Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1096

Chapter 1096

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

«You have already learned Tua Pacheonmu.»

Silence.

I was utterly speechless at Paejon’s declaration.

His gaze was the sharpest I had ever seen, filled with total conviction.

How?

How could he possibly know?

With the Sword Master, it was logical. That had been my error—a moment of carelessness, so being discovered was no great shock. But this was something else entirely.

Where?

Where had he seen it?

If it had been the Nine Flames Firewheel, I might have comprehended it. I had employed that technique a handful of times since arriving in this age. The odds were low, but if my father had detected something unusual about it, I could have found a way to rationalize it.

But Paejon?

Tua Pacheonmu is another matter.

I had never once used it since coming to this era. Not a single time.

The Nine Flames Firewheel is simply more utilitarian.

Paejon’s martial arts were crafted for combat against people, but they are not especially effective against monsters.

And most crucially—

I had been exceedingly wary because of Paejon’s existence.

I knew the Paejon of this time was not the man from my memories.

He was not the enfeebled elder who had endured the waning of his strength, but the monster of the Three Masters at the peak of his power.

That was why I had been twice, three times as cautious.

Of all the arts I possessed, I had buried Tua Pacheonmu the deepest, never allowing it to show.

And still, he perceived it?

The realization that he had detected it left me completely stunned.

No, ‘stunned’ does not capture the feeling.

What in the world was I supposed to do now?

I wrestled with my thoughts, but in my heart, I already knew the answer.

«I do not know what you mean.»

Feigning ignorance was my only available option.

«Senior, I am afraid I do not quite follow—»

In that instant—

Kuaaa—!!!

«…!»

I barely managed to tilt my head aside.

Kwaduduk!

Paejon’s fist shot past the space where my head had just been.

He was impossibly fast.

This insane old man—!

I scowled.

That strike had been real. Had I not evaded it, my skull would have been shattered by his Fist Aura.

And it did not end there.

Fwoosh!

The first blow was merely the start.

Paejon lunged forward with monstrous speed, his assault continuing.

Dodging to the left and right, I gritted my teeth.

Damn.

He was completely earnest.

At this very moment, Paejon was authentically trying to pummel me into the earth.

Even if he was holding back his full might, evading him while simultaneously suppressing my own power was tremendously difficult.

Twist—!

«…!»

My eyes snapped to focus.

Paejon’s left hand.

The air around it was warping.

I knew precisely what he was preparing to use.

Tua Limitless Fist.

Kwaduk!

The ground under his foot fractured as he pivoted his body, releasing a devastating punch.

Kuaaaaaa—!!!

A shockwave burst from his fist, consuming everything in its trajectory.

Tua Limitless Fist transformed into a storm, tearing through the environment.

But—it did not land a direct hit.

It only brushed against my side.

I had evaded it while locking my arm tight to my ribs, ensuring the force could not strike me directly.

Because of that, the attack merely swept past, leaving me unharmed.

However—

Buzzzzz.

I saw what followed.

Tua Limitless Fist had been a feint from the beginning.

Its purpose was to restrict my movements and eliminate the distance between us.

Chiiiiiik—!

Intense heat emanated from Paejon’s body.

This—

It’s Azure Sky.

I clenched my jaw.

A crushing force radiated from Paejon, his muscles coiling with immense power.

Bang—!

«Urgh!»

My vision swam.

A dull, heavy impact.

My body was hurled backward, the air forced from my lungs.

The blow to my solar plexus sent me reeling.

I lost track of him.

Even with my heightened senses, I had failed to respond in time.

And then—

Sssshhh—!

Damn.

As the gap between us widened, my Mind’s Eye computed a terrifying number of potential attack trajectories.

Innumerable possibilities flashed through my thoughts.

I bit my lip.

Paejon had already moved.

He was directly in front of me.

No choice, then.

Clack.

A familiar sensation coursed through my body.

Fwooooooosh—!!!

I unleashed the energy I had been holding back.

Clang.

I intercepted Paejon’s incoming fist.

«Oh?»

His eyes widened slightly.

«You crazy old man.»

Annoyance surged within me.

Fwoosh.

Heat flared across my skin.

The power I had been suppressing exploded outward, and my reaction speed increased exponentially.

«Why must you be such a nuisance?»

Old Paejon, young Paejon—

It made no difference which one he was.

This man’s disposition was always infuriating.

Kwaduduk.

I tightened my grip on his wrist and gave a slight pull.

His balance wavered, drawing him forward a fraction.

Seeing this, I concentrated energy into my palm.

Heat condensed, rushing through my veins.

Azure Sky.

I drew upon my inner force, channeling it into my hands.

A sphere of gray energy materialized in my palm.

«Hmm?»

Seeing it, Paejon’s expression shifted.

He had never witnessed this technique before.

Naturally, he had not.

This was not something this version of Paejon had devised.

This was a technique the younger Paejon had invented after refining his style.

Heaven-Shattering.

To destroy the very sky with my own hands.

Krrrrrk—!

Kuaaaaaaaaaa—!!!!!

The sphere of destruction erupted outward.

A violent storm of raw energy exploded.

The sheer force shredded the surrounding trees and shattered the nearby boulders.

Kwadudududududuk—!!!

The gray energy of Heaven-Shattering finally dissipated after ravaging everything in its path.

The entire area was in complete ruin, reduced to a crumbling wasteland.

«Ahaha.»

Paejon stood there, not a single speck of dust on him, a smile playing on his lips.

«That was enjoyable.»

But his eyes were not smiling.

«What was that technique you just used?»
«Heaven-Shattering.»
«Heaven-Shattering, is it? A rather violent name.»
«Right? It is a terrible name, honestly.»

Whoever conceived it had dreadful taste.

As I remembered that, Paejon spoke again.

«At this juncture, I can assume you have no further intention of concealing the truth, correct?»

«…»

He was not mistaken. I had used Tua Pacheonmu openly.

So, I resolved to ask him directly.

«How did you know?»
«Know what?»
«That I had learned Tua Pacheonmu. I took great care to hide it.»

«Hahahahaha.»

Paejon released a laugh of sheer incredulity.

«How absurd.»
«What is?»
«Did you genuinely believe I would not recognize something I created myself, regardless of how well you concealed it? I am Paejon Bijuu.»

«…»

Arrogant, blunt words.

And yet, his name and title gave them irrefutable weight.

This is unbelievable.

In short, he had known the instant he sensed it.

Or perhaps—

The moment he laid eyes on me.

It was highly probable he had noticed from our very first meeting.

Regardless, one thing was certain—Paejon was an absolute monster.

Was this another miscalculation?

Had I underestimated the acuity of Paejon’s perception?

If so, I had only myself to blame.

Damn it.

But did this qualify as a mistake?

Was that even just?

Preposterous.

I swallowed my frustration and rubbed my temples.

Then—

«I will ask once more.»

Paejon’s voice was a low rumble.

«Who are you? And how precisely did you learn that technique?»

«…»

«Do not bother with claims of ignorance. That would not be productive. Furthermore—»

Kuuuuuung—!!!

«…!»

A sharp crackle filled the air.

An overwhelming surge of power.

A presence unlike any Paejon had revealed until now erupted from him.

The air around him compressed and distorted under its immense weight.

What in hell is that monstrous pressure?

He was merely releasing his energy, and yet cold sweat trickled down my spine.

I had believed we were on a similar level, but this—

And more than that—

Paejon himself had stated he had not transcended.

It was an admission he had made himself.

He had not perfected Tua Pacheonmu, and therefore, unlike the other Two Masters, he had never achieved transcendence.

But even so, he is this powerful?

His level should have been beneath mine, yet his presence felt profoundly heavier.

My entire body grew taut, blood rushing through my veins in response.

«I will not ask a second time. If you refuse to answer—»

He stated it plainly.

«I will break you.»

A direct, undeniable threat.

And I could tell he meant every word.

I bit my lip.

My eyes flickered, scanning the surroundings.

Beyond the devastation, something enveloped the area.

A suppression barrier.

Paejon had established it the moment we arrived.

It contained all sound and energy from escaping.

Which meant—

He can exert this degree of power while simultaneously maintaining a barrier of this magnitude.

It only reinforced how truly terrifying Paejon was.

Can I win?

If I fought him now, could I emerge victorious?

Perhaps, if I committed everything.

If I poured my entire being into the battle, there was a possibility.

I possessed the Nine Flames Firewheel, and—

The Cheonma Divine Art.

The power of chaos I myself had forged.

If I used it, maybe—just maybe—I could win.

However—

If I do that now…

The suppression barrier would not hold.

And if it collapsed, this would escalate into a genuine battle to the death against Paejon.

Because he was utterly serious at this moment.

«Haa.»

I let out a sigh.

«If you will not answer, then so be it. I will respect that decision.»

Paejon moved.

«So, boy. You must respect my decision as well.»

He clenched his fist, readying a strike.

His entire body surged with the power of Tua Pacheonmu.

A life-or-death battle against one of the Three Masters—

A duel against my own master.

Truthfully, it is somewhat tempting.

An opponent against whom I could unleash my full power without restraint.

That alone made it somewhat appealing.

But—

Not at this time.

Kuguung!

Paejon’s fist drove toward me.

I did not evade. I simply stood there, watching it come.

Then, just before impact—

«I am your disciple.»

The fist halted inches from my face.

As I stared at the massive fist before me—

«…What?»

Paejon looked at me, bewildered.

I met his gaze and spoke.

«I have traveled through time.»

I had made my choice.

I was going to break through this head-on.