981 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Yoo Sa stared at Jeok Seak, who had collapsed before him. Compared to her incapacitated state, the Heavenly Demon appeared unchanged from the beginning. Having witnessed it himself, this couldn't even be called a proper fight. And that's the problem. '...What is that guy?' When Yoo Sa fought Jeok Seak, it wasn't to this extent. Even as a leader, achieving victory over them wasn't too challenging. But with him... 'It's not to this degree.' It was impossible to toy with her as if with a child. Knowing this, Yoo Sa bit his lip as he watched the Heavenly Demon. "Still, you know." The Heavenly Demon casually nudged the cheek of the fallen Jeok Seak with her toe. "You came to rescue your subordinate as if she were precious to you. I thought she was merely a gift for me to enjoy." "......" "Or has this confirmed what needed confirmation?" Confirmation. At the Heavenly Demon's words, Yoo Sa chewed on his tongue. 'Does he know what I was trying to do?' Could he possibly know what Yoo Sa was suspecting? Despite knowing everything, did he deliberately come here? While Yoo Sa was contemplating, Heavenly Demon spoke again. "As for me," he said calmly, observing Yoo Sa. His steps were unhurried, without any rush. Rather, the ease of his movements captivated the onlookers. "I am being quite generous with you." There was no sense of threat. Despite the overwhelming energy that had engulfed the surroundings, all that killer intent and vigor disappeared instantly. "Are you aware of that?" As the Heavenly Demon approached, Yoo Sa’s tension heightened. "I haven't used my words lightly." He drew closer, step by step. "Nor have I brought unnecessary insects to verify anything." Watching this, the muscles in Yoo Sa's arms gradually tensed. "I am grateful you haven't tried to display your strength arrogantly." Suddenly, they were face to face. Within punching distance. Only there did the Heavenly Demon stop. Ironically, the white mask was vividly detailed. Through the cracked mask, the Heavenly Demon's eyes became discernible. "But." While briefly captivated by that gaze, Heavenly Demon, hands clasped behind his back, added to Yoo Sa. "When will my patience wear thin? It's reaching its limit..." The soft tone relentlessly shook Yoo Sa's shoulders. "What are your thoughts?" "..." How much longer will you test me? At those words, Yoo Sa pondered. What should he do here? Amidst the confusion of the situation, it was hard to open his mouth. "Ah." As if displeased with something, the Heavenly Demon exhaled softly and spoke to Yoo Sa. "Your standards are way too high. Lower your posture." Boom--!! "—Ugh!!!" With the pressure, Yoo Sa's knees buckled. It was the same command as before. The Heavenly Demon had asserted his command over him. A disparity in presence. The same sensation as before. The oath etched into his soul. Obey those of a higher presence. Command those of a weaker presence. His heart was compelled to follow these deeply etched words. 'He is the child of the Myriad Worlds.' Those words lingered in Yoo Sa’s mind. Could he really be the master’s child? 'The master never had a child.' As far as Yoo Sa knew, there was none. Though the master did once mention a girl named Yarang as his daughter. But that had seemed abrupt. This was the same case. He appeared suddenly claiming to be the child. Accepting that seemed impossible. No different from Yarang. 'Then, how does he wield such power?' If so, how was he using the command? The oath carved into the soul and the claim of being the master's child were unrelated. To use this, one merely needed to be of higher rank than a general. This means... 'Is he on the same level as the master?' How could that be? Within the Myriad Worlds, there's no one on par with the master. Though responsible for the underground, the ruler of the Abyss couldn't use commands. 'Then who exactly...' What kind of existence stood before him? Unable to comprehend, Yoo Sa kept his mouth shut and watched with rolling eyes. "I'll ask once more." The Heavenly Demon spoke to Yoo Sa. "What do you intend to do?" Unable to see due to his head pressed against the ground, he still knew the man was looking at him. "Do you wish to join me and become a new sky? Or will you remain a bug and meet your end?" He couldn't speak. How he could become a new sky? What would happen if he refused? He couldn't even ask such questions. He was merely compelled to decide. Yes or no, nothing else would be provided. "Make your decision." Contrary to the urging tone, the voice remained leisurely. It felt as if refusing would change nothing. What would happen if he refused outright? Before he could worry about it, he felt the touch of a palm on his head. "I will count to three." Instinctively, he understood the implication. He wasn't sure what would happen, but the end seemed predictable. "One." Crack--!! He struggled to move, but his body wouldn't obey. "Two." Despite everything, the count continued. Yoo Sa watched the numbers rise, unable to respond. Veins tightened with tension as the situation pressed on... "Three." Finally, time was up. Buzz--!! Just as an unknown energy permeated his crown... "..I...will..." Yoo Sa's lips parted as if possessed. "I will..." At those words, the Heavenly Demon stopped the energy that had been coiling around him. "Hmm." He removed his palm from the top of Yoo Sa's head, prompting a sigh of relief from the latter. "Huff... huff..." Wiping his chin with his hand, Yoo Sa steadied his ragged breathing, cold sweat trickling down his face. Gradually, his restrained body relaxed, and he was finally able to lift his head. He glanced at the Heavenly Demon staring back at him. Though the sun should have been shining, curiously, the shadows seemed to gather around the Heavenly Demon alone. In the darkness, his violet eyes gleamed ominously. Seeing those eyes, Yoo Sa swallowed dryly. "What... do you expect from me?" His voice trembled as he spoke, gnawing at his pride. He was aware of this flaw in himself. Struggling to maintain his composure, Yoo Sa asked, and after a pause, the Heavenly Demon responded. "Your words are short." Thud-! This time, his shoulder was pressed upon again. Sensing the urgency, Yoo Sa quickly adjusted his words. "What... what do you expect from me?" As soon as his tone changed, the oppressive air disappeared. "What I expect, huh." Upon hearing the question, the Heavenly Demon nodded slightly and turned away, walking towards where Jeok Seak lay. Upon reaching her, he picked her up and tossed her towards Yoo Sa. Thud-! Jeok Seak's body landed right in front of Yoo Sa's eyes. "First, clean this up. I don't wish to see something so unpleasant." As the Heavenly Demon flicked his hands clean, he added. "I'll be back soon. Wait for me." With those words, he vanished without a trace, as though he had no lingering attachments. "Ha..." The abruptly disappearing Heavenly Demon left Yoo Sa finally able to release the breath he'd been holding back. * * * Through the dense woods, he moved on and on until not even a trace of presence could be felt. Even after sensing that, he moved twice as fast. Only after he had traveled a great distance at his maximum speed did he finally lean against a tree for support. Grasping the tree for stability, he released the tension in his body. Pssshhh--!!! Crrick---!!! A sound of steam emanated as his bones twisted. His expanded physique contracted to its original state. His clothes now hung loosely, and the mask he had been wearing fell off of its own accord. Thud. "...Ugh." Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, soon followed by a wave of intense pain. "Urgh--!!" Repercussions. Having overexerted himself and squeezed out all his remaining energy, intense aftershocks hit him. "Really..." I really almost died. The strain prevented him from vocalizing it. He could manage Jeok Seak just fine. But facing off against Yoo Sa afterward, he truly almost perished. 'I thought my heart would burst in the middle of it.' Using all his resources, both those with and without energy, had he gone any further, he would have tampered with his intrinsic qi. A situation that could have led to inner demons. Enduring such a precarious situation left him in this condition. 'Managed to hold on, but...' Craack---!!! The repercussions grew increasingly severe. 'Ah, this is bad...' Dangerous. If it got this serious, it was truly troubling. 'At this rate...' He might lose consciousness... Thunk-! Hardly had he thought the words when Gu Yangcheon lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. Then. Rustle. From not far away, a figure emerged from concealment. As if they had been there all along, their appearance was seamless. The figure approached Gu Yangcheon. After standing over his unconscious form for a brief moment, observing him intently... Swish. The person lifted Gu Yangcheon onto their back. Their identity was clear—the woman with brown hair wearing a black mask. Yarang.