Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 857

Chapter 857

The Sect Master reeled backward, his knee buckling from the impact, and he almost went down. Gu Yangcheon tightened his fist, ready to press his advantage, but—

«Tch.»

He abruptly disengaged, putting space between them.

A blade swept past his cheek. Even while stumbling, the Sect Master had lashed out in retaliation.

‘Incredibly resilient.’

Despite the brutal punishment he had taken, he was still fighting back. His capacity for recovery was remarkable.

‘It seems I’ll have to tear his arm completely off.’

Would it regenerate? Probably not, but to be certain, severing his limbs entirely appeared to be the only sure method.

Yet—

*Swish!*

The Sect Master’s offensive grew more ferocious.

‘Oh?’

He was refusing to fall, no matter how much damage he sustained. Gu Yangcheon turned over the possibilities.

Was it pure determination? Or was his physique gradually adjusting to the punishment?

Perhaps—

‘Am I the one tiring?’

Sensing the weariness in his own muscles, Gu Yangcheon became sharply conscious of the exertion. The surplus energy he had been forcing through his veins was hastening his depletion.

‘This is not ideal.’

It was obvious he could not let this battle drag on.

‘Overpowering him will be difficult.’

If he could employ his fire arts, it would be a different story, but that path was currently closed to him.

The sole option was to kill him without delay.

[Grrr.]

The Sect Master mustered his strength, his motions becoming more uncontrolled. He was clearly pushing his limits to survive the onslaught.

Though his adversary was also approaching exhaustion, Gu Yangcheon took a sharp breath to steady himself.

‘He must be waiting for backup.’

The Sect Master was likely anticipating reinforcements. In a vast underground complex like this, it was improbable he was operating alone.

‘I eliminated everyone I encountered on my way down, but….’

There were assuredly more foes in the vicinity. If help arrived now, the situation would become complicated.

‘That could be problematic.’

Objectively, it would place them at a severe disadvantage.

Namgung Bi-ah required rest, and while Wi Seol-ah could fight, the numbers would not be favorable.

Even so, Gu Yangcheon felt little concern.

‘Reinforcements? Let them try to come.’

Anyone capable of appearing would first have to navigate the traps he had set along the path.

For the moment, his priority was the immediate conflict.

*Haaah.*

He drew a deep breath, pivoting at the waist.

*Thump!*

Power erupted from his heart, flooding through his entire system. The effort made him grimace.

Tua Pacheonmu.

He surged forward with a vicious strike aimed squarely at the Sect Master, who swiftly crossed his arms to defend.

*BOOOOM—!!!*

The force detonated against the Sect Master’s guard, hurling him backward in a skid.

[Arrgh—!!]

He somehow managed to absorb the shock, digging his feet in to halt his momentum.

Gu Yangcheon tilted his head, a flicker of confusion crossing his mind.

‘What is this?’

The strike had landed with less power than he’d intended. He had channeled a substantial amount of energy, yet the resulting impact was lacking.

It wasn’t just fatigue—something else was wrong.

‘Is it my internal energy?’

The problem seemed to lie not with his demonic energy, but with his naegi. He had momentarily suppressed his demonic energy to execute Tua Pacheonmu; could that have caused an issue?

‘Hmm.’

He wasn’t sure. He needed to verify.

As he prepared to attack again—

*Thud!*

‘What?’

This time, the ground beneath his feet felt odd.

‘What’s going on?’

He had expected the floor to crack under the force of his movement, but it remained completely solid. Though it didn’t hinder his motion, it was unsettling.

He advanced, and a sword shot toward him. He evaded by dropping low and drove his fist into the Sect Master’s stomach.

[Guh!]

The hit connected solidly, lifting the Sect Master from his feet.

But—

*Swish!*

Yet again, the Sect Master countered. A strand of Gu Yangcheon’s hair was severed, floating away on the air.

‘So that’s it.’

In that instant, Gu Yangcheon understood.

‘My naegi is malfunctioning.’

His internal energy was significantly less effective. The moment he recognized it, he immediately layered it with his demonic energy.

He delivered a powerful blow to the Sect Master’s left shoulder.

[Argh!]

This time, the result was completely different. The pain on the Sect Master’s face and the sheer force of the impact were far more pronounced.

Just as he’d suspected.

‘Demonic energy works, but naegi is severely weakened.’

It wasn’t useless, but its potency was greatly diminished.

And—

*Crack.*

He stomped on the ground. This time, the floor shattered under his foot.

‘This area is affected, too.’

He didn’t know the reason, but the issue was clearly tied to naegi.

‘Tch.’

What an annoying place.

Still, now that he knew, it changed little.

Gu Yangcheon shut down all his internal energy, switching entirely to demonic energy.

The brutal exchange resumed. To call it a fight was generous—it was a straightforward beating.

*BAM!*

When the Sect Master swung his sword, Gu Yangcheon dodged and struck an opening. When he tried to create distance, Gu Yangcheon closed in and hit him again.

He destroyed everything in his path, devoting all his strength to breaking the Sect Master’s body.

*BAM! BAM BAM! BAM!*

Every impact carried a force that felt utterly inhuman.

‘Damn this.’

Even as he continued his relentless assault, Gu Yangcheon’s expression grew darker.

Truthfully, it was draining.

‘He’s getting quicker.’

No matter how much damage he inflicted, the Sect Master’s rate of recovery only improved. Without his fire techniques, Gu Yangcheon was left with only raw, physical power.

But even Tua Pacheonmu was insufficient. Its recoil was severe, and his blood vessels were in no condition to handle it repeatedly.

[Heh… heh.]

Abruptly, laughter came from the Sect Master.

Gu Yangcheon, mid-punch, glanced over and asked, «What’s so amusing? Do you have a death wish?»

[Heh heh… It is amusing, that is all.]

The Sect Master’s blade cut through the air with a sharp *swish*. Gu Yangcheon leaned back, the edge passing perilously close.

[I sensed something was amiss… Now I understand.]

Gu Yangcheon leapt backward, creating a gap.

[You are exhausted, are you not?]

«…»

At the Sect Master’s words, Gu Yangcheon silently regulated his breathing.

[Your strikes are losing their weight. They still land like thunder, but they lack the comet’s force they had before.]

So, he had noticed. Gu Yangcheon offered a faint, almost conceding smile.

[And you are not using your signature fire arts… something is preventing it.]

The old man was perceptive. Gu Yangcheon rolled his shoulders, biting his lip slightly.

Yes, it had only been a matter of time before the Sect Master realized.

[It seems… the heavens have not abandoned me after all.]

«Old man, if you keep spouting nonsense, your death will be even more pathetic.»

Gu Yangcheon masked his labored breathing. He estimated he had roughly twenty percent of his energy remaining. His inability to use fire had forced him to expend far more energy than planned.

The situation was far from good.

But Gu Yangcheon let none of it show.

«And what if I am? What does it matter if I’m tired?»

Unable to summon his flames, and facing an opponent whose body was growing stronger, a protracted battle risked a bad end.

But so what?

«Even so, you are not going to win.»

[Are you just thrashing about in desperation? You and those women never should have trespassed here.]

«Shut up.»

He had regained his wind. Unfortunately, that brief pause had also allowed the Sect Master to recover further.

If only he could replenish his depleted energy, the tide might turn. How could he manage it? Even as he spoke, Gu Yangcheon’s mind raced, plotting his next move.

«I can see through your pathetic plans, but I’ve been humoring you until now.»

[Hah.]

The Sect Master released a dry, scornful laugh.

[You knew?]

«Not everything, but enough. You stink of greed, it’s all over you.»

[Do not dare insult me…!]

The Sect Master’s voice thundered with fury.

[You understand nothing, you wretch! All of this is for the heavens!]

«It’s always funny. Lunatics who rant about that stuff always end up in cults.»

The heavens? Sure. As if those self-righteous hypocrites had any idea what the heavens truly desired. Gu Yangcheon could not fathom such delusions.

‘Still, given that body of his, it might not be entirely nonsense.’

The Sect Master’s transformation was unlike anything Gu Yangcheon had witnessed. Whatever method had achieved it was worth remembering.

The Sect Master, enraged, continued his rant.

[You are blind. You have no conception of the paradise we are constructing or the treasures we have gathered for it.]

«Why would I care about—»

Gu Yangcheon began to dismiss him but stopped.

«Paradise?»

The word snagged his attention.

‘Paradise?’

A beautiful word on the surface, yet in Gu Yangcheon’s mind, it was ringed with thorns. It reminded him of something the Blood Demon had once said.

‘Didn’t that bastard also go on about dreaming of paradise?’

A coincidence? The more he considered it, the less likely it seemed.

[Soon, the elders will be here. When they arrive, you are finished. You will not be permitted to leave.]

The Sect Master’s confidence swelled at the thought of reinforcements. Gu Yangcheon, however, just raised an eyebrow.

«That pathetic body of yours—was that a gift from your mighty heavens?»

The question was a deliberate provocation, and the Sect Master instantly took the bait.

[Hah! To speak so after witnessing the glory of the Dragon Pearl—you remain blind to the truth.]

‘Dragon Pearl?’

The term made Gu Yangcheon frown. It felt strangely familiar.

Reaching into his sleeve, he drew out a small object and held it up for the Sect Master to see.

[What are you—huh?]

It was a tiny, immaculate white pearl, no bigger than a thumbnail.

The moment the Sect Master saw it, his eyes bulged in disbelief.

[How… how do you possess that?!]

«This thing… is this the Dragon Pearl you mentioned?»

He remembered taking it from the massive old man he’d killed upon arriving. It seemed to match the description.

As Gu Yangcheon held it out casually, the Sect Master’s fury ignited like a blaze.

[You fiend—! Where did you get that?!]

The Sect Master lunged forward, his face contorted with insane desperation. His frenzy was almost pitiable, but Gu Yangcheon barely acknowledged it.

«Hmm…»

Even as the Sect Master charged, Gu Yangcheon stared at the pearl in his palm. For now, it emitted no discernible energy or presence.

‘Should I… eat it?’

It seemed the Sect Master was referring to this pearl, but its purpose was unknown. Ingesting it would be a massive gamble—one that could cost him everything.

Deciding against it for the moment, he resolved to focus on the fight.

Just as he was about to stow the pearl away—

[Stop! Cease, you fool!]

The Sect Master’s frantic shout echoed through the chamber.

«What do you mean, stop—*gulp*…?»

Gu Yangcheon froze mid-sentence.

«Huh?»

He glanced down at his hand.

The pearl was gone.

He ran a hand over his chest, a dawning horror rising within him.

«…You have got to be joking.»

He could feel something sliding down into his stomach.

He had swallowed the pearl—completely unintentionally.

Stunned by the sheer absurdity of it, Gu Yangcheon had no time to process.

*Thump!*

His heart hammered a single, powerful beat, and with it, the transformation began.