Chapter 242: Threshold Of Ascension! (Plot continues)

As Bruce carried her, he didn’t bother with towels yet. The air was warm, the distance short. Bruce carried her through the open bathroom door, down the quiet hallway, and into the bedroom where soft lamplight waited. Water dripped steadily from them both, leaving a faint trail across the floor, but he moved with unhurried care, as though she weighed nothing.

At the edge of the wide bed, he lowered her gently onto the cool sheets. Sophie sighed at the softness beneath her, sinking into the mattress, eyes half-lidded and heavy with sleep. Bruce brushed a strand of wet hair from her cheek, thumb lingering there for a moment.

He straightened, glancing toward the door, the clean clothes she’d ordered earlier would have arrived by now. He turned to fetch them, but a soft hand caught his wrist.

“Don’t go…” Sophie whispered, voice drowsy, almost pleading. Her fingers curled loosely around him, tugging with what little strength she had left.

Bruce paused, looked back at her, and felt his heart tighten at the sight, her flushed cheeks, the vulnerable curve of her body against the sheets, the quiet need in her eyes. A gentle smile touched his lips.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised softly.

He reached for one of the large, warmed towels waiting on the nearby stand, wrapped it loosely around his hips, then slid into bed behind her. He pulled her close, spooning her from behind, his chest to her back, arm draping over her waist, fingers interlacing with hers. Sophie nestled back against him immediately, a contented hum escaping her as she fit perfectly into the curve of his body.

Bruce pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck, breathing her in.

“Sleep,” he murmured against her skin.

She did, almost instantly, her breathing deepening, body going fully lax in his arms. Bruce stayed awake a little longer, listening to the quiet rhythm of her breath, feeling the warmth of her against him. The chaos of the past days felt impossibly distant now. He could wait for clothes until dawn. This, holding her, safe and close, was all he needed.

Eventually, he drifted off too.

It was midnight when Bruce stirred, the room bathed in soft moonlight filtering through half-drawn curtains. The bed beside him was empty, sheets still warm from her body. He blinked, orienting himself, then sat up slowly.

Just then, the door opened quietly.

Sophie stepped in, carrying a neatly folded stack of clothes. Moonlight spilled across her as she moved, turning her into something almost ethereal, silvery light tracing the delicate lines of her face, the soft waves of her now-dry black hair falling over one shoulder. She wore a thin silk nightgown, pale and flowing, that clung gently to her figure, accentuating every curve, the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the long lines of her legs. The fabric was nearly translucent in the moonlight, hinting at the beauty beneath without revealing everything, and she looked like something out of a dream.

She noticed he was awake and flashed him a soft, knowing smile, eyes warm even in the cool light.

“Here’s the clothes I ordered,” she said quietly, her voice carrying that familiar gentle affection as she crossed the room toward him.

Bruce nodded and took the neatly folded set from her hands. He turned slightly, slipping into the clothes with unhurried movements, the calm in his posture a stark contrast to the fun earlier. As he fastened the last piece, he felt her gaze linger on him.

When he looked back, Sophie’s expression had changed.

The softness was still there, but beneath it was resolve.

“I’m ready, Bruce,” she said quietly, yet firmly. “I’m ready to fully advance to S-Rank.”

Bruce studied her for a moment, then smiled. Not surprised. Not hesitant. Just… pleased.

“Good,” he replied calmly. “I’ve got a special place for that.”

Before Sophie could ask anything, he stepped forward and scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her princess-style once more. She let out a soft sound of surprise, instinctively wrapping an arm around his neck. Bruce leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, warm, reassuring.

In the same instant, his thoughts reached outward.

’Vaelith. Teleport me and Sophie to your core.’

There was no verbal reply but Vaelith responded instantly. Space folded.

As Bruce held Sophie close, Velmora itself shifted. Their surroundings dimmed, vision darkening for the briefest heartbeat as the world bent around them.

Then they were elsewhere.

The core of Velmora.

Bruce barely reacted after had been here before. There wasn’t anything shocking about this place.

But Sophie… Sophie froze.

Bruce gently set her down on her feet, and the moment she stood on her own, her eyes widened. She slowly turned, taking in everything around her with open awe. Mana saturated the space so densely it was almost tangible, flowing in vast, luminous currents of countless hues, gold, violet, blue, crimson, intertwining and spiraling endlessly through the air.

It felt unreal. Her breath caught.

The sheer excess of mana pressed against her senses, not oppressively, but warmly, like the world itself was embracing her. Notifications surfaced immediately in her vision.

[Mana Regeneration Rate increased by 1000% in this region.]

[Physical Regeneration Rate increased by 1000% in this region.]

[All Abilities boosted by 1000% in this region]

Sophie felt it instantly. Her mana responded eagerly, surging with renewed vitality. Even her body felt lighter, stronger, every cell humming with life.

Bruce received the same notifications.

He barely reacted.

The place hadn’t changed much since his last visit, except for one detail. Vaelith’s Diamond Core hovered at the center of the space, radiant as ever… but larger. More refined. More complete.

The colors around them swirled lazily, painting the space with breathtaking beauty. For a fleeting moment, it almost felt like they had come here simply to admire the view.

Then.

[Hi.]

Vaelith’s monotonous voice echoed softly through the space.

Sophie’s head snapped up. Her gaze locked onto the hovering Diamond Core.

She recognized that voice immediately.

…

A/N:

Read Creator’s Thoughts below…

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