Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ Sharp Hands

[Mike] - "It's a straightforward challenge, Athena. You will cook me a beef Wellington, a bowl of Chinese fried rice and a mixed berries cheesecake. "

As Athena confidently reached for Mike's gloves, he suddenly slammed his hand on them.

[Mike] - "However, you will not access to your hands or mouth. This challenge can only be done using your abilities and since you failed my test at the start of the month, I will add a few extra rules. First, not a single drop of oil or a grain of rice or vegetable is allowed to escape the wok and stain the spotless counter. Second, if your ability damages any of the equipment or kitchenware, you fail. Third, while working with the flour, I don't want to see a single grain of flour on the kitchen counter other than on the cutting board. Finally, I will periodically throw rocks at your workstation. If any of these rocks reaches their intended target, you fail. "

As soon as Mike finished his sentence, a plastic tray on the counter deformed under Mike's ability and bound Athena's hands behind her back. Athena's face was livid as she wasn't expecting this level of demands from Mike. However, it was also time for her to demonstrate her capability. It was all or nothing.

[Athena] - "Guilt Extension: Thunderstorm Above Mount Olympus! "

Mike's rules quite literally forced Athena out of her comfort zone as without several hands as a barrier against any piece of vegetable attempting to roll off her cutting board, the tame version of her ability with more precision would cost her dearly.

As she bent down to get the flour, she noticed that the bag was still sealed. If she attempted to pry it open, flour would certainly spill everywhere and fail her. As she struggled to find a solution to her dilemma, Mike threw a rock at her. After barely avoiding disaster by firing an arrow which vaporized the rock, Athena suddenly had a brilliant idea.

[Athena] - "Guilt Extension: Divine Violation! "

By neglecting the channelling period, Athena conjured a small arrow which burned through the seal of the bag and vaporized any flour particles attempting to escape. However, as she attempted to reach for the flour, she realized that flour is extremely volatile when disturbed.

[Athena] - "Guilt Extension: From Sisyphus With Love! "

It was a stroke of genius she herself hadn't even expected. It was a subconscious action as she realized after she had executed the command that she managed to trap the flour within a smaller version of Sisyphus' boulder. Soon, everything became a piece of cake as she contained the oil and rice spill using her Sisyphus boulder while multiple conjured hands did all the tasks at the same time.

Despite her steady success, Mike suddenly added a layer of difficulty by smashing one of the rocks into the oven. As Athena moved to intercept, she pulled too hard on the door and ripped the oven out of the wall before it smashed against the floor. At that instant, she raised her head and stopped to look at Mike with a terrified expression in her eyes.

[Mike] - "Well, what are you waiting for? Again, continue! "

[Athena] - "But... The oven... "

[Mike] - "Usually I would've considered that you failed. However, basing all you had worked for on one mistake is not how I do it. I believe in redemption and second chances. "

Said Mike before swiping his finger.

In an instant, the floor moved like a liquid and swallowed the debris and broken oven. Before long, Athena was left with a clean kitchen just without an oven.

[Mike] - "What will you do now, Athena? The oven was an incident which compromised your plan but are you truly out of options? Like what we agreed upon; Hands are universal because of the mind. "

At that moment, Athena went from fearing failure to unwavering determination. Despite her mistake, she had been given a second chance. So far, before her, the beef Wellington had not been cooked alongside the cake which was ready for the oven just before she broke it. She looked at how she was working with all three of her abilities at the same time; She was at the doorstep of an opportunity to rise above her limits.

[Athena] - "Say Mike, you said Existential Judgement is the pinnacle of mastery for a cyberknight over his abilities, right? "

[Mike] - "Your mastery of your abilities certainly makes you a potential candidate. "

Said Mike in a suggestive voice.

[Athena] - "I've been thinking about this for a while. All this training was not meant to make me become simply the strongest or the sharpest. You're trying to make me the best. You knew I was already strong and sharp, yet you knew I lacked the push to make me better. "

Said Athena as her gaze met Mike's.

[Mike] - "Guilty as judged. However, do you judge my methods to be too excessive? "

Said Mike as he leaned in closer with an intrigued smile.

[Athena] - "You can see things I can't. If you think I can do it, then why should I deny my potential? Amp up the voltage, because no heart beats without the heat of a shock! "

Said Athena as arcs of electricity began to flash around her body.

"It's not the tools which determine what you are capable of, it's how you use them. If a fire is what is needed to fuel my path forward, then let's get that flame going! No matter if I'm armed with swords or guns, you've shown me ways to push their potential beyond their purpose. Let us cook, master! "

Thought Athena as she stared at her targets.

[Athena] - "Existential Judgement: Greek Kitchen! "

It was an all-or-nothing gamble as she executed her new ability for the first time. In an instant, the combination of her abilities created an oven-like condition around the beef and cake. With a carefully controlled electric current, Athena baked the two dishes at an approximate temperature of what is required for each in the oven. Even Mike was impressed by Athena's display of control and ingenuity.

By the end, all three dishes were prepared while respecting all of the rules set by Mike. At a closer inspection, Mike noticed not even a speck of flour on any of the kitchen's surfaces.

[Mike] - "You did an amazing job, Athena. The only thing I can complain about is the oven and the beef Wellington being well-done. "

Said Mike in a lighthearted voice.

[Athena] - "You don't need to be such a nit-pick, haha! I tried my best after all. "

In truth, Mike was beyond proud of Athena. While he only initially intended to teach her a simple lesson, she somehow managed to pick out all the points Mike never intended to teach and apply them to her abilities. She identified the flaws in her abilities and showed a level of creativity that exceeded expectations. Most importantly, she demonstrated restraint and morality. To her, the goal was not to become the strongest but to become the best.

[Mike] - "Athena, with my authority, you shall skip the rank of knight and be promoted directly to the rank of senior knight. I believe you will uphold the rules of the cyberknights and use your powers for good in our crusade. Let us fight, no longer as master and apprentice but as fellow soldiers. Arise, Chimera Knight Athena! "

Said Mike as he saluted Athena.

Faced with this level of respect from her master, Athena began to weep emotionally before straightening herself to salute back at him.

[Athena] - "I accept my new position but you'll always be my master. "

[Mike] - "Aw, quit being so emotional! Let's go drink something, the bill's on me. "

*Back to the present

Athena put the picture she took with Mike on the dashboard of her ship with a nostalgic smile on her face. Slowly, she drifted her gaze toward the structure of the Inverted Monolith which protruded above ground.

[Athena] - "Like you once said; Again! "

To be continued...