Chapter 280: Quarter Finals [1] Inside the resort, Noah finally allowed himself to rest. He had set his plan in motion with the ceasefire announcement and auction declaration—now he needed to wait for events to unfold rather than forcing immediate action. The exhaustion from training intensively in both worlds had accumulated despite his enhanced constitution. Physical and mental fatigue demanded proper recovery, especially with tomorrow’s quarterfinal match approaching. While Noah felt confident about his tournament prospects given his advanced swordsmanship level and enhanced attributes, competing at peak performance required adequate rest. The quarterfinals would eliminate half the remaining contestants, making preparation crucial for continued advancement. Noah settled into his luxurious futon. His mind drifted to the three-day ceasefire that would provide Lola time to strengthen herself with premium enhancement items while giving both elven factions the illusion of an opportunity to gather artefacts for the upcoming auction. His gamble on using the Warrior’s Protein Shake as bait had successfully halted their destructive conflict, but the ultimate success of his strategy depended on maintaining that fragile peace until he could reach the World Tree and complete his arrangement with Prince Adrian. Sleep came easily despite the weight of responsibility he now carried for potentially ending a decade-old war. His enhanced vitality allowed deep, restorative rest that would prepare him for whatever challenges tomorrow’s tournament competition might bring. The resort’s peaceful atmosphere provided a stark contrast to the magical battlefield he had left behind, where two armies now maintained an uneasy truce based entirely on their desire for his most powerful enhancement item. Noah woke up the next day to the sound of speakers announcing tournament preparations—the quarterfinals would begin in one hour. He rose from his futon, made his bed, and then headed to the washroom to prepare for the day ahead. [Your Daily Idle Income has been issued!] [ $1,851,500 has been issues!] [ Amulet of Protection has been issued!] [Eye of Apollo has been issued!] It was certainly nice to see these items being issued. Such powerful items coupled with nearly two million dollars were simply invaluable. After completing his morning routine, Noah entered his shop to check on Lola’s progress with her enhancement training. Inside, he discovered Leo had already awakened from his extended sleep and was lying peacefully beside Lola, who sat in lotus position with deep concentration. Her breathing patterns and focused expression indicated she was actively comprehending new abilities or integrating recent skill developments. Noah chose not to interrupt her meditation, instead gently motioning for Leo to join him. The young lion rose slowly and walked toward Noah with obvious happiness at seeing his father. "Father, I have reached master rank!" Leo announced excitedly, though he kept his voice incredibly low to avoid disturbing Lola’s concentration. Noah nodded with genuine pride before gently rubbing Leo’s golden mane. "Well done, Leo. I’m proud of your advancement. When we leave this place, I’ll take you out hunting to test your new abilities. Unfortunately, if we venture outside right now, we’d be the ones getting hunted instead." His tone carried both affection for Leo’s achievement and wry acknowledgement of their current precarious situation, where powerful elven factions existed outside his safe shop. The irony wasn’t lost on him—Leo had achieved master rank just as they found themselves surrounded by grandmaster-level practitioners whose capabilities made even brief excursions outside the shop potentially lethal encounters. Glancing at Leo’s updated status, Noah couldn’t deny feeling a twinge of jealousy. Leo’s advancement rate was genuinely astonishing, though the limitation that his potential remained capped at master rank created a barrier that would need addressing. Noah hoped that one of his future enhancement items might eventually break through such limitations. [Pet No.1] Leo [Growth] Adult [Rank] Master [Potential] Master [Skills] [Titanform Shift] – Leo bends his body to the extremes of power, compressing into the stealthy form of a predator no larger than a cub or expanding into the towering frame of a colossal lion draped in a radiant mane. Each size grants unique advantages: smaller forms excel in speed and infiltration, while larger forms amplify strength, resilience, and presence. [Riftrend Claw] – A strike infused with a golden mane’s essence. Leo drives mana into his claws, raking through foes with a blow that rends through flesh and armour alike. The wound glows with a searing aftershock, bleeding both life and energy over time. [Thronebreaker Roar] – The perfected evolution of his battle-cry. Leo unleashes a kingdom-rattling roar that shakes ground and sky, enforcing his supremacy. Enemies are crushed under waves of fear, paralysis, and frailty, while allies bask in the roar’s resonance, their wounds knitting, spirits surging, and blades empowered with temporary might. — After entering the master rank, Leo’s skills had evolved once more. Becoming more lethal and more powerful than before. The previous {Size Manipulation} skill has become {Titanform Shift}, which provided tactical versatility that few practitioners could match, while his {Riftrend Claw} and {Thronebreaker Roar} had become devastating weapons that could influence entire battlefields. "Your skills have evolved to become incredibly sophisticated," Noah observed with admiration. "The Thronebreaker Roar especially sounds like it could turn the tide of major conflicts." Leo’s tail swished with pride at his father’s recognition. "Thank you, Papa. I want to be strong enough to protect you and Lola when we travel to dangerous places." Noah smiled at Leo’s noble ambition, though privately he understood the harsh reality. Leo’s master rank, while impressive for his age and species, remained insufficient against the grandmaster-level threats they would face during their journey to the World Tree. The gap between master and grandmaster represented a chasm that raw determination couldn’t bridge. Rather than crushing the young lion’s spirits with brutal honesty, Noah chose encouragement that would foster Leo’s continued growth while maintaining realistic expectations. "Then I will depend on you in the future, Leo," Noah said with warmth that carried genuine affection despite his internal concerns. Leo’s eyes brightened with visible happiness at Noah’s words. "Fater, you can rest assured, I will take care of you."