Rising Power (#1 of the Canton Chronicles Series)

The Choice

The New Academy - 15th September, 200 A.D

"Three... two... one. Sequence emerge" said the AI, with its friendly, neutral voice. The final countdown was up. Val felt John twitch beside her.

"The enemy is coming from our left, guys, and fast. Mike you take the front. Amy, Seb you go next. Hack those holograms away as fast as you can. Val is staying with me, until she is needed. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the three of them answered in complete unison, with just a tiny pinch of sarcasm.

Val saw them moving to their planned positions with the corner of her eye, seconds before the giant mass made its move. It did come from their left, as John had predicted and with a fury which left Val speechless. Sometimes the training holograms were just so damn realistic.

The colossus that stood in front of them was around three meters tall, made out of pure metal, a shiny silver giant with no visible soft spots whatsoever. It came with incredible speed, his face a merciless mask.

Mike was the first one to be hit. The titan connected its fists and knocked Mike to his feet, sending him into a high air-dive, sending him out of the fighting area.

The giant howled with satisfaction and made his way to Amy and Seb, stopping right at his tracks, when Mike, the same Mike which was seemingly knocked out just seconds ago, appeared unexpectedly beneath its feet.

"You illusions are getting better, John. Incredible."

John smiled with Val's awe, proud of himself.

Mike's body was now in his ultimate Power form, covered in unbreakable black rock and metal. He grasped the silver giant's feet, and hold him off with all his strength, pinning it to the ground. The creature tried to raise his feet, but found it impossible to move.

A howl of despair escaped its throat and Val smiled. Their battling strategy was working wonders. Amy's and Seb's turn came next. They were already attacking the monster, with their Speeding Powers.

Amy flew towards the creature's sides, hitting its weak points between the arms and thighs, only to disappear again. Seb run in an endless circle around the creature's lower area, kicking its feet, weakening it.

John guided them, telling them where to hit next and what they had to avoid.

"Are you two ever going to finish?" Mike screamed to Amy and Seb, enraged and impatient. "I thought this was to be done in a few hits."

"Damn thing has the resistance of a rock. Just a few moments more and then it will fall, Mike. Just hold on." Seb said, gasping.

"Just stand still and do your damn job, grumpy. We are all trying here."

Amy kicked the Colossus again and again, until at last, it fell to the ground with a confused and weak growl. Val thought its ending was at least anticlimactic, considering its strength and size. And she didn't even get the chance to participate in the fight. So disappointing.

Amy, Sebastian and Mike were standing with their hands on their knees, totally out of breath.

"Now, where are the winning trumpets? We won, didn't we?" Mike wowed loudly.

"And in what has to be a record time", Seb said and raised his hands, hugging Amy, who remained inside his arms, excited.

Val looked at John, but he was silent, a sceptical look on his face.

The giant started twitching again.

"Look out!" John screamed suddenly, at the top of his lungs.