996 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Flames cascaded down, invading the space around them. The body that soared high into the air plummeted directly to the ground. Thud-! Whoosh-!! As it hit the ground, sparks spread, and the surface started to melt. In haste, a vial was pulled from a pocket and poured over the body. The amusing part was that even the grasped glass bottle had started to melt. "Huu..." With a dizzy mind, steps were taken forward. Suddenly, the scene around changed. The alien sky of the Man Gye disappeared, and familiar skies reappeared. It was the entrance of Mount Hua Sect. Realizing his return, he mustered strength in his legs once more. Swish-! Again, the body transformed into flames, leaping into the air in a bid to fly. He struggled to see clearly, trying to find his bearings. It was hard to see. If things continued like this, he might fall again. What should he do? As he pondered, the thought flashed by. "Tsk tsk." A clicking sound came from somewhere nearby. And then. "Causing such chaos each time you go out, aren't you?" A familiar scolding accompanied by a sharp blow to the head. Bang-!! With a jarring impact, his body crashed to the ground. Bang-! He rolled on the ground, bouncing a couple of times before finally coming to a stop. "Cough." Stifling a cough, he raised himself. The pain wasn’t acute. His dazed mind and body prevented him from fully feeling it. Squinting his eyes, he lifted his head. There stood the person he had been searching for. "A ridiculous fellow." It was Shin Noya. He was looking down, chuckling to himself. "Not long ago, you were storming out like you could conquer the world despite thinking you’d die. And now, look at this mess." "...Noya." "Absurd." Noya spoke as if examining him curiously. "...What happened? It didn’t seem like the time yet... Something's off." "...What is this? Something feels strange..." At his words, Noya asked. "What feels strange?" "Just... it feels off." "...You really explain things so well. What should I do with you?" I wanted to explain properly. But there was nothing I could say. Everything felt truly bizarre. A sensation of floating. Elation filled up to the crown of his head, making him feel he could accomplish anything. Yet with that came the maddening sensations tearing him away from sanity. Burn everything that seems trivial. Don’t bother with futile actions. Immerse your body into the lake you saw. Such desires bubbled within. Seeing his reaction, Shin Noya tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Usually, it doesn't get this bad. There must be something unusual." "Do you know what’s happening?" "Of course I do... But you do too." "What are you..." "Should I congratulate you, first of all?" Congratulate? Frowning at the incomprehensible words, I heard him say, "Kiddo." Noya spoke to me. "You’ve truly reached transcendence. How does it feel?" "…!" Upon hearing those words, my eyes widened. Reached transcendence? 'Is this what transcendence is...?’ The state that surpasses being a grandmaster. The zenith, which one should only reach after mastering martial arts. Ultimately becoming one with martial arts. Is this what I have just attained? I was taken aback by Noya's declaration. Is this truly transcendence? Whoosh-! He turned his hand into flames. The flickering flames burned in a steady rhythm. "This is..." Is this the realm I had so longed to reach? His fogged mind cleared a little. As he stared, suppressing his amazement, "A task one leaves to finish, and yet, how did things turn to this? I want to ask, but..." Clink. At the sharp sound, he lifted his head. Noya had drawn his sword from his waist at some point. "Judging by your state, there’s something I must take care of first." "...Noya?" "Indeed, no one troubles an old man like you do." At Noya’s feet, plum blossoms scattered. Though perpetually beautiful, he sensed a deadly intent wrapped within them. Seeing that, his body involuntarily exuded hostility. The notion was simple. How dare someone show hostility in front of him. The flame disagreed with such sentiment. What should he do? Once more, arrogance and elation swelled within. He thought to hold back and braced himself with all his might, only to hear, "Don’t bother restraining yourself so pathetically. I am not someone who cannot handle the likes of you." With Shin Noya’s calm words, his heart eased instead. "Do your best. I'm expecting better than the antics you showed last time." Whoosh. The body, once again enveloped in flames. Snap-! Noya's hand grasped his throat. Just like that. Bang-!! Noya accelerated, clutching him. In an instant, they left the realm of Mount Hua Sect, shattering the barrier painstakingly created and hurtling outside. The polar lights enveloped the night sky. Once outside, Noya, with a firm grip, hurled him with all his might. His body soared at astounding speed. Rough pressure enveloped his physique. Within that, he instead relaxed his body. Whoosh. The sound of flames bursting apart was audible. The flying body became pure flames. Then, as if hitting an invisible wall, the body stopped in mid-air. His eyes rolled. He searched for Noya but found him not. Sling. A chilling sensation wrapped around his neck. The body, engulfed in flames, moved aside. At that moment, a sword cleaved the spot he was in. Noya had attacked again. Kakakakakak---!!! The sword that severed the air sliced everything behind it. It felt as if the world was being cut by that single stroke. Why am I suddenly fighting Noya? He questioned internally, but his instinctive reaction to Noya's aggression preceded reason. Geeeee---!!! Round rings emerged, spinning swiftly behind him. Flames gathered atop his shoulders, forming a sphere. The area filled with blazing gems. He waved his fingertips. Guaaaaaaaa---!!! The flaming gems rained down on Noya. In the night sky, like countless falling shooting stars, blue orbs poured onto Noya, but... "Hoo..." Noya took a deep breath and swung his sword in a cross. With just those two movements, Boom---!!! The surrounding flames exploded and were completely annihilated. Watching the explosive burst of flames brought a moment of bewilderment. Did he break it just with wind pressure? How is that possible? When he had dueled Yeong Pung during the martial tournament back then, Noya had sliced through the flames with thousands of strokes in the imaginary realm, but now he did it in just two. Startling as it was, the difference was undeniable. "Is this the time to be dazed?" This was no time to be casually astonished. A voice echoed right up close. Whoosh-!! Blossoms of plum flowers spread wide. Beautiful. The thought crept in naturally. So beautiful it was, there was an urge to admire it. But contrary to his thoughts, the body erupted into flames once more. For he knew just how terrifying those plum blossoms truly were. The Nine Flames Grand Lotus Form. The ignited flames swelled up, engulfing everything around. Trees, rocks, grass—none of it mattered; it devoured everything. But they weren't just burned; they melted. The intensified heat turned everything to liquid. This was true even for the plum blossoms that Noya had scattered. Everything lost its form beneath the flames. Amidst it, his gaze promised to track Noya. It was faith. Faith and certainty that Noya would not succumb to such measures. As if answering such unwavering conviction, Noya emerged amidst the flames. "I get that you're excited. But such unnecessary size. Have you forgotten what I taught you in your folly?" With those words, Swish--!!! His body was cut. A blade descending from the heavens slashed across his body. He took a step back, barely avoiding it, though had he not, death would have been certain. Glaring at the slice created on the ground where he had been standing. It was an embodiment of willpower. He had criticized the size, yet had dropped a sword nearly as big as a house on him. While it was absurd, the size of a tangibility like this signified the wielder's willpower. It demonstrated the prowess of Noya, who wielded such a sword effortlessly. More importantly, ‘Noya doesn’t only use one embodied blade.’ He looked up at the sky. There it was. Piercing through the night sky, an awe-inspiring sword tip revealed itself. Splendor opposite to the vulgarity touted as having saved the world. The sight was a breath-taking wonder. How can one manifest will so vividly and powerfully? His arrogant, exalted emotions wavered. The imaginary lake inside started to shallow. “What are you doing?” Noya’s voice rang out, and he directed his gaze toward the sound. There stood Noya with his hands behind his back, gazing at him. “It wouldn't make sense to regain your senses with just this. I went to the trouble of bringing you out here, shouldn’t you show some improvement over last time?” “…” Does he mean the time when they dueled? That day when he first succeeded in mastering the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. “Punk, if this is all you have, it’s disappointing. Wasn’t one of the things I fed you enough? Would you really disappoint me with just this?” Despite his reproaching words, Noya grinned. “Ah.” He muttered briefly, seeing that smile. “Show me. I know there’s something you can do.” What could I possibly do? Why does he show such belief? I don’t know. But unaware of anything else, my body began to move. So this is transcendence, is it? If this place I’ve reached is truly that... Then. What I must do now is none other. Swoosh-. He stretched out both hands as if grasping something. No one had taught him this. He had merely observed. Watching with his eyes, what did he truly know to be enacting this? It was absurd, but despite the absence of formal learning, there was yearning. Always resentful, yet always longing to resemble another. This is the shape of that yearning. His own reflection merged with his father’s image. ‘Nine Flames Grand Mountain Form.’ “Nine Flames Grand Mountain Form.” His voice melded with his father's. Snap. With the sound of flames bursting, a clear flame arose. Flash-! With a flare of light, the night sky flipped, turning into a daylit night. Amidst the newly crafted white landscape, “Well done, you wretched disciple.” Noya’s praise reached his ears. New 아우야 아직도.. 나눙................................................ 가끔 이런 모드가 된댜 나이 헛 먹어쓰... 야채미인 +6 11.11 🧩(˶' ᵕ ' 🫶)🧩 +8 11.11 얘는 이쪽 오는게 맞을까? +10 11.11 휴.. +1 11.11 미완)파브르 in 사천당가 1-345 +18 11.11 알고보니 국가권력 S급 모스키토 헌터? +47 11.11 수정 공유! 11.11 팽유정-~의 밤 시리즈 요청합니다 +2 11.11 자기들은 거짓말이라도 아프다고 하지마ㅋ..ㅋ..ㅋ +13 11.11 자기전에 급 궁금,,, 갑자기 추접공... +3 11.11 제발 좀 읽어달라고 The Best in the World’s Childhood Friend Chapter 996 (996/1059)