Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1052

Chapter 1052

«KWA-AAAAAA–!!»

A figure engulfed in fire tore through the sky. I was pushing myself to the absolute limit, moving faster than I ever had, yet it still wasn’t enough.

Grit-!

‘Damn it.’

Each time I forced more speed, my body shuddered violently. It was agonizing, as if my very vessel might shatter at any moment. The pain was only getting worse.

If this continued, something catastrophic was going to occur.

“Can you keep up?”

I twisted my head around and shouted the question.

I had to press on. When I glanced back, I saw they were still there. Cheonma and Yarang both gave a nod.

Even at my maximum velocity, they were matching my pace. I was channeling my energy to aid their speed, but still…

‘Cheonma is naturally swift, huh?’

I wasn’t sure about Yarang, but Cheonma had never seemed slow. The more I thought about it, the more I believed the time he had carried me was just an act, a deliberate delay.

I clenched my teeth and bore the agony.

‘What’s happening?’

The instant I heard the turtle’s voice, I had shot forward at full throttle. He said something was wrong at Mount Hua.

The sheer panic in his tone told me it was critical.

‘What could it be?’

I narrowed my eyes, thinking. If there was trouble, what form would it take?

‘It can’t be…’

Had the owner of the Mangye launched an attack? It was a real fear.

My mother, who remembers nothing, was intent on killing the dragon. They were currently debating how to seal the Abyssal Pit, but there was always the risk that the main entity had taken action.

‘If that’s true, is Mount Hua safe?’

If the owner itself had moved, could Mount Hua possibly hold out?

I still didn’t understand how it had been surviving up to now. I’d heard its existence was merely tolerated, that they were aware of it but let it be.

‘Is that still the case?’

I couldn’t be sure the old rules still applied.

The core of the problem was that too much had already changed.

I had destroyed two generals and brought conflict to two sacred trees.

Regarding the trees, my mother had made some provisions for me, but the generals were another matter entirely.

Harming two generals and provoking a third—it would be no surprise if the current owner of the Mangye decided to act.

However…

‘What if the owner isn’t the one moving?’

If something else was threatening Mount Hua…

That possibility was…

‘…Even more terrible?’

With the situation so volatile, I had no way to predict the outcome.

Most worrying of all, the turtle’s voice had gone silent after that first warning.

I gritted my teeth and pushed for more speed.

‘Faster.’

I needed to be faster. At this rate, it would still take a day or two.

Was there no other method? I was already using everything I had.

‘In that case…’

I turned to look at the two figures trailing behind me.

Since I was expending energy to carry them along…

‘I’ll have to leave them.’

It was the most logical choice. Bringing Yarang, and especially Cheonma, was illogical to begin with.

Remembering that, I began to pull back the flow of energy I was sharing. Or at least, I tried to.

Right then…

Woooooo–!!!

‘What?’

A bizarre sensation emanated from Yarang’s body. My own heart reacted in turn. It was Tam 🐉. Tam began to quiver abruptly.

Which could only mean…

‘She’s activating her power.’

Yarang was using her abilities. What was she attempting? I stared at her, bewildered.

She swept her hand lightly through the empty air.

Giiiiiing–!!!

A light manifested in front of me.

I snapped my head forward.

“…!?”

The atmosphere ahead ripped apart, unveiling a dimensional rift. It was a Magyeong Gate.

It felt similar to the violet-hued Magyeong Gate Cheonma had once revealed.

In fact, it was identical apart from the color. What is this?

With the Magyeong Gate suddenly before me, I halted in mid-air. I looked back at Yarang.

“What is this? Do I enter?”

She nodded.

In my frantic state, I couldn’t comprehend why she would summon a Magyeong Gate now.

‘Will this get me there quicker?’

Did passing through this gate mean a faster arrival?

“Will this take me there faster?”

She nodded again, confirming it.

If entering the Magyeong Gate would hasten my journey, her assurance was clear.

“…”

To trust it or not? I didn’t even have time to decide.

I turned and dove into the Magyeong Gate.

A golden energy enveloped my form.

***********

«At the northern frontier lay a forest. A place known to people as the Forest of the Untamed.»

It was a sparsely populated land, overrun with fierce, wild beasts. Rumors also persisted that outsiders who defied the laws of the Mangye gathered there to live.

Despite being near the Yahwol Palace, they chose to dwell far from its reach. They existed outside the land’s decrees.

The laws established by the great Lord of the Mangye did not apply there, and it was a place perpetually vulnerable to the Lord’s fury.

That was why people avoided the Forest of the Untamed.

Rustle.

Someone’s feet made contact with the ground in such a place.

The wind stirred, fluttering through long white hair, and the three pairs of wings on his back served as a stark reminder that he was no ordinary being.

“…”

The man who had landed scanned his surroundings.

His unnatural blue eyes studied the forest, and the very air around him seemed to quiver, unable to withstand his presence.

After a moment, his gaze fixed on something. He allowed the corner of his mouth to lift.

“I found it.”

His eyes, which existed beyond reason, had detected it.

It appeared completely natural, yet the subtle wrongness woven into its fabric was immediately apparent to him.

“Impressive.”

He spoke with genuine admiration. It was a power that defied the natural order while still conforming to a deeper, unseen law.

He comprehended it instantly.

“No wonder Yusa didn’t dare to interfere.”

Though it seemed simple on the surface, it was constructed upon countless layers of understanding. If not for the celestial eyes granted to him by heaven, he would never have perceived it.

And even if he had…

“He wouldn’t have dared to meddle.”

No one would have risked disturbing such a profound manifestation of law.

Which left a question.

“Why would the Lord of the Mangye…”

Why would such a being show indulgence toward this?

Anyone could see it was a violation of the laws. The Lord of the Mangye, by definition, should despise and eradicate such foreign elements. Yet it seemed the Lord was entirely unconcerned.

Or perhaps…

“Could there be a purpose?”

The Lord of the Mangye, of all entities, couldn’t possibly be ignorant. Even with the current chaos within the Mangye, the Lord must know of this.

“He is simply allowing it…”

Why would the Lord do that? The man could not fathom it.

“It is of no consequence.”

At this point, the reason no longer mattered.

The appointed time had come, and events were now moving in his favor.

“Now then…”

The man grinned and reached out his hand. The barrier before him was offensive to look upon, but that was irrelevant now.

Before absolute power, nothing else was of any importance.

He slowly extended his arm.

He didn’t know what lay within, but since heaven itself had commanded him to retrieve it, it must hold something more crucial than anything else.

As the man’s hand reached forward, something occurred.

Boom-!

“Hm?”

He stopped and turned.

Boom-!!

A deafening sound erupted.

The ground shook fiercely, vibrating underfoot, and the man frowned at the sensation.

“This is…”

It was a familiar feeling. And not one he enjoyed.

The issue was…

“Why now?”

Why was he feeling this here, of all places? This was a sensation that shouldn’t be present, at least not at this moment.

He was perplexed. Just as his confusion began to mount, the sound grew louder.

Booom—!!!

Now it was unmistakable, echoing clearly from a distance. The man tilted his head in curiosity.

Soon enough…

“Cawww—-!!!”

With a distant cry, the source of the sound revealed itself.

And…

“…Hmm?”

Observing the creature that appeared, the man felt his confusion deepen. It was not what he had anticipated.

“What is that?”

What had emerged was entirely different from his prediction. The horns on its head, its brutish physique, and its cry held a faint resemblance, but…

“It’s not Du Ryeong…?”

This was not the form he had expected. It looked nothing like Du Ryeong.

Furthermore…

“It was supposed to have been slain by the dragon.”

The dragon. The one who had caused him the most vexation. He had assumed the dragon had killed it, so this creature could not be Du Ryeong.

“This is peculiar.”

What in the world was it? The man squinted, puzzled, when—

Flame—!!

Something materialized in the giant’s grip. Black fire erupted, and a massive axe appeared, clutched tightly in its hand.

“Huh.”

The man’s eyes widened. That axe—he recognized it.

It was unquestionably Du Ryeong’s.

Which meant…

“It is Du Ryeong?”

If this was one of the generals, then…

“Why…?”

Why was he here?

“This bastard–!!”

While the man was still processing this, Du Ryeong roared forward and brought his axe down in a devastating swing.

Black flames surged violently, racing toward the man.

“Tsk.”

With a brief, irritated click of his tongue, a massive explosion detonated.

Booom—!!!

The black fire erupted in a conflagration.