936 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

A vibrant chorus of birds erupted, ascending into the sky from the colorful forest. It was a moment where the setting sun's absence felt almost regretful as the birds soared into the sky painted in shades of crimson. There were so many of them that they filled the heavens, observed silently by the mistress of this sky from below. A gentle rustle accompanied the motion of the woman's grand tail as she ran a hand along her arm simultaneously. “Hm…?” A touch of unease clouded the woman's beautiful eyes. Something felt amiss. "What is this...?" A chill had settled into her spine— a feeling she had never experienced in her ancient existence. What could this sensation possibly be? Something was pricking at her arm, not purely tactile but felt within her very soul, an anomaly never before perceived. “...” The woman gazed at the sky with a peculiar look in her eyes. Where could this sensation be coming from? Could it be linked to the strange feelings she had been experiencing lately? Her mind felt tangled in haze, perpetually on the brink of realization yet never quite fully formed. "How strange…" She closed the eyes that had watched the heavens, standing in an unsettling void filled with silence. A face began to softly emerge within her consciousness. Whose face was it? The woman pondered, yet nothing materialized in her mind. She noticed black hair—it seemed to belong to someone. A pair of slightly slanting eyes came into focus, suggesting a male figure dressed in deep crimson garb, unfamiliar in design yet oddly familiar. Where had she seen him before, to the extent that just the thought of him felt nostalgic? Still, the woman had no answer. Just then, the man's steady gaze turned towards her. The fiery red of his eyes caught her off guard. They seemed devoid of emotion, yet simultaneously, something began to grow within his expression—a smile graced his previously stoic face. ‘…What is this?’ Instinctively, the woman brushed her hand over her chest. A pulsing rhythm echoed within her, a vibration she couldn't quite understand. Why was this happening so suddenly? As the woman pondered in bewilderment: -…. The man appeared to speak to her, but though his lips moved, no sound reached her ears. What was he trying to say? She squinted, trying to discern his silent words when: ‘Ah….’ Suddenly, several small children appeared beside the man. Two mischievous-looking girls, a boy with an expression slightly akin to sorrow, and a girl nestled in his arms—the total count reached four. Upon seeing them, a more intense wave of emotion surged through her. She attempted to approach them, feeling an unexplainable pull, but her feet moved without bringing her any closer. Hastily, she reached out... And yet, she could not touch. The man muttered something again towards the unyielding woman. What was he saying? What on earth does it mean? Though she strained to understand, the words remained elusive. Then, not from the man, but from the boy below, another silent word was shaped by tiny lips. Unlike the man’s, the child's words were clear. -Mother. “...” The word stopped her cold. What had he said? Was it truly meant for her? The woman, beset by confusion, tried to lock eyes with the child. Flashes of light—bright and sweeping—turned the scene to mist. The crimson sky reclaimed the world, and the woman opened her eyes, her delicate hand passing over her forehead. What had just transpired? What had she seen? Curiously, nothing remained in her memory. She was sure she had just witnessed something significant, yet the details evaded her grasp. “...” Increasingly, these fleeting visions troubled her. They were leaving a growing sense of disquiet in their wake. 'Why.' Why had these occurrences begun? She wanted, more than anything, to resolve this discomfort, to pinpoint the origin of these phenomena. As her mind sifted through possibilities, a moment came to her—the event that triggered this inexplicable change. ‘It started then.’ The day the abyss was found—the start of it all. It was when things began to shift within her. “...” Soft whispers inside—an imperceptible disintegration felt somewhere within her, as the woman slowly drew breath. Each inhale she took stirred the very atmosphere—an inevitable reaction to the woman whose being was akin to Man Gye. As the ambiance of the environment settled with her breath, her gaze lowered as though finding resolve. “Yes. I must seek them.” If that moment held the cause, then it was surely within that time that the solution dwelled. The issues springing from the encounter with the abyss and when she had seen the young dragons… If they became a poison to Man Gye, eliminating them was the logical path, something not too daunting for her. The woman's eyes shifted towards the nearby forest. “...” There, nestled within, was a woman with brown hair and a black mask, appearing exhausted as she sat. Upon hearing this, the woman lifted her head. Her golden eyes rolled within the confines of her mask. Observing her, the woman spoke. “Daughter.” “...” At her call, the masked woman—Ya Rang—met her gaze, weariness evident in her demeanor. “You poor child.” The woman gently approached her. Each step of her bare feet brought blossoms to life upon the dry ground. “It seems something foul has arisen within Man Gye.” “...” If there was anything that clouded her clarity, the best course was to dispose of it without hesitation. The woman wondered why she was even deliberating over it. “Why don't you tell me what you have seen and heard?” The woman spoke as she gently caressed the mask that Ya Rang wore. *************** A shower of fragments scattered in all directions. Dust obscured the air, and on the deeply cratered ground, flames flickered. Unusually, these flames weren’t the familiar crimson or azure, but a murky, dark hue. They seemed bluish at times, other times black, almost a shade of ash. The colors appeared vastly different, yet the perception of them altered based on the angle of view. It was a fierce, chaotic flame. The unsettling aura drew one’s stare when suddenly: “…Argh…!” Pain surged violently through the arm, gripping it instinctively. It was the same arm that had delivered a punch moments ago. “Ughhh…” The pain was so intense that it brought the figure to one knee, the hands trembling noticeably. It wasn't from resisting strong pressure, but rather, the sensation was akin to tearing muscles apart. Every joint felt strengthless, overwhelmed by immense pain. And not just the arm—even a glance confirmed the body's condition. The evident strain showed in swollen meridian points, illustrating the forced endurance of energy. The aftermath of an overwhelming blow had thoroughly ravaged the body. “Wow…” The degree of pain was so overwhelming that it almost deserved awe. The vitality had been nearly depleted, a bitter chuckle escaping upon checking the heart’s condition. “Ridiculous.” Nearly 70% of energy was gone. Despite having greater reserves than before, expending such a vast amount in one exertion was absurd. It was possible that maintaining control without losing concentration accounted for half the loss, but even so, the amount spent was staggering. My arms wouldn't lift. It wasn't a joint issue, more a complete depletion of strength. He released a burst of laughter. To use it once, did it have to result in this? This was more intense than the first time he used the Flame Prison or when training with the Flaming Spear. Why was it that every time he tried something new, his body barely made it through? Yet, amusingly enough. ‘And still.’ A grin spread across his face as he looked ahead. ‘It wasn't bad.’ The body might have been shattered, but the results were worth it. Moreover. ‘I was right.’ Combining the two martial arts with spellwork to forge something new, the intuition that something would emerge was correct. Look at it. ‘I’ve created something unbelievable.’ The sight before was nearly hellish. He could hardly believe what he had created. Though the volcanic wave formed by Noya didn’t cover a wider area than a geographical volcano, one punch should never have been enough to bring it down. The force unleashed was beyond overwhelming. Noya managed to block the brunt of it, but if he hadn't, there was no telling the extent of the devastation. That's precisely why. Witnessing such raw power and devastation, even Noya was stupefied, staring with disbelief. “…Kid.” His attire was shredded and battered. His hair was a bit ruffled and eyes wide in surprise. Moreover. “What on earth have you created?” Holding a sword in his hand. He relished every moment of it. “How do you like it?” He grinned at him. “A rebirth, for a young dragon, not too bad.” Mid-sentence, his body actually swayed. As his strength waned and he began to collapse to the ground— Thunk. Someone gently cushioned him in their arms. The sensation of soft hair against his face and a subtle, delicate fragrance tickled his nose. Who was it? Through his hazy consciousness, he glimpsed a familiar set of eyes, nose, and mouth. He couldn’t utter a word. He lost consciousness completely. **************** As Gu Yangcheon fell unconscious, depleted and sprawled, the woman carefully cradled him. She was the very woman he referred to as the Heavenly Demon. “...” The Heavenly Demon continued to gaze at the unconscious Gu Yangcheon. Her examination seemed just as if she were ensuring he had suffered no injuries. Finding no apparent problem, she gently nodded. As she began to support him to move, “Despite needing rest, you’ve gone and made trouble.” Shin Cheol commented while shaking his body off. The Heavenly Demon turned her gaze to him. “When injured, best to rest rather than drag that thing around with you.” “...” “What is it.” Shin Cheol quirked an eyebrow at her stare. “Did you want to vent your wrath after putting him in that state?” “...” “Agh, enough. I’ve also taken hits. Tsk tsk. Disrespect for the elder is truly remarkable.” He didn’t even hit him all that hard. In fact, he had even set the stage for him, letting him unleash his skills. Wasn't it his own attack that caused this result? Thus, Shin Cheol insisted his actions were justified. “I had my reasons. Any resentment….” “Are you okay?” “Hmm?” Shin Cheol narrowed his eyes at the sudden concern in the Heavenly Demon's voice. What did she mean, was he okay? “What do you mean?” “Your body.” “Pardon?” Could she possibly be worried about him? A wry smile flickered across Shin Cheol's face. “Who’s looking out for whom? Child, worry about the one sprawled on your back.” “You’re worse off.” “So, it seems your eyes aren’t quite sharp enough.” What did she mean by looking at him? Shin Cheol shrugged, but his insides twitched somewhat uncomfortably. “You’re in immense pain, aren’t you?” “...” At the Heavenly Demon’s assured comment, Shin Cheol fell silent. Simultaneously, his expression grew somewhat grave. There was certainty in the knowledge she possessed. “Do not tell the kid.” The Heavenly Demon tilted her head at his request. “Why?” “It will bring no benefit to him.” “...” “He’s more tender-hearted than he appears. So, pretend you know nothing.” “...” “Do you understand?” Eventually, the Heavenly Demon nodded in response to Shin Cheol's words. With that, it was enough. Shin Cheol thought as much when— “And for you?” “Hm?” “How about you?” The Heavenly Demon's question, asking if he was perhaps not soft-hearted as well, drew a low chuckle from Shin Cheol. “Well.” Perhaps once he might have been. But now... "Even if it's true now, it must not be. So, stay put." Hearing Shin Cheol’s words, the Heavenly Demon gave him a long look before replying. "Understood." With that, she seemed to grasp his meaning and vanished, taking Gu Yangcheon with her. Left alone, Shin Cheol stood still, gazing at the hand not holding his sword. “...” The outlines of his dry fingertips wavered just slightly. Briefly clenching his hand into a fist, then opening it again, his hand returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened. --- Comments: - Hideeto: "Seems like the body Noya received has reached its limits." - Yeonwoo: "Is it nearing time for a return?" Note: Only logged-in members can post comments.