Chapter 008: The Situation Reverses

Bruce’s face turned ashen. Hearing Nicholas say that, he still sneered and said, “The Holy Church and Roland Academy have joined forces—what’s the difference between their Light Combat Energy and ours?”
Unexpectedly, Nicholas didn’t answer him. Instead, he frowned for a moment before saying, “That ice-blue flame you used just now was quite strange. What was that? Some new combat technique developed by your Roland Academy?”
Bruce snorted and said, “Didn’t you, Saint Nicholas, even recognize my Roland Academy’s Sacred Heart Finger? How come you can’t tell what that move was?”
Nicholas raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “It seems this move has quite a background. I, Nicholas, am rather ignorant, but I’ve truly never seen anything like it before. How about we try a few more moves?”
Surprise flashed in Bruce’s eyes. After a moment, he said coldly, “Do I, Bruce, really fear you? But Saint Nicholas, I must tell you that you’re only an eighth-level fighter… Although the move you used was a bit cunning, do you really think that can do anything to me?”
Nicholas smiled faintly and said, “Of course it can’t do anything to you. But, Sir Bruce, I’ve already said it twice—it’s a pity you practice Light Combat Energy! Have you forgotten my profession, Nicholas? I am a Divine Mage! Do you really think pure Light Combat Energy can affect a Divine Mage?”
Bruce looked as if he had just realized something. He smiled strangely and said, “I see. Then I must thank you, Sir Nicholas. As long as it’s not Light Combat Energy? Hmph, do you really think I, Bruce, only know how to use Light Combat Energy?”
Nicholas smiled gently and said, “Of course. If you, Sir Bruce, only had such limited skills, why would we three need to deal with you?”
Bruce laughed heartily and said, “I see. In the end, you three are going to attack together! Was Sir Nicholas just testing me just now? Very well, then attack all three of you at once!”
Nicholas said calmly, “There’s no rush. Let me continue. Sir Bruce, you’d better be ready for this move. Although I’m only an eighth-level fighter, I’m not that easy to deal with!”
With that, Nicholas stretched out his right hand and slowly opened his palm. Moments later, a light sword made of Light Combat Energy instantly formed in his palm.

Nicholas leaped slightly and rushed at Bruce, his lightsaber emitting pure holy light, exuding an indescribable aura of power. Bruce frowned slightly—Nicholas’s move already carried the strength of an eighth-level combat energy, yet it still seemed somewhat peculiar. He sneered and said, “So even divine mages practice combat energy?” But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly exclaimed, “I see! You absorb it, right? Especially combat energy with a light attribute—you absorb it even faster, don’t you? My Saint Nicholas?” Nicholas’s expression changed, but he didn’t stop his attack. Bruce had revealed the truth, his face showing a hint of pride. As Nicholas charged at him, Bruce laughed and said, “My Saint Nicholas, light combat energy isn’t used this way!” His words were slow, but meticulously calculated. By the time the last word was spoken, Nicholas had reached him, his lightsaber ready to strike. Yet Bruce still appeared relaxed, smiling faintly and saying, “Nicholas, light combat energy isn’t used this way. If you can’t focus your combat energy, no matter how strong it is, it’s just an empty display. And since all you can do is absorb, you’ll never understand the true nature of light combat energy in your lifetime!” With that, he stood still, and Nicholas’s several attacks failed to hit him. Bruce simply waved his hand lightly, as if pressing it against Nicholas’s lightsaber, and a “crack” sound was heard—the lightsaber, formed from combat energy, shattered like glass. Seeing his attack failed, Nicholas’s expression changed as he stepped back. But Bruce now radiated an astonishing aura. He seemed to sneer and say, “Divine magic? It’s nothing special after all.” Then, Bruce slightly spread his palms, and the combat energy within them spun. Moments later, a lightsaber identical to the one Nicholas had created appeared in his hands.

Holding the holy light saber, Bruce spoke in a somewhat indifferent tone, “Although divine mages are the chosen ones of heaven, aren’t you all using forces that don’t belong to you? They’re external forces. It sounds nice, but in reality, you’ve already lost the possibility of surpassing your own limits… You won’t understand that whether it’s combat energy or magic, true strength lies in control… It’s not the case that the stronger one is necessarily better. On the contrary, only those who can truly control their own power are truly strong! Saint Nicholas! Can you… understand what I mean?”
“See, this is control,” he said, as if looking down at Nicholas. “This is the move you just used. I’ll let you experience now what true control is, what real power is, and what true light combat energy is!”
With that, Bruce flashed slightly and was already in front of Nicholas. He turned his palm, and the saber in his hand pointed straight at Nicholas’s forehead.
A series of screeching friction sounds came from all around. It seemed as though the air itself was wailing under this attack. The saber was about to strike Nicholas’s forehead…
But at that moment, Nicholas suddenly let out a hum. He raised his right hand, and holy light emerged from his fingertips, meeting Bruce’s attack.
With a loud crash, the holy light, which should have absorbed Bruce’s combat energy, suddenly turned into powder. Nicholas’s face showed an expression of disbelief as he stared blankly ahead, unable to react in time.
Bruce seemed to greatly appreciate this reaction. He smiled slightly and said, “See, Lord Nicholas… Under true control, your tricks are useless… Forces that don’t belong to you still don’t belong to you!”
Nicholas’s expression changed drastically. He stepped back several times, spinning his hands in front of him to create several transparent walls made of holy energy. But under Bruce’s attack, these walls seemed to vanish.
Bruce’s attack was now aimed straight at Nicholas’s forehead, unstoppable.
Everything in its path was destroyed, even those transparent walls—destroyed, destroyed, destroyed…
By now, even if Nicholas tried to use other moves, it was already too late.

A hint of joy flashed through his mind: “Dear De… Am I really going to accompany you like this?”
Tasia and Ringo, standing on either side, suddenly moved. Ringo vanished in a flash and was already behind Bruce. She used both hands to strike forward forcefully, sending two streams of dark flames rushing at Bruce. Almost at the same time, Tasia waved her hands rapidly, causing a chill to spread—seemingly lowering the temperature in the entire space by several degrees. Gritting her teeth, she slapped her hands again, sending several ice shards flying at Bruce.
Seizing this moment, Tasia grabbed Nicholas by the shoulder and pulled him backward, returning to their original position.
By then, the dark flames and ice shards had both reached Bruce.
Bruce snorted, and the lightsaber in his hand flew out suddenly. Tasia saw a flash before her eyes and instinctively pulled Nicholas to the left…
A scream was heard. The attack was meant to pierce Nicholas’s body, but Tasia’s move allowed them to dodge the critical spot and the blade hit Nicholas’s arm instead.
Blood gushed forth like a fountain, coloring most of Nicholas and Tasia’s bodies red.
At this moment, Bruce could have taken Nicholas’s life, but ice shards and dark flames were already heading toward him. Suddenly, he let out a fierce roar, and a surge of combat energy rose into the air. The dark flames and ice shards met that energy and were instantly reduced to ashes.
Just from this, it was clear that Bruce had mastered control over his power to an extreme degree.
Amidst that combat energy, Bruce seemed to sneer. He glanced at Tasia and then at Ringo, then couldn’t help but say mockingly, “What, you wanted me to fight Nicholas alone? You two can’t wait, huh? Very well, let me see what you’re capable of. If it’s that little, I advise you… before provoking me further… just get lost quickly…”