Chapter 43: The Poisonous Trial Begins

"Angelic," Cassandra began, her voice sharp and commanding, "this is the first day of your training here. As you mentioned yesterday, you desire revenge. Well, since you're here, and while I'm training you, prepare yourself for deadly exercises." There was a certain intensity in Cassandra's gaze, as if she recognized something in Angelic's aura and presence—a shared experience, a similar past.
"Yes, Miss Cassandra," Angelic responded without hesitation, her eyes filled with determination and vengeance. "Even if it costs me my life, I won’t back down!"

Cassandra studied Angelic closely, searching for any hint of doubt or weakness. Satisfied for the moment, she nodded and led Angelic into a sealed room. The walls were made of reinforced metal, and the only light came from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows across the room.

"This is where you will train today," Cassandra said, her tone void of any warmth. "Your first task is simple: hold your breath for fifteen minutes. This is essential for any assassin worth their salt. If you can't control your breathing, you're as good as dead. Fail this, and you might as well leave now."

Angelic took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety within her. She had come this far, endured the harshness of Death Island, and there was no way she was going to let a simple breathing exercise defeat her. She nodded and prepared herself.

"Begin," Cassandra commanded.

Angelic closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and held her breath. At first, it seemed easy, but as the seconds ticked by, she felt her chest tightening. Her lungs began to burn, and her mind started to panic. She tried to focus on something else, anything to distract her from the growing need to exhale, but the pressure inside her was relentless.

Barely five minutes had passed when she finally gasped for air, unable to endure it any longer. She doubled over, panting heavily, her hands on her knees for support.
Cassandra's expression darkened. "Is that all you’ve got? Five minutes? You expect to survive as an assassin with that? You think you can achieve your revenge with such pitiful endurance?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Cassandra," Angelic managed to say between gasps. "I'll try harder. Please, give me another chance."

Cassandra crossed her arms, her lips forming a thin, disapproving line. "Do you know what makes a great assassin, Angelic? It’s not just the desire to kill or the strength to fight. It’s the ability to endure, to withstand the most unbearable pain without flinching. Right now, you’re weak. A weakling with grand illusions of revenge. How do you expect to succeed if you can't even pass a basic task?"

Angelic felt the sting of Cassandra's words, each one like a dagger piercing her resolve. She had known this journey wouldn’t be easy, but the reality of her own limitations was more crushing than she had anticipated. Her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white as she fought back the tears of frustration. She had come here to become stronger, but all she had done was show how weak she truly was.

“Go home, Angelic,” Cassandra spat, her voice filled with disgust. “Forget your dreams of revenge. You’re not cut out for this. You’re just wasting my time and yours. This place is for those who can survive, not for those who break at the first challenge.”

"No," Angelic said, her voice trembling but resolute. "I won't go back. I need this. I need to be stronger."

Cassandra shook her head, clearly disappointed. "Talk is cheap. You couldn’t even last five minutes in a simple exercise. How do you plan on surviving when your life truly depends on it? Do you even understand what it means to hold your breath in the midst of a deadly attack? This isn't just about breath control; it's about survival. It's about staying alive when everything around you is designed to kill you."

Without warning, Cassandra pressed a button on the wall. The room's air vents sealed shut, and a hissing sound filled the room as poisonous gas began to seep in. The smell was faint, but Angelic's body immediately sensed the danger.

"Let's see if you can survive this," Cassandra said coldly. "If you can't hold your breath, then breathe in the poison. Let it fill your lungs. Maybe then you'll understand just how serious this is."
Angelic’s eyes widened in fear. The gas was getting thicker, and she could feel it burning her throat and eyes. She held her breath again, determined to last longer this time, but the panic was even greater now. She could feel the poison attacking her body, her muscles trembling as they cried out for oxygen.

One minute passed. Then another. Angelic’s vision blurred, and her head felt like it was about to explode. She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her ears, her body screaming at her to breathe, but she forced herself to hold on. She couldn’t fail again.

But as the seconds dragged on, her body betrayed her once more. She gasped, taking in a lungful of the toxic air, and immediately fell to the floor, coughing and gagging as the poison took hold.
Cassandra watched her with a mixture of pity and frustration. "Pathetic. This is why you’ll never succeed. You want revenge? How do you plan to take it if you can’t even save yourself?"

Angelic’s world was spinning, her vision darkening as she struggled to stay conscious. But through the haze, she could hear Cassandra’s voice, harsh and unforgiving. She knew this was it—her first real test. And she had failed.

Before the darkness consumed her completely, Angelic made a vow to herself. "I will survive this. I will become stronger. I will not fail again."