A loud alarm blares, piercing your ears and vibrating the room. After you recover and your body relaxes again, two red orbs imitating eyes light up on the automaton's head. It begins lurching slowly forward to attack. First, it throws a forward punch. It's an easy attack to dodge, but you can tell it's only getting warmed up. It kicks slowly with its immense weight.
You duck and roll to the side to avoid contact with this machine. From the loud clang of each of its steps, its kicks are packing a lot of power.
If they want to see what you can do, now's the time to show them what you've got.
What's your biggest advantage in a fight…without your powers?
The automaton gains a sudden burst of speed. It must have been toying with you to learn your movement and fighting style before it decided to take the battle seriously. It swings at you again and almost takes your head off, but you successfully sidestep the attack. Digging deep is the only way you'll survive this.
Your mother taught you proper techniques to employ in combat, and you've learned several martial arts styles over the years. Of course, you didn't retain every lesson, but you have enough to survive this trial.
The automaton punches, and you perform a perfect split to dodge it. Once in position, you swing your legs around to trip it to the ground, and use your momentum to flip to your feet once more. Your capoeira techniques were always a favorite.
The automaton recovers quickly. Its orbs blink as it processes the technique you used to ensure you can't do it again. It starts computing its next attack.
Next
Moments before the automaton's next series of attacks, your spectators catch your eye again. There are six members of the Wardens of Truth, the superhero team known to run Evos Academy, and all of them are watching you behind a veil of anonymity.
Through all the shadows, however, you catch the silhouette of one unmistakable figure. It's the most powerful hero, Brilliant. You've had posters of him on your walls your whole life, including now, just like almost every other kid in the world. You've read all his comics, so spotting his silhouette came naturally, but this situation is odd. Why would Brilliant be here? "I can't believe…
Just as you've got the upper hand, however, the automaton switches tactics, too. You hear a series of clicking sounds from the bot, gears churning like clockwork, and your opponent suddenly unfolds a set of extra arms from its torso. You've never fought against a four-armed opponent, which becomes evident when it attacks and you falter.
The automaton is starting to get the better of you. You block a right punch, but it also attacks from below. You block down, but it spins and strikes you with two of its arms in the side.
Why are you losing?