Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

"Clockwork-Powered Exoskeleton!!"

Another spotlight fell from above, illuminating the device beside Duke and allowing everyone to clearly see it.

"Hmmm..."

Heimerdinger sat on the judging panel, fingers steepled, staring intently at the slowly rising exosuit. He spoke in a deep voice: "Give us a brief overview of your invention."

"Gladly, Professor!"

Standing to the side of his creation so as not to obstruct the audience's view, Duke raised his voice.

"Nature gave us intelligence, but it also chained us in limitations!"

"Humans can't outrun horses, can't wrestle lions, can't out-jump kangaroos. Our bodies, while protective, limit us."

"I've heard that in distant lands like Ionia, Demacia, and Noxus, people dedicate years, decades, to breaking their physical limits, to become superhuman."

"That kind of training takes so long it could raise a newborn to adolescence. And the hardship? Unspeakable."

"We only live a hundred years. How many decades can we really spend training?"

"None. We can't afford even one!"

He glanced at Heimerdinger, grinning. "Of course, Professor Heimerdinger has found a way around that, being of a long-lived race. A gift we can only envy."

"You're too kind. I've simply outlived many," Heimerdinger replied modestly, brushing the topic aside. For short-lived races, longevity was more a source of envy than admiration.

"But now, I bring change!"

Duke raised his arm and pointed to the exosuit. "This is the Clockwork-Powered Exoskeleton: Orianna Unit One!!"

"Looks like you've found a worthy successor, Master Colin," a nearby craftsman joked.

Colin chuckled modestly. "He's still got a long way to go. But yes, the young are always bold."

"The name honors its first test pilot, Orianna Leveck."

At that, Duke looked toward the door. Orianna waved at him excitedly. He gave her a quick look, signaling her to be patient.

"So, what can your invention do, Mr. Duke?" Councilor Mel interjected.

Duke nodded. "That's a great question, Councilor Mel."

"Let us now witness the future of clockwork tech, and Piltover's future for the next hundred years!"

"I call upon my assistant: Orianna Leveck!"

Duke extended his right arm dramatically toward the entrance. Orianna stepped out with a bright smile.

Backstage.

"Quite a flashy entrance," Viktor commented.

Jayce studied the exosuit. "His tech looks like the opposite of our Hexcore design. We use magic; he's pushed machinery to its limit."

"Let's just watch for now," Viktor said, clapping Jayce on the shoulder.

Jayce nodded solemnly. Duke was a formidable opponent.

On stage, Orianna stood beside Duke. He turned to Mel and Lady Kiramman.

"Might I invite you both to help with a small demonstration?"

"It would be an honor," Lady Kiramman replied.

Duke went over to escort her, while Orianna welcomed Councilor Mel.

"What do you need us to do, Mr. Duke?"

Duke clapped his hands. Stagehands brought out several hefty props.

"These are our test items. Please inspect them."

He handed Lady Kiramman a hammer. She laughed and swung it onto an iron block.

CLANG!!

The sound echoed throughout the hall.

"Very dense metal. From the look of it, the weight's well beyond normal human strength."

"Thank you for your assistance."

"Now, let's witness a miracle!"

Duke helped Orianna into the exosuit. It took less than a minute. As he secured the final straps, he whispered, "Don't be afraid. Just follow the rehearsal."

"Got it."

He released the safety lock. The suit came to life with mechanical clicks and hums.

"The Clockwork-Powered Exoskeleton represents the pinnacle of mechanical design. Each joint, each axle, is driven by dozens of tightly-tuned spring mechanisms. Even minor movements can generate massive force, achieving superhuman results."

Orianna walked to the iron block, bent down, and with one hand, lifted it high above her head. Effortlessly, she began circling the stage.

"Surpassing human limits!"

Gasps spread through the audience. A delicate girl lifting a massive block like it was nothing, truly miraculous.

Councilor Mel scrutinized the suit, searching for tricks, but saw nothing abnormal beyond the whirring exoskeleton.

"Orianna, set it down. Let's move to the real test."

"Understood."

She dropped the block with a loud thud. The crowd let out another collective gasp.

"With this suit, you can race horses with ease!"

Orianna struck a sprinter's pose. The suit surged to life. She vanished like a bullet.

Only a blur remained.

In the audience, Camille leaned toward Dakora. "Do whatever it takes to recruit him into House Ferros. Even if Jayce Talis builds something impressive, Duke's mastery of clockwork alone will immortalize him in Piltover's history."

"Understood, Grand-Aunt."

"Keep watching."

Camille's mind flashed back to another young man, his gentle smile, the way he changed her life.

He was gone now, and had taken her heart with him.

Back onstage, Orianna sprinted so fast that Lady Kiramman could barely track her.

"She can rival birds in flight!"

Orianna paused, bent her knees, and launched herself skyward like a cannonball, grazing the ceiling before landing gracefully.

No sign of strain. No injury. Nothing.

"She could wrestle a lion!"

Orianna punched the iron block. It shattered into fragments.

"This is the Clockwork-Powered Exoskeleton," Duke said proudly, gesturing toward Orianna. "This is Piltover's future!"

"Stunning, truly stunning!" Lady Kiramman exclaimed.

Duke bowed slightly. "If you don't mind, would you be the first to test it publicly?"

"Me? Really?"

"Yes. Its second major feature is accessibility. Even untrained users can operate it, just make sure the safety locks are secured."

"May I try too?" Mel asked.

"Of course."

Lady Kiramman and Councilor Mel both took turns in the suit.

When Lady Kiramman jumped seven or eight meters into the air, the audience roared. Her eyes lit up like a carefree girl once again.

She wasn't weak, not at all. She once stormed into her daughter's room with a rifle, mistaking her daughter's friend for an intruder.

In fact, Caitlyn learned her sharpshooting from her mother.

"I feel like I could go dragon-lizard hunting!"

"Naturally! You're still in your prime."

Duke helped her down and returned her to the judging table.

Then Mel tried. With Orianna's help, she donned the suit and stomped once, shattering the marble tile beneath her.

"Pure power..."

Mel stared at her gloved hand, clenching it tightly.

"If I'd had this power back then... would my mother have still exiled me?"

She crushed another test item with a punch, her movements instinctively echoing the martial arts she'd learned in her youth.

She danced across the stage, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"Unbelievable!"

Viktor watched, eyes gleaming. He glanced down at his crippled legs, then made a decision.

He stepped onto the stage.

"Viktor!" Jayce called, but it was too late. He followed his partner with an awkward smile.

"Seems even the competitors can't help but be drawn in," Heimerdinger said warmly, smoothing over the sudden interruption.

Viktor, now beside Duke, finally realized what he'd done. But the hope in his heart couldn't be ignored.

"I apologize, Mr. Duke, for disrupting your demonstration."

"No need. May I call you Viktor?"

Viktor nodded, touched by Duke's graciousness.

"Of course."

"Then, what do you want to ask?"

"I..." Viktor glanced at his cane, then at Mel, radiant and confident. He understood her now.

Only those with power can understand its beauty.

"I..." he took a deep breath, "As you can see, I've had physical issues since childhood. Would your invention allow me to walk without a cane?"

"Absolutely."

Duke called out, "Orianna, help Mr. Viktor suit up."

"Right!"

The audience watched in anticipation.

At the judging table, Colin was swamped with compliments from fellow craftsmen. After today, everyone would know Duke's name, and that he came from Colin's workshop.

Viktor, now suited up, looked nervously at Jayce, then Duke. Duke explained softly:

"Don't resist it. Imagine it's part of you."

"Okay."

Viktor let go of his cane. With his injured leg, he took one step.

Then another.

Then another.

Finally, he strode across the stage like any ordinary man. Then he began to run.

Duke stood at center stage, watching it all with a smile.

In that moment, Duke had all eyes on him.