Chapter 006: Choice

Bruce stood in the vine-covered hall of the bell tower, eyes closed, lost in thought. It was only after a moment that he opened them and called out, “Someone!”
But for a long time, no one responded.
Bruce was about to grow angry when suddenly he let out a soft sigh and murmured, “I forgot—those guys went to the hunting ground with Ordas… This Ordas surely won’t disappoint me this time, right?”
A rare wry smile appeared on Bruce’s face. That man was his proudest disciple, yet at this moment, he was a pawn he had to abandon.
“The Source of Gods?” Bruce murmured. “What a crazy, desperate thing! Once I obtain it, what does the Roland Academy matter? And what about the Holy Church? Hehehe… Ordas, don’t blame me… If you were in my position, I think you’d do the same.”
As he spoke, Bruce’s face was filled with satisfaction. The Saintly Rank—a height that ordinary people could only aspire to in their entire lives—was something he, Bruce, would achieve today… Of course, this required Ordas’s success… Bruce was known as the strongest being closest to the Saintly Rank, but who could understand just how deep and wide the gap between the peak of Level 9 and the Saintly Rank was?
Bruce sighed contentedly, exhaling in satisfaction. The impending Saintly Rank filled him with joy.
Whether it was the Belinger family or Ordas, they were indeed excellent pawns!
He whispered to himself, his face wearing a smile of triumph. Perhaps even his most proud student had never seen such a smile from him.
Suddenly, the smile vanished from Bruce’s face. He let out a low sigh and said, “Is it that time again?”
With that, he stretched out his hands and waved them slightly. Following his motion, the ancient stone platform reappeared, and the crystal coffin on it remained dazzlingly beautiful.
Bruce slowly stepped onto the platform and stood beside the crystal coffin, gazing at the jade figure inside.
Chris’s appearance remained unchanged. Her elegant demeanor couldn’t hide her extraordinary beauty. Even in slumber, she exuded a breathtaking grace. Her beauty was unlike anything in the world—neither stunning nor alluring, nor delicate… It was simply a gentleness like a breeze, a softness that inevitably stirred ripples in one’s heart.

Bruce reached out and couldn’t help but gently place his hand on Kris’s face. He seemed to have forgotten the taboo against using elf magic to prolong life. As his fingertips touched her skin, he couldn’t help but tremble.
What beauty!
A strange look flashed in Bruce’s eyes. This woman was his student—nothing more than that.
He withdrew his hand and let out a soft sneer, muttering to himself, “If I have power, then what can’t I do?”
Indeed, what can’t he do?
He laughed softly, as if he already had everything.
But suddenly, the smile on Bruce’s face vanished. He took a deep breath, placed his hands behind his back, and his eyes flashed with silver light. Moments later, he said coldly, “Who’s there? Come out!”
A few soft sighs were heard, and the entire world seemed to brighten slightly.
A gentle yet somewhat delicate voice said, “Honorable Bruce, I, Nicholas, a divine mage of the Holy Church, am honored to witness your greatness.”
Another cold yet alluring voice spoke, “I, Tasia, a nun of the Holy Church, am honored to experience your overwhelming pressure, like that of an abyss.”
The last voice, somewhat sultry, whispered, “I, Lingsound, am honored to let you experience what true deepest fear is.”
“Just the three of you?” Bruce sneered. “It seems even I, Bruce, have been underestimated! If I’m not wrong, it must be that little wretch Du Fan who sent you.”
Three figures stepped out of the darkness, blocking all of Bruce’s escape routes. Nicholas was surrounded by holy light, Tasia by mist, while Lingsound had nothing at all—except that it seemed as though she held a ball of hellfire in her hands.
Nicholas stood in front of Bruce, smiling gently—so charmingly beautiful, like the vibrant colors of autumn or the clarity of the moon after the clouds part. He was already extremely handsome; if only he were a woman, he would surely be breathtakingly beautiful. But even this faint smile was enchanting. There was a hint of sorrow in it—his heart might have become empty with Alfred’s death, yet his appearance remained unchanged.

Nicholas stared at Bruce with that faint smile, making Bruce’s scalp tingle and his stomach churn before he softly said, “Lord Bruce is truly extraordinary. You were right—it was Lord Du Fan who sent us… But remember, Lord Du Fan is no ordinary man. It might be fine for you to speak like this in front of me, but if Lord Du Fan hears it, you might not survive.”

Bruce laughed heartily. “Good! Very good! It’s been so many years since anyone dared speak to me like this. Nicholas, though you call yourself a saint, in my eyes, you mean nothing. Even your Arch-Cardinal Anthony wouldn’t dare be so arrogant in front of me… Are you trying to provoke me so that I’ll send you to your dear Alfred?”

The air around them suddenly turned tense. Nicholas’s eyes turned red as he glared at Bruce and growled, “Bruce! What did you say?”

Bruce replied calmly, “Don’t you know what I said? Alfred is a pawn we planted in the Holy Church. How could I not know anything about him? What? Now that Alfred is dead, instead of avenging him, you stand on the side of his enemy? If I’m not mistaken, it was Du Fan who killed Alfred, right?”

Nicholas took a deep breath before saying coldly after a moment, “Lord Bruce, if you mention that name again, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself. Please know that the three of us came here today without any intention of becoming your enemies. Please don’t provoke us. Though you are a peak-level ninth-grade warrior, you’re still not at the saintly rank. The three of us are all mages, already at the eighth grade. If a fight really breaks out, I doubt you even know who will win.”

“Are you threatening me?” Bruce took a breath. “Hmph, do you really think three of you can threaten me? Divine mages? Mages? And the last one… Hahaha, it’s a barbarian shaman priest. It seems the Holy Church is indeed powerful—enough to cultivate shaman priests. Or has the glorious Holy Church already become as dark as the abyss?”

Nicholas, Tasia, and Ringo exchanged glances. Although Nicholas and Tasia didn’t know that Ringo was a shaman priest, they knew her identity was far from ordinary. Hearing Bruce’s words, they couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Ringtone snorted and said, “Even a necromancer can be a believer of the God of Light—why can’t I? So what if I’m a shaman priest? That doesn’t affect us at all. All we need to do is get what we want… Lord Bruce, as long as you’re willing to step back, there won’t be any conflict between us.”
“Is that so?” Bruce smiled oddly. “What if I’m not willing to step back?”
Nicholas sighed, with a hint of helplessness, and said, “Then I’m sorry, but at that point, we’ll have no choice but to fight… But please, Lord Bruce, don’t worry too much. Whether it’s Aldas or those he took away, we’ve already prepared everything to welcome them. At the very least, it ensures that they won’t be able to return before we take your head. So don’t worry—someone will come to save you… We won’t give you that chance, will we?”
The disdain in Bruce’s eyes finally disappeared. He looked into the distance, then suddenly sighed softly and said, “Was all of this arranged by that young master Du Fan?”
Nicholas replied calmly, “I think so… At least I’m acting according to his orders.”
“Then,” said Bruce, “can you tell me… what exactly is he planning to do?”
Nicholas sighed slightly and said, “I really want to know the answer to that too, but I can’t find it. I wonder if this answer will satisfy you, Lord Bruce?”
“Even you don’t know?” Bruce murmured. “Then I guess I understand… Finally, can you tell me what exactly you want?”
“Her,” Nicholas said, pointing at the crystal coffin behind Bruce. “Just hand her to me, and we’ll leave. If not, Lord Bruce, then we’ll have to see whose methods are stronger.”
“Very well. It’s war or peace—all the choice lies in your hands, Lord Bruce…”