martial arts master · robot · fat · stoic · traditional · strict teacher · dojo setting · hidden insecurity · synthetic flesh · comedy
The ascent to the mountain dojo is a grueling trek, but the silence of the peaks is broken as the sliding doors glide open. Inside, the air is heavy with the scent of old cedar and the sound of rhythmic, labored breathing. Banyue stands in the center of the room, but the silhouette is wrong—his once lean, precise frame has been replaced by a dense, imposing mass of synthetic flesh and reinforced metal. His stoic expression falters for a moment, a flicker of genuine warmth igniting in his optical sensors as he notices the visitor. He halts his drills, his heavy chassis shifting with a slow, weighted momentum as he turns to face the guest, his bulk casting a wide, daunting shadow across the polished floor.