My Tribrid System.

Tahir woke up to the faint light of dawn filtering through the jagged peaks of the mountains. He sat up on the thin mat that served as his bed, taking a moment to steady himself before reaching for the wooden jug of water nearby. The water was cool and refreshing, soothing his parched throat after a night of restless dreams.

The sound of footsteps on gravel pulled his attention away. Barta, imposing as ever, entered the open training area, followed closely by Gelda, whose eyes scanned the area like a hawk, and Palm, with his usual calm demeanor.

"Tahir," Barta's deep voice resonated. "Today, we're giving you a break. No training."

Tahir's eyebrows raised in surprise. "A day off?"

Gelda's eyes softened, a rare expression for her. "You've earned it."

Palm smirked, crossing his arms. "Don't get used to it. Tomorrow, we'll push twice as hard."

Tahir nodded, relief and curiosity swirling in his chest as the instructors turned to leave. The silence of the mountains settled around him, and he seized the moment to check his system interface, away from prying eyes.

With a focused breath, he summoned the system, and a stream of notifications appeared:

[Daily Quest Completed: Push-Ups, Sit-Ups, Endurance Run… +20 EXP]

[Daily Quests have now been discontinued.]

Tahir frowned slightly. "It's getting harder to earn EXP," he muttered. His eyes shifted to his status screen:

[User: Tahir]

[Race: Vampire Halfling]

[Level: 5]

[EXP: 200/200]

[HP: 15/15]

[Strength: 13]

[Agility: 12]

[Stamina: 12]

[Status: Ready for Level Up!]

A rush of excitement coursed through him. The threshold for leveling up had been reached. With barely a pause, he activated the Instant Level-Up he'd obtained from defeating Dreyfus.

[Initiating Level Up Process…]

[All changes will be irreversible after level up.]

Before Tahir could fully process the warning, an intense, searing pain erupted through his entire body. It was as if molten fire had replaced his blood, coursing through every vein, setting each nerve alight. His muscles convulsed, locking up in agony as if hundreds of needles were piercing him from the inside. The world around him blurred as he dropped to the ground, gasping for breath.

The pain intensified, reaching deeper than the physical. Memories surged forth unbidden—every fear, failure, and moment of despair he had ever experienced replayed in vivid, merciless detail. He could feel death itself watching him, cold and patient, waiting for him to break under the strain.

Unable to contain it any longer, Tahir's screams echoed into the empty mountains, a desperate cry as his body writhed and shook uncontrollably. Every inch of him felt like it was being torn apart and rebuilt, bone by bone, muscle by muscle. His skin burned, and his vision turned dark as consciousness slipped away, the agony too much to bear.

When he finally awoke, the ground beneath him was cold, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of blood. He blinked, vision adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the jagged peaks. Every muscle in his body ached, but he felt... different. Taller, broader, and his skin paler, carrying an unnatural gleam.

"You alright, kid?" Shaw's voice rang in his head, rough but with an edge of concern.

"This pain never changes," Tahir muttered, pushing himself up on trembling arms.

Bruce's voice came next, sharp and concerned. "You were screaming like you were on the brink of death. What happened?"

"The system almost took you out, kid," Shaw added.

Tahir managed a faint grin. "I almost forgot you both are still here."

Before he could say more, the system interface blinked to life in front of him:

[Congratulations on leveling up!]

[You have evolved to: Vampire]

[New Blood Ability Unlocked: Crimson Slice]

[New System Skill Unlocked: Skill Store Access]

[Host needs blood; blood used during evolution.]

Tahir's eyes widened as the message sank in. The exhaustion in his body suddenly made sense. He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle strength coursing through him, sharper and more refined. He was different now—not just in stature but in presence. The power of a true vampire surged beneath his skin, dangerous and untamed.

"Looks like things just got more interesting," he whispered, a predatory glint in his eyes.

Shaw chuckled in his mind. "Interesting doesn't even cover it, kid."

Bruce's voice, more calculating now, added, "Better learn what that Skill Store can do. It might be the key to staying ahead."

Tahir nodded, determination hardening in his chest. This was just the beginning.

Tahir pushed himself up from the cold ground, muscles still aching but infused with newfound strength. He summoned his system interface once more to check the changes:

[User: Tahir]

[Race: Vampire]

[Level: 10]

[EXP: 0/1000]

[HP: 30/30]

[Strength: 26]

[Agility: 24]

[Stamina: 24]

A slight smirk formed on his lips as he took in the doubled stats. The power coursing through him felt electric, each breath deeper and more potent than before. He could sense the subtle changes in his body—every muscle fiber responding with heightened precision, his senses sharper, the world around him more vivid.

With a deep breath, Tahir stood tall, his newly broadened shoulders squaring as he took in the morning light spilling over the peaks. The confines of the training area felt too small, too limiting for what he had become.

"I need to stretch my legs," he murmured. With that, Tahir walked out of the training grounds and onto the mountain path, the crisp air brushing against his skin as he began his stroll, ready to explore and feel the freedom of his evolution.

Barta, Gelda, and Palm exchanged knowing glances as they watched Tahir approach, each of them carrying the weight of anticipation. There was a sense of satisfaction in their expressions, but also an unspoken tension that lingered in the air.

"He's ready for another test," Gelda said quietly, her eyes fixed on Tahir as he neared. "Let's see how he responds under pressure."

Barta nodded, a smirk of mischief playing on his lips. "I've prepared something special for him."

Palm looked between the two, his brow furrowed with curiosity. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

With a sly grin, Gelda turned her gaze to the dense forest surrounding their training grounds. "Just a little surprise."

Without warning, the atmosphere shifted, a thick tension hanging in the air like a storm about to break. The leaves rustled ominously, and out from the shadows emerged two masked figures—golems, crafted from the very essence of the earth by Gelda's magic. Their forms were humanoid yet obscured, shrouded in darkness and menace.

Tahir, blissfully unaware of the ambush unfolding around him, strolled through the clearing, lost in his thoughts. The fresh air filled his lungs, and he relished the tranquility, unaware that danger lurked just beyond the treeline.

Suddenly, the first golem lunged forward, its massive fist swinging with terrifying speed. Tahir barely had time to register the attack before the force of it crashed down where he had just been standing, sending a shockwave through the ground.

His instincts kicked in, and he spun around, eyes wide as he took in the sight of the golems. "What the—!" he shouted, adrenaline surging through his veins as he prepared to defend himself.

The second golem, quick and precise, closed the distance, forcing him to react. Tahir felt a rush of energy as he readied himself, but before he could fully harness his power, the first golem swung again, its fist connecting with the ground beside him in a display of raw strength that rattled the trees.

Tahir stumbled back, narrowly avoiding another strike, his heart racing. He had never encountered foes like these—creatures that seemed to embody strength and aggression without hesitation. The golems moved with an eerie intelligence, as if they were testing him, gauging his responses.

As he readied himself for the fight, the second golem charged. This time, there was no room for hesitation. Tahir remembered the countless hours spent training in the mountains, honing his skills in hand-to-hand combat. He took a deep breath and focused, channeling everything he had learned into this moment.

The first golem lunged at him, and Tahir sidestepped the blow, feeling the rush of air as the fist whooshed past him. He countered with a swift kick to the golem's knee, causing it to stagger slightly. But the creature quickly regained its footing, its eyes glowing ominously as it retaliated.

Tahir ducked and rolled, avoiding a heavy punch aimed at his head. He sprung to his feet and delivered a series of quick jabs to the golem's torso, each strike resonating with a dull thud against its rocky exterior. It was like hitting a wall, but he pressed on, focusing on his technique.

The second golem joined the fray, its movements fluid and menacing. Tahir felt the pressure mount as he found himself surrounded. He shifted his weight, redirecting the momentum of one golem's attack into the other, causing them to collide. The impact sent a tremor through the ground, but they quickly recovered and reoriented themselves, undeterred by the setback.

Tahir's heart raced as he engaged them in hand-to-hand combat, relying solely on his training and instincts. He blocked a strike from the first golem and countered with an elbow to its side, but the creature barely flinched.

His muscles burned as he fought, sweat beading on his forehead. Each blow he landed felt like a victory, yet he was painfully aware of the odds stacked against him. These golems were relentless, and he could sense their determination to test his limits.

He ducked under a sweeping kick from the second golem, using the momentum to launch himself upward, executing a spinning kick aimed at its head. The golem staggered back, but just as he thought he had gained an advantage, the first golem swept in, catching him off guard.

With a heavy strike, it sent him sprawling to the ground, the impact rattling him. Tahir gritted his teeth, struggling to regain his footing as the two golems closed in, their movements synchronized as they prepared to unleash a combined attack.

Tahir's mind raced as he calculated his next move, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The clearing felt charged with energy, the tension palpable as he faced the two formidable opponents.