I Can Only Cultivate In A Game-Chapter 51: Graduation
~ One Month Later ~
New Avalon City had returned to life.
The scars of the Drakenar invasion were still etched into the streets, but the city had recovered.
The barriers had been reinforced, the government had reassured the populace, and life continued forward as if nothing had happened.
There were still small protests—groups demanding more transparency, better defense, and accountability for the breach.
But overall, the fear had dulled.
It was human nature.
Time moved forward.
And people forgot.
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---
In a vast hall within Grand Arc High, buzzing laughter and cheers filled the surroundings with the flashing of cameras.
Rows of students in graduation gowns lined the stage, waiting for their names to be called.
Parents, siblings, and relatives filled the audience with some wiping proud tears and others clutching bouquets of flowers.
Hover drones hovered above, recording the event and broadcasting it live to some channels.
For the Awakened students, the excitement was doubled.
They weren't just graduates.
They were the future soldiers, defenders, and elite of society.
Their entire lives had changed the moment they awakened.
And this ceremony?
It was a mere formality before they moved on to something greater.
Danny stood among them with his arms folded across his chest.
His graduation cap sat slightly tilted as he stared up ahead with an unreadable expression.
"Hey, are you even paying attention?" Max nudged him.
Danny blinked. "Huh?"
"The speech." Jake gestured towards the stage. "It's almost over."
At the podium, Clara Frost, one of the top students in Class 3 was delivering the final lines of her speech.
"—we have faced challenges, laughter, and unforgettable memories," Clara smiled brightly.
"In the end, we all made it here. And as we step forward, let's never forget the bonds we forged and the dreams that await us."
The crowd erupted into applause.
Teachers clapped.
Parents cheered.
The principal took the stage, preparing to call the names of the graduates.
But Danny wasn't clapping.
His eyes drifted to the empty seat at the far end of the row.
A seat that should have been occupied.
"Is Victor Coming?"
As the ceremony continued, Amara brushed past a few students, moving towards Danny.
She had her long hair tied in a loose braid and her graduation gown fitted perfectly, but there was a slight furrow in her brows.
When she reached Danny, she didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"Did you hear from Victor?" she asked.
Danny let out a long sigh.
He shook his head. "No."
Amara's lips pressed into a thin line.
"I messaged him earlier this morning," Danny continued while adjusting his graduation cap. "Still nothing."
Amara exhaled sharply. "It's been a month."
"Yeah," Max muttered, "and we haven't seen him once."
"Not even once," Jake added. "Dude vanished."
"His mom won't even let us see him," Danny crossed his arms.
"Every time we went to check, she'd just say he wasn't home."
Amara's hands clenched at her sides.
That didn't sit well with her.
"Do you think she was lying?"
Danny hesitated.
Then he sighed.
"I don't know."
But deep down?
He had a feeling.
Victor was home.
He was just refusing to let anyone see him.
---
As names were called one by one, cheers filled the venue.
The graduates smiled and posed for pictures as they accepted their certificates.
Parents hugged their children.
The future seemed bright for everyone.
Except…
For one person who wasn't there.
"Victor Revenant."
The entire surroundings fell silent the moment this name was called.
Eyes darted across the crowd. Some students craned their necks, and others murmured quietly to one another.
But no one stepped forward.
The principal hesitated while glancing up from the list before coughing lightly into his fist.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed calling the next name.
Among the students, Danny's fists clenched at his sides.
Max and Jake exchanged uneasy looks.
Amara's brows furrowed.
Even though they already knew Victor wasn't coming… it still hit differently when his name was called and there was no response.
The moment the graduation ceremony ended, the group huddled together.
"We're going to his place," Danny said firmly while adjusting his graduation gown.
"Damn right we are," Jake muttered.
"No matter what," Max added, "we'll make sure we see him today."
Amara nodded immediately.
Derek who stood beside her, folded his arms. "Why?"
Amara shot him a look.
"Why?" she repeated, as if the question itself was absurd. "Because he's our friend. And we haven't seen him in over a month."
Derek sighed and shook his head. "Whatever. Do what you want."
But when Amara turned to leave, he gritted his teeth and followed.
As they walked through the bustling crowds, the recent graduates were already being approached by recruiters.
"Join the Mana Research Institute and help advance the future of magic-infused technology!"
"Our private organization provides elite combat training, better than the Mana Defense Academy itself!"
Danny was among those targeted.
A sharp-dressed man in a crisp white suit stepped in front of him, holding out a business card with an insignia resembling a coiled dragon.
"Mr. Daniel King," the man said smoothly. "We've taken notice of your potential. We'd like to offer you a contract—"
"No thanks."
Danny walked past him without a second thought.
The man's eyebrow twitched. "Wait, at least consider—"
Danny didn't even spare him a glance.
"I said no."
He caught up with his friends, not interested in anything other than reaching Victor's place.
---
Twenty minutes later, the group of five arrived in front of Victor's apartment complex... a modest, slightly worn-out building.
They were about to head for the stairway when something caught Max's eye.
"There he is."
Everyone turned.
Victor was in the distance, walking toward the building with his head down.
But something was off.
He wasn't wearing his usual hoodie or casual clothes.
Instead, he was dressed in a worker's uniform—the kind store employees wore.
The way he walked… he looked drained.
Danny's brows furrowed. "What the hell is he wearing?"
Victor reached the stairs of the apartment complex and began climbing up, still looking at the ground.
"Victor!" Amara called out.
Victor didn't stop.
Didn't even look in their direction.
As if he hadn't heard them at all.
The group exchanged quick glances before rushing after him.
Victor reached his apartment door and pulled out his keys.
Just as he pushed it open and tried closing it behind him…
A hand shot through the small gap.
THUNK!
"Ouch."
Jake winced.
Victor's head snapped up in surprise as he finally noticed them.
Danny, Max, Jake, Amara, and even Derek stood in front of his door, panting slightly from running up the stairs.
"What the hell, man?" Danny demanded. "You gonna pretend we don't exist now?"
Victor's expression darkened.
For the first time, they saw something in his eyes that wasn't humor or sarcasm.
Something heavy.
Something that screamed 'leave me alone.'
"…What are you guys doing here?" he finally voiced with a hoarse tone.
Amara stepped forward.
"We came to see you."
Victor's fingers tightened on the door handle.
"Well, you saw me."
He tried to close the door again.
This time, Danny caught it.
"No, dude. We're not leaving."
##########
Author's Note:
VOLUME TWO BEGINS
