SSS-Ranked Surgeon In Another World: The Healer Is Actually OP! - Chapter 245: Masked Advancement

Chapter 245: Masked Advancement

As Sophie stood there, observing the nine Mana Rings rotating brilliantly within her core, the aura she had just awakened erupted outward in waves.

It was instinctive.

Power surged from her without restraint, the newly forged aura expanding as if announcing itself to the world. The pressure rolled through the core space, and in the next instant, it brushed against Bruce’s aura.

No.

It clashed against it.

For a brief moment, Sophie felt it clearly. Her aura collided with his, only to be utterly overwhelmed. Bruce’s aura was stronger. Not just in rank, but in class. Vast. Refined. Absolute. Where hers surged chaotically like a newborn tide, his stood like an endless ocean, calm and immovable.

The dominance was instant.

Sophie’s heart skipped as she realized what was happening. She immediately tried to rein it in, forcing her aura inward. But having just broken through, her control was unstable. The aura resisted, flaring erratically, refusing to settle.

The first attempt failed.

Then the second.

Her brows furrowed as she steadied herself, refusing to panic. Sophie was no ordinary awakened. She adjusted quickly, feeling out the flow, tightening her control, compressing her aura instead of suppressing it.

On the third try,

It worked.

The chaotic waves receded, her aura drawing back toward her body and stabilizing under her command. As soon as she gained control, the emotions she had been suppressing throughout the entire breakthrough finally broke free.

Sophie stood up and turned toward Bruce.

Her face lit up.

A radiant, unrestrained smile spread across her features, bright, genuine, filled with a joy that couldn’t be contained.

“Bruce…” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Thank you… thank you.”

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him, hugging him with everything she had. She didn’t care about anything else in that moment. Her heart was overflowing. The warmth, the relief, the happiness, it all poured out at once.

Bruce felt it.

Her joy.

Her gratitude.

Her trust.

She pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes shining. Then, without hesitation, she reached up and cupped his face gently, fingers resting along his jaw. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

Then another.

She smiled at him, voice light, almost breathless with excitement.

“Bruce… you don’t know how happy this made me. I never expected this. Not like this.” Her eyes softened, filled with love. “Right now… I think I’m the happiest and luckiest woman in all of Velmora.”

Before he could respond, she leaned in and kissed his lips, brief, warm, full of emotion. Then she laughed softly and planted another kiss on his other cheek, followed by several more, quick and affectionate, scattered across his face without restraint.

She was genuinely happy.

When she finally paused, Bruce reached up, his hand gently lifting her chin. He looked at her for a moment, really looked at her, then leaned down and kissed her deeply, slow and sincere, pouring everything he hadn’t said into that single moment.

And for a while, nothing else mattered.

The moment lingered.

Sophie eventually stepped back, her breathing still light, her aura now calm and firmly under control. She glanced between Bruce and the rotating rings within herself once more, as if confirming it was real, before quietly moving aside to give them space.

That was when the presence returned.

The Diamond Core of Velmora pulsed.

For several seconds, Vaelith said nothing.

The swirling hues of mana around the core slowed, then tightened, as if the world itself was drawing in a breath.

Finally, Vaelith spoke, its voice directed only to Bruce, resounding in Bruce’s mind.

[…Explain, please.]

The single word carried weight, curiosity, disbelief, and something bordering on awe.

Bruce exhaled softly and straightened. He didn’t rush. He knew what Vaelith was asking wasn’t simple.

’I started with the environment,’ Bruce said calmly. ’You must’ve noticed.’

Vaelith’s glow sharpened slightly.

[Yes. I did notice.] Its voice carried a faint ripple of unease. [I observed your interference with the ambient mana. It was… strange. Bizarre. I know your mana aided her somehow, but I do not understand how.]

Bruce nodded once then he began.

’This place is linked to the core of all worlds. Through you, it’s effectively infinite mana, but it isn’t neutral. It carries your signature. World-aligned mana follows the world’s rules instinctively.’

Vaelith fell silent.

’So,’ Bruce continued evenly, ’I passed it through myself. I’m not bound by the same restrictions as you, or the other inhabitants of this world.’

The core pulsed once.

’I absorbed the mana, then released it. Again and again. Each cycle stripped away your natural imprint and replaced it with mine, heal-aligned, stability-focused, growth-optimized. By the time Sophie began forming her core, the entire region was saturated with mana that behaved as if it belonged to me.’

A pause.

[…You altered the rules of the environment instead of the individual,] Vaelith said slowly.

’Exactly.’

Bruce lifted a hand slightly.

’The world’s restriction never vanished. It simply couldn’t recognize her properly anymore. I explained partially masked her actual class, made the mana treat her as it would treat me. To the system, Sophie wasn’t advancing alone.’

He looked back at the core.

’She was advancing inside my domain of influence.’

The Diamond Core flared.

[Such an… unconventional line of thought.]

’Indeed,’ Bruce replied. ’That’s where Heal came in.”

Vaelith’s light intensified.

’I didn’t heal injuries,’ Bruce continued calmly. ’I healed efficiency. Her mana pores. Her veins. Her absorption pathways. I restored them to an ideal state, just enough to keep pace with the intake without collapse.’

He paused briefly.

’You already know this aspect of my ability.’

Vaelith dimmed slightly, then steadied again.

It was thinking.

About Bruce’s titles. About their effects. About how much of this it truly understood, and how much it did not.

[…Then explain this,] Vaelith said at last. […Why did she grow calmer with each word you spoke? That cannot be natural.]

***

A/N:

Mass release Chapter 1/8

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