Chapter 104: New Motives
The robot launched another fierce series of strikes, forcing Elias to dance back, sidestep, and counter with carefully timed blows, each move becoming more precise and confident.
Finally, spotting an opening, Elias lunged forward decisively, slipping past the robot’s guard and striking its exposed flank. Sparks flew as it staggered backward, momentarily stunned.
A bell chimed softly overhead.
"Obstacle eleven completed. Total time: 26 minutes, 8 seconds."
Breathing heavily, Elias straightened, staring thoughtfully at the robot. "Why did that feel so familiar...?"
Elias stepped into the final chamber, muscles aching and sweat trickling down his temples. The room was vast, empty except for a dimly glowing circle in the center. He approached carefully, senses sharp and alert, muscles tensed in anticipation.
A sudden hum filled the air as a figure emerged in front of him, forming from the ground upward—pixels rapidly assembling into a familiar silhouette. Elias blinked, astonished, as he found himself staring at an exact replica of his own figure.
"This is... new," Dot murmured, floating nervously around Elias’s shoulder. "Be careful."
"Thanks for the advice," Elias responded dryly, adopting a cautious stance. The duplicate mirrored him perfectly, reflecting every subtle twitch of muscle and shift in posture.
Elias took a cautious step forward, and so did the robot, mimicking him exactly. He tilted his head; it tilted its head. Every movement, down to the rhythm of his breath, was duplicated flawlessly.
"This could get annoying," Elias muttered, experimentally stepping forward. The copy matched him step for step. Curious, Elias feigned a strike. Immediately, the robot mirrored him, perfectly synchronized.