1004 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Above in the sky, a shimmering orb glistened vividly. I narrowed my eyes, peering at the formation of the secret technique of Guhwa, formed by my energy, at the blazing wheel-like star. Then, I lowered my gaze to look at Yusa, who had been flung far across the ground. 'What's going on?' There was a difference in power. Just moments ago, I felt my attacks weren't effective and it seemed burdensome. The speed of the extended arm and the power it held were entirely different now. Swoosh. The tail moved. The sensations were present originally, but they were now several times sharper than when they were created through magic. '......This.' It was certain. 'My body suddenly changed.' The body of the Wolya. A blessing bestowed upon the race when the moon rises. I could feel the extraordinary strength and the heightened senses. 'What is this?' How did this happen all of a sudden? As far as I knew, it would take about half a watch for the Wolya's traits to fully manifest. Strangely, my body was already exhibiting the characteristics of the Wolya. 'Is it real?' I glanced at the blazing star. The point of change was undoubtedly that. Shortly after activating the blazing wheel, my body had transformed like this. ‘...Why?’ Why was it so? The question filled my mind, yet this was not the time to dwell on it. “Ugh-!!” Thud-! Yusa, who had been sent flying, emitted a low groan and slowly lifted himself. Pain was all over his face. "You... Ack-!" With a direct hit to his solar plexus, he coughed up blood. Blood trickled from his lips, staining the ground. “Cunning bastard... luring me into complacency….” “…….” I hadn't intended such a strategy. Given the circumstances, it might appear so. The conversation was fluctuating between whether to hide my strength or not, after all. But. Observing Yusa struggling to get to his feet, my thoughts wandered to the current anomaly. ‘He hasn’t gotten stronger.’ In contrast to my body, which had blossomed with the traits of the Wolya. Yusa did not seem that way. ‘If he had changed, he wouldn't have been taken down so easily.’ Neither being struck in the solar plexus nor his stumbling in getting up were signs of someone who had unlocked new power. Clearly, in this condition, his body hadn’t yet embraced the night. That means. ‘...I'm the only one who changed.’ While considering the circumstances, I glanced back at the blazing star. ‘...What could be the reason?’ I merely unlocked a secret technique. Though it resembles the moon, the blazing wheel is different from the moon. If anything, since it's a concentration of heat, it would make more sense to compare it to the sun. ‘Hmm.’ I rubbed my chin beneath the mask, pondering the situation. Even if I didn't yet fully understand, the significance was simple. ‘I can use it.’ Yusa cannot. That was what mattered now. Step. I moved, and in one step, I was in Yusa’s face, who had been standing some distance away. Yusa widened his eyes as he saw me. He hurried to move, but— Clench-! My hand had already seized his wrist. Preventing him from escaping, I swung my other hand, directly aiming at his solar plexus. Bang-!! “Gah!” The impact lifted his body off the ground, robbing him of the chance to fly further. The arm I held checked his escape. Continuing relentlessly, I began to pummel him. Bang-! Bang bang-!! The sound of something breaking accompanied the relentless assault. Unlike before, when he could block and dodge adequately, this time he couldn't gather his wits at all. “Ugh!” All his attempts to retaliate were nullified. The increased speed and grip allowed the impossible to become reality. As a result, I dealt significant damage to Yusa with my blows. After a prolonged assault, Whoosh---- I gathered flames in my palm, forming a fiery orb. I drove it into his solar plexus, and as it exploded, I let go of his arm. “Ack-!” BOOOOM---!!! The blast sent Yusa, engulfed in flames, flying through the air. CRASH-----!!! As he flew backward, he shattered the ground beneath him. His speed was so incredible that his cries were abruptly cut off. He was sent off too quickly. ‘Hmm.’ Should I get closer? The thought crossed my mind when— “That bastard…!” came a voice from close by. The Yusa who had been blown away appeared shortly thereafter. Though surprised by his swift return, the condition of Yusa was noticeably poor. ‘Looks like the attack worked.’ The fiery orb driven into his solar plexus seemed to have hit the mark, leaving a deep mark where the blast landed. Though it hadn’t pierced through entirely, the impact was severe. Blood pooled across his torso, with pieces of bone visible beneath. For a human, it would have been a deadly wound. “...You dare underestimate me?” Yet, Yusa hadn't died, instead burning with renewed fury. The disturbing part was witnessing his injured torso rapidly regenerate as if in response. “Though your spirit is admirable,” I remarked, masking my surprise. “It is merely a charade. General, is that all you have?” “Grrrr.” Yusa grimaced at my provocation. Then, every wound on his body healed. “Such arrogance.” On his outstretched hand, long claws emerged. Simultaneously, his aura intensified. “Did you think you were the only one not showing your true power?” The smug curl of his lips suggested he hadn’t been fighting seriously either. Looking at those claws and his aura, it was clear he indeed hadn’t unleashed his full strength. ‘Astounding.’ Without the moon risen, he had concealed such a level of power. That meant. ‘What happens when he receives the blessing?’ With all his abilities combined with the blessing, how far would Yusa's strength ascend? At this point, it was not just intriguing, but intimidating. ‘I dared to taunt a being like that.’ Recklessly showing off, relying on the power of the name during the night. Thinking about it now, I realized how foolishly bold I’d been. As I reflected and calmed my breath, “Hehehe…” suddenly, Yusa chuckled. What was this about? Why was he laughing suddenly? Tilting my head in bewilderment, “At first, I was puzzled. But now, I’m certain,” he said with eyes gleaming with newfound realization. What did he know? Could it be... 'Did he figure out my true identity?' Even though I'm wearing a mask and using Aura Concealment Technique, could he somehow recognize me? I doubted it, though Yusa's reaction was so vivid, I couldn't help but briefly tense up. "You." Yusa pointed a finger at me and spoke. "You can't use your powers, can you?" "...Hmm?" His sudden words made me pause. "It was strange from the start. I wondered why you weren't using them... but you can't, can you?" "......" "If you could, this would have been over long ago. There must be some condition, right? What could it be... could it be the night? Is it because the moon hasn't risen? Am I right?" Yusa spoke with an excited tone, as if he had solved a mystery. What to do? ‘How should I deal with this guy?’ Luckily, I had a mask on. Otherwise, he would have spotted my grin. I was intentionally not using my abilities, yet it seemed he misunderstood. Did he conclude I couldn't use them due to some condition? “…You’re quite perceptive. I commend you.” Suppressing a chuckle, I responded, and his grin grew. “Hehehe... So that's it...” His laughter grated on my ears. “General, do you think knowing that changes anything?” Knowing that I can only use my powers at night, when the moon rises, what difference does it make? “Nothing changes.” Crack-! I loosened my hands, igniting flames once more. Watching his reaction, I prepared to dive in again. “We'll see about that.” Yusa muttered, sharpening his elongated claws. Pshhk-! “…What?” He suddenly plunged his claws deep into his own chest. Right into where his heart would be. Was he attempting some form of self-destruction? “Puuh-!” Blood gushed from his mouth. And it continued to stream from the hand lodged in his heart. Watching this, I frowned beneath the mask. “Grrr...” Rumble. Wriggle-! With a low growl, Yusa's body began to transform. Particularly, the large tail flickered unnaturally. I hadn't noticed, but there were now two tails, and fur was sprouting from Yusa's skin. It reminded me of— ‘Just like with Gu Bong.’ When Gu Bong transformed into a beast under the moonlight. ‘…Even rougher than Baek Seak.’ It seemed rougher than the form shown by Baek Seak under the moon. Cold sweat trickled down my back at this transformation. In terms of sheer size, Baek Seak was larger. But— ‘His presence is on a whole different level.’ Size couldn’t begin to measure it. The presence he radiated wasn’t determined by visible shape alone. Instinctively, I looked down at my feet. I was peering at his shadow. Seeing it, I raised my eyes. Earlier, Yusa’s shadow had been enormous, now it was much smaller. ‘It's changed.’ Resembling a human's shadow. It was as if the shadow had been reversed. “Grrrrrr---!!!” The growl that once emanated from his shadow now roared from his physical form. Crunch-! His two tails swept across the ground, easily crunching the surface. A beast. If there was any classification needed... hmm... ‘What should it be called...?’ I wasn’t sure. At a glance, it resembled a bear. It could be seen as a lion, a tiger, or even a dog or wolf. While Baek Seak could be distinctly defined as a tiger, Yusa was indeterminate. Simply a beast. Or a monster. Those were the only words that seemed to encapsulate it. "How long has it been since I've shown this form...?" Yusa's deepened and coarser voice filled the space. "You called yourself the Heavenly Demon, right? You should be grateful. Not many have seen this form." Thud. As Yusa crouched, the ground bowed beneath him. "The last time was when a detestable traitor escaped, maybe a hundred years or so ago." The word traitor piqued my interest. He seemed to be speaking about Shin Noya. “I'm getting hungry.” His tail flicked. In an instant. “I’ll fill this hunger with you!” Crash--!! His massive body lunged at me, fangs bared. “Hmm.” As his gaping maw approached, I released a resigned sigh. It seemed. ‘I can't win like this.’ Judging by the creature, I concluded I wouldn’t triumph. With this realization, I directed my energy towards my heart. Whirr---!!! A ring of flames formed behind me. Whirl---!!! The ring began to spin eagerly. Energy flowed through my meridians. Heat enveloped my body. And I focused the heat into my clenched fist. Though I never used it before, I could sense it. “The Nine Flame Grand Tai Mountain Technique.” As shown by my father in the North Sea. “Ultimate Nine Flame Grand Tai Tsunami.” I too, unleashed a hellish blaze upon the world from my fingertips. Whhooooosh----!!!! The blue inferno engulfed Yusa completely. It sounds like you're referencing a sensitive and distressing news event. It's essential to approach such topics with care and sensitivity, especially when discussing incidents involving harm or trauma to individuals. If you are feeling overwhelmed or distressed by the news, it might be beneficial to seek support from professionals or talk with someone you trust about how you're feeling. Regarding your interest in the web novel chapter you've been reading, it seems you've returned to the story of "The World's Greatest Person's Childhood Friend" in chapter 1004. If you have questions or need a summary of that chapter, feel free to ask!