“This way, Ninth Vein,” Grinner said, motioning for Malakai to follow.
Grinner led Malakai to the center of the field.
Once they stopped, he spoke clearly.
“The remaining disciplines are as follows: Blood Meditation & Vita Breathing, Combat Conditioning, Blood Arts Training, Live Combat Simulation, Darkness Creature Hunts, and Will Training.”
“All of their tests will be carried out simultaneously.”
Malakai raised a brow.
Grinner continued with a steady tone.
“We’re going to spar now. Your placement into beginner, intermediate, or advanced will depend solely on what you display here, Ninth Vein.”
He paused briefly, making sure Malakai was listening.
“During the spar, I will mostly defend and only attack if I sense a stalemate. So don’t hold back. Attack when you’re ready.”
‘He’s going to observe everything during this fight.’
The other disciplines were each rooted in battlefield application, and the best way to test for them was exactly what Grinner was doing now.
During the fight, he would be able to note how well Malakai controlled his vita, his blood manipulation, his combat skills, and even his Will, and use these observations to decide where Malakai would be placed.
Malakai didn’t waste any time.
His hand reached for the scythe strapped to his back, uncorking it and sliding seamlessly into a stance.
In the next second, the entire courtyard fell silent.
The instructors watched the unfolding scene without a word.
It was already strange enough that the Head Instructor himself was sparring with Malakai directly instead of designating someone else.
Vein or not, Grinner never did that.
They all knew; he must have taken a personal interest in the Ninth Vein.
Malakai studied Grinner silently.
‘A Blood Champion.’
There was no scenario in this world where the current Malakai could defeat a Blood Champion.
‘But I don’t have to win.’
This was a test to gauge his capabilities. He only needed to show enough.
Grinner didn’t seem like he intended to use a weapon, simply standing calmly with his arms at his sides.
However, the pressure he radiated was enough to make Malakai’s heart hammer against his chest.
Malakai’s grip tightened around his scythe as he sank even deeper into his stance.
‘His Will is strong.’ Grinner noted it with approval.
Malakai had already passed another of his silent tests, Will Conditioning.
As a Synergy Stage evolver, the pressure Grinner emitted would have made most youths with weaker Wills collapse or flee.
But Malakai’s eyes only grew fiercer.
He stood his ground, completely unshaken.
‘Another for the Advanced class,’ Grinner thought, barely holding back a smile.
He had sensed something different the moment he met Malakai, and now it was obvious.
The boy was different from the other Veins.
He looked like someone who had been through hell… and returned.
The silence stretched and then… Malakai’s lips parted.
[Bloodflow]
A surge of blood ignited through his veins.
His muscles bulged with sudden power, the ground beneath him cracking violently as he exploded forward with a burst of speed.
The instructors watching from the sides gasped, their eyes wide in disbelief.
Such speed!
Wasn’t he just a Genesis rank?!
The same thought flashed through Grinner’s mind.
But unlike the others, he was facing Malakai head-on.
Malakai erased the distance in an instant, his scythe whistling through the air as he hurled it forward with his right hand, the blade aimed directly at Grinner.
Grinner’s eyes sharpened.
‘My throat.’
He hadn’t expected Malakai to go straight for the kill.
Instantly, his arm, coated in blood, shot upward to block the scythe.
But then his gaze flickered in the next instant.
Malakai, still gripping the scythe with his right hand, spun the blade downward mid-air, and slammed his left palm into the staff, sending it crashing toward Grinner’s chest.
The instructors’ eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
But the one most shaken was Grinner himself.
As a Synergy Stage evolver, he could see everything in slow motion, every tiny movement.
And yet, he wasn’t shocked because Malakai had caught him off guard.
No.
He was shocked because of what he had just witnessed.
The movement was seamless.
So smooth.
No hesitation, no falter in form.
He had just evolved three days ago and yet, the vita flowed perfectly through his body.
His blood manipulation was flawless.
Grinner knew, deep in his gut, if he and Malakai were on equal footing in strength, that surprise attack would have ended the battle instantly.
‘Blood Meditation and Vita Breathing… Advanced. Combat Conditioning… Advanced. Blood Arts Training… Advanced. Live Combat Simulation… Advanced. Darkness Creature Hunts… Advanced.’
The battle had barely begun, but Grinner had already completed his assessment.
The Ninth Vein was a natural born genius.
Grinner’s hand shifted, shooting up to parry the scythe with a burst of sparks.
But the sparks had barely disappeared before Malakai’s right leg whipped low, aiming for the side of Grinner’s knees to destabilize him.
Grinner’s eyes sharpened, and he darted two steps back, just enough to evade the sweeping kick.
But Malakai didn’t miss a beat.
Using the momentum of his missed attack, he spun, his scythe whirling with him as he brought the blade down toward Grinner’s head like a guillotine.
Without even know when, a smile formed on Grinner’s face.
At this point, he decided to stop feeling awe at Malakai’s feats. It was simply better to take everything at face value.
He had been wrong.
Malakai wasn’t just a genius.
He was a monster in battle.
Grinner’s arm whipped to the side, parrying the scythe away, only for Malakai’s right leg to thrust forward a breath later, aiming straight for his chest with force that carried his whole body with it.
Grinner’s hand shot out, catching Malakai’s foot and stopping its momentum.
But not even a second passed before Malakai used the captured foot as leverage, twisting his body and swinging his left leg sharply toward Grinner’s face.
Grinner’s smile widened.
His other arm reached out, catching Malakai’s left leg, only for the scythe blade to come sweeping up from below, slicking toward his crotch.
Grinner’s eyes flew wide open.
What a little devil.
With a quick movement, he whipped his leg up, knocking the scythe away.
But just as Malakai was about to press the attack again, Grinner quickly raised his voice.
“Alright, alright! Congratulations, Ninth Vein, you passed!”
