Chapter 23: Elite Rank, Increased Bloodline Purity

The formal dissolution of the engagement had been handled with the dignity and grace expected of noble houses, but I could see the disappointment in both fathers' eyes. They had genuinely believed this union would benefit everyone involved. Little did they know that breaking this engagement had probably saved both Houses from a great deal of future suffering. After the engagement was officially broken, the Rosewood family left and I was left with my parents in the living room. "Hopefully this is for the best," my father sighed. The tense atmosphere in the living room was awkward. Feeling the heavy silence, I decided to excuse myself. "I'll be in my room if you need me." ... In my room, I took out some paper and started writing down all the important and unimportant events I remembered from the novel. I felt like there hadn't been any need before because of my enhanced memory that came with my vampire transformation. But after seeing Kyle in that forest scene that didn't match my recollections, I wanted to make sure whether the plotline was really changing or if I was somehow losing certain memories about the book. Both options were valid possibilities, and creating a written record was a good way to verify what I actually knew versus what I thought I knew. I started with the immediate future events that should happen within the next few weeks, then moved on to the academy arc timeline. The entrance examinations, the ranking tournaments, the various crises that would unfold throughout the first semester, documenting everything I could recall with as much detail as possible. After writing several pages of events that should be happening soon, I folded the papers carefully and secured them on me. This written timeline would serve as my reference point for detecting future changes. "This world is so troublesome... especially..." I paused, thinking about the future events and the ripple effects my actions were creating. "Sigh, forget it. There's no need to worry about this now. It's not the time." I sat down on my bed and started meditating, trying to center myself and focus on what I could control. The urge to gain more power to deal with whatever was coming grew stronger with each passing day. The uncertainty was the most dangerous part. In the original story, I'd known exactly when and how Adrian would die. Now, with the timeline shifting in unpredictable ways, that knowledge was becoming less reliable. I needed to be stronger, faster, and more prepared for scenarios I couldn't foresee. The daily login system was helpful, but it wasn't enough on its own, especially with today's daily reward of a Mortal-Rank healing potion. ... Shing! Slash! The Elite-rank beast before me dropped to the floor with a heavy thud, its lifeblood pooling beneath its massive body. Once again, I felt my body growing stronger. Every time I killed a beast, I felt my soul power increase, that familiar sensation of energy flowing into me and strengthening my core. In this world, this was how people progressed. Through claiming the soul power of defeated enemies and using that accumulated energy to reach the next rank. It was a brutal but effective system that rewarded those willing to face danger head-on. The soul system had also accounted for cheats, people were unable to cheat the system by making their stronger relatives give them near-dead monsters to get stronger with. Nearly two weeks had passed since the engagement was broken. In that time, I'd gained complete control over my enhanced body, and now I could easily dispatch normal Elite-rank beasts without breaking a sweat. My daily training with my father had paid dividends, and my combat instincts had sharpened considerably. My daily login rewards had been a mixed bag during this period. Sometimes good, mostly disappointing. I'd been receiving primarily Mortal-grade items like health potions, mana recovery, and basic utility items that, while somewhat useful, weren't anything special. The system seemed to enjoy giving me mundane supplies rather than the powerful artifacts I craved. However, three items had stood out as genuinely beneficial additions to my arsenal. They were all Enhanced-grade equipment, which wasn't the highest tier available but still represented a significant improvement over Mortal-grade gear. [Swift Step Boots][Grade: Enhanced][Details: Increases the wearer's agility by 5% when equipped. The enchanted leather adapts to the user's foot shape for maximum comfort during extended combat or travel.] [Mana Flow Bracelet][Grade: Enhanced] [Details: Increases the wearer's total mana capacity by 5%. The silver band contains micro-crystals that help regulate magical energy flow throughout the body.] [Razor Edge Sword][Grade: Enhanced][Details: This blade possesses supernatural sharpness capable of cutting through steel like butter. While it provides no stat bonuses, its cutting power makes it effective against Elite-rank monster hides and Armor.] The sword had quickly become my preferred weapon. Its ability to slice through Elite-rank defences with minimal effort had saved me considerable time and energy during my earlier hunts. Combined with my Blood Control abilities, it made me a nightmare against most opponents in the elite-rank. But today was special. Today brought the advancement I'd been working toward for the past two weeks. I smiled as I saw the notifications I'd finally been waiting for. [You've reached Elite Rank!] [Your bloodline purity has increased by 5%] [Your existing traits have levelled up!] [You have gained a new trait: Blood Enhancement (1st Order)] When advancing in rank, two things could potentially happen. Either you gained a completely new trait, or your existing traits simply levelled up through the increase of your bloodline purity. I wasn't surprised that I'd experienced both benefits simultaneously. This was one of the major perks of possessing a Supreme-tier bloodline. You were fundamentally different from other awakeners. Whilst traits could be levelled up through ranking advancement, they could also be improved through consistent usage and mastery. The more you exercised a particular ability, the stronger and more refined it became. This dual progression system rewarded both natural talent and dedicated practice. My updated status screen displayed my new capabilities.