My Tribrid System.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the training grounds as Jude stood in the center, focusing on the two golems he had summoned. They loomed beside him, a combination of clay and his own energy, towering and silent. He could feel the power coursing through them, his connection stronger than ever before.

In recent weeks, Jude had spent countless hours honing his ability to control these constructs. The lessons he'd learned during his earlier training had laid the groundwork, allowing him to manipulate the golems with precision. Today, he intended to push their limits.

"Okay, let's see what you can take," Jude murmured, channeling energy into the left golem. Its form shimmered, and the ground beneath trembled as he commanded it to charge forward. With a solid thud, the golem collided with a stone pillar, sending fragments flying. The impact was impressive, but Jude's eyes narrowed as he observed the damage it had sustained.

"Not bad," he said, but he knew it could do better. The power scale of his golems allowed them to withstand considerable damage; they could absorb blows equivalent to a solid strike from a C-Rank beast before their structure started to fracture. But he wanted them to withstand more—especially with the threats lurking beyond the academy walls.

As he commanded the golem to stand tall again, Jude felt the strain of energy pooling within him. The connection he maintained with his golems drained his MC cells rapidly, and he could feel the weariness creeping in, a throbbing pulse in his temples reminding him of the toll it took. Whenever his golems were activated, the MC cells took longer to recover, and he was keenly aware of how quickly they burned through his reserves—not because of his ability to see through their eyes, but simply from maintaining the connection.

"Gotta be careful," he reminded himself, breaking the connection before it drained him completely.

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. Kris approached, a stack of books tucked under one arm. The familiar sight of his friend brought a smile to Jude's face, a welcome distraction from the fatigue of his training.

"Hey, Jude," Kris called out, his expression serious. "I brought something for you."

"What's that?" Jude asked, eyeing the stack curiously.

Kris set the books down, the titles gleaming in the sunlight. "These are Earth ability books. I figured you might want to expand your knowledge. This is the highest my father would let me have."

Jude's eyes widened as he scanned the titles. Each book was a wealth of knowledge, ranging from Level 8 to Level 10. His heart raced at the thought of the advanced techniques within.

"Are you serious?" Jude asked, barely able to contain his excitement. "I can actually study this?"

"Yeah," Kris replied, crossing his arms. "Just remember, understanding these abilities is more about applying what you've learned from your previous training. Don't just read—experience."

"Thanks, Kris," Jude said, his voice sincere. He picked up the Level 10 book and felt the weight of its knowledge in his hands. "I appreciate this. I'll put it to good use."

Kris shrugged, but a hint of a smile broke through. "Just don't let it go to your head. You still have a lot to learn."

As Jude flipped through the pages, he felt a surge of determination. He would master the golems and push beyond their limits. The training he'd done, the experiences he'd gained, and the wisdom from these books would forge him into a formidable fighter.

"Let's see how far I can take this," he said, looking back at his golems. They stood ready, and with renewed focus, Jude prepared to dive deeper into his training, eager to unlock the true potential of his abilities.

Zahra leaned against a sturdy tree, relishing a moment of calm after a rigorous training session. Her friends were hard at work—Cassy practicing her telekinesis and Esha refining her healing abilities. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training ground, a stark contrast to the chill emanating from Zahra's ice powers.

"I've been thinking," Cassy said, her brow furrowed in concentration as she lifted several small stones into the air. "I need a weapon that I can control easily with my telekinesis. Something that enhances my ability without weighing me down."

Zahra pushed herself off the tree, shaking off her fatigue. "What about a set of throwing knives? They're lightweight and can be guided mid-flight. You'd maintain control while keeping a safe distance."

Cassy's eyes brightened at the idea. "That's perfect! I could use my telekinesis to direct them, but I need to remember—if I lose focus, I could end up hurting myself or hitting the wrong target."

Zahra nodded, acknowledging the risks. "Exactly. You'll need to stay sharp."

Meanwhile, Esha was deep in her training, focusing on her healing abilities. As she directed her energy inward, she felt an exhilarating surge of power. "This is incredible!" she exclaimed, feeling her muscles swell with newfound strength. "If I heal myself, I could gain almost superhuman strength!"

"But don't push too hard," Zahra warned. "If you overextend yourself, you might end up injuring yourself instead."

"I know," Esha replied, her excitement tempered by caution. "I'll find a balance, but it's amazing what I can do!"

Feeling inspired, Zahra turned her attention to her ice powers. "I want to learn something new too," she declared. As she concentrated, a brilliant idea sparked in her mind. "What if I could summon an ice dragon? Something majestic and powerful, like the ones in stories?"

Focusing intently, Zahra called upon her abilities. Frost began to swirl around her, coalescing into a magnificent dragon made of ice. It rose into the air, its crystalline scales shimmering in the sunlight. The dragon roared, sending a gust of cold air through the training ground, leaving her friends in awe.

"I did it!" Zahra shouted, her heart racing with excitement. But as the dragon hovered beside her, she felt a strain on her energy reserves. "But it's exhausting! Maintaining this requires a lot of my strength, and I can only use this trick once before my ice cells start to break down rapidly. If I use it, I'll find it hard to recover, and my body will feel the toll of the drain!"

Cassy approached, concern etched on her face. "That's amazing, Zahra! But be careful if it breaks apart, the shards could hurt you or anyone nearby."

Zahra nodded, her breath coming in short gasps as she struggled to keep the dragon steady. "I'll need to practice this more. It's beautiful, but I have to learn how to control it."