After the first training session ends, the team takes a short break, exchanging satisfied smiles and comments on each other's performances. The atmosphere is light, a palpable energy in the air, as everyone feels proud of the progress made.
Miya, wiping a few beads of sweat from his forehead, exclaims enthusiastically:
"We really did great on this one. But that was just the warm-up, right?"
Yamero, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, replies in a slightly mocking tone:
"Warm-up or not, some of you here look like you gave it your all. Are you ready for what's next?"
Maki, still full of vivacity, adjusts her hair and says with a provocative wink:
"If you're so sure of yourself, Yamero, we'll see if you can keep up the pace this time."
Daru, sitting cross-legged, lets out a laugh: "Calm down, we all know that the next step will be much more difficult. But that's what's exciting, right?"
The training begins with palpable tension, each member of the team watching Suka closely, ready to learn and rise to the challenge.
Facing the medium-sized robot, Suka gets into position, his piercing gaze fixed on his opponent. The robot, with its metal joints and reinforced armor, emits a low hum, ready to fight.
Suka, with his usual calm authority, addresses the team:
"For this session, we will evaluate your hand-to-hand combat skills. These robots are programmed to react unpredictably, so stay focused. Use your techniques, your agility, and don't forget to pace yourself with your energy. No excess here, just enough to strengthen your blows."
Suka, surrounded by the bright white aura, straightens up after the initial exchange, his bright red eyes staring at the robot as it readies itself for a new offensive. Each movement of Suka is imbued with feline precision, his muscles tense, ready to pounce at the slightest sign of attack.
The robot, using its speed, attempts a series of rapid blows, aiming to pierce Suka's defense. The latter, thanks to the fusion with his Yokai, dodges with an almost supernatural fluidity. His fist slices through the air in a precise counter, but the robot pivots on itself to avoid again, demonstrating its adaptability.
Miya watches from the edge of the room, arms crossed:
"It's not that they're not talented, but summoners like Suka shine above all in strategy and support. Hand-to-hand combat is rarely their specialty."
Yamero chuckles slightly as he looks at Suka:
"Right. But well, thanks to this symbiosis, they can hold their own. It's like borrowing the instincts of a beast to mask their weaknesses. But the real question is how long he can keep this up."
The robot continues its series of rapid strikes, each movement calculated to force Suka to remain on the defensive. Yet, Suka, thanks to his fusion with his Yokai, anticipates each trajectory with impressive precision, narrowly dodging and reacting at the last moment.
When an opening seems to present itself, Suka strikes quickly, aiming for the red mark on the robot's chest. But the latter feigns a dodge, dragging Suka into its trap. In a lightning movement, the robot counterattacks with a powerful punch. However, Suka intercepts the attack by raising his elbow, the shock resonating throughout the room.
Daru, watching closely, comments in an analytical tone:
"These robots are programmed to read their opponent's energy flow. They use this information to accurately anticipate every move and action. That's why their movements seem almost impossible to guess."
Maki, arms crossed and a smile on her lips, replies:
"Maybe, but look at Suka. Even with that ability, he holds his own. He dodges, blocks, and counterattacks relentlessly. Honestly, he handles it better than some of us would have."
Miya, who had remained silent until then, adds in a calm but incisive tone:
"Summoners like Suka are often underestimated in close combat. But their mastery of energy flows and their ability to fuse with their Yokai more than compensate for their shortcomings."
After the intense exchange between Suka and the robot, the atmosphere in the room becomes strangely calm. Suka, standing still, releases all tension from his body, his white aura flickering slightly like a flame in the wind. In front of him, the robot remains frozen, analyzing every micro-movement, ready to react to the slightest gesture.
Suddenly, Suka moves. A simple step, fluid and imperceptible. In an instant, before anyone can react, the robot is reduced to pieces. The sound of metal debris falling to the ground echoes throughout the room.
Daru, perplexed, asks incredulously:
"What just happened? I didn't see anything..."
Yamero, leaning against the wall, chuckles softly before letting out in an amused sigh:
"Damn Suka... He always knows how to surprise us."
Maki, intrigued, frowns and turns to Miya:
"What's his secret? What exactly did he do?"
Miya, observing Suka with a hint of admiration, calmly explains:
"Suka used what is called a Flow Mode. It's an advanced technique that only those who master their alchemy to an exceptional level can achieve."
Maki, still curious, retorts:
"And what exactly does it consist of?"
Miya continues, her tone slightly professorial:
"Flow Mode allows the user to perfectly synchronize their energy with their environment. For a short period of time—which can seem like an eternity to the target—the user gains an unreal boost. Not only do their speed and strength increase, but their opponent's perception is altered. To the robot, it was as if Suka had frozen time, or at least acted at a speed that its system could not calculate."
Suka slowly releases his energy, his white aura fading like a dying flame. His eyes return to normal, the feline features gradually disappearing. He takes a deep breath, then calmly turns to his team, his lips quirking into a slight smile.
"Come on, next," he says in a calm but authoritative voice, a mixture of satisfaction and defiance.
Yamero steps forward, passing by Suka, a smirk on his face. With a casual gesture, he lightly pats his teammate on the back and says in a mocking but friendly tone:
"Well done, boss. We thought you were going to lose some feathers."
Suka, impassive, sketches a small grin. "Don't worry, Yamero. If I ever lose to a pile of scrap metal, you'll be the first to know."
The team laughs softly at this exchange. Miya crosses her arms, an amused smile on her face, while Maki whispers to Daru, "I think Suka and Yamero love to snipe at each other. It motivates them."
Yamero, now in the center of the room, warms up slightly, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. His gaze falls on the next robot that activates, larger and visibly more aggressive than the one Suka had faced.
"So, my turn?" he says confidently, staring at the machine as it gets into a fighting stance.
The fight begins with a resounding crash. Yamero, wrapped in his blue aura, rushes towards the robot with impressive speed. His fist slices through the air with immense force, but the robot, designed for close combat, anticipates the attack and dodges with a sideways leap.
Yamero's fist hits the ground with such violence that a dull thud echoes throughout the room. The floor cracks under the impact, leaving a gaping fissure testifying to the raw power he has just exerted.
Maki, watching from the edge, whistles softly:
"Still flexing, him, what a show-off."
Miya nods, but comments in a more analytical tone:
"His strength is undeniable, but he must remain focused. These robots don't just take attacks. They exploit openings."
The robot, without wasting a second, throws a direct punch while Yamero is still on the ground after his failed attack. In a flash, Yamero reacts: his legs stretch with impressive speed, and he blocks the robot's attack between his two feet. He uses all the strength of his legs to grab the attack and try to break the robot's metal joint. The dull sound of twisting metal echoes in the room, but the robot, with surprising mechanical flexibility, suddenly pivots on itself.
Taking advantage of Yamero's position, the robot places a second punch, to force Yamero to block it and let go. The shock is brutal and forces Yamero to let go.
Yamero and the robot clash in a rapid dance of blows and dodges, their rhythm impressive and precise, each movement calculated to perfection. The robot, surprisingly fast, attempts to strike the right side of Yamero's neck with a circular strike. However, Yamero reacts instantly, blocking the attack with his arm and following up with a sweep to unbalance the enemy.
The robot, however, is not caught off guard. Before Yamero can even place his kick, he counterattacks with relentless speed. The two feet meet in a sharp and powerful clash, neutralizing each other's attacks. The energy released by the impact resonates in the air, but the two fighters remain firm, unyielding.
Maki, observing the intensity of the fight, remarks: "These robots are really effective and very hard to beat."
Miya, with some confidence, replies: "To defeat them, you have to be exceptionally strong in mastering alchemy, but also in strength, speed, and of course, strategy. For a beginner, it's really difficult, but once you reach a certain level, it's much easier."
Daru, while attentively following the fight, adds: "That's normal. These robots are able to analyze their opponent's movements thanks to the energy particles they emit. That's why it's so difficult to surprise them."
Yamero, confident, thinks in his head: "These scrap heaps are gifted, but I'll show them the strategy of least resistance."
He stands there, motionless, watching the robot carefully. Suddenly, without warning, the robot starts attacking in the opposite direction, leaving an opening. Yamero seizes his chance, accelerates and reduces the robot to dust with a precise blow.
Maki, totally disconcerted, asks: "What is this? How is this possible?"
Suka, unfazed, replies with a wry smile: "For once, Yamero used his head."
Daru, intrigued, says: "How? Explain it to us!"
Before Miya can intervene, Suka speaks: "This time, it's my turn to explain, Mrs. Know-it-all."
Miya, surprised, widens her eyes but lets out an annoyed sigh: "Tssss."
Suka, with a look of satisfaction, continues: "Yamero simply relocated his aura to another corner of the room, while controlling remotely. This attracted the robot's attention. Since these robots react to energy particles to dodge, the robot was trapped. Yamero took advantage of this to attack and finish the fight."
Miya, with his arms crossed, replies: "Are you happy?"
Suka, with a relaxed tone: "Come on, don't get upset."
Daru, all excited, exclaims: "Big brain time by Yamero!"
Daru, a mysterious smile on his lips, steps forward into the field. Before Miya can even react, he takes the initiative.
"Daru, sometimes you have to break the cycle," he says with determination, as if to mentally prepare himself for what is to come.
A robot appears in front of him, ready to engage in combat. The ground shakes slightly under the steps of the two opponents, and the atmosphere suddenly becomes more tense.
The robot engages the fight with a direct attack, launching a powerful punch towards Daru. But the latter, anticipating the movement, quickly pivots on himself, avoiding the blow while following up with a roundhouse kick, aiming at the robot's head.
However, the robot, reactive, blocks the attack with its two metal-reinforced hands, framing Daru's foot with mechanical precision. The impact resonates in the air, but Daru remains calm, showing no signs of panic.
He immediately resumes his initial position, assessing his opponent with a piercing gaze. The two are in a sort of silent dance, each studying the other's movements, looking for the slightest flaw.
Daru, focused, analyzes the robot, preparing for a new attack. "You have to know how to break the cycle," he murmurs to himself, preparing for a different strategy to gain the upper hand. The robot, for its part, waits with iron vigilance, its sensors recording every movement.
Daru had an idea that flashed through his head. Without wasting any time, he launched into the attack against the robot. He chained together a series of rapid blows, aiming at the robot's weak points. The robot, with surprising efficiency, managed to block each attack effortlessly, using its feet, elbows, and knees to ward off all of Daru's offensives.
Daru stopped for a moment, observing the robot's reactions. Then, he resumed his assault with renewed determination. This time, his blows were taking effect. The robot, unable to predict this new strategy, began to receive the attacks head on. Each strike from Daru was felt, the robot's armor cracking little by little. Finally, with a powerful kick, Daru destroyed the upper part of the robot, making it explode into pieces.
Yamero observed the scene and burst out laughing. "Impressive, he's doing quite well, the little scoundrel."
Miya, a little stung in her ego, replied with a touch of mockery. "Yeah, he's doing better than you."
Yamero smiled, relaxed. "You're just jealous that I'm good. You'll never get far with that."
Miya, her cheeks red with anger, retorted: "Jealous? When you're smashed to the ground?!"
Maki, intrigued by the quick outcome of the fight, turned her gaze to Daru. "How did you manage to finish the fight so quickly?"
Daru shrugged with a confident smile. "Since we're only using a tiny fraction of our energy, I used that to insert harmful frequencies into the robot, which blocked every part of its system. It's like blocking its vital points, but for a robot. It allowed me to weaken it enough that it was exposed to my attacks and I defeated it. Break the cycle, I told you." He finished his sentence by flexing his bicep, a mischievous smile on his face.