Chapter 48: Azure Dragon Extreme Intent Style
Nia’s chest suddenly felt heavy, as if it were stuffed with damp cotton.
’So all along, I was the only one foolishly thinking we could all stay in this town forever, play cards together forever, and always be this happy.’
’So Gray Rock Town wasn’t in anyone else’s future.’
A sharp sting filled her nose, and her eyes instantly reddened.
But she remembered that today was supposed to be a happy day for Lance’s housewarming.
’Everyone has a brighter future ahead of them. Their lives are going to get better. I shouldn’t be sad. I can’t ruin the mood right now.’
Nia desperately admonished herself.
’I can’t cry.’
But her tears wouldn’t listen, already welling up in her eyes.
Her lips puckered uncontrollably as if trying to force the tears back in.
"I’m sorry..."
Nia shot to her feet, her chair scraping harshly against the ground.
"I... I think I should head back now."
Without daring to look at anyone’s expression, she lowered her head and rushed out of the courtyard.
BANG.
The moment she stepped out of the gate, the facade of strength she’d been holding up completely crumbled.
Lance clearly heard a loud "WAAAH!" from outside.
"I’ll go with you!"
Without a second thought, Flora snatched her satchel and chased after her, a worried look on her face.
Only Lance and Amber remained in the courtyard.
Lance sighed and looked at the red-haired girl sitting across from him.
"You should go with her, too."
"Suddenly hearing that three of her friends are leaving... anyone would find that hard to take all at once."
"It’ll be easier for you girls to talk things through. Go and comfort her."
Amber nodded. "I’ll go, then."
As she reached the gate, she suddenly stopped and turned back, giving Lance a bright smile.
"Happy housewarming, Lance."
"Thanks."
Lance looked around the empty courtyard, his gaze falling on the Crystal Cards scattered across the table.
"Amber, these cards..."
"They’re a gift."
Amber waved her hand without turning back.
"Consider it your housewarming present."
With that, her figure vanished into the night outside the gate, heading in the direction of the crying.
Lance walked over and gathered the faintly glowing cards one by one.
’These are Magic Items handcrafted by the Witch herself. They’d be worth a fortune on the market.’
Lance looked at the heavy deck of cards in his hand and couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
’Looks like Amber is the real hidden heiress here.’
’Giving away such a precious item just like that.’
The courtyard fell silent once more.
The only sound was the occasional soft crackle from the embers in the grill, sending up a few dim red sparks.
After tidying everything up, Lance sat in the empty courtyard, his eyes falling on the neat stack of Crystal Cards.
As if moved by some unseen force, he reached out and drew another card from the pile.
The King of Clubs.
As Magic Power suffused the card, a new line of text appeared on its face.
[If you could turn back time, would you still choose to meet this bunch of idiots who are destined to part ways?]
He fell into a long silence.
Memories that had grown hazy now came rushing back like a flood tide.
He remembered the summer of his past life.
The high school graduation ceremony, filled with both joy and tears.
On that day, everyone had cried and hugged, solemnly vowing to be friends for life, promising to always have a place for each other in their futures.
But reality was always harsh.
After starting college, they contacted each other less.
In the end, those once-familiar faces became mere social media contacts, connected only by the occasional "like."
The buddies he’d pulled all-nighters with at internet cafes, the friends he’d shot the breeze with over cheap beer at roadside stalls—they all eventually became grayed-out names in his contact list.
Life is like a train, with people constantly getting on and off.
The ticket clutched in each person’s hand is for a different destination.
Someone gets on and travels with you for a while, but when they reach their stop, it’s natural to wave goodbye.
Lance closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
His past experiences had taught him that parting was a normal part of life, and logic told him that emotional investment was bound to lead to pain.
But he couldn’t deny the time he had spent with this group of friends.
The meeting itself had meaning.
It was like the old dog he’d raised for over a decade in his previous life.
From the moment he brought the dog home, he knew its life would only last a dozen or so years and that he was fated to face a final, painful separation.
But if he could choose all over again...
...he would still raise it. He would still walk it through countless sunsets.
Because the time they spent together was real.
It was the same in this strange Otherworld.
It was through countless small, warm, everyday moments that he had slowly begun to feel truly alive, to truly become a part of this world.
Lance looked at the card in his hand and answered softly, but firmly:
"I would."
Even knowing they would all eventually part ways to pursue their own futures...
...he would still be willing to return to that sunny afternoon.
To push open the door of the Adventurer’s Guild and say to the brown-haired girl behind the counter:
"Hello, I’m Lance."
The instant he spoke...
...the card in his hand erupted in a dazzling azure light.
Then, the hard crystal began to melt, dissolving into countless blue motes of light in his palm.
These motes of light didn’t dissipate. Instead, as if alive, they drifted gently toward Lance and merged into his body.
In a daze, Lance heard a woman’s voice echo in his ear.
The voice, tinged with a lazy sense of relief, whispered:
"I like your choice."
The next second, the familiar system panel popped up before his eyes.
[You have faced the truth deep within your heart, and your answer pleased the Witch.]
[The Witch has bestowed upon you a Hand-to-hand Combat Skill created by the man she loved most.]
[You have obtained: Azure Dragon Extreme Intent Style]
’So this was the item’s true value.’
’It doesn’t just help you confront your own heart—it also gives an unimaginable reward to those who are honest.’
Before Lance could even react, a massive torrent of Knowledge about the Skill began to flood his mind.
Countless figures flickered and moved within his consciousness.
They were attack forms that mimicked the posture of a Giant Dragon.
Fingers like a dragon’s claws, arms like its tail, spine like its torso.
Every single move and stance exuded a chilling, ferocious aura.
On the system panel, a new Skill had appeared.
[Azure Dragon Extreme Intent Style Level 1 (0/250)]
Only after all the Knowledge was fully assimilated did Lance slowly open his eyes and let out a long breath.
’This Fighting Skill is too powerful.’
’You could even call it savage.’
’The core of all its techniques could be summed up in a single word: brutality.’
It wasn’t about restraint; its strikes were meant to shatter an enemy’s defense and break their bones.
’And on top of that, it’s an advanced Demon Body Technique.’