The Copy Mage

"What do you want" asked Damian, trying to stall for time until he found a solution.

Damian wasn't scared of Larry and knew that he would inevitably surpass him, but if at that moment he was killed or his cultivation ruined, all his life ambitions would be shattered.

"You shouldn't have messed with me kid, and now it is time for your punishment" stated Larry as he approached Damian and activated his Soul Spirit.

Damian knew his strength was above average for his cultivation level, but he still had no chance against Larry who was much older than him and stronger than him.

Larry was the one that attempted to abuse his power over Damian, but after he didn't succeed the first time he came back prepared and with others, acting as if Damian was the one in the wrong.

[He seems to have a Wind Elemental Soul Spirit] observed Damian as he felt a large amount of Wind Elemental Energy around Larry.

Wind Elemental Soul Spirits were extremely rare and Damian was shocked that Larry had one, which made it even harder for him in the situation he was in.

Without thinking about it, knowing that it was his only option, Damian turned around and dashed away.

With his Shadow Reinforcement and Shadow Speed Technique being used to the maximum, Damian's speed was equivalent to that of an average rank 4 External Cultivator, even though his cultivation was only at rank 2.

He was doubling his speed with the Shadow Speed Technique, which he would only be able to sustain for a minute at most and he would suffer backlash from, while his speed was also enhanced by the Shadow Reinforcement.

Larry and those with him blocked off Damian's root to the exit, so he had no choice but to run deeper into the training centre in the hopes that there was someone that could help him.

"Help me, help me" screamed Damian as he dashed away as he quickly as he could.

Damian hoped that there was somebody strong or influential enough to help him out of the situation he was in, but it was very unlikely as it was quite late in the evening and he was only in the Outer Academy, where there weren't many that could go against Larry in terms of strength or influence anyway.

"What incredible speed, is he already a rank 4 cultivator" uttered Larry and his subordinates in awe of the speed that Damian displayed.

But Larry himself was talented and would be entering the Inner Academy within a few weeks, and could tell that Damian only had the amount of energy equivalent to a peak rank 2, and was using some sort of technique to increase his speed.

However even if he was only at rank 2, he had only been cultivating for 2 weeks and if he was progressing at such an unbelievable rate with his high grade Fire Soul Spirit and skills, he would be a big threat to him in the future if he didn't deal with him then.

"Follow me, we need to kill him" ordered Larry to those beneath him as they chased after Damian.

Larry wasn't from a particularly big, wealthy or powerful family, but him and all of his siblings were quite talented in cultivation and had rare Soul Spirits. Their father was a notorious warrior that had settled down as an elder in the central Akegria Academy.

Larry had an older brother that was in the Inner Academy, but he wasn't very powerful. However, he had a younger brother that was extremely talented and respected within the Inner Academy, despite his young age and was on track to becoming a core disciple.

They all had the same Soul Spirit, the Wind Sythe Soul Spirit, but in different grades.

It was a Soul Spirit that allowed them to condense Wind energy in their arms, and gave them the ability to release sharp and fast blades of wind as they slashed outwards with their arms.

The ability was powerful, versatile and gave them a massive advantage in battle.

Damian without looking back sprinted down the corridor of the training centre, but he suddenly felt danger and looking back he saw Larry fling a blade of wind energy towards him.

At the few metre distance between them and the speed of the blade, Damian wouldn't be able to dodge it as he felt helpless in the situation he was in.

But unlike when he almost lost against the boar beast before Milo saved him, Damian had learnt and decided never to give up during a battle.

In that moment of desperation and drive, he managed to tap into the Shadow Element's true power as he suddenly felt his body sink into his own shadow.

It was as though he disappeared, but his shadow was still on the ground and moving.

Damian felt a weird feeling and could see everything, but felt that he wasn't there and was in a different space, that gave him a similar feeling to the place that he spoke to the Shadow Kin King in.

However as the blade flew passed where he was standing, he couldn't sustain the Shadow Form for long and reappeared before Larry and his subordinates.

Damian was in awe of what he just experienced and was trying to remember how he managed to do it, while Larry and his subordinates were shocked by what they just saw.

They suddenly felt wary of facing against Damian, who had weird abilities, but then looking at him he suddenly collapsed to the ground as his body used all its energy.

The Shadow Form that he accidentally entered into and the Shadow Reinforcement and Shadow Speed Technique that he was pushing to its max, had heavily drained Damian and left him void of energy.

Damian managed to surpass his limits and achieve an incredible feat, but it still wasn't enough with his small amount of energy as he helplessly lay before Larry and his subordinates, with no way to defend himself.