My Tribrid System.

Upon reaching the tent, John glanced at Tahir, giving a signal for him to start his tale.

"What I'm about to tell you is top secret. I'm only telling you because I believe you're strong," Tahir said, and John nodded, urging him to continue.

"It all started a few years back," Tahir said, as the memories began to resurface.

"It was the day the Shadow Fang took me in.

I was in a dark alley, holding a bloodied knife. A dead man lay in a pool of his own blood, his throat slit. I was about six years old when this happened."

"Well, would you look at that," the Shadow Fang leader said. "Are you scared?" he asked.

"I didn't want trouble. I was on my own. I only asked for money, but he slapped me and insulted my dead parents. He could have just said no and walked out, he brought this upon himself" the younger Tahir replied.

"You think anyone would care?" the Shadow Fang leader asked.

"I don't care if they do or don't. I'll do anything to survive even if it means tearing them all to shreds," Tahir said, maintaining eye contact with the man in front of him.

A loud laugh echoed. "I like you, kid. Would you come with me? I can make you strong enough to survive" the Shadow Fang leader asked.

"What's the catch? I'm smart enough to know nothing comes easy, there are always two faces of a coin" Tahir asked.

"You keep saying you're good. The catch is you'll live under my rule. I'll train you, but the downside is, you might die. The training isn't easy—you'll endure torture. But in the end, it's for your own benefit. Remember, you could die during training," the Shadow Fang boss said seriously.

"Well, that changes nothing. If I die during training, at least I'll escape this suffering early. I'm in," Tahir said, slipping his knife into his pocket.

"This year's students are fascinating," the boss muttered as he led Tahir to another location.

Upon arriving at the village, murmurs spread everywhere. People say the shadow fang leader has a son, ignoring them both Tahir and the boss kept working. Opening a door, Tahir saw 15 students in the room. Only one was close to his age—a girl with silver hair.

"Meet your teammates. Training starts tomorrow. Get some rest," the Shadow Fang leader said as he headed to his room.

Tahir remained on high alert, hand gripping his knife, eyes wide open. The streets had taught him to stay wary of strangers, and right now, the room was tense with unease.

"Hey, stop staring! He's new. Don't mind them—just relax," the girl said to Tahir.

"I'm relaxed, just not letting my guard down," Tahir replied, staying still.

"Okay, anyway, I'm Silver. What's your name?" she asked.

"I'm Tahir. How long have you guys been here?" he inquired.

"He's smart to know we're not new. We've been here three weeks," Silver answered.

"Think you can catch up?" a tall, dark-skinned boy asked.

"We'll find out soon enough," Tahir replied calmly.

At sunrise, Tahir was the first to wake and stood outside, taking in the view.

Silver, moving stealthily, released a little Qi. As she neared Tahir, ready to touch him, he swiftly drew his knife to her neck.

"Oh... I'm sorry," Tahir said, embarrassed.

"It's nothing. How did you know I was coming? Do you know Qi?" Silver asked, surprised.

"What's Qi?" Tahir asked, genuinely curious.

"He's either lying or using it unconsciously," Silver thought, remembering her own experience.

"Okay, the master's asking for us," Silver said, leading the way.

Entering the room, Tahir saw the master for the first time—a middle-aged man radiating power.

"Today, we'll discuss what this is all about. Some of you already know, but we have a new member—an interesting one," the master said, eyes gleaming.

"You are being trained to become assassins for the Shadow Fang. Our mission is to cultivate the strongest and keep them ready. We are people without abilities, you would all be trained in Qi and we don't interfere in worldly affairs. Though strong enough to lead the world, we remain in the shadows, eliminating only those who threaten world peace."

"I have a question," Tahir said, raising his hand.

"Go on," the boss replied.

"Do we ever get to leave? You said we're to become assassins for the Shadow Fang, like a military. So, do we ever retire?" Tahir asked.

"He's bold," thought everyone as they exchanged glances.

"Yes, you get to leave, but on one condition."

"And what's that?" Tahir asked.

"A duel with me. If you win, you become the next leader and set the rules. That's how I gained my freedom," the master said casually.

"Then it's impossible," Tahir replied. "We all know how strong you are. You're trying to hide your aura, but it's still seeping out. No one can defeat you, right?"

"No one? That's an exaggeration. I think one of you might be able to take me on when the time comes," the boss said.

"We'll start today with hand-to-hand combat, and then learn Qi So, Tahir, do you think you can take on Silver?" the boss asked.

"Yes, I can. She's just a girl," Tahir replied confidently.

As they prepared to fight, Silver signaled him to attack. Tahir increased his speed, ready to throw a punch, but Silver hooked her arm around his, slammed him into the ground with force, and pinned him down.

"Excellent win. The match is over—or do you want a rematch?" the boss asked the now angry Tahir.

"Rematch," Tahir muttered as he attacked again.

But the same thing happened. Over and over, Tahir was thrown around. It became clear to him that these people weren't fighting recklessly like those on the streets.

"Damn it," Tahir cursed, sweating with frustration.

"You're improving, but your pride won't let you learn. Never underestimate your opponent in a fight," Silver advised.

"So for Qi, Listen carefully, students, for today I will explain the fundamental concept of Qi—the lifeblood of all living things. Qi is the energy that exists both inside and outside of you, shaping your strength and vitality. It is intangible, yet it fuels every action and thought, much like the air we breathe.

There are three main types of Qi. First, you have internal Qi. This is the energy that resides within your body, the force that strengthens your muscles, sharpens your reflexes, and enhances your physical abilities. By practicing meditation and physical training, you can enhance this internal Qi, allowing it to increase your endurance, power, and speed.

Then there's external Qi, the energy that comes from the world around you—drawn from nature itself. When properly harnessed, external Qi can be absorbed into the body, reinforcing your muscles, bones, and skin. It can make you more resilient to harm, increasing your physical durability and making your body nearly indestructible with the right mastery.

Finally, we have the rare and powerful spiritual Qi. This type of Qi is linked to your spirit and essence. While internal Qi fuels your body, spiritual Qi sustains your youth and longevity. Those who have learned to cultivate spiritual Qi can slow the aging process, maintaining their youthful appearance and vitality for decades, even centuries.

This is the secret to eternal youth—ensuring that time does not wither your form. However, controlling spiritual Qi requires deep understanding and immense focus; only those with the strongest wills can harness its power.

Mastering Qi is not a quick or easy path. You will need to develop your mental and physical discipline through meditation, rigorous training, and total self-awareness. Eventually, you will learn Qi techniques that allow you to strengthen your body to near superhuman levels, resist illness, and potentially live longer than any ordinary human.

Remember, Qi is life itself. To master Qi is to master your potential—unlocking a future where strength, youth, and vitality are yours to command."

Tahir stormed out angrily as the master finished the class while informing the class that strength training would begin immediately, then dismissed them.

Outside, Silver approached Tahir.

"I have a question. Why? Why do I keep losing? Am I that weak?" Tahir asked.

"No, you're not weak. I'm just trained," Silver reassured him.

"I can train you if you want," Silver added.

"You'd do that?" Tahir asked.

"Yes, I would. Besides, I came here to become the strongest in the world, strong enough to make the world a better place, strong enough to put a smile on everyone's face—weak or strong. And I'll need a rival. So from today, I, Silver, declare you my rival," she said with a chuckle.

Tahir laughed. "When does training start, Your Highness?"

"Immediately," Silver replied as they both walked back inside.

"I hope you two survive this training. I'd like to see how long you'll last," the boss thought as he watched from the window.

"Who does he think he is? I saw her first. She's mine," a short black-haired boy named Bale muttered angrily, plotting something sinister.

"So, what weapon will you pick?" Silver asked Tahir.

"I think I'll go with swords," Tahir said as he grabbed two katanas, swinging them with a small smile.

"A dual-sword user?" Silver asked.

"Yes, this way I can deal more damage," Tahir replied.

"Okay, let's start. To master any weapon, you must first become one with it. Take a deep breath and try to connect with it."

Tahir took a deep breath, concentrating, and suddenly, he could see it—two silver katanas in pure darkness. "I see them," he muttered.

"Now, command them to come to you. Build the connection," Silver instructed.

With focus, Tahir managed to summon them once more.

"Perfect. Now that you can do that, you need to practice parrying for hours. Once you're good at it, come find me," Silver said, sensing an enormous Qi presence outside. Someone was planning to interrupt them.

"What are they doing?" Bale asked.

"Just training," another kid replied.

"I need you two to distract her. I'll deal with the new kid and make him bleed," Bale said as he walked off.