985 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Reflected in the mirror of the sword was a rather unfamiliar appearance. It was certainly my face, but there were noticeable differences here and there, as if I was in an uncanny situation. As I quietly stared at my reflection, I lifted my hand to gently stroke my cheek. It was unmistakably my face. "What the...?" Confounded, I continued to touch my face, but then suddenly, "Huh?" Realizing something amiss, I widened my eyes. Carefully, I glanced upwards, gazing at the top of my head. Black animal ears had appeared atop it. I stared at them, a thought crossing my mind: perhaps... So, I tried to dispel any illusion or spell. "Damn it." There was no need to dispel anything. It was already undone. Then, what I was both seeing and feeling—this was real? As I touched my ears and tail, I questioned myself. If it wasn't an illusion, then... "Are they real...?" It was as if the sensations I was experiencing were reality. "......" Contemplating with a large, swaying tail, I couldn't help but wonder how this had happened. This transformed appearance—it was the Moonlit Tribe. The beastly people rumored to exist within the myriad worlds. I embodied their appearance perfectly. If I had to point fingers, it would be Gu Bong. I might as well say I resembled him. Caught off guard by this sudden change, Shin Noya addressed me. "You suddenly emerged with a peculiar presence that startled me... What on earth happened to you?" "That's exactly what I'm most curious about." I was curious, too. What in the world had just happened to me? Was it the fruit's effect? 'What was that fruit, anyway?' What kind of thing causes an entire change in species from consuming it? I was bewildered. Sway. As my tail continued to move, I adopted a grave expression. Noya finally crossed his arms and spoke. "Let's head back up for now." "...Yes." I needed to get out of the entrance. * * * As the moon gradually moved to its zenith, I sat in Noya's field late in the night. Casually sitting on a rock, I explained the situation to Noya. Even when I mentioned being carried by Yalang, seeing the strange tree, nothing seemed to surprise him. He remained unperturbed, even when I talked about Yusa's actions and the fight with the Jeok Seak captain. The most pressing issue for Noya now was, "......You ate what, exactly?" The fact that I had consumed some unknown fruit. His eyes widened in apparent astonishment at this. "I don't know what it was... But the changes seem to have occurred after eating it." My body recovered, my energy returned, and I had suddenly grown stronger. Even, 'Turning into this.' All the transformations seemed to stem from consuming the fruit. If anything, it appeared to have caused these changes. "......Hmm." After hearing everything, Noya crossed his arms and fell into thought. However, it seemed he wasn't pondering the fruit's identity. It was more like he knew the answer but found it hard to believe. "It appears we'll need to seek out that turtle." "...Right now?" Will we know the answer if we go now? When I asked about it, Noya chuckled and shook his head. "No, that fellow wouldn’t open the door if you visit at night. It would be best to go after sunrise." "......Ah?" Was that so? Then again, I suppose I'd never seen the turtle moving around at night before. It didn’t seem to be simply due to sleep, so there must have been other reasons. "So, do you have any idea what kind of fruit I ate?" "No. How could I know about a fruit that instantly changes one's species after eating it?" "......" Then why did you have such a look on your face...? Anyone would think you knew what the fruit was. Annoyed, I stared at Noya. "But." Noya promptly continued speaking to me. "Even if we don't know the fruit's identity, perhaps we should consider it differently." "What do you mean?" "Rather than thinking it changed your species... Wouldn't it be more accurate to say it awakened it?" "What?" Awakened? What? "Isn't it obvious?" "I don’t get what you mean." "Well, you're aware of what your mother is, aren’t you?" I narrowed my eyes at the mention of my mother. What is she? 'Owner.' The owner of the myriad worlds. That was my mother's identity, so what? I tilted my head in confusion. Sighing as if exasperated, Noya explained. "No, I mean look at her species. What race does she belong to?" "......" My mother's species. That would be... Huh? 'The Moonlit Tribe.' Come to think of it, my mother was also of the Moonlit Tribe. I distinctly remember. When she fought the massive Kkureong, my mother's appearance was that of a Moonlit Tribe with fox ears. With slightly pinkish-red hair, fox ears, and a tail of the same hue—she was definitely a Moonlit Tribe. In the midst of her overwhelming presence, capable of unleashing calamities with a single gesture, she was indeed a member of the Moonlit Tribe. But. "Why does that matter?" I didn’t understand the connection between this and my current condition. At my questioning, Noya sighed deeply. "Hah." He seemed thoroughly exasperated, as if wondering what on earth to do with me. "For goodness' sake, explain it properly." "...Alright, alright. Since your mother is a Moonlit Tribe, her blood was likely within you all along, meaning what's happening now isn't a transformation, but rather an awakening." "......" Hearing his words, my eyes widened a bit. 'Indeed?' Now that I listened, it seemed so. It wasn't strange that I was a Moonlit Tribe. 'But being a dragon? That’s the strange part.' The odd thing was that I somehow became a dragon born between Father and Mother. In light of Noya's words, it made sense. 'So what Noya suggests is...' By consuming the fruit, did it awaken the dormant blood I inherited from my mother? 'Then?' A sudden thought struck me, and I lifted my hand. I scratched my arm with it. As my sharp nails grazed my arm, a wound opened, releasing a spurt of blood. "Huh?" Noya furrowed his brow at the sight. Amidst the flowing blood, I studied my arm intently. The cut was deep; intentionally so. Through the pain, I quietly observed the wound. Ssssss—!!! "Oh." I let out a brief exclamation of wonder. The wound began healing almost instantly. Though I naturally had a quick recovery rate, this was not the usual. It was nowhere near fast enough to witness with the naked eye like this. This was precisely that. 'The state of the Moonlit Tribe under the moon.' When the moon rises, the Moonlit Tribe becomes incredibly strong, not only in terms of power but also in their regenerative abilities. That's exactly what I was experiencing now. 'The most troublesome thing when fighting the Blue Leader was this very trait.' No matter how much I struck, the leader's regeneration was so rapid, I had to hit twice as hard as usual. And now, that bothersome regenerative power was within me. Sssssh—!! At last, the wound I had inflicted had completely healed, in less than a fleeting moment. "Not bad—" Smack! "Ugh!" Something struck the back of my head, making me bow my head instantly. I rubbed the spot and glared at Noya. "What was that for!" "I should be asking you, you fool. Why the hell would you cut your own arm?" "I was just trying to verify something." "There are countless ways to do so without resorting to that." "This is the quickest method." I continued to massage the back of my head while flexing my arm a few times. Not only had the wound healed, but there seemed to be no aftereffects. If I had cut any deeper, I might have hit bone. 'Nice.' This was great. It meant I could be more daring in battle. 'I wonder if I'd regenerate even if something were severed.' The thought crossed my mind, but I didn't test it. If it didn't work, it would be my loss. So this was the body of the Moonlit Tribe. Now, it made sense. 'My recovery and restored energy.' It wasn’t just because of consuming the fruit. 'The moon being out must be playing a role.' The Moonlit Tribe's blood awakened, coupled with the night’s presence. That surely explained the recovery of my injuries and the restoration of my energy. But it left me more confused. 'What is the purpose?' I still couldn’t fathom the reason. Why did Yarang feed me such a thing? What is Yarang's intention? Given that it doesn’t seem to cause me harm, it's even more perplexing. "Why did she give me the fruit?" Since I couldn't decipher Yarang's intentions, I sought Noya's insight. "No idea." Noya just offered a nonchalant expression, like someone who didn’t know either. "Even if you can’t fathom her intent, the crucial point is this." "Yes." "The influence of your mother's intentions being involved in that child's actions is highly probable." "......" "If there is an intention, it's certain, don't you think?" A plan left by my mother. Could Yarang even be part of that? Is that why she remains in the form of the Divine Sword? "Is your body alright?" "......It's better than ever." To be honest, this could easily be the best I've ever felt. The issue was, 'Am I not a dragon anymore?' Acquiring the Moonlit power was good, but does that mean I'm no longer a dragon? Though the question arose, the answer was soon apparent. 'That can't be it.' I'm still a dragon. And for a good reason. 'The powers remained.' The greedy power I gained from becoming a dragon still persisted. Furthermore, Whoosh—! The flame that blossomed from my fingertips was the same. The azure flame that became part of the dragon's body remained intact. 'Perhaps it just merged somehow?' It seemed that I simply gained the Moonlit power in addition to everything else. 'Well...' I'm quite the hybrid now. How many races are mixed up in me? "I see you're quite the mix." "......" I was already thinking that when Noya blurted it out, making me click my tongue briefly. While it's true, it felt peculiar when coming from someone else. "So... I need to find the Elder to get more information?" "That would be the most certain path, wouldn't it?" "Hmm." I had to wait for the day to break. The moment this realization dawned upon me. Whoosh—!!! A sense of presence arose. As I naturally looked skyward, something was diving towards us. Thud—!! The black figure landing on the ground was the Heavenly Demon. Before I could react, she swiftly approached and gripped my collar. "......Huh?" Suddenly seized, I was taken aback. "What are you doing? Why are you acting this way?" What’s her problem now? Puzzled, I stared at the Heavenly Demon. Then, "......Who were you with before coming here?" "What?" She asked. "Who did you come with?" "......" Her words left me frozen in place, despite not knowing why, I felt an immense fear. An overwhelming fear. If you're looking for new web novel recommendations, here are a few that might pique your interest: 1. **"The Regressed Villain's Handbook"** - A thrilling tale of a villain's redemption arc with a unique twist on time travel. 2. **"The Night Stalker Chronicles"** - Dive into the captivating world of supernatural mysteries and dark secrets. Perfect for fans of urban fantasy. 3. **"Realm of the Alchemists"** - A story of power, mysticism, and adventure set in a world where alchemy reigns supreme. 4. **"Chronicles of the Lost Mage"** - Follow the journey of a forgotten mage seeking answers about their past in a world of magic and intrigue. 5. **"Heaven's Boundaries"** - Explore the epic saga of a warrior challenging the heavens and reshaping destiny. These stories should provide a mix of action, mystery, and fantasy to keep you entertained. Enjoy your reading adventure!