Chapter 24: Blood Enhancement, Academy Entrance Exam

[Host: Adrian Blackwood] [Bloodline: Supreme Vampire - 15%] [Rank: Elite] [Traits: Blood Control (2nd Order, Lvl.2), Supernatural Physique (1st Order, Lvl.3), Blood Enhancement (1st Order, Lvl.1)] [Aspect: Serpent Scales (Elite)] [Echo: None] Despite my killing of a few elite-ranked beasts after the serpent, I didn't receive any new aspect or echo, which wasn't great but it was expected. I had levelled up my Supernatural Physique trait once before this recent advancement through the intensive combat training and physical conditioning. Blood Control was proving harder to level up, but I could feel myself approaching the threshold for another improvement. Higher-order abilities required more effort and experience to advance, which made sense given their superior power. Excited about my new trait, I focused on examining its capabilities. [Blood Enhancement] [Order: 1] [Level: 1] [Details: Allows the user to infuse weapons with blood energy, increasing their cutting power, durability, and effectiveness against defences.] The description was concise but promising. This trait appeared to have excellent practical applications and seemed relatively straightforward to level up through regular use. Blood Enhancement could be practiced with any weapon and any available blood source. I could already envision how this would synergize with my other abilities. My Blood Control could gather and manipulate blood from defeated enemies, which I could then use a portion of to enhance my weapons mid-combat. The combination would make me significantly more dangerous against heavily armoured opponents or creatures with natural resistances. Testing the new ability immediately, I drew some blood from my pendant and focused on channelling it into my Razor Edge Sword. The crimson liquid flowed along the blade's surface. The sword's weight remained the same, but I could feel its lethality had increased substantially. The blood enhancement created a resonance between my vampire nature and the weapon, amplifying both its physical sharpness and its effectiveness against defences. I slowly passed the enhanced blade at a nearby tree trunk. The sword sliced through the thick wood like it was paper, leaving a clean cut that showed no resistance whatsoever. Even more impressive, the blood enhancement seemed to prevent the blade from dulling or chipping despite the impact. This was exactly the kind of versatile ability that would serve me well in the dangerous times ahead. Whether facing magical beasts, or the various threats that would emerge during the academy arc, having weapons that could cut through stronger defence would be invaluable. My smile widened as I contemplated the possibilities. Elite rank brought new challenges, but it also provided the tools necessary to face them. With my enhanced abilities, improved equipment, and growing combat experience, I was becoming someone who could stand on equal footing with the story's major characters. The question was whether that would be enough when the real chaos began. For now, though, I was content to savour this moment of advancement. Every step forward was a step away from the helpless fate that had originally awaited Adrian Blackwood. I cleaned my blade and began making my way back to the city. The academy entrance exams were only a day away. ... My body felt much stronger than before. Level 3 Supernatural Physique trait had enhanced not just my overall body, but also refined my control over it. My senses were sharper than ever, but what was really a game changer was my new ability to limit their intensity. I'd previously struggled with the overwhelming flood of sensory information, hearing conversations from rooms away, smelling every individual scent in a crowded marketplace, feeling the vibrations of footsteps through the floor. It had been genuinely troublesome to deal with on a daily basis. But with my trait at level 3, I gained the ability to dial down my senses to comfortable levels. I could adjust my hearing, smell, and other enhanced perceptions to my liking rather than being constantly bombarded with information. The relief was immense, like finally being able to turn down the volume on the world around me. Arriving at the main hall, I found my parents waiting for me with expectant expressions. "Adrian, how are you feeling? The entrance exam is tomorrow," my father asked, a proud smile spreading across his face. During the past two weeks, I had accompanied my father on several hunting expeditions deeper into the forest. I'd used that time strategically, knowing that with him as my bodyguard, I could face stronger opponents and gain more soul power without the usual risks of encountering wandering beasts. It had proven to be the correct decision, though not without its complications. We'd actually encountered a Transcendent-rank beast during one of our hunts. We weren't even particularly deep into the forest when the creature appeared, a massive Lion that could have easily killed dozens of Elite-rank awakeners. Fortunately, my father had handled the threat with the skill and power befitting his rank. He'd gained an echo from the victory and had been relatively pleased with the outcome. But I wasn't happy about it at all. The implications were deeply troubling. For a Transcendent beast to appear so close to the city was extremely unusual and concerning. It could have been an anomaly, perhaps a solitary predator that had wandered too far from its normal territory. But was it really that simple? In this world, there were barely any moments of pure coincidence. Everything had underlying reasons and motivations. That beast must have had a purpose for venturing so close to human civilization, and that possibility worried me considerably. Transcendent-rank creatures were intelligent enough to understand territorial boundaries and the dangers of approaching major population centres. They didn't simply wander into areas where they might face organized resistance from multiple high-rank awakeners unless something was driving them. "I'm feeling confident about tomorrow," I replied to my father's question, pushing my concerns about the beast encounter to the back of my mind. "The training these past weeks has been really good." My mother stepped forward with her warm smile. "We're so proud of how hard you've been working, darling. Your awakening has truly transformed you." She wasn't wrong. T he difference between the original Adrian and my current self was staggering. Two weeks ago, I'd been a newly awakened Noble-rank. Now I was an Elite-rank combatant with abilities that could surprise even the academy instructors. "The academy will be a new challenge," my father said thoughtfully. "But I have complete confidence in your abilities. Just remember to stay focused and don't let your guard down around the other students. Some of them come from families with... complicated relationships with ours." I nodded, understanding the political subtext. The academy would be filled with children from rival houses, each carrying their family's ambitions and grudges. Navigating those social dynamics would be just as important as excelling in combat training. "I'll be careful, Father. And I'll make sure to represent our family well." My parents beamed at my words, clearly pleased with my attitude. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of the academy arc, the most dangerous period in the original timeline for Adrian. But unlike the doomed Adrian Blackwood from the novel, I was prepared for what was coming. The question was whether my preparations would be enough when the real chaos began.