Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 515 - 11 Dorothy

Perhaps in this world, there indeed existed a genius who could dominate the battlefield while wearing a cumbersome old-style solo armor and wielding a steam chainsaw that barely spun. He could dazzle everyone with his various maneuvers, using a piece of junk to trample over advanced solo armors like the "Hunter Tide" model, capturing the world’s attention.

But that person was definitely not Li Yan.

In fact, as soon as the competition began, this solo armor that had spent its lifetime bravely battling wild boar hordes, its armor covered in mud stains, was struck by a grenade and scrapped.

Outside the arena, Li Yan stood with his arms crossed, watching the agile silver solo armor.

This solo armor was also a custom-made model, with each part crafted separately, power arm bracers, a series of leg-amor boots, and equipped with four small independent power engines. Three explosive grenades hung from the shoulders and waist, and the steam box on the back had four protruding metal handles, probably for some other shooting weapon.

The joint structures at the elbows and knees exposed pipes, with small streams of steam spitting out; circular plates interlocked and expanded, allowing for large movements without being constrained by the armor, and a full-head knight’s helmet covered the eyes with an iron net, but the height of the armor suggested that its owner must be close to one meter eighty tall.

Bang!

Relying on the steam power for brief levitation, the silver solo armor soared over the aftermath of an explosion, the heavy knight’s spear in both hands piercing through a five-meter-tall "Hunter Tide" model, not even bothering to pull it out, drawing two net shooters from the gear box on its back, turning and firing, the nets entangling two solo armors. Immediately after, pulling out a long sword from the knight’s spear attached to the enemy’s waist, the legs bent and leapt up high, a backflip avoiding Corny’s "Enthusiasm," and upon landing, the long sword stabbed fiercely into the engine box of "Enthusiasm."

Corny struggled to push the joystick, but the "Enthusiasm" collapsed with a roar, and thick smoke billowed from the engine box.

In the blink of an eye, amidst the offense and defense maneuvers, several seeded players had already been swept away by the silver solo armor.

Li Yan witnessed all of this, thinking to himself, "Giant Lake’s background was set a hundred years ago, by now San Francisco’s steam-powered solo armor guard should be even more advanced."

He pulled out a card already inscribed with three short phrases.

"Chinese apprentice at the clock shop," "Steam worker," "Steam Convention Eliminee."

Following the story’s progression, the events that were to unfold would have nothing to do with Li Yan.

Suddenly, the audience erupted into a tsunami of cheers; it turned out that the silver solo armor had defeated all its opponents and emerged as the ultimate winner of the Steam Convention.

The guards carried away the injured warriors and the damaged steam guards, while the court minister consoled them on the side: "Even as losers, the King will select excellent warriors from among you to join the Steam Convention winner in the campaign against the Cyclops."

"Forget it, who would bother with the Cyclops if they can’t marry the princess? Let that kid in silver armor go get himself killed!"

The defeated St. Yves muttered under his breath, and the enthusiasm of others was also lacking.

Amidst the sound of drums, the King approached the silver solo armor personally.

"Warrior, you have defeated all participants, now remove your face mask, and let the people of the nation see the true face of the one who will behead the Cyclops."

"As you wish, my father."

The King heard the familiar voice and his mouth opened wide in surprise.

The silver solo armor removed the face mask, revealing slanting eyebrows, clear eyes, a high nose bridge, and lips pressed tightly together like flames.

Amidst the astonished gasps of those nearby, she promptly disassembled the armor, revealing her pale neck and a body clad in tight-fitting cotton, with rose-red hair cascading down like a waterfall...

The first act, over.

These four words abruptly surfaced in Li Yan’s perspective, and just as he blinked, thunderous applause and cheers suddenly resounded in his ears.

The singer with no limbs on stage had long since vanished, and the deep red curtain had fallen, but the applause persisted for quite some time.

"She really is beautiful."

A gentleman exclaimed.

"Mommy, did Dorothy really wear steam-powered armor and defeat giants?"

A little girl with a wool hat, looking like a porcelain doll, tugged at an adult’s clothing.

"..."

Li Yan looked around; the audience members, all with flushed faces, were discussing the play. He recognized these faces—court ministers, cheering citizens, guards, and even the weapons shop owner who had lent him the armor.

Their enthusiastic demeanor made Li Yan momentarily unable to discern whether it was he who was dreaming, or they were.

"I must admit, Mr. Mayor, this is the most incredible performance I have ever seen. I feel like I’m living in a fairy tale. How do they do it?"

St. Yves, with a flushed face, gave Mayor Michael a thumbs-up, "May I have the honor of meeting Miss Dorothy?"

Mayor Michael’s eyes sparkled, "As is customary, after the show ends, Dorothy will change her clothes and come out to meet her audience."

"Here she comes."

Someone with sharp eyes noticed the curtain moved slightly, and in no time, the curtain was drawn back. Surrounded by a group of actors, Dorothy, dressed in a black evening gown with her rose-red hair coiled up, greeted the audience with a bow.

Mayor Michael was invited onto the stage by the play’s organizers. After delivering some official remarks, he cracked a moderate joke, "If I were a few decades younger, I would forgo entering politics just to pursue this aloof beauty."

Dorothy responded playfully, "Lady Gela was a famous beauty in her youth. I do not have the confidence to compete with her."

Michael waved his hand in mock despair, "Come on, she could eat one of you—and more—in a single meal when she was thirty."

In the midst of laughter, someone boldly asked, "Dorothy, what happens in the rest of the story?"

"Perhaps that depends on you, sir."

The man who asked was met with Dorothy’s direct gaze, as if struck by a bullet, and hearing "sir" in such a context, he was too excited to breathe.

"Today is just the opening act. We welcome everyone to come and see the rest of our play tomorrow night."

Another round of applause ensued.

Dorothy smiled, squinting her enchanting eyes, her charming features irresistibly captivating.

Amidst the fervent atmosphere, at the exit, a tall, thin silhouette scratched his head and silently departed.

The night in San Francisco was still incredibly charming. Far away on Cupid Tower, there were airships circling, fireworks performances in the square, and a giant-headed machine on wheels handed Li Yan a newspaper, which clearly printed:

"Recently, Congress officially accepted the Workers’ Party representative Corny’s proposal ’to reopen the debate on revising the Berlin Game Treaty signed with the Qing Government.’ The final resolution will be announced on the fifteenth."