Zeke rose with the dawn, eager to put his newfound knowledge of Blood Magic to the test. He had spent the previous night poring over the forbidden tomes, jotting down notes and scribbling diagrams as he delved deeper into the secrets of this powerful and oft-maligned form of magic. As he stepped out into the crisp morning air, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the progress he would make today.

With a deep breath, Zeke began to focus his magic, summoning the power of his blood to flow through his veins. He started with simple exercises, experimenting with different methods of channeling the magic and manipulating it to suit his needs. As he worked, he found himself growing more confident in some of the newly learned ways and more in control of his power. Just when he was trying to start his training in earnest, he heard someone call out to him.

"Zeke, my boy," Maximilian called out as he approached Zeke on the training field behind the mansion, "It would be wise to save your energy for after you return from school today. Remember, today is the first day of your combat classes. You'll need all of your focus and energy to perform at your best."

Zeke paused, considering his mentor's words. He had been eager to try out some new ideas he had come up with for his Blood Magic after reading through the forbidden tomes the previous night. But Maximilian was right; today was an important day.

"I understand, Maximilian," Zeke replied with a deep sigh. "But I am confident in my abilities. I had a lot of experience hunting monsters last semester and now that I have just advanced to a True Mage. I am certain that I will dominate the combat class even without being at full strength."

Maximilian smiled, his eyes twinkling with pride, but Zeke also noticed a hint of playfulness. "I have no doubt that you will do well, Zeke. But remember this, it is always wise to conserve your strength and not look down on your opponent. Take it easy before class, and you will be sure to perform at your best."

With a curt nod, Zeke conceded, shouldering his stubbornness and setting off towards the school with brisk strides. His thoughts, however, remained centered on the impending day and the untapped potential of his Blood Magic. Upon arriving at the training fields, a sense of disquiet washed over him. Despite his best efforts, he had always remained an outsider in school, and it appeared that this particular class was going to be no different.

Zeke stood alone on the training field, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over the bustling crowd of students. He could hear snippets of conversation from the groups of classmates that surrounded him, their words blending together in a cacophony of sound. Some talked excitedly about the day's lessons, while others gossiped about the latest school rumors.

As he listened, Zeke realized that some of the talk was about him. He could hear snippets of his name being mentioned, and with his curiosity piqued, he strained to listen more closely. He was surprised to hear that not all the talk was negative. Most of the other students were simply confused by his presence, wondering why he had not attended any of the combat classes until now.

As he stood there, lost in thought, an instructor finally arrived. Zeke watched as the man strode confidently across the training field, calling out orders and barking commands. The students quickly fell into line, and Zeke found himself being pulled into the throng, the press of bodies and the din of chatter enveloping him once more.

The instructor, a tall man with a stern expression and a scar running down his cheek, surveyed the students assembled before him. He nodded curtly to the group, and then his gaze fell upon Zeke. The instructor's eyes narrowed, studying him for a moment before he spoke.

"You must be the new student, Ezekiel," the man said, his voice deep and commanding. "I am instructor, Darian, and I will be your instructor for the semester. I expect nothing but the best from all of my students, and I will not tolerate any slacking." Instructor Darian didn't wait for Zeke to reply and started his pacing again.

He strode around the training field, his battle-worn armor clinking with each step. The students immediately fell silent, standing at attention as the instructor surveyed the group.

"Alright, listen up," the instructor began, his voice deep and commanding. "Today we're starting again with some physical training. I want you lot to give it your all, push yourselves to the limit. Remember, a strong body makes for a strong mind."

The students began to stretch and warm up, and Zeke couldn't help but feel a sense of ease. As a Blood Mage, his body was naturally stronger and more resilient than that of an Elemental Mage. Plus, he had a secret weapon - his ability to perfectly control his body, thanks to [Perfect Body Control]. He moved through the exercises with ease, gracefully executing each movement with precision.

As the class progressed, Zeke couldn't help but feel that this was going to be a breeze for him. He had always excelled in physical activities, and this class was no exception. But after half an hour of training, the instructor called the students back together, his expression as serious as ever.

"Alright, that's enough of that!" the instructor called out, his voice echoing through the training field. "It's time for sparring. Pair up and begin!"

As the students began to disperse and find partners, the instructor's voice cut through the chatter once more. "Hold on, hold on. Before you all start, I have an opportunity for one of you. The chance to fight against our first-ranked student on the exams, the only tri-affinity mage at the academy right now."

Zeke's heart skipped a beat as he realized the instructor was talking about him. He couldn't tell if the teacher was purposely trying to cause trouble for him, but it seemed to have caught the attention of some of the stronger-looking students.

Before anyone else could respond, a tall young man stepped forward. He had a feral smile on his face as he looked around the gathered students. "I'll take that challenge," he said, "my name is Leonard, but you can call me Leo."

Zeke sized up his opponent, studying the lean muscles that rippled beneath Leo's skin. The young man was not only strong but also agile and fast. A predatory glint in Leo's eye made Zeke's pulse quicken. He wasn't sure what the young man's affinities were, but he knew that he needed to be ready for anything. Leo deftly braided his dirty blonde mane of hair into a loose shape behind his head in preparation for the fight, not taking his eyes away from Zeke for even a moment while doing so. After finishing a moment later, he gave Zeke a nod, indicating he was ready.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Alright, let's do this," Zeke said, his voice steady.

Leo grinned, a flash of teeth that was more animal than human. "Let's see what you can do, tri-affinity," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Zeke didn't flinch. He knew that Leo was trying to intimidate him, but he wouldn't let it work. He focused on his core, calling forth the power of his Blood Magic. He could feel the familiar rush of energy as his body began to change, his senses sharpening and his muscles bulging. Zeke was ready for anything that Leo could throw at him.

As the instructor signaled the start of the match, Zeke and Leo both remained still, sizing each other up. Zeke was sure that Leo was one of the strongest fighters in this class, evident by the reverence in the eyes of the other students and the predatory gleam in his gaze. Zeke knew that he couldn't afford to wait for Leo to make the first move if he wanted to seize the advantage. Fueled by a sudden surge of adrenaline, Zeke launched himself forward, brandishing his staff in preparation for battle.

Leo, however, seemed to anticipate all his strikes. Each swing of Zeke's staff was met with a fluid dodge, and before long, Zeke found himself growing increasingly frustrated. He could see Leo's movements clearly but couldn't seem to land a single blow. It was as if he was fighting a shadow or the wind.

"You've got a pattern," Leo said with a smirk as he dodged to the left, easily slipping past Zeke's strike. "Cutting off my most likely escape route is a decent strategy, but when it's the only move you make, it's all too predictable." The turn of events took aback Zeke. He had anticipated the Elemental Mages would maintain a distance, employing spells to keep him at bay. However, the reality was far from his expectations. Leo was playing with him in close combat, disregarding magic altogether. Zeke felt embarrassed as he struggled to keep pace with Leo in melee combat. The thought of resorting to magic seemed like a defeat. How could he claim victory if he couldn't even hold his own in close combat?

After a while, Zeke paused in his onslaught of attacks, panting for breath. This was not working. He needed a new strategy. While deep in thought, Zeke could feel the weight of the instructor's gaze upon him, watching, waiting to see what he would do next.

"Even if you alter your approach, it's inconsequential when your intent betrays itself in your gaze. I'll always know where your next strike is headed if you fixate on a single location like a cow," Leo tutored, seemingly mimicking someone else's words as he continued. "Fighting people is different from battling monsters, as evidenced by the surplus of force behind each of your swings. When sparring against others, raw power holds less sway, as there are no hides to pierce or scales to shatter."

Zeke gritted his teeth as he charged at Leo once more, determined to land a hit by force of will alone. But no matter how hard he swung, Leo always seemed to be one step ahead. It was as if he could predict Zeke's every move, slipping and weaving out of the way with ease.

Finally, Zeke had to pause his offensive for good. He was panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face as he realized that this was not working. He looked up at Leo, who stood tall and confident, a slight smirk on his lips.

"You're good," Zeke said, panting. "But you're not invincible. I'll figure out how to beat you."

Leo's smirk only grew wider. "I am looking forward to it," he said, his voice a low rumble.

Zeke gritted his teeth, frustration building within him. He had always prided himself on his ability to read and predict his opponents, but what Leo was doing was different. He was in a completely different league. It was as if he could see right through Zeke's tactics and anticipate his every move.

"Get ready!" Zeke warned through gritted teeth, "Let's see how you'll deal with this."

With a surge of determination, Zeke channeled his Blood Magic, letting it flow through his veins. He swung with renewed vigor, each strike becoming faster and more precise.

Leo's smirk faltered a little as he struggled to keep up with Zeke's sudden burst of power and speed. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he dodged, his movements becoming increasingly frantic.

Finally, with a cry of triumph, Zeke landed a glancing blow on Leo's chest, sending him spinning backward. Leo lay on the ground, gasping for breath, as the other students looked on in shock.

"I may not have had any chance against you in terms of technique while we were on equal footing," Zeke said, "but you have no way of compensating for the difference in our physical abilities."

"You're right, Zeke," Leo said, catching his breath and stretching out the kinks in his body. "My instincts and movements are good, but if I can't even keep track of you, then it's all for naught. But you've forgotten something, too."

Zeke's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What have I forgotten?"

"That you are not the only Mage in this battle," Leo replied with a predatory grin before charging towards Zeke. With that, Leo went on the offensive for the first time instead of just dodging. He had still not drawn the saber that was hanging on his hips and seemed to charge with his bare fists instead.

As Leo arrived before him, Zeke made to counter Leo's attack, but somebody pushed him from behind, and Zeke fell forward. He immediately used his [Perfect Spatial Awareness] to identify his hidden attacker. The hidden attacker was an earth spike coming straight out of the ground. Before Zeke could do or think anything more, a knee hit him right in the side of his face, almost knocking him out in a single hit.

Zeke lay on the ground, dazed and disoriented, as Leo stood victorious. "You can't win a battle with just one method of attack," Leo instructed, offering Zeke a hand to help him up. "You need to be ready for anything and always be one step ahead."

Zeke fought with all his might but was no match for Leo's mastery of earth magic. The earthen spikes that Leo summoned were seemingly alive, appearing at the exact moment to disrupt Zeke's every move. Leo's ability to read the flow of combat was beyond compare, and his nimble movements left Zeke struggling to land a single hit. Despite his valiant effort, Zeke found himself pummeled by Leo's earth spikes and powerful strikes from his bare fists. The sheer ferocity of the attack left Zeke little room to unleash his own spells, leaving him feeling like a child facing an insurmountable opponent. As the onslaught continued, Zeke realized that he had severely underestimated Leo's prowess and knew that defeat was inevitable. The fight had only just begun, but Zeke could already sense that the outcome was set in stone.

Just before the instructor finally signaled for them to switch partners, Zeke found himself being sent flying by yet another of Leo's [Earth Spike] spells. He looked around and saw that all the other students had already switched partners at least twice. Leo walked over to him and offered him a handshake as he picked himself up from the ground.

"Good fight," he said with a grin. "Let's do this again when you've improved a bit." Despite the words, Zeke couldn't help but feel excited. Leo seemed like a straightforward person who only respected strength and nothing less. His eyes would light up with excitement whenever they talked about combat strategies. Zeke couldn't wait for their next match.

As Zeke sat on the sidelines, he couldn't help but ponder his own goals in the academy. His passion for magic research had become his primary focus, but he couldn't ignore the reality that being a researcher also meant being a target. He needed to be able to defend himself and not be left vulnerable to those seeking to exploit his knowledge. He watched the other students sparred, each displaying their unique abilities and strengths. Even though he knew that he couldn't match Leo's instincts and feel for the flow of battle, but he also knew that there were other ways to become a formidable combatant. Zeke made a mental note to explore different forms of magic to find ways to complement his research with practical combat skills. He would not let himself be left behind.