979 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: Chapter 979 - The Childhood Friend of the World's Strongest An hour had passed. It was still broad daylight. Looking at the position of the sun, it seemed there was still a long time before it would set. With that in mind, I started walking at a slow pace. While I moved my body with composure, my mind was filled with numerous thoughts. I recalled Shing Noya's concerns regarding Yusa. Along with that, I assessed my physical state in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. ‘...Sigh.’ As I circulated my energy and examined my body, it was not in great condition. It was inevitable. I had already taken a significant beating when facing the Blue Leader at night. Though I hadn't sustained any serious injuries, it was still better than nothing. But because I kept moving without waiting for recovery, there was no time for healing. ‘...When using the Qi Transformation Technique, my regeneration isn't great.’ It's an important power that alters the body, but its drawbacks are clear. When I change my body, pain akin to my bones shattering is felt. Afterward, a significant amount of energy is required to maintain the changed form. Moreover, The recuperation speed of the transformed body is slower, and the pain is more profound. When you think about it, aside from being able to transform your physique, there aren't many advantages to this power. Because of that, ‘I hope nothing happens.’ With battles against the Blue Leader and injuries sustained earlier, it meant my body was not in the best condition. Knowing that, I would prefer to quietly overlook things, but— ‘...Really now.’ Can I truly do that? I tried to dismiss the uneasy feeling I couldn't pinpoint. Eventually, I reached my destination. ‘Hmm.’ Amidst the lush grove, I stood at the center and observed my surroundings. ‘There's nothing here?’ I couldn't see a thing. Was someone watching from somewhere? To confirm this, I heightened my senses slightly. Crack. I sensed someone's presence. Upon feeling that, I turned around. “Ha ha ha!” A lively laugh echoed. Simultaneously. “It's you!” An overwhelming vigor was directed at me. * * * Boom--!!!! Something plummeted down like a falling star. I twisted my body to evade the attack. ‘What is this?’ It was a sudden assault. What could it be? As the attacks continued, I dodged while rolling my eyes. Was this Yusa’s doing? If so, it was obviously Yusa’s work, but it didn't seem like he attacked directly. Did he summon a force? 'That's not it either.' The energy felt belonged to a single person. This one person's energy was remarkably intense. I squinted to see the opponent. They attacked through the cloud of dust. I dodged the incoming claws and took a good look at the face of the owner of those hands. ‘Ah.’ Only then did I confirm who it was. Though it was my first time seeing her, I already knew about this woman. 'The Red Leader.' The Red Leader, Hong Jeong. Was she not called the strongest among nobles or something like that? ‘From the name alone, it suggests she's the strongest among leaders.’ She seemed young. While other leaders appeared excessively youthful for their ages, it was understandable considering it was a trait of the Moonlight Tribe. Considering that, ‘She looks like she hasn't even reached the age of twenty.’ While others seemed to be in their early thirties or late forties, This Red Woman's appearance suggested she had barely passed the age of twenty. “Hihihi--!!!” Amidst it all, as if something thrilled her, she charged madly. ‘Tsk.’ She was fast. It seemed she wasn't using weapons. Her style appeared to be martial, focused on hand techniques. Boom-! Crash-crash--!! Every swing of her fist and claw shattered the ground and cut down trees. The energy infused in her movements was extraordinary. ‘Hmmm.’ What should I do? ‘Why did she suddenly pop out?’ There wasn’t much to contemplate. The reason was obvious. ‘This is Yusa’s work.’ It must have been something that rascal orchestrated. Perhaps this was what Noya was concerned about? Why did he specifically send the Red Leader? Dilemmas kept coming one after another. But. Swaaaa—!! ‘Damn it.’ There was no time to dwell on the issue. Dodging her claw once more, I firmly stomped my foot on the ground and twisted my waist. My spinning kick connected with the Red’s body. Boom--!!! With a burst of impact, the Red was sent flying. It hadn't connected properly. Red had managed to block the attack and even executed an evasive maneuver in that brief moment. “Oh… attacking during that gap?” She appeared surprised at my attack, her eyes widening. I sighed deeply and spoke to her. “You are not who I sought.” I was asking where Yusa was but she just laughed and responded. "No, it is you. I was waiting for you." While I was curious about how my foolish brothers were defeated. Crack-! As if preparing for a leap, Red hunkered down. Her toes crushed the ground, radiating pressure. “Let me see what your face looks like just once.” Fwooosh—!!!! A red flash launched forward. Oh, this isn’t good. I frowned within my mask as Red dashed towards me. I hadn’t thought she would just charge at me like that. Boom-boom-crash-!! ‘Ugh!’ I narrowly avoided the claws. At that moment, her tail whipped violently. Crack! Watching the tail coming at me, I moved my hand. Escaping was not an option; I had to block it. Thud!! Pain shot through my arm as my body was pushed back. It looks like just a tuft of fur, but why is it so solid? ‘Damn it.’ I bit my lip and drew upon my energy. Aura enveloped my body, activating my physique. Though my inner sight tried to decipher her moves, ‘Damn it.’ I had to suppress an internal panic as I looked at her. ‘I can't see her technique.’ The purpose of inner sight is to determine how an opponent's energy manifests into their next move, yet— ‘This bastard…’ The presence from the Red was indescribable. It wasn't due to a lack of energy. Even now, she was charging at me, emitting fierce energy, so she definitely had energy. 'Is it that she doesn't use techniques?' I couldn't discern a predicted path. It was merely movements based on instincts. 'Damn, I didn't see this coming.' She wasn't a beast. Looking human on the outside, yet attacking like a wild animal. This enemy was a first. “Hahahahahahaha!!!!” The Red gleefully charged at me, seemingly amused by something. Watching her, something sprang to mind. ‘Ah.’ The feeling wasn't unfamiliar. I'd fought a creature similar to this before. ‘She’s like Bong Soon.’ Her method was akin to Bong Soon’s. Engaging in battle solely based on instinct. Despite her fairly decent appearance, her reckless approach was unmistakable. “Why do you keep dodging!!” Shrrrap!!! Her claws sliced through the air. So intense was the energy that it left marks wherever it passed. I tilted my head, evading her attacks. She really was like Bong Soon, minus the tail. The issue was, ‘Much stronger Bong Soon.’ The difference in their levels was extreme. At this magnitude, she seemed no less formidable than Gui Chang was in his prime. “Hahaha!” She continued charging with laughter, the madness apparent in her eyes. 'Someone might think she's been turned into a demon.' How she was able to make such an expression with a sane mind, I couldn’t comprehend. After a long bout, I momentarily paused. “Oh? Giving up...” Thud!! “Kuh...!” I dashed forward, driving my fist directly into her solar plexus as she rushed at me. The impact sent her flying backward. It was different from before. This time, she couldn’t block or brace herself. Crash! The explosion turned the ground ahead into chaos. Dusting off my hands, I relaxed my body slightly. A powerful Bong Soon? Gui Chang’s level? ‘So what?’ In the current state, it didn't mean much. It was daytime. If the Moonlight Tribe weren't under the night sky, they were nothing to fear. “Coughing…!” Beyond the dust, the Red was kneeling. Clutching her solar plexus, she spat blood. “Ha…ha…” She laughed even amidst that. Her bloodied laughter was truly ghastly. “Fun… This is fun…?” Her eyes gleamed. Her intent to kill me was painfully obvious. What should I do with this? Even in my current condition, I could still win. ‘There’s still quite some time before night falls.’ Preserving my body as much as possible was crucial. ‘Maybe I should rile her up a bit?’ Since it’s come to this, let's provoke her and ease the fight a bit. Having made that decision, I spoke up. “Pathetic.” My words caught her attention. “Not even worth the amusement.” “…Hahaha. Why? More thrilling than the Blue, though?” “Blue? Ah.” I nodded as if I recalled something I had momentarily forgotten. “There was such a guy, wasn’t there?” “Clack-clack. Creating a hole in his chest, then forgetting about it? Not even a day has passed.” “I am not so magnanimous as to remember the weak.” “Oh… I like that sentiment.” “And that includes you.” I flicked my hands. “Even now, I find this dull and tedious.” I focused energy into my heart. Demonic energy twirled around my hand. “If I were to compare, the little show I saw yesterday was better.” “What…?” My words made the Red pause. For her, being told the Blue was better seemed to have caught her off guard. ‘Hmm.’ I narrowed my eyes, observing her reaction. I was just attempting a mild provocation. Did it work? If it didn’t, I’d need another line of taunting prepared. “Ah, that one stings.” Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t need to. “That really ticks me off.” Fwoooosh!!! ‘Damn it.’ The energy she unleashed was staggering, far beyond what it was moments ago. ‘…What were they saying about her?’ Wasn’t she called the foremost among nobles, or the strongest noble? I had heard explanations about her but--- ‘This is a bit much.’ The restraint she seemed to have was now unshackled beyond imagination. Was it a misstep to tick her off? Tsk. I clicked my tongue, smacking my lips in frustration. It seemed I erred. With things like this... ‘I'll have to kill her.’ I originally wanted to keep her alive and see if she could become demonized. But at this point, there seemed no spare moment for that. I steeled myself. ‘Let’s kill her.’ Just as she had done, I let loose the killing intent I had been withholding. Title: The Childhood Friend of the World's Strongest - Chapter 979 The presence from the Red Leader was simply indescribable. It wasn't because she lacked energy. Even now, as she charged at me with fierce vigor, her possession of energy was undeniable. ‘Is it that she refrains from using structured techniques?’ There were no predictable patterns in her approach. It merely seemed driven by innate instincts. ‘I truly didn’t anticipate this?’ She wasn’t a beast. Ostensibly human in appearance, yet charging like a wild animal. Such an opponent was unprecedented for me. “Hahahahahaha!!!!” Red leader was filled with joy as she charged at me, her laughter ringing out. Watching her, something reminiscent came to mind. ‘Ah.’ The sensation wasn’t unfamiliar. I had engaged with someone similar before. ‘She’s like Bong Soon.’ Her combat style was akin to Bong Soon’s. Fights solely driven by instinct. Despite her somewhat sensible appearance, her relentless assault was unmistakable. “Why do you keep dodging!!” Slash!!! Her claws tore through the air with ferocity. So intense was her energy that it left visible scars wherever it brushed. I twisted my head sharply, evading her successive attacks. She really mirrored Bong Soon, sans one key trait. The issue was, ‘She’s a much stronger Bong Soon.’ The disparity in their levels was profound. She boasted comparable might, perhaps akin to Gui Chang during his prime. “Hahaha!” She continued to charge, her manic laughter accompanied by manic eyes. 'An observer might think she’s turned into a demon.' How she maintained such a gleeful expression while appearing mentally sound was beyond comprehension. After evading for a while, I momentarily paused. “Oh? Are you surrendering…” Thud!! “Kuh…!” As she dashed towards me, I slipped in and drove my fist directly into her solar plexus. Impacted by the blow, she remorselessly flew backward. This differed from before. She was neither able to block nor brace herself in time. Crash! The ensuing explosion left chaos in its wake. Dusting off my hands, I slightly loosened my posture. A potent Bong Soon? Comparable to Gui Chang’s peak? ‘And so what?’ In the current state, it signified little. It was daytime. The Moonlight Warriors were not formidable when the moon was absent. “Coughing up blood…!” Beyond the dust cloud, the Red Leader knelt. Clutching her solar plexus, she spat blood. “Heh…heh…” Despite it all, she chuckled. Her blood-tainted grin was ghastly. “Enjoyable… enjoyable after a long time…?” Her eyes glimmered with madness. The intent to kill me was vivid in her expression. What action to take against this? Even now, victory seemed within reach. ‘There’s a long time until nightfall.’ Preserving my physique was of utmost importance. ‘Should I rile her up a bit?’ Since it's come to this, let's provoke her to ease the battle. Having determined so, I spoke up. “How pathetic.” The word caught her eye. “Not even amusing enough to be considered a jest.” “…Hahaha. Why? Even more thrilling than the Blue, though?” “Blue? Ah.” I nodded as if recalling forgotten memories. “Such a one existed, didn’t they?” “Giggling. And you forgot after leaving a hole in his chest? Less than a day has passed.” “My benevolence does not extend to remembering the weak.” “Oh… I find such words enjoyable.” “And you are no exception.” I flicked my fingers. “Even now, all I find is boredom and monotony.” Strength surged within my heart. Demonic energy swirled around my hand. “If I were to judge who was better… The performance I witnessed yesterday was superior.” “What…?” My remark caused the Red to pause. The suggestion that the Blue surpassed her seemed to have petrified her. ‘Hmm.’ I tightened my focus, scrutinizing her reaction. I had only hoped to provoke her slightly. Did it work? If ineffective, I would need alternative taunts readied. “Ah, that hurts a little.” Fortuitously, it appeared I wouldn’t need to. “That really grinds my gears.” Fwoooosh!!! ‘Damn it.’ The energy she discharged was staggering, far surpassing what it had been moments prior. ‘…What did they say about her?’ Was she not named the top of the nobles or the strongest noble? I had been briefed about her previously. ‘This seems a bit excessive.’ The restraint she previously held was now unleashed beyond comprehension. Perhaps it was a misstep to provoke her? Tsk. I clicked my tongue, regretting my earlier choice. In this situation… ‘I’m going to have to kill her.’ I initially intended to keep her alive, to see if demonization was possible. But at this scale, there seemed no room for such leisure. I steeled my resolve. ‘Let’s end this.’ As she did, I let loose the killing intent I’d been containing.