Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 860
Chapter 860
The dark stars climbed higher into the illuminated sky, multiplying until there were dozens.
Each one was a condensed inferno, radiating such tremendous power that calling them stars felt entirely appropriate.
Watching the heavens fill with these blazing projectiles, I couldn’t stop a wry smile from forming.
«…That madman…»
It was ridiculous. The fact that he looked completely unbothered after unleashing so much power felt almost insulting.
No—he wasn’t actually fine. He was only acting like it.
«You’re straining too. Why keep pretending you’re invincible?»
Who did I think I was kidding? I understood him better than anyone.
«Drop the act. It’s embarrassing.»
I drew a steadying breath. The aftershock from earlier still ached.
Damn him. Fighting so underhandedly.
But—
«Clever.»
He’d fought smart. The only issue was, I never thought I’d be the one outmaneuvered.
*Crack.*
I shifted my shoulder slightly, forcing the dislocated joint back into its socket. It must have popped out when I dodged earlier.
«My arm and ribs are probably broken too.»
There were multiple fractures. Nothing fatal, but enough to limit my movement.
«Tch.»
What about my energy reserves?
After all that, they had to be running low…
«It doesn’t matter. I’m at a disadvantage as long as my fire arts are sealed.»
Even if I wanted to finish this quickly, it was uncertain whether I could end it at all.
His skill was high, and he hadn’t even approached the level of mindscape mastery.
Naturally. A worm like him could never comprehend the mindscape. His fragile ego alone would keep him from ever learning Heart Strike.
«So why am I still losing to him?»
Was it really just because I couldn’t use my fire techniques? That didn’t add up.
Especially since I wasn’t even human anymore.
What was causing this imbalance?
«You’ve grown dull.»
His words echoed in my mind. Dull… Was that really it?
The thought almost made me laugh.
«So what? Was I supposed to stay like that forever?»
If I had become dull, did that mean he was sharp? That, I couldn’t believe.
He wasn’t sharp.
«He was just hiding how damaged his blade was, pretending it was still whole.»
If we were like swords, he was the kind who would swing harder even knowing his weapon was about to break.
«You want me to go back to that kind of existence?»
I scowled as I asked. He looked down at me and replied.
[«Wrong.»]
«Then what?»
[«Your complacency, your retreat into the comfort of reality—it disgusts me. So much that I want to burn it all to ash right now.»]
*Fwoosh.*
The stars above him began shining more intensely. The moment was almost here.
«So you’ll just take what you want because you dislike it? Who do you think you are?»
What was he, really? I didn’t believe he was simply a memory from my past life.
He seemed like it, but something felt… off.
«What are you?»
No matter how many times I asked, his expression remained unchanged.
As always, he simply gazed down at me and moved his fingers.
[«The answer…»]
His thumb pointed downward.
[«You must find for yourself.»]
Dozens of stars descended toward me.
*Rumble—-!!!*
A meteor shower rained down. Hundreds of flaming spheres shot in my direction.
I planted my feet and surged forward.
*Boom-boom-boom—!!!*
Blistering heat roared at my back. I didn’t look behind me.
It was difficult enough to focus on what was ahead.
There were too many to avoid entirely.
*Thud!*
«Urgh—!»
One struck my shoulder.
*Boom—!!!*
The blast engulfed me, throwing off my balance.
I twisted in mid-air to recover, barely managing to keep my posture.
I couldn’t slow down. My feet kept moving as I punched through the air repeatedly.
*Boom! Boom-boom—!!*
With each Heart Strike, I shattered a few of the orbs in my path, clearing a way forward.
I focused only on destroying those directly ahead. Wiping them all out would drain my energy before I could reach him.
«The front is clear, but the left and above are risky.»
Should I charge straight through the opening?
«No.»
That gap had been left open intentionally. So then—
«I’ll go up.»
I crouched mid-sprint and launched myself upward.
The sky was still thick with orbs, but I had my reasons for choosing this path.
As I ascended, I channeled energy throughout my body, activating the second stage of Tua Pacheonmu.
My senses sharpened, and my awareness expanded.
«Just barely…»
It would be close, but I could handle it.
*Boom—!!!*
Orbs detonated in the air, jolting my body, but I didn’t stray from my trajectory.
I confirmed my destination using intuition.
As expected, the open path I’d noticed earlier was now blocked by dozens of orbs.
«Good.»
«He still can’t change their course after they’re launched.»
Predicting and aiming beforehand? Sure.
But adjusting their path mid-flight? Impossible.
«It’s because you never learned to use compression and rotation, you fool.»
If I could use my fire techniques now, I’d show him how it’s done. It was infuriating.
Losing to an idiot like him just because I couldn’t use fire arts.
I scanned my surroundings. The number of orbs had greatly diminished.
These weren’t meant for one-on-one combat; they were weapons of mass destruction.
«Where is he?»
I searched for him. With my heightened senses, it wasn’t hard to find.
He hadn’t made any effort to conceal himself.
*Rumble—!!!*
How could anyone hide something that enormous?
«Hah…»
I hovered in the air to avoid the remaining orbs, while he stood firmly on the ground below.
And then—
*Rumble—!!!*
Black flames swirled around him, taking the form of a wolf.
The energy expanded, growing larger and larger. I knew what was coming.
I clenched my fist.
«The air isn’t ideal.»
It was hard to stabilize my stance. But I had no other option.
He shifted his shoulders, wielding the black flames as though they were part of him.
It wasn’t a sophisticated technique—just Flame Formed Wolf Fang (俱炎態牙狼).
It hadn’t been refined or modified in any way. It was a raw, brutal attack, fueled by an absurd amount of energy.
*Rooooar—!!!*
The wolf of flames opened its jaws and lunged toward me.
Dodging in mid-air was difficult, and blocking it directly wasn’t feasible.
So—
«I’ll break through.»
If I couldn’t block or evade, I had to pierce straight through.
I channeled Tua Pacheonmu into my fist and compressed it tightly.
«Focus on punching a narrow hole through it. Don’t try to erase the whole thing.»
I concentrated intensely as the wolf closed in.
«Huup!»
I threw my punch with everything I had.
*Boom—!!!*
The wolf shattered as I pierced through it, scattering flames in every direction.
But before the embers could fade, he was already upon me.
I saw his fist approaching.
Reacting instantly, I threw my own punch to meet it.
*Boom—!!!*
Our fists collided, generating a powerful shockwave.
I managed to block it, compressing my energy to reduce the damage.
«Damn it!»
But being airborne put me at a disadvantage.
With no solid footing, I couldn’t stabilize myself.
The force of the blow sent me crashing toward the ground.
*Thud—!*
I hit the earth hard. The pain was intense, but I couldn’t afford to stay down.
I forced myself to stand.
I needed to get ready—
*Grab!*
«Urk!»
Before I could fully rise, his hand closed around my neck.
He lifted me off the ground.
«Grgh…»
His grip was burning hot. I endured the pain and looked down at him.
It was just like before.
The same sight I’d seen when my heart was pierced last time.
He held me by the throat, suspending me in the air.
I looked at him, the same way I often looked at my own victims.
Maybe I needed to rethink this approach—it felt utterly degrading when done to me.
«You… bastard…»
I stared at him, a bitter smile forming on my lips.
That suspicion I’d felt all along?
Now, it was undeniable.
«You… be straight with me. You’re not even tired, are you?»
By now, even if his energy wasn’t fully depleted, he should have at least shown some sign of fatigue. Yet, not a single drop of sweat marked his face.
I was sure of it.
«…As I thought. You’re not my past self.»
What I had suspected was now confirmed.
This bastard wasn’t just some black-flamed madman.
Even if my former self had been overflowing with energy,
and even if my current vessel was inefficient,
this didn’t add up.
«…What the hell are you?»
There was something fundamentally different about him.
Why was he wearing that grotesque mask, relentlessly beating me down?
Unable to comprehend, I demanded an answer.
[«You already know, don’t you?»]
He spoke with that same hateful gaze.
«…You bastard. If I knew, why would I be asking?!»
[«Because you’re the type to pretend not to know, even when you do.»]
«…What are you talking about?»
[«You’re busy playing ignorant and running away, like always. This is no different. You already understand what I am.»]
But you choose to deny it.
His voice was laced with bitter truth.
[«For a long time—since the moment you were born—I’ve been watching you. Even if you lie to yourself, you can’t lie to me.»]
«What?»
My eyes widened.
He’d been watching me since birth?
A vague understanding stirred within me, my pupils trembling.
Seeing my reaction, he continued.
[«Now, after all this time, I can finally confront you. But to see you so pathetic.»]
His eyes brimmed with the same contempt they held when I first saw him.
[«Listen carefully, little demon.»]
His changed tone made my eyelids flicker.
[«You are not worthy of wielding me.»]
That was when I understood.
His true identity.
[«This is your chance to prove otherwise.»]
«…Flames Firewheel?»
The very technique that dwelled within me, burning with demonic energy.
He was its living embodiment.
—
*Crunch. Crack.*
The sound of something fracturing and splintering reverberated.
*Snap. Shatter.*
Bones were torn, flesh scraped across the earth, and blood pooled in the hollows.
[«Gah… ah… ugh…»]
The screams that had once filled the space had long since faded.
All that remained was a faint, dying gasp.
The gruesome noises of devastation—
[«Hah… uh…»]
—ceased the moment the Celestial Stream Sect Leader’s eyes dimmed.
The area around them was completely ravaged.
The Sect Leader’s body was barely recognizable from its original form.
A horrifying, indescribable shape.
And yet, despite the state of his body, he wasn’t dead.
Even now, his wounds were slowly regenerating.
Unconscious, but alive.
The fact that he could survive in such a condition was somehow more terrifying.
«…Huff… huff…»
Wi Seol-ah stared, trembling, at the one who had reduced the Sect Leader to this state.
He rose slowly, his eyes fixed on the Sect Leader’s broken form.
Blood stained his hands, but his expression was unreadable.
Then—
«…!»
When his gaze turned toward her, Wi Seol-ah instinctively raised her sword.
*Screeech—!*
The sharp sound of her blade cutting the air echoed around them. Her stance was defensive, shielding Namgung Bi-ah behind her.
Namgung Bi-ah, overwhelmed by the recoil, could barely hold onto consciousness. Even remaining upright was a struggle.
Wi Seol-ah bit her lip.
Why?
Why had she raised her sword?
She didn’t understand. This man was none other than—
«Young Master Gu…»
Her most cherished person.
Even as confusion swamped her, she couldn’t lower her blade.
It was pure instinct.
«…Young Master Gu…»
She cautiously called his name again, but her words died as her eyes narrowed.
«…Who are you?»
He stood there, his violet eyes fixed on her, silent.
There was no reply.
No emotion radiated from him, either.
They stood locked in silence for several seconds.
«You… are necessary.»
Gu Yangcheon finally spoke, his words abrupt and fragmented.
Wi Seol-ah frowned, perplexed. She was about to ask what he meant when—
«Yes, you must exist for now.»
His gaze moved past her—to Namgung Bi-ah.
«But you…»
His expression and the intention in his eyes became clear to Wi Seol-ah.
«…are an obstacle.»
She swung her sword without a moment’s hesitation.
*Clang—!*
«Ugh!»
Her blade was deflected by Gu Yangcheon’s fist. The impact shuddered through her arm.
«…!»
Clutching her wrist, Wi Seol-ah understood with cold certainty:
The figure wearing Gu Yangcheon’s face was truly intent on killing Namgung Bi-ah.
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