Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1031

Chapter 1031

“He got away.”

Cheonma’s firm reply left me momentarily at a loss for words. Considering there wasn’t a single mark on them, the fight didn’t appear to have been particularly challenging.

‘I was too occupied with my own battle to pay proper attention.’

Had it been a tougher struggle than it seemed? Or was the adversary simply that swift?

‘…Nothing to be done about it.’

If Cheonma said the target escaped, then that was that. My request had been to intercept the enemy, not necessarily to capture them.

It was regrettable that the foe wasn’t eliminated immediately, but I was indebted to Cheonma for their aid. Complaining was out of the question.

Having reached that conclusion, I shifted my attention back to the chieftain—

“…I understand.”

The chieftain’s eyes were fixed intently on Cheonma, a sharp gleam within them.

“Just as I thought. It was you.”

His shimmering gaze was alight with pure hatred and a palpable desire to kill.

“You cursed dragons…! Vile creatures… So it was your doing after all…”

Drip.

Blood dripped from his melted torso, hitting the ground. His narrowed eyes shone with spite. I questioned how he had identified us so quickly.

‘He must have seen us that time.’

During my initial meeting with the chieftain. He had witnessed me alongside Cheonma, and now his focus was entirely on Cheonma.

Furthermore—

‘He said “just as I thought”…’

It appeared he had already harbored suspicions that I was the one responsible for this chaos.

‘How did he know, then?’

The hatred burning in his eyes… Had he deduced I was a dragon because of it? That seemed the most likely explanation. No other clear reason presented itself.

I took a quick survey of our surroundings.

“Kyahhh—!!”
“Grrr—!!!”

‘It seems things are concluding over there as well.’

The large-scale skirmish nearby was drawing to a close. The demonic beasts had cut down every last one of the wild creatures.

Seeing this, I lifted my hand.

Clack—

I took off the mask I had been wearing.

“…Grrrrr.”

The instant my face was revealed, the chieftain released a low, rumbling growl.

“You…!”

“You’re rather perceptive for someone so large.”

There was no further need to conceal my identity now that he knew.

“…How dare you. A lowly dragon, attempting to invade the Myriad Realms…!”

Despite his ravaged condition, the chieftain stirred. He looked on the verge of collapse, yet strength remained within him.

I uttered a cold whisper:

“Stop.”

“…!!”

The moment the command left my lips, the chieftain’s body locked into place. There was barely any resistance. His body, already pushed to its brink, could hardly fight against the order.

“…How… is a command… possible…?”

“Save your questions. I had no intention of explaining anyway.”

I lacked both the desire and the energy to provide answers.

‘…I’m also reaching my limit.’

I had nearly exhausted my internal energy experimenting with various abilities.

The sole silver lining was that I was beginning to understand how to wield this power correctly. But my current state was far from good.

“Besides,” I continued coolly, “I will be the one asking the questions.”

“…Hah.”

The chieftain let out a scornful, empty laugh.

“What makes you believe I would answer you? I would rather die than submit to a foul dragon!”

“Naturally.”

His demeanor made it clear—no argument would make this savage cooperate. But that was inconsequential.

“Your willingness is not required.”

It wasn’t his choice whether he spoke or not.

There were numerous methods to procure answers. Employing the command I had imposed on him was one of them.

“My question is straightforward.”

I inclined my head and asked:

“I was told you are not native to the Myriad Realms. Why, then, do you serve its master?”

“…What?”

A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes at the unexpected query.

He had not been anticipating that.

“What a foolish question.”

The chieftain’s voice was thick with contempt, as if the question were unworthy of a response.

“What reason does one need beyond loyalty to the one who saved your life?”

“…”

I narrowed my eyes at his response. Was it the truth, or a deception?

Yet, somewhere deep within, a grim conviction settled—

‘He is speaking truthfully.’

His bearing, his expression—everything indicated his words were genuine. The master of the Myriad Realms had saved his life.

In return, he had pledged his absolute fealty.

That simple, unadorned statement revealed a raw and unwavering belief.

Crack.

Abruptly, his body tensed and shuddered into motion.

“A wretched dragon… It shames me that I cannot prevent you from defiling the Myriad Realms. But do not fool yourself…”

Crunch.

The sound of grinding bone echoed as he strained against my command, forcing his paralyzed body to move.

“You… will learn nothing from me—”

“Oh, quiet down. Stay still. I have enough to deal with without your theatrics.”

Vwoooom—!!

The chieftain’s body seized up once more—this time, more completely and mercilessly than before.

I felt a significant drain on my already diminished energy. But it was necessary. Without it, he would have torn himself apart to protect his secrets.

I could sense it—he was prepared to end his own life rather than let me learn anything.

‘Tch.’

I clicked my tongue in frustration.

‘What do I do with him now?’

Killing him seemed the most sensible course of action. Allowing him to live posed an unacceptable risk.

‘Letting him survive would be irrational.’

But to kill him, I would need to lift the command, allowing him to revert briefly to his regenerative state.

Which meant—

‘…I lack the strength for another fight.’

Without Cheonma’s assistance, a second confrontation would be fatal.

And if—

‘What if he flees the instant the command is released?’

Based on his demeanor, retreat didn’t seem like his way. But assumptions could be fatal.

If he escaped—
And spread word—

‘…Unpredictable.’

I couldn’t foresee the consequences. The current master was not the mother I remembered. If she learned of this, would she intervene directly?

If she did—

‘Can I emerge victorious?’

And—

‘…It might create serious trouble for Mount Hua.’

With Shin Noya currently unable to act, Mount Hua itself could be endangered.

Given that, allowing the chieftain to live was not an option.

‘Damn it.’

And yet, I hesitated like a fool.

The reason was simple.

‘He swore his loyalty to my mother.’

Unlike Yusa, the chieftain had given his absolute devotion to the current master.

‘Is killing him… truly the correct choice?’

The thought ate at me—a bitter, persistent doubt. Was this the right thing for me, her son, to do?

If he had possessed even a trace of treachery like Yusa, it would have been simple. I would have ended him without hesitation.

But because he didn’t, I paused.

Crack—

The chieftain’s frozen form began to quake.

He was exerting immense force, striving to shatter my command.

The power he was summoning was tremendous—I could feel the bonds of my control straining and beginning to give way.

It meant my time to decide was short.

The rational choice—the only choice—was to kill him now. Sentiment had no place here.

I had to finish it.

Steeling myself, I extended my hand.

“…”

My palm, charged with qi, pressed against his skull.

“Damn it.”

I cursed under my breath and hardened my resolve.

With my decision made, my qi erupted.

Fwoooosh—!!

But—

The energy I released was not fire.

It was something else entirely.

**********

The night was not over. The moon remained high as I made my way back to Black Phoenix Palace.

Though my body felt no fatigue, my qi was almost entirely exhausted.

Holding back the raggedness of my breath from the recent combat, I reached the gates of Black Phoenix Palace.

The guard stationed there started at the sight of me.

He was visibly shocked by my sudden arrival with Cheonma. Yet, he did not obstruct me and opened the way without a word.

It seemed he had already received instructions from Heroic Spirit.

Passing through the opened gate, I found the night within Black Phoenix Palace felt no different from the world outside.

I leaped lightly into the air. My body cleared the ground, my movements fluid and effortless.

In a mere instant, I had crossed the distance and arrived at a familiar spot—the lake where the Divine Tree stood.

Splish.

The water surface rippled gently as I landed upon it.

My gaze swept the area. I could detect the guardians positioned around the perimeter, but they showed no direct hostility or approach.

Letting my eyes scan the surroundings—

‘There.’

At the center of the lake—
A small rise of land, and upon it, the Divine Tree.

And seated peacefully beneath its branches was a woman.

“Wait here.”

I instructed Cheonma before moving forward.

My feet, infused with qi, carried me across the water’s surface.

Ripples expanded with each step as I ascended the small hill, stopping before Heroic Spirit.

“Hey.”

My voice stirred Heroic Spirit from her stillness.

“If you have something to say—”

She cut herself off.

Her words halted abruptly, and her eyes widened. Something about me had surprised her.

Through the veil obscuring her face, she stared at me—
Silent. Motionless.

A peculiar tension hung in the air, and I instinctively looked up.

I raised my chin toward the sky—
And there—

‘…A full moon.’

Two vast, perfect moons hung together—round and brilliant, marking the night of the full moon.

“…”

Lowering my eyes from the sky, I met Heroic Spirit’s gaze once more.

She was still watching me.

Her face was hidden behind the veil—
Her expression impossible to discern—
And she remained silent.

Something felt different.

A quiet, uncertain whisper escaped my lips:

“…Mother?”

At my barely audible question, she tilted her head just slightly.

“Oh my.”

Her hand rose, gracefully covering her mouth.

And then, Heroic Spirit—or rather—

“It seems you’ve realized.”

My mother—spoke.