Episode 7 of Arcane kicks off with Ekko immersed in a warped vision, reuniting with Powder amidst the familiar yet twisted Undercity. This surreal landscape serves as a glimpse into an alternate universe, one devoid of the bloodshed and sorrow that marked their reality, and notably, one where Hextech never emerged. In this haven, Gert and Mylo still breathe, and an optimistic aura pervades the atmosphere, especially within the confines of Vander's bustling tavern. Vander, the steadfast patriarch, addresses Powder with genuine belief in her potential for greatness.
Ekko isn't venturing through this alternate existence solo; his newly forged companion, Heimerdinger, accompanies him. It transpires that an anomaly has wrenched them from their timeline, casting them into this parallel world. While Ekko awakens to this startling environment, Heimerdinger has already spent 1,128 days navigating its enigmas, patiently awaiting Ekko's arrival. Behind the tavern, Powder materializes, further enriching this surreal tableau.
In this alternate narrative, Powder and Ekko collaborate on an invention, revealing a devastating twist: Vi is deceased. The absence of Hextech stems from a fateful job tip-off orchestrated by Ekko. Their mission, seemingly successful, resulted in the annihilation of Hextech at the cost of Vi's life, sparing the lives of other crew members and averting Powder's descent into Silco's influence.
Ekko ventures into a warehouse, seeking fragments of Hextech. His objective is clear: to harness these remnants to recreate the anomaly and wield the arcane for his ends. He enlists Heimerdinger's expertise, but not without a heartfelt conversation with Powder. Ekko paints a vivid mural depicting Vi's strength and iconic status, a stark contrast to the haunting image of Jinx that previously marred the second season.
Elsewhere, Jayce awakens in a nightmarish expanse, a world ravaged and overwhelmed by the arcane. Amidst the ruins, a multitude of humanoid androids stir to life, their intentions hostile. Jayce plummets off a cliff, crashing onto the ground with a thud, his leg barely responsive. As he grapples with the pain, the raw horror of the Arcane unfolds before his very eyes.
Meanwhile, Ekko, Heimerdinger, and Powder collaborated intently on reconstructing the anomaly, gradually uncovering their astonishing ability to manipulate time and transport themselves back to previous moments. Ekko came to realize that their power had a four-second limit, a discovery influenced by the harrowing visions of Heimerdinger's destruction.
That evening, amidst a grand celebration, it became evident that Silco was still very much alive, and he and Vander had mended their fences, letting bygones be bygones. Powder and Ekko embarked on a dance, pretending as though this was their inaugural encounter. As they locked lips and immersed themselves in the revelry, Jayce ascended to the pinnacle of the Arcane-ravaged structure, marking the spot where everything had begun—the demise of Piltover due to Hextech. Desperate for a chance to alter fate, Jayce found himself on a mission eerily mirroring that of Heimerdinger and Ekko.
Recall the earlier visions of Heimerdinger's demise? They were actually eerie previews of his fate, and he had been fully aware of his impending doom throughout. In a poignant sacrifice, Heimerdinger harnessed their time-manipulation powers to send Ekko back. At this moment, alt-Powder emerged, witnessing Ekko collapsing into unconsciousness as he was consumed by Arcane energies and vanished from sight, returning to our reality while alt-Ekko awakened.
However, Alt-Powder found herself back in her lab, revealing that she had possessed the Hextech all this time, locked away, possibly awaiting its usage.
