756 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Greatest Genius' Childhood Friend Chapter 756: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive Room "Dodge!" Boom! "Aaaaah!" The once-beautiful streets of Hanam. Renowned for being the most developed area of the central plains, it was bustling both day and night without a care. However, Hanam was in chaos as buildings crumbled and streets were left in disarray due to a sudden attack. The marketplaces that used to line the streets had long vanished into rubble. The guilds and inns built in the heart of Hanam were now getting destroyed under the onslaught. "Destroy it!" "Push them back! Don't hesitate!" People dressed in black, indiscriminate of buildings or lives, were wreaking destruction. Where had they come from? Why was the sky like that, and why were these people caught in such a crisis? People questioned but found no answers. Such is the nature of calamities. "Daddy..." "Shh!" A young daughter whimpered in her father’s arms. He held her tighter, fearing their breathing might give them away. They hid behind a collapsed wall, trying not to make a sound. "Hoo... Huuh..." The terrified child's breathing hitched. Her father, drenched in sweat, cautiously glanced back. The figures in black scanned the area. Were they checking if any survivors remained? "Please..." Seeing this, the father shut his eyes tightly. At this rate, they might get discovered. They had to survive. Even if not him, at least his daughter must live. As he held onto that thought... Crunch. "...!" A sound came from behind the wall. "Dear God." His body trembled. If this continued, they’d be found soon. Should he escape with his daughter now? But would they succeed if they attempted to flee? The attackers were martial artists; they could easily catch up to his slow pace. Pleading for mercy might be his daughter’s only chance. As his internal conflict deepened... Step. The approaching footsteps became more pronounced. "..." With trembling hands, the only thing the father could do was pray. Pray that someone would come to their rescue. He had reassured his daughter when this first began. Not to worry, for the Martial Alliance protects this land, so they would be safe. That’s what he had said. "When..." When would someone come? "Save us!" Screams echoed everywhere. What were the Alliance doing? Just as the father was nearly blinded by fear... "I found them...! They must be here!" A hopeful voice sounded from afar. Figures in light-blue uniform appeared in the vicinity. That uniform signified the Martial Alliance of Hanam. The Alliance members were pulling someone from beneath a collapsed building. It seemed to be the owner of the inn. They weren’t far off. "Please...!" Let them be discovered. Let them be rescued. The father fervently hoped. "...!" Their eyes met. He locked eyes with the Martial Alliance warriors supporting the elderly man. They were saved. That was his immediate thought. Now that the Martial Alliance was here, they would save them—would save his daughter. Holding on to that belief, he imagined a miracle. "Uh...?" Yet, soon, his hope turned to despair. He believed they would save them. He trusted the Martial Alliance warriors. "...Why...?" Despite making eye contact, they pretended not to see him. Preoccupied with attending to the rescued old man, they didn’t cast a glance in their direction. They had clearly looked at him. It was the very rescue he so desperately wished for; why was the Alliance forsaking them? "Why...?" Despair spread like a mire. Deepening further, squeezing his throat. But. "Please save us!!" He could not despair; he had a daughter. Had they not heard? Was the eye contact a mere illusion? He knew it wasn’t. There was no time to dwell. "Please! Save us...!!" The father cried out desperately. His cry drew movement from behind. The attackers had noticed him. "At least... at least spare my young daughter…! Please, a great deed!" With desperation, he shouted. Even if he were stabbed from behind right now, all he wanted was his daughter's safety. That was the plea he screamed, but... "Damn it..." The Alliance warriors looked troubled, glancing between the elderly man they supported and the father. "Deputy Leader..." His cries seemed to put them in a dilemma. Even so, as long as they noticed, it didn’t matter. The father hoped so. “This terrain isn't suitable for battle. Prioritize escorting the innkeeper first.” “But...!” “It's an order.” “...” The Alliance members shared a brief conversation and started to move quickly. "Hero...? Hero!!" The father screamed in despair. Were they truly abandoning him? Why would the Martial Alliance forsake them? It was unbelievable. It was more of a nightmare. He was engulfed in despair at the scene. At that moment. "Ha ha." A sneering voice came from behind. He jerked his head around to see the attackers approaching him. "Seems you've been abandoned." The voice made him clutch his daughter tighter. He thought to run now, but his legs were weak with fear and wouldn’t move. “My... my daughter is very... young. So... please...” His voice shook violently as he spoke. The assailant's gaze fell on his daughter. For a moment, longing softened the attacker’s eyes. “Yes, my daughter was just her age.” Could they truly empathize? For a fleeting second, the thought crossed his mind. “She was killed by the orthodox sects at that age.” The longing soon turned to resentment. “She was precious and lovely. I still remember her chirping words.” The voice was thick with malice. The grudges ran so deep it felt suffocating to listen. "Did you trust the Martial Alliance?" The man's face twisted like a demon. Only then did it become apparent that one side of the assailant's face was marred, as if burnt by branding. "If so, that will be the reason you die." "P-please... please! I'm ready to die. I'll do anything...! Just spare my daughter...!" "Aahhh...!!" Death loomed closer. The assailant raised his sword high, showing no sign of mercy. "Eek!" The father squeezed his eyes shut, shielding his daughter with his body. Then. Whoosh--!! Suddenly, there was a bright flash. Boom--!! For a moment, the closed eyelids were illuminated. Instead of the anticipated pain, there was an unexpected warmth. Could this be the feeling of death? Was this the sensation one felt upon dying? Overcome with anxiety, the father cautiously opened his eyes. "Gasp!" At the sight, he couldn't help but gasp in disbelief. Crackle! Crackle! Flames roared around him. Blue, seething flames. The vivid fire enveloped him as if protecting him. "Wh-what is this...?" What on earth was happening? Just as the father was utterly bewildered. "Dad, it's warm." "What? Hey! Hye-yeon!" He quickly pulled his daughter close. His child was casually playing with the flames. But. 'What?' Something felt off. The flames brushed against their body, and as his daughter said, it truly wasn't hot. What was going on? And also. '...What about the assailant...?' What had happened to the attacker? As if in response to his questions... "Hey, don’t touch it like that." A voice came from beyond the flames. "You'll end up peeling your skin off." Whoosh--! The flames that had surrounded them dissipated. The hidden scene gradually came into view. "...!!" The father caught his breath sharply. Though damaged previously, it was now charred black. Blue embers still smoldered here and there, and the walls seemed to sizzle as if melting. And the once-threatening assailant was now... "Dad?" Hearing his daughter's voice, he instinctively moved his hand. Too gruesome a sight for her to witness. As he intended to cover her eyes. "I can't see anything anyway. What's happening?" Her eyes were already shielded. The blue fire had momentarily covered them. Seeing this, the father turned his gaze. Likely towards the owner of the flames who had rescued them. "Th-thank you, great... warrior." He stopped mid-sentence. The rescuer was much younger than expected. A figure with black hair and blue eyes. Somewhere between boy and man, barely even of full youth. Would it be generous to say he had lived even half his years? Moreover. '...He seems familiar.' Or rather, his appearance was familiar. If, at his age, he could wield such flames... could he be...? "Is it... the Fire Demon...?" "Hmm." At the mention of the title, Gu Yangcheon furrowed his brow slightly. No matter how often he heard it, it was a nickname he never grew used to. 'Can't be helped.' But he had to get accustomed to it. "Seems you've recognized me, so there's no need for introductions." "Truly... truly, thank you.... Thank you so much... " The father, overwhelmed with emotion, bowed repeatedly. Gu Yangcheon watched with a somewhat vexed expression. "No need for thanks... Just remember it." "Excuse me...? Remember... what exactly...?" "So I can remind you later. Just keep it in mind." "I... I see." Unsure of the meaning, he nodded anyway. Gu Yangcheon chuckled at his reaction and then addressed the daughter huddled in her father's arms. "Hey." The abrupt voice made the child flinch. "Listen to your dad and stay safe." "...Y-yes... Th-thank you." Frightened, her answer wavered, her tongue even stumbling over words. Thankfully, her eyes being covered meant she wasn't crying. It was a bit endearing, and he briefly considered ruffling her hair. 'Tsk.' His hands were still dirty from his earlier efforts. It wouldn't be right to touch her with these hands. Resigned, he concealed his hands and addressed the father. "If you head north, the Hwangbo family will be waiting. Seek protection from them." "The Hwangbo family...?" "Yes. They'll be safer than counting on the Alliance." "..." The father's eyes quivered at that. Ordinarily, he might have argued that the Martial Alliance was more trustworthy. Yet, his mouth remained shut. His eyes were filled with distrust. Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon added more. "Anyway, just head that way." "Uh... great warrior, by any chance..." The father hesitantly began to ask something. "Sorry, but I'm busy." Gu Yangcheon cut him off firmly. The intent was clear. The man seemed to be requesting an escort because of the distance, but that was not possible. "There are still many places that need help." "..." Understanding this, the father stopped trying to say more and deeply bowed his head. "Thank you, great warrior. Thank you truly." "Come on. You should be leaving instead of thanking me." He waved them off carelessly, prompting the father to pick up his daughter and swiftly depart. And so, as their figures faded away. "…" Gu Yangcheon watched them leave, frowning slightly. 'Gratitude.' Hearing thanks only felt burdensome. Though he intended to hear it, he felt unworthy of such words. 'Tsk.' He looked around. Everything was charred black. He had burned too much for any chance of recovery. '...Control is difficult.' It wasn't easy. Fighting with the intention of saving made things complicated. 'It's not like I’ve ever saved anyone before.' He had incinerated everything without remorse. Yet, fighting with the purpose of rescue was a rarity. Because of this, Gu Yangcheon felt troubled. '…Sigh.' It would be easier if he just wiped everything out. Adjusting and moving cautiously was exceedingly difficult. He wanted to quit right then and there. -Thank you. “…” The words that briefly crossed his mind felt strangely soothing. ‘Get a grip.’ Instantly, he cooled his head. ‘Feeling like a real hero, are you?’ Don’t delude yourself. Instead, he reminded himself even more. This situation is one he created, and it’s about cleaning up, not rescuing. Do not think of yourself as a hero. You’re not a hero; you’re merely pretending to be one. Clenching his lips, he moved onward, determined not to forget. Whoosh—! Flames wrapped around him as he floated into the air. Time was pressing, and there was much to be done. He had to move faster. ***************** Crash—!! A building crumbled, debris falling. "Ahhh...!" As those below screamed and ducked instinctively, Whoosh—!!! A massive flame swept through the falling debris. "Eek...!" The sight of the vast flames made everyone flinch, but fortunately, the debris burned away, preventing any casualties. However. Not all was averted. Thud—! More debris fell, but this time the flames didn't intervene. "Huff!" Thump! Large figures emerged, clearing the debris here and there. In yellow uniforms. They were all martial artists from the Hwangbo family. Confirming this, he waved his hand. Whoosh—!!! In response to his command, flames surged upward. The unleashed flames spread rapidly in all directions. The scale was such that it seemed like an ocean of fire. A situation where they could all have been incinerated. But such a tragic event did not occur. "…It’s not… hot." "Mother! Are you alright?" Despite the flames enveloping their surroundings, there were no screams. The azure fire swept past the civilians. And then. "Aaagh!" "Ugh… aaahhh!!" The fire spared the innocents, targeting only those who attacked Hanam and burning them. ‘Two ahead. Three beyond that. One on the upper right.’ His eyes moved swiftly, expanding his senses simultaneously. A cold sweat dripped down. ‘Damn it.’ It was extraordinarily difficult. Distinguishing between people to burn was one thing, controlling fire to selectively target enemies was another. No one had told him how hard it would be. He might be better suited to actual war than this. ‘Hoo.’ He steadied his breath, manipulating the flames. The rapidly released flames headed towards another enemy but now bypassed him. The reason for this was. ‘Blue armband. Confirmed.’ A dark uniform with purple embroidery, but a blue armband on the left arm. An operative from the covert operation squad sent in under orders. The flames avoided him, instead targeting and killing other foes. This happened several times. Only after the flames swept through the area did he lower his hand. "Hu…" Though it seemed brief, it took longer than expected. Anyone could tell from the amount of internal energy expended. As he steadied his breath and bent over in apparent exhaustion... Crack—!! Buildings began to collapse one after another. Too focused on distinguishing people, he hadn’t been able to save the structures. Long-standing buildings now crumbled. The people might have been shocked by this. "…Thank you!!" "Truly, thank you…!" Everyone was too busy expressing gratitude for their saved lives. "There’s no time for this! Evacuate now! We’ll guide you." Before they even calmed down, martial artists from the Hwangbo family began shepherding civilians to safety. "Warrior…! Thank you so much! We will never forget this kindness…!" "Fire Demon Warrior…!" "…" The voices, somewhat bothersome, prompted him to wave dismissively. ‘It’s a conspicuous power, which I disliked. But at times like this, it’s handy.’ The fire techniques were already well-known for their visibility. And having turned blue, they were impossible to ignore. Thanks to that, his efforts to save lives were noticed widely. Perfect for advertising purposes, it seemed. Anyway. He discreetly wiped the sweat and asked, “…Provide a report….” Was he slightly fatigued? Even his voice was mingled with breath. The individual with the blue armband, whom he spared earlier, landed and knelt before him. "The total number of casualties has not been fully identified, but all survivors in this area have been evacuated." A firm, unwavering voice. It made further inquiry easy. "…What about the movements of other factions?" "Twelve from the Huashan Sect, and an uncounted number from the Shaolin have confirmed participation. Additionally, over thirty members from the Alliance are involved in the conflict, with some participation from various families and sects." "…" Hearing the report, he chuckled dryly. ‘When combined, it's optimistically two to three hundred.’ This was the number currently trying to fend off the attack. Though it hadn’t been long since the assault began, was this all they managed to muster? ‘It’s absurd.’ Considering how many martial artists had gathered for the martial contest, less than half were active. ‘Even if they tried to restrict movement.’ The barriers set up at the hall. Those were meant to immobilize the high-ranking experts. They hadn't only prepared those within the hall. Why else did they spend the past days learning about every family gathered in Hanam and their locations? It was to bind some of the stronger factions. That was partly why the numbers were low, but... ‘Even if that wasn’t the case. This is a long-stuck issue bursting open.’ An issue that had been stagnant for a while. There might be numerous causes, but the biggest one was different. ‘The Shenlong Hall attack.’ The incident where the Black Dragon Sword appeared and unleashed a bloody storm. That was likely the problem. With so many late-stage disciples having died then, a significant portion of the future of renowned families and sects was affected. Attempts to resolve it through the coalition of orthodox factions were made, but. ‘It didn’t quell distrust.’ It had already started then. The distrust towards the Martial Alliance's role. No matter how many changes were made or even if the Alliance leader was replaced, it couldn’t be helped. Thus, when such an incident erupted, many chose avoidance over assistance. Someone will step up. I don’t want to suffer for it. Thinking this, they all hesitated or stepped back. The mishandling by the Alliance only compounded the crisis. ‘…It’s truly astonishing.’ Honestly, I thought subduing the attack wouldn’t take long. That was the assumption when we laid out the plan, after all. ‘It's taking twice as long.’ The time required had doubled from the initial estimation. ‘It was touch and go because of that.’ I turned my head to survey the surroundings. Silence. The place once called the heart of Hanam was now eerily quiet. Elsewhere, the attacks might still be ongoing, but at least this patch of earth maintained its peace. Vrrrooom—!! I expanded my senses wide to confirm once more. Fortunately, there were no presences detected. ‘For now, it’s a success.’ Up to this point, all was well. “Whew…” Exhaling a breath, I glanced to the side. “Tell them to proceed with the plan as it doesn’t hinder our operations.” “…Understood.” The assassin who heard my words departed, and I narrowed my eyes as I looked upwards. It was easy to call it night now. So dark it was black. This darkness only made the crimson lines glow even brighter. "..." Confirming this, I gently rolled my neck. Buzz—! The continuous line had reached its endpoint. And that line, as if it had been waiting for the area to clear out completely... Vroom. Now, it touched and connected fully. Seeing this made my eyes narrow naturally. The completed stem resembled some kind of symbol. A gigantic emblem illuminated in the night sky. An alien spectacle. In all my life, I never imagined witnessing such a sight. Yet, more concerning than that bizarre emblem was something else entirely. ‘This is…?’ I knew instinctively. The line faded as it finished, the wind died down quietly, the ground ceased its vibrations, and even the sky stopped moving. That eerie scene served as a portent. A sign that something significant was about to transpire. Just as I braced myself, anticipation mixing with alertness— Woom. The emblem, which had halted its light, began to resonate with sound. ‘It’s coming.’ Kruaaah—!!! A powerful beam of light shot down toward the ground. The crimson pillar that projected forth instantly bore into the earth.