Superhumans of the Dome City

Since the establishment of Sky City, biotechnological experiments had become the focal point of the city's scientific research direction.

No one understood why the gathered international researchers, commonly referred to as "White Coats," wouldn't focus their energies on developing advanced materials or superpowers. Instead, they spent a vast amount of funds on tormenting those poor experimental animals. Regardless, the White Coats did just that. Over the decade, they created numerous inexplicable biotechnological test subjects, such as a biochemical gorilla that could smash skyscrapers with one slap, a biochemical crocodile capable of crushing diamonds, and an endlessly reproducing biochemical slime...

90% of these bizarre creations only caused trouble for the citizens. The remaining 10% enriched the lives of superpower users in certain ways, like the new type of horse-drawn carriage pulled by a biochemical horse, a sewage plant that used a biochemical meat wall for organic matter treatment, and the loyal and reliable biochemical three-headed dog...

And the avian buses that soared high with the citizens.

"King Morton's beard..."

Alice couldn't help but exclaim again. The middle-aged worker who had just sold tickets and was walking over seemed to think it was a compliment in a foreign language. While adjusting a pigeon's white feathers, he struck up a conversation with a new customer, "Nice bird, eh? Do you think so too, miss?"

Hunter awkwardly nodded, "The feathers are very pretty."

"It's not just me boasting, but Big Dove here is the friendliest bird we have!" the uncle spoke with a strong northern Empire accent, "White birds are great, no flashy colors. We also have a large white phoenix-headed parrot next door if you're interested, I can take you to see."

Alice couldn't deny that she was momentarily curious, after all, who wouldn't want to see such a large parrot?

But before she could even inquire—not that she would waste time just out of curiosity—Gongsun Ce beside her spoke up, "No thank you, we have some urgent business in the Fixed Wing District and are short on time."

"Alright, will fly immediately. Do you need helmets and windbreakers?"

"I won't need it, just get one for the lady here."

The worker installed a saddle-like device on the pigeon's back, and Alice donned the flight gear, pointing towards the pigeon's back.

"Sitting on the back of a pigeon to fly?"

"Sitting on the back of a pigeon to fly."

·

Seconds later, Big Dove spread its wings and flew towards the sky, leaving behind several giant feathers and a screech from Hunter.

"Yah—!"

Her view rushed upwards to a height even more breathtaking than the top of a skyscraper.

The airflow above the city sneaked through gaps in her helmet, allowing Alice to smell a different scent than usual. Reason told Hunter that the air she was in contact with was no different in essence from the breathable air on the bustling streets below. But the sight of white wings flanking her view and glimpses of streets through feather gaps made the air seem extraordinarily fresh. Just as Alice was about to say something, she noticed the view ahead was overtaken by pure white: a towering sky-reaching tower was blocking Big Dove's flight path, appearing like a massive wall to her eyes as they flew at high speed.

It seemed the newly flown trio might crash, but the veteran passenger Gongsun Ce signaled to the pigeon. Big Dove tilted its body, barely flying past the edge of the white giant tower, avoiding the worst outcome.

"What is this?!" Alice shouted.

"It's a thorn," Gongsun Ce answered from behind her, "We are now in the Thorn District, that white giant tower is the symbol of this area."

Hunter suddenly remembered the knowledge she had crammed on her way here. The Thorn District was said to be a rare place in Sky City that still preserved large amounts of giant dragon remains, hundreds of bone spurs rising from the ground that was once the dragon's spine, standing arrogantly for some unknown purpose. Modern technology was futile against them; even high-vibration particle blades could not scrape even a bit of powder from these spurs.

Alice had thought she would see bone spurs as long and wide as several meters, standing on either side of the road like white utility poles. But now, as she looked far ahead, she saw towers of pure white rising from the depths of the earth, extending straight to the canopy of this flying city, resembling the mythological sky-reaching towers.

"My God..." Alice muttered softly. At this moment, she finally realized how ludicrous her previous imaginations were and how minuscule human thought was in front of the entity known as the dragon. Yet, she also felt rare excitement and joy, for this was a sight she had never witnessed before... a spectacle unimaginable to most for a lifetime.

Suddenly, a strong wind pressure hit, blowing her body backward. Alice was about to resort to a "little trick" to solve the problem when she realized the wind had weakened, as if an invisible barrier had appeared beside her.

She looked towards the young man in front.

Gongsun Ce sat upright on the pigeon's back, a stark contrast to her looking around. The young man's voice sounded a bit distorted in the howling wind, "Passengers not very strong in abilities or who are a bit timid opt for the slower, more expensive aerial bird cars. Riding directly on a bird's back is chosen by those confident they can safely reach their destinations; in case of accidents, the rental side bears no main responsibility. I guess you have your own methods, but covering one more person isn't much trouble for me."