Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1056

Chapter 1056

The world appeared to have been cut in two.

At least, that was the perception of the man standing within it.

A delicate line fractured the horizon, and across the sky, blossoms seemed to unfold from the rend. Something was tearing apart along that very line.

*Crack.*

A deep, instinctual understanding dawned on the man—it was his own form being divided.

And as his gaze dropped, he saw—

An elderly man looking down at him from above.

The one who had claimed to be a martial artist observed him with an utterly detached expression.

“……How.”

The barriers separating different realms were not meant to be breached.

Such a feat should have been unthinkable without achieving true enlightenment or the world itself undergoing a cataclysm.

“You, of all people—”

An outsider, hailing from another world.

While his power was considerable, that was his ultimate limitation.

One who did not possess a Rank could never hope to reach him. That was an immutable law of this world, a rule carved in stone.

“Ghhkk…….”

As the sensation of his body splitting apart intensified, the man’s eyes blazed with pure rage.

“This cannot be.”

His voice reverberated—a distorted, dual echo.

“Something so insignificant.”

He refused to accept a defeat delivered by one deemed unworthy of Rank.

“To the likes of you—!!”

*Szzzzzt—!!*

Just as his severed form threatened to be completely ripped asunder, something erupted from the cleaved sections like a nest of squirming vines.

The escaping substance instantly adhered to the grievous wounds, weaving his body back together.

And in a single moment—

“Haa—!”

Not only was his form restored, but it felt more potent than ever before.

The overwhelming force and divine energy radiating from within left him in a state of awe.

“This is…….”

He understood precisely what had transpired. Immediately, he raised his head toward the heavens.

“Heavens above!! So it was you!”

It was Him.

The One had bestowed another blessing upon his servant.

A gift to prevent his defeat by such a lowly foe. A blessing to ensure His servant would not suffer such an ignoble loss.

And as this realization washed over him, a smile began to form on his face.

“…Huh?”

The man suddenly froze.

What?

Why—

“Why is my vision—?”

Why was his perspective moving independently?

Why was everything spinning?

His surroundings dissolved into a nauseating whirl, and soon, he saw it.

His own body.

His own head, cleanly separated from his neck, tumbling away from his shoulders.

The moment his eyes registered the sight, comprehension finally arrived.

His head had been cut off.

But by then—

It was far too late.

Plum Blossom Myriad Slashes.

Petals blossomed from the tip of the sword, saturating the air.

And with them came an innumerable storm of razor-edged strikes.

*Chwarararak—!!!!*

Like flower petals caught in a violent tempest, a devastating barrage of sword slashes ripped through him.

In an instant, his head was pulverized into dust, and his body swiftly followed.

It was utter annihilation.

Not a single fragment was left intact.

As if to eradicate the very last trace, Shin Cheol wielded his sword at a speed that defied perception.

“…….”

Only when the final scattered remnants crumbled to nothing did Shin Cheol finally halt his assault and observe the empty space before him.

He watched in silence as the last particles drifted away, then turned his attention.

There, bleeding profusely, was a turtle.

*Step.*

He stepped lightly onto a fallen blossom and descended with calm grace.

Upon reaching the ground, Shin Cheol inspected the turtle.

It had lost a tremendous amount of blood. Seeing this, he placed a hand over its wounded abdomen.

*Fwoooosh—!!!*

Taking a deep breath, he channeled his energy, sealing the injury shut.

“You were so full of yourself—what the hell happened to you?”

He smirked as he spoke, prompting the turtle to scowl in response.

“……You were off napping while I ended up like this, and now you dare speak nonsense?”
“Well, to be fair, I did get a good nap thanks to you. So? How does it feel?”
“Do I look like I’m fine?”
“Nope.”

The turtle appeared as though it could perish at any second.

“Thanks.”
“…….”

Shin Cheol was genuinely grateful it had managed to accomplish so much.

Hearing that, the turtle made a sheepish expression.

“…How pointless. Forget it.”

It quickly brushed aside the sentiment.

Not out of embarrassment, but because something far more urgent demanded attention.

“We’re not done here yet, are we?”

At those words, Shin Cheol’s expression grew stern.

The turtle was correct.

Turning away, he shifted his focus toward the empty sky.

A vast, hollow void.

Staring into it, Shin Cheol murmured.

“How long do you plan to keep hiding?”

His voice was low and venomous, its vibrations rippling outward through the air.

And in that moment—

“Oh. My.”

A startled voice rang out.

*Rumble—!!!!*

The void quaked, and fractures began to spiderweb across its surface.

Despite the abrupt change, neither Shin Cheol nor the turtle displayed any surprise.

They had been anticipating this.

Moments later—

*Whoooooooosh—!!!*

A massive gust of wind erupted, swallowing the entire battlefield.

It was as if they had been plunged into a raging vortex.

The sky disappeared, replaced by a swirling storm that cast everything in a sinister gray.

And then—

“How fascinating.”

The voice returned, accompanied by another shift in the atmosphere.

*Crrrack—!!*

The fissures in the void shattered, tearing open to reveal—

A single, massive, unblinking eye.

“How did you know?”
“It was obvious.”

Hearing that response, Shin Cheol offered a faint smirk.

*Swish.*

His sword completed a full, circular spin.

*Slaaash—!!!!*

It cut horizontally through the enormous eye. Yet, despite the clean strike, the eye remained completely unaffected.

«At least introduce yourself. Who are you?»

Despite the failed attack, Shin Cheol’s tone was casual.

The eye narrowed slightly.

«For a greeting, that was rather aggressive, don’t you think?»
«These kinds of greetings tend to leave a stronger impression.»

Shin Cheol smirked again, and the eye responded with a chuckle.

«Hahahaha—!!»

*Rumble.*

The very ground shook with its laughter.

«Guh—!»

The turtle, unable to withstand the violent vibrations, coughed up blood.

Seeing this, Shin Cheol flicked his fingers lightly.

A single petal drifted down, settling on the turtle’s body and forming a thin, protective barrier.

«How amusing. The beings from your world I met before were the same way. You are no different. Interesting.»
«Before? Who exactly did you meet?»
«Who knows? I don’t have the luxury of remembering names. I only recall that someone came. They were rather entertaining.»
«……Hmm.»

Who could it have been?

Another from Zhongyuan, besides himself.

It sparked a flicker of curiosity, but Shin Cheol quickly dismissed the thought.

It was not important right now.

«In that case, let me ask something else.»

*Srrrrrrr—*

A deep, crimson aura enveloped his blade.

«What brings a being of the Netherworld to this distant place?»
«Hah.»

At Shin Cheol’s question, the eye widened in apparent surprise.

«You are quite perceptive.»
«Perception has nothing to do with it. It would be stranger if I didn’t know.»

A being capable of influencing the Myriad Realms on such a scale.

The moment Shin Cheol had seen the man with white wings, he knew.

Something significant was happening.

«Who are you?»

He aimed his sword directly at the eye and demanded.

«Who dares disturb my precious slumber?»

His tone was arrogant, and it was an arrogance he had earned.

The eye observed Shin Cheol and reached a conclusion.

This vessel, capable of containing such strength beyond its Rank, was exceptional.

It was worthy of envy.

«I am called Taechon (太天).»
«Taechon…….»
«Since the birth of the heavens, I alone have stood supreme.»
«And what brings such a great being to this place?»

Shin Cheol tilted his head as he posed the question.

At that moment, the air shifted once more.

Dust.

Ashen particles flowed toward the massive eye, coalescing directly before it.

Soon, it took on a familiar shape.

It was the winged man whom Shin Cheol had reduced to dust.

«I had business here.»
«I had business here.»

The words spoken by the eye echoed from the newly formed body.

«In the Myriad Realms?»
«Yes. I merely had some matters to attend to in this place.»
«For a simple errand, you’ve been rather excessive, don’t you think?»

Entering without permission.

Turning everything into chaos.

How could this be considered merely «having business»?

«The homeowner happened to be away, so I intended to finish my affairs quickly and leave.»
«Ah, I see. So, trespassing.»

With that, a blinding flash erupted.

Shin Cheol’s sword lunged toward the man once more.

*Krrrch—!*

Just before impact, something intercepted the blow.

But it made no difference.

«Hup!»

*Craaaack—!!*

If something blocked him, he would simply cut through it.

With a sharp inhalation, he poured more force into his strike.

His Sword Will surged, and enormous spectral blades rained down upon the man.

His body was cloven in two once again.

It seemed the attack had landed—

«Click.»

—but Shin Cheol immediately withdrew, putting distance between them.

Then, he glanced down at his sword.

Nothing clung to its blade.

It had been a strange sensation.

«You are quick-witted.»

Taechon spoke, his gaze fixed on Shin Cheol.

«I like that. So, I’ll ask just once.»

His tone shifted, becoming deliberate.

«Come and serve under me.»
«Hmm?»
«What this pathetic fool failed to obtain, I shall grant to you. What do you say? Will you leave behind your insignificant Rank and ascend to the Heavens?»

The Heavens.

At those words, Shin Cheol glanced upward.

The sky was stained the same ashen gray as the swirling vortex above.

«The Heavens. Sounds nice.»

It was a tempting offer.

To ascend to a higher realm—there could be no greater aspiration for a warrior.

«But you see—»

Shin Cheol, who had been contemplating the sky, lowered his head to look directly at Taechon.

«Reaching the Heavens only holds meaning if I do it myself. Not by being lifted there by some meaningless hand.»
«I see.»

Faced with the firm rejection, Taechon simply nodded.

«Then just die.»

*Rumble—!!!*

With his declaration, an immense mass of tendrils exploded from his shadow.

Dozens of massive, grotesque tentacles.

They surged forward, writhing toward Shin Cheol like a chaotic storm.

«Huuuuh…….»

Shin Cheol drew a deep breath, channeling energy into his sword.

Just as he prepared to meet the assault—

*Fwoooooosh—!!!!!*

«Hm?»

Before him, the tentacles were suddenly engulfed in searing flames.

*Boom—!!*

A wave of scorching heat washed across the battlefield.

White flames.

«Hah.»

Seeing this, Shin Cheol turned his head toward the source of the fire.

There—

«……Damn brat. Always barging in at the worst times.»

A young man stood with his face contorted in anger.

Gu Yangcheon was there, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent as he glared at Taechon.

The moment Taechon shifted his gaze toward him—

«You miserable bastard dares—»

Gu Yangcheon spat the words venomously as White Flames erupted around his body.