Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1004

Chapter 1004

The brilliant orb shining high above.

My energy coalesced into a hidden art. Narrowing my eyes at the Fire Wheel Star, I turned my gaze downward to my adversary, who had tumbled to the ground far away.

‘What is this?’

The strength was different. Until this moment, my strikes had rarely landed cleanly. The speed of my arm’s movement and the force behind it were now entirely transformed.

A sway.

My tail shifted. I had always been aware of its presence, but the sensation was now many times more vivid than when it had been formed by sorcery.

‘…This.’

It was undeniable.

‘My body has been abruptly altered.’

The form of the Moonlit Night Tribe.

The racial boon said to be granted under the moon’s ascent.

I could feel a body greatly fortified and senses sharply amplified.

‘What?’

How could this occur so abruptly? The full manifestation of the Moonlit Night Tribe’s traits should take another half hour from now. Strangely, my body was already in a state of awakened tribal characteristics.

‘Is this real?’

I looked up at the Fire Wheel Star.

If there was an origin for this change, it was undoubtedly that. My body had transformed shortly after I activated the Fire Wheel Star.

‘…Why?’

Why would that happen?

Questions flooded my mind, but this was not the moment to dwell on them.

«Grghh-!»

*Thud!*

My opponent, who had been thrown back, groaned as he pushed himself up. His face was a clear mask of agony.

«This bastard… Cough!»

Whether from a solid hit to his solar plexus, he was now spitting blood. The fluid pouring from his mouth darkened the earth.

«Despicable… to lull me into a false sense of security…»

«…Not exactly.» Given how it appeared, one could see why he thought that. I had just been accused of concealing my true power.

However.

Watching him fight to stand, a thought about this anomaly occurred to me.

‘He hasn’t grown stronger.’

In contrast to my own body, which had awakened the traits of the Moonlit Night Tribe, my rival showed no sign of change.

‘If he had changed, he wouldn’t have been dropped so easily.’ Including the blow to the solar plexus and his current struggle to rise. His body must not yet have met the night.

Then.

‘…It means the change is mine alone.’

Surveying the scene, I looked back at the Fire Wheel Star.

‘…What is the cause?’

I had merely manifested a secret technique. Though it resembled the moon, the Fire Wheel Star was distinct. If anything, since it was condensed heat, it was more fitting to see it as a sun.

‘Hmm.’

I stroked my chin, concealed behind my mask, as I pondered the circumstances.

The situation was unclear, but ultimately, one fact was evident.

‘I can use this.’

And my opponent cannot.

That was all that mattered right now.

*Thud.*

I stepped forward, appearing instantly before my distant foe. His eyes widened as he saw me. He scrambled to react, but—

*Crunch!*

My hand was already clamped around his wrist. After securing him to prevent any retreat, I drove my other fist into his solar plexus.

*Thump-!!*

«Cough!»

A shock ran through him, his body lifting from the ground. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be thrown back. The arm I held anchored him in place.

I proceeded to beat him down.

*Bang! Bang bang!!*

A sound like shattering accompanied the relentless pummeling. Unlike before, where he could block and evade, he was now utterly disoriented.

«Choke!»

I crushed every attempt to resist. My newfound speed and strength made possible what was previously unthinkable, greatly aiding the assault.

After a sustained beating,

*Whooosh–!!!*

I condensed flames in my palm, forming a searing orb. I then slammed it directly into his solar plexus and released its energy, letting go of his arm as it detonated.

«Gurk-!»

*Boom!!!*

Engulfed in fire, he was hurled backward by the blast.

*Crash!!!*

He flew through the air, pulverizing the ground where he landed. The velocity of his flight was so great it stifled his scream.

I had thrown him too powerfully.

‘Hmm.’

Should I close the distance? As I considered it,

«This bastard…!»

The sound of his voice grew nearer. My opponent had returned with surprising speed, but the state he was in was far from good.

‘It seems the attack was effective.’

The flaming sphere I had embedded. It had struck true, burrowing deep before the explosion. It hadn’t pierced through, but the resulting damage was certainly severe. Blood soaked his upper body, and bones were visible within the wounds. A human would have long since perished.

«…Are you mocking me?»

Instead of dying, my adversary burned with fury. Revoltingly, his injured torso began to regenerate at a rapid pace.

«I like the spirit.»

Concealing my dismay, I spoke.

«Still, the performance is no different, General. Is this all you have?»

«Grrrr.»

Provoked by my taunt, he scowled. Then, all the wounds on his body closed completely.

«Arrogant fool.»

His hand extended, claws sprouting. At the same time, his fighting spirit swelled dramatically.

«Think you’re the only one holding back?»

He sneered, implying he hadn’t yet begun to fight in earnest. I was incredulous.

‘The moon hasn’t even risen, and he had that much power in reserve?’

That meant.

‘What happens when he receives the blessing?’

If he receives the nocturnal boon in that state, how much more will his power grow? At this point, it wasn’t just intriguing—it was alarming.

‘To think I taunted such a monster.’

How impressive I had been, relying on the power called «fate» in the heart of the night. As I regulated my breath, remembering that,

«Hehehe…»

My opponent suddenly began to laugh. What now? Why start laughing at a time like this? Puzzled, I tilted my head.

«I was puzzled at first. Now I’m certain.»

His eyes suggested a sudden revelation. What? Could it be…

‘Has he discovered who I am?’

Despite the mask and the modulated voice, could he have truly recognized me? It seemed improbable, yet his reaction was so confident it made me tense for a moment.

«You.»

He pointed a claw at me.

«You can’t use fate.»

«…Huh?»

I was stunned by his abrupt declaration.

«It was strange from the start. I wondered why you never used it… You can’t use it, can you?»

«…»

«If you had used it earlier, this fight would have ended quickly. There must be a condition, right? Could it be… the night? Is it because the moon hasn’t risen yet? Am I right?»

He continued, his tone excited and sure of himself. What to do?

‘This guy, really, what do I do with him.’

It was fortunate I wore a mask. Otherwise, he would have seen me struggling not to laugh. I had deliberately avoided using fate, and he had misinterpreted it as an incapacity. Was he convinced some condition prevented me from employing it?

«…You’re perceptive. I commend you.»

I kept my laughter in check as I responded. His smile widened.

«Kekeke… So it was true…»

His cackling grated on my nerves.

«General. Do you believe knowing that changes anything?»

That I can only use fate at night—what difference could that knowledge possibly make for him?

«Nothing changes.»

*Crack-!*

I flexed my hand, reigniting the flames. Just as I prepared to re-engage,

«Let’s see. Will it really?»

He spoke, then drove his elongated claws deep into his own chest. Directly into his heart.

Was this some form of ritual suicide?

«Pffft-!»

Blood erupted from his mouth. Of course, more poured from the wound around his impaled hand. As I frowned behind my mask,

«Grrr…»

*Gargle. Twitch-!*

A low growl emerged as his body began to warp. The flickering of his huge tail was particularly strange. I hadn’t noticed before, but he now had two tails, and coarse fur was sprouting from his skin.

This was…

‘Just like Gubong.’

It resembled when Gubong had transformed into a beast-human under the moonlight.

‘…It’s rougher than the white one’s.’

It felt more savage and unrefined than the nocturnal form exhibited by the white leader. A chill traced its way down my spine at the sight.

In terms of sheer size, the white was larger. However.

‘The presence is on a completely different level.’

Size alone was not a measure. The aura he emitted was not just about physical dimensions. Instinctively, I looked down at his feet, searching for his shadow.

Seeing it, my eyes widened. Until a moment ago, his shadow had been massive, but now it had shrunk considerably.

‘It’s changed.’

The size was now almost human-like. It was as if our shadows had traded places.

«Grrrrrrrrrrrrr—!!!»

A roar erupted from his fully transformed body.

*Crack-!*

He swung his twin tails, lightly crushing the ground beneath them.

Beast.

And if I had to specify… um…

‘What should I call this…?’

I wasn’t sure. It bore resemblances to a bear, a lion, a tiger, and also somewhat to a dog or a wolf. Whereas the white one was definitively a tiger, this opponent was ambiguous. Just a beast. Or a monster. Those seemed the only words for it.

«How long has it been since I last revealed this body…»

His voice was a rough, thick rumble that filled the air.

«They call you Cheonma, don’t they? You should be grateful. Very few have witnessed this form.»

*Grrrrug*

As he crouched, the ground compressed under his weight.

«The last time was when that disgusting traitor tried to flee. What has it been, a hundred years? Thereabouts.»

Disgusting traitor. My interest was piqued. It sounded like he was speaking of Shin Noya.

«I’ve gotten hungry.»

His tails flickered for an instant.

That very moment.

«I will sate this hunger with you!»

*Kwaaaa–!!*

His massive body, fangs bared, charged directly at me.

«Hmm.»

The gaping maw drew near. Seeing it, I let out a resigned breath.

Apparently.

‘This won’t do.’

Looking at him, I knew I could not prevail as I was. Making that judgment, I gathered strength deep within my core.

*Fwsssshh—!!!*

A ring of fire blazed into existence behind me.

*Keeeeeeng—!!!*

The ring began to spin as if it had been waiting for this moment. Energy surged from my meridians. Heat enveloped my body. Channeling power through my clenched fist, I conducted a heating.

Though I had never attempted it before, I knew.

«Extreme Fire Infant of the Five Elements.»

As my father had demonstrated in the North Sea.

«Extreme Fire Infant.»

I, too.

Through my fingertips, unleashed hell upon the world.

*Kwaaaaaa—-!!!!*

A blue inferno consumed my opponent.