762 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Greatest Heavenly Friend, Chapter 762 > Northern Rabbit – Web Novel Archive Boom---!!! The thunderous roar from the sky threatened to deafen anyone nearby. Crackle. Rumble. Beyond the swirling dark clouds above, an unknown storm of lightning surged. It was a scene reminiscent of a tempest filled with thunder and fury. Witnessing it, everyone could only hold their breath in silence. Even from a distance, the spectacle was breathtaking. It was not a natural phenomenon; it was a result of one mere human's doing. How could one not be astonished by such a display? This was beyond mere admiration. Boom-!! Boom---!!! The thunder, raging and tumultuous, seemed akin to a giant serpent writhing within the clouds. A vast spectacle from which you couldn't tear your eyes away. While countless people stood in awe, silently observing this scene. [Kiiiii-aaaah!--!!!] A monstrous cry echoed. In that instant. [Graaaah---!!!] From the numerous enchanted gates hovering in the air, monsters began to swarm. They resembled beasts yet possessed features and sizes unlike any ordinary creature. It was as if massive buildings were spilling out from the sky. Each creature was capable of annihilating entire villages, causing even the most seasoned warriors to hold their breath in sheer intimidation. Disaster was descending. These were mature apex predators. To confront even a single one required one to have unparalleled familiarity with monstrosities—these were red-class monsters. And here, dozens of such terrors appeared at once. Should they land here, everything would be reduced to rubble. No matter how valiantly one upheld justice and reason, there were limits. Thus, all the warriors resigned to lay down their lives, yet— Even they had not anticipated this: “Be cautious.” To confront such monstrosities. “It would be best to close your eyes as much as possible to spare them.” It meant calling forth a creature even mightier. Whip. An elderly man in a red martial robe drew a line downwards with his index finger. And then— Boom---!!!! Thump--!!! Lightning began to fall from the sky. [Graaaa!!] [Kiii-!!] A deluge of divine punishment rained down. The overwhelming bolts of lightning struck through the monsters as though piercing them. Even the red-class monsters, boasting formidable defenses, were powerless and fell to their death before the might of the lightning. [Kyaaaaa!!] The wailings of the monsters filled the air. The scent of burnt flesh reached the nostrils, and vibrations ruled the surroundings. Monsters, once driven by a thirst for slaughter, were now meeting their end, one by one. “…Gasp….” I drew a sharp breath, witnessing it all. ‘…Is that person…?’ Was he always this powerful? With merely a flick of his sword, he was annihilating forces potent enough to obliterate entire regions. The Heavenly Honor (天尊). One of the Three Revered Ones of the World, and perhaps the oldest among the current warriors. A living legend of the Namgung family, who in his prime was said to have single-handedly fought thousands of demonic warriors. His power certainly merited the title of one of the Three. His current display was befitting of someone nicknamed the Ruler of Heaven. ‘He wasn’t supposed to be this formidable.’ I couldn't help but feel baffled. Since first hearing from Ilduma about the dragon’s resurrection, this scenario had been a consideration. Amidst structuring and revising plans, this was preparation for unforeseen events. I had anticipated that the strength of white-class monsters would surpass my own and prepared accordingly. ‘Monsters are powerful.’ Unless one truly delves into the realm of heart and mind, not even a scratch could be inflicted on them. Not only were their defenses formidable, but their offensive power was such that facing one alone was a daunting task. Yet, for the plan I had, it was necessary not just to lure but also to hunt the creature, so my chosen method was none other. ‘If I can't kill it, summon someone who can.’ If I couldn’t hunt a white-class monster alone, then the solution was to call upon a being capable of doing so. As soon as I determined a course of action, I sought out the Heavenly Honor. A mighty force I could somehow summon. Of course, I had to leverage the situation and swallow my pride to every imaginable extent, but ultimately, the figure that arrived was this old man. For some particular reason, he was staying at the Gu family estate following my father's incident with the Tang family and had even volunteered to guard the gate, claiming he needed to earn his keep. Thanks to that, I experienced an odd situation with the Sword Honor tending to household tasks, the Heavenly Honor guarding the house, and the Conqueror Martial Master training me. In any case. ‘…Success in summoning him, nevertheless.’ Whatever the method, the Heavenly Honor had heeded my call and come to Hanam about half a month earlier, hence his powerful exploits here. ‘How is he so potent?’ I was astounded by the Heavenly Honor's might. It was a given that he was powerful. How else would he be one of the Revered Three? Even in my past life, after a brief clash or two, I understood his might and aimed to avoid direct conflict. He is stronger than me—even now, with my enhanced state over lifetimes. The strength was to be expected. ‘…But this is beyond expectations.’ The power demonstrated by the Heavenly Honor far surpassed my estimations. With a mere wave of his hand, red-class monsters were swept away. This also happened in my past life. When red-class monsters first appeared, the Heavenly Honor not only hunted them first but unveiled their weaknesses. There were two methods to tackle a red-class monster. Find the minute gap between the constantly regenerating layers and strike there. This method, in this life, I had anonymously disseminated using the Open Sect, reducing the red-class monster threat considerably. The second method. ‘Unleash enough inner energy that the barrier cannot withstand it.’ The protective barrier of the red-class monsters. When this barrier absorbed energy exceeding a certain threshold, it would break. Theoretically, the second approach seemed simpler. But the "certain quantity" of energy needed was overwhelmingly vast, leading the majority to resort to the first method. Yet. ‘…He's just unleashing it anyhow?’ Observing the Heavenly Honor's method, I was left speechless. Boom--!!! [Kueee-!!] A single streak of lightning struck down a red-class monster resembling a pig in an instant. It was a pig-type monster known as the Raging Red Pig (赤緋豚). The creature was immune to fire and physical attacks, making it a challenging foe to deal with, and yet, it fell in a single strike of lightning. There was no need to find its weaknesses. The sheer amount of energy within the lightning was enough to penetrate its defenses. This meant there was no need to bother with painstakingly identifying its vulnerabilities. Even now, I sometimes prefer using the second method without searching for weaknesses. ‘To think it can be utilized even in such a situation.’ Handling so many monsters with such a method seemed impossible. The issue wasn’t just the amount of inner energy but the severe exhaustion that came with continuously unleashing such power. ‘The old man has some stamina.’ The Heavenly Honor didn't seem to be concerned about this and continued to unleash lightning strikes. Boom-!! Boom---!! They fell incessantly, offering no respite. [Grrr-!!] Each time they struck, a monster died. I narrowed my eyes at the sight. ‘I should have a larger reserve of inner energy.’ Despite the Heavenly Honor's high state and his long-lived experience, in terms of raw inner energy, I imagined mine to be greater. Yet, how was such a feat possible? I couldn’t comprehend it. ‘What makes the difference?’ It seemed to be a difference in technique. But before delving into that, ‘Is this what it means to be one of the Three Revered Ones?’ I swallowed dryly, acknowledging the overwhelming presence of the Heavenly Honor. Was there something I didn’t grasp in my past life? For some reason, the feeling was distinctly different from back then. He, who is called the Ruler of Thunder and the Sky. I finally understood why, despite being a swordsman himself, he was not referred to as the Sword Honor but as the Heavenly Honor. ‘…Seeing it at this level, it makes much more sense.’ This was probably the first time. Facing one of the Three Revered Ones after reaching the pinnacle myself. The Conqueror Master was someone I’d seen after he’d returned to his youthful form, so it hadn’t been significant... But seeing the Heavenly Honor confirmed it. ‘A wall.’ This was a wall. A towering barrier that I had yet to climb. Even the Sword Emperor regarded as one of the top ten masters, simply seemed stronger than me. The Heavenly Honor truly appeared to be a wall. One I was not yet capable of scaling. Yet, one I must rise over one day. Such a barrier stood before my eyes. “…Ugh….” Staggering, I lifted myself. Even a slight movement sent a painful sensation through my joints. ‘Ah… This is bad.’ Judging by the pain, I’d be enduring this for a couple of months. Especially the internal injuries were particularly painful. So much so that I had to halt the flow of my martial art technique mind work. Despite it being a habit to let it flow, I almost fainted from the pain earlier. “Phew… phew….” I managed to breathe and took in my surroundings. People’s reactions were clear. ‘These folks... I told them to keep their eyes closed.’ Despite the Heavenly Honor’s warnings, they were wide-eyed and agape. With lightning flashing so vividly, didn't it hurt their eyes? “…That… person… surely not.” “Heavenly… Heavenly Honor…?” “How could it be that the Heavenly Honor….” Even with a red martial robe obscuring his face, his identity was unmistakable. They knew, too. That only one person in the world could command such lightning from the heavens. Craaack--!!! Before I'd even finished thinking, more lightning fell upon the monsters. A monster, charred crisp by the lightning, dropped dead. “...” And with that, it came to an end. Over thirty monsters, each a force that could have utterly razed Hanam if unchecked, were completely vanquished by the touch of a lone elder. All that remained were the bodies of these monsters and the smell of their burning flesh. In the center of it all, the elderly man turned without a care and began walking toward us. Though he held a sword, he hadn’t swung it. His involvement had been nothing more than repeated gestures of his hand. Yet, that alone had caused this destruction. ‘Heavenly Honor.’ Cold sweat trickled down. ‘He’s this strong.’ The presence he exerted, even in those fleeting moments, was astonishing. If he was this formidable, how had I not realized it in my past life? Had I not seen properly and thus failed to recognize it? ‘It doesn’t seem like something that could be overlooked, even if not seen firsthand.’ His abilities were more specialized for the era of war than anyone else's. His primary weapon, the sword, hadn't even been utilized; properly engaged, his display would be even more overwhelming. It wasn’t a matter of not seeing it in the past life—it was beyond recognizing from any past encounter. This was indeed puzzling, but— “Are you alright?” Seeing the Heavenly Honor approach, continuing such musings wasn’t possible. “…Yes... I'm fine.” “Allow me to support you.” “That won’t be necessary, elder. And also….” I glanced around slightly before speaking. “As I mentioned before, could you please refrain from speaking so formally? There are too many eyes watching us….” Addressing me as a young master was out of the question, and lowering the formality in his speech was necessary. I pleaded as such, but— “As long as I’m working as a household servant, how could I possibly do so?” “...” This was frustrating. Whether it was the Sword Honor or the Heavenly Honor, why did they keep making things uncomfortable for me? At this point, I began to suspect they were enjoying this. “The Heavenly Honor is addressing So Yeom-Ra with respect?” “How... could that be? Isn’t So Yeom-Ra known to be engaged to the Namgung family...?” “In that case, could it be….” Damn, as I feared, strange rumors were already bubbling. Just as I moved to quash them swiftly, [Kii…Kii...Kiiiik…!] A sound diverted everyone's attention, making them turn their heads. It wasn’t over yet. The creature responsible for summoning the red-class monsters, the dragon, was still alive. But… ‘…Looks like it’s dying?’ Its state was rather dire. Its massive wings were riddled with holes, resembling tattered rags. Furthermore, its body, which already appeared gaunt, had become even more decrepit. “Not knowing what might happen, I refrained from interfering. Was it unnecessary meddling on my part?” “...” So it was the Heavenly Honor’s consideration that the creature alone survived? Quietly, I whispered in response. “…No, thank you. I needed it to stay alive.” “I’m relieved it was of help.” At the old man's smile, I steadied my breath. Anyone could see it was on the brink of death. Realizing this, I quickly felt a sense of urgency. ‘If I'm not careful, it might be too late.’ Letting it die like that wouldn't do. So, despite my battered body, I began to move forward. “Master…!?” Seeing me, Tang So-Yul urgently tried to intervene, but— Someone appeared before her, stopping her. It was Namgung Bi-Ah. “Sister…! Why…?” “…Wait….” “But the master…!” “…He has a reason….” “...” Namgung Bi-Ah blocked Dang So-Yeol's way as she tried to reach me. While Dang So-Yeol seemed about to voice her concerns, she clamped her mouth shut. Wi Seol-Ah too, gazed at me with hesitant eyes but fortunately refrained from any further action. "So, So Yeom-Ra! Why are you going alone?" "It's dangerous!" "Damn it, everyone move! We need to save So Yeom-Ra--!" The warriors around were ready to move as one to aid me. However, they couldn't proceed. Zzzap. A brief spread of lightning encircled them, halting their advance. "Gasp…." Shocked, they flinched, and the owner of the lightning, wearing a gentle smile, added a word of reassurance. "I'm sorry, but... please just wait for a while. It seems there is a purpose behind this." It was the Heavenly Honor speaking. Faced with his suggestion, they could only fall silent. "Sigh…." With my weary body, I reached the front of the monster. [Kii…kii...] It truly looked on the verge of death. I tentatively extended my hand. Fizzle. “...” The protective barrier that once surrounded it had long vanished. As if signaling its limit, it appeared to have been broken for some time. Perhaps summoning the monsters was its last desperate act. 'The initial attack when it resurrected must have been successful.' Sending out the sacred spear right from the start proved effective. Without that, perhaps it would have been impossible to win. Thinking so, I reached out and clasped the creature’s neck. [Kii…e…] It offered no resistance. Seeing this, I spoke. "You've lost. Accept it." [...] There was no response. I doubted communication was even possible. ‘…Is this pointless then?’ Without recognition of defeat, there would be no use for absorbtion, leaving one wondering if anything could be gained from this mindless creature. Just as I resigned myself to simply kill it and be done with it, Buzz. “…!” A sensation sparked near my heart. Fwoosh! Instantly, a shadowy black aura burst forth from the shadow, swallowing the creature's form. It was the absorbtion ability. Snatch. Crunch. The absorbtion power emerged, beginning to devour the creature's ability. “...” It’s working. If the attempt failed, I planned to kill it outright, but somehow the absorbtion took effect. After consuming its fill for some time, the power retreated back into the shadow. Gurble. “…Phew….” A belch followed by a peculiar sensation saturating my heart confirmed something had seeped in. So this is the creature's ability. Reveling in this strange new awareness, I collapsed to the ground. [Kruk…gur....] Bereft of its power, the creature, now even gaunter, truly began to die. I simply watched it in silence. It seemed the creature lacked the strength to even die on its own. “Sigh….” Releasing a deep sigh, I finally managed to take some rest. […th…ank….yo…u…] “Hm?” A foreign tone mixed into its cry. [Tha…nk…you…] “What?” Clear, human language. The creature that moments ago screamed in a withered voice now spoke like a child. Surprised, I hurried closer. “What did you just...?” Whoosh-! Rustle…. Before I could finish, its life snuffed out, the creature's body dissolved into the breeze and vanished in an instant. All that remained upon the ground was a pure white gem. It was the White Demon Stone, proof of its status as a white-class monster. “...” Taking this in, my face furrowed with confusion. I couldn’t fathom why, but— For some reason... A feeling of unsettling disquiet gripped one side of my chest.