Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Farewell, Illusory Woman!
With narrowed eyes, Dean Bruce said calmly, "President Claire has come to avenge the people of the Magic Guild I killed."
"If that were the case, I would have dealt with you long ago!" Claire Raymond exclaimed with a bright smile, her voice adorably cheerful. "I\'m just curious about how you managed it. Your aura is so faint, yet you display power at the level of a Great Magus!"
"Most importantly, I can tell that your real age is only around ten. You\'re not one of those ageless old monsters."
At this point, Claire\'s gaze turned inquisitive as she looked at Dean Bruce, musing, "How did you achieve this?"
"No, wait… no way!"
Before Dean Bruce could respond, Claire\'s surprise deepened. She glanced at Herbert Jones, her cute cheeks reflecting confusion. "In just one night, his aura hasn\'t changed at all, yet you\'ve gained some elven energy! How strange, truly strange!"
"Could it be that you have a connection with the elven race? But I recall that the elves closed off all channels of communication with the outside world thousands of years ago!"
"Little guy, this only makes me more curious about you!"
Upon hearing this, Dean Bruce felt a heavy weight in his heart. The fact that Claire Raymond could perceive the subtle changes in his aura with just a glance was proof of her immense strength.
She was undoubtedly the most powerful person Dean Bruce had encountered so far, far beyond the ordinary archmage level!
"Elves? What elves?" Herbert Jones exclaimed in surprise.
"Hmm?"
Claire Raymond shot a glance at him, and as the moonlight flickered overhead, Herbert Jones suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Clearly, this was Claire Raymond\'s doing.
With a sigh, Claire said, "Little guy, why not join my Magic Guild? As for what happened before, I can overlook it, as long as you share any Relics you encounter with the Guild."
"As a token of appreciation, the Magic Guild will be your greatest support. I will invest heavily in your development and elevate you to the Guild\'s upper echelons. Together, our future is bright, don\'t you think?"
Dean Bruce raised an eyebrow, utterly surprised that Claire Raymond was inviting him to join the Magic Guild.
After thinking for a moment, Dean Bruce asked, "So you won\'t seek revenge for your guild members?"
"Dying at your hands is, in a way, a fitting end," Claire Raymond replied, looking down as she toyed with her delicate, rosy fingers. "Of course, if you refuse to join the Magic Guild, then I\'ll have no choice but to eliminate you and find another way to obtain information about those Relics."
Dean Bruce understood that regardless of whether he agreed, Claire Raymond would ultimately try to kill him; it was merely a matter of time.
Taking a deep breath, Dean Bruce resolved to stand his ground.
He still possessed special items that could protect him for a significant period and, combined with those high-level spells, he might be able to escalate the situation.
Stanlow City wasn\'t far away. If things escalated and Jennier William got involved, Claire Raymond wouldn\'t be able to kill him!
After considering all of this, Dean Bruce immediately smiled and shook his head, saying, "I\'m sorry, but I won\'t join the Magic Guild. If it were a matter of teaming up against the Nine Provinces Alliance, that might be possible, but any other cooperation is off the table!"
"That\'s too bad. If that\'s the case, I can\'t keep you around."
"I do admire your guts, talent, and opportunities. You have a boundless future ahead of you, yet you\'re bringing about your own demise!"
Claire Raymond said nonchalantly, "The moonlight is beautiful; to die beneath it is an honor."
Suddenly—
With that statement, a series of sharp sounds erupted in the air.
The bright moon flickered, transforming into silver crescent moon beams that shot toward Dean Bruce at incredible speed.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Dean Bruce was about to activate the Angel\'s Light item when Claire Raymond, sitting on Firebolt, suddenly screamed and tumbled down.
Fortunately, the magical item on her allowed her to float, preventing her from crashing to the ground. Still, Dean Bruce could clearly see the look of pain on her face.
That expression seemed entirely genuine, not an act, which startled Dean Bruce and interrupted his activation of the Angel\'s Light item.
This precious item should definitely be saved for a life-or-death moment!
Since the current crisis had taken a turn, there was no need to use the item just yet.
Looking up, Dean Bruce noticed something unusual.
The attacks formed from the bright moon had dissipated like smoke, but the moonlight flickered, transforming into an ethereal figure hovering in the air.
When Dean Bruce finally recognized the figure, his pupils involuntarily constricted.
The figure was none other than the strange, silent woman from the Lulu Ruins who had helped him break through that peculiar illusion!
"She… no, she shouldn\'t be able to leave the Relics. How is she here? What\'s going on?"
"In other words, this woman has been following me since our last encounter?"
Dean Bruce felt a headache coming on. Why did it seem like there was always something strange clinging to him whenever he visited a new place?
Claire Raymond finally regained her composure, her expression serious as she looked up at the floating woman.
"A phantom… soul? No, that\'s not right!"
"There\'s not a trace of life energy, yet it holds immense power!"
Claire Raymond seemed to be narrating, her eyes fixed on the ethereal woman as she spoke with surprise, "You don\'t belong to this world; you lack the essence of life. You\'ve come here through some special means to obstruct me and act on his behalf!"
"Who… no, what is he? What kind of identity does he have that compels a powerful being like you to go this far for him?"
The woman simply shook her head at Dean Bruce, remaining silent as before.
"I refuse to believe that a mere apparition can stop me!"
With that declaration, Claire Raymond threw her head back and let out a powerful roar. Her petite form suddenly transformed; vibrant red light swirled around her as she morphed into a commanding figure, staff in hand, shouting, "Flames radiate beautiful brilliance, transforming into red lotuses to illuminate all that is good in the world!"
Buzz—
Fire gathered, quickly forming lotus-shaped flowers that floated in the air.
As fire elements continued to converge, the bodies of the lotuses grew larger and more radiant.
"Erupt! Dance of the Red Lotus!"
With her shout, the flaming lotuses exploded forth, racing toward the ethereal woman and Dean Bruce.
Dean Bruce instinctively stepped back, but the moonlight descended, forming a light shield that protected him, encompassing Herbert Jones as well.
Boom—
The terrifying flames erupted, filling Dean Bruce\'s view with fire.
However, the flames were soon torn apart by the moonlight.
Silver light fell, consuming all the fire.
Even though Dean Bruce didn\'t hear any sounds of battle, Claire Raymond was spewing blood as she was sent flying backward.
Her form transformed back into that of the small girl.
Thud!
She crashed heavily to the ground, struggling to rise as she looked at Dean Bruce, her eyes filled with fear.
She couldn\'t believe that Dean Bruce possessed such abilities!
He had managed to summon such a powerful being to act on his behalf!
Fortunately, the newcomer hadn\'t unleashed their full strength. Though she had been defeated, she was not dead. With a sharp look, she turned into a flame and fled rapidly.
In the air, the ethereal woman continued to gaze at Dean Bruce with an oddly reluctant and strange expression.
Of course, she remained silent.
Dean Bruce began to ponder what the nature of this ethereal woman was.
It wasn\'t until Claire Raymond had completely vanished and the magic in the area dissipated with the absence of moonlight that the woman\'s figure also faded away.
Seeing this, Dean Bruce felt a stir in his heart.
This woman only appeared when the moonlight was present?
Moreover, she truly didn\'t belong to this world; his earlier assumption had been wrong—she wasn\'t a deity like the Moon Goddess.
But why had she saved him?
[Is my identity problematic?]
Having watched many anime and read numerous novels, Dean Bruce immediately began to speculate about the reason.
He might not just be an ordinary traveler!
If there was an issue with his identity, then the system likely stemmed from abilities from a previous life!
[I initially thought I was investigating my parents\' whereabouts to rescue them, but it turns out I also have so many secrets hidden within me.]
[It seems that I must strengthen my abilities for my own sake! I don\'t want to proceed blindly like a puppet!]
[I must uncover all the truths!]