1006 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

--- A resounding roar enveloped the ears, its forceful vibration transcending mere sound, leaving only a tremor that tore through the fabric of air. The heavens seemed on the brink of collapse, reverberating with relentless wailing. After an indeterminate amount of time passed, the ferocious vibration, having fulfilled its purpose, began to subside gradually. “Ahhhhhhh---!!!” Finally, the sound, akin to a scream, reached the ears, a power laying bare its fierce nature with no reservation, born from chaos and rooted in violence. This force was untamed and extraordinarily brutal, crafted with such intent. Kiiaaahhhh---!!!! Amidst chaotic, muddy, dark-grey energy, the area was consumed in tumult. As the overwhelming power receded, the once-beautiful plains revealed their desolation — a barren wilderness. Evidence of a fierce explosion was apparent in the crater-like holes, as if a lake once existed there. The surging force ascended, mingling with airborne dust, sullying the fabricated sky created by the energy. Step-! I advanced, curling my fingers slightly, which caused the energy that had permeated the surroundings to be absorbed back into me. Despite feeling the retrieval of the energy, I continued forward until I reached the center of the hollow crater where something emerged. “Gr... Gra... Graaaahh...” Moving erratically, a figure convulsed—a ravaged Yusa. His body, skeletal, was drenched in his own blood, shredded and lacerated, as though any other creature would already be dead. “Gr, gr... Ah... Ugh... Ughhh...” Even as Yusa trembled with pain, his life force refused to extinguish. Was it due to his impressive regenerative capabilities? His resilience was astounding, yet his condition revealed something more unusual. “Gr... Hoo... What... what are you...?” In disbelief, Yusa struggled to comprehend as he looked upon me. It was understandable. Despite Yusa's body desperately attempting to heal its wounds, it was in vain. Sssssshhh--!! “Graaahhhh!!!” The flesh regenerated only to be devoured anew. Observing the cycle, I realized the cause. 'The energy persists.' The Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Flames of Chaos, or more specifically, the technique I crafted by fusing them—Heavenly Chaos Flame. The aftermath of this technique lingered within his very being. The Flames of Chaos excel in power, vast range, and explosiveness, while the Heaven Shattering Art, though similar in characteristics to Flames of Chaos, focuses on concentrated bombardment. In terms of range, Flames of Chaos exceeds Heaven Shattering Art. 'Combining the two...' Fusing their attributes resulted in a formidable force, amplifying destructive power to an extraordinary level. Particularly, 'The Heaven Shattering Art's nature seems to continually devour his skin.' The technique's destructive form negated Yusa's regeneration—rendering the regenerative ability ineffective due to its relentless firepower and persistence. The sharp, blade-like qi of the Heaven Shattering Art inflicted continuous harm. A marvel indeed. Moreover, its efficacy was impressive. Chaos—the name attributed to the notion of unmingled forces being adversarial—and yet, by transforming it into a martial art, those very contradictions became beneficial. Energy emerging from friction is expressed, with adversarial intents manifesting as another form of strength. “Cunning... Cunning one...” With an exhausted voice, Yusa muttered under his pressure. I tilted my head at his words. What did he mean by cunning? Taking in his indignant look, I understood his outcry. “To deceive me...!” “Ah.” His complaint lay in employing an ability I claimed I couldn't use. That betrayal infuriated him. “Ha ha.” Realizing this made me chuckle. Inexplicably, denizens of the myriad realms often displayed these traits. “You're more naïve than expected.” “What...?” “Or rather, given your beastly appearance, perhaps simplemindedness is a better term.” Red, blue, and even generals like Yusa all exhibited an unexpectedly straightforward nature. ‘Even their combat style reflects this.’ Possessing the power akin to the Three Lords, they engaged in comically simplistic bodily combat. While their adaptability offered some flexibility, that alone was insufficient. Even their fundamental approach to combat was flawed. “You shouldn't judge so easily, nor trust so blindly.” “You...!! Kurgh!” Splurt--!! Blood trickled from Yusa's mouth. The energy still lingered within him, seemingly indelible. Despite his efforts, movements remained beyond his control, and letting emotion take hold only worsened it. Observing Yusa's thrashing, I questioned him earnestly. “Is this all you've got?” “...!” “As before, I find myself disappointed.” Conveying genuine disappointment, I spoke. “Seeing you poised to display something, I hoped to witness more, even if it was just a show. But alas, this seems to be your limit...” Partly, I meant it. Despite the vigilance I maintained towards Yusa's intimidating presence, the duel ended anticlimactically. Such rare opponents, not easily encountered elsewhere, warranted deeper study. But... 'There's still much more to glean.' Understanding why my ultimate move wasn't properly evoked mid-fight, gauging the hedonic potential of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and continuously mining Yusa for further knowledge were tasks yet to be finished. If it ended like this, I felt a sense of regret as well. “Not yet...” Despite my indifferent reaction, Yusa trembled, struggling to force his body to move. “I’m not finished yet. I am General Yusa… I won’t fall to something like this…” “...” His unfocused eyes told the tale. Though the aftereffects of chaos were diminishing, allowing for his slow regeneration, his life force persisted. “If only it was night... If only night had come...” “I’ll admit, it might have been different at night. However.” For me, there was nothing more than slight disappointment. The intrigue had faded. “It’s an unimportant ‘what if’ since it never came to be.” I drew closer, locking eyes with him. The despair draining his strength was evident in his dilated pupils. Watching it, I asked, “Once more, let me ask. General. Where is the Divine Tree of Yaowu?” “Grrrrrrr...!!” The mention of the Divine Tree only provoked Yusa further. Crack-! Attempting to attack with his bone-bared arm, I casually flicked my hand towards it. Thud-!!! “......!!!!” I uprooted his gigantic arm, and it summoned a ragged scream from him. The recoil spurted his blood wildly. Thud-! I carelessly tossed the severed arm away. Glancing at the torn end on his shoulder, “The state tells me it should have healed quickly without problems.” Muscle and bone seemed ready to reform. Had the force of chaos not clung to him, regeneration would have been instantaneous. “Grrr... Grrruuuk...!!” “This is the final time I'll ask. Where is the Divine Tree of Yaowu?” I gathered energy, forming the Flames of Chaos through demonic power. Offering it towards him with my query, yet all he did was laugh. “Grr... Heh... Heh.” Even at the sight of the flames, Yusa laughed, seemingly overtaken by madness. “You know nothing.” “That response isn’t what I was hoping for.” “To alter the myriad worlds... Whatever you plan, understand this: you’ll change nothing.” “...” “I wavered for a moment... but now it's clear. You know nothing, isn’t that right?” His tone carried a certain conviction. It was the same when he believed I couldn’t invoke power. This time, surprisingly, he was right. “If you knew, you wouldn't have mentioned the Divine Tree... What is your true aim?” “Hm.” Not mentioning the Divine Tree... I scratched the chin of my mask at those words. Did it imply something more? “Quick-witted, aren’t you? Ah, this time, I mean it genuinely.” “Grrrr...” “You’re right. I don’t know much. However.” Grip-! “Grrk!?” I reached out and seized Yusa’s thick throat. My small hand struggled to encompass it, but insufficient grip could always be compensated for with raw power. “Even if I don’t know, what does it matter? Such things are irrelevant. Change the myriad worlds? It’s the same.” At the outset, “I never intended to change the myriad worlds.” “...!!” Yusa’s eyes widened at the following words. “What...!!” Stunned, he stammered. I ignored his shock. “There shall be no further dialogue. If you refuse to speak of the Divine Tree, so be it.” If he chose silence, I’d merely make him talk. Thump-! Power surged into my heart. Through it, I infused him with demonic energy. This part held more intrigue for me than anything else. Would a general, as the black one had, succumb to this sinister energy? Before the arrival of night for him, I intended to find out. Ssssss---!!! “Grrrrpp!?” Veins bulged in Yusa’s eyes as the demonic energy flowed in. Watching closely, I pressed in, pouring forth all my strength into the malignant force.