Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 899

Chapter 899

Flower petals drifted on the air, and the sudden fragrance of plum blossoms washed over me.

It was a sweet and tranquil aroma.
Calling a scent “peaceful” might have been unusual, but that was the only word that felt right.

Beneath the moonlight, the petals multiplied, their numbers swelling steadily.
They swayed and danced elegantly, though there was no wind to move them. The sight was undeniably beautiful.

«…But there’s no breeze.»

It was strange; the air was completely still.
My eyes locked onto the source of the blossoms, and I stared in disbelief.

«How?»

How could this be—

Truly, why—

«…is that old man here?»

What was he doing in this place?
His presence alone was shocking, but the more urgent question was—

«Why… why am I able to see him?»

Why was he visible to me? That was the most bewildering part.
I could see his form—something that should have been impossible.

Dumbstruck, I could only gaze at the old man’s face.

«Tsk, tsk.»

The old man clicked his tongue as he looked me over.

«Foolish boy. You’ve grown no less ugly with the passing years.»

“…”

I scowled at the familiar jab.
Taking in his distinctive white martial robes, with a plum blossom embroidered over the heart, I spoke.

«Shin Noya.»

An old man with eyes so sharp they must have been piercing in his youth, white hair, and a long, flowing beard.

Shin Noya.

The hero of Zhongyuan, the «Sage Sword of Mount Hua,» Shin Cheol.
He stood right before me.

At my call, the old man, whose robes fluttered despite the lack of wind, slowly descended.

I had wondered how he was suspended, then noticed the plum petals beneath his feet.
He had been standing on those delicate blossoms.

As Shin Noya landed softly on the ground, a surge of petals bloomed at his feet.

Hwaaahhh—!!!

A gust of energy swept out, rustling my hair.
I could feel it—this was no natural wind, but one made purely of force. In strength, it was little more than a gentle breath.

But the petals, which had moved without any wind, now danced with even greater vitality.

For a moment, my attention was captivated by their beauty.

Even in this situation, they were mesmerizing. But I shook myself back to focus and began to speak.

«Noya… why?»

Before I could finish, another voice cut in.

[Outsider.]

The one who had called itself the leader interrupted me.

[Why do you interrupt this sacred ceremony?]

At the leader’s words, Shin Noya turned his gaze.

«Who gave you permission to make such a racket that an old man who sleeps lightly can’t get any rest?»

[It is by the master’s order.]

«Of course it is. Otherwise, a lazy oaf like you wouldn’t bother stirring at this hour. Or… am I mistaken?»

A cunning grin spread across Shin Noya’s face.

«Or is it that you’re too cowardly to show yourself except under the cover of night?»

[…]

The creature snorted, exhaling jets of fierce flame from its nostrils. It was clearly provoked.

[Outsider, did you not swear an oath to the master?]

Boom!

It slammed its axe into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

[You vowed not to interfere in his affairs.]

Despite the violent display, Shin Noya didn’t flinch.

«Correct, I did.»

He simply brought his hands forward, which had been resting idly behind his back.

«But I’m fairly certain I added a condition to that promise.»

[A condition?]

«Indeed, a condition.»

Hwaaahhh—!

The plum petals caught in the swirling dust began to stir vigorously once more.

«I said I wouldn’t interfere, so long as no one disturbed my peace. Was that not clear?»

[I do not comprehend.]

The leader’s small eyes narrowed in confusion.

[Outsider. We have not disturbed you.]

«No, you have. See here.»

Swish!

«…!»

I felt a sudden movement at my arm.
The cord binding Eternal Bind to my left arm loosened, and it flew toward Shin Noya.

As it traveled, Eternal Bind shifted from its deep blue to a vivid crimson.

Its true color.

The weapon settled into Shin Noya’s palm and took the shape of a sword.
He immediately pointed its tip at the leader.

«Even with a blade aimed at you, you feel nothing, do you?»

[…]

«Does this look to you like I’ve broken our agreement?»

The leader, staring at the crimson sword’s point, began breathing more heavily, its rage building.

[I do not understand.]

Thud, thud.

It wrenched its axe from the earth.
Simultaneously, the muscles on its body bulged and quivered.

[But I understand this. Outsider.]

«Go on.»

[You are now opposing the master’s will. For that, you will be eliminated.]

«Hmm.»

At those words,

«How amusing.»

Shin Noya let out a soft laugh.

«You? Eliminate me?»

[Ku-hu-hu-hu—!]

The leader lunged forward.

 

******************

 

Boom—! Kwang—!!

Shrieeeek—!!

The battle unfolding before me was impossible to ignore.
Axe and sword clashed, spraying sparks from the friction. With every impact, their pressures collided, sending out relentless shockwaves.

The axe tore through the air once more.

Kuwoooong—!!!
Where it hit the ground, the earth shattered and cracks spiderwebbed outward.

Just witnessing its destructive force was enough to make my hair stand on end.

And that wasn’t even its full strength. The leader instantly recovered its axe and began another swing.

«That’s unbelievable.»

The power was monstrous.

Every strike was lethal if it connected.
Even with reinforced energy for defense, I doubted I could survive more than three direct hits.
The raw force was crushing.

«Hmph.»

Yet the old man facing that axe—Shin Noya—didn’t show a trace of effort on his face.

Clang—! Clang, clang—!!

With Eternal Bind, he deflected the onslaught, parrying the axe upward.
A burst of wind pressure sent the massive weapon hurling into the sky.

My eyes widened in disbelief.
He deflected that tremendous force with an upward swing? The grip strength required was absurd.

[Kuhung!]

The leader tried to bring the axe down with even greater power, but—

Slash—!!

[Gurrrk!!]

Shin Noya’s blade sliced deep into the leader’s chest.
Blood misted the air in a crimson spray.

It was no mere scratch—the cut was so deep it nearly cleaved the leader in two.

Schlurrrp!

«Tch.»

But before the halves could separate, the flesh knitted back together.
The grotesque sight stole my breath, and—

[Kuhuhu…!! You bastard!!]

The leader roared in fury, channeling power into its axe.

Fwoosh—!

Flames engulfed the weapon.
The heat was intense, and I could feel how densely the fire was concentrated.

Whoooosh—!!
The surrounding air began to be pulled toward the axe.

[All of this is the master’s will.]

Kyaaaaahhh—!!!

As it spoke, the other beasts nearby bared their fangs.
Were they preparing to attack Shin Noya? No wonder they had been so still.

I frowned and gathered my energy.
I couldn’t just stand and watch.

At that moment—

«Don’t interfere.»

Shin Noya’s tone was almost playful, as if amused.

«It’s been too long since this old man had a bit of fun. Don’t spoil it.»

“…What?”

«Young man, let an elder have his enjoyment. Where are your manners? Tsk, tsk.»

“…”

What kind of nonsense was this?
I stared at his back, speechless, when—

«Man’gae (Full Bloom).»

Shin Noya murmured the words softly.

Saaaaah…

The floating plum petals began to shift.
And then—

The beautiful petals I had admired transformed into a vision of hell.

Shiiiiiiiiing—!!!

The petals clouding the sky whirled into a violent storm.

The problem was—

[Kyaaahhh!!!]

[Grrrrr—!!]

Shrrrrrrip—!!

The countless petals rained down on the beasts, shredding them.
They pierced and tore through the monsters without mercy.

When I used Flame Jade, I erased my enemies completely, but these petals were different.

Each was like a razor blade, slashing flesh with deliberate cruelty.

Blood sprayed, fragments of bone and meat scattering across the ground.
In mere seconds, the beasts’ cries were silenced, their hostility extinguished.

The field, if it could still be called that, was saturated with blood.

The only untouched areas were where Shin Noya and the leader stood, and where I stood with Cheonma.

Everything else was a slaughterhouse. Seeing it, I swallowed hard.

The fact that certain spots were spared meant that even in such carnage, Shin Noya had controlled the petals’ path.

To wield such vast energy with such precision was far beyond my capabilities.

«Even controlling Flame Jade is difficult…»

To compress, rotate, and multiply energy while maintaining command—
Massacring with Flame Jade alone was a challenge.

«But splitting and controlling energy this finely is madness.»

The plum blossoms were formed entirely of energy—
To refine and manipulate power on such a minute level was incomprehensible.

This was a display of supreme skill.

«Finally, some quiet.»

Shin Noya nodded, pleased with the calm he had imposed.

[Kuhuhuhu—!!! Hnghh!!]

The leader, now alone, seethed with rage.
His muscles bulged, veins throbbed, and he swung his flaming axe at Shin Noya once more.

«Are you certain? Dawn approaches.»

[…!]

At those words, the leader hesitated for a split second.

«Night?»

I, too, glanced upward.
The sky was indeed brighter than before.

«When the sun rises, you won’t even be able to put on a performance for me. Do you still wish to continue?»

[Grrr… Grrrrrr….]

What was this?
I could sense the leader’s uncertainty after Shin Noya’s remark.

«Beast of the Full Moon, while I admire your loyalty to your master, it is also wise to know your limits. Don’t you agree?»

[…]

Shin Noya’s words sounded like an offer to let the leader withdraw.

[You are the one who does not know your place, outsider.]

The leader crushed its hesitation, tightening its grip on the axe.

[The master has commanded me to slay the vile dragon. I obey. Day or night is irrelevant.]

«Hmm.»

[I will kill you and the dragon. That is all.]

«Is that so?»

[Die—!!]

The leader swung its axe, hurling a wave of fire toward Shin Noya.

But then—

«Why…?»

Why wasn’t the old man moving?
At this rate, Shin Noya would be in real danger.

I prepared to leap into action when—

[…Kuhung!]

Shriek—!

The axe halted abruptly just before Shin Noya.
The energy and flames gathered in the weapon exploded outward in every direction.

Kuwaaaaahhhh—!!!

The blistering heat forced me to grimace.
Had it traveled any further, it would have split Shin Noya’s skull.

Why did the attack stop?
As I wondered, the leader yanked back its axe and retreated a step.

Seeing this, Shin Noya smiled.

«It seems you’ve been called home.»

[…]

The leader didn’t answer, but his silence was confirmation.

«Don’t fret. I won’t hinder you. Go in peace.»

[Grrrr….]

The leader growled low in frustration but turned away. As it left, it spoke.

[Outsider. You are lucky. Thank the master for his mercy.]

«Oh, I will. Be sure to give him my regards.»

[Grrrrrr….]

The leader swung its axe, cleaving the air open, and another Magyeong Gate appeared.

It stepped through, and the gate began to close.

Just before it vanished completely, the leader turned its gaze directly to me.

[Dragon, next time, I will kill you.]

His words were meant for me, and I frowned.

«What nonsense are you spouting? Get lost, you stupid beast.»

[You—!]

Before it could retort, the Magyeong Gate sealed shut and disappeared.

In the sudden quiet, Shin Noya was the first to speak.

«Heh. Your tongue is as sharp as ever.»

Shin Noya sighed and tossed Eternal Bind back to me.

Thwack!
I caught it on instinct, and it immediately coiled around my arm again, its color returning to blue.

«Using it after so long wasn’t unpleasant. It felt rather good, actually.»

He sounded almost nostalgic.
Watching him, I bit my lip.

What should I ask first?
Why was he here?
Where even was this place?
How could he appear in such a solid form?

Should I demand a full explanation?

A whirlwind of questions filled my mind, but the first thing I said was—

«Why didn’t you move?»

I referred to the moment in the fight.

«Hmm?»

Shin Noya looked at me as if puzzled.

«Just now. Why did you stand still? It looked dangerous.»

«Stand still? Who did?»

«You did, Noya…»

«Ah, tsk, tsk.»

He clicked his tongue sharply, his face full of exasperation.

«Boy, how are your eyes still so useless after all this time?»

He raised a hand and pointed toward the sky.
Following his finger, I looked up.

«What…? Huh!»

My body went rigid at what I saw.

Only then did I see them.

Three immense swords, piercing through the clouds and stars.

Just looking at them, I could feel the overwhelming energy radiating from the blades.
They were mental swords—constructs of pure will and power.

The sight was staggering.
My heart trembled just from beholding them.

Compared to my own mental fists or the swords others used, these existed on a wholly different plane.

They embodied something profound and transcendent.

«You thought it was dangerous?»

At Shin Noya’s voice, I looked back at him.
He was still smiling.

That smile—

«For whom?»

It was the smile of an old man humoring a child’s naivety.