Soul Searching

As Taizen made his way towards the training arena, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The building was massive, towering above him like a steel fortress. The entrance was guarded by two stern-looking security personnel, who scanned his ID before granting him access.

As he stepped inside, Taizen's eyes widened at the sight before him. The training arena was a vast, sprawling complex filled with all kinds of advanced technology. There were state-of-the-art machines for weightlifting and cardio, as well as rows of high-tech weapons for training.

But it was the simulation rooms that truly took his breath away. They were designed to mimic any environment imaginable, from a bustling city street to a dense jungle. Taizen could feel the excitement building inside him as he imagined himself practicing his skills in these virtual worlds, pushing himself to the limit.

And then there were the practice robots. Taizen had heard about them before, but he had never seen them up close. They were sleek, metallic creatures that moved with an almost human-like fluidity. Taizen watched as one of them lifted a massive weight with ease, its mechanical muscles flexing as it worked.

It was all so overwhelming, and Taizen couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the leaders of the agency, who had funded this incredible facility. He knew that he was lucky to have access to such advanced technology, and he was determined to make the most of it.

As he made his way towards his assigned training group, Taizen felt a surge of excitement. He was ready to push himself to the limit, to harness the power of his Inner and become the best Hitman he could be. And with this incredible facility at his disposal, he knew that nothing could stand in his way.

As Taizen and his training group walked round the facility, they were led into a room by one of the assistant

Taizen glanced around the room, taking in the flickering light of the candles and the eerie atmosphere that surrounded them. He could sense the tension in the air as his fellow trainees looked around uncertainly, their faces filled with confusion and apprehension.

As they walked deeper into the room, Taizen noticed that there were 20 small cushions arranged on the floor, each separated to accommodate a single person. It was then that the assistant spoke up, his voice low and mysterious.

"Welcome to the meditation hall," he said, his words echoing through the silent room. "This is where you will learn to connect with your Inner, to harness its power and use it to become the most lethal Hitman possible."

Taizen could see the skepticism on some of the trainees' faces, and he couldn't blame them. After all, they had come here to train in combat, not to sit cross-legged on the floor and meditate.

But the assistant seemed unperturbed by their reaction. He continued speaking, his voice growing even lower.

"Here in the meditation hall, you will learn to quiet your mind, to let go of your doubts and fears, and to tap into the power that lies within you. It may seem strange to some of you, but trust me when I say that this is a vital part of your training."

As the assistant finished speaking, Taizen could feel the tension in the room begin to dissipate. He could see that some of his fellow trainees were beginning to relax, their shoulders dropping as they settled onto their cushions.

The assistant's voice was soft and gentle, yet it carried a hint of authority. As the students took their seats on the cushions, the atmosphere in the room became more tranquil. The candles cast a flickering glow on the walls, and the students' breathing slowed as they began to relax. Taizen was curious about what was going on and couldn't help but wonder what kind of training they were going to receive in this room.

Just as the silence was becoming deafening, the door creaked open and in walked Mr. Piock. He was a tall, lean man with a chiseled jawline and piercing eyes. He carried himself with an air of confidence that was both intimidating and alluring. The students all straightened up a little, their attention immediately drawn to him.

"Welcome, students," Mr. Piock said in a smooth, deep voice. "I'm glad to see you're all here and ready to train. As the assistant mentioned, my name is Piock, and I'll be your combat instructor for the day."

The students all nodded their heads, and Taizen could feel the excitement building inside him. He had always loved physical training, and he was eager to see what Mr. Piock had in store for them.

"Before we begin, I want you all to understand that combat is not just about physical strength," Mr. Piock continued, his eyes scanning the room. "It's about strategy, technique, and most importantly, mental fortitude. Today, we will be focusing on the latter."

Taizen's heart skipped a beat. He had never considered the mental aspect of combat before. He was used to relying on his physical abilities to get him through tough situations. But as Mr. Piock continued to speak, Taizen began to understand the importance of a strong mind.

"So, with that being said," Mr. Piock said with a grin, "let's get started."

With a flick of his wrist, the candles in the room suddenly went out, plunging the students into complete darkness.

The room was completely dark, with only the faint flicker of candlelight illuminating Mr. Piock's silhouette. The students listened attentively as he began to speak in a low and measured tone. "Close your eyes," he said, "and breathe deeply. Focus on the sensation of the air entering and leaving your lungs. Now, imagine a silver cord extending from your body, connecting you to your soul. Visualize your soul leaving your body, slowly and gently rising into the sky."

He paused, allowing the students to concentrate on the task at hand. "Your soul is the essence of who you are," he continued, "so let go of all thoughts and distractions, and just be. Keep your attention fixed on your soul as you guide it higher and higher, taking care not to let it stray too far from your body. Allow it to soar through the skies, feeling the rush of wind against your face as you travel ever upward."

The students could feel the energy in the room beginning to shift, as though they were all tapping into some deep well of power. "As you ascend," Mr. Piock instructed, "you will see more and more of the world below you. Keep going until you can see everything, but do not let your soul venture beyond the first thing you see. Stay focused, and when you are ready, slowly bring your soul back down to your body."

The students opened their eyes, feeling a sense of clarity and purpose that they had never experienced before. They knew that this was just the beginning of their journey towards mastering the power of their inner selves, but they were ready for the challenge.

The room was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and the rustling of training clothes as the students focused on their inner selves. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, causing everyone to freeze in fear. A girl across the room was thrashing about, screaming for mercy as if she was being dragged into the abyss of death.

"Please don't take away, I'm sorry , I'll never come back, please I don't want to die" she said as the screams intensified

The other students recoiled in horror, unsure of what to do.

Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Piock rushed to the girl's side, his eyes sharp and his movements precise. He quickly placed his hand on her forehead, pouring all his inner strength into calming her down. The girl's body twitched and jerked for a few moments longer, but gradually, her screams softened into whimpers until she fell silent.

The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The girl was now lying on the ground, sound asleep. Mr. Piock stood up, his eyes still closed, and took a deep breath. His inner power had allowed him to calm the girl's chaotic inner turmoil, bringing her back to a peaceful state.

As Mr Piock switched on the lights, the dimly lit hall transformed into a brighter and more inviting space. "Alright, that's enough for today, folks," he announced, clapping his hands. "Head back to the main building and grab some lunch. But remember, use this time to connect with each other. As Hitmen, you need to know how to work together and support each other, especially when it comes to life or death situations. So, make some friends, have some laughs, and let's reconvene after lunch."

With that, the students shuffled out of the hall, chatting excitedly with each other. Some shared a quick fist bump, while others exchanged phone numbers. Taizen found himself making small talk with a girl from his combat class as they walked towards the main building. It felt strange to be socializing with people who were essentially his competitors, but he knew that this was a crucial part of being a successful Hitman. As they walked, he couldn't help but wonder who he could count on when things got tough.

As Taizen made his way to the cafeteria, he was greeted by a bubbly girl named Luna. "Hello, my name is Luna. Nice to meet you. What is your name?" she said with a warm smile.

Taizen introduced himself and Luna immediately asked, "Where are you from? What bloodline are you?" Her curiosity was palpable.

"I'm from Zarona, part of the Zenero Bloodline," Taizen replied.

Luna's eyes widened with excitement. "That's so cool! But I'm guessing you're not a pure blood, because the assassins organization hates it when they lose pure bloods to the agency. It almost never happens anymore."

Taizen felt a knot form in his stomach. He knew Luna was right . But he didn't want to reveal too much. "Well, I guess you're just gonna have to wait and see, won't you?" he said with a nervous chuckle.

Luna laughed along with him. "I like your attitude. Let's stick together, okay? We can watch each other's backs."

Taizen felt a wave of relief wash over him. Maybe he didn't have to face this new world alone after all.

As they walked together, Taizen couldn't help but ask, "So, where are you from?"

Luna smiled softly, "I'm from a small town called Fecka. It's near Delria, on the border of Delria and Nordia. My bloodline is BB, but I also have some Nordic blood in me. Crazy, I know."

Taizen raised an eyebrow, "That is quite a mix. But why did you have to leave your hometown?"

"Because of the war," Luna's voice turned somber. "The two nations are constantly at each other's throats, and because my town is right in the middle, there are a lot of mixed bloods like me. It's ironic, really. We're caught in the crossfire, yet we're the ones who are hunted down."

Taizen listened in silence, sensing the pain in Luna's words.

"But it's not just me," Luna continued. "You'll find a lot of BB and Nordic mixed Hitmen. We all had to leave our hometowns to escape the constant war. It's a sad reality."

Taizen nodded in understanding, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you."

Luna's eyes glimmered with gratitude, "Thank you, Taizen. I appreciate it."

As the group made their way into the lunch hall, a crowd had already gathered around the girl who had let out piercing screams during the meditation session. A curious voice from the crowd inquired,

"What did you see?"

The girl, appearing small and timid, looked startled by all the attention. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke up, her voice quivering with fear,

"I saw a black figure with no face. It was... it was terrifying, it grabbed my soul and tried to drag me into a dark room."

She stuttered, her eyes darting around the room as if the figure could be lurking in the shadows. It was evident that her experience had left everyone in shock and fear, realizing the importance of Mr. Piock's earlier advice.

"Alright folks, let's give her some space,"

A tall, lean young man with blond hair and striking blue eyes interjected.

"She's been through enough."

The crowd around the trembling girl dissipated, leaving her with room to breathe.