After their two fights were done, Adrian, Elen, Kael, and Emmet made their way out of the arena as the tournament day concluded. The crowds were dispersing, spectators discussing the day's impressive matches while competitors headed toward their respective accommodations.

"Good work today, everyone," I said as we reached the main exit area. "Get proper rest. Tomorrow's quarterfinals will be significantly harder."

Elen nodded tiredly. "I'll be watching from the stands. Cheer you all on properly."

"Appreciated," Emmet said simply before departing toward his dormitory with minimal conversation.

Elen headed toward the academy's residential district where most students lived, while Kael and I took a different route entirely.

We made our way through the city streets then hopped on our carriage, taking an indirect path and ensuring nobody was following or observing too closely. The mansion's location was private information I intended to keep that way - having people know where I actually lived created security vulnerabilities and invited unwanted attention.

Kael understood the importance of discretion and remained alert during the journey.

After nearly forty minutes of careful navigation, we finally arrived at the elegant white mansion. I disabled the security wards as we entered, the familiar interior providing welcome relief after a long day of combat and social navigation.

Changing Star immediately bounded toward us from where she'd been napping, having grown noticeably larger even in just the single day since the forest hunt. She was now roughly the size of a large wolf, her scales gleaming beautifully and her movements carrying draconic grace.

Chirp! Welcome back!

"Good to see you too," I said, stroking her head while she purred contentedly.

Kael headed toward his designated room to rest and process the day's experiences, leaving me free to attend to my own priorities.

I made my way to my private quarters and immediately felt the familiar notification pulse through my consciousness.

[Daily Login Available!]

[Would you like to claim your daily reward?]

[Yes | No]

I selected yes without hesitation, curious what the system would provide after yesterday's legendary crafting hammer.

[Congratulations! You have received: Trait Level Up Card]

[Rank: ???]

[Details: A one-time use card that instantly advances any chosen trait to the next level, bypassing normal training requirements. Can be applied to traits of any order or current level. Effect is permanent and cannot be reversed.]

I stared at the shimmering card that materialized in my hand, its surface decorated with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and flow like living energy.

This was extraordinarily valuable. Trait advancement normally required extensive training, specific conditions, and sometimes luck or breakthrough moments. Being able to skip directly to the next level represented potentially weeks of saved effort at my current progress.

Immediately, I wanted to use it.

I pulled up my status screen to review current capabilities and determine optimal application:

[Host: Adrian Blackwood]

[Bloodline: Supreme Vampire - 20%]

[Rank: Peak-Elite]

[Traits: Blood Control (2nd Order, Lvl.4), Supernatural Physique (1st Order, Lvl.4), Blood Enhancement (1st Order, Lvl.4), Blood Trail (2nd Order, Lvl.1)]

[Aspects: Serpent Scales (Elite), Silent Predator (Transcendent), Swift Essence (Transcendent)]

[Echo: Stone Armor (Transcendent)]

Staring at the status information, I analysed the strategic options carefully.

First Order traits could advance to Second Order upon reaching Level 5, which represented fundamental transformation rather than simple improvement. Second Order traits needed to reach Level 10 for similar advancement, which was exponentially more difficult.

To extract maximum benefit from the Trait Level Up Card, I should apply it to a First Order trait currently at Level 4 - pushing it directly to Level 5 and triggering the order advancement.

Both Supernatural Physique and Blood Enhancement were First Order at Level 4, making them prime candidates.

Blood Enhancement was powerful and versatile, but I could train it much easier normally.

Supernatural Physique, however, was foundational - it improved literally every physical aspect of my existence and scaled with all other abilities. Enhanced strength, speed, durability, regeneration, stamina, reaction time - everything that made me effective in combat derived partially from that trait.

And more importantly, advancing it to Second Order would likely unlock qualitative improvements beyond simple numerical increases.

"Supernatural Physique," I decided aloud. "That's the optimal choice."

I focused on the trait in my status screen, then activated the Trait Level Up Card.

[Trait Level Up Card activated]

[Target: Supernatural Physique]

[Current: 1st Order, Level 4]

[Advancing to: 1st Order, Level 5]

[Order threshold reached! Advancing to 2nd Order, Level 1]

[Confirm advancement? Yes/No]

I selected yes immediately.

The card in my hand dissolved into pure energy that flooded into my body with overwhelming intensity. Every cell ignited with transformative power as the trait underwent fundamental reconstruction.

My muscles restructured themselves, becoming denser and more efficient without adding bulk. My bones reinforced with enhanced composition that increased durability dramatically. My cardiovascular system optimized for superior oxygen delivery and waste removal. My nervous system refined to transmit signals faster and more accurately.

The transformation lasted perhaps two minutes of intense sensation, then stabilized into the new baseline.

[Advancement Complete!]

[Supernatural Physique: 2nd Order, Level 1]

[Enhanced Details: Your body has transcended human limitations entirely, approaching the physical perfection of legendary warriors. Physical strength is increased by approximately 150% compared to baseline peak-Elite levels. Speed and agility are enhanced by 140%, allowing movement that appears as blur to normal perception. Stamina is functionally limitless for normal activities, and even intensive combat can be sustained far longer than others at the same rank. Reaction time operates at the threshold of precognition. All bonuses continue scaling multiplicatively with rank advancement.]

I stood there absorbing the changes, testing my new capabilities with experimental movements.

The difference was immediately tangible and dramatic. A simple punch generated enough force to crater stone. A casual jump carried me nearly to the ceiling. My perception felt sharper, processing visual information with clarity that made everything seem to move slightly slower.

"This is incredible," I muttered, examining my hand and watching muscles respond with perfect efficiency to mental commands.

The approximately 50% improvement in all physical parameters compared to Level 4 represented the difference between being strong and being genuinely superhuman. Combined with Blood Enhancement, Swift Essence aspect, and my other capabilities, my physical combat effectiveness had increased exponentially.

More importantly, this would scale. When I advanced to Transcendent rank, these bonuses would multiply further. At commander rank, the effects would be even higher.

The Trait Level Up Card had been worth far more than I'd initially estimated.

I spent the next hour testing the enhanced capabilities in the mansion's private training facility, confirming that every aspect of my physicality had improved dramatically. Strength, speed, durability, regeneration, stamina, reaction time - all operating at levels that would shock anyone who'd witnessed my previous performances.

Tomorrow's quarterfinals would reveal exactly how much this advancement had changed my combat effectiveness.

The third day of the tournament arrived with unprecedented excitement. The quarterfinals represented the culmination of everything.

I arrived at the arena early alongside Kael, both of us having prepared thoroughly at the mansion before making our way through the city. The atmosphere was electric, crowds filling the amphitheater to capacity as spectators recognized they were about to witness the tournament's highest-level matches.

Elen met us in the competitor section, having come to support despite her elimination yesterday. "The bracket posted about twenty minutes ago. Have you seen the matchups?"

"Not yet," I replied, moving toward the display boards where students clustered to examine pairings.

The bracket was prominently displayed:

Match 1: Emmet Stone vs Kyle Reinhardt

Match 2: Adrian Blackwood vs Marcus Vale

Match 3: Kael Frost vs Helena Ashcroft

...

My attention immediately locked on the first matchup. Emmet versus Kyle - the fight Emmet had wanted ever since Kyle's reputation as top-tier competitor had become established, and especially after yesterday's confrontation.

"This is going to be intense," Kael observed. "Both of them are incredibly strong."

"And both have something to prove," Elen added. "Emmet wants to demonstrate his fire superiority, and Kyle wants to reassert dominance after... everything."

The unspoken "everything" included my domination of Seraphina and the subsequent confrontation where Kyle had embarrassed himself. He'd be approaching this fight with something to prove.

The Headmaster delivered brief opening remarks about the significance of quarterfinal matches, then immediately directed attention to the primary arena where the first featured fight would occur.

"Competitors for Match One - Emmet Stone and Kyle Reinhardt - please enter the ring!"

The crowd's energy spiked dramatically as both fighters made their way to opposite sides of the arena. This was the matchup everyone had been anticipating - two top-tier Elite students with powerful bloodlines and exceptional combat records.

Emmet entered with his stoic composure, face showing no emotion as he positioned himself and prepared mentally. His fire manipulation was already stirring, subtle heat distortions visible around his body.

Kyle approached from the opposite side with focused intensity, his expression carrying determined confidence. Whatever embarrassment he'd felt yesterday was buried beneath competitive drive and desire to prove himself through victory.

The referee positioned between them. "This is a professional match. Standard tournament rules apply - fight until submission, unconsciousness, or referee intervention. Lethal techniques are forbidden. Competitors ready?"

Both nodded.

"BEGIN!"

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