Chapter 154: Spiritual Pleasure, Moderate Dehydration...
They were all bloody images of Lance brutally slaughtering Demons in the Projection Space.
But the images were all just incomplete fragments.
Necros’s attention was immediately drawn to Lance.
He clearly saw the high-temperature steam Lance violently expelled from his mouth and nose during the intense battle.
It was a characteristic of that Combat Technique—a rise in temperature caused by the extreme intensity of Ethereum Burning.
This was extremely rare among other Breathing Combat Techniques.
He watched those fragmented flashbacks, seeing the black-haired youth wreathed in steam, with the corpses of Demons piled high at his feet.
A thought immediately struck him. ’So many corpses... that means the battle is in its final stages, yet he can still activate his Breathing Combat Technique.’
This sparked a thought in Necros’s mind...
’This kid... could he actually have a chance to fulfill that legendary hypothesis—achieving "Ethereal Resident" while still at the Ordinary stage?’
He didn’t think Lance had his Breathing Combat Technique active the entire time, but rather assumed the boy was able to manage his stamina efficiently, activating it intermittently throughout the battle.
This alone demonstrated the boy’s incredible endurance. What’s more, this Breathing Combat Technique placed extreme pressure on one’s Spirit.
’The fact that he can endure it... perhaps he can use the Gael Marching Breathing Combat Technique to achieve that legendary feat!’
In this world, anyone given the chance would pursue such a legendary feat.
Because in some legends, these legendary feats were rumored to be linked to achieving godhood.
But Gideon, standing beside him, had a completely different focus.
He noticed the Dark Gold Vertical Pupils in the young man’s eyes.
He saw a bloody scene in which Lance used absurd brute force to violently snap the tough ribs of a young Giant.
’A Dragon Descendant?’
Gideon’s brows knitted together instantly.
He had a certain... history.
It was why he detested those Dragon Descendants who prided themselves on their noble blood but acted like savage tyrants.
He couldn’t understand why Necros, that steady old bastard, would team his precious apprentice up with someone so dangerous.
’And doesn’t he know that Dragon Descendants have intense mating urges?’
’If something happened, how would he explain it to Cecilia’s aunt?’
’It’s a good thing she isn’t here right now, otherwise she’d definitely raise hell.’
’Still, despite his displeasure, he couldn’t deny it. The boy had slaughtered a Professional Level Demon bare-handed, all with the body of a mortal.’
’He’s absolutely, without a doubt, another monster.’
Necros turned his head, just in time to catch the look of disgust on his old pal’s face.
He sighed helplessly to himself.
He knew the reason for his friend’s displeasure.
But he truly had no idea why Lance was a Dragon Descendant...
’Looks like I’ll have to come up with a good explanation.’
Finally, in the dissipating images, the two men saw the same scene.
It was a scene of a barefoot Cecilia, her face fraught with worry, running toward the blood-soaked youth.
But at that moment, the Array seemed to have completely exhausted the last of its power.
All the images of light and shadow froze for an instant, then shattered completely into a sky full of glittering motes.
The next second, two figures materialized out of thin air on the grass in the center of the sea of flowers.
Lance slowly opened his eyes and immediately found that he had returned to the familiar sea of flowers.
He discovered that the injuries on his body seemed to have vanished.
Even the clothes that had been damaged inside the Projection Space were now back on him, completely restored.
Before he could speak, he suddenly felt his back lighten.
Cecilia, whom he had been carrying on his back, was lifted by a gentle, formless Power and began to float.
The unconscious girl traced a steady arc through the air.
Finally, she landed gently in the arms of a tall Elemental Creature.
It was a female Water Element, formed from pure, flowing water.
She possessed a translucent Blue body, and her long hair, made of flowing water, rippled in the night wind, giving off a serene and gentle aura of Magic.
’What’s going on?!’
Startled, Lance subconsciously clenched his fists, ready to act and snatch his companion back.
"Raven, don’t be impulsive."
Necros’s deep, powerful voice came from beside him.
"This is Cecilia’s teacher."
Hearing the old guild master’s voice, Lance’s tense body instantly relaxed, and he obediently lowered his hands.
Upon hearing that Cecilia’s teacher was here, he couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive.
Gideon paid the youth beside him no mind.
He raised his hand, and with a faint ripple of Magic Power, a soft, pale blue light shone from his fingertips and landed precisely on Cecilia.
This was a High Tier Detection Spell, used specifically to check a target’s condition.
Half a second later, a string of detailed feedback was projected directly into Gideon’s mind.
[Target: Cecilia]
[Current Status Assessment: Magic Power abundant, Spirit blissful, deep in a pleasant dream, subconscious excited, joyous, moderately dehydrated...]
Staring at the long, dense list of statuses, the worldly Mage froze on the spot, his face twitching uncontrollably.
In all his long life, it was the first time he had ever seen someone who had just been caught up in a dangerous situation sleeping so peacefully.
However, this also thoroughly confirmed one thing.
The boy had protected her extremely well.
His precious student truly hadn’t suffered any substantial harm.
The only thing that could even be considered a negative status, "dehydrated," was likely just from spending too long in the enclosed Projection Space without anything to drink.
This also caused his attitude toward Lance to soften considerably.
After confirming his student’s physical condition, the weight on Gideon’s heart finally lifted. He turned to Lance.
"Which Dragon Descendant Race did you run away from, kid?"
Hearing this question, Lance’s heart seized.
’I activated my Dragon Form in there, which means they saw it?!’
Just as Lance was struggling to come up with an excuse, Necros stepped in to smooth things over.
"Lance, what was that sudden manifestation of Dragon Race bloodline traits about?"
The old guild master spoke, signaling with his eyes for Lance not to be nervous.
"This old coot and I both saw the fragmented clips of your fight in that Projection Space just now."
"I don’t recall you being a Dragon Descendant, were you?"
Hearing those two words—"saw it"—Lance’s apprehension erupted like a volcano.
’They saw?’
’How much did they see?’
’They couldn’t have seen me infusing Cecilia with Magic Power before I deactivated my Dragon Form, right?’
’If they had, this overprotective Elder Mage would have already conjured a fireball the size of a washbasin and smashed it in my face.’
Lance swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.
He forced himself to calm down and quickly formulated an excuse in his mind.
"It was the Breathing Combat Technique you gave me."
Lance raised his head, meeting the scrutinizing gazes of the two powerful figures, and did his best to appear calm.
"That state just now... it’s a special Combat Specialization derived from the Breathing Technique."