Sparring

I got into my battle stance and prepared to lunge towards Kaiden. This guy had been talking down to me for a while now. It was time to put this little shit in his place!

"Hehehehe..."

I couldn't help but laugh to myself.

"Alright, since your ability is one which strengthens your body and heals you, we'll be putting that to the test. I'll be seeing how strong and agile you are, as well as precisely how quickly you can heal from a variety of injuries. Go ahead, I'll be fine,"

He was still talking all smug, his hands in his pockets like he didn't even need his hands to defend himself against me.

Fine! I haven't been able to fight properly with all I had since I came into this academy, so I'll take it! 

I got low to the ground and started sprinting towards him as my nails flew out of my hands. Just as I was about to swipe at him, I felt something pulling me back.

"Huh..?"

Within a moment, I was back where I'd started.

"Hey! What the hell!"

I ran towards him again. This time, I saw something protruding from behind him.

'A shadow?'

It was something black and inky, bulbous and fluid.

It looked like a materialized shadow. I didn't have much time to think as it flew towards me, sharp-tipped and making a whooshing sound as it cut through the air.

"Woah!"

I tilted to the side, sliding on the ground, sizing Kaiden up once more. Is this why he looked so laid-back? Because his ability could be controlled without him moving? Maybe.

Well, now that I knew it was coming, I could avoid-

"Ack!"

A shadow pierced my side, quickly stabbing into my flank before retreating into the floor and slinking behind Kaiden. I gripped my bloody flesh as it repaired itself.

"You fucker..."

He rubbed his chin.

"Wow, impressive. It only took a few seconds for that wound to close. I wonder, can you regenerate severed extremities?

Another shadow swiped at me from my blind spot. This time, I was prepared, and rolled towards Kaiden. 

Okay. So he can control shadows. How many? What's their source? It seemed like they all came from behind him, so it would be better to keep an eye there.

Just then, I saw the movement of a shadow underneath his feet.

Now!

I dove forwards again just as a shadow flung towards me, twisting in the air to avoid it. However, it looped back and grabbed me by the hand, lifting me in the air.

"Let's see what happens if I cut off a finger. Hey, worst case, you can live without a pinky, right? It's for the sake of the experiment."

This fucker... just because I can regenerate doesn't mean you should start chopping me up! Fuck!

One of the tendrils wrapped around my finger. Well, I had one attack left that Kaiden didn't know about.

Bzzt!

I activated charged fingers and tried to shock the tendril. Surprisingly, the part that was wrapped around my hand dissipated.

"Ho? You have a lightning ability too? This is incredible..."

Kaiden looked taken aback.

"Damn straight, you motherfucker! I am incredible!"

I dashed towards him once more. I had closed a lot of distance now. However, just as my claws were about to reach him, a shadow tendril pierced my heart.

"Unfortunately for you, I've far from shown the full scope of my abilities. You'll have to do better if you want to hurt me,"

He said as he chuckled. However, I had yet to show just how spiteful I was. With the most dexterity I could muster, I performed one final motion.

Pressing my feet into the ground, I exerted as much force as I could and pressed forward, pushing the thick shadow even deeper into my chest cavity, and swiped at Kaiden's face.

"Ack!"

He clutched his now not-so-pretty face which I'd just laid four thick gashes into.

"Ha... you can't beat... an immortal bastard... like me..."

I coughed up blood as I spoke, starting to choke on it as he released his shadow.

"Match! That's a match!"

He called out as I collapsed to the ground, the massive hole in my chest gradually piecing itself back together. In one final act of defiance. I raised my fist to the air, face still planted on the ground.

"I did it..."

A couple minutes later, I was back on my feet.

'Phew,'

That was one of the worse injuries I'd incurred over the last couple of days, but nothing compared to literally dying, so it honestly wasn't that bad. Especially since I got to leave a mark on that rascal Kaiden.

As I rose from the floor, I saw him being healed by another student. Tragically, there wasn't so much as a scar left on him when she was done.

I strutted over to him smugly.

"So, how's it feel to be taken down from your high horse?"

I asked, scoffing at him.

"You didn't take me down from anything. I'm just glad your ability seems so strong. You'll be a valuable asset to the reapers,"

He replied, smiling.

Tch. This kiss-ass. Have some pride! So I can damage it!

"However, we aren't done. That was just a preliminary exam. I wanted to see how you'd do in combat before assessing your abilities more precisely. And since you performed so well, I'll make that testing reeeally extreme,"

His smile turned a little devilish. Um... seriously? This guy did have pride! He was just hiding behind excuses to get revenge on me!

"I'll push your physical abilities to their absolute limit, so prepare yourself, Mars,"

I didn't like the sound of that. Not at all. Let me just keep fighting! That's way more fun!

However, unfortunately, I wouldn't get to fight him again for a little while. Because that day, my hell training began.

Mars' status:

[Name: Mars Valentine]

[Level: 4]

[Race: Zombie]

[Mutation Points: 2]

[Skill Points: 1]

[Skills:

Immortality (MAX):

*PASSIVE*

Bearer is effectively immortal so long as brain remains intact. Bearer will not age and all injuries will be healed rapidly.

NOTE: If bearer does not consume human flesh regularly, the effects of {Immortality (MAX} will be diminished, reducing healing capabilities of the skill.

Pain Tolerance(LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Increases bearer's tolerance to pain.

Mana Drain (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Through consuming human flesh, bearer can harvest the mana within it and increase his capabilities with mana-required skills as well as increase his physical capabilities.

Charged Fingers (LVL 1):

*ACTIVE*

Electricity will run between the bearers fingers, electrifying anything touched by them.]

[Energy Absorption (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Allows the bearer's body to absorb the raw energy floating around in the air and earth, allowing cells to generate MIATP (Mana-Influenced Adenosine Triphosphate), effectively allowing the bearer's cells to generate mana on their own as long as there is an abundance of magic energy freely flowing throughout the area in which the bearer occupies.]

[Mutations:

Hunting Claws: Allows the bearer to grow retractable claws under his nails. 4 inches long and as sharp. 0.1 mm wide edges.

Condensed Muscles: +1 Strength. Causes bearers muscles to remain more compact while becoming stronger.]

[Ability: N/A]

[Curses:

Zombified:

Bearer has been affected by a strange and ancient pathogen. No longer requires sleep. Buffs to all stats. After going long enough without eating, bearer will turn into an insatiable killing machine, out to consume human flesh.

G.A.M.M.A.: The incredible and powerful system known as G.A.M.M.A. has granted pity on the pathetic bearer and granted him new life as a zombie. G.A.M.M.A. is amazing, beautiful, and all around the greatest creation the universe has produced.]

[Capabilities:

Strength: 10(+1)

Agility: 7(+1)

Endurance: 5(+1)

Intelligence: 8(+1)

Mana: 7

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