Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1016

Chapter 1016

The terrain was barren.

Ordinarily, if a region was described as having a sparse population, it suggested few inhabitants—perhaps because it was isolated or cordoned off for security.

But this… this was more than just sparse.

‘This isn’t merely a shortage of people…’

There was nothing.

Not a single human trace, nor any indication of life—none whatsoever.

‘What’s going on?’

How could something like this even occur? A profound feeling of dread prickled across my skin.

This wasn’t simply a low concentration of living beings.

‘There’s nothing here.’

Nothing at all.

Not one hint of any creature, great or small.

That should be impossible.

After achieving transcendence, my awareness had grown immensely—both in scope and clarity.

And still, I couldn’t detect anything?

Frowning, I surveyed the area once more.

As before, there was scarcely any plant life.

The ground was primarily stone, amplifying the feeling of emptiness.

‘…It shouldn’t be this void of life.’

Sensing something amiss, I focused my energy.

*Fwoosh—!*

An orb of power materialized behind me. I spun it rapidly, channeling the majority of my strength into my perception.

Instantly, my awareness surged outward, deluging me with a flood of new information.

It was so intense it brought a faint throb to my temples.

And yet—

‘No life signals.’

I could make out the terrain’s features and geological structures, but still no evidence of anything alive.

I pushed my senses even farther.

Then—

*Ting—!*

«…!»

Something reacted at the farthest reach of my perception.

I shut down my energy immediately.

‘Damn.’

That was an error.

‘I overextended.’

Even though I was aware of what dwelled within Mount Marryeong, I’d briefly let my guard down.

‘I pulled back fast, but… did it sense me?’

At the outer edge of my expanded awareness, I had finally picked up a living presence.

However—

‘…It’s enormous.’

It was too vast and too fierce to be any ordinary creature.

It reminded me of the time I had sensed Yusa.

Which could only mean—

‘There’s only one being with such a dominating aura.’

Knowing what ruled over Mount Marryeong, I recognized it at once.

Without question, it was him.

‘Du Ryeong.’

The sovereign of Mount Marryeong.

The protector of the second Divine Tree I was seeking.

One of the generals.

That presence—

It was his.

Because I’d stretched my senses, I now knew exactly where Du Ryeong was within the mountain. That was useful intelligence.

But the issue was—

‘Just as I detected him…’

‘He may have detected me, too.’

Just as I had identified him through my energy—

He might have become aware of me from the disturbance.

And if that was true—

‘If he knows where I am—’

*KUGUGUGUGUNG—!!!*

«Damn it.»

Before I could complete the thought, the earth began to shake.

The whole mountain trembled violently.

Even after I’d withdrawn my energy, his presence detonated like a bomb.

I knew he was still distant, yet a suffocating killing intent crashed toward me from every direction.

‘Yeah, he definitely felt me.’

A smirk touched my lips.

It was certain now—Du Ryeong knew I was here.

‘Ah…’

What now?

There wasn’t much time to decide.

Even from far away, he could cover the distance in an instant if he chose.

I looked to my side.

Cheonma was gazing intently in the same direction, fully conscious of the colossal presence drawing near.

‘Hmm.’

If I could deploy her effectively in combat, it wouldn’t be much of an issue.

‘But will she obey?’

Would she act according to my plan?

That was an uncertainty.

‘…And I’m not exactly eager to fight alongside her either.’

So, what was the optimal move?

‘Actually, this is ideal.’

I raised my head.

Yes, this was good.

‘I needed to evaluate him anyway.’

If Du Ryeong was coming to me, that spared me the effort of searching for him.

That was far more efficient.

With that thought, I quickly took hold of Cheonma’s wrist.

«Huh?»

«Come with me.»

I pulled her along as I started to move.

**********

*Fwoooosh—!!!*

The wind screamed fiercely.

Strong gusts were typical at this high elevation, but now they were more intense than ever.

Was this anger?

No.

This wasn’t rage—it was fear.

The wind itself was shuddering at the approach of something monstrous.

I watched the sky with tense eyes.

And then—

A small dot appeared against the night.

At first, it was no larger than a speck.

But with each passing second, it grew larger and larger.

Soon, its shape became distinct.

A gigantic form with the head of a bull and the body of a man.

With murderous eyes and wreathed in flame, it dropped from the heavens.

*KUUUUUAAAAAHHH—!!!*

The ground fractured on impact.

Stone and debris flew outward, carving a deep crater into the earth.

It was like a meteor had hit.

Dust billowed up, clouding vision, but my enhanced sight—honed under the moon—pierced through it effortlessly.

I could see him.

‘It’s him.’

The first general I had met when I came to Mangye.

The one named Du Ryeong.

A colossal figure with darkened skin, a bull’s head, and a warrior’s build.

Many times larger than a normal man.

He held an axe as massive as his own formidable body.

And slowly, he began to rise.

*Ssssshhh—*

‘Damn.’

A laugh escaped me involuntarily.

It wasn’t just his size—the sheer pressure and aura radiating from him sent a tremor through my body.

‘I actually encountered this thing first back then?’

Now, I could perceive things I hadn’t been able to before.

It was the same sensation as when I’d met Yusa after reaching transcendence.

But the problem was—

This being was even more intense.

‘This isn’t just killing intent.’

It was battle spirit.

An overwhelming, maddening hunger for combat poured from him.

Yes, there was killing intent too, but his drive to fight was so potent it nearly eclipsed everything else.

‘What kind of monster is this?’

He looked like he was desperate for a battle.

The aura was so absurd it almost commanded a degree of respect.

And more importantly—

‘If he sees me, there’s no avoiding a confrontation.’

Judging by his demeanor, staying out of sight was the wisest choice.

Currently, I was concealed within fissures in the rocky landscape, maintaining a safe distance while watching him.

‘Hmmm…’

I narrowed my eyes.

Looking up at the moon, I could make out a faint sphere hovering within its light.

The Nine Flames Firewheel.

I was using it to mask my presence.

Concealing my energy, I ensured Du Ryeong wouldn’t detect me, and for added caution, I wrapped myself in flames to diminish my presence further.

Cheonma was at my side, but she appeared to grasp the situation and had greatly suppressed her own aura.

Even the Shadow King in person would struggle to find us now.

Using that advantage, I continued to observe Du Ryeong closely.

*Tsk…*

But as I watched, my frown deepened.

‘I can’t clearly see what’s inside him.’

For some reason, I couldn’t properly discern his internal energy.

Was he intentionally shrouding his body with power?

‘That must be it.’

He had already sensed someone probing him.

He might not have known my identity, but he was sure an outsider had used Qi Perception on him.

He was likely enveloping himself in energy as a precaution against an unseen threat.

Under these circumstances, I had to be cautious in my examination.

If he detected anything else unusual, he might pinpoint my location exactly.

*Hmmm…*

I let out a soft breath.

Channeling energy internally, I generated heat.

‘Should I engage him?’

I turned the idea over.

What were my chances if I fought him now?

What might I lose?

What could I gain?

I carefully considered all factors.

Simultaneously, I adjusted my posture, readying my body.

‘The circumstances are favorable.’

The situation was actually advantageous.

With no other life around, Du Ryeong had no allies to call upon.

‘And his authority has no hold over me.’

Even if he possessed an Undying Authority, my Devour ability could completely counter it.

That was a significant edge.

Beyond just canceling his power—

‘He won’t be aware of that until we clash, which will disrupt his fighting approach.’

If he was dependent on his supposed immortality, his tactics would be predictable.

‘He’ll attack without caution, convinced he can’t be killed.’

That was always the way of those with strong regeneration and external durability.

A prime example—

‘…Would be me.’

I had fought the same way.

Even before my dragon transformation, as my regeneration improved, my style grew more and more aggressive.

I doubted Du Ryeong was any different.

So—

‘I can use that against him.’

A fighter who believes they are invincible will become overconfident.

If I can capitalize on his shock when he discovers his ability is useless, the battle should be straightforward.

But—

‘Not just yet.’

I took a step back and resolved to watch a while longer.

Initiating a fight immediately upon arriving was too risky.

It was smarter to collect more intelligence first.

Having reached that decision, I turned to leave with Cheonma.

Just as I lifted my hand to take off my mask—

«What a disappointment.»

*Fwoosh.*

Du Ryeong let out a breath through his nostrils as he spoke.

«I had expected that those brave enough to enter my domain would be warriors of valor.»

«…!»

«It appears that is not so.»

Hearing this, I turned my head to look at him.

And in that moment—

«…Ha.»

A dry chuckle escaped me.

He had been standing alone on the stony ground, scanning his surroundings.

But now—

He was staring directly at us.

Which meant—

‘…That bastard.’

He had been aware of us all along.