Chapter Fifty-Two: A Conversation with Keigo Masaki

That night, Yue Longze tossed and turned in bed, his mind filled with thoughts. His primary objective was to leave this timeline and return to the Land of Light. But before he departed, he had to thoroughly eliminate the one coveting the power of Ultraman from the shadows, lest his departure leave this world with hidden dangers.

“TPC... Is there more decay lurking behind the brilliance?” He gazed out at the pitch-black night sky, where only the ceaselessly falling snowflakes adorned the hollow darkness. Nestled in his warm and comfortable bed, Yue Longze suddenly felt the darkness within human hearts. Yet, he still believed that there was more light than darkness dwelling in humanity. Just like the white snow beneath the night sky outside his window.

The next day at noon, during lunch break, Yue Longze sat alone in the dojo, casually eating cheap instant noodles. Though inexpensive, the steaming aroma was irresistibly inviting.

“Instant noodles are truly a delicacy not to be missed!” he murmured to himself, his fondness for them evident.

“Longze,” came a voice from the doorway. A tall, slender figure stood there.

“Huh?” Yue Longze, still slurping noodles, looked up at the familiar silhouette—it was his friend, Kirino.

“How did you find me here, Kirino?” Yue Longze was delighted to see his friend, placing the steaming noodles aside and rising with a smile to greet him.

“You’re about to leave this timeline; isn’t it only right that I visit my friend?” Kirino’s demeanor had an indescribable change: he was spirited, with a strange gleam in his eyes.

Yue Longze frowned, curious as he observed Kirino, and after a moment, he understood the change. There was unmistakably a hint of confidence in his gaze.

Kirino used to be timid and self-effacing, troubled by his superpowers, but now he radiated confidence. Yue Longze found this intriguing.

“Are you so sure I’ll be able to leave this timeline?” Yue Longze asked, smiling, and handed Kirino a stool. The two sat down to chat.

“I told you that night, your day to leave isn’t far off,” Kirino pushed up his glasses and smiled. “Did you think I was just comforting you?”

“Uh...” Yue Longze furrowed his brow, recalling their conversation that night, and after a while, remembered.

“Hehe... I really thought you were just consoling me!” Yue Longze laughed foolishly and resumed eating his unfinished noodles.

“Hoo—” Yue Longze drained the last mouthful of soup and, savoring the taste, licked the disposable fork. Kirino, watching, was speechless.

“Kirino, you really have changed a lot lately,” Yue Longze said, standing up and tossing the empty noodle bowl into the trash.

“Really?” Kirino smiled. “I just got myself a girlfriend, that’s all.”

“So that’s it! You got a girlfriend!” Yue Longze grinned mischievously at Kirino. “Is she pretty? Is she well-endowed?”

Kirino: ...

Kirino lingered in the dojo for a while longer, chatting idly with Yue Longze. He told him, “If you ever get the chance, you must come back to visit this timeline!”

“You’re my first and only friend in life!” Kirino clapped Yue Longze’s shoulder heavily, his eyes unexpectedly reddening for a grown man.

“Hey, hey, I haven’t even left yet, and it’s not certain if I’ll be able to!” Yue Longze laughed, punching Kirino’s chest lightly. He could see Kirino was a deeply sentimental person. Having such a friend was truly wonderful.

“Longze, I... have to go meet my girlfriend now!” Kirino glanced at a newly arrived text on his phone and apologized to Yue Longze before rushing out of the dojo, excitement written all over his face.

“Bring your lady over for dinner sometime!” Yue Longze called after Kirino’s rapidly retreating figure, smiling.

Left alone in the dojo, Yue Longze picked up a training wooden sword and began practicing the sword techniques passed down by Idai Idoru, over and over.

His movements flowed like water, each strike exuding fierce killing intent yet also brimming with an overwhelming righteous force. Immersed in sword practice, Yue Longze seemed to forget time and everything else, pouring his whole being into it.

“Coach Longze... is incredible!” The group who had finished eating stood at the doorway, watching him lost in the world of swordsmanship, all feeling the cutting edge of his sword aura.

Though he wasn’t facing them, it felt as if a sword was piercing toward them. Though it was only a wooden sword, it felt as sharp as a real blade, able to cut through anything.

“He truly deserves to be called Coach Longze!” Yoshida exclaimed, vowing to become a man like him.

After some time, Yue Longze stopped, wiped his sweat, and turned to find the students standing behind him.

“Uh... you’re all here?” Yue Longze glanced at the wall clock, realizing he had been practicing for quite a while.

He felt as if he had entered a special state of mind—a fantastical realm where only he and his sword existed, nothing else, just utter chaos and void.

Everyone resumed normal sparring training, and the afternoon passed in this way.

After work, Yue Longze hurried to Grandma’s house, for he had arranged to meet Masaki Keigo and tell him his conditions—a crucial step in leaving this timeline.

After dinner at home, Masaki Keigo arrived punctually as expected.

Outside the house.

“Tell me, what exactly is your condition?” Masaki Keigo asked curiously.

“Do you know Mount Sukuna?” Yue Longze replied with a question.

“Of course I do.” Masaki Keigo frowned, trying to glean something from Yue Longze’s eyes, but the latter’s gaze was deep as the sea, impossible to read.

“The space around Mount Sukuna seems unstable,” Yue Longze continued. “I want to use the energy of the three giants to leave this timeline!”

“What!” Masaki Keigo stared at the young man in shock—his idea was even more audacious than his own.

He himself only wanted to be humanity’s savior, to protect mankind. But this man wanted to travel to another timeline!

Time travel isn’t as simple as it’s portrayed in science fiction. One misstep, and you could be sucked into an endless black hole!

“My power, plus yours, and Daigu’s,” Yue Longze said solemnly. “Whether I succeed or not, I must take the risk!”