The Extra Wants Control

A hush fell over Class S as the door creaked open, momentarily silencing the animated discussions about Babel. All eyes turned towards the entrance, where a figure slunk in, trying, but failing miserably, to conceal a limp. It was Neveah.

A collective gasp rippled through the class. His normally immaculate appearance was marred by a black eye and a noticeable limp. Bandages peeked out from under his blazer, hinting at further injuries. Murmurs erupted.

"What happened to him?" a student whispered, leaning towards his friend.

"Shouldn't vampires heal from that kind of damage?" his friend replied, confusion echoing in his voice.

Neveah shuffled towards his seat, the whispers and curious stares burning into his back. He sank down with a barely audible groan, wincing as his throbbing leg protested the movement.

"Just because I missed a call," he grumbled inwardly, frustration gnawing at him. Verona's harsh training session, fueled by her unexplained anger, had left him battered and bruised. The unfairness of it all rankled.

His gaze drifted across the classroom, landing on the doorway once more as Professor Aqua, their Circle Theory teacher, swept in. Her eyes, usually twinkling with amusement, flickered momentarily towards Neveah, a flicker of surprise quickly masked by a professional demeanor. She ignored him, launching straight into the day's agenda.

"Today," she announced, her voice ringing clear, "we have presentations on your circle projects. We'll begin with the Blessed."

Neveah leaned back in his chair, the throbbing pain a dull counterpoint to the lively presentations that began. Blessed students, one by one, showcased their meticulously researched circles – their functions, applications, and variations. Hours ticked by, filled with intricate diagrams and animated explanations of holy magic.

Neveh tuned in and out, his mind preoccupied with the previous night's training. Verona's ruthless tactics, though painful, were undeniable effective. He could feel a newfound control over his powers.

A pang of curiosity struck him. He was the only vampire in Class S, surrounded by a diverse group of students – 28 dragons, 26 elves, 22 beastmen, 15 dwarves, and a smattering of humans. He wondered where the other vampires were, why they weren't part of this elite class.

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The air Crackled with anticipation in the combat arena. Eliana, the fiery instructor with crimson hair pulled back in a tight braid, addressed the students. "Today," she announced, her voice echoing through the vast space, "we'll gauge your progress with sparring matches! Choose two opponents each, and let's see what you've learned in the past two weeks."

Axl, the broad-shouldered dragon with a permanent sneer etched on his face, sneered at Neveah. "Neveah fight?" he roared, his voice dripping with derision. "He can barely stand! Look at him, limping like a wounded dog. He shouldn't even be in this class." A chorus of agreement rose from some of the students, their faces twisted in a mixture of fear and amusement.

Neveah, his face pale but his gaze cold and unwavering, met their derision head-on. "I'm a mage," he countered, his voice low but firm. "As long as my mana pool is alright, my physical condition isn't a hindrance."

Eliana, unfazed by the commotion, nodded curtly. "Indeed. We'll proceed as planned." She raised a hand, and twenty shimmering rings materialized across the arena floor. Each ring marked the boundaries of a single combat zone. "The first one to fall outside the ring or lose consciousness loses," she explained, her voice laced with a barely concealed coldness.

"Remember, anything short of a fatality is acceptable." A cruel glint flickered in the eyes of several students, their minds already conjuring up sadistic possibilities.

A female dragon student, her brown scales shimmering under the arena lights, jumped into one of the rings. Her eyes gleamed with malicious pleasure as she pointed a mocking finger at Neveah. "Neveah, get your sorry self in here! Let's see how long your arrogance lasts against a real opponent!"

Neveah, despite the throbbing pain in his leg, limped onto the ring designated by the dragon woman. Other students quickly claimed their own rings, the initial excitement morphing into a tense anticipation. As the first matches began, a cacophony of shouts, clashing steel, and booming spells filled the air.

Eliana raised her hand for silence. All eyes turned towards her. "Begin!" she commanded, her voice clear and sharp.

The dragon woman charged at Neveah, her fist coated in a flickering aura. A sneer twisted her face as she imagined the satisfying impact of her attack. But Neveah was faster. With a flick of his wrist, unseen tendrils of dark energy pulsed from him, forming a localized gravity field around her.

The woman's charge faltered abruptly, her surprised yell swallowed by a choked gasp. The sudden increase in gravity pulled her down with an unrelenting force. Bones creaked ominously under the pressure, a sickening sound that sent shivers down the spines of onlookers. Trapped within the invisible field, the dragon woman couldn't even surrender – the pressure made speech impossible.

The crowd watched in horrified fascination as the woman writhed in agonizing silence. The pressure continued to build, slowly crushing her internal organs. Neveah, his face devoid of emotion, watched the display with a cold detachment. He wasn't reveling in her agony, but he wouldn't show mercy either. This was a lesson, a harsh but necessary reminder of the true potential of shadow magic.

Finally, with a choked whimper that seemed to defy the suffocating pressure, the woman lost consciousness. Only then did Neveah release the gravity field. She crumpled to the ground, a broken doll, her initial arrogance replaced by a horrifying paleness.

Silence descended upon the arena, heavier and more suffocating than any gravity field. The ongoing duels abruptly ended as the students witnessed the brutal efficiency of Neveah's attack. Fear, raw and primal, flickered in their eyes.

Neveah stood tall in the center of the ring, the silence.

Eliana, her earlier coldness replaced by a flicker of respect, cleared her throat. "Neveah is declared the winner of this match," she announced, her voice echoing through the stunned silence." Continue with your matches and also any other challengers for Neveah? Hmmm maybe I should wait for you to finish your matches."

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