757 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 757: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive** "We must find a solution immediately." In the midst of the ongoing attack, a complicated conversation was taking place within the pavilion. They were still surrounded by a barrier that no one had managed to penetrate, leaving all in a state of frustration. Yet, they couldn't sit idly by. Determined to break through this situation, they were brainstorming a plan. "Ubongchwigye, have you discovered anything?" Muogum, the head of the Tabek faction, addressed Ubongchwigye, who had been scrutinizing the barrier for some time. He hoped that perhaps Ubongchwigye had identified a weakness. "I have found something." "What?" "Truly?" Expressions of relief immediately spread across their faces at Ubongchwigye’s words. Indeed, there was a glimmer of hope, albeit momentarily. "I found something, but..." Ubongchwigye continued with a troubled look. "Unfortunately, as I've mentioned before, I'm not an expert in this area... it seems it'll take quite a bit of time." "Nonetheless, having a method is fortunate. How long might it take?" A half a day, perhaps? That’s what everyone thought. "...Two days." "Pardon?" "Wha... what did you say?" The time that escaped from Ubongchwigye's lips was far longer than they anticipated. Two days? Two days? What absurdity was this? They all looked at Ubongchwigye with puzzled expressions. "I did warn you of my uncertainty, didn't I? Can't you see properly? Your glares could kill at this rate." The elderly man shouted, his face scrunched in frustration. "The rules linking this barrier are incredibly intricate. It resembles an enchantment, and a wrong move could cost us everything." Being at the pinnacle of information gathering, Ubongchwigye possessed some knowledge about enchantments. Fortunately, the barrier before them was of a nature that could be unraveled if one had even a tad bit of knowledge. But. "It's as complicated as it is." It was akin to a tangled skein of yarn. So intricately bound and knotted that attempting to untangle it seemed a distant dream. "*Sigh.*" Unless one was well-versed in enchantments, which Ubongchwigye was not, it was beyond his limited comprehension. "Two days... Two days is far too long. Can't we find an alternative?" The situation was urgent. They had no idea of the chaos unfolding outside, and their current position wasn’t safe either; thus, finding an escape route was imperative. "Even if the barrier absorbs our energy, it must have a limit, correct? Let's at least start attacking it." "That's too dangerous of an idea. What if the barrier changes and the stored energy explodes?" "Lord Cheol, what you're suggesting is outrageous! Where in the world is there such a technique...!" "This barrier, is it something known to you? Enough with this recklessness. We must speak wisely—" "What? Reckless? You dare—!" The conversation began heating up, disagreements causing tension to rise. The situation was primed for conflict, as emotions ran high with the tension filling the barrier. Just then. "Silence!" "...!" A harsh roar swept over the surroundings. Everyone's eyes widened. The speaker was unexpectedly the Sword Emperor, who had been silent until now. His fierce energy quickly suppressed the tension. Once the atmosphere calmed, the Sword Emperor closed his eyes once more, and the sword master, who had been waiting, spoke up. "Patriarch, please begin your attempt." "You mean to dismantle the enchantment?" The sword master's request caused a stir among those gathered. "But my lord, the patriarch said it would take two days..." “Is there another option at present?” "..." The speaker flinched. The point was undeniable, and the sword master’s frigid gaze was compelling. "Even as we seek solutions, we must try something. Whether it takes two or three days, we must make a start." "…Indeed, you're right." Let’s act and think simultaneously. Nods of agreement followed those words. “...I ask for your assistance.” "..." Observing the situation, the leader turned to Ubongchwigye. He, too, nodded in agreement. "I remind you, I cannot guarantee any outcome." The burden was considerable. Though he lamented having to take action, he had no choice. Ubongchwigye sighed deeply and reached out his hand to the barrier. But. Snap. Suddenly, Ubongchwigye's hand froze just before the barrier. He was so close to touching it, yet could not move. It was the same for everyone else. All rigid, they turned their heads. Their gazes converged on a point in the middle of Hanam, somewhat distant from their location. Nothing was visible, yet everyone present sensed it. “...Something’s...” “This is...!” Something was approaching. Thump—thump—! Their hearts began to race wildly, instincts signaling the approach of danger. Sharpened vigilance pricked at their senses, heightening the tension in the room. Thud—! A colossal beam of light exploded from a sigil in the sky, crashing to the earth with fierce intensity. The spectacle was so overwhelming that despite the considerable distance, it was plainly visible from here. “What the devil is that?!” “What on earth is happening...?!” It was unknown, but one thing was clear. “We must leave this place immediately.” The certainty that they had to leave now, either toward that phenomenon or away from it. Staying here was not an option. These thoughts simultaneously filled everyone's minds. "Damn it...!" **"We must do something... Anything...!"** As everyone was rushing around in a panic, trying to find a solution, someone shouted. "Wait a moment!" One person pointed beyond the barrier with urgency. Only a few noticed, as most were captivated by the pillar of light. “What’s that?” “Isn’t that...” The reaction was one of disbelief. It was only natural; someone was staggering toward them from beneath the barrier, and their state was far from normal. They were crawling, stumbling forward with great difficulty. Behind them, a trail of blood marked their path, yet they moved silently, undeterred by pain. The real issue was— “Why... How could it be?” Nearly everyone recognized the approaching figure. It was an elderly woman with aged features and snow-white hair; she was the master of Mang’s entire enchantments. The Grand Matron of the Wind Dragon Squad, Bimapa, a master of enchantments, was approaching the barrier in complete disarray. --- The descending column of light was a spectacle in itself. Never had such an immense amount of light been seen, nor could anyone's energy, no matter the strength, produce such overwhelming might. It was a fantastic and yet terrifying sight. “What on earth is that?” “Run...! Everybody, run!” An impossible scenario was unfolding. Realizing this, several people began fleeing in haste. Most were civilians, but there were martial artists among them. After all, in the face of such a phenomenon, it mattered little who was a warrior and who wasn't. Perhaps, in the past, I might have fled in fear myself. ‘The direction they’re heading in is fine, no need to intervene.’ They were fleeing wisely, so there was no need to worry. At this moment, more pressing matters were at hand. With narrowed eyes, I focused on the pillar. ‘...It's unusual.’ Unquestionably unique. The enormity of light pouring from the sigil, and yet— ‘The light is falling on the ground with almost no damage visible.’ Despite its ferocity, the surroundings showed no signs of cracks or debris. How could this be? Was it hindered from penetrating further? That didn’t seem to be the case. ‘Its path is perfectly linear.’ It was apparent, even without seeing it, that the pressure of it striking the ground was immense. Could it be boring cleanly into the ground? But that didn’t seem right either. ‘...Hmm.’ I was at a loss. The flow of that energy remained a mystery, even with insight. The only thing I could discern was— ‘It’s dangerous.’ There was an unmistakable sense of danger in that light. Just watching it made my instincts flare up. Like the others who fled, I shared their sentiment. My entire body screamed to flee. That if I didn’t, things would turn dire. Yet,— ‘Where exactly could I flee at this point?’ Running now didn’t make sense. The mess we were in was immense and unresolved; running wasn’t an option without dealing with it first. And more importantly,— ‘If I can’t glean what I need here, there’s no future action I can take.’ This was the crux of the plan. While other elements could be amended or revised,— It was imperative to achieve this task. It was central to everything. "...Lord..." A voice called from my side, drawing my attention away. It was one of the warriors from the Hwangbo sect. “We received a message. Lady Nahi has completed her preparations.” I nodded. ‘Good.’ Fortunately, things were proceeding smoothly on that end as well. As I confirmed affairs, the warrior added another detail. “And... reports have come in about the Wind Dragon Matron's movements near the pavilion... This is...” “Leave it alone. It doesn’t concern us, so ensure no one gets involved.” “Understood.” The Wind Dragon Matron was finally stirring. Taking stock of the unfolding events, I steadied my breathing. The situation, it seemed, wasn’t straying significantly from the plan. If anything, it was favorably unfolding. However,— ‘Where is that damned King of Rock?’ What might that scoundrel be up to? By now, he should have made his appearance, but Dangdeok was nowhere in sight. ‘Tsk.’ Was it an oversight not to give more precise instructions? That was a slight problem. ‘It should be... fine.’ Nothing major should go awry with this much forewarning. I had no choice but to trust in that. Expanding my senses,— Huuuk—! To determine if there were others nearby. As my sensing widened, I caught a few presences. ‘They’re not civilians. Predominantly martial artists.’ In my urgency, I couldn’t estimate their numbers precisely, but they were approaching in significant figures. They seemed to have taken notice of the column’s presence. While scanning their presence, I searched to see if the one I was waiting for was among them. ‘...Not yet, it seems.’ Unfortunately, the person I awaited wasn’t present. ‘Tsk.’ Why was she late? Not a single thing seemed to align as hoped. ‘I ought to replace them.’ There's no use for a piece on the chessboard that doesn’t heed commands. I had to keep making strategic moves. “Phew.” I exhaled, running my hand through my hair. The tension was palpable. With emotions fraught, my muscles would stiffen and an uncomfortable sensation would seep into them. I swung my hand. Slaaap—!! “My lord!?” The person beside me jolted in shock. I had slapped my own cheek with all my might. Blood trickled from my split lip, and my cheek began to swell slightly. Just the right amount. Spitting the blood out, I stretched my limbs. “There.” This was the best method for alleviating nerves. If there was a mistake, it was that I swung hard enough to make my tooth feel loose. Utilizing the shock to loosen my body, I retrieved a fortune pouch from my belongings. From it, I drew a singular elixir and swallowed it. An elixir of the highest potency—Dokchun Dan. Ssssss---!!! Immediately, the elixir's energy coursed into my heart. My reserves, depleted by the earlier chaos, swiftly replenished. Though ridiculous, utilizing Dokchun Dan—a highly regarded elixir in Central Plains—as mere replenishment— It was absurd even to me, but there was no alternative. This was the swiftest method available. "Alright." Clenching and opening his fist a few times, he confirmed the potion's remarkable effectiveness. Thanks to it, he managed to recover a significant portion of his lost energy. Such an extravagant indulgence without parallel. As he carefully regulated his energy levels— "L-Lord!" A strong voice echoed from afar. Someone had finally arrived. Turning with a furrowed brow, he spotted the individual he had been waiting for: Bongsoon, her short black hair bouncing as she came wielding a staff. “The damn fool. I distinctly told her to come straight—” He was about to vent his annoyance when— "Sorry!! But this sister insisted on coming along, so I was a bit late!" Bongsoon approached with a cheerful smile. She was the person he had been anticipating, yet his gaze shifted past her to the figure trailing behind. “You...” “...Hello.” With a gentle wave, there she was—the woman with silvery-blue hair, inexplicably clad in his martial robe. In the past, her presence might have been a mystery, but now she was someone intrinsically tied to his life. He widened his eyes at the absurdity of the situation. This was no place for her to be. He could have sworn he had explicitly instructed her to remain out of sight. “Why on earth are you here—” Before he could voice his frustration— Thunk—! “…!” He couldn’t even manage to say it. His head snapped back. The place where the column had been striking—it was glaringly absent of its fierce energy. “Damn.” The realization furrowed his brow. The previously overwhelming energy had vanished, leaving no trace, and the ground where he expected a deep crater was, instead, perfectly unscathed. So just where had all that light gone? If it hadn’t penetrated the ground, where could such vast energy have dispersed to? His question was soon answered. Something was emerging on the pristine ground. Narrowing his eyes to focus, he discerned it more clearly. “That’s…” A white mass. A mysterious, white mass stood there. Its size was comparable to an adult male, shaped somewhat like an egg. What in the world was it? Could this be the dragon sealed in Hanam that Piltuma had mentioned? That seemed unlikely given its diminutive size. Amidst these musings— Sssss... The mass began to change. “Thread…?” Thin, delicate threads began to emanate from the object, slowly forming and weaving into a shape far grander than the mass itself. What was going to happen if left alone? Such was the question bubbling among the onlookers as they watched, until— Whoosh—!!! Bang! Kuaaaa—!!! Before anyone could think, a strike landed upon the mass, triggering a fiery explosion—only the beginning of the ordeal. Whoosh—! Whooooosh—!!! Not content with a single blow, flashes erupted repeatedly. Fwwoooosh! Kuaaaa—!!! The successive explosions were powerful enough to alter the surrounding temperature, leaving everyone around momentarily stunned, their eyes turning towards him. “…What?” Why were they all looking at him like that? Seeing their expressions, he immediately yelled out. “Are you serious? You can clearly see that thing transforming, and you just stand there gawking? Have you lost your minds?!” Some might call it romantic, to do so for the sake of watching a wonder unfold. To hell with romance. Sticking around to admire that thing could cost you your life.