865 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 865: The Future Friend of the World's Best **Purge Demon (破魔).** The power to repel, erase, and deal fatal blows to those tainted by demon energy. This is the reason why the Sacred Sword Division was formed, spearheaded by the Divine Sword. It was also why she could lead the war against the Demonic Cult as the hope of her era. The only hope. The light of the Central Plains. A miracle that could bring victory against the so-called absolute ruler, the Heavenly Demon. That was Purge Demon. An absolute power against demonic energy. It was a power that only Wi Seol Ah, the Divine Sword, possessed. 'How did it come to this?' How did such power manifest? He wondered as he gazed at the white flames wrapped around his hand. “No... it can't be....” The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader still trembled in despair. The sight seemed utterly pathetic. The massive frame, once spanning over eight feet, and his skin that no longer looked human, had all returned to their original state. No, it wasn’t even the original state. He had lost even the form he had before. He was once a man with ample muscles befitting a warrior, but now he was nothing more than frail. He looked nothing but a skeletal frame that might break with a mere touch. As if he lost all vitality. The state of the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader was far from normal. It seemed as though— ‘It’s as if he’s lost his innate energy.’ The vital source of life that every human possesses. Much of his innate energy seemed to have vanished. Why had it come to this? The likely culprit was his flames. ‘I meant to burn him to a crisp.’ He wanted to incinerate every part, leaving no bones behind. Yet, he had inadvertently burned something else. Perhaps, it was the unknown force that had altered the man's body. His flames had incinerated only that energy, leaving the man in his current pitiful state. And thus, he called the power imbued in his flames Purge Demon. ‘It's similar to what Purge Demon used to show.’ In his past life, when the Divine Sword faced off against demons— She employed the Moonlight Sword technique, using numerous swords imbued with the power of Purge Demon, easily dispatching her demon foes. When demonic energy encountered Purge Demon, it dismantled. Since demons carried demonic energy throughout their bodies, its destruction was akin to losing life. So when the Divine Sword appeared, the demon horde usually showed up to oppose her. The demonic horde, although demon-like, had not received the Heavenly Demon’s blessing, making them fit to confront the Divine Sword. The power intended to oppose demonic energy— That was Purge Demon. ‘...Can this be called Purge Demon?’ He regarded his power as Purge Demon, but he was hesitant to be certain. Because— ‘This isn’t destruction.’ The abilities shown just now didn’t completely align with the characteristics of Purge Demon (破魔). It was closer to erasing than destroying. If it were destruction, the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader should have perished. Yet, he didn’t die. Instead, only the alien force within him vanished, letting him revert to being human. Should this be called Purge Demon? Furthermore— ‘The energy that transformed him wasn’t even demonic.’ The change in the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader wasn’t due to demonic energy. Still, his flames had erased it. Should even this be considered under the same category as Purge Demon? He couldn’t understand. However— ‘One thing is certain.’ The anomaly within his flames, and— ‘...It’s not so different from what my father used to show.’ Back when his father acted towards the Lord of Heaven, what happened back then is oddly similar. His father extended a hand and erased something, at which point the Lord of Heaven’s demeanor abruptly calmed. ‘This must be strength inherent to Gu Embers from the beginning.’ Reaching the pinnacle seems to have brought about this change. ‘Reaching the highest proficiency in Gu Embers makes it possible to burn away other alien forces?’ Then what was the strength his father displayed in the North Sea? The power that eradicated demon creatures in an instant. What kind of future was his father alluding to when referring to the power he should attain? Moreover— Flame--!! ‘Why did the color of my flames change again?’ There was much to investigate, from the newly acquired power to the altered hue of his flames. “…Please... I….” “Hey.” He approached the trembling old man, crouching down to match his gaze. The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader flinched before his eyes flared with anger. “You--!” Smack--!! “Ah!” Before the old man could speak, he slapped his cheek. The old man who was just about managing to get up fluttered down from the impact. “Don't we have something to discuss?” “…You...you....” He hadn't infused any energy, applying just enough force. Easy death wasn't an option yet. He gripped the old man's hair, hoisting him up. “Grr....” There was much to uncover. But fortunately, some could be learned immediately. As he raised his hand to touch the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader's forehead— Whoosh---!!! “Hmm.” He sensed a presence near the door and glanced that way. It seemed they had arrived. He spoke, directing his words to where he sensed the presence. “Have you arrived?” “Apologies for the delay. It took time to find the way.” Approaching from the entrance was none other than the Dark King. “As you instructed, everything has been dealt with.” He nodded at the calmly uttered words. The Dark King entered the space, examining his surroundings before alternating his gaze between the captive Heavenly Golden Sect Leader and him. “Do you require assistance?” What kind of assistance? He wasn't sure, but whatever came from the Dark King was likely formidable. He shook his head. “No, that won’t be necessary.” “I see. Then…” The Dark King paused, then continued. “There is something you should check.” His curiosity piqued, he tilted his head. ************* Following the Dark King, he moved to another floor above this location. “There seems to be a special formation in this area. That is why it took so long to discover.” “Is that so?” When he had requested assistance from the Dark King, he had asked that he come directly when finished. It felt odd to him that it took longer than expected. 'There must be something amiss.' It felt like there was some sort of barrier enveloping the entire area. From my perspective, I sensed a faint dissonance, but reaching the destination wasn't that difficult. “Yes. If I hadn’t sensed your energy from the lower floor, it would have taken even longer.” By energy, he must mean the flames I unleashed. 'For even the Dark King to not detect it.' What kind of barrier was in place to prevent detection from someone like the Dark King? “How is it now? Is it still like that?” “No. It seems the formation has been deactivated.” His eyes narrowed at the Dark King's words. If it’s now lifted but was there before, then there must have been a trigger. ‘If there’s a trigger.’ An image popped into my mind. That tree. The sapling with white leaves in abundance. Could that be it? If so— ‘The change might have occurred when I absorbed the leaves.’ The dissolution of the formation could be attributed to that. Of course, this isn’t a certainty either. As we followed the Dark King a bit further, a room appeared at the end of the wall. It was smaller than the iron doors we had seen before but not exactly small either. And then— 'The smell of blood.' From the moment the door came into view, the scent of blood hit. I immediately strode towards the room. The door was already open. As soon as I entered the room, I understood the reason behind the thick smell of blood. The place was filled with corpses, savagely mutilated. Blood seeped, soaking the entire floor. Moreover— “…These things.” The condition of the corpses was strange. Several bodies lay around, all resembling the monstrous form the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader had transformed into. I turned to look at the Dark King. He replied as though waiting for my question. “They underwent transformation after consuming unknown cores. Some were dealt with before they could change, but I was a bit late for the others.” Now that he mentioned it, a few others seemed to still be in their human form. In any case, all were slaughtered. ‘So they consumed cores.’ I asked the ones behind me. “Did he do the same?” By 'he,' I meant the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader we had brought after sealing his acupoints. “Yes. After eating something.... He transformed in a strange way.” I nodded at the answer. I see. ‘A transformation due to ingestion. It wasn’t an innate shedding.’ If by consumption, they meant that thing I absorbed. I looked at the Dark King and asked. “Do you know what it is?” “I’m not sure. But.” He glanced at the corpses he had killed and spoke. -These creatures suffered a curse akin to mine. It was transmitted over a mental link. An unknown killing intent and disdain laced his voice. I concurred with the Dark King. Despite being strange, their forms were indeed— ‘Dragons.’ They were similar to my form, or perhaps akin to the Dark King’s draconic form. Not quite complete but, on closer inspection, distinct. These creatures were dragons. The transformation of the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader and those now deceased confirmed it. ‘They consumed something and became dragons.’ An artificial shedding. How could such a thing be possible? “Are there any more beyond these?” “I have slain all I found.” “Is there a possibility of more?” “The range of my senses does not detect any.” Then they must be either very far away or this is the entirety of them. It’s one of the two. If even the Dark King’s senses can’t detect them, the conviction is solid but— ‘There’s always the possibility they’ve done some strange things to the space.’ It was a place where nothing could be taken as certain. With a splash, I stepped into the room. The blood-soaked floor was slick. ‘What is this place for?’ What could this place be? Judging by its state, it’s not much different from what was seen below. Though it seemed somewhat smaller.... Seeing there were furniture and such, was it merely a resting area? As I wandered around, surveying in curiosity, something caught my attention at the center. 'A pond?' A small pond. Why is there a pond in such a place? It looked unusual at a glance. As I approached it cautiously, examining the pond— “…!” My eyes widened upon seeing it. Something was beneath the pond. Something incredibly large, beyond imagination.