My Tribrid System.

As the teacher's words faded, a strange sensation overcame Tahir. This wasn't just physical torment; it was about pushing past the barriers holding him back.

Without warning, the teacher gestured for Tahir to follow. Tahir and the others were led down a long corridor, the air thick with tension. They reached a heavy door marked with strange symbols. The teacher pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with vials and various alchemical apparatus.

"This is your first trial," the teacher's voice echoed in the chamber. "You will consume this poison to build your immunity. Your body must adapt to survive."

He picked up a small vial containing a vibrant green liquid. "This extract comes from the Venomous Bloom, a flower notorious for its lethal properties. It's essential for any warrior to withstand poisons that could otherwise end them."

Tahir hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself. With a deep breath, he took the vial and drank it in one swift motion. As the poison hit his system, searing heat spread through his body, igniting every nerve.

He gasped as the sensation overwhelmed him. Stumbling, he forced himself to stand tall. His muscles spasmed as his body fought against the toxic invader. Focusing on controlling his breath, he struggled to adapt.

"Good, good," the teacher's voice came again, almost like a whisper. "Embrace the pain; let it guide you. You are not merely enduring; you are evolving."

As the poison coursed through him, Tahir visualized the energy flowing within. His body heated up, heart racing, but he sensed his blood working to neutralize the toxins. Each heartbeat became a rhythm, a mantra.

"I can do this," he murmured, his focus sharpening.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain began to subside, replaced by warmth coursing through his veins. The poison had begun forging its path within him, his body adapting into a vessel of resilience. Staggering, he stood firm as the sensation settled into a steady thrum.

Once the trial concluded, the teacher signaled for them to follow again. They exited the room and walked down another corridor, arriving at an expansive chamber filled with the scent of ozone. The atmosphere crackled with electricity, the air charged with energy.

"Now, onto your lightning trial," the teacher declared, gesturing for them to enter.

Tahir's heart raced as he stepped inside, grounding himself, feeling the vibrations in the air. The teacher raised his hand and, with a swift motion, summoned a bolt of lightning from the ceiling.

The impact was blinding. Raw power surged through Tahir, every fiber of his being screaming in protest. He was enveloped in a crackling aura as energy coursed through him.

He gritted his teeth, focusing on the sensation rather than succumbing to panic. Each strike pushed him closer to the edge, but instead of breaking, he concentrated on harnessing the energy, letting it flow through him, not against him.

"Remember," the teacher's voice called out, reverberating in the chamber. "Control the pain. Let it fuel you!"

With each subsequent strike, Tahir felt himself growing stronger, more resilient. Focusing on his breathing, his mind cleared as he welcomed the electricity instead of resisting it. The more he endured, the more he felt the energy binding with him, fortifying his body and spirit.

Time lost meaning as the storm raged on, but in that moment, Tahir understood. He wasn't merely a vessel; he was becoming the storm itself.

Finally, as the last bolt struck, a deafening silence filled the chamber. Tahir stood, breathing heavily but unbroken, a sense of victory surging through him. He had faced the trials of poison and lightning, emerging not just alive but stronger.

The teacher stepped forward, an approving smile on his lips. "You and Silver have passed your trials, Tahir. The rest did not survive. You now possess immunity to both poison and lightning. But remember, this is only the beginning. There will be more challenges ahead.

For today, the training is over."

Immediately, Tahir and Silver were led out of the dark training room. Healers attended to them while a welcoming ceremony was held by the boss and old assassins.

From time to time, Silver and I were tortured again to keep the memories fresh.

But those memories could never leave us. Fifteen of us had gone in for the training, and only two survived.

Month after month, we endured torture until it was time for our first mission. "The pain was felt in his words," Tahir told John.

But it all paid off, as we became the most feared in the dojo. No assassin in Shadow Fang Dojo could compare to us.

Everything was going well until tragedy struck, Tahir said, recalling the cruel memories.

"Master, I don't think I'll make it out of this one. Nothing would change even if Tahir were here. Tell him to train harder and not feel bad. Don't tell him my location until sunrise; by then, they'll probably have left," Silver said.

Earlier, Silver had taken a mission Tahir was supposed to complete. It had already claimed the lives of many assassins, and now, it seemed to be claiming hers.

Tahir was on his way to see the master when he overheard the conversation.

"Where is she?" Tahir demanded, his eyes burning with anger.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that," the Shadow Fang leader said with a smile.

"Fine, I'll just track her down," Tahir said, walking out.

Tahir, a tech wizard, had sparked something at the dojo. He created a lot of equipment that eased daily life, including the communication devices the dojo leader and Silver had just used.

Typing on his computer, Tahir locked the coordinates, grabbed his dual swords, and set off.

"Are we about to lose two great students today?" the leader asked himself as he saw Tahir hurriedly depart.

"Will she be okay? I hope she holds on long enough. Please be alive," panic began to creep into Tahir's thoughts as he moved stealthily, jumping from tree to tree.

Arriving at the marked coordinates, he saw five men guarding the outside. Wasting no time, Tahir took out his daggers and eliminated them one by one. More men kept coming, but none were reporting back.

"Sir, I think they've sent someone to retrieve her. Our men are constantly being wiped out. We've sent 30 in, and none have returned," a bulky man reported to his boss.

"Send more. Try to tire him out. Tell them to send double the first group," he ordered.

More men came, and Tahir kept taking them down. Over 20 bodies piled up—this was the most he had ever killed. Fatigue was setting in, but he reminded himself of Silver's predicament.

"No! I must keep going," Tahir reassured himself, switching to his dual swords.

A bloodbath was about to unfold.

Crouching and powering his legs with Qi, Tahir propelled himself forward, both swords cutting through his opponent, eliciting a loud scream from inside.

"Send more, send everyone!" the boss ordered, and they all attacked the lone figure standing amidst bodies.

"You devil! How can you kill so many and still stand?" one man asked, clearly panicked.

"People have called me worse," Tahir said, and a heavy thud followed as the man's head rolled to the center of the yard.

"He killed Tony! Everyone charge together!" someone yelled from the crowd, and they all attacked at once.

Slashing and blood filled the air as Tahir fought on. It took 20 minutes to clear the resistance at the gate.

A bloody figure was seen entering the door. Inside, Tahir found Silver lying in a pool of her own blood.

Rushing to her, Tahir tried healing her with Qi.

"It's no use. The wound is too deep. I told the master not to tell you where I was," Silver said weakly.

"And he did just that," Tahir murmured, ignoring Silver's protests as he continued trying to heal her.

"Hey, can you promise me something?" Silver asked out of the blue.

"Go on, what is it?" Tahir answered, still pouring in Qi, hoping to save her.

"Promise me you'll keep our dream alive. Promise you'll become the strongest," Silver said.

"I promise. Besides, you're my rival—I can't let you take all the fun," Tahir replied with a smile.

"There won't be any more 'me,'" Silver whispered.

"What do you mean? I'm healing you now," Tahir said.

"It's no use. The wound goes to my back. I've lost too much blood," Silver said weakly, holding Tahir's hand.

"Then I'll just heal you enough to take you back to the dojo," Tahir insisted, trying to reassure her, ignoring the dark thoughts creeping into his mind.

"Here, I'll leave you a parting gift," Silver said, handing Tahir her sword. But it wasn't the only gift.

Silver had initiated a Qi transfer, sending all her Qi to him.

Qi transfer was a technique for transferring or stealing life force. It wasn't taught at the dojo, but Silver had somehow learned it.

"What are you doing?" Tahir asked, trying to pull his hands away.

"I'm staying with you forever. We'll grow stronger together. Whenever you feel weak or like giving up, know my life force is always with you," Silver said as her body shrank and withered.

Before Tahir, the only person who truly understood him had just died.

Before Tahir, the only person who truly understood him had just died. It felt like a nightmare, but he knew it was real.

"Rest now, my rival. You've fought enough," Tahir whispered as he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.

Picking up his swords, he set his mind on confronting the boss. He was determined to win at any cost.