999 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 999: The World's Greatest Friend - Part 999 of 1060 Noya might disappear. Moreover, it's my fault that he's vanishing. Those words brought back memories of the past. "Then, even Noya losing consciousness constantly..." It wasn't just about preventing a shattering vessel as I turned into a dragon. "Does it mean that as my realm and soul strengthened, he was growing weaker?" The stronger I became, the weaker Noya grew, and he was disappearing. "......" No words come out. I raised my hand and tousled my hair. I bit my tongue hard inside my mouth. I bit so hard that a bit of blood seeped out, tasting metallic. What should I do? What can I do? I've become so strong that Noya can't return, and even my soul's condition has worsened, accelerating the problem due to my transcendence. Being near is dangerous; even leaving him be is risky. So, I must distance myself. "... If I had known it would be like this." Was it necessary to force myself to become stronger? I had no choice but to become stronger. But knowing this fact now makes me feel nauseated. The wave of emotions that came with reaching transcendence seemed ridiculous. If it resulted in Noya's fate... "What should I-" What should I do? As I was lost in thought, absentmindedly touching something, "If you understand, maintain your distance." "...!" I immediately withdrew my hand at the turtle's words. "The presence of the Divine Tree and maintaining a certain distance can minimize the disruption. The barrier you touched just now signifies that distance." A long way until the Divine Tree. This far should be the gap I maintain. Is keeping my distance enough? "Even if you keep your distance, it's just a temporary solution. Since you've appeared, the best it can do is buy time, not completely stop it." "Damn." The turtle seems to read my mind, constantly reminding me of the harsh reality. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just watch and do nothing?" "Yes." "What...?" The turtle affirmed my frustrated words. "What can you do? You are too weak to defy the natural order." "..." "It's just following the predetermined course." "...So, shall I just quietly sit and wait because it's predetermined?" Am I supposed to just watch Shin Noya die like this? And he disappears because of me, and all I can do is look on? Bang-! I struck the barrier. Crack-! Did I use too much force? I heard the barrier cracking. "It's useless to react emotionally." The turtle remained unfazed by my reaction. It was more intense earlier when I was clueless and panicked without understanding the reason. "Tsk." The turtle clicked his tongue. "Let me ask you. During all this, do you think the leader was unaware?" "What?" "The leader knew his situation better than anyone else. Yet, he hoped you'd advance." "......" "He talked often about someone who would come eventually, though it took a while." Listening to those words, I clenched my fists. The clenched fists threatened to ignite with flames. But. "If that someone is indeed you, it was his choice, knowing full well how things would turn out." As the turtle's words continued, my fists slowly unclenched. "Do you really think staying in your current state is what the leader desired?" "..." He must have known that I'd cause him to end up like this upon my arrival. And yet, Noya waited for me? Why? "Did he not want to live?" Proof of his lack of lingering attachment to life was the way he constantly muttered to himself, talking like a ghost of the past. "… You troublesome old man." Why didn't he say anything at least? Isn't it embarrassing to just be eager to grow stronger? Meeting my mother made me ecstatic. But despair came when I found she didn't remember me. Although I found joy in knowing I had a way forward and a method to advance. I was oblivious to the fact that you were at your last threshold. That’s why. That’s why I’m so angry and fuming. Yet, I had to suppress and swallow that emotion. Didn’t the turtle say it wasn’t the time to be emotional? "... What should I do?" I asked. "... Huh?" The turtle laughed a dry laugh at my question. "Why do you ask me? I’ve already explained the situation." There's no way. The time for Noya speeds up his disappearance because of my emergence and growth. What's left is merely waiting for him to vanish. Will it truly end like this? "You know a way. Don’t you?" "..." I asked with conviction. I believed the turtle knew something to clear this situation. "Why do you think that?" "The elder didn’t want me to give up." The turtle's words weren’t intended to shame me nor merely suggest giving up. It was a way to... "To assess the situation, calm down. That’s his full intention. Also—" Slowly. I took a step back. "Judging by the elder's demeanor, you can tell he knows something." I felt it from the turtle's reaction. "My reaction?" "You didn’t dismiss it outright but rather seemed surprised." "...!" There was no denial. The turtle wasn't denying, but only showing surprise at how I reached that conclusion. "… This kid." The turtle expressed disbelief at my explanation. "You were seemingly throwing a fit, yet still managed to assess the situation?" Of course, I had to. "An elder once told me." Back in those times when I was just throwing tantrums. A certain Taoist spirit had told me. "When you flare up with emotion, the opponent will be most flustered. So, take advantage of that moment." "Stay alert. Do not let your emotions explode. If you're going to explode, use even that. Believe in yourself. You can do it. You're that kind of person." '...Honestly.' I recall each piece of advice Noya gave me. That old man sure said a lot. Beyond just reincarnating, he taught me so much more. Even now, as well. "What is the method?" "..." "Please, let me know. I'll even kneel if that's what it takes." "What use do I have for your knees to make you kneel?" "I knew you wouldn't ask me to." "Crazy fool." I chuckled softly. "Are you laughing?" The turtle asked at my laugh. Indeed, I was. "Ah, honestly..." Tsk, tsk, tsk. The turtle clicked his tongue in discomfort and, after a brief silence, spoke to me. "You both are quite similar. Always manage to anger me." "A compliment?" "Do you think it would be?" "No." Of course not. “Sigh.” The turtle took a deep sigh and added words with his breath. "...If the problem is with the soul." I listened closely. "It means there’s an issue with the soul that needs to be fixed. Hence, returning it to its original state should do the trick." "Then it will be alright?" "I don't know." "What?" "I don't know much about souls. It's just a presumption. So, even solving this issue might not fix everything. But." I made sure not to interrupt and kept my mouth shut. "For now, there's no better method." "..." If the soul's problematic, then restoring it to its original state solves it. There’s nothing else coming to mind. Nodding at the turtle's words. He's got a point. Even I couldn’t think of a better solution. The problem is... "So, how do I do it?" How do I fix Noya's soul? I asked, and the turtle said. "You already know how, don't you?" "...What?" He said I know the way. I frowned at that. I do? What do I know? "If I knew, why would I be asking this, elder?" "No, you know. It happened not long ago. And it involved you directly." "What..." About to respond to the turtle's words, suddenly. "Oh." I widened my eyes at the realization that I had experienced such a thing. One thing came to mind. Soul (魂). A way to restore a twisted soul. Putting it back to its original state. If I really experienced such a thing...? "...The Divine Fruit." "Correct." The turtle affirmed my almost entranced response. The Divine Fruit, bestowed by the Divine Tree. They said consuming it returns the soul to its original state. That's why my soul began shifting, starting me on this ill-fated path. So, if. "...If Noya takes the Divine Fruit, can his soul be fixed?" "As I said earlier, it's merely speculative." "But, isn't it the most likely method? The only one?" "......" The turtle remained silent. There wasn’t really a need for an answer. Was it a relief? In any case, to see my mother, and to honor what Noya said, I had to seek out each Divine Tree. And eventually, I had to meet the supposed owner of the Divine Tree. 'Unless the situation is entirely different.' The Divine Tree I met and the Divine Fruit I obtained back then is likely the owner’s mentioned before. To heal Noya’s current state, ultimately. 'I have to go.' I must seek the owner of that Divine Tree once more. "..." Crack-! I unfolded my rigid fingers. I quelled the surge of heat and pressed it into my heart. Reflected on what needed to be done. I thought of Noya, who was likely asleep beyond the barrier. 'You've saved me too many times.' I certainly can't let him be. That elderly man, who was my hero and lighthouse, I had to save him, no matter the cost.