Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 951

Chapter 951

«What did you just call me…?»

Yusa’s eyes narrowed as he demanded an answer.

Had he misheard? However he turned it over in his mind, it seemed impossible.

What had that insolent creature just said?

‘…Lowly thing?’

Had he truly just been addressed that way? It couldn’t be.

For the first time in his long existence, Yusa was so stunned by an insult that his very pupils shook.

Lowly thing?

‘…Me?’

He had been born into the core of the Moonlit Night Tribe and had lived through ages beyond counting.

Throughout those immeasurable years, he had ruled by his master’s side, and every single member of the Moonlit Night Tribe had knelt before him.

Among the current Generals, only he and that obscure figure, Yarang, were of the Moonlit Night Tribe.

‘How dare he.’

Did this creature just call him a lowly thing?

Even the purebloods were less than dust beneath his feet.

«…Hahaha…»

A low, disbelieving laugh escaped Yusa’s lips.

At that moment, a single bead of cold sweat rolled down the Blue Commander’s chin.

Drip.

The instant it hit the floor—

Kuggggggggg—!!!

A torrent of overwhelming energy erupted from Yusa’s body.

The sheer force of it made the Blue Commander, standing far too close, shudder violently.

«Keuuuuh…!!!»

His breath caught in his throat—his hands began to shake uncontrollably.

A suffocating, terrifying aura saturated the entire area, a chaotic storm of killing intent and raw, predatory aggression.

Kuguguguung—!!!!!

The very building trembled, and dust streamed from the cracking ceiling.

And at the center of it all, Yusa was laughing.

His lips were stretched into a grin so wide it seemed his face might split.

«Who the hell are you?»

Yusa’s pupils had thinned to slits, like those of a wild beast.

«Do you not know who I am? You should.»

Crunch.

As Yusa took a single step forward, the ground beneath his foot shattered.

It was as if the floor had collapsed under an immense, unbearable weight.

«Because if you don’t—you’re going to be chewed to death right here.»

Grind, grind.

He fully intended to devour him completely, leaving not even a bone behind.

The bloodlust radiating from Yusa was absolute.

[«Kukukuku….»]

A harsh, grating laugh brushed past him.

«…You’re laughing?»

It came from the figure standing before him.

The masked one, as if finally unable to contain himself, had gripped his mask and let out a low chuckle.

Yusa’s eyes widened at the sight.

His pupils dilated purely from the surge of raw emotion.

[«Ah, my apologies. I simply couldn’t hold it in.»]

«And what exactly is so damn funny?»

[«How could I not laugh?»]

Flutter.

The masked figure moved as Yusa stopped his advance.

His black robe swayed gently.

He stepped forward completely unbothered, as if Yusa’s crushing aura was nothing more than a mild breeze.

Yusa’s grin twisted further.

[«Something as insignificant as you actually believes itself to be the heavens. Tell me, how could that not be amusing?»]

«…Ha.»

Insignificant.

Believing oneself to be the heavens.

The words hit Yusa like a physical blow.

A thick cross of veins bulged on his forehead.

«…How dare you…?»

Something so utterly worthless—so far beneath him—had the audacity to speak to him this way?

Crack.

A coarse, cracking sound emanated from Yusa’s body.

His tail expanded, thickening and lengthening.

Simultaneously, one of his arms swelled, covered in thick, coarse fur.

His hand alone grew to the size of a full-grown man.

From his now-massive fingers, razor-sharp claws extended.

«If you kneel now, I might spare your life.»

Yusa’s voice had changed along with his body—it was now a dry, rasping sound, yet still carried a trace of its former boyish tone.

«Of course, I’ll have to take your arms first. But at least you’d live. Kneel.»

[…]

Even after Yusa’s ultimatum, the figure remained silent.

«Why aren’t you speaking? Ah, have you finally realized you’re afraid?»

Yusa sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

Just moments ago, this wretch had been putting on a brave face—was he now frozen in terror?

The thought had only just formed when—

[«How disappointing.»]

The masked figure spoke.

«…What did you say?»

Disappointing?

He said he was disappointed?

[«Even the so-called Commanders are unimpressive. I was already losing interest, and it seems the Generals are no different.»]

«…»

The smirk vanished from Yusa’s face.

For a fleeting moment, he had considered—entertained the slim possibility—that this fool simply didn’t know his identity.

But after hearing those words, it became clear—

That wasn’t the case.

Which meant—

‘He knows I’m a General, yet he’s still acting like this?’

He was fully aware that Yusa was one of the four great powers beneath the heavens of Mangye—

And yet, he remained this brazen?

Unthinkable.

It was impossible.

Even among the Generals, where power and status dictated all, they never showed such outright disrespect toward one another.

‘Who the hell is this bastard?’

How could he dare to look down on a General?

Yusa glared, completely unable to make sense of the situation.

‘What… is he?’

Just what was this man?

And why—

‘Why can’t I see anything?’

He could perceive nothing from him.

It wasn’t that the man lacked power; his presence was undeniably overwhelming.

Yusa could tell he possessed a deeply unsettling strength.

His sheer arrogance alone made it clear—he was no weakling.

But—

‘That’s it.’

That was all he could sense.

He couldn’t gauge the depth of his power.

He couldn’t grasp anything beyond the fact of his existence.

Nothing at all.

‘…What….’

What kind of feeling was this?

Never in his life had Yusa encountered something so utterly alien.

His senses were absolute.

Nothing—not even the most powerful barriers—should have been able to block him from perceiving his opponent.

And yet—

‘…Why can’t I see through him?’

The man stood right before him, yet Yusa could read nothing.

Could it be—

‘Is it because of that mask?’

The cracked white mask he wore.

Did it possess some kind of concealing property?

Yes, that had to be it.

Having reached that conclusion, a smirk returned to Yusa’s lips.

‘I don’t know how you’re hiding from my sight…’

But now that he understood the trick, it meant nothing.

All he had to do was tear that mask away.

And besides—

‘He’s Moonlit Night Tribe.’

The ears and tail were proof enough.

Which meant—

‘He’s beneath me.’

This unknown bastard—this arrogant fool—was ultimately just another servant under his heel.

Realizing that, Yusa’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

«It’s too late for regrets now.»

The masked figure tilted his head slightly.

Yusa grinned.

And then—

[Now.]

Yusa’s voice carried an irresistible, absolute force.

[Remove that mask.]

It was a command that could not be disobeyed by any being subordinate to a General of Mangye.

The moment he spoke, a smirk stretched across Yusa’s lips.

Go on. Take it off.

He needed to see the face of the wretched creature that had been causing such disruption in his domain.

And once he had—

He would tear him apart and grind his bones to dust.

Every last fragment, crushed between his teeth.

As he stared eagerly at the masked figure—

Swish.

The figure finally moved.

He raised his hand and lightly traced his fingers over the mask before gripping it firmly.

As expected.

‘There’s no way you can resist.’

It was an oath, a bond seared into the very soul.

A curse, yet also a blessing—one that no one could escape.

‘And you won’t be any different.’

No matter how much false confidence this fool had, it was his end.

Yusa still couldn’t fathom where this bastard had found the nerve to bare his fangs at him.

As he watched, waiting for the mask to be removed—

Click.

A faint sound came from the mask.

Was he finally taking it off?

Yusa focused his gaze, but—

«…Huh?»

Before he could process it, a stunned sound escaped his lips.

The hand gripping the mask… simply lowered.

And then—

The masked figure began walking toward Yusa as if nothing had happened.

To make matters worse—

[«You still don’t understand, do you?»]

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing.

[«A lowly thing like you has no right to command me.»]

«…W-What…!»

Not only had he ignored the command—his arrogance was completely undiminished.

[«You have no authority over me, you worthless insect.»]

«…!»

Yusa’s eyes widened at the words that pierced him.

His command hadn’t worked?

That was impossible.

‘…What the hell is going on…?’

No being under the heavens of Mangye could disobey its laws.

Not even the great master of the world could defy them.

Which meant—

‘…If he’s ignoring my command…’

In other words—

‘This bastard is a higher being than me?’

That could only mean this unknown creature held a superior rank.

«That’s absurd…!»

The moment he realized it, Yusa shouted.

«There’s no way!»

Only his master stood above the Generals.

And yet, this bastard was claiming to be above him?

It was impossible.

«Just what kind of trickery is this?!»

Yusa’s face contorted in fury as his grip tightened.

His monstrous, beast-like arm swung into motion.

Screeeech—!!!

It tore through the air, accelerating with terrifying speed.

He would rip that bastard apart, shred him into pieces—

Just before his claws could reach their target—

[«Stop.»]

Thud—!
Kuuuuuuu—!

«…!»

Yusa’s entire arm jerked to a dead halt.

Not just his arm—

His entire body had frozen solid.

His trembling pupils darted frantically, trying to process the impossible.

This sensation…

It was the same absolute pressure he exerted when he gave a command.

‘How…?!’

His command had failed—

And yet, this bastard’s command had worked on him?

What in the hell—

[«You still don’t get it?»]

«…»

A deep, heavy voice resonated inside Yusa’s skull.

By the time he realized it, the masked figure had already closed the distance, standing directly before him.

[«I already told you—you have no right to order me.»]

Crack.

Yusa tried to force his body to move.

It was useless.

His frozen form refused to obey.

What was he?

Just what was this bastard that he could do this?

Yusa wanted to demand an answer—but even his lips were locked in place.

[«Do you think a lowly thing barking at the sky will ever be heard? You are exactly that.»]

Slide.

The masked figure raised a hand and tilted Yusa’s chin upward with a single finger.

His head was lifted effortlessly, completely beyond his control.

[«Know your place.»]

Their eyes met.

Yusa swallowed hard.

In the darkness, the figure’s purple eyes burned with an ominous glow.

They were devouring.

All-consuming.

And yet, strangely…

They felt familiar.

What were those eyes…?

Where had he seen them before?

Yusa struggled to recall—

And then, he remembered.

‘Ah.’

He didn’t need to search far.

That gaze—he had seen it many times.

In someone very close.

The one he served.

The one he both feared and revered.

‘…My master?’

The ruler of Mangye.

The sky above him.

This presence—this oppressive, boundless weight—held the same authority as his master.

‘…N-No, that’s ridiculous…’

It was laughable.

Even the thought itself filled him with disbelief.

How could he possibly sense his master’s presence in this unknown bastard?

It was nonsense.

Yusa tried to shake the thought away.

And then—

[«Your head is too high.»]

The masked figure spoke again.

[«Bow.»]

«…!»

Thud—!

Yusa’s knees slammed against the ground.

Crack—!

The earth beneath him fractured, spiderwebbing with deep, jagged lines.

Both of his knees had been driven into the floor.

It wasn’t just his knees—his gaze was also forced downward.

A perfect act of humiliation.

All he could see was the floor.

And the feet of the one standing before him.

His entire body shook violently.

And yet—

Even in that state, he could still hear the bastard’s voice.

[«Good.»]

The voice was saturated with satisfaction.

[«This suits you perfectly.»]

«…»

[«Don’t you agree?»]

The more Yusa listened to that voice—

Something primal surged within him.

It wasn’t the familiar hunger.

It was something far more base.

It was fear.