Childhood Friend of the Zenith
chapter-266

Drip… Drip…

Water droplets echoed as they fell from the ceiling.

The space was damp and filled with silence.

That was how basements usually were, but this place especially felt unsettling.

It was likely because of the ice crystals in the center of the basement.

As if they were on display, there were a bunch of ice crystals in the secret basement, and deeper into it, there was even a bigger ice crystal.

They felt too out of place.

Instead of the Ice Palace where all four seasons were all frozen in ice, these ice crystals were located in Murim Alliance.

Step.

Putting aside that fact, a lady walked through the dark space, holding a small torch.

The lady was able to walk through this place with her eyes closed because she has been in this place over a thousand times, and to prove that, the woman didn’t open her eyes.

Her calm, elegant footsteps gradually slowed.

She had reached her destination.

Woong-

As she stopped, cold air flew towards her along with the wind.

Her face cover almost blew away, but the lady didn’t move an inch.

Then,

-Dancer.

The lady kneeled to her knees after hearing an imposing voice.

-You seem to have lost connection with Namgung’s child.

“…Yes. It appears there was an issue..”

-How strange.

“I will send someone to check what has happened.”

Dancer considered sending someone from the Alliance to check what was going on.

It was a pretty important matter after all.

One of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes, the Lightning Dragon of Namgung Clan could be seen as their first test subject.

He was used to observing what happened to a body that contained Divine Qi and how long it could endure.

The Lightning Dragon was chosen because he was the most fit for the situation.

Of course, she thought that it was too early to do such a thing, but her master had a different opinion.

That much was enough for the Dancer.

Her master's will was her own, after all.

Hehehe-

A chuckle followed Dancer's words.

When the Dancer lifted her head,

-There is no need.

“…Pardon?”

It was an unexpected response.

She believed that her master also considered this matter to be important, so why this reaction?

Right as the Dancer began to wonder,

-Namgung Clan… you said that that child also went there, correct?

Her master spoke.

“By that child… you mean… ah.”

The Dancer’s eyes widened as she realized whom her master meant.

Her master was referring to the dark horse that he himself and the Alliance Leader didn’t expect, the young martial artist who had recently garnered much attention.

The True Dragon.

The new kid that appeared out of nowhere showed power that was incomparable to those of the young prodigies’ and overpowered everyone in the tournament.

Thanks to that, his plan became twisted, but he didn't seem too concerned.

It was as if he was welcoming the unexpected situation.

Coincidentally or not, he heard that the True Dragon was currently with the Namgung Clan.

Which means,

Does he believe that the True Dragon was responsible for the problem that occurred with the Lightning Dragon?

What does that young prodigy even have?

He wasn’t someone that was given a ‘piece’ of her master, nor did he capture the attention of the Heavenly Eye.

He was someone that would’ve disappeared without being able to survive the wave of time, so the Dancer couldn’t understand.

She couldn’t understand such an existence coming out of nowhere.

However, whichever it was, she knew this was far from ordinary, especially considering her lost connection with the Lightning Dragon.

She wasn’t able to figure out why the connection between him and her was lost.

It happened in an instant.

Right as the Lightning Dragon was asking her something, their connection was lost.

It almost felt as if something else broke their connection.

That was what the Dancer was concerned about.

If the True Dragon was indeed responsible for this...

-How amusing.

Sensing the Dancer’s thoughts, her master started to chuckle.

“…Are you fine with this?”

-Fine with what?

"Won't this potentially disrupt your plans?"

The air around the Dancer grew denser as she asked the question.

Because of that change, the Dancer lowered her head.

-A problem huh, that’s a nice word.

“…Pardon?”

-Nothing is more intriguing than an unusual occurrence, bringing a change.

His voice was filled with more laughter than she expected.

She believed that her master had a big desire for this, so his reaction puzzled her.

-This is an order.

The Dancer’s head was lowered even further when she heard her master.

-Don’t delve too deeply into the Lightning Dragon’s case.

“…Understood.”

She had no hesitation in her response.

Her mind was filled with questions, but the Dancer didn’t ask out loud.

She merely listened to her master’s command.

Not questioning the great one had been ingrained in her since birth.

-Dancer.

“Yes… master.”

-Contact the Chief Abbot. Tell him I want to see him.

“Understood.”

After hearing her master’s words, the Dancer departed, bowing her head in respect.

When the master was left alone in the darkness, the Blood Demon whispered quietly in the silence.

-Child, I’m curious if you can achieve what the Iron Fist couldn’t.

Child.

The Blood Demon thought of the fierce child he had met.

He resembled the man who locked him in this darkness long ago in the past.

This child had a similar fierce appearance, and he also had the king of another world living inside his body.

-They are similar.

Even him possessing a monster inside him was similar.

Was this a coincidence?

Surely not.

Coincidences didn’t exist in this world.

Which meant this was an inevitable fate.

At the same time, the Blood Demon thought about the person that locked him in here.

That may have been the best action he could’ve taken, but it only delayed the calamity, leaving it for his descendants to confront.

-It all returns to where it began. Thus, a reincarnation.

Being destroyed and burning out of existence.

That was the fate of the world.

No matter how much people struggle, it was merely a fish splashing in a vast ocean.

It was only a pathetic struggle.

-However, I wonder if you are any different.

The Blood Demon didn’t know.

The sequences have already been set, but just like in the past, people will fight back to survive.

It was amusing and disappointing, but that too was fate.

-Will you be the dagger?

A dagger that could stab through the smallest opening.

The Blood Demon was curious.

If such a fragile dagger could stab through it all.

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

I thought about somewhere in the past.

It was right before the Heavenly Demon went to the Murim Alliance, around the time two of the Heavenly Venerable died.

The Celestial Sword was still being called the Young Sword Queen back then, and it was right around time the people of Orthodox Sect finally started to join forces after trying to survive by themselves.

Countless people had been turned into Demonic Humans through the Heavenly Demon’s power, and it was highly unlikely that the Demonic Cult lost due to their military power.

Some masters of the Demonic Cult were also laid to rest by the hands of the Orthodox Sect, but everyone knew.

As long as the Heavenly Demon lived, the Demonic Cult would not fall.

I observed the Murim Alliance’s military from afar.

Each and every one of them were elite martial artists, but the Heavenly Demon remained calm despite their presence..

-Captain.

At the sound of Heavenly Demon’s voice, I raised my head.

-…Yes.

-Do you want an answer?

The Heavenly Demon asked if I wanted the answer to my question.

I nodded in response.

I wondered if I could dare ask the Heaven a question, but at that moment, I felt capable.

Therefore, I asked.

-You asked why I desire the world, correct?

Where the Heavenly Demon came from.

What kind of existence it was.

What it desired.

I wasn’t curious about any of that.

It was far too late for me to be curious about such things, after all.

Even so…

I wanted to know one thing.

-What do you think the reason is?

-…I’m afraid I don’t know.

Why the Heavenly Demon wanted to sweep the Central Plains and stand over the sky.

What its goal was in taking countless lives.

I wanted to know.

The Heavenly Demon smiled in response.

-Captain, you seem to have an ulterior motive for asking this question.

-…

I fell silent after hearing the Heavenly Demon.

-Are you afraid?

The Heavenly Demon’s gaze fixed on me.

-Are you afraid that my fingertips will reach the girl you can't stop thinking about?

I started to imagine.

The girl bleeding out, dying at the Heavenly Demon’s hands.

The girl that would look at me resentfully.

Was I afraid of that?

-…

I couldn’t deny it.

I also couldn’t fully admit it either, but I also knew that my emotions were currently growing right now.

The Heavenly Demon’s violet pupils aimed towards my direction.

I wanted to lower my head, but I couldn’t.

The Heavenly Demon wouldn’t allow it.

-I thought that your heart had frozen like ice.

The Heavenly Demon’s fingers reached out,lifting my chin up.

-The Captain is the same as ever. Not a single thing has dried from you.

-I’m so…

-I will not be accepting your apology, for you have done nothing wrong.

The Heavenly Demon turned away without hesitation after speaking.

The Heavenly Demon’s outfit waved and Demonic Qi began to surge,

I wondered if a human could truly attain such power.

-Reason huh.

I listened closely to the Heavenly Demon’s words.

As I watched the Murim Alliance army charge, I observed the Heavenly Demon.

-I’m not sure.

The Heavenly Demon slightly lifted its hand, and Qi began to gather.

The Qi that gathered in its hand, that was definitely calamity.

A calamity that would end a whole army in an instant.

The black orb, seemingly containing all the world's evil, paradoxically appeared more faithful than anything else.

Was it because I was a Demonic Human?

Or was it perhaps because the Heavenly Demon’s power was that glorious?

I didn’t know.

As the space around me began to distort, with wind mixing with Demonic Qi, the Heavenly Demon spoke to me.

-It’s just my role.

The Heavenly Demon moved lightly towards the charging army, appearing to smile at that moment.

With that scene fading, I opened my eyes.

“…Oh.”

I sighed and looked around.

The ceiling was unfamiliar, but far more welcoming than the dream.

“What a shitty dream that was.”

As usual, my dream had turned into a nightmare, and this time was no exception.

This is why I don’t like falling asleep.

“Sigh.”

I wrapped my head with my hands and got up.

Instead of just a headache, it felt like my whole body was aching in pain.

My dantian hurt especially, and it was because of the empty feeling I had and the pain that resulted from its emptiness.

I’m fucked.

It was so bad that I couldn’t afford to do any training that involved me using Qi.

I let out a hollow laugh and mumbled to myself.

“…Who am I to blame, I’m the one at fault.”

Tsk.

I stepped outside, my body exhausted, clicking my tongue in frustration.

I didn’t know what time it was right now, but I couldn’t afford to stay in my room.

Besides, I couldn't afford to stay put, especially since I wasn't in the Gu Clan.

When I went outside, I felt the calm breeze of morning.

I noticed someone standing by my door as the wind blew.

I wondered if it was Hongwa, but it definitely wasn’t her.

Seeing who it was, I frowned and spoke.

“So you’re fine huh?”

Hearing my voice, the bastard turned around.

“…”

It was Namgung Cheonjun from last night, and his injuries seemed mostly healed.

His bone in his chest had been glued back and his twisted arm had returned to normal.

The only injury left was his finger, burnt after I had pulled out his fingernail.

Moreover, his gaze was quite different from yesterday.

His eyes, once filled with madness and evil intent, now held only perplexity and doubt.

I assume there is also a little bit of fear in there.

Which is fair.

I knew why the bastard was acting in such a way.

I had absorbed all the Blood Qi that flowed inside Namgung Cheonjun.

Judging by the amount, he had received an insane amount.

I didn’t know why Namgung Cheonjun was granted so much power.

I just have to hear it from him.

I should at least be able to hear everything he knew.

As I thought this, I observed Namgung Cheonjun's body closely.

It was more accurate to say that I was checking the Demonic Qi inside his body, rather than Namgung Cheonjun himself.

…It’s clear. Way too clear.

The Demonic Qi inside Namgung Cheonjun’s body was clear, and I saw that it was smearing into his body as if it had a will of its own.

I put it in there as a replacement of the Blood Qi, but it was problematic how it was becoming one with Namgung Cheonjun’s body.

The Demonic Qi being smeared into his body meant that Namgung Cheonjun was slowly turning into a Demonic Human.

Furthermore.

I was responsible for this, from last night.

I remembered when I mentioned my Demonic Qi evolving with my level.

I said that I might even be able to turn other people into Demonic Humans at this rate.

It was power exclusive to the Heavenly Demon, and I believed only it could use such a power.

I may have laughed it off back then, believing it impossible, but I was scared inside.

I already knew.

I knew instinctively that I was capable of doing such a thing if I wanted to.

I knew I was capable without needing to try, as if someone had told me.

Even so, I prayed I was wrong.

But this confirms it.

I had no choice but to accept the reality before me.

Namgung Cheonjun was turning into a Demonic Human because of my Demonic Qi, and he would soon soon be fully transformed.

“How did this…!”

“Kneel.”

Thud…!

“…!”

Unable to resist, Namgung Cheonjun's knees hit the floor.

“Fuck.”

After seeing that, I let out an incredulous laughter along with a curse word.

The Demonic Qi within Namgung Cheonjun made him obey my command.

My words were basically his command.

Isn’t this a terrifying power?

“This… is… This is…”

Namgung Cheonjun looked up at me, his face filled with fear.

He didn’t seem to understand what was happening to his body right now.

“Just… what are you?”

The bastard asked me.

What was I?

In response to his question, I gave a bitter smile.

“I know, I’m curious too, about what I am.”

I didn’t know myself at this point.

No, I just wanted to ignore it.

But this time, I couldn't afford for my prediction to be correct.

***