The Copy Mage

The skill that he had formed and named as the Shadow Reinforcement was very different to the Flame Reinforcement Skill.

The Flame Reinforcement Skill focused on enhancing the physical power of Damian's body, sustaining it with energy, but the Shadow Reinforcement was aiming to allow Damian to tap into the Shadow Element.

By fortifying his body with Shadow Energy, he wouldn't have much of a boost in strength and it was inferior to the Flame Reinforcement Skill in terms of raw power, but it helped him to attempt to wield the Shadow Element and use Shadow Skills.

Without the Shadow Reinforcement Skill, that increased Damian's link with and sensitivity to the Shadow Element, he would find it very difficult to attempt to use Shadow Skills and wield the Shadow Element.

But with practice, he would be able to do so, as long as he transformed his changeable energy into Shadow Energy.

Damian had to change his plan to train with Milo in combat, as he was yet to be able to control Shadow Energy and was too busy trying to learn how to do so.

Then the cycle began.

He would cultivate during the mornings, and would train in wielding Shadow Energy, while practising his skills, in the evening. While during midday he would go to the library to research anything that he was curious about or didn't understand.

Damian only broke the cycle to eat his 3 daily meals or sleep, and after a week he finally succeeded in using the Shadow Speed Technique.

Milo was training himself as well and had also begun researching his ability and beasts, while making sure to cultivate and train his skills.

Damian currently in the same private training room jumped up in joy as he dashed around the room with his increased speed.

After an entire week of cultivating and practising his control over the Shadow Element, Damian had not only perfected his method of absorbing Shadow Energy, but had managed to control the shadows beneath his feet and around his body to increase his speed, like the Shadow Speed Technique instructed.

The more energy he poured into the technique, the more focus it required, but the faster he would be able to move.

Without any backlash, Damian could comfortably increase his speed, which was already enhanced by the Shadow Reinforcement Skill, by 20% and experimenting with it, he could sustain it for 10 minutes.

10 minutes was more than enough time in a battle and although 20% didn't sound like much, it would give him an advantage over all those at the same cultivation level as him and with it, he could have a chance against cultivators that were stronger than him.

Damian was satisfied with his progress and felt that his strength had risen to around LVL 25, which was halfway through rank 2, and he had also improved his skills and control of energy, while also learning how to use a Shadow Technique.

[I should be able to break through to rank 3 within another week and I will be able to become an Inner Academy Student within no time] thought Damian to himself positively as he sat down and began recovering his energy.

After recovering his energy, Damian felt really hungry and was thinking about visiting his mother and getting a nice big meal with her, that would satisfy him more than the basic and bland free canteen meals.

Leaving the private training room, Damian couldn't help but have a smile on his face after everything he had achieved over the past week.

However, that smile was quickly wiped off his as he saw a familiar face waiting for him outside his private training room, and with him a group of students.

It was Larry Norris, the student who tried to steal the mission from Damian.

He was 14, 4 years older than Damian, and was at very strong for an Outer Academy Student.

However, his arrogance and confidence wasn't because of his own strength, but was from his talented younger brother who had quite a big reputation in the Inner Academy.

"Remember me kid" stated Larry as he surrounded Damian with his subordinates.

Larry had searched for Damian in the academy, and it took him a few days to find out who he was. 

But there was no information about him in the academy other than his name, which was very unusual for the academy, and Ivan was the one that kept it like that.

He ordered one of his subordinates to tail Damian for a few days, and Damian's daily routine was reported back to Larry every day.

Knowing that Damian would be in the training centre during the evening, Larry found the perfect opportunity to get his revenge on Damian where there would also be fewer witnesses.

The academy strictly forbade killing and harming another student's cultivation, and advised for battles to be taken in the arena to solve disputes.

But conflict is unavoidable and it was inevitable for there to be fights, which the elders would deal with it according to their own judgement.

That is if there were any witnesses to tell the tale.

Damian before answering the question transformed his changeable energy into Shadow Energy and activated his Shadow Reinforcement Skill, ready to run away and escape at any moment.

He could sense that Larry was at least rank 4 cultivator, while all of those behind him were rank 1 and 2, with a few of them at rank 3.

Damian knew he had no chance against them and he could sense that Larry had a Soul Spirit that wasn't a Body Augmentation Soul Spirit.

[What can I do, what can I do, what can I do] thought Damian to himself, as he looked around him, trying to find a way out of the situation.

He knew that his altercation in the Mission Hall would come back to bite him, but he had massively underestimated the bite that was coming for him.