"The Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton!!"
Another beam of light fell from the sky, hitting the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton next to Duke, allowing more people to see the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton.
"Hmm...."
Heimerdinger, from the judging panel, clasped his hands together, looked at the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton slowly rising from the box, and said in a deep voice, "Briefly introduce your work!"
"Alright, Professor!"
Duke stood to the side of his work, not obstructing anyone's view, and also spoke loudly: "Nature has given us wisdom, but it has also put shackles on us!"
"Humans cannot race with horses, cannot wrestle with lions, cannot compete with kangaroos in long jump. Our physical structure, while protecting us, also limits us!"
"I once heard that in the distant Ionia, Demacia, and Noxus, people break through limitations and gain Superman-like strength through years of cultivation!"
"The time spent on this might be enough for a babbling infant to grow into a spirited teenager, and the hardships involved are even more inexpressible to outsiders!"
"Life is short, only a hundred years. How many decades do we have to train ourselves and break through ourselves?"
"None, we cannot waste even one decade!"
Duke then looked at Heimerdinger, "Of course, Professor Heimerdinger does have a way to break this limitation. After all, he is a long-lived species, an enviable innate talent!"
"You flatter me. I just happen to have lived a few more years, that's all."
Heimerdinger skillfully brushed the matter aside. Longevity is a good thing, but for short-lived species, it is something that makes them insanely jealous, so it's best to mention it as little as possible.
"But now, I have brought change!"
Duke raised his arm and pointed to his Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton, "That is the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton, Orianna One!!"
"It seems you have a successor, Mr. Colin!"
The artisan next to Mr. Colin smiled and teased him, while Mr. Colin humbly replied, "He still has a long way to go, and young people are just so bold!"
"This name was given to commemorate my first user, Orianna Liebeck!"
At this moment, Duke looked at the door he had come out of, where Orianna was excitedly waving at him. Duke gave her a look, telling her to calm down.
"So, Mr. Duke, what can your Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton do?"
Councilor Mel suddenly interjected at this moment. Duke nodded at her words and said, "That's an excellent question, Councilor Mel!"
"Now, let us witness the future of Clockwork Technology, and the future of Piltover for the next hundred years!"
"Please welcome my assistant: Orianna Rivick!"
Duke flung his right arm, pointing directly at the entrance to the stage, and Orianna walked out from there with a smile on her face.
Backstage.
"It seems like he's got a lot of confidence!"
Viktor said with a smile, but Jayce was examining Duke's work: "His Clockwork Powered Technology looks like the opposite extreme to our Hextech Gems. We've introduced the power of magic, while he has pushed machinery to its limit!"
"Let's watch first!"
Viktor patted his partner's shoulder. Jayce nodded solemnly, feeling a sense of awe.
Duke, a formidable opponent!
After Orianna came on stage, Duke had her stand beside him and invited Councilor Mel and Lady Giromann: "Would the two councilors mind coming up to help me with a small test?"
"It would be our honor!"
Lady Giromann walked onto the stage with a smile. Duke personally went over and led her onto the stage by the hand. As for Councilor Mel, Orianna welcomed her onto the stage.
"So, what do you need us to do, Mr. Duke?"
Duke clapped his hands, and staff brought out the testing props, each appearing quite heavy.
"These are the testing props. Please verify their authenticity!" Duke handed Caitlyn's mother a hammer. She chuckled as she took it and struck the testing iron block with it.
Clang!!
A huge striking sound echoed throughout the entire theater.
"Extremely hard metal. Judging by its texture, its weight far exceeds the limits of an ordinary person!"
"Alright, thank you for your assistance!"
"Now let us witness a miracle!"
Duke helped Orianna put on the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton. The entire process took no more than a minute. During the installation, Duke gently comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid. Be brave. Follow what we rehearsed!"
"I know!"
After Orianna put on the Exoskeleton, Duke helped her unlock the safety. As the Clockwork Power device began to operate, the joints of the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton on Orianna began to click, and the machine started to run.
"The Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton is the ultimate creation of Clockwork Technology. Every drive shaft, every joint, is composed of dozens of Clockwork Powered machines. Tiny movements and small forces can generate powerful propulsion, thereby achieving a goal!"
Orianna then walked to a square iron block, slowly bent down, and single-handedly grabbed the iron block, lifting it high, and effortlessly began to circle the stage.
"Beyond human limits!"
Duke spoke at the opportune moment, and the audience below showed astonished looks. Such a delicate young girl, with the help of the Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton, effortlessly lifted an iron block that seemed impossibly heavy. It was simply a miracle.
Councilor Mel on stage repeatedly scrutinized Orianna, trying to find some clue, but besides the continuously operating Exoskeleton, she couldn't see anything unusual.
"Orianna, put it down and let's begin the real test!"
"Alright!"
Orianna loosened her grip, and the iron block fell, resounding heavily, causing the judges below the stage to exclaim in unison again.
"Using the Clockwork Technology Exoskeleton, you can easily race against a swift horse!"
As Duke explained, Orianna took a starting stance, and the Clockwork Technology Exoskeleton began to operate. She shot out like an arrow from a bowstring.
Everyone could only catch a fleeting Shadow.
In the audience, Camille, who was watching, whispered to Dak'er, "Do everything you can to recruit him into Ferros. Regardless of Jayce Talis's creations, Duke's excavation in Clockwork Technology alone is enough to engrave him into Piltover's history."
"Understood, Grand Aunt."
"Keep watching."
Camille looked at the spirited young man on the stage, and a young man came to mind, a man who always wore a shy smile and had brought significant changes to her life.
Unfortunately, he left, and he took her heart with him.
On the stage, Orianna ran wildly around, her speed so astonishing that Mrs. Kiramman instinctively tried to follow her with her eyes.
"It allows the user to compete with birds in flight!"
Orianna stopped abruptly, bent her knees, and shot up like a cannonball, easily touching the theater's ceiling.
She landed lightly, her face not flushed, her heart not pounding, and showing no signs of injury whatsoever.
"Even, fight a lion bare-handed!"
Orianna punched the iron block, and it shattered into pieces.
"This is the Clockwork Technology Exoskeleton!"
Duke raised his hand and turned sideways, showcasing Orianna in the Clockwork Technology Exoskeleton to everyone, "And it is Piltover's future!"
"Very impressive, truly impressive!"
Mrs. Kiramman, who had witnessed all of this firsthand on stage, was deeply moved. Duke bowed appropriately, "If you don't mind, would you be willing to be the first person for the public test, Mrs. Kiramman?"
"You mean I can too?"
"That's right, the second advantage of the Clockwork Technology Exoskeleton is its ease of use. Even without training, one can use it. Of course, the safety lock must be secured, otherwise, it will cause trouble!"
"May I try?"
Mel, who had been observing, suddenly spoke up. Duke nodded, "Of course!"
Next, Mrs. Kiramman and Councilor Mel each tried the Exoskeleton.
When Mrs. Kiramman put on the Exoskeleton and jumped seven or eight meters high, her exclamations amazed everyone. Her eyes sparkled continuously, as if she had returned to her carefree girlhood.
As a Councilor who dared to enter her daughter's room with a hunting rifle, treating her daughter and her friend as intruders, how could she be so frail?
In fact, Caitlyn learned her shooting skills from her mother.
"I feel like I can go On The Hunt for a Basilisk now!"
"Of course you can, after all, you're still in your prime!"
Duke agreed, and also saw her back to the judging panel.
Councilor Mel, who had taken off the Exoskeleton, was still immersed in the recent experience. With Orianna's help, Councilor Mel put on the Exoskeleton, and with a gentle stomp, the marble floor tiles beneath her feet shattered instantly.
"Pure power!"
Councilor Mel raised her hand, looking at her palm encased in a glove, and clenched her fist tightly, her eyes a little unfocused.
"If I had this kind of power back then, would I not have been exiled by my mother?"
Councilor Mel tried to swing her fist, shattering the test props, and instinctively displayed the martial arts she had learned during her family training in her youth.
For a time, Councilor Mel, who was leaping and flying across the stage, drew gasps of admiration from the audience.
"This is truly incredible!"
Viktor's eyes lit up as he watched Councilor Mel leaping and flying on the stage. He glanced at his own inconvenient legs and feet, and then directly rushed onto the stage.
"Viktor!" Jayce realized this too late; Viktor was already on stage. But as a partner who moved forward together, he could only follow Viktor onto the stage with an awkward smile.
"It seems Mr. Duke's design is indeed astonishing. Even other contestants can't help but come on stage to investigate!"
Heimerdinger, smoothing things over for Jayce and Viktor who had suddenly rushed onto the stage, smiled and spoke to the others. After Viktor got on stage and approached Duke, he realized what he had done.
But what he yearned for was right before his eyes, how could he not ask?
"I apologize, Mr. Duke, for interrupting your demonstration!"
"It's nothing, Viktor. May I call you that?" Duke said it was nothing. Viktor was somewhat grateful for Duke's generosity; anyone else would have already kicked him off the stage.
"Of course!"
"Then is there anything you'd like to ask?"
"I…" Viktor looked at his crutch, then at Councilor Mel wearing the Exoskeleton. At this moment, Councilor Mel was radiant, as if she had regained her confidence and understood some of her mother's philosophies.
Only those who truly possess power can understand the beauty of power.
"I…" Viktor looked at his leg, took a deep breath, "As you can see, I've been in poor health since childhood, and my legs and feet are not agile. I wonder if your work can help me break free from the restraints of my crutches?"
"Of course!"
Duke called out to Orianna, "The Exoskeleton, besides being a human enhancement device, can also bring good news to people with physical disabilities!"
"Orianna, help Mr. Viktor change and let him experience it!"
"Okay!"
Everyone watched this scene with great interest, while Colin on the judging panel was already almost overwhelmed by the compliments from his peers. After today, everyone would know Duke's name, and everyone would know he was an apprentice at Colin Workshop!
Viktor, wearing the Exoskeleton, nervously glanced at Jayce, then at Duke. Duke explained the points to note: "Don't be afraid, don't resist, imagine it's a part of you!"
"Mm!"
Viktor, letting go of his crutch, took a deep breath and tentatively took a step with his injured right leg.
Viktor's right foot landed steadily, and he took another step forward, followed by a third, then a fourth, and finally walked back and forth on the stage like a normal person, even running.
Duke stood in the center of the stage, a smile on his face, watching everything, watching the ecstatic Viktor.
At this moment, Duke was the center of attention!