Chapter 92: Another Day, Another Grueling & Unforgiving Torture Session, Food & Death.

The air in the mirror dimension felt heavier when they woke, charged with an intensity that neither Shiro nor Guldrin could fully describe. Alisa was already standing over them, her stern expression devoid of the casual smirk she usually wore. 

Five hours of rest had been insufficient for their battered bodies, but it was all they were allowed. Shiro groaned as she sat up, her limbs aching from the previous day's trials. Guldrin stretched, his muscles tight and protesting every movement. But that wasn't going to stop him, nor would Alisa allow it even if he tried to refuse.

"Up," Alisa commanded, her voice cold. "No time to waste. You think your enemies will wait for you to feel ready? This world, and every other, will chew you up and spit you out if you're weak. You may not have wanted it, but your family legacy comes with many enemies, enemies that would be glad to rip you to shreds to ensure another Jin, doesn't appear. Do you want to see your family die? To allow your weakness to be your and your mate's downfall?"

Shiro and Guldrin exchanged a glance before rising to their feet. "You have made your point, I am up." Guldrin said as Shiro nodded,

Emily hovered nearby, her tail swishing lazily as she observed the scene, her ever-present smirk a sharp contrast to Alisa's hard demeanor.

"Today," Alisa began, "we're focusing on control. Shiro, your poison magic is destructive, chaotic. It's powerful, yes, but power without precision is useless. And Guldrin..." Her gaze snapped to him, her emerald eyes narrowing. "Your red lightning is erratic. If you can't tame it, it'll kill you before it kills your enemies. Well, maybe not you since I would be surprised if you didn't receive lightning immunity, but it would for sure kill Shiro."

'I could kill Shiro? That…' His gaze hardened, 'Can't be allowed to happen… If it were just me, fine, but my loved ones? HELL NO!'

They nodded, determination flickering in their eyes despite the exhaustion pulling at their bodies. Alisa's expression softened, just for a moment. "Good. Then let's begin."

The first trial was simple in theory: endurance. Alisa led them to an open field where the air shimmered unnaturally, a telltale sign of the mirror dimension's warped reality. Two massive obsidian pillars stood in the center, pulsating with an energy that made the ground tremble slightly.

"You'll channel your magic into these pillars," Alisa instructed. "Shiro, saturate it with your poison until it turns green. Guldrin, you'll strike yours with your lightning until it glows red. The catch? The pillar will resist you. It'll push back, absorbing your energy and forcing you to draw more and more. Stop, even for a second, and you'll start over."

'I wonder how long it will take the geniuses to see that these pillars are more complex than I described… Probably not this round of training… And, hah, I am not going to give you hints or inform them that Guldrin's is much more difficult, Jin gave me specific instructions to train him to the best of my ability, and that is what I will do.' Alisa thought with a slight sadistic smirk, reliving her memories of Jin's training in here.

Shiro clenched her fists, the familiar tingle of her poison magic swirling in her palms. Guldrin rolled his shoulders, red sparks crackling faintly at his fingertips and across his body. Without a word, they stepped forward, each placing a hand on the cold surface of their pillars.

The resistance was immediate. Shiro hissed as her magic seemed to vanish the moment it touched the obsidian. She pushed harder, her brow furrowing in concentration. Guldrin's red lightning sparked and fizzled, the energy dissipating as soon as it struck the pillar.

"Focus!" Alisa barked. "Shiro, feel the flow of your magic. Don't just throw it at the pillar, guide it. Guldrin, stop fighting your lightning. Let it course through you. You're not its master; you're its conduit… For now, maybe later it will deem you worthy to control it, but for now, work with what you have."

Minutes turned into hours. Shiro's arms trembled as she poured her poison into the pillar, her breath coming in ragged gasps. 

The air around her grew thick and acrid, a faint green hue beginning to spread across the surface. Guldrin fared no better. His red lightning danced wildly, burning his skin as it arced from his fingertips to the pillar. His teeth clenched as he struggled to maintain control, beads of sweat dripping down his face.

"Damn it, this lightning is unruly, it doesn't want to listen! My whole body is shaking! It is like many thousands of ants are crawling under my skin… I can't even feel my fingers anymore." Guldrin grumbled as he shook his hands, trying to regain feeling.

Emily floated closer, her voice soft yet compelling, cutting through the static chaos that surrounded Guldrin. "Breathe, Guldrin. Don't try to command the lightning; feel it. It's not simple energy, it's alive, like you. Dance with it, listen to it. Let it flow through you, not against you. Stop fighting your true nature,"

"My true nature?"

"Don't think too hard, all will come with time."

Guldrin clenched his fists, his frustration mounting as sparks flickered unpredictably across his arms. The crimson arcs of lightning flared and crackled, but they refused to obey his will. Each jolt sent painful tremors up his limbs, as though the energy mocked his attempts to control or otherwise work with it. His breaths were shallow, his chest heaving with exertion.

"I'm trying," he growled, the strain evident in his voice.

Emily hovered just beyond his reach, her white eyes glowing faintly. "No, you're fighting it, not feeling it. Close your eyes. Forget about control. Become the Dark and destructive storm." She knew she was pushing it by calling that name, but she needed to start the process of awakening him, even if this would be the first step of a long road.

Across the training ground, Shiro struggled with her own battle. Her poison magic coiled within her like a restless serpent, eager to strike yet dangerous to herself as much as anyone else. Her breaths came in sharp, shallow gasps, faint green wisps escaping her lips. The air around her shimmered with a toxic hue, and the ground beneath her feet hissed as the grass withered.

"You're holding back," Alisa's sharp voice pierced through the tension. "Vritra's blood flows through your veins, Shiro. Poison is your domain. Yet you flinch from it like a scared child. Do you think you can wield this power while fearing its nature?"

"I'm not afraid!" Shiro snapped, her golden eyes blazing with a purple hue, though her trembling hands betrayed her claim.

"Yes, you are," Alisa retorted, her tone cutting and unyielding. "You fear what you could become. You fear losing control. But fear has no place here. Accept it. Embrace it. Poison isn't your enemy, it's your essence. OWN IT."

Shiro's lips parted to argue, but something in Alisa's piercing gaze stilled her. She shut her mouth, swallowing her retort, and closed her eyes instead. Slowly, she reached into the dark well of energy deep within her, deeper than she'd dared to go before. 

The power surged up to meet her, a volatile wave of venomous green light. Her breathing steadied, though her entire body trembled as the magic pulsed through her veins. Her skin began to shift, faint scales of obsidian black and iridescent purple forming along her arms and shoulders.

The change was subtle at first but soon undeniable. Her poison magic no longer hissed and sputtered, it roared with life. The green aura around her intensified as it flickered with dark purple tendrils, the pillar beside her bubbling and warping under the potency of her power. Shiro opened her eyes, and they gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance, a predatory sharpness that hadn't been there before.

Alisa's lips curved into a smirk, her satisfaction evident. "Good. That's the power you were afraid of. Now make it yours."

Meanwhile, Guldrin remained locked in his battle with the unruly red lightning. The energy coursed through him like a raging river, wild and untamed. His muscles burned, and sweat dripped from his brow, but no matter how hard he tried, the lightning refused to bend to his will.

"You're still resisting," Emily murmured, circling him like a ghost. Her voice was teasing, almost taunting. "What's wrong, Guldrin? Afraid of what might happen if you let go? Afraid of yourself?"

"I'm not! Why does it feel like you know more about me than I do!?!?" he shouted, his voice rough with frustration and fatigue.

"Stop asking questions you know I won't answer, you are smarter than that… Instead, prove that you aren't scared, and if you are, admit why." Emily purred, her tone laced with challenge. "Let go. Stop trying to control it and let it control you. What's the worst that could happen? You fail? Or maybe...you become something you've always been meant to be."

Her words struck a nerve, and Guldrin's frustration boiled over. With a roar that echoed across the training ground, he released his hold on the energy, allowing it to surge unchecked. The red lightning erupted around him and black abyssal smoke billowed from the depths of his soul, a blinding display of power that illuminated the darkened dimension. His body glowed with an intense crimson light, the arcs of energy forming a crackling aura around him.

The transformation was instant and unmistakable. His features sharpened, his normally youthful face taking on a more mature, almost regal demeanor. His horns, usually subtle, grew more pronounced, curling back like a devil's crown accompanied by his black tattoo crown. His eyes glowed a fierce purple, burning with a newfound intensity that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the dimension.

The pillar before him groaned under the sheer force of his unleashed power, faint red lines spidering across its surface. The air around him grew heavy, charged with an oppressive energy that made even Emily hesitate.

Watching the scene before her, Emily mentally cringed as she watches 1, 2, 3, phantasmal chains shatter around him. 

MOTHER sealed him, locked his memories, and did so for a reason. She knew she had messed up. But she couldn't help but smile watching it, 

'Hello, my love,' She thought to herself as she planned how to appease MOTHER. 

'Oops, sorry Mother, it seems I made a mistake, I didn't think he would just break the chains like that… I mean, it was only three, but for him, that is night and day.'

{Meddling brat, as long as he doesn't have his memories and has to struggle, it will be fine… I think?}

'You think!?!? You are the strongest being in the Omniverse! And you think it will be fine?'

{Yes, it is never simple with you are him… Good luck,}

'Argghh, Fine! I did this, I will embrace it? I hope this doesn't cause a serious problem.'

Guldrin opened his eyes, and for a moment, it was as if the world had shifted. His gaze was no longer one of youthful defiance but of calculated authority. He carried himself differently, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders and placed beneath his feet.

"Finally," Alisa muttered, a note of approval in her voice. "You've stopped playing at being human." She didn't know what caused this change, but she knew it was a great step in the right direction, and she was pleased.

Shiro, still locked in her own struggle, felt the shift in the air and glanced toward Guldrin. Her breath caught as she saw the change in him. His presence was overwhelming, almost suffocating. Yet it wasn't only power she felt, it was something deeper, something ancient and unyielding, it felt out of place, something that she felt for the first true time.

"Well, this makes things easier," Guldrin said, his voice calm yet cutting, as he turned his gaze toward Alisa. His tone carried an authority that silenced even her.

Alisa tilted her head, her smirk unwavering. "And you've been too afraid to embrace who you are. But it seems you're finally waking up. Good. Now show me what you can do."

The training continued, more intense than ever. Shiro pushed herself to the brink, her poison magic now a living, breathing extension of her will. Her scales glinted in the dim light, she was beginning to claim this new power as her own. Each movement was precise, each attack deliberate. The ground beneath her feet was a battlefield of destruction, the poison leaving tiny craters and scars in its wake.

Guldrin, meanwhile, moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. His red lightning struck with devastating accuracy, the arcs of energy weaving through the air like living serpents. His every motion was fluid, his strikes precise and calculated. He no longer fought the energy and wielded it instead, commanding it with a mastery that seemed almost effortless.

'He looks just like Jin back then, you might not want to know that Guldrin, but the likeness is there, I am sure he would have been proud.' Alisa thought as she watched them take their first true steps forward.

Despite the grueling pace, neither of them faltered. Their determination burned brighter with each passing moment, fueled by the weight of their potential and the grueling train that is sure to follow. Alisa pushed them harder, her sharp eyes watching their every move, her commands cutting through the haze of exhaustion.

"Faster, Shiro! You're holding back again!"

"Guldrin, don't hesitate! If you doubt yourself, even for a second, you'll lose everything!"

Their bodies ached, their lungs burned, but they pressed on. Each strike, each spell, brought them closer to the mastery Alisa demanded. 

The mirror dimension seemed to pulse with their energy, the once still air now charged with the power of their combined efforts, as poison and lightning danced in the dimension.

As the hours dragged on, their limits were tested, broken, and tested again. Yet through it all, they refused to give in. Guldrin's devilish features and Shiro's scaled form became more pronounced,

Their bodies felt like lead, their lungs burned, but they pressed on. 

Each strike, each blast of mana, brought them closer to the mastery Alisa demanded. The mirror dimension seemed to pulse with their energy, the once still air now charged with the power of their combined efforts.

The air crackled with tension as Alisa finally raised her hand, halting the relentless training. Both Guldrin and Shiro collapsed to their knees, their bodies trembling with exhaustion. Guldrin's devilish features had fully manifested, horns curling upward, crimson veins glowing beneath his skin, and eyes that seemed to pierce through reality itself. Shiro, her form a blend of elegance and terror, stood adorned in dark scales that shimmered faintly with poisonous energy, her eyes glowing with an unnatural emerald and red hue.

They were magnificent, but utterly spent.

Alisa strode forward, her heels clicking against the invisible surface of the mirror dimension. She clapped her hands once, a sharp sound that cut through the heavy atmosphere. "That's enough for now."

Her tone was laced with approval, though she made no effort to sugarcoat the harsh truth of their performance. Guldrin growled under his breath, his pride wounded, while Shiro wiped the sweat and faint traces of poison from her brow.

"On your feet," Alisa commanded, her voice brooking no argument. "You've earned a brief reprieve, but don't mistake this for mercy. You're not even close to ready."

With a flick of her wrist, the shimmering fabric of the dimension parted and shifted, revealing a long table groaning under the weight of an extravagant feast. 

Plates piled high with steaming roasted meats, vibrant fruits glistening with dew, fresh bread slathered in butter, and pitchers of refreshing drinks that seemed to glimmer with enchantment. 

The aromas wafted toward them, rich and intoxicating, a cruel reminder of just how ravenous they had become.

Guldrin's stomach growled loudly, a deep, almost animalistic rumble that echoed in the silence. 

Shiro shot him a glance that was half-amused, half-exasperated, but she was no less affected by the sight. Her scales receded slightly as she moved toward the table, her body trembling from the strain of the ongoing transformation.

"Sit," Alisa said simply. "You've got twenty minutes. Not a second more."

Guldrin practically fell into his seat, tearing into a hunk of meat with little regard for decorum. 

The taste exploded in his mouth, rich and savory, each bite seeming to rejuvenate his battered body. 

Shiro, though more reserved, was no less voracious, her hands deftly slicing into a piece of fruit that oozed a vibrant green juice.

What kind of fruit? She had no idea, but that didn't matter as she picked up her glass.

The drink she sipped left a faint glow on her lips, and she could feel her mana reserves slowly replenishing.

Alisa observed them quietly, her sharp gaze softening for a moment. "You've done well to get this far," she murmured, almost to herself. "But surviving what's coming will require more than raw power and guts."

The pair ate in silence, the food vanishing at an impressive rate. Shiro's poison-tainted aura began to stabilize, her breath evening out as her strength returned. 

Guldrin's devilish features softened slightly, though his aura remained as intense as ever. 

They both knew better than to waste time, that each second counted as training. Every second of rest was precious, but the more strain they put on themselves, the stronger they will be, so neither one canceled their transformations.

As the timer Alisa had conjured ticked down, she leaned against the table, her arms resting lightly on the surface. "Finish up," she said, her voice cutting through the momentary peace like a blade. "Your next trial begins now."

The warmth of the feast vanished, replaced by an icy chill that seemed to sap the air of its comfort. Guldrin and Shiro exchanged a glance, their expressions hardening. Whatever was coming, they wouldn't face it unprepared. But they knew she wouldn't relent even if they begged her.

Alisa straightened, her expression unreadable. "You've proven that you can harness your powers in a controlled environment. But the real world won't give you the luxury of stationary targets. You'll be fighting against opponents who will exploit your weaknesses, who will push you to the brink of destruction without hesitation. Good luck? You will need it."

With a wave of her hand, the feast vanished, replaced by a dark, foggy expanse. Shadows shifted in the mist, forming into two distinct figures. Their outlines solidified, and Alisa's voice took on a note of grim amusement.

"For you, Guldrin," she said, gesturing to a tall, armored figure wielding an ethereal katana. "You'll face Yoshimitsu. A warrior unlike any you've encountered before. Unpredictable, relentless, and masterful in both technique and trickery. He'll test every ounce of your cunning and skill."

"Heh, so you are using your memory banks to create a replica of someone you fought in the past. That is by far one of the coolest things I have seen" Guldrin gushed, and his mighty aura seemed to deflate a bit, whether it was due to losing some spirit or just the sheer absurd reaction, who knows? 

"So, is he… made of technology? Woah, can I study him?" Guldrin eyed him like he wanted to pull him apart piece by piece.

Yoshimitsu stepped forward, his body moving with an eerie fluidity. His glowing eyes locked onto Guldrin, a distorted, otherworldly chuckle escaping his masked visage. The very air around him seemed to ripple with danger.

'That… Is new… His killing intent is so huge and potent that I can visually see it.'

"And for you, Shiro," Alisa continued, her gaze shifting. "You'll fight King."

A towering figure emerged from the mist, his jaguar mask gleaming in the dim light. His muscles rippled with barely-contained power, and his presence exuded an aura of raw, physical dominance. He rolled his shoulders, the crack of his joints echoing ominously. The faintest hint of a growl rumbled from his chest.

Shiro swallowed hard, her scales bristling instinctively. She could feel the sheer weight of his presence bearing down on her, a challenge unlike anything she had faced before.

Alisa clapped her hands sharply. "No holding back. If you do, you'll lose, and you will suffer for it. Good luck~"

Guldrin stepped forward, his body tense with anticipation. The ground beneath him crackled as arcs of crimson lightning danced along his limbs. His eyes met Yoshimitsu's, and for a moment, the two seemed to size each other up, like predators preparing to strike.

"You remind me of Jin, what, are you his brat?"

"Grrr, why does everyone compare me to the man I know nothing about?"

Shiro, meanwhile, squared her shoulders, her emerald eyes narrowing as she met King's gaze. Her poison swirled around her, a tangible aura of danger that seemed to hiss in defiance of the jaguar-masked warrior.

"Begin," Alisa said, her voice cutting through the stillness like a whip.

Yoshimitsu wasted no time, disappearing in a blur of motion. Guldrin barely had a moment to react before the katana sliced through the air where his head had been. He rolled to the side, his lightning surging outward in a defensive arc. Yoshimitsu laughed, his voice distorted and mocking, as he evaded the attack with ease.

"Too slow, come on, give me a show." the warrior taunted, his movements almost impossible to track. Guldrin growled, his frustration bubbling to the surface. But he forced himself to focus, to watch for the patterns in Yoshimitsu's erratic movements.

Across the expanse, Shiro found herself driven back by King's relentless assault. Each strike was a calculated blend of power and precision, leaving little room for counterattacks. Her poison lashed out, but King's movements were deceptively agile for his size, evading the toxic tendrils with uncanny ease.

"Focus, Shiro!" Alisa's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "You're thinking too much. Trust your instincts! Just fight."

Shiro clenched her teeth, her scales bristling as she let go of her hesitation. Her movements became more fluid, her poison coiling around her like a living entity. She darted forward, narrowly avoiding a devastating blow, and unleashed a concentrated burst of venom at King's exposed side. The jaguar-masked warrior grunted, his movements slowing ever so slightly.

Meanwhile, Guldrin found himself locked in a deadly dance with Yoshimitsu. The warrior's katana struck like lightning, each swing a blur of motion that left faint afterimages in its wake. Guldrin's own lightning crackled in response across his body and subsequently his knife, arcs of energy colliding with the ethereal blade in bursts of brilliant light.

"You're predictable," Yoshimitsu taunted, his voice a sing-song mockery. "Show me something worth my time."

Guldrin snarled, his devilish features twisting into a fearsome visage. He drew on the depths of his power, the crimson lightning flaring brighter as it coiled around him like a serpent. With a roar, he surged forward, his strikes imbued with a newfound ferocity that forced Yoshimitsu to step back.

"Better," Yoshimitsu admitted, his tone grudgingly respectful. "But can you keep it up?"

The battle raged on, each combatant pushed to their limits. Shiro's poison began to wear down King, her relentless assaults forcing him to adapt. But he remained a formidable opponent, his raw strength a constant threat that kept her on edge.

Over the next few hours, the intensity of the training escalated with each passing second. Alisa's voice, sharp and unyielding, cut through the cacophony of clashing blows and searing energy.

"Yoshimitsu, King, stop holding back. Kill them if you must. Let them feel the edge of true despair."

Shiro's heart skipped a beat as she caught Alisa's words. Guldrin, however, merely grit his teeth, his crimson lightning flaring brighter in defiance. The knowledge that death was not permanent did little to ease the tension; the phantasms' strikes were as real as they were lethal.

Yoshimitsu's eyes narrowed behind his mask, and his movements shifted. The warrior's erratic grace transformed into something far more calculated, each step and strike imbued with lethal intent. 

Guldrin barely managed to block a downward slash, the force sending him skidding backward. The vibrations reverberated up his arms, his bones aching from the impact.

"Is this what you wanted, child?" Yoshimitsu asked, his tone dark, the playful mockery gone. "To face death and dance with it?"

Guldrin didn't answer. He couldn't. Every fiber of his being was focused on survival. His lightning surged as he propelled himself forward, his knife sparking against Yoshimitsu's blade in a cascade of crimson and silver light.

On the other side of the arena, King let out a low growl, his massive form looming over Shiro. The jaguar-masked warrior moved with an agility that belied his size, closing the distance between them in a blink. 

Shiro leaped back, but King anticipated her move. His outstretched arm caught her mid-air, slamming her into the ground with bone-crushing force.

Pain exploded through her body, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. The world blurred at the edges, and she barely registered Alisa's voice cutting through the haze.

"Get up, Shiro! If you stay down, you'll die for real." Guldrin may have figured out the secret that they wouldn't die, but Shiro sure didn't know this yet.

Shiro's scales bristled as adrenaline surged through her veins. She forced herself to roll away just as King's foot came down, the ground cracking where her head had been moments before. 

Her poison coiled around her like a second skin, her instincts taking over as she retaliated with a venomous strike to King's thigh.

The jaguar warrior staggered, but the wound only seemed to enrage him. His roar echoed across the arena as he lunged at her with renewed ferocity.

Guldrin, meanwhile, was struggling to keep up with Yoshimitsu's relentless assault. The warrior's blade moved like a phantom, striking from angles that seemed impossible. Guldrin's attempts to counter were met with ruthless efficiency, every misstep punished with a searing slash or a bone-jarring strike.

"Is this all you have?" Yoshimitsu sneered, his katana glowing with an ethereal light. "You cannot defeat me with half-measures."

Guldrin's vision blurred as blood trickled down his brow. He felt the sting of a shallow cut on his side, the warm liquid soaking into his shirt. But the pain only fueled his resolve. He clenched his fists, the crimson lightning surging with renewed intensity as he let out a primal roar.

The ground beneath him cracked as he unleashed a wave of energy, the force of it momentarily staggering Yoshimitsu. Seizing the opening, Guldrin dashed forward, his knife crackling with power as he aimed for the warrior's chest. But Yoshimitsu was ready. With a fluid motion, he sidestepped the attack and brought his blade down in a devastating arc.

Guldrin felt the searing pain before he registered what had happened. The katana sliced through him, a clean, brutal cut that left him gasping for air and holding his guts in his hands. He collapsed to his knees, the crimson lightning flickering and fading as his vision darkened.

"Pathetic," Yoshimitsu muttered, sheathing his blade. "You have much to learn. But at least you fight with honor."

Guldrin's world went black, and for a moment, there was nothing. Then, with a gasp, he found himself back in the arena, the pain gone but the memory of it seared into his mind.

Shiro fared no better. King's onslaught was merciless, his powerful strikes leaving her battered and bruised. Her poison was effective, but not fast enough to slow the relentless beast before her. In a final, desperate move, King grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground.

Shiro struggled, her claws raking against his arm, but his grip was unyielding. She felt the pressure building, her vision narrowing as oxygen became scarce. With a guttural growl, King slammed her into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through her body as each bone broke.

The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was King's masked face looming over her, his growl a haunting echo in her ears.

When she came to, she was back in the arena, her body whole but her spirit shaken. Across the field, Guldrin was already on his feet, his crimson lightning sparking faintly as he glared at Yoshimitsu.

"Again," Alisa commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You will fight until you understand the depths of your own potential. Death is not the end here, but it will teach you the cost of failure."

Guldrin and Shiro exchanged a glance. There was no time for words, no room for hesitation. Though they did promise in the future to make Alisa pay for this hell, but that was for a later date. 

Clearing their minds, they stepped forward, their resolve hardening as they faced their opponents once more.

The battles that followed were grueling, each encounter pushing them to their limits and beyond. Yoshimitsu and King showed no mercy, their strikes precise and unrelenting. Guldrin and Shiro died countless times, each death more painful and humiliating than the last. But with every fall, they rose stronger, their movements sharper, their powers more refined.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)