649 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**The Peerless Friend of the Hero - Chapter 649: Returning to the Central Plains** Upon reaching the ninth stage of the Volcano Wheel Art. This was the level I attained in my past life. Creating tidal waves made of flame, flying through the air using heat—such abilities were possible. Yet, there’s a notable difference from then. “It’s far better now.” Physically, in comprehension, and in the amount of energy I wield, my current state is much more refined compared to my past life. *Whoosh—!* I carefully adjusted the flame orb gathered at my fingertip. The finely compressed orb began to change shape. *Rumble.* As it rotated and compressed, friction developed in the energy, causing it to vibrate. I didn’t rush, cautiously adjusting and controlling the energy. *Hisssss.* In mere seconds, it transformed into the shape of a long spear. However— *Sizzle—! Crackle—!!* Trying to maintain its form, the energy couldn’t hold and started to burst. With a slight look of regret, I overlaid it with an image. Only then did the energy calm and stabilize into its shape. This was a modified form of the flame orb that I created: the Flaming Spear. First used merely days ago, its completion is now far better than before. Though it’s not perfect as I still needed to overlay it with an image. Its ease of casting compared to before indicates how much my mastery has grown. Additionally, to put it another way— “A spear like this needs to be mastered fully to be used perfectly.” The difficulty level of the modified form I created was depressingly high. “Damn it. To use it properly, I need complete mastery?” “Ridiculous, of all things to create, why did it have to be this?” The memory lingers faintly. The completed spear held in my father’s hands. Feeling fleetingly deprived, yet simultaneously filled with desire. To be able to create something like that—perhaps it was hopeful, in a way. “Complete mastery…” *Whoosh—!* While retrieving the spear, I pondered. Six years had passed since my return. I had reached the age of maturity, and my life had diverged quite a bit from my previous one. Around this time in my past life, when I was of maturity, I was— “A complete troublemaker.” By then, I was already out of favor with my family, and just about to be promoted to the position of the youngest division leader. It was also the time when I got dragged to a gathering, only to be humiliated. I heard all sorts of things—being called a ruffian from Shanxi, a dog born to a tiger—and ended up getting beaten. Not memories I wanted to recall. “Compared to then…” Now, I have regained the level I once lost and earned a sort of reputation, if not quite fame, which is better than before. “Still, the work doesn’t decrease.” There was too much to do to sit back and enjoy the altered life. “Not that I planned to enjoy such things anyway.” *Tap, tap.* I brushed off the remaining energy from my hands. I was constantly checking my transformed body. This sudden increase in mastery needed to be fully understood. “My energy is doubled. Even compared to my past life, I’m not lagging.” I no longer felt exhausted due to a lack of energy wherever I went. “The physical adjustments might take some getting used to…” The rapid surge in skill caused a slight disharmony in my body. A few days of training should remedy this. The other issue was… “The increased energy is great, but…” The energy itself had increased significantly, but there was a slight problem. The problem was: “The cold energy hasn’t fully melted away yet.” The cold energy, converted into my system, hadn't been completely turned into heat yet. “There was just too much of it to dissolve all at once.” It was colds condensed over hundreds of years, too much to purify in an instant. Ultimately, I had to rely on time for the Volcano Wheel Art to completely melt it away. “The bright side is…” With a swift motion, I brought my palms together. Then— *Clink, clink—!!* Cold energy gathered at my fingertips, forming a small ice crystal. Watching it, a wry smile formed on my lips. “I never thought I’d be able to use cold energy.” This change occurred as the icy energy was absorbed into my system. Being attuned to fire, cold energy didn’t seem particularly useful. Yet having such contrasting energies coexist gave me a strange feeling. How was it possible? It’s a bit late to ponder such questions. “I can’t even understand my own body.” Perhaps, it’s simply one more energy added to the many I already had. “Even if the cold melts completely into heat, could I still use cold energy?” It wouldn’t be an issue if I couldn’t use it anymore. It was sheer curiosity. “I doubt it’s powerful enough to use in battle.” Certainly not in the way the Ice Palace clan used it. “Perhaps just enough to cool a drink.” Upon reflection, it seems truly useless. To think it could only be used to chill water… It’s not nearly enough for combat. Especially, replicating a set of armor like Yuseon wore would be impossible. “Yuseon, huh.” The troubling lady of the palace came into my mind as I recalled the last aspect I needed to verify. I had extracted two powers from the Nautilus. One pertained to regeneration, which I transferred to Woo-hyuk, so I moved on. There was one power I hadn’t yet passed along. With a simple gesture, I raised my hand as I did earlier. I visualized a small gem in my mind. A hexagonal gem with a blue hue. Approximately the size of a thumb. Desiring it desperately. Longing for it deeply. At that moment— *Hum.* A small vibration arose within me. *Sssssss.* The imagined gem appeared in my palm. Grasping it lightly, I felt its texture. It was cold and hard to the touch, appearing so real it could fool anyone into believing it was genuine. “Phew.” As I exhaled and relaxed my grip— *Ssshhh—* The gem turned to vapor, disappearing like a lie. Watching the dissipating energy, I nodded slowly. "The duration I can maintain it is at most a few minutes." Keeping it small like this allows for a few minutes, but making it larger or more intricate would shorten the time. "How troublesome." Each of the powers I've seized has proven to be equally cumbersome. The gem I just conjured was an illusion created using that power. You could call it an illusion or a lie. To me, it was a lie that came very close to the truth. Besides sight, it even solidified sensations like touch and smell. This applied to the spaces Yuseon crafted. And all those moments I was ensnared by her. Desire. Wish and long for it with all your heart. Then, it shall manifest. This was the name and method of using the power. "So simple." I only need to wish for it. Could anything be easier? Being able to create something strikingly tangible made it more useful than the cold energy. "Yet, like regeneration, this too suffers from inefficiency." When I acquired it through Tama, regeneration didn't perform to its full potential. And the same went for the power of desire. "Does taking a power through Tama really diminish its efficiency?" I consume and seize the dragon's powers. That's the precise part I understand about Tama, but I need to question it a bit. Perhaps— "It's not that the stolen power weakens." Maybe it's simply that the powers don't suit me. That's the kind of doubt I harbor. You can understand this by contemplating the fundamental nature of powers. My power is greed (貪). I am inherently greedy and detest losing. This power suits my nature perfectly. Because I don't want to lose, I take what I can. Could there be anything more fitting? "Perhaps desire and regeneration are the same in that regard." Could it be the efficiency was displayed because those suited the one called Mang? This doubt arose. "It almost seems likely." Such skepticism began when I transferred regeneration to Woo-hyuk. Indeed, the regenerative power increased his recovery rate, but— The moment I passed it to Woo-hyuk, his body began healing rapidly. That part seemed peculiar. "If it's about reduced efficiency, shouldn’t passing it on also result in poorer performance? It's baffling." So I flipped the hypothesis. Instead of the power declining because I snatched it— "It simply wasn't suited to me." To begin with, it wasn't compatible. The confusing part is— "What determines the suitability?" If it's just about one's nature, there's no reason I wouldn't be suited to regeneration. "I need it more than anyone." With regeneration well-suited to me, I could fight with arms torn and chests pierced. But I couldn't, and that's regrettable. There must be some other reason, but I couldn't grasp it. *Growl.* A low growl echoed. At this sound, I turned my gaze. "Whew." A large head had approached unnoticed—it was Doldol. *Drip.* Something dripped onto the ground. Blood. Blood dripped from the creature Doldol had in its mouth. A beast with red fur resembling a wolf. Doldol had a red beast clamped in its jaws as it came toward me. Given that a red beast is usually about the size of a dwelling, one could deduce how gigantic Doldol had grown to be carrying one in its mouth. "Sigh..." I sighed slightly while swinging my hand carelessly. *Smack—!!* *Growl—!!* Doldol flinched when its head was smacked. "Why the hell have you grown so large again? I told you to grow moderately." *Growl...* "Don't act all indignant. As if feeding you wasn't costly enough, you just look like you'll eat even more now." *Growl.* "You claim to find your own food? With that size, you can roam freely, huh?" *Growl...* "You should have taken care of it, huh? Look at that attitude. You haven't been scolded enough lately..." *Growl-!* As I reached to grab its fur, Doldol dashed away quickly. *Vwoosh—!!* Its large body soared into the air, stirring up dust and creating a gust of wind. Watching this, I frowned and said, "Are you not coming down?" *Growl.* "Alright, I promise not to hit you, just come down." *Growl.* "Why speak if you won't believe me? Aren't you coming?" As I pretended to get angry, Doldol sped up and flew off into the distance. For such a massive size, its speed was annoyingly quick. "Ha." I let out a frustrated breath at its retreating form. Its bulk had doubled since we last came to the North Sea. I wondered what might have happened when I wasn't looking. "There's no need to say; it's because of me." One could tell just by looking. Its size and appearance changed as my energy grew. "The creature is linked to me." Whenever I gained mastery or increased my energy, Doldol transformed. "It became fiercer and more formidable in appearance." Its countenance turned more fearsome, evolving into a look that could intimidate just by sight. "As my energy grows, so does its size." Perhaps surpassing my past life's capabilities caused Doldol to become overwhelmingly large. The amusing part is— "It could shrink too if it wanted...!" Doldol, like me, could use the Art of Morphing, so it could expand or contract at will. But it seemed to enjoy its enlarged state and deliberately moved around like that. "Oh..." Who could it possibly be taking after with such behavior? Shaking my head as I watched Doldol disappear, I thought. "A beast that grows in link with me." Initially, it was birthed from the spirit stone of a red beast, nourished by my energy. It had changed remarkably this way. Reflecting on this, I thought of Mang. "Mang’s true form was also beastlike." The white beast called a dragon. That was the true form of Mang that burst forth from the ice crystal. "Do all dragons possess such a true form?" Mang was considered a pure-blooded dragon, as am I. Then do I also have a 'true form' like Mang? "I’ve never distinctly sensed anything like that, but if there is…" As I watched the creature, which seemed to grow in size as I did, soar away, a thought crossed my mind. “...” Could it be that creature? Pushing the thought aside with a shake of my head, I pondered. “Even if there is a true form, it wouldn’t be that creature.” The concept of a true form was peculiar, to begin with. If there is a true form, surely I am the true form and nothing else. It was just an idle thought. *Rustle.* As I decided to clear my mind, I began unwinding the bandages wrapped around my chest and set them ablaze. *Whoosh—!* The bandages burned, emitting a faint foul odor due to the blood soaked into them. “All internal injuries are healed.” Three days since the fierce battle. Despite being stabbed and having fractures, both internal and external wounds healed in just a few days. “My regenerative ability has greatly improved compared to before.” Considering I have been stripped of the power of regeneration, it’s safe to assume that my natural regenerative capability has simply enhanced. “This level…” I could afford to train more intensively now. Even if bones broke and flesh tore, they’d regenerate in days. It was undoubtedly the most satisfying aspect of my recent growth. *Snap.* Upon hearing a familiar presence, I turned around. There stood Seongyul, a striking young man with a pristine martial robe and pale skin. His arm was wrapped in bandages, suggesting his left arm had been fractured during a fight with a creature. “Did I perhaps interrupt?” “No, I was just finishing up. What is it?” “The Lady of the Palace requests to see you.” Nodding at Seongyul’s words, I acknowledged his information. I had intended to look for her anyway.