Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1001

Chapter 1001

I trailed after Yusa, ducking into a different passageway than the one we had just left.

An abyss of shadow, untouched by even the faintest trace of light.

As we moved deeper, the last hints of activity disappeared, replaced by a void of complete silence.

*Creak.*

Yusa settled onto a vacant wooden crate, his pale green hair stirring softly as he moved.

Observing him, a single idea solidified in my mind.

«He is powerful.»

Powerful.

Perhaps it was due to my own transcendence, but I could perceive it with a new clarity. Details I had once missed were now starkly obvious.

«Powerful and vast.»

It wasn’t merely his physical strength.

I had felt it previously, but the incredible density contained within that slight form had been nagging at me.

Back then, I hadn’t understood.

I hadn’t known what was sealed inside that small body.

I had only been able to guess that something was there.

«But now, I can perceive it.»

My refined body, elevated to a higher state of being, had granted me sharper sight.

«…He is consciously holding that shape.»

Layer upon layer of compression.

For some unknown purpose, Yusa was applying a tremendous amount of force just to maintain that fragile appearance.

«Unthinkable.»

I almost let out a laugh.

I just managed to stifle it.

No matter how I considered it, the situation was ludicrous.

«He was restraining all that energy?»

Yusa was nothing like I had presumed.

So much so that—

«The fact I lived through that night was a miracle.»

That night when I had confronted both the Blue Leader and Yusa. The fact that I had challenged him and survived.

Fragments of that memory raced through my thoughts.

The things I had said to him, my tone—

It was absurd that I was still alive.

«To think he possessed this much strength.»

With my new vision, I could finally catch a glimpse of his real nature.

How far down would I have needed to see?

How much more force would he need to apply—

«To conceal something of that magnitude?»

I let my eyes drift to the space behind Yusa, where his shadow lay stretched out.

The way it sprawled across the earth, as if it could swallow entire structures, made a cold shudder run down my back.

It was undeniable.

«If we had fought, I would have been defeated.»

When I was only at the Hwagyeong stage, I had believed that if I used every method at my disposal, I might have had a chance.

«What a delusion.»

Seeing him now, I understood how arrogant that belief had been.

«Defeat that?»

I had been a fool to ever entertain the thought.

But now I knew.

Had I engaged Yusa, I would have been killed.

I hadn’t realized it then, but I did now.

«Would I have had a chance if I had held nothing back?»

The techniques of Myeong, the power of Demonic Energy—

The realms of Eternal Bind and Authority.

Not just my martial arts, but all the other forces I commanded—

Would they have been sufficient to confront him?

«Difficult to know.»

I had never attempted it, so I couldn’t say for sure.

But if I had to make a judgment—

«Perhaps.»

It wasn’t entirely impossible. My Myeong and my Authority were uniquely threatening to him.

But—

«What about now?»

What about now, after I had achieved transcendence?

Could I fight him now?

As I turned the question over in my mind, I continued to study him.

«You. You know my identity, correct?»

«…You are the General.»

Naturally, I knew.

He was the one who had been utterly crushed by Shin Noya previously.

Remembering that incident, I simply watched him without a word.

«Then you must also be aware of his current whereabouts, aren’t you?»

Yusa spoke again.

I tilted my head at the vague reference.

«Who do you mean?»

«The one you call Sect Leader.»

«…Ah.»

I gave a slow nod.

Of course, I had known exactly who he meant.

I had only feigned ignorance.

«What is he doing right now?»

«Hmm, it’s hard to say? Why is the General searching for our Sect Leader?»

«I have a question for him.»

«A question?»

I studied Yusa’s face. His expression was urgent.

But it wasn’t just urgency—there was a clear undercurrent of anxiety.

Not identical to what I had witnessed at Yahwol Palace, but similar—

«So, his perspective has shifted somewhat.»

It seemed that after I killed the White Leader yesterday, he had come to a new understanding.

If he had realized something here—

«It isn’t about the White Leader’s death.»

It was more about the inaction of his master, who had failed to appear when the White Leader was slain.

It was likely Yusa had sensed that, too.

If that was true, what was he thinking?

«I can tell he is uncertain.»

But in what way?

That was what I wanted to discover.

«Hey.»

Yusa called out to me again.

«…Answer me. What is he doing right now?»

«I don’t know.»

«What?»

Yusa frowned at my reply.

«I am here under orders, so I don’t have the exact details of the Sect Leader’s current activities.»

«What does that mean? You came here on his command, didn’t you?»

At his question, I hesitated for a beat.

Just for a fleeting moment—long enough to draw a single breath—before shaping my response.

«The one who gave me my orders was not the Sect Leader.»

«What are you talking about…?»

Yusa stopped short.

He was likely connecting the pieces in his mind.

If the Sect Leader hadn’t given the order, then who had?

It had to be the one who had been preying on his thoughts lately.

As he reached his conclusion, I voiced the answer.

«Cheonma.»

«…….»

«It was her command.»

Yusa bit his lip at the name Cheonma. His expression darkened further as he pondered.

Watching him, I added—

«That is actually why I meant to seek you out. It is fortunate we met like this.»

«…What?»

Hearing this, Yusa’s eyes widened.

«What do you mean by that?»

«I was ordered to locate you on her behalf.»

«…What?»

The revelation that I had come specifically for him made Yusa’s gaze falter.

That wasn’t a lie. I truly had come to find Yusa.

I was merely hesitating.

Should I conduct my business with him here—

«Or…»

I let my gaze shift toward the city walls.

«Should I do it outside?»

I weighed the options, but I had already decided.

«You came to find me? Why?»

Yusa asked, his tone betraying his impatience.

Sensing it, I responded,

«Cheonma wishes to meet with you, General.»

Hearing my answer, Yusa narrowed his eyes.

«…Then why are you the one delivering this message?»

«She is presently occupied, so I was sent to speak for her.»

«Hah! Occupied, is she?»

After causing so much chaos, now she had other business?

His reaction was thick with skepticism.

*Rumble—!*

A formidable aura burst from Yusa’s body, his irritation now plain.

*Grind.*

A harsh sound came from his lips.

The more agitated he grew, the more intense his aura became. Feeling its weight, I carefully dropped to one knee.

«Kh… Kuh… It’s… too… much…»

I intentionally groaned and collapsed as if being crushed by the pressure.

«…?»

Yusa looked at me with a strange expression.

What?

«…That was perfect.»

I was certain my act of being overwhelmed by his aura was convincing.

But suspicion quickly dawned in his eyes.

Damn it. What was the problem?

«You…»

Yusa began to speak, but I interrupted him first.

«…Before midnight—! I was told to tell you to come to the northern forest…! He said you would know the place!»

I spoke while keeping my face pointed at the ground, deliberately hiding my expression. Perhaps it was better if he didn’t see my eyes. That was my reasoning.

«Northern forest….»

Hearing the location, Yusa pulled his aura back.

And then—

«…This is fucking irritating.»

*Crack—!*

He gritted his teeth and stood up suddenly. Then, looking down at me, he spoke.

«You.»

«…Yes?»

«Tell the Sect Leader this—if he doesn’t show himself before it’s too late, I will go to him and rip his head from his shoulders. Understood?»

«…I will deliver the message.»

*Growl.*

A bestial sound echoed, and soon after, Yusa’s presence vanished from in front of me.

Had he left already? Or was he observing from close by?

I considered the possibility but remained on my knee.

After a considerable time—

«…Haa.»

I let out a strained breath, pretending to struggle as I rose to my feet.

Then, I recalled Yusa’s words. It was laughable.

Acting so threatening after being beaten by Shin Noya—it was ridiculous.

*Crack.*

I flexed my fingers, the sound of my knuckles popping breaking the silence.

Slowly, I stretched my body. My expression at that moment was likely contorted with anger.

This wasn’t good. Was this a side effect of reaching transcendence? Even minor things were beginning to infuriate me.

«…Tear it off? That bastard.»

Who did he think he was to make such a threat?

The more I repeated his words, the hotter my anger burned.

I made myself move, trying to push down my irritation, but it was a struggle.

«Tear it off?»

Tear off whose head?

*Grind.*

At that moment, something within my shadow stirred.

It was Tam.

Sensing my emotions, my Authority began to stir autonomously.

I didn’t force it down.

«Hold it in.»

I whispered, attempting to soothe it.

«Not yet. Just wait.»

Only a little longer.

It wouldn’t be much longer now.

Repeating the thought again and again—

*Grind…*

Tam finally receded back into my shadow.

«…»

Seeing that, I reached into my robe and retrieved an item.

A white mask.

I put it on and began to walk.

*********

Midnight had come and gone by the time I crossed beyond the city walls and reached the appointed place.

The northern forest.

More specifically, it was near the spot where I had previously met Yusa.

As I arrived, I surveyed the area and noticed a figure standing at the center.

It was Yusa.

*Rustle.*

The grass crunched under my foot, and Yusa reacted instantly.

«Have you been waiting long?»

Hearing my voice, Yusa fixed a glare on me.

«…I was informed you summoned me.»

«Indeed, I had matters to discuss with you. That is why I sent the boy with my message. It seems he performed his duty well.»

«What do you want?»

«There is something I need to ask you.»

«Ask me?»

Yusa’s brow furrowed deeply.

Seeing that, I went straight to the heart of the matter.

«General. Do you know the location of the Sacred Tree of Yahwol?»

«…»

I dispensed with any preamble.

And upon hearing my question—

*Grrr…*

A low growl emanated from Yusa’s throat, his killing intent flooding the atmosphere.

The pressure was immense, causing the very ground to quake.