Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1042

Chapter 1042

RUMBLE—!!!

Azure fire exploded outward, engulfing the structure in a violent wave.

A mix of concussive force and inner energy crashed against everything in the vicinity, scorching the earth and causing the building itself to smolder and liquefy.

THUD—!

Debris rained down. I narrowed my eyes, focusing my power into my hands.

I hadn’t finished it.

Perhaps because I compressed the area and concentrated the blast? There was no feeling of impact.

I located the presence. One.

‘There are too many.’

An overwhelming number of auras crowded the space, making it difficult to pinpoint any single one clearly.

That’s why it took me so long.

An instantaneous sweep was impossible, but the delay had still given me enough room to move.

WHOOSH—!

Something shot through the curtain of flame, driving deep.

I twisted my torso to evade.

I had meant to incinerate it, but judging by its energy signature, it wasn’t potent enough to catch fire.

I’d missed. Instantly, I gathered power back into my palm. Fire bloomed immediately, reshaping the energy.

Flame Spear. A glimmering spear of blue light took form.

I ignited the surrounding embers and hurled the spear toward the source of the attack.

KWAAAAAH—!!

A deafening roar erupted as a brilliant flash tore through the air.

KUUUUNG—!!!

The blast echoed from somewhere beyond the wall of fire.

The spear had detonated.

I had missed again.

‘What is this?’

I frowned. Puzzled, I began to draw the scattered flames back to me.

WHIRRRR—!!!

The flames, swirling violently, were sucked back into my hand. As the blue fire was pulled away, my sight cleared.

The area had been transformed into a warzone. The nearby structures were gone, leaving only seared ground and blackened wreckage.

And within that devastation, something remained.

‘…That.’

When I saw it, my face contorted.

It was what I had sensed earlier, inside the building.

A desiccated human form, encased within a crystal.

The shape of the person was perfectly preserved inside the amethyst, and every strange presence I felt around me was emanating from these objects.

As I understood, I thrust out my left hand.

WHAAAAA—!!!!

Fire erupted, shearing the entire side of the building off in an instant.

The structure crumbled away, leaving behind the crystals I had been staring at.

Even the blue flames hadn’t melted them. The force was enough to demolish the building, yet those crystals were completely untouched.

‘There’s more than one.’

The number of revealed crystals was not small.

There was at least one in every building, and some held multiple.

‘The presence is coming from there.’

Those bizarre auras I had been detecting in this space all along.

They were all originating from those crystals.

Why were these sensations coming from the crystals? And they weren’t just ordinary presences.

‘They’re alive.’

A distinct life force radiated from the amethyst formations, as if they were living things.

Thud—! Thud—!

If I listened closely, I could hear a heartbeat. This could only mean one thing…

‘They’re alive.’

It meant every entity trapped inside those crystals was still living.

«Hmm.»

Having confirmed this, I shifted my gaze. Looking up into the air, a figure was floating in the distance.

Dust hung thick in the ashen sky, making the entire area appear even more bleak and disordered.

At the center, a man with expansive black wings looked down upon me.

His long, ash-gray hair fell loosely, and he was clad in a black combat cloak.

His face was expressionless, his skin so pale it seemed utterly devoid of blood, and his eyes were fixed on me.

As our eyes met, he spoke.

«Impatient, aren’t you? We haven’t even exchanged greetings yet.»

«…»

«I intended to talk at length, but it seems you are not in the mood.»

SWOOSH.

In answer, I swung my arm.

The ring of fire morphed into a blazing whip and lashed outward.

WHOOOOSH—!! PANG—!

As the attack flew toward him, he also moved his hand. A spear materialized in his grip, and he swatted the whip aside.

A shower of sparks exploded.

In that brief moment, I studied the spear in his hand.

‘A trident?’

A black trident. It appeared to be composed of energy, its form shimmering and indistinct.

As I focused on it, he hurled the trident directly at me.

WHOOSH—!!

KUUUUNG—!!!

I barely evaded it. The trident struck the ground and exploded.

Dark energy erupted from the point of impact.

It detonated, sending superheated shockwaves and black power ripping through the air.

I glared at him, taking in the sizzling crater left behind.

«I have one question.»

«Hmm?»

He tilted his head at my words.

«What is it?»

«That. Did you do this?»

I gestured toward the crystals scattered across the ground.

«Ah, those?»

He smiled in response.

«Are they not beautiful?»

«What?»

«It is an immortal beauty, one that can never be broken.»

«…»

Hearing his answer, I allowed my energy to swell.

The sensation of life and power pressed in from every direction. I felt it like needles on my skin and steadied my breathing.

«Why?»

«Must I explain? We are not on such terms. And, to be honest…»

WHOOSH.

Another spear materialized at his fingertips.

«…I believe it is more fitting for me to ask the questions.»

«True.»

WHOOSH.

As I spoke, I gathered my strength.

«But, given the circumstances, I doubt either of us will answer.»

Flames erupted, enveloping my body.

The blue fire wrapped around me once before transforming into a shroud of black energy.

«Then we will force the answers from each other. I prefer it that way.»

I condensed my fighting spirit. A ring formed behind me and began to spin wildly.

The ring, now forged from demonic energy, shuddered violently.

KIIING—!!

Its speed reached a extreme, causing the very air to scream with friction.

Power flooded into my hands. The atmosphere tore and shimmered.

The Cheonma Divine Art was unleashed.

ZZZT.

CRACKLE—!!!

The bones throughout my body vibrated. The pain was beyond comparison to using Tua Pacheonmu.

Tua Pacheonmu is founded on the stimulation of blood vessels; its energy is rooted in pain, so it doesn’t directly harm the body, but…

‘This truly hurts.’

The Cheonma Divine Art impacts the physique directly.

The friction is so intense my very bones ring, and the sharp, rending agony feels like my skin is being flayed.

‘This is brutal.’

Simply maintaining it is a Herculean task. Even if I can sustain it, the suffering is overwhelming.

I created this, but it feels like pure madness.

‘If I weren’t in a dragon’s body, I couldn’t endure this.’

Even with my transcendent state, it’s this arduous.

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to use it.

‘What choice do I have?’

I have to withstand it.

Just like I always have.

BOOM—!!!

The vibration detonated, and energy coalesced in my fist.

I contained it, squeezing it tightly, and accelerated the spin further.

PAH—!!

A burst of power shot from my back, propelling me forward.

I charged directly at him.

He swung his trident and beat his wings, meeting my assault head-on.

WHIIISH—!

The trident moved, energy trailing in its wake and forming a virulent green aura.

As the spear cut through the air, black energy clung to it. Its magnitude was no joke.

The energy itself was formidable.

I tilted my body just enough to avoid it.

WHOOOOSH—!!!

The attack grazed past me.

KUAAAAAAAA—!!!!

A tremendous explosion sounded behind me, accompanied by a powerful shockwave. I didn’t look back. The sheer vibration and energy were enough to gauge its destructive force.

It was good I didn’t try to block it.

Could I have? Possibly, but…

‘It would’ve been a pain to power through.’

If I wasn’t going to take the hit, I’d have to slow it down.

That would mean releasing some of my own momentum.

As speed dropped, the power might lose some intensity, but I had still closed the distance.

That was what mattered.

Cheonma Divine Art.

I pushed forward, plunging into his personal space and entering striking range.

Cheonma’s Single Fist.

Chaos exploded from my fist.

KIAAAAAAA—!!!!

The scream of energy overwhelmed him.

It tore through the atmosphere, as if the power itself had taken on the shape of a shriek.

It felt like the energy was manifesting the very sensation of shuddering agony.

The force was, I had to admit, truly monstrous.

‘Damn it.’

The result was the same as before.

‘It didn’t connect.’

There was no impact in my hand.

WHOOSH—!

I dropped my head.

SWOOSH—!

The trident passed just over my skull. I immediately channeled power into the ring.

THUNK—!

Fire erupted, and the trident was knocked to the ground. It landed with a heavy crash.

KUA—!

Debris flew. There was no time to roll or counter.

I condensed flame into my palm.

Then I sheathed it in chaos.

Cheonma Soul Flame.

And then…

KUUUUNG—!!!

I raised my foot and stomped down. The resulting pressure burst upward.

Cheonma Royal Step.

I intertwined my legs with fighting spirit and the Cheonma Divine Art.

I borrowed from the form of the Emperor’s sword technique, merging fighting spirit and sword energy to restrict movement, dictating the flow with sheer will.

I released the energy and stared into the sky.

He was still looking down at me, without a single mark on him.

His battle cloak obscured his features, but I could tell he was smirking.

‘What is this?’

Why didn’t it land?

I was right in front of him. I definitely landed the blow, yet it didn’t connect. What’s happening?

I narrowed my eyes.

‘Is it his ability?’

This is strange. I struck from point-blank range with a solid hit, but it didn’t reach him. Something is wrong.

And he’s smiling?

‘Is he mocking me?’

Is he playing with me?

At that thought, I withdrew the energy I had been building.

If it’s not working, there’s no point in wasting it.

‘It doesn’t feel like a power ability.’

If it were, Tam would have reacted first. But Tam remained still.

‘Hmm.’

What to do?

I considered it for a brief moment.

«Mm.»

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

It wasn’t a power ability, nor was it something I could instantly understand.

Then…

‘Only one thing remains.’

I recalled the idea and focused my vision.

Shiman activated.

I poured all my energy into it. My eyes flooded with so much power that the scenery before me began to warp and shift.

This entire area was a form of sorcery, so naturally, what I saw was unnatural.

‘I see it.’

There was something surrounding him.

‘That’s it.’

It was sorcery. I didn’t know what kind, but…

‘If it’s sorcery…’

Then it’s a different game entirely.

A smile touched my lips as I moved my hand.

My hand shot out into empty air. His expression shifted subtly when he saw this.

In that moment…

CREAK—!!

I seized hold of something among the bizarre sensations before me.

The instant I did…

KUUUUNG—!!

«……!?»

His body shuddered violently.

I was sure of it now.

‘This bastard.’

I think I can get him.