Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 864

Chapter 864

The pale fire crackled with a soft sound.
I frowned at the slowly burning flame, a question forming in my mind.
«Can this even be called fire?»
Its color was such a stark, unexpected white that the word ‘flame’ felt entirely wrong.
“What is this?”
It was a pure, blinding white, so pale it was hard to tell if it was fire or a shard of ice. Even its movement was unfamiliar. It wavered slowly and gently, as if it were a living thing. It was difficult to put into words, but it was nothing like the wild, aggressive flames I had always produced before.
Perhaps it was better described as serene and soft?
«…»
I made an experimental fist.
With a soft sigh, the shimmering heat that had cloaked my body disappeared. I now knew I could reignite it at will, or remain in my normal state.
‘Is this what mastery feels like?’
This was the highest achievement of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique.
Was this the sensation my father had called becoming one with the flame?
‘It’s… a very strange feeling.’
It was difficult to articulate, but one thing was clear: «becoming the flame» was not a figure of speech. It was a literal truth.
The white flame crackled again.
When I used the Flames Firewheel Technique in the past, I always thought of it as generating fire.
But now, no effort was required to make it ignite.
«…Hmm.»
This entire sensation, from beginning to end, was new. Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, it was thrilling.
I barely stopped a smile from spreading across my face, but the surge of triumph was undeniable.
The feeling that had always eluded me before was now completely mine.
It felt like I was capable of anything.
The issue was…
‘Why is it white?’
Why had the flame’s color changed so abruptly?
It didn’t add up. My father’s flames were crimson red, and I doubted achieving mastery was the sole reason for this transformation.
‘And just how much stronger have I become?’
It was logical that my power had advanced, but the full scope of the change was unclear.
And yet…
“Are you okay?”
Now wasn’t the moment to figure it out.
I bent down to check on the two girls lying on the ground.
One of them, Wi Seol-ah, was weeping uncontrollably.
“Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”
What had upset her so much?
As I tried to comfort her, she suddenly grabbed onto me and held tight.
“Ugh… hngh…!”
“…Really.”
What was I supposed to do?
After a moment’s hesitation, I settled on one action: I gently raised my hand and stroked the back of her head.
«Just calm down for now.»
Even as I tried to soothe her, her trembling voice reached my ears.
«I… I can’t… hit you… I can’t…”
«…»
My hand stopped its motion.
What was it she couldn’t do?
The answer came to me quickly.
‘This is not good.’
Something must have occurred while I was unconscious.
I looked from Wi Seol-ah to Namgung Bi-ah.
She wasn’t crying, but her expression was more distant and dazed than usual.
Our eyes met.
«…»
«…»
No words were exchanged, but her gaze communicated everything.
Understanding her silent message, I gave a slight wave of my hand.
Without a second thought, Namgung Bi-ah leaned into me, her fingers clutching tightly at my clothes.
“…I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know the details, but I knew I was at fault.
All I could offer was an awkward apology as the moments passed.
Eventually, the two of them began to calm, their grips loosening slightly.
Only then did I finally take a proper look at our surroundings.
‘…What a disaster.’
The area was in complete disarray.
In a far corner, I spotted a figure hunched over, struggling to breathe.
‘The Master of the Celestial Stream Sect?’
The disfigured sect master was slumped against the wall, his life hanging by a thread.
It was a miracle he was still alive.
‘…The others wouldn’t have done this.’
Knowing their natures, it wasn’t possible.
I must have been responsible.
‘What exactly did I do?’
How much force would it take to contort a person’s body like that?
The only silver lining was…
‘At least they aren’t seriously hurt.’
Their physical states seemed largely unchanged from before I lost consciousness.
That was the most crucial thing.
If I had woken to find them injured…
‘…’
I didn’t want to think about it.
‘For now…’
There were more urgent matters than contemplating my new state of mastery.
As my eyes scanned the room, they landed on something that made me freeze.
‘What is that?’
At the far end of the space stood a tree.
‘Was that there the whole time?’
I should have noticed it sooner.
Could it be that only I could see it?
I turned to Namgung Bi-ah and pointed.
“Do you see that?”
She followed my finger and nodded.
“…Yes.”
So it was real.
“…Has it been there all along?”
“Yes, from the very beginning.”
“Hmm.”
It had been there the entire time, and I had simply failed to notice it.
‘How could I miss something so bizarre?’
I got to my feet, ignoring the disappointed looks from the two still holding onto me, and walked toward the tree.
It was small, more of a sapling than a mature tree.
But its leaves…
‘They’re white.’
The leaves on the bare branches were an unnatural white, similar to the flame I had just summoned.
Or perhaps…
‘They resemble Wi Seol-ah’s appearance… or the state of the sect master.’
The tree wasn’t just odd—it radiated a deeply unsettling presence.
Still, I wasn’t particularly surprised.
‘I’ve seen this before.’
It wasn’t something I could forget.
It had also been in Sichuan.
Around the time when…
‘We were searching for the Golden Stream Manor’s secret chamber.’
Wi Seol-ah had found a similar tree in my place.
Of course, that one had been enormous, like an ancient tree, not this sapling.
‘What is this thing?’
That tree had vanished along with the secret chamber.
But what about this one?
It was clearly not ordinary.
‘Why does it give off this kind of energy?’
The aura it emitted wasn’t something a tree should possess.
Divine? Awe-inspiring?
Those were the only words that came close.
‘And this feeling…’
I looked back at Wi Seol-ah.
‘It’s faint, but it’s similar to what I sense from her.’
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
Back then, I didn’t understand. But now, I know. I understand how Wi Seol-ah found the secret chamber and why this tree feels so similar to her.
‘There is a connection.’
Wi Seol-ah and this tree are linked for reasons I can’t yet grasp. And that means…
‘Could Wi Seol-ah also be connected to Yeon Ilcheon?’
Otherwise, this situation makes no sense.
‘But how?’
If they are connected, what is the nature of that link? And beyond that…
‘What is this place?’
What had the Master of the Celestial Stream Sect been planning here? And what was that monstrous transformation he underwent? There were too many questions.
For now, I decided to inspect the tree. I reached out, intending to gently touch one of its leaves.
But the instant my fingers made contact—
Whhooooshhh—!!!
«Huh?»
«What…?»
The previously motionless tree began to stir. Its branches swayed as if dancing, making the leaves tremble.
There was no wind. This was an underground, sealed space. Nothing should have been moving.
«What is this now?»
Had I activated something? I took an instinctive step back.
Then—
Rustle.
A single leaf broke free from its branch.
My eyes widened.
It wasn’t unusual for a leaf to fall, but this one didn’t drift toward the ground.
Instead, it floated toward me, circling my body in the air.
And it wasn’t alone.
More leaves detached, forming a spinning ring around me.
«…What the…»
I was about to swear when the leaves suddenly halted in midair.
Snap!
The leaves shattered, dissolving into a fine, shimmering dust that glowed like fireflies in the dim light.
What was their purpose?
I watched warily, bracing for anything.
Whhooooshhh—!!!
«…!»
The glowing particles shot toward me, piercing into my body before I could react.
It happened too fast to resist.
By the time I understood what was occurring, all the luminous fragments had been absorbed.
«…This is insane.»
I checked my body frantically. Why was this happening?
It felt like something had been violently forced into me. What kind of change would this cause?
While I was still assessing the situation, a voice screamed out from behind me.
[No… No… NO!!!]
I turned my head and saw the Master of the Celestial Stream Sect, the figure who had been at death’s door.
Somehow, he had regenerated enough to scream at me with eyes full of bloodshot fury.
[You… You dare… to steal the miracle intended for Him?!]
Why was this old man suddenly throwing a tantrum?
Even as his body continued to regenerate, he forced himself upright, shaking with rage.
[Unforgivable… UNFORGIVABLE! Our plan—it’s ruined—!!!]
With a deafening roar, he stomped the ground and lunged at me.
Narrowing my eyes, I moved faster than Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, who had reacted at the same instant.
This was perfect. I had planned to kill him anyway.
I clenched my fist, feeling my body transform.
Whoosh!
White flames enveloped my hand, their heat pulsing through me.
As I threw my punch, my heart gave a strange, unfamiliar jolt.
Thump.
‘What is this?’
The sensation was different from anything I had ever felt.
Even so, I didn’t hesitate. My shoulder aligned, and my fist shot forward.
The technique was the same as always—the purest form of Conflagrating Flame Fang Wolf.
Whoosh—!!!
The white flame erupted with overwhelming power.
Conflagrating Flame Fang Wolf.
KWAHHHHHH—!!!
The white fire swallowed the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master.
[AARGHHHH!!!]
His screams of agony echoed through the chamber.
The flames tore through his body and continued toward the wall behind him, their heat so intense that the stone began to melt.
The sheer destructive force was terrifying, enough to dissolve bones to nothing.
And yet—
Whooooshhh—!
As the flames receded, I frowned at what I saw.
«Huh?»
The fire had melted a massive hole in the wall, but the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master was completely unharmed.
Not a single wound marked his body.
‘That’s impossible.’
The power of the flames had even shocked me. The energy surge from absorbing the White Demon Stone was undeniable.
There was no way he could have survived without a scratch.
As I stared in confusion, the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master staggered and collapsed to his knees.
[No… No… This can’t be…]
Crrrack.
«Hmm?»
The transformation began.
Crrk, crrack—!!!
His grotesque form started to shrink.
His white hair darkened to black, and the scales on his skin receded. Even his eyes returned to normal.
The monster was reverting to a human.
Crrrack!
In less than ten seconds, he was fully human again, his face a mask of utter despair.
«This can’t… How could this happen… No, this isn’t right…!»
He touched his face in disbelief, then began to crawl toward me.
«Give it back… Give it… Please, return it…»
«…»
The madness in his eyes was plain.
He was screaming for me to return what he had lost, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
«…Ha.»
I let out a dry laugh—not because of his pitiful state, but because of what had just occurred.
The Celestial Stream Sect’s Master no longer mattered.
I raised my hand, staring at the white flames still dancing across it.
So this was the change.
‘This power…’
As I realized what it was, a shiver ran down my spine.
It was similar to…
‘Pama.’
The divine force wielded by the Sacred Sword in her battle against Cheonma.
The power that had saved the world now seemed to reside within me.