The first pale light of dawn crept through Fenix's window, painting his room in soft silver hues. He had been awake for hours, sitting cross-legged on his bed in perfect meditation posture. Unlike his previous training sessions filled with sweat and exertion, this morning brought a different kind of preparation.

His breathing followed ancient patterns as he guided mana through his awakened pathways. He could feel his cultivation settling into balance - both cores humming, synchronized in a way that seemed almost natural despite being theoretically impossible.

The equilibrium felt right, as if his potential demanded nothing less than perfect dual development.

After hours of silent cultivation, Fenix focused inward with a mental command he hadn't used since the temple.

"Status."

The familiar translucent screen materialized before his vision, displaying information that made him pause in genuine surprise.

CHARACTER PROFILE

Name: Fenix Ackerman

Age: 14

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Aura Core: Evolved

Mana Core: Awakened (New!)

Potential: Mythical (New!)

Rank: Intermediate

Attributes:

- Strength: 37 (+5)

- Agility: 41 (+5)

- Endurance: 39 (+5)

- Intelligence: 27 (+5)

- Will: 16

- Vigor: 35 (+5)

- Perception: 7 (New!)

- Charm: 10 (New!)

Abilities:

Innate Skills:

[Black Star] - Locked: Ackerman bloodline trait that devours energy on contact.

Life Weapon Skills:

[First Art] - [Ethereal Rend... Collapse] - Expert: Reality-severing diagonal slash technique.

Arts:

- [Astral Doppelganger] - Potential (Enhanced): Creates fighting projection, capped at Expert rank. Current Mastery: Intermediate rank

- [Ethereal Shroud] - Potential (Transcendent): Copies mana signatures for perfect concealment. Current Mastery: Novice rank

- [Mana Bastion] - Potential (Transcendent): Creates adaptive barriers of pure mana energy. Current Mastery: Novice rank

Fenix stared at the display, his mind working through the implications. Mythical potential. He remembered Levi's assessment in the throne room - transcendent potential, rare as one in ten thousand. But mythical? That was something beyond even his ancestor's categories, suggesting capabilities that exceeded every known classification.

A slow smile spread across his face. His mana cultivation had indeed reached Intermediate rank during his advancement in the temple, perfectly balancing with his aura development. Both systems hummed at equal strength, creating synergies that his mythical potential seemed to demand.

But it was the new Perception attribute that intrigued him most. Seven points didn't seem like much but no point was insignificant.

The status screen faded as heavy footsteps approached his door.

"Young master," Soren's voice carried through the wood. "Our guests have arrived."

Fenix rose smoothly, his dual cultivation leaving him feeling perfectly balanced despite hours of meditation. He fastened his silver katana at his side, the life weapon humming with anticipation for the battle ahead.

When he opened the door, Soren stood waiting with an expression of grim satisfaction.

"How many?" Fenix asked as they walked toward the main entrance.

"Thirty-seven total," Soren replied. "Broderick Richter brought significant escort. His son Vin, plus a representative from the Voss family."

"Voss family?"

"Tier 2 house. Their delegate is Cassia Voss - Grandmaster+ rank, mid-thirties. She's here to witness and ensure the terms are properly followed." Soren's smile was sharp. "She carries herself like she's used to being the deadliest person in any room."

They descended the main staircase as sounds of arrival echoed through the estate. Through tall windows, Fenix could see banners bearing the Richter family crest - a golden eagle on black field.

Khan waited with the five elders, all radiating nervous energy despite their attempts at dignified composure. When they saw Fenix approaching, relief flickered across their faces.

"Ready?" Khan asked quietly.

"More than ready," Fenix replied with certainty that made even the skeptical elders straighten.

The massive front doors swung open, revealing the delegation. Broderick Richter strode through first - a man in his fifties with golden hair streaked with silver and calculating brown eyes that viewed people as chess pieces.

Behind him walked Vin Richter. Sixteen years old, carrying himself with the confidence of someone who'd never lost a fight. His Graduator-rank aura was carefully controlled but unmistakably present, marking him as a true genius of cultivation.

The third figure made Fenix's senses sharpen. Cassia Voss moved with predatory grace, her Grandmaster+ power carefully contained but radiating authority. Sharp features, calculating eyes, and the kind of presence that promised violence for anyone who crossed her.

"Lord Khan," Broderick's voice boomed. "Thank you for agreeing to this demonstration. I trust you've prepared an appropriate champion?"

"We have," Khan replied formally. "My nephew, Fenix Ackerman."

Every eye turned toward him. Most of the Richter delegation dismissed him immediately upon sensing his apparent Intermediate rank. A few looked confused, unable to understand why the Ackermans would send a child to certain death.

But Cassia Voss studied him with interest that went beyond casual observation, her enhanced senses searching for hidden capabilities.

Vin Richter laughed outright. "This is your champion? An Intermediate-rank?" He looked at his father with disbelief. "Are they surrendering without actually saying it?"

"I'm standing right here," Fenix said mildly.

Vin's attention snapped to him, brown eyes widening as they met crimson orbs that held depths beyond his understanding. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across the young Graduator's face.

"My apologies," Vin said with mock courtesy. "I didn't mean to ignore our... honored opponent."

Fenix simply smiled. "No offense taken. I understand why you'd assume this would be easy."

Something in his tone made Cassia Voss lean forward with sharpened interest. This boy spoke with confidence that came from proven capability, not youthful arrogance.

"Shall we proceed?" Broderick asked, eager to conclude what he viewed as a formality.

The procession moved to the main courtyard, where servants had prepared a fighting circle. The families took positions on opposite sides while Cassia Voss stood as official witness.

"The terms," she announced, her voice carrying to every corner, "are formal combat between designated champions. Victory by death, surrender, or incapacitation. The winner's family gains the disputed rights. Are both parties prepared?"

"The Richter family is ready," Broderick declared.

All eyes turned to Khan, who looked at his nephew with pride and terror warring in his expression. "The Ackerman family accepts."

Vin stepped into the circle with casual arrogance, his Graduator-rank aura blazing like golden fire. The power radiating from him made servants step backward involuntarily. This was genius made manifest - sixteen years old with cultivation most required decades to achieve.

Fenix walked to the center with relaxed confidence that confused everyone present. His apparent Intermediate rank made the power disparity obvious, yet something about his demeanor suggested he knew something they didn't.

As he took position, Fenix felt his Perception attribute activating for the first time since gaining it. Time seemed to slow as his enhanced awareness cataloged every detail - Vin's stance, breathing patterns, energy flow, even micro-expressions that revealed internal state.

This was the same crystalline clarity from the temple, the impossible processing speed that had let him survive overwhelming odds. The same sensation he'd felt appearing in the Brelgorn cavern before Gareth nearly died. Now he understood - not luck or adrenaline, but an actual ability that let him perceive reality with supernatural precision.

Vin settled into combat stance, his golden aura intensifying. But as he focused on his opponent, confusion flickered across his features. The boy radiated power signatures that didn't make sense - Intermediate rank certainly, but with underlying currents suggesting capabilities far beyond normal classifications.

Most disturbing was the complete absence of fear or doubt in those crimson eyes.

"Begin!" Cassia Voss called out.

Vin exploded forward with speed that should have ended the fight instantly. His golden aura blazed as enhanced techniques accelerated his movement beyond normal perception, his blade sweeping toward Fenix's neck in a strike designed to demonstrate overwhelming superiority.

But as the attack developed, as Vin committed fully to what should have been decisive victory, his enhanced senses detected something impossible.

His opponent was gone.

Not moved aside or ducked to safety. Simply vanished from the space he'd occupied, leaving Vin's perfect strike cutting empty air.

Confusion exploded through Vin's mind as his Graduator-rank perception tried to track movement that seemed to violate physical laws. Where had the boy gone? How could an Intermediate move with such speed?

"Looking for me?" Fenix asked from directly beside him.

Vin spun toward the voice, his reflexes screaming warnings about proximity that should have been impossible without detection. But even as he turned, even as his capabilities blazed in desperate defense, he found himself staring into crimson eyes that held depths of power he'd never encountered.

Around the courtyard, gasps rose from both delegations as they witnessed movement that challenged every assumption about Intermediate rank capabilities.

In the crowd, Cassia Voss straightened with sudden sharp interest. What she'd just witnessed was either impossible or indicated this boy possessed abilities that defied conventional classification.

The fight had begun, and already nothing was proceeding according to expectations.

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