The Copy Mage

Cole and Damian stood opposite each other both itching to fight and release their pent up anger, both knowing that they were facing against a worthy opponent that they could battle, with their limited full power, against.

However, both were weakened, as the activation of their Soul Spirit for them at such a low LVL of cultivation used a large portion of their energy reserves, and as they had just done so recently, they would have less energy to use in the battle.

Both were in a similar state and were in agreement about how battling each other wouldn't affect their friendship in the slightest and that they both had self-control as they stood there waiting for the permission to begin.

"You may begin" declared Ivan.

As soon as they heard Ivan they both activated their Soul Spirits, Damian, through Utsusu, and got ready to battle.

The Fire Burst he had used against Matilda had used up a large portion of his energy, so he knew that he wouldn't be able to show off his ability and skills and that he had to conserve his energy while he fought against Cole.

{Try not to make it obvious, but attempt to get as much blood from Cole as you can and the easiest way would be after drawing blood from him, to make sure it smudges on your clothing} reminded Utsusu, seeing Cole as an opportunity to get his host more power in the future.

Damian had much to gain from the battle and had his own ulterior motive during it.

He would not only gain experience and, if he won, gain first place in the Combat Round, but he was also aiming to gain some of Cole's blood and save it so that he could copy the Soul Spirit in the future when he had enough strength to do so.

[I will try my best] stated Damian full of determination.

His anger had subsided and had turned into a drive to gain strength in order for him to be able to protect his friends and family and make sure that he and those around him lived their lives to the fullest.

Weirdly, the rage he felt watching Milo being beaten was the angriest he had ever been in his life even after only meeting Milo for a single day.

But it was understandable as Milo had become his first and best friend that in a day became someone that Damian trusted and his instinct bought him closer to Milo with some sort of innate connection.

Damian knew that if Milo was a threat to him or had any malicious intent towards him, he would have been warned by Utsusu to stay away from him.

All of that along with their weird innate affinity and link, he practically became the brother to him that he never had.

With people around him and his biggest desire being to live a great life, Damian felt his mind was clear and he had an aim he was heading towards.

Cole with his battle hunger, awakon through his Soul Spirit and giving it free rein, knowing that Damian would be able to battle against him, he charged towards Damian as he roared monstrously.

Damian had to defeat such a beast that was much larger and had a hardened exterior, and had to pierce through his exterior in order to draw blood so we could copy his ability or would have to deal him extreme internal damage to make him vomit blood.

Flame Reinforcement

His scorching energy began to rapidly circulate around his body as it spread throughout his body fortifying his body.

However, in comparison to Cole's body, Damian's Flame Reinforcement was flimsy.

But Damian had to exploit his enhanced speed that the Flame Reinforcement would provide, as it would enhance his entire body, giving him explosive speed and power, and not only his exterior defence.

The silver juggernaut charged at Damian and swung a wild and wide fist and Damian that stood still in thought.

Damian with the influence of his past life's will, had a much stronger instinct for battle and ducked under the wide fist launched by the inexperienced Cole, and he launched a counter fist to Cole's open and vulnerable side.

The punch had a large amount of force behind it, considering both of them had only just begun their cultivation, and after attacking, Damian quickly retreated knowing he wouldn't be able to take Cole's wild, yet powerful attacks.

Cole was hurt slightly by the fist, but it would have merely left a bruise on his hardened body as he continued charging towards Damian like an enraged rhino.

Damian had hurt his knuckles and wrist slightly from the punch, because of Cole's hardened exterior, but Damian noticed that it was still incomparable to metal yet at his low cultivation LVL.

{Damian, his Soul Spirit is one that is very draining to sustain and the hardening with his strength will weaken over time and he should be exhausted within a few minutes} communicated Utsusu to Damian within his mind, confirming Damian's assumption.

With that in mind, Damian continued to play cat and mouse with Cole as he continued to avoid him and keep distance between them while he dodged the wild strikes that Cole continued to aim at Damian.

After a minute and a half, Damian had drained a lot of his own energy by keeping up the Flame Reinforcement, but looking over at Cole he could see that the metallic silver sheen his skin previously had, had almost completely faded away as his natural tanned skin was being revealed.

Damian saw it as the perfect chance to strike before he also ran out of energy and swiftly changed direction, from previously running away to now charging straight towards him.

Cole's now sluggish body had no way to react as the small amount of energy he had left was dwindling.

He was very much weakened and couldn't change direction quickly enough as Damian closed the short distance between them.

Damian wanted to deal Cole a strike that would allow him to draw blood and gain his Soul Spirit, but when it came to it he didn't want to hurt his friend who was weakened and knew that he would have opportunities to copy the Soul Spirit in the future.

Damian with his superior speed grabbed onto Cole's clothes and swept his legs as he used his body's force to follow threw with the sweep.

Cole's large body fell backwards with great force followed by Damian falling on top.

Cole was winded from the fall, but didn't suffer any fatal wounds as his Soul Spirit automatically deactivated with his energy running out and no longer being able to sustain it.

"Combat Round Completed - Winner Damian" announced Ivan.

As he did so he began to list out the different number of points that the new year's class had achieved in the newbie competition.

Cole came first followed by Damian, then Julia and Matilda who drew, then surprisingly followed by Milo.

The friend group acquired the top 5 positions, followed by Trevor, Orlando, Jaspal and Wilfred, who gained the top 10 positions in the 74th year, that began since the formation of Akegria Academy.

Cole received 100 contribution points, which was a large amount for somebody who just entered the academy, and for each position below him they would receive 10 less each time.

Each of them were given a card that was white coloured, matching the Akegria Academy robes they were given as the disappointed crowds dispersed.

They had to imbue their blood into the card and it became linked to them.

"I will see all of you at 8 tomorrow in class 12. You can each stay in a white ranked residence which is the lowest rank of residence for free, because you have Soul Spirits and are valued by the Academy.

If you wish to reside within a higher ranked residence you must pay with contribution points that can be gained by converting spirit coins or anything valuable and by completing tasks and missions.

These cards must stay with you at all times and you must wear your uniform while you are within the academy that can be washed each day and replaced every week" informed Ivan as he walked away leaving the class in the arena.

All of the class rushed to choose a residence, while Damian with Milo's card and uniform that Ivan entrusted to him, returned to the infirmary room Milo was in along with Matilda, Julia and Cole.