Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1162

Chapter 1162

If someone were to demand an explanation of its level, it would be nearly impossible to describe the nature of that energy.

Perhaps it was a matter of sheer presence, or the intrinsic worth of the vessel containing it.

It could also be the profound understanding accumulated over a long period of time.

A martial artist might compare it to a tower, built layer by layer.

«…But this is something else entirely.»

The aura and atmosphere surrounding those known as Masters were of a completely different order, something immeasurably greater.

They ceased to be human, yet they were something more, all while remaining capable of defeat.

The mere sight of them evokes a dual sensation of overwhelming reverence and soul-crushing hopelessness.

It is the realization of an insurmountable peak.

Like a second sky existing above the one you know.

It is a helplessness so profound that you cannot even bear to raise your eyes toward them.

That is the essence I associate with the Masters.

Yes.

«Just like my mother, or that bastard Taechon.»

Divine entities, those who rule the world and are intertwined with all living things.

The very energy I sensed from them is precisely what I feel now.

«How is this possible?»

Am I sensing this from my grandfather?

Whooosh—

The flames around him climbed higher. His skin had become even paler than it was before.

It was not merely a human shape; it was something profoundly unnatural, and yet—

«…Faint.»

It felt as though the level was immensely high, yet simultaneously, it was as if nothing could be felt at all.

Swish.

«……!»

My grandfather’s gaze abruptly shifted to me. The instant our eyes met, my heart lurched in my chest.

Screeeech—!!

«Damn it. Stay still, I said.»

Acting on pure instinct, my body moved on its own. The Nine Flames Firewheel sealed within me raged, straining to break free, and the Tua Pacheonmu I had subdued also sharpened my senses to a razor’s edge.

«Calm down, you damn things.»

It was my own energy, yet it was fiercely difficult to control.

It was even harder now, with my overall level being suppressed.

«Huff—…….»

I released a heavy sigh, trying to get a grip on the situation.

Then—

«Hahahahahahaha—!!»

CRASH—!!!

Paejon’s laughter, saturated with madness, reverberated across the shaking ground as an incredible pressure erupted from him.

«Good. Very good.»

Wearing a deranged grin, Paejon confronted my grandfather.

«Yeah, that’s what I needed to see. Only now will I show you my true power.»

Crack—!! Boom—!!

The Heaven-Shattering Vast Clouds began to stir once more. The energy enveloping Paejon’s body grew more dense and solid.

Then Paejon seized the clouds swirling around him and—

«Let’s do this properly.»

The pressure radiating from him was now on a completely different level.

CRACK—!!!

The earth shook. The tremors felt a hundred times more violent than before.

Boom! Boom—!!

«…This is insane.»

Both my grandfather’s condition and Paejon’s were utterly abnormal.

«Didn’t they say Paejon hadn’t mastered it?»

To my knowledge, Paejon had not completed the Tua Pacheonmu. If that was true, then the technique had not yet reached its ultimate form.

«…And he’s still this powerful?»

The level of a Master.

The inhuman aura emanating from my grandfather was being met head-on by Paejon’s Tua Heaven-Shattering Dance.

It felt like he was not just resisting it, but trying to tear it apart.

«I’m coming.»

Thud—!

Paejon launched himself into the air.

The Heaven-Shattering Vast Clouds carved a path ahead of him.

The clouds Paejon wielded expanded rapidly, spreading out to cover the entire sky.

«Break.»

Heaven-Shattering Eternal Sweep.

Whoooosh—!!!

The Red Heaven Flames that had engulfed the sky transformed into a storm of fire and plummeted downward.

«…….»

My grandfather lifted his hand toward the heavens.

Then—

Thud—! Boom—!!!

Fissures tore through the Red Heaven Flames, and massive pillars of fire erupted upward.

The flames ripped through the descending Heaven-Shattering Vast Clouds.

CRACK—!!!

«Damn it—!»

The fire was so intense that searing spray shot in every direction. I leaped backward, hurrying into the air.

It was as if the land itself had ignited, becoming a raging ocean of flame.

«Damn it.»

Had I been a moment slower, my clothes and everything on me would have been burned to ashes.

«Why are they going to such extremes?»

This battle had long surpassed a simple spar. Those madmen seemed intent on wiping out everything in the vicinity.

Of course.

Boom—!!!

A single strike that swung the sky, while the ground below vanished in a cataclysm of fire.

This was almost like—

«…When the Three Masters fought the Celestial Demon.»

The legendary battle between the Celestial Demon and all three of the Masters.

I hadn’t witnessed it myself, but from the stories, it seemed no different.

Which meant—

«Is this fight on that level?»

Perhaps not exactly, but it was undoubtedly close.

If that’s true—

«…Could my father be that strong as well?»

If I sensed a Master’s level from my grandfather—

Then could my father, the man I knew, also be capable of such power?

That thought occurred to me, and I looked over at my father.

Whoosh.

My father was standing amidst the flames, his eyes wide open as he watched the battle.

He was staring in pure, unadulterated shock.

«He must be in disbelief.»

How could he not be?

Could that even be called a martial art?

«…At least it’s not all from my grandfather.»

One thing was certain—one of them was different.

The Nine Flames Firewheel was a martial technique, yes.

«…But this feels completely alien.»

This wasn’t just the product of the Nine Flames Firewheel. This was something utterly unnatural.

That bizarre state—it was the source of the overwhelming power being unleashed.

The insane display of fire held my gaze, but—

«…In that case, Paejon is even more bizarre.»

Paejon was confronting the energy of a Master, using his own technique to resist it.

To me, Paejon seemed even more strange.

Is that guy even human? My grandfather clearly isn’t, but what in hell is Paejon?

«This is absurd.»

It was a conflict far beyond the battles of ordinary martial artists.

As this ferocious exchange continued—

Whoooosh—!!!

An anomaly occurred with Paejon. He began compressing the Heaven-Shattering Vast Clouds surrounding him into a single point.

«…Huh?»

My eyes widened as I watched.

The form was different, but the flow of energy, perceived through my spiritual eye, was deeply familiar.

«That’s….»

It was Heaven-Shattering.

Paejon was preparing to execute Heaven-Shattering.

«…That bastard.»

The Paejon of this era shouldn’t have been able to create Heaven-Shattering. This meant he was directly mimicking what he had seen me do.

«Hah.»

He saw it once and instantly copied it? Even if it was his own technique, that was a monstrous feat.

«……»

The energy coalescing in Paejon’s hands. Seeing this, my grandfather calmly extended one hand.

Whooosh.

Slowly, I could see flames beginning to concentrate in his palm.

«…Nine Flames Firewheel.»

If Paejon was attempting Heaven-Shattering, then my grandfather, Gu Seongyul, was forming the Nine Flames Firewheel.

A far denser, far more intense energy was being contained within it.

«…These crazy bastards.»

I watched nervously, swallowing hard.

«If these two forces collide, it will be a catastrophe.»

The amount of energy was unmistakably extraordinary.

If these two powers met and created a shockwave, the entire area would undoubtedly be obliterated.

«Should I run?»

It seemed these prideful old men were about to get themselves hurt. Maybe it was better to leave before that happened.

I was seriously considering escape when—

«I’m going.»

Paejon spoke, his eyes burning with intensity.

«……»

Had Gu Seongyul finished his preparations? Just as he was about to release the Nine Flames Firewheel—

«Huff…!»
«Ah, stop.»
«……Huh?»

Whooosh—!

Abruptly, Gu Seongyul withdrew the Nine Flames Firewheel he had been holding. Instantly, his body returned to its normal state.

«Huh? What? What are you doing?»

The fight had stopped suddenly. Paejon, his face twisted in confusion, shouted in frustration. Why stop now, after such a fierce clash?

«I didn’t get permission.»
«……What?»
«I didn’t get permission from my wife to go this far.»
«……What the hell are you talking about?»
«Let’s go back.»

Suddenly, Gu Seongyul brought up the name Jin Yeonryeong, turned his back, and was enveloped in flames.

Boom—!!

In an instant, the flames detonated, and Gu Seongyul shot away in a straight line.

«Huh…?»

Paejon could only let out a frustrated sigh as he watched Gu Seongyul disappear.

«…….»
«…What the hell just happened?»

Both my father and I were left in stunned silence, completely unable to process what had occurred.

It was ridiculous, but—

The fight had genuinely ended just like that.

**********

Afterward—

«That damn bastard…! Running off on his own again!»

After Gu Seongyul vanished, Paejon appeared to be boiling with rage as he stormed away.

He must have been fuming.

The problem was, with him gone, only my father and I remained.

«…….»
«…….»

We had to return to the family estate in awkward silence.

We couldn’t just stay there, so it was our only option.

«Well… I guess I’ll go ahead?»
We didn’t exchange a single word on the return journey. The uncomfortable, heavy atmosphere was unbearable.

I wanted to ask about what had happened in the fight between my grandfather and Paejon, but—

«…This is terrifying.»

My father was walking ahead with a face that clearly said ‘don’t talk to me’.

When we reached the estate, he vanished without a word.

«Hmm…»

What was I supposed to do now?

Alone, I scratched my head.

However—

«It wasn’t all for nothing.»

I had gained something. From Paejon’s martial arts and from Gu Seongyul’s transformation.

There was much to learn.

«It feels like something is about to click.»

A shallow understanding.

It was the opportunity that arises from grasping something previously unknown.

«…If I play this right.»

If I seized this opportunity correctly, I might gain something even greater.

I was deep in thought when—

«How was it?»
«Ugh! Damn!»

I jolted at the voice coming from behind me.

«Hah… Hah…»
«…….»

It was Gu Seongyul, who had appeared out of nowhere.

«…What? When, when did you get here?»

This guy wasn’t a ghost, so how did he just materialize like that? I had to fight to steady my racing heart.

As I caught my breath, trying to regain my composure—

«How was it?»
«…What?»

Gu Seongyul asked, looking puzzled.

What did he mean, «How was it?»

«You saw it, didn’t you?»
«Yeah…?»

Perhaps.

«…Was it that thing the Master did?»

Was he referring to that form that radiated a Master’s level? I thought that might be it.

«Yes.»

Gu Seongyul confirmed.

«How was it, you ask? Well, how should I put it? It was… fascinating.»

«…….»

It was a form I had never seen before. It didn’t feel like the secret technique used at the peak.

But, evidently, my answer dissatisfied Gu Seongyul, as his brow furrowed slightly.

«Master? What else…»
«Try it.»

«…Huh?»
«Do it right now, in front of me.»

«…….»

Hearing that, I could only make a dumbfounded expression.

«…How am I supposed to do it if I don’t know how?»

How could I perform something I had no knowledge of?

Flustered, I tried to respond.

«You can do it.»
«…What?»

«You already can. Didn’t you realize? The level has already been achieved. You’re already…»

His words froze me. I’ve already achieved the level?

«Master’s level. You’re already achieving it.»

It was a statement I never saw coming.