With Bruce's speed, it didn't take long for them to reach the outskirts of his own region,

but he didn't stop.

He kept going.

Sophie rested comfortably in his arms as she guided him, her voice soft and sure, directing him through the shifts in terrain, the change of districts, the subtle transitions in mana density as they neared her family's domain.

"Turn right here… go straight… a little further…"

Her fingers occasionally tapped lightly against his chest to direct him, and each touch only made him pull her tighter into his embrace.

Bruce gradually reduced his speed, just enough to avoid alarming the entire region with shockwaves. Even slowed, he still moved faster than anything mortal eyes could follow. They crossed rivers, glowing evening plains, and tall ancient structures at a speed that made the world blur into streaks of color.

Soon, they reached the borders of the Reign family region.

The air changed.

Mana here felt thick, refined, and elegant, carrying that signature cold brilliance unique to the Reign lineage. Even before the guards appeared, Bruce could feel the powerful surveillance aura scanning everything approaching.

Reign guards stationed around the perimeter frowned immediately. A presence, vast, overwhelming, speeding toward them, pierced through their detection fields like a blade through silk. None of them could fully sense its limit. And yet… there was no hostility. Not even a ripple of aggression.

Even more confusing, the signature of Sophie Reign herself was tightly pressed against this unknown figure's aura.

One guard stiffened. "Someone is approaching fast. Strong presence."

Another narrowed his eyes. "That unique mana signature… it's definitely Miss Sophie."

A third guard swallowed hard. "That speed… who the hell moves like that while holding her?"

Their uncertainty transformed instantly into urgency.

"Inform Sir Varek," one of them ordered sharply.

The others nodded without hesitation. Only Varek Reign, the head of Sophie's personal guard and the Shield of the Reign Family, could properly assess something like this.

Meanwhile, deeper inside the Reign family villa…

In a secluded courtyard surrounded by towering trees, a man trained calmly under the fading evening light. The air around him shimmered faintly with cold mana, responding to his presence.

Silver hair flowed behind him with every movement, a contrast to the sharp, controlled motions of his blade.

His body moved like a flowing river, smooth, graceful, but hiding a terrifying undercurrent of power. Each shift of his stance was deliberate. Each swing carried weight.

A long, elegant sword, its blade clear like condensed frost, cut through the air with a quiet whistle. Not loud. Not violent. Precise. Unerring.

Every slash left thin, lingering trails of crystalline mist that hung for a heartbeat before fading. Every downward strike cracked the hardened ground beneath his feet, frost patterns spreading in delicate veins.

His footwork was silent yet absolute.

Not a wasted step.

Not a misaligned angle.

Where his boots touched the earth, frost bloomed.

His breathing synchronized perfectly with the pulse of his mana. With every inhale, the air chilled. With every exhale, his sword glowed faintly with icy light.

This was Varek Reign.

Captain of the Reign family's elite guard.

The Sword of the Reigns.

The shield behind Sophie's safety.

A man whose presence alone made seasoned Awakened stand straighter, speak slower, breathe more carefully.

His training was silent, deadly, and impossibly precise.

Until…

"Sir Varek!"

He didn't stop moving. His hand transitioned seamlessly from a palm strike into a sweeping arc that dispersed the lingering frost.

"What is it?" he asked, not even turning yet.

"A presence is approaching," the guard said quickly. "Fast, very fast."

Varek exhaled calmly. "Do the usual protocol. Is there a need to inform me about every passerby?"

The guard shook his head. "It's not that simple, sir. We sensed Lady Sophie's unique mana signature… traveling with this figure."

Varek paused mid-step. His brow tightened,

not panic, but sharpened attention.

"…Hmm."

Before another word could be spoken…

Varek vanished.

Disappearing with a speed so clean and abrupt that only a brief distortion in the air remained where he once stood, Varek cut across the Reign family grounds like a streak of silver.

Meanwhile, Bruce, still moving at incredible speed toward the Reign domain, felt a powerful presence closing in on him. Fast. Sharp. Unmistakably strong.

His instincts sharpened instantly.

In the span of a heartbeat, a figure materialized directly in front of him.

Bruce halted without effort, his momentum dying so smoothly that not a single leaf stirred in protest. His eyes met the newcomer's, and his brows lowered slightly.

'S-Rank? No… SS. Is this a guard of their family, as expected of a Great Ancient Family.'

He could feel it clearly. A powerful noble-like pressure, refined and disciplined, radiated from the silver-haired man standing in their path. His stance was steady, blade sheathed yet ready, eyes carrying a calm sharpness that spoke of countless battles survived.

And yet, his expression wasn't hostile.

It was filled with surprise. And a hint of disbelief.

'What's going on?' Varek wondered silently

It was surprising to see Sophie in that position in a man's arms and the fact that Bruce didn't flinch. Didn't shift his weight. The fact that Bruce was simply… steady. Unmoving. Completely unfazed. Surprised Varek more.

And he was carrying Sophie, Lady Sophie, like it was natural. Like she belonged there.

But Varek didn't even get the chance to speak.

Sophie's cold, clear voice sliced through the quiet breeze before he could open his mouth.

"Let him pass, Varek."

The command hit with the weight only the Reign heiress possessed.

Varek's brows tightened. His gaze drifted from Sophie to Bruce again.

A breath passed.

Then he lowered his head respectfully.

"Yes, Lady Sophie."

Bruce didn't speak. Didn't need to. His expression remained unreadable, calm, composed. Only his quiet exhale showed he had anticipated this confrontation.

Swoosh…

He moved again.

Not rushing. Not flaunting. Just a smooth, controlled step that carried him past Varek as if the SS-Rank captain were simply another tree in the path.

The air behind him trembled faintly. The guards stationed ahead felt it, straightening instinctively. Under Varek's subtle signal, none dared to step forward.

They simply watched, breath held, as Bruce continued deeper into the Reign family villa with Sophie secured in his arms.

The further they went, the more refined the architecture became. Runic-patterned pillars. Shimmering mana lanterns. Runic pathways glowing softly beneath their feet.

And Bruce's pace finally eased into something normal as he approached one of the larger residential buildings. Its structure rose elegantly, crystalline accents and layered terraces marking it as a home of the highest members of the Reign family. Sophie had indicated that was her place.

That was why he stopped.

With quiet care, as if she were something precious he never wanted to startle, Bruce lowered Sophie to her feet.

The moment her shoes touched the ground, she looked up at him.

The smile that blossomed on her lips, soft, warm, tender, was one she had never shown anyone else in her life.

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