CHAPTER 131: IN HIS ARMS

While they drank, they noticed a few recruits walking out from the elevator section.

Some were laughing loudly, already joining the crowd, drinking, dancing, grinding against each other without shame, celebrating the end of the trial and the beginning of their lives as licensed dungeon raiders.

Others were more reserved, slipping quietly past the pub and heading straight for the exit.

A few eager ones went straight to the mission board, excited to grab their first official quests.

As for Bruce and Sophie?

They didn’t spare any of that a second thought.

They simply sat together, drinking and talking, the world shrinking to just the two of them. They downed multiple shots, cold, sweet, and strong, but as Awakened, the alcohol barely tickled their systems. Their tolerance was too high for normal drinks to do anything.

Eventually, they were done.

Bruce placed his empty glass on the table. Sophie mirrored him, her fingers brushing lightly against his.

They rose from their seats and walked out of the pub.

The shift from the warm, noisy interior to the quiet corridor outside felt almost surreal. The atmosphere was calmer, dimmer, more intimate.

Sophie turned to him gently.

"Do you want to take a taxi to the train station?" she asked softly.

But before she could even blink...

Bruce swept her into his arms.

One smooth motion. Effortless. Fluid. Instant.

Sophie’s heart jumped so hard she almost let out a yelp, but the sound froze in her throat when she met his face from her new angle.

Bruce’s handsome face was just inches away from hers, calm, warm, confident. So close she could feel his breath. So close her heart forgot what rhythm meant.

Her lips parted slightly. "W-What are you doing, Bruce?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, soft, dazed, completely enchanted by him.

Bruce simply smiled.

He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, warm, gentle, loving.

Then he teased, "You’re suggesting a taxi and a train... Are you implying those are better than being carried by me?"

Sophie’s cheeks heated instantly.

She glanced to the side, flustered yet smiling. "I wasn’t implying anything..." she murmured, her voice small but sweet.

She didn’t protest. She didn’t push him away. She didn’t even try.

She simply melted in his arms.

Because being carried by Bruce felt like being held by the safest warmth in the world, the kind of warmth that made the entire earth seem softer.

Bruce chuckled at her adorable reaction, tightening his hold around her just slightly.

Then...

Without warning...

He bent his knees lightly...

And leapt.

A sharp gust of wind burst around them.

In the next second, they disappeared from the spot completely, vanishing into the cool evening air like a swift shadow slipping into the twilight.

Sophie felt the world blur around her.

Bruce had shot forward with a speed so insane no normal eye could ever follow, not even catch a shadow. Rooftops became streaks. Lamp posts turned into lines of gold. The cool evening air lashed around them, crisp and refreshing as it rushed past at terrifying velocity.

Yet in Bruce’s arms... Sophie felt nothing but warmth. Pure warmth. It felt so good that she nestled deeper against his chest, her body instinctively relaxing, trusting him completely.

"Where are we headed, Bruce...?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the wind.

But Bruce heard her perfectly.

He smirked. "To your place."

Sophie blinked. "Bruce... even for an S-Ranked, that distance is outrageous. Tens of thousands of kilometers. From here to my home isn’t close to your place at all..."

Her voice trembled from the rushing breeze, but Bruce caught every word with perfect clarity.

"Don’t underestimate your boyfriend," Bruce smirked.

And with that, he casually increased his speed...

WHOOOOSH!

The force shook the air around them.

His speed doubled instantly, yet he remained incredibly controlled. He avoided reaching the speed of sound, no sonic booms, no shockwaves. He refused to shatter the romantic moment with destructive noise.

Within seconds, the city vanished behind them.

Buildings dissolved into darkness. Streetlights became faint specks. Human settlements disappeared completely.

Bruce ran across a dense stretch of forest, his footsteps so light not a single leaf rustled. The entire region flashed by in an instant, and they were already racing through another part of the kingdom.

Sophie felt her heart flutter wildly, like a thousand butterflies bursting awake inside her chest.

Every time she thought she couldn’t fall deeper for Bruce... he proved her wrong.

She sighed softly, a warm, content sound, and melted even further into his arms. Her fingers gently traced patterns across his chest, each stroke slow, loving, utterly entranced.

Bruce glanced down at her. "Does it feel good?"

She smiled, not stopping her gentle tracing. "Yes, it does, Bruce... it’s the best feeling ever."

Bruce chuckled, a low warm sound. "No it isn’t."

Sophie’s head lifted slightly, surprised. "What?"

"Don’t get me wrong," he said softly. "I know this feels amazing. But think about it... if being carried at ground level feels this good, how good will it feel when I carry you in my arms and soar through the skies?"

Sophie’s eyes widened slightly, then softened with excitement.

"Oh... yes, that would feel really good too..." she said, smiling as she resumed tracing little circles on his chest.

"Do you want to experience that as well?" Bruce asked, voice warm against the rushing wind.

"Yes. Of course." Sophie’s eyes sparkled. Just imagining it sent a thrill of excitement through her veins.

"Don’t worry," Bruce whispered. "I’ll surprise you one day."

Sophie let out a soft, genuine laugh, heartfelt and beautiful. His eagerness, his confidence, his tenderness, it all felt so sweet to her. Being carried like this, pampered like a princess, cherished with this much warmth, she could get used to this forever.

"I’m sure you would," Sophie said with absolute certainty. She knew Bruce. If he promised something, he would deliver. It was only a matter of time before he blows her mind.