The next second, Bruce disappeared from his position. Not that he actually vanished, he simply moved with such insane speed that the human eye couldn't track it. His footwork was so light, so controlled, that he didn't even trigger a sonic boom despite the velocity he reached in that instant.

Jean, who had been quietly observing from a distance, frowned the moment the figure who had been openly watching her was suddenly gone.

She felt it, a faint distortion in the breeze.

That alone told her everything.

He didn't teleport. There was no spatial ripple, no mana displacement. Just speed. Pure, overwhelming, unrestrained speed that bent the wind in his wake.

Only one person in this entire trial should be capable of that.

'Such speed… He has to be the number one ranker, Bruce. Speed like that is something even most S-Ranks need time and mastery to achieve, and yet he's still labeled as an A-Ranked Awakened here… Is this VR bugged… or is he really just that ridiculous?'

Jean exhaled slowly. She didn't dare assume she could match someone like that in a direct clash.

'In the end, great technique is not the be-all and end-all. I don't even know if I should feel grateful he spared me just now, or worried that he's saving the fight for later…'

She wasn't naive.

People like Bruce, monsters disguised as recruits, didn't ignore strong opponents. They remembered them. They marked them. They hunted them when the time was right.

Whether she wanted it or not, she was already on his radar.

She didn't even know if she qualified as "strong" in his eyes, but being number two for this long, having the points she had, and the technique she just displayed, there was no chance Bruce wouldn't come for her eventually.

The real question was when.

'Or maybe I'm overthinking this… maybe that wasn't Bruce at all. Maybe it's just some random recruit with a speed-type class… Still, I can't afford to underestimate anyone capable of moving like that. Whether it's Bruce or not, I need to stay alert. One mistake and I'm dead.'

She let out a quiet sigh as she twirled her double-ended sword, smoothly shifting it into a bow before hooking it across her back. Then she moved, faster, sharper, heading into the next territory in search of both beasts and recruits.

Her heartbeat was steady. Her expression was composed. Her resolve didn't waver.

She was a Frost!

This was who she was!

If Bruce wanted to come for her, then let him come!

She wouldn't go down without a fight!

....

Meanwhile, after watching Jean fight, Bruce was even more hyped than before. He moved with that same insane speed, closing distance in seconds, only slowing down once he neared the next group of recruits.

Soon, they came into view, Bruce's first prey of the day.

One was a burly, muscular man wielding a giant axe. The other, a cute girl with short hair and twin silver daggers gleaming under the sunlight.

Bruce recognized them immediately. They were among the three who had asked questions before the trial officially started.

Seeing them look excited at the sight of him, clearly unaware of who he really was, Bruce couldn't help the vicious grin that pulled at his lips.

'This is going to be fun.'

"Isn't this the guy that popular Reign girl chatted with back in the pod lobby…?" the muscular man muttered. He was a known pervert, the type who spent more time ogling women in the lobby than actually preparing for the trial. Sophie, being the perfect definition of beauty, perfect curves, perfect proportions, perfect everything, had naturally caught his eye. And Bruce… Bruce being the only guy Sophie actually interacted with had burned itself into his memory like a scar.

Watching a handsome guy casually talk to the best girl in the room was torture. No wonder the jealousy still simmered in him.

"I've forgotten his name, but I'll never forget that face. He's annoying," the muscle head muttered coldly, voice thick with bitterness.

"His name is Bruce…" the cute girl beside him narrowed her eyes. She had been paying attention too.

And before the muscle head could march forward stupidly, she continued, voice flat:

"And remember, he's Bruce. The same Bruce who's held the number one rank for how many days now?"

The muscle head scoffed, "Don't tell me you believe that 100k points is real. It's obviously a bug. The guild probably handed him free points. If not for the Bloodhound wolves ruining things, I would've hunted him down from the start."

The girl, Aria, could only shake her head in disappointment at such stupid statement.

"Even if you remove the 100k points, he's still number one. Don't underestimate him, Donn."

Saying that, she gave Bruce a polite wave and tugged on Donn Chit's arm, already trying to leave.

"Don't mind us, Bruce. We're just passing by."

Bruce only smiled, enjoying the free comedy. These two, Aria and Donn, had a decent amount of points, worked well as a duo, and had good synergy despite being complete opposites in personality.

Well… too bad for them. They were already marked. Their points were his.

But before he could move, the muscle head yanked his arm free and stopped Aria.

"No, Aria. We don't run. We fight!"

Aria sighed helplessly. 'Why do I have to get stuck with this muscle head…? I shouldn't have agreed to his deal. But since he's all pride and muscles, he'll probably keep his word if we win. Even if the chances are low… if I can get what I want, it won't matter whether I die.'

She exhaled, then turned with him to face Bruce fully. 'Fine. He's number one, so what? That doesn't mean he can take us both!'

Bruce smiled the moment they shifted into fighting stance.

'Nice. What a motivated duo… I feel so sad going after them.'

With the excitement in his heart, he was clearly lying.

Their motivation was almost inspiring. If only it wasn't so funny. In the end, the reality of everything was just a joke they still didn't get...

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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