Ryo moved forward when his name was called by the teacher, his own nerves a little tightened. The teacher, a tall and piercing-eyed man, beckoned Ryo and his opponent to come to a stone slab placed in the middle of the field.
"Prior to our game," the teacher continued, "every student needs to register his Status Window by laying his hands on this slab. This will enable us to check your current ability."
Ryo's first opponent, a demon race student, went up. When he put his hand on the slab, illuminated text materialized in the air, reading his skills:
Brute Strength
Slow Regeneration
Demonic Constitution
Now Ryo's turn.
As he laid his hand upon the slab, the glowing text was revealed—but something was lacking Unlike his status window his opponents window doesn't include level title or level. then Ryo lays his hands on the stone slab and Only his vampire-related skills were revealed:
Enhanced Regeneration
Blood Manipulation
Blood Weaponry
The teacher furrowed his brow. "Weird… Even for a half-human, half-vampire, those are advanced skills. Did you practice these previously?"
Ryo shook his head. "I—I don't even know how to use them."
Whispers circulated among the students. How was it possible for someone to have such advanced skills and yet profess inexperience?
The teacher sighed. "Maybe you were born with them. Some unusual instances occur where people are born with powerful abilities by accident. Either way, we'll discover soon enough. Now, observe the match."
The teacher stepped back and extended his hand. "Start!"
The demon student attacked Ryo with chilling speed. Ryo could hardly react in time as a crushing fist came flying towards him. He managed to dodge just in time, feeling the wind whizzing past his face as the punch missed him by mere inches.
But his foe was not finished. The next attack came, and this time Ryo was too slow. A massive fist crashed into his ribcage, sending him sliding across the floor.
Pain coursed through his body, but he did not remain on the ground.
His Paradox Physique shifted immediately, and his Enhanced Regeneration started to take effect, numbing the pain and mending his wounds in a matter of seconds. The bystanders gasped as Ryo got up as if nothing had occurred.
The instructor's voice commanded. "Concentrate on your blood! Attempt to control it!"
Deep breathing, Ryo did as he was told. He focused, sensing the flow of his blood within his veins. Something unusual ran through him—like something stirring deep inside.
Then he sensed it.
Tiny, red needles coalesced in the air about him, fashioned out of his own blood. Faint as they were, they throbbed with energy.
His opponent attacked once more, but Ryo was prepared. With his increased speed, he dodged to the side, striking back in turn. The blood needles flew forth, piercing his opponent's defenses just enough to slow him down.
With one last spurt of energy, Ryo struck the final blow, sending the demon student stumbling backward.
The match was at an end. Ryo had emerged victorious.
After the game, Ryo went back to his dorm, his head spinning. Everything that transpired—the registration, the fight, his unusual powers—it all seemed like a dream.
He avoided dinner, opting to sleep instead. Fatigue overpowered him, and the moment he rested his head, he plunged into a sound sleep.
But when he woke up again, he was no longer in his dorm.
He was back in the training ground—standing in front of the stone slab.
The match had not yet begun.
His heart pounded as he realized the truth. He had regressed again.