My Tribrid System.

The cold, damp air of the dungeon wrapped around them like a shroud, making the stone walls feel even more oppressive. Esha's breath came out in shallow bursts, though she kept her gaze locked on the guards who prowled the cells, eyes scanning them like prey. She and the others—Kris, Zahra, Jude, and Cassy—were all chained up, but they hadn't been harmed. At least not yet. They were bait, nothing more.

Two soldiers approached her, leering as they inched closer. One of them reached out, his hand hovering just above her face, his fingers twitching. Esha flinched instinctively, but before anything could happen, the heavy sound of a door slamming open echoed through the hall.

"Back off," Darius's voice cut through the air, cold and commanding. His figure emerged from the shadows, and the soldiers froze, tension tightening around their shoulders.

Darius didn't even look at the soldiers. He was focused on Esha, his eyes glinting as he surveyed the group. "They're not to be touched. Understand?"

The guards stepped back immediately, their faces pale. Darius's reputation for cruelty wasn't just a rumor—it was something they all feared. Esha couldn't hide the disgust on her face, but she knew better than to provoke him now.

"The plan stays," Darius continued, his gaze flicking to the others in the cell. "Tahir will come for them. He won't leave them here, and when he shows up, we'll have him."

He turned to leave, his dark cloak trailing behind him like a shadow. The soldiers remained still, but the tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. They were just waiting. Waiting for the trap to be sprung.

---

Back at the base, Tahir wasn't waiting. He was working—relentlessly, tirelessly—creating his army. The lab was dimly lit, a quiet hum of machines filling the space as he carefully calibrated each new fighter bot. His eyes moved swiftly over the blueprints, running calculations in his head as his hands worked with precision, adding upgrades and tweaks to the metal frames.

Each bot was a reflection of him—his height, his features, his build—only colder, harder, and entirely mechanical. But in a way, that made them even more dangerous.

Tahir stood back, staring at the first of the completed bots. It flexed its metallic arms and mirrored his movements. "You'll work," he muttered to himself, a grim smile tugging at his lips.

These weren't just machines; they were his soldiers, his army. They would follow his every order, just like he had designed them to. But he didn't have time to admire his creations for too long. There was still so much left to do.

---

Meanwhile, John was in the training room, pushing himself to his limit. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he practiced his strikes and moves, the sounds of his breathing the only thing breaking the silence in the otherwise empty room.

His body ached, his muscles screamed for rest, but he couldn't stop. Not now.

Each day he trained harder, faster, more precise. Every motion felt a little smoother, a little stronger. He wasn't there yet—not nearly—but he was getting closer. And that was all that mattered.

John paused for a moment, catching his breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded to himself. "One more round," he whispered, setting his jaw.

At the vampire king's palace, the vampire leaders gathered for their meeting. The long table stretched out before them, each leader seated in their place, silent and grim. The King's seat was vacant, as it had been for most of the discussion. But even in his absence, the tension was suffocating.

"We pass the verdict tomorrow," Kain, the third leader, said, his tone heavy with finality. "We've spent enough time on this. Tomorrow, it's over."

Selene leaned forward, her eyes flicking over each leader before focusing on Kain. "We're sure about this? That Darius's plan will work? We're putting everything on the line."

Thorne, the fifth leader, grunted in agreement. "It's not a gamble. We've lured him in, and when he comes, we'll strike. He won't expect it."

Vera spoke next, her voice smooth but sharp. "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then we make it work," Selene answered, her gaze unwavering. "We'll deal with him when the time comes."

The discussions went on, but each of them knew the truth: tomorrow was make or break. They couldn't afford any more delays. The last five days had gone by in a blur, but now they were down to just one. One last day for Tahir to make his move—and one last day for them to crush him.

Back at the base, Tahir stood before the cell where Alaric had been kept locked away. The once-proud vampire had been reduced to a broken mess, but there was still a glint of defiance in his eyes.

Alaric sneered as Tahir entered, his voice hoarse. "What do you want now, boy? Come to gloat?"

Tahir didn't respond immediately. He just stood there, staring at Alaric with an unsettling calm. "I need information," he said flatly. "And you have it."

Alaric's lips curled into a bitter laugh. "You think I'll talk? You think I'll give you anything?"

Tahir stepped closer to the bars, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know the wonders of the human body?" he asked quietly.

Alaric stopped laughing, his confusion visible. "What are you talking about?"

Tahir didn't break his gaze. "If you inflict enough pain on the body, and send a command to the brain, the soul breaks. Once the soul is broken, the brain will order the mouth to speak. It's simple really."

Alaric started laughing again, louder this time, though it was tinged with a hint of panic. "You think you can break me? I won't talk, no matter what you do!"

Tahir's lips curved into a slow, cold smile. "Oh, I know I can break you. I learned a thing or two in the torture class at the dojo." He leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This is a battle of the soul, Alaric. And when I'm done, you'll talk. Whether you want to or not."

Alaric's laugh faltered, his eyes wide with something like fear. "You... You can't—"

"Oh, but I can," Tahir replied, his tone final. "And I will."

The weight of the coming battle settled heavily over Tahir. No more waiting. No more planning. Tomorrow, it all changed.