"Defend our selves?" I echo the Professor.
"Don't just stand there! Trina thinks this guy means business!"
"Watch out! He is going to shoot slow projectiles, but a lot of them!" Lavender yelled to me as she and Tilly ran in different directions.
"Activating Training Arena," MTK put his hands together, one with four fingers out and the other flat.
WARNING
TRAINING ARENA ACTIVATED
While in the TRAINING ARENA, HITPOINTS and MANA spent do not affect outside of the TRAINING ARENA. All damage taken within the TRAINING ARENA is felt as it would be outside of the TRAINING ARENA.
The message flashed onto my HUD in a pulsing red window. So, this was a training thing, but with full combat. I flex my gauntlet as I hear the girls telling me to move, but I had a plan.
The black humanoid robot's shoulder plates shifted, and I couldn't count the holes from this distance. MTK had no expression, but it looks like he was glaring at me. He might feel like he needs to teach me a lesson for being overconfident. I smile just to get the party started.
MTK charged towards me, dart projectiles pouring from his shoulders. The darts aren't much faster than him and easy to track. I raise the Gauntlet Of The Heart towards MTK and the darts.
"Push"
MTK registered my gauntlet to late as he tried to slow down from his robotically enhanced charge. Most of MTK's projectiles slammed back into him with greater force and speed. The darts tore into the jet black armor, ripping through circuitry and plates like plastic. MTK fell onto the floor in a heap of plates, sparks, and wires.
"How? Nevermind, you need to get back right now!" Lavender called to me.
Both Tilly and Lavender pulled me back from the now moving body of MTK.
"What's going on with him? Didn't we win?" I ask as the girls finally stop pulling me.
Before the girls can answer, another warning message appears flashing red on my HUD.
WARNING
FIRST STAGE COMPLETE
OPPONENT EVOLUTION ACTIVATED
"So you have the Gauntlet Of The Heart? I didn't see that coming. This battle might become fun. It's been so long since I could really let loose," the voice came from the reassembling parts.
What kind of Professor is this thing, guy, or robot-whatever? What does evolution mean? Small insects that were building more onto the old MTK caught my attention.
They looked like six-legged metal spiders. More and more poured out of MTK, and I understood what evolution meant for this guy. I turned to Lavender, pulling at my arm.
"I had only seen this one time two years ago. It was when mom brought MTK to train me. They had a training battle, and mom beat him the first time, and they only fought shortly to show how much he improved with each evolution. This guy is scary; we have to work together."
The new midnight black crab-like MTK was almost done with his repairs, so I had to think quickly. I scan my memory and come up with a plan. Now it was time to test myself.
"I'm ready for you this time, come!" The robot roared.
"Circle the left side and Taunt him, Tilly. Lavender, you're with me!" I yell while invoking LIGHT BLADE and running head-on with the six-legged MTK.
MTK raised a clawed arm to hit me, but Tilly turned his attention. Tilly's battle cry sounded, and MTK was forced to focus on her. This move left him wide open.
"I'll cut into him, and you fill him with firebolts!"
I didn't even look back to see if Lavender hear as I drove my light blade into the abdomen plate. Suddenly, I was thrown, my sword tearing a gouge in his side, but I heard Tilly cry out as my sword disappears. As I open my eyes, fire fills the air, and bolts double in size came from Lavender's fingers.
Tilly lay on the ground behind MTK, not moving. The robot advances on Lavender, even as she fills the tear with firebolts. I run towards them, but the massive fist of MTK backhands Lavender.
I'm still winded, but I exploded with speed, leaping from the ground. MTK tries to turn and face me, but I'm too fast. I plant both my hands on the burning gouge in his side, ignoring my melting and burning skin.
"FIREBOLT!" I scream at the top of my lungs as my body floods with magic energy.
Fire poured from my hands as I screamed in rage. My body begins to shake with shock from the unbearable pain from my hand. MTK starts to go limp, but he falls towards me. I can't do anything as the falling weight crushes me.
"AHH! Oh, I'm not dead," I say, opening my eyes to both girls alive and Professor MTK back to his original form.
An icon flashed a star on my HUD, but it could wait. I ran to both girls and grabbed them both into a fierce hug. I have seen them die, training or not. Both girls start to laugh but stop when I pull away with glassy eyes.
"What's wrong? We are ok; it was just a simulation," Lavender tried to explain to me, but I was distracted as I shook my head.
I turned to the Professor, and the robot bowed to me. I was startled by this. I didn't expect a bow.
"Very well done, young master. No one has got this far yet. With more training, you could help me reach my final form. I do apologize for your friends, you are new to this, and I forget how real it can feel at the time."
"Final Form? What is that supposed to be?" I ask MTK.
"When I reach my final evolution step in training, I will keep that form even after the training simulation ends. In my final form, I will fuse with my exoskeleton and gain freedom."
"It's the truth; Trina knows this one! Galaxsor Techknowledge's are intelligent small insectoid lifeforms that created a safe way for them to attain perfect forms without causing intergalactic wars!"
"Well, in the future, I hope my party and I can help you," I say with a bow to MTK. "It was just a lot to take in for the first time."
"I will go, but the kitchen has brought out some drinks and snacks for you all to enjoy. I'm impressed with your progress Lavender, and you did very well Tilly, I had no idea you had such potential."
MTK left us, so we all went to the table and umbrella that had been set up. We all fell into our seats. I could feel the mental stress of the fight and the pain. I closed my eyes just to let everything soak in.
I saw Tilly just lying there and not moving flashed in tandem with Lavender getting backhanded. The blood and the broken bodies were so real, and the images played faster and faster. My heart started to race, and I started breathing heavily.
Suddenly, pressure and warmth surrounded me. I opened my eye's to Lavender and Tilly, hugging me tightly. They didn't say anything, and I could feel their bodies pressing against me, squeezing. My heart slowed along with my breathing, and I relaxed, my body sagging in relief.
The girls didn't let go, and soon I was aware of the parts clamping around each of my shoulders. My face began to flush as I looked down at each of my shoulders.
Lavender was the first to notice the the redness of my face. Her face turned scarlet to match mine, and she pushed me into Tilly. Both of us fell onto the grass, and I landed on top of her, in what I could only assume must look like a compromising position from Lavender's angle.
"Get off her!" Lavender yelled at me as she pulled me from on top of Tilly and began to shake me violently.
After Tilly calmed Lavender down, we were finally able to sit down and eat. My head was still shaking from the assault, but I enjoy some strange jelly snacks and iced tea. The girls were talking and laughing, so I decided that I would check my alerts.
Six windows opened, and I read through the first five.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATE!
Your actions in helping TILLY have caused your relationship level to increase by 10. You are still, Acquaintances.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: 15/100
RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATE!
Your actions in helping LAVENDER and TILLY have caused your relationship level to increase by 10.
LAVENDER and you are still Friends.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: 30/100
TILLY, and you are now Friends!
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: 25/100
PARTY UPDATE
Due to the RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATE, TILLY is now a part of your party. Increase your RELATIONSHIP STATUS to gain more benefits!
RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATE!
Your actions in helping LAVENDER and TILLY have caused your relationship level to increase by 5.
LAVENDER and you are still Friends.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: 35/100
TILLY, and you are now Friends!
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: 30/100
NEW SKILLS/MAGIC UNLOCKED!
New Skills and/or Magic have been unlocked. Check your AVATAR for more details.
Wow, now I see how the relationship thing works. The more positive interactions we have together, the more potent our relationships get. I was about to check my AVATAR when the sound of tapping interrupted me. I looked up to see both girls staring at me.
"Did you hear anything I just said? What are you doing?" Lavender was leaning close to inspect me as she spoke.
"Just checking the alerts. Tilly, you are now officially part of the party, and we are friends!" I say, turning to look at Tilly to avoid the burning gaze of Lavender. "I was just about to see what my new level gets me."
Tilly wore a broad smile that showed of sharpened incisors, but she still looked adorable.
"Thank you for letting me join your party," Tilly became shy as she said this.
"Hmm. I have to go," and then Lavender was off running into the house.
"What was that about?" I asked Tilly, but she shrugged and then got a vacant look.
She must be looking at her alerts, so I turn back to mine. I focus, and the last screen comes into view, but Tilly's bright light makes the screen go out of focus. Tilly's body has filled out more, and her ears seem a bit longer. I continue to watch her until she gets a frown on her face and her eyes come back into focus as she looks at me.
"Can you help me with my Class? I think something is wrong with it."
"I can take a look. What do you need help with?"
Tilly moved her chair closer until our knees touched and then extended her hand with a single finger extended. I put my hand over Tilly's, and she didn't pull back this time. Our bond overcame the reservations she had before. Instead of her AVATAR, another screen appeared before me.
CLASS PROGRESSION CHOICE
At level 10 DEFENDER, you must choose a path. You may select from the following classes:
SHIELD BERSERKER
Invoke your bloodthirst and smash your enemies into a bloody pulp. Gain SHIELD BASH and SHIELDWIND.
GUARDIAN
Boost your team's defense and morale while standing as the first line of defense. Gain SHIELD WALL and RALLY HOPE.
CAT-KIN FORGESMITH (LEGENDARY)
Kneed steel and purrfect the arts of magical weapon and armor creations on the go! Gain TEMPERED FORGE PAWS and PURRFECT PAWS OF ENHANCEMENT.
"Holy shit!" I say out loud because I can't believe my eyes.
"So, you see it too?" Tilly asks me
"Don't even think, just pick it!" I exclaim, grabbing her hand.
Tilly's face reddens, but she nods her head to me. Instantly, she bursts with light, and I jump back out of my chair, startled. The light fades, and Tilly doesn't look even close to the same.
Tilly is wearing a leather form-fitting apron, and her ears are fuller, and more white touches the tips. Tilly's smiles and then freezes as we both notice it at the same time. A silver bushy tail swished on the ground behind Tilly.
"My tail!" Tilly squealed with joy.
"I'm so happy for you, Tilly!"
"Do you want to feel it?"
I didn't even answer, and when she came over to me, I bent down to pick up and examine her tail. Tilly's tail was soft and fluffy, I stroked it, and Tilly began to tremble. I couldn't resist stroking the soft fur, and soon Tilly was coming closer to me with steaming red cheeks and a dreamy look in her eyes. She had begun to purr intensely, but it was interrupted by the sound of my name from an angry Lavender.
"DAVE!"