"Send them in," Mr. Lee commanded, his eyes gleaming as he turned toward the dojo's grand entrance.
A soft breeze swept through the open hall, rustling the edge of his crimson training robe.
"Let's see… what kind of warriors they'll become."
A wide grin spread across his face—equal parts mentor, madman, and martial god.
He took a step back, his bare feet sliding smoothly across the polished floor.
"Activate Combat Training Mode – Level 1."
His voice echoed like thunder cloaked in silk.
[Training Protocol Initiated… Level 1 Engagement Active]
"Welcome to the Martial Palace," a crisp, mechanical voice echoed from a small speaker embedded in the wall.
Its tone was polite, but laced with an eerie precision.
"Mr. Lee will receive you shortly."
The voice faded as the grand doors creaked open, allowing the boys to step into the vast, serene premises of the Martial Palace.
Just then, Miss Lana's phone buzzed urgently. She glanced at the screen, her expression immediately shifting to concern.
"Boys, I'm really sorry—I have to take care of something important. Please, behave yourselves while I'm gone. I'll be back to pick you up as soon as I can," she said, her voice laced with both worry and trust.
They nodded as she hurriedly exited the Martial Palace gates, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.
As the doors closed behind her, Van turned to the others. "Let's head inside."
"Are you crazy, dude?" Dame raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you hear the instructions? We're supposed to wait."
"I'm not standing around in the sun," Kenji shrugged. "I'm going in."
Dame sighed dramatically. "Why do I always have to be the one who takes things more seriously…"
Despite the hesitation, they all stepped through the towering entrance doors—and were immediately awestruck.
The interior of the Martial Palace was stunning. Wooden floors so polished they gleamed, vibrant hanging plants adorning the walls, and lanterns casting a warm, golden glow. It gave off a distinct Shaolin temple vibe—serene, disciplined, ancient, yet powerful.
As they admired the tranquil beauty of the grand hall, their eyes were drawn to the center.
Standing tall in the middle of the chamber was a humanoid machine—sleek, silver, and glowing with blue lines across its arms and chest.
"That's a Mechaman 20K," Kenji said, eyes narrowing in recognition.
Van glanced at him. "You know about that thing?"
"Yeah. The Red Skulls had them. They made us train with them—forced us to learn how to use our powers against high-level combat dummies like this," Kenji replied, his tone low and distant.
Dame scratched his head. "So... are we fighting that thing or running away from it?"
The Mechaman's eyes lit up in a flash of red, and its arms shifted into a battle stance.
(New Quest Alert)
[Objective: Defeat the robot]
Reward: Instant Level Up + 1 Stat Point]
Van's eyes gleamed as the system interface shimmered before him.
"Tch… you're just handing out blessings now, huh?" he muttered with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Van smirked. "Looks like we don't have a choice."
The Mechaman surged forward with terrifying speed, its heavy metallic frame moving like a blur. The ground beneath it trembled as it charged, forcing the three boys to scatter in different directions.
"Yo Kenji! Use your powers and take this thing out already!" Dame shouted, ducking behind a pillar.
"I told you—I'm still injured, remember?" Kenji called back, gritting his teeth. "I can sense its attacks, but I can't use my speed at full capacity. One wrong move and I'm done."
"Tch... Guess we're doing this the hard way," Van muttered, eyes narrowing as he dashed toward a weapon rack on the wall. With swift precision, he grabbed a wooden guandao and spun it in his hands.
"Dame! Back me up!" Van barked, already charging back toward the Mechaman.
Dame didn't hesitate. He reached for a sturdy wooden staff leaning against the wall and sprinted after him. "This is so not how I planned today!"
Van took the lead, his eyes locked onto the mechanical giant. "Go for the legs—I'll aim for the head!"
Dame nodded and veered left, rushing the Mechaman from a low angle while Van came in high from the right, his weapon poised for a precise strike.
The Mechaman staggered as Van's guandao slammed into its head while Dame's staff swept its leg from the opposite direction. The synchronized impact sent a jolt through its frame, disorienting the machine and nearly toppling it.
But before it could hit the ground, the Mechaman flipped backward—once, then twice—landing flawlessly on its feet with a metallic clang.
"Whoa!" the boys gasped in unison, eyes wide.
"This thing is way more advanced than the ones I've seen... It's adapting way too fast," Kenji muttered, scanning its frame.
Van tightened his grip on the guandao, his expression hardening. "So are we."
Without hesitation, he dashed forward again. His eyes narrowed as he recalled a technique Mr. Lee had demonstrated earlier. Channeling his focus, Van adjusted his stance, coordinated his movements—and struck. The guandao danced in his hands like an extension of his body, slicing through the air and smashing into the robot's chest, sending it skidding backward.
"Yo! That was insane!" Dame shouted, grinning. "You've been holding out on us!"
Yo Kenji!" Dame shouted, eyes locked on the mech's movements. "Use your speed! Finish it off in one strike!"
Kenji's figure blurred like a streak of lightning, vanishing from view. The air crackled as his aura surged.
"One strike, huh?" Kenji whispered with a grin. "Let's make it count."
In a flash, he reappeared behind the robot with inhuman speed. Twin wooden daggers appeared in his hands, glowing faintly with kinetic energy.
"Wooden Fang Hacker!" Kenji called out, delivering a dual strike to both sides of the Mechaman's neck. Sparks flew as the daggers pierced its outer armor, exposing its internal wiring. With a violent shudder, the robot's head jerked, and its systems sputtered.
The Mechaman staggered, sparks shooting from its damaged neck as it slowly powered down and collapsed with a heavy thud.
Unbeknownst to the boys, hidden behind the wall of the hall, Mr. Lee watched through a concealed monitor.
A faint smirk curved his lips. "So... one of them's an aetherbrid—with that kind of speed too..." His eyes gleamed with interest. "Things just got even more interesting.