My Tribrid System: More than a Monster-Chapter 98: A Sparring Session (1)

Chapter 96

The short break and the weekend were finally over.

It was time for the Aspirants to return to their grueling routine.

Ray and his friends had already completed their morning physical conditioning and the VMS training sessions, their bodies slick with sweat as they transitioned to the next phase of their schedule.

The Corps had recently decided that it was appropriate for the Aspirants to receive their personal gear, though a strict regulation accompanied the distribution: the equipment was not to be worn around the base under any circumstances.

Instead, every piece of hardware was kept in a highly secured storage unit within the facility.

Each Aspirant’s gear was meticulously logged and differentiated by the owner to ensure no one accidentally made off with another person’s specialized equipment.

After Ray explained that his previous boots had been shredded during the encounter with the Aberrant—an account backed up by Kai’s testimony—he was issued a brand-new pair.

However, the replacement came with a stern, icy warning that they were not to be damaged again.

The reason for the caution was clear.

The advanced gear used by the military to combat the Aberrant threat was not in mass production.

One of the Big Four Legacies acted as the sole creator of these specialized armaments, and the resources required to manufacture them were notoriously difficult to secure.

The raw materials were hard to come by, and the refinement process was incredibly strenuous.

In short, the components for military-grade gear were so rare that the general public didn’t have even a shred of access to them.

Even within the military hierarchy, only a select few among the Iron Corps were issued this equipment.

It was primarily reserved for the Vanguard Order, as they were the ones consistently stationed on the bleeding edge of the frontlines.

This didn’t mean the Iron Corps were defenseless, as they possessed their own standard-issue gear, but it lacked the sophisticated enhancements of the elite units.

Yet, one nagging question lingered in Ray’s mind, one he felt he needed to answer badly.

How exactly did the Big Four fit into the overall power structure?

He understood the responsibilities of the Blade family well enough.

They were the undisputed masters of the military; the Vanguard Order, the Iron Corps, and even the Aspirant Corps were their direct creations and remained firmly under their grip.

Another of the Big Four handled the technological advancements and the manufacturing of the gear the military relied upon.

So, what were the specific roles of the remaining two families?

He knew they had contributed massively during the initial Great War against the Aberrants, but what had they done since?

What were their current functions in this society?

Ray had no idea, and the lack of information felt like a blind spot in his peripheral vision.

However, he couldn’t afford to dwell on political mysteries for long, so he forced himself to refocus on his training.

They had just finished their breakfast, with Kai sitting several tables away from them due to the lingering weight of Berg’s threat.

Honestly, the blonde-haired boy hadn’t wanted to distance himself, but he had been pressured by Ray.

Ray wasn’t ready to invite unnecessary problems with a descendant of one of the Big Four... at least, not yet.

The meal was completed without a hitch, followed by their homeroom lectures.

To Ray, these sessions were mind-numbingly boring.

He zoned out completely, only occasionally tuning back in to hear Bruce’s snarky, telepathic remarks.

Most of the entity’s commentary consisted of pure disdain for humanity, mocking how fragile and weak they were compared to the "true" predators of the universe.

When the lecture finally ended, the Tribrid headed straight to his hand-to-hand combat class.

As he entered the massive training hall, he spotted Captain Jake lounging near the front, appearing lazy and unconcerned as the room slowly filled with students.

Ray moved to his usual position in a quiet corner, drifting into his own thoughts as he watched the other Aspirants hurry through the doors.

He caught sight of Trisha stepping into the hall with the poised elegance of a queen.

She didn’t look at anyone, simply positioning herself at the very front of the class.

Flinn and his usual group of goons also filed in quickly, their loud whispers echoing briefly before they settled down.

Soon enough, the hall had reached its normal capacity.

"Nice. It’s good to see you all hale and hearty after the crazy adventure you must have encountered in the gate," Captain Jake began, his eyes scanning the crowd of young faces with a piercing intensity.

"..."

"I know it wasn’t a great incident, as you must have surely lost quite a number of people back there. It happens. It is normal," Jake continued, his voice devoid of false comfort.

"In this world of ours, where we have to stay on our toes constantly, such loss is completely expected. Why? Because death lurks at almost every single corner.

If it isn’t an Aberrant trying to kill you, it will be a beast. If it isn’t one of those two, it could be a human or worse... a meta-human like most of you."

A brief, heavy pause ensued as Jake’s gaze swept over the silent crowd, his eyes landing on each Aspirant with a weight that felt like a physical burden.

"... Embrace death. Don’t fear it. Instead, turn the fear of death into a weapon of mass destruction. Turn it into your power and wield it against whatever would dare to cause your downfall.

That is the only way to truly survive in this accursed world of ours. The more you fear the end, the quicker you lose your life. So, turn that terror into a blade and rise above death itself. That is all I have to say to you all."

"..."

’Rise above death, huh? Easier said than done.’ Ray chuckled inwardly, his arms crossed over his chest as he listened to Jake’s valiant, if slightly grim, speech.

Yet for some reason, even though some of the instructor’s words sounded absurd, they seemed to light a spark in the eyes of the gathered Aspirants.

Ray had noticed earlier that throughout the physical conditioning and the homeroom class, more than half of the students had visibly lost their will, haunted by the traumatic events within the gate.

They had been slouching, straggling, and completely unmotivated to perform even the simplest tasks.

And why wouldn’t they be?

They were here training specifically to kill Aberrants, yet when they encountered even the weakest specimens, they had nearly lost their lives.

But here, Jake’s words seemed to ignite that guttering fire back in their eyes.

"Turn death into a weapon," they all repeated silently under their breaths, nodding toward the Captain with renewed resolve.

A small, almost imperceptible smile flashed across the man’s face as he noted the straightened postures and sharpened gazes of the Aspirants.

"Now; how about a quick warm-up exercise to ignite that hungry drive back in our souls?"

— Yes, Sir!

The collective shout echoed off the high ceilings of the hall.

"Do you all want to know the special exercise I have planned for you? I promise you; it’s not something crazy. It’s just a mild session so you can all feel a bit better."

The moment those words left the Captain’s mouth, a sudden sense of foreboding gripped Ray tightly.

It was coupled with the fact that the man was now grinning subtly—a look that never boded well for his students.

— What exercise, Captain?

"Why, of course; it’s a rigorous sparring session with your very own instructor: Me!"

’I fucking knew it. This man is absolutely crazy!’ Ray thought, his muscles tensing instinctively.