Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1045

Chapter 1045

A black mask.
Brown hair.
And the golden eyes shining from behind that mask.
The white energy coiling around her blade.
The faint scent and the trembling air—
My eyes widened as I stared at the woman who had materialized before me.

“You…”

Why was she here now? I was stunned by the sudden arrival of Yarang, who had appeared out of nowhere to rescue me.
“Yarang…”
Even the crow before us, who clearly had not anticipated this, wore a distorted expression.

“What is the meaning of this?”
The crow demanded, his face savage.

*Whoosh.*
Yarang gave no reply, instead spinning her sword to level its sharp tip at him.

“Hah?”
Witnessing this, the crow released an irritated sigh.

“You dare to interfere with me?”
“……”
“I was in the process of removing a pest that disrupts the order of the Abyssal Pit. Your actions now defy the will of the Abyssal Pit itself. Do you comprehend that?”
“……”

Yarang remained silent. However,
she shifted the point of her sword, as if to provide an answer, directing it toward something.
It was aimed at the swirling blue energy rising into the heavens.

She pointed at the power radiating from the crystal that now dominated the sky, and the crow’s eyebrow gave a slight twitch.

“Yes, you see it. You know exactly what is happening. That wretch is attempting to bring chaos to the Abyssal Pit, and I am stopping him. That is your evidence.”

Is this madman actually serious?
He’s pinning this on me? The absurdity was so profound I nearly laughed aloud.

‘Which means.’
Him shifting the blame to me, instead of accepting responsibility,
‘implies he was operating without the knowledge of the other generals or masters.’

It seemed I wasn’t the only one making waves. After that realization, I opened my mouth to speak, but—
*Ssshhh.*
Yarang’s sword did not waver. She simply held its tip steady, aimed at the crow.

“Hah…”
Finally, the crow let out a soft sigh upon seeing this.

Then—
“Unnecessary interference. These interruptions are becoming tiresome.”

In an instant, his expression shifted, and his form vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Yarang.

His speed was so immense I almost lost sight of him.
But—
*Clang—!*
Yarang effortlessly deflected his trident with her sword.

*Whoooosh—!!*
White energy cascaded outward, shimmering brilliantly.

I was sure of it now.
‘Pama.’
This was the energy of Pama.

It was the same energy that Wi Seol-ah could wield in her present life.
And also—
‘The identical sacred power the Divine Sword used against Cheonma in her past life.’
An energy with the power to eradicate all demons.

Yarang was harnessing the energy of Pama, just as the Divine Sword had.

*Crunch—!*

“……!”

The crow’s eyes shot wide open. As the Pama energy met his trident, the weapon fractured into fragments.

He instantly manifested another trident, but Yarang’s blade was already cutting through the air.

*Whoooosh—!!*

Her sword moved with blinding speed. A white arc sliced through the space between them.

It was breathtakingly fast.
As he mustered his energy for an assault, her sword seemed prepared to cleave through anything with effortless grace.

‘……This is.’

A masterclass in swordsmanship.

The intricately woven patterns of her blade made my vision quiver.

My surprise wasn’t merely at the high level of skill.

‘This is the sword of the Divine Sword.’

The Moonlit Dance Sword of the Moonlit Night Tribe, the technique of Wi Seol-ah.

The sword strokes from that era had been preserved perfectly.
It was a beautiful symphony.

The blade never strayed from its path, tracing one flawless arc after another.

*Crack—! Crack!*

Every move the crow attempted was dismantled within that perfect form.

No matter what action the crow took, the sword found its mark first.

*Crack—!*

Each time Pama’s energy made contact, the crow’s spear shattered again and again.

I watched intently as Pama’s energy wreaked havoc upon him.

“Ku.”

How many spears had been destroyed? Once I lost count—

“You bitch…!”

The crow shrieked, spreading his wings wide.

*Whoooosh—!*

Two pairs of wings expanded fully, unleashing a violent gust of wind. From them, a storm of black feathers erupted forth.

The number of feathers was so immense they nearly blotted out the view. Just as I pondered how they could be countered—

*Whoosh.*

Yarang raised her hand.

It was not the hand holding her sword, but her empty one.

White energy coalesced at her fingertip.

Seeing this, a thought occurred to me—

‘Is it possible?’

Was she truly going to use that technique?

Before the thought could fully form—

*Whoooooosh—!!!*

The tip of Yarang’s finger shone, and light began to bloom from her back as well.

Fireflies.

Luminous white fireflies drifted upward, gently filling the air.

*Whoooosh—.*

The fireflies rapidly multiplied, and each one transformed into a sword.

Dozens of swords materialized in the sky.

*Whoosh—!*

Yarang gestured with her finger, and every sword moved as one.

*Kwakaka—!!!*

The swords, hovering in the air, shot forward as if possessed, shredding the incoming feathers to pieces.

The white blades and black feathers collided, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Soon, the feathers were entirely gone.

By the time half the swords remained, every feather had been annihilated.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

The remaining swords began to spin, accelerating into a blinding vortex.

*Whooooooosh—!!!*

They spun so rapidly that they merged into a single, whirling ring.

*Whoosh.*

Yarang moved her hand once more.

*Kuaaahhhhh—!!!*

The ring surged forward. The madly spinning circle of blades shot straight toward the crow.

“Ugh!”

Seeing this, the crow frantically beat his wings to retreat.

*Kwaaaggggg—!!!*

The ring tore a deep furrow into the ground where he had just been standing. Had he not evaded, it would have ripped him apart.

The crow, hovering with wings outstretched, stared at the ravaged earth. He tried to gather his energy again, but—

“……!”
As if sensing a presence, he whirled around.

There, Yarang was already upon him, her sword raised for a strike.

*Swoosh—!!!*
“Keugh!”

Her blade slashed across his back. The impact sent the crow plummeting to the ground.

*Thud—!*

As the crow crashed down, the sound was followed by—

*Chwaa—!!*

A rain of swords falling from the sky upon him.

*Kwaaaggggg—!!!*

A hail of blades hammered down, pinning him to the earth.

“Kuaaah!”

A scream tore from his throat. Swords impaled his limbs, holding him fast.

“Keugh!!”

The crow struggled, trying to break free, but his body was fixed in place, shuddering violently.

Then—
*Ssshh.*
Yarang aimed the point of her sword at the crow.

*Whoooo—.*

Brilliant white energy flared, causing the sword to elongate and intensify.

*Thoom—!*

In one swift motion, Yarang drove the sword down toward the crow.

Just before the blade could pierce through him into the ground below—

“Stop—!!”

The crow shouted.
At that command, my body locked up. It was a compulsion.

“……!”
The effect wasn’t limited to me—Yarang’s form shuddered.

*Kwaaa—!!*
The sword, jarred by the shock, veered off course and struck the ground beside him, missing its target.

An explosion erupted.
The earth fractured, and a shockwave blasted outward.

The tremendous force of the detonation hurled me backward. I barely managed to keep my footing.

It was only then that my body’s recovery finished. Half of my energy was gone, but I was not physically overcome by it.

“Phew.”
I exhaled softly, sharpening my gaze. I needed to assess the situation through the billowing dust.

As I peered into the thickening smoke—

*Clang—! Whoooosh—!!*
Light continued to flash. Soon, a figure shot through the smoke and emerged.

It was Yarang.
Seeing her moving toward me, I reacted quickly.
I supported her back, halting her backward momentum.

Yarang executed a flawless roll.
She spun her sword halfway, resetting her stance. Seeing that, I knew. This battle was not yet over.

“Damn it—!”

A curse echoed. At the sound, the spreading smoke began to clear.

*Hoaa—!!*

The dust settled, revealing the crow’s condition.

It was dire.
Blood streamed from the wounds covering his body, pooling on the ground. His limbs were grievously injured. Unlike during our fight, his wounds showed no signs of healing.

Was this too an effect of Pama?

“…Damnable witch. You were concealing this strength?”
The crow asked, his face contorted in pain.

“So, this is why the master calls you his daughter and shields you. Hah. Irritating.”
The crow snarled, clenching his fist. Already, another trident was forming in his grip.

It was obvious to any observer that Yarang held the advantage, but—

“This is truly unforeseen, this deviation from the plan.”
The crow, even now, did not appear to feel a sense of imminent danger. Instead, there was a tinge of frustration and regret.

“…I can only beg the master’s forgiveness.”
The crow whispered as he lifted his hand.

“But if I can eliminate you here, it will suffice. The master’s standing is already weakened.”

At that, Yarang moved. I moved with her. I didn’t know his intention, but it was clearly something that had to be stopped.

“…A pity to reveal this. But there is no alternative.”

*Whoooosh—!!*

The spear of light and the sword blazing with Pama energy lanced out, shining brilliantly.

As they hurtled toward the crow—

“Perish, insignificant nuisances.”
The crow’s voice rang out.

*Flash—!!!*

The swirling vortex in the heavens suddenly plunged downward, crashing into the earth with cataclysmic force.