1012 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The space from which the Divine Tree disappeared quickly became filled with darkness. The sunlight, which seemed to be pouring from nowhere, vanished in an instant. The same went for the meadow and the lake; before I realized it, all those things had vanished as if they never existed in the first place. The light disappeared, and darkness fell. I surveyed the situation in the now dimly lit space. 'What is this...?' When did everything change? Just moments ago, it was a dazzling place, and now it has transformed into this. Despite sensing the strangeness, there was an inexplicable feeling that it was only natural for this to happen. Where did this notion come from? It's not information derived from my common sense. Without the Divine Tree, it was natural for it to become like this. There were unknown pieces of information embedded in my mind, appearing as though they emerged due to the seepage of the Divine Tree's aura. 'If the Divine Tree disappears, it’s natural for this to happen.' Why? How? Such questions do not exist. It was an understanding embedded within me that it would be so. Thud. I took a step forward. Heading towards the entrance I came in through. There was no need to open a door. Although I'm sure it was closed when I entered, it was already open. Ahead stood a staircase. If I were to descend, it would take quite a while. Climbing up, I discovered the hole I had come down through. I strengthened my toes and leaped. With swift motion, I ascended back to where I had entered. Once I returned to my original position, light was streaming in through the window. It seemed night had passed, and it was now day. Sensing the passage of time, I heightened my senses to perceive any signs of life. In that moment. Saaaah---!!! "...!" Narrowing my eyes due to the overflowing influx of information, I felt overwhelmed by the myriad sounds and smells. It was to the point of nearly causing a headache. I quickly narrowed the scope of my sensory field. Doing so made things bearable. “Hooo...” I heaved a sigh and rolled my eyes. How did everything suddenly come to this? The range at which I could sense had expanded enormously. Although it's partly because I had reached transcendence that my sensory range had increased, it had gone beyond a reasonable level. With just a slight elevation, I could feel the presence and sounds across the entirety of Yawol. This was... 'Could it be the effect of absorbing the Divine Tree?' As I had absorbed the Divine Tree planted in Yawol, I speculated that I could feel the aura and sounds from around Yawol. Somewhat like. 'Just as Yusa did.' Knowing most events occurring in Yawol, just as Yusa had said. I speculated that I had gained the ability he possessed. '...It's quite noisy.' Even a slight increase in my senses revealed such a chaotic expanse, making me somewhat understand Yusa’s peculiar personality. With this chaos, it felt like I too would go mad. I tried to regulate my senses and moved on, leaping onto the roof of the meeting room with a spark lighting up my transition. "…." Taking a deep breath, I gazed up at the crimson sky. The recent occurrences felt as if I had awakened from a dream. Witnessing the tale of my mother’s reincarnation, and hearing the story from there—it all seemed like a dream from a single night. Or not. 'Perhaps it's just that I wish it were a dream.' Maybe this thought stemmed from a desire for this not to be reality. It was only natural. What with revelations regarding my birth and the confirmation of unsettling suspicions. Naturally, hoping it was a misunderstanding or a dream seemed normal. "…A calamity." I am the calamity destined for the martial world. Or perhaps, I am to become the calamity of the martial world. The reason my mother, the Master of Myriad Worlds, had given birth to me was to create a calamity within the martial world. Because of that, I was born. It's unclear how I would become a calamity. The meaning of my existence was just that. "Haha." I burst into laughter, interrupting my thoughts. What I've realized recently is that when life is tolerably bad, it’s another story, but when it’s extremely so, laughter comes instead of curses. “Hahaha. Damn it.” Of course, a curse occasionally slips in alongside. “...This is really messed up.” Life. And yet, it can no longer be called life. Neither a dragon nor a beast. What should I be called, indeed? Asking what I am only brought forth the answer. 'Monster.' A monster. Now, even denial seemed futile. That word fit perfectly. “...” Thinking of this, I looked at my palm. Now that it was daytime, I had reverted from the form of the moonline race. Looking at my palm, it seemed no different from that of a human. ‘That’s only how it appears.’ Inside, there were far too many traits for it to be true. I could now clearly feel how I had strayed far from humanity. At first, the decisions I made for myself, or perhaps those I perceived as necessary choices. In hindsight, it felt as though it was all a part of destiny. ‘Even if I was born human.’ I had lived a life far removed from humanity. This might have been a predetermined destiny. Now that I think about it, it seems so. “....” An apprehension rose over the shallow water. I somehow suppressed it. Smack! I slapped my cheeks hard with both hands. To get a grip on myself. Although the situation was indeed unbearable, and my current state of mind wasn’t ideal either. ‘I must get hold of myself now.’ I had to stay composed, no matter what. ‘It’s not like there are no methods.’ My mother had promised she'd find a way. She asked me to endure. Her words were, at least, somewhat consoling. 'Even if it weren’t for her words.' Even without my mother's words, I couldn't collapse here. ‘Whether it’s true that I might become a calamity or not.’ At present, I had to prioritize things beyond myself. ‘Noya.’ I need to save Noya. Seeking the Divine Tree in Yawol was for that very reason. I must rescue Noya. ‘But, did I gain anything from the Divine Tree?’ What was gained from the Divine Tree of Yawol? Though I acted to gain the godfruit and to fulfill my mother's plans. The result didn’t yield much. ‘All it means is that I must go to Moryeong Mountain for the next Divine Tree.’ Each Divine Tree contains something my mother had left behind. If I follow this sequence and finish each task... 'Can I obtain another godfruit?' Upon encountering the Divine Tree of its master, could I once again acquire the godfruit I consumed? I considered this aspect more important than the brief conversation I had with my mother. Whether she came to birth a calamity or that I would become a calamity. Even more significant than the fact that my mother intended to do something to prevent it. The method to save Noya. That's what I was focusing on. '...Whatever it is.' Ultimately, there’s only one conclusion. 'I need to find another Divine Tree.' Whether it’s to discover what my mother is preparing or to save Noya, what I need to do right now is to find the next Divine Tree. For that purpose... 'I must go to Moryeong Mountain.' I needed to head to Moryeong Mountain, where the next Divine Tree was said to be. I determined this as I took a step forward. Whoosh—! Scintillating sparks flew in broad daylight. * * * I returned to the Hwasan Sect. I was curious about how Yawol would change after Yusa's death, but there was no time to observe it. I wanted to head to Moryeong Mountain immediately. In truth, I wished to leave at once. But I couldn’t. Because of what my mother had said. 'Find the Abyss.' Abyss, one of the two rulers of the Myriad World and, at the request of my mother, had stayed with me from the time I was in the martial world. Noting the Blood Demon’s reaction, I thought it might be an extraordinary being. I never expected it to be an entity of the same level as my mother. 'I was even more surprised when I saw it for real.' When I first arrived at the Myriad World, it was the one I encountered. Not its true form, but as Noya mentioned, it was merely a subordinate form it had sent. 'Despite that, it had such a presence.' Its presence was utterly overwhelming. It felt like standing before an insurmountable wall. Absolutely something that could not be overcome. Moreover. '...The source of demons, they said?' Abyss, the origin of the beings emerging from the Devil’s Gate. The master of Abyss, where perishing souls are destroyed, explaining the demons that couldn’t be contained and thus emerged from the rift. Abyss was said to be the source of all demons. Then. 'Is the source of demonic energy also Abyss?' The demonic energy possessed by demons. Or the demonic power used by the Heavenly Demon. Since it was similar to the energy he used, should the power held by the Heavenly Demon also be considered a force of Abyss? 'For such a consideration, something seems a bit strange.' If pressed, that seemed to be it. But then. 'How?' How does the Heavenly Demon wield demonic energy? Looking at it, it didn’t seem like an entirely different power. There’s something connected. Though I don’t know how, something certainly exists. That’s what I've thought. Thud. I stepped forward, standing at the end of the path. In the distance, the Divine Tree of the Hwasan Sect gleamed. Even looking at it, I couldn’t proceed any further. “Tsk…” It was problematic. To see Abyss, I needed to go to where that Divine Tree was. ‘I can’t go there.’ I couldn’t approach the Divine Tree. Didn’t the turtle warn me? Noya must stay near the Divine Tree, and I mustn't approach it. ‘What should I do?’ Unlike my mother telling me to seek Abyss and ask questions, meeting them itself became a problem. To inquire, I must approach. But I can’t approach, can I? That was something I had forgotten. “Um…” What should I do? How can I find a way to encounter that entity? As I pondered solutions... -Grr. “...!” I heard a familiar growl. Behind me. I immediately turned my head, and there... -Grrrr. A creature resembling a wolf, Grung, stood on four legs, staring at me. That part was fine, but the problem was... “...What are you doing?” The Heavenly Demon was sitting atop Grung, waving at me with an exceedingly confident expression. “Hello.” With that audacious look, she waved her hand at me.