Keet Shakti Academy

The cold winds of early morning swept across the academy's training grounds as Armaan sat, his back against a large stone pillar, watching the horizon. His body still ached from yesterday's battle in the simulation, but there was a different kind of fatigue weighing on his chest today. The realization had hit him like a ton of bricks—he was improving, yes, but the path ahead was still long. He had learned to release his smoke, control its flow, but it was not enough. Not yet.

Rai, Tanmay, and the others were all moving faster. They had unlocked their hybrids. They were able to fight with full control. And there he was—still trying to master the basics.

You look like someone who's seen a ghost," Rai's voice broke through his thoughts, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. Rai stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as usual.

Armaan didn't look up. His eyes were fixed on the training field. "I'm fine," he muttered. "Just thinking."

"You can't keep thinking forever, Armaan," Rai replied, sitting next to him. "I've been watching you. You're stronger now, but you're holding yourself back. You've got the smoke, but you're scared of using it."

Armaan turned his head slightly, looking at Rai. The intensity in his eyes was always the same, unwavering and full of resolve. "It's not about the smoke," Armaan said quietly. "It's about me. I don't even have control over it yet. I can barely focus."

Rai gave a short, sharp laugh. "You're right. Control is everything. But what about us? Your friends? Aren't we supposed to have each other's backs?"

The words hung in the air between them. Armaan wasn't sure if Rai was trying to comfort him or just being his usual blunt self. Either way, it struck a chord with him. He wasn't alone in this.

"I know, Rai," Armaan said, sighing and rubbing his face. "But I'm tired of holding you guys back."

"You're not holding us back," Rai said, his voice softening for once. "You just have to realize that your strength doesn't have to be like ours. You've got something different, something none of us have."

Armaan shifted, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't know... I can barely control the smoke, I can't make solid objects like the others. My power doesn't even make sense."

"You have more power than you realize," Rai added, his voice firm again. "Your hybrid... it's not about transforming into a beast, or turning things into steel. It's about manipulating the unseen. You're an assassin in the making, Armaan."

Armaan looked up at Rai's confident expression. His words held an unexpected weight, an unshakable belief in him.

Rai's face softened. "I believe in you, man. You don't have to be like anyone else. Just be yourself."

Before Armaan could respond, Tanmay's voice interrupted, sharp and tinged with excitement. "Hey, enough of the pep talk. The second-year exam is coming up, and I'm ready to make my mark. You coming or what?"

Tanmay approached them, his usual fiery determination evident in his eyes. His hybrid powers were always on display, his fiery aura lighting up the space around him. He gave Armaan a grin. "You've been sulking long enough. It's time to show everyone what we're made of."

Armaan chuckled, the tension in his chest loosening slightly. Tanmay's energy was infectious. "I'll be there," Armaan said, pushing himself off the pillar. "Let's see if I'm ready to prove something."

The Training Grounds: The Pressure Builds

The day of the second-year exam arrived faster than expected. The atmosphere in the academy was electric with excitement. Second-year students prepared to face their exam, and first-year students watched, eagerly awaiting their own turn.

Armaan stood in the sidelines with Rai and Tanmay, watching as second-year students entered the arena. Among them were some of the most skilled and powerful individuals Armaan had seen in his short time at the academy. Each of them had mastered their hybrid powers, and many were battle-hardened veterans of previous missions.

One of the second-year students caught Armaan's eye. It was Raven a quiet yet intense fighter. His powerful energy burst out every time he moved, and his ability to manipulate his hybrid power was unlike anything Armaan had seen before.

Tanmay, noticing Armaan's gaze, grinned. "That guy's a beast. Raven is gonna tear through this exam without breaking a sweat."

Rai, standing with his arms crossed, shot Armaan a side glance. "You're already doing better than you think. Don't worry about them. They're not you."

Armaan's attention was back on the arena as the exam began. Second-year students faced off against each other, testing their strength, agility, and mental acumen. The fights were fierce but fair. Armaan could see the hybrid abilities being pushed to their limits, and he realized just how far behind he was in terms of pure power.

But that wasn't what concerned him. What concerned him was the realization that no one truly understood what he was going through. No one had the same struggle, the same uncertainty about their hybrid power. The thought was almost suffocating.

I don't know if I can do this," Armaan said under his breath, looking away from the fight. "I'm not like them. I'm not a fighter."

Rai turned to him, his gaze steady. "You're wrong, Armaan. You've been fighting since day one. You don't need to look like them. You need to fight your own fight."

The Test: A New Type of Challenge

As Armaan walked toward the training arena with his friends, the doubts still lingered in the back of his mind. Tanmay and Rai were so sure of themselves, but Armaan wasn't. He still had so much to prove to himself.

The second-year students had already completed their tests. Now, it was time for the first-year students to take their turn.

The test was different than any of them had expected. Instead of facing each other, they were pitted against simulations of powerful enemies. These enemies weren't just other students or hybrid creatures—they were complex, fully functional simulacra created from a combination of advanced technologies and hybrid abilities.

"Good luck," Dhruv's voice echoed in Armaan's ear as he stepped forward. "Just remember—don't think, don't hesitate. Fight, and you'll know what to do."

Armaan tightened his grip on the sword Dhruv had given him. He glanced over at his teammates. They were ready. But he was unsure of himself, unsure of what he could do.

The simulation began.

The first simulacrum materialized in front of them, a massive, hulking creature resembling a fusion of various insectoid features. It rushed toward them, its claws outstretched.

Armaan hesitated for a split second. That was enough for it to close the distance. The creature lunged at him, its claws aimed straight for his chest.

Without thinking, Armaan released a burst of smoke from his body. The smoke twisted, becoming dense and thick, surrounding him like a shield. The creature swiped at him, but the smoke absorbed the blow, pushing it away.

Tanmay's voice rang out, his fiery presence lighting up the space. "Move, Armaan! Don't just stand there!"

That snapped him back into focus. The creature charged again, but this time, Armaan moved. He used the smoke as a distraction, releasing it from his hands with high speed, sending it into the creature's face. It recoiled, momentarily stunned.

Armaan didn't waste the opportunity. He rushed forward, using the momentum of his hybrid power to strike. This time, his movements were deliberate—faster, more controlled. The creature stumbled back, and with one swift motion, Armaan disarmed it, sending it crashing to the ground.

He stood over the creature, panting. His heart was racing, but a small spark of confidence ignited in him. Maybe he wasn't as weak as he thought.