Viktor is one of the main characters from the Arcane TV series who the fans have been rooting for since the day we met him. In season 2, Viktor’s experiment with Hextech resulted in him becoming a Hexcore hybrid being. However, fortunately, his conscience directed him to visit the underground Zaun world and help the people suffering from Shimmer poisoning as their Messiah.
However, this didn’t last long as Viktor’s friend and colleague Jayce arrived to eliminate him in the final moments of Arcane season 2 Act 2. He survived that attack, but Viktor died in the Arcane TV series finale. If you’re wondering how and want all the details, keep reading.
Spoiler Warning: This post includes heavy spoilers for Arcane Season 2, now out on Netflix.
Jayce Killed Viktor in Season 2 Act 2, But He Survived
The second act of Arcane season 2 showcased every major character finishing their conflicts. Jayce who was trapped inside the Arcane’s anomaly in the previous act got released when Salo entered the chamber. However, Jayce seemed out of character and was no longer the kind inventor we’ve come to know.
This disassociation was confirmed when he killed Salo with his Hextech-powered hammer. If you remember, Viktor earlier asked Jayce to destroy the Hextech after Sky was erased from existence by the Hexcore. However, Jayce did the opposite and had it merge with Viktor to save his life.
Now, as a man who lives by his word, Jayce was determined to put an end to Hextech. After Jayce reached Viktor’s camp on the outskirts of Zaun, he went straight in to meet his old friend. While we initially thought the scientist duo will have a heartfelt moment and come up with a way to eliminate the bad side of Arcane, Jayce had other plans.
On seeing Viktor hooked up to Hextech crystals, Jayce charged his Hextech-powered hammer and unleashed a powerful blast to his friend’s chest.
Viktor didn’t see this coming (definitely not from his friend), further making us believe that Jayce must have sensed something ominous or suffered in the anomaly. However, in the end, Jayce did fulfill his promise to his friend but had to eliminate him in the process as he is a half-human and Hextech machine at the same time. There’s another major death that happens in the ending of Arcane Season 2 Act 2. Read all about in the linked explainer.
Jayce blasting a hole in Viktor’s chest also resulted in every Zaunite healed by Viktor transforming into lifeless bodies, and falling to the ground. Did Viktor really die in the world of Arcane (or even League of Legends), though?
The Arcane has really been a mysterious and boundless power in the TV series. In fact, it was the power that saved Viktor’s life after Jinx’s attack on Piltover in the season 1 finale. Now, Viktor has become one with the Arcane and can perform miracles like a messiah. You must also have seen Viktor interacting with Sky, who died in a Hextech incident in season 1. However, she was seen in an astral form in Season 2 Act 2. Thanks to this and Singed (aka Dr Reveck), Viktor did not die at the hands of Jayce.
Viktor and Jayce Make a Sacrifice to Save Piltover
In the final act, we see that Viktor is enveloped inside an organic orb that Signed is helping keep stable alongside Ambessa. While, on the other hand, Jayce is hellbent on getting rid of Arcane since he was transported to a future timeline where Piltover had turned into a barren wasteland.
When Viktor couldn’t convince Jayce for them to come together and use Hextech on everyone, the messiah turned on his partner and turned all his followers into mechanical puppets. He then, along with Ambessa, attacked Piltover with his mechanical puppets. During this engagement, he finally finds Jayce alone and brings him to the Arcane realm.
Just when it seems like the future Jayce witnessed in the anomaly might come true, Ekko arrives on the scene and chinks Viktor’s face mask. This frees Jayce from his grips, allowing him to finally tell Viktor that all he wants is “his partner back.” Then, the innovator hugs his partner who then sees all that Jayce witnessed in a vision, including the fact that he is the mage who helped Jayce.
Viktor then reveals to Jayce that he wanted to put an end to the world’s suffering, but he couldn’t achieve his dream. It always resulted in destruction. Finally, he confesses that it was Jayce who could help him in the end. Viktor now saw how he was running after removing imperfections in the world. He then asks Jayce to leave, but the innovator sticks by Viktor’s side and remarks, “We finish this together.”
Jayce then hands over the Hexgem the mage gave to him when he was young over to Viktor, and we see the Arcane realm dissolve, putting an end to the life of Jayce and Viktor as well.
