Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1059

Chapter 1059

Crackle—

The arm that had been holding Eternal Bind gave way. Noya’s form was disintegrating. The moment I saw it, I surged forward.

Whoosh—!!

Fire erupted around me as I closed the distance and caught Noya in my arms. I pulled back instantly, inspecting his condition.

“Noya…? Noya!”
“Ah…”

Noya glanced down at his shattered body and let out a soft sound.

“Well, this is… inconvenient. Haha.”

I frowned at his laughter. Had the old man finally lost his senses?

“You’re laughing… now of all times?”
“Haha. It just came out.”
“Dammit… Why is this happening…”

Ignoring his reply, I desperately checked over his ruined form.

The arm that had gripped Eternal Bind was simply gone. A quick look behind showed only the blade lying on the ground. The arm that once held it had crumbled to dust and vanished into the air.

“This… this is…”

I couldn’t form the words. What could I do? Frantically, I tried to push energy into Shin Noya’s body, but the instant my hand made contact, I knew—

“Hah…”

It was pointless.

This wasn’t an issue of energy.

‘The body…’

I realized. This wasn’t a true, living body. The sensation was unmistakable when my energy flowed into him.

A shell. It was nothing more than an empty vessel.

A vessel containing only soul and energy—that was the nature of Noya’s body now.

“This is…”

As I shook with the horror of that understanding, something closed around my hand.

It was Noya’s remaining hand.

“You should see your face. Shocked, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Well, what did you expect? A dead man walking around—did you think the body would be whole?”
“But… this…”
“Be thankful for this much. Isn’t it a little greedy to expect perfection… from a fleeting dream?”

Noya pushed himself up. I tried to hold him back—

“Let go. Tch, you’re a grown man—why are you clinging to me like this?”
“Noya.”

Disregarding me, Noya stepped forward. Then, he extended his remaining left arm.

Abruptly, the Eternal Bind, which had been lying on the ground, shuddered and flew toward him.

Shiver—

Yet, the blade paused in mid-air. I understood.

It felt exactly as I did.

It was begging him—Stop.

The hesitation of Eternal Bind felt like a desperate plea for him not to go on.

“You… and this damned blade… Why are you both holding back? Get over here now!”

Irritated, Noya snapped, and at his command, Eternal Bind finally shot into his arm and wrapped around it.

“Tch. Can’t you see our opponent is waiting? What kind of weak display is this?”

Opponent. At that word, I looked up.

Ahead of us stood Taechon—his face rigid, his gaze fixed intently on Shin Noya.

“Oh, my apologies. It seems these two are lacking in manners,” Noya said with a sharp grin.

Taechon tilted his head slightly in response. His expression was different from before.

“A pity.”

His voice carried disappointment, edged with a keen sliver of emotion.

“You broke through the boundary… but your fragile vessel cannot bear it. And so, it falls apart.”

Hearing him, I grasped what Taechon meant.

Noya had transcended his limits. In that instant, he had shattered the barrier—but…

‘His body can’t handle it.’

And so, his vessel was breaking.

His soul was already wounded from being bound to me. Now, with this breakthrough, his collapse had only sped up.

But…

Even so…

‘He still intends to fight?’

With that body—What more could he possibly do?

That was—

‘Suicide.’

It was the same as discarding his life. I wouldn’t permit it. Immediately, I ignited White Flame and moved to step in.

“Ga—!!”
“…!”

Noya roared at me. His voice—so ferocious, so absolute—made me release the White Flame without even thinking.

“What… what are you doing?”
“Noya…?”
“Don’t you dare interfere.”
“No… What… What are you trying to do? You know, don’t you? If you keep going…”—

You’ll die.

If you continue—it could all end here. What more are you hoping to accomplish?

But Noya… He knew better than anyone. And still—

“Stay out of this.”

His gaze was cold and sharp, a clear warning.

“But…”
“I said—stay out of this.”

His voice, laced with killing intent, brooked no argument. After that, he tightened his grip on Eternal Bind.

Shhhhaaaa—

Energy gathered along the blade once more—Plum Blossoms.

“Stop this madness. What’s done is done—why insist on prolonging it?”

Taechon’s tone had shifted—devoid of all earlier excitement, now coldly dismissive.

The moment he realized Noya’s body was collapsing, all amusement vanished from his eyes.

“So be it. Out of respect for your effort, I will extend an offer to you.”
“An offer?”

The word caught Noya’s attention.

“What is it?”
“Come with me.”
“Oh? But I already refused that, didn’t I?”
“You did. I rarely make an offer twice… but you have impressed me.”

Taechon’s body was fully restored. In fact, it was debatable whether he had ever been damaged.

Looking completely untouched, he continued, addressing Shin Noya calmly:

“You reached beyond your vessel’s limit. Your body may be crumbling, but if you accept my offer—”

“If you relinquish this body… you can ascend further. Let your brilliance serve me, and I will grant you a new form.”

“Hahaha…”

At those words, Noya laughed.

“I appreciate the offer. But… I have one small issue—”

Shhhiing—

Eternal Bind spun lightly in his hand.

“—I hate being under anyone else.”

“I refuse.”

“Mm. I thought so.”

Taechon nodded, unsurprised. As if he had anticipated the answer all along.

And then.

Saaaaaa—

As Taechon raised his hand, the sky transformed. The ashen sky, still scarred by the fading traces of plum blossoms, began to churn.

It twisted, swirling into a vortex before slowly drawing inward, converging into Taechon’s palm.

The surrounding barrier condensed into a sphere, compressing as it coalesced within his grasp.

Soon, the dull, lifeless gray was overwhelmed—transformed into a brilliant, resplendent blue.

“So be it. It is a pity, but I shall honor your choice.”
“I appreciate that.”
“But as a token of gratitude for the spectacle you provided, I shall grant you a gift in return.”

The compressed energy in his palm began to shift form.

A spear. No—a trident.

It was similar to the one he had used before—yet undeniably different.

‘That…’

I trembled at the sight.

No, it wasn’t my body that shook—it was my soul.

“This is a height you might have reached under other circumstances. What do you think?”
“…Hmmm.”

What was contained within that small, radiant sphere?

A world?

I could feel it. The presence of a world, vast and infinite, confined within.

The ashen sky had been wiped away, revealing the true sky beyond. Night had already fallen.

A realm where two moons greeted the darkness.

And beneath them, Taechon held a world in his hand.

“A frightening thought, is it not? That you were meant to wield such a thing. When even a single tree feels beyond your grasp.”
“No. You would not have feared it. You would have endured it—of that, I am certain. And that is why I wonder.”

The faintly glowing spear trembled, and with that tremor, my very soul quaked in unison.

“Do you know of the Dragon Lord?”

The words left Taechon’s lips—Dragon Lord.

At that, Shin Noya’s eyebrow twitched.

“I do.”

Of course he would. He had faced the Dragon Lord. He had fought the Blood Demon himself.

“Your reaction confirms it. So—you are from that world. The world that challenged the Dragon Lord. Then… are you the one responsible?”
“No. Not the one. But one among them.”
“……Hmmm.”

One of the five who had stood against the Blood Demon.

At those words, Taechon tilted his head slightly.

“Not the only one, you say… Yet if the Dragon Lord still exists, that means you failed to stop him.”
“We didn’t stop him. Couldn’t. That bastard… was disgustingly powerful.”

Noya chuckled, shaking his head, but Taechon’s expression remained grave.

“With the strength you wield now, stopping the Dragon Lord should be no great feat. So why, then?”
“…What?”

Shin Noya’s eyes narrowed.

“That is strange. The Dragon Lord was strong—but he was never this strong.”
“……What are you implying?”
“No. It is of no consequence now.”

Taechon shook his head slightly—then, tightening his grip, he clasped the spear firmly.

Kugugung—!!

The ground shuddered.

“It seems we cannot extend this conversation. Since the seal has been erased, it appears word will soon reach him as well.”

“……”

At those words, Noya gripped the Eternal Bind tightly with his remaining arm.

“Cherish this. After the descent, you are the first to witness this.”

Taechon spoke those words and cast the spear with a light motion.

The throw was casual, but the result was catastrophic.

The spear flew toward Shin Noya, and seeing it, Noya hurriedly raised Eternal Bind to defend.

Kugugugugugugugugung—!!!!!

The ground heaved as if it would split apart.

“……!”

Noya blocked the spear with his remaining arm, but it was clear he couldn’t hold it, as he began to be driven backward.

“Ugh!”

He gritted his teeth, straining to halt its advance. But the spear did not stop.

Kkirik—!

The spear rotated slightly.

Kuuuuung—!!! Kwagagakang—!!!

With a burst of overwhelming force, something shattered. It was the Eternal Bind.

It should have been unbreakable.

The Eternal Bind, with its unique properties, broke.

And then, as if in an explosion, the spear tore through Noya.

Kwaaa—!!!

The spear, having pierced Noya, shot into the air.

Kwaaaaaaaaa—!!!

The spear rocketed into the sky and detonated instantly, its light flooding the heavens.

A tremendous windblast hammered down.

Trees were ripped from the earth, and I saw hills crumbling away.

As a vast beam of light spread across the sky…

“Aah…”

Even through it all, my eyes were locked only on Noya.

“Kkeul-kkle…”

Noya let out a soft, choked laugh.

“Such… a shame.”

With a bitter smile, Noya’s upper body was completely pierced through.