb to despair, at the moment Camille was about to retract the grappling hook.

A woman suddenly appeared in front of Powder.

Guarding her, facing towards the direction of Camille, effortlessly grabbing the grappling hook aimed at Powder. The tip remained halted, firmly in front of Powder's slightly heaving chest.

Under Camille's furrowed brows, Kai'Sa turned her head back, looking at Powder who now have a slightly frightened expression. She whispered, "Isn't she a Zaunite?"

Powder looked at Camille in amazement.

She, she was about to kill me! Like hell she's a Zauntie!

In this situation, Powder couldn't help but retort, "She's our enemy, you idiot!"

"Sorry, I thought she was your friend when I see you two spoke to each other," said Kai'Sa apologetically.

Holding the grappling hook, her hand emitted a dazzling purple light. Powder felt like the space in front of her face was burning and distorting. In the next moment, the grappling hook melted.

The spiked end dropped to the ground, producing a metallic clashing sound.

Powder lowered her head, contemplating the piece of metal near her.

She melted it with her palm?

When Powder raised her head, an even more surreal sight unfolded.

She only saw two strange purple, crystal-like spikes appearing in front of Camille's fist. Near Kai'Sa's slender shoulders, two initially illusory but gradually solidifying pods also emerged.

The pods opened and closed, rapidly expanding. Finally, they attached like two wings behind Kai'Sa.

Kai'Sa clenched her fist, as if gripping the crystal spikes in her hand.

Purple virtual lines appeared on her face, and the purple skin gradually covered her neck, finally stopping at her chin.

Standing in front of Powder, Kai'Sa slightly bent her body, assuming a combat stance.

She stared at the woman in front, softly saying, "I will protect you."

"Don't worry, Powder."