1041 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 1041: The World's Best Friend "Why are there so many?" The presence felt exceeded imagination, far surpassing the usual hints of insects or wild animals. "Even without counting those, something feels off." The density of presences and their magnitude were unexpectedly high. To give an example: "More than Yaowol." The Yaowolgung that Yusa mentioned, even compared to it, this place doesn't fall short. If you consider it, maybe Mar-ryeong Mountain lacked such presences from the start. It isn't necessarily strange by common standards, but still... "Yet, that's what is troubling." It's what was seen while arriving that was the problem. "Feeling this many presences implies..." It means the distance wasn't large. Flying overhead, all that could be seen was forest. There was no space that warranted such presences. "Where is it?" Where could these presences be emanating from? He heightened his sensory perception. The presences became clearer. But... "...So many." There were many. Scattered all around. Something was odd. "To feel it like this is peculiar." The lack of any presence was a problem, but having too many scattered like this was also problematic. If nothing corporeal was there, it meant the situation itself was bizarre. "It's just a strange situation." He retracted his expanded sensory perception. Then, he was certain. "This is it." This was the place. If this wasn't the location of the Dark Imperial Palace or whatever it was called, this scenario wouldn't make sense. So then... "I need to find out." The next step was to definitively identify the Dark Imperial Palace. With that in mind, he immediately deployed his power. He didn't expand his senses further. With presences detectable everywhere, this method wouldn't lead him to the answer. What should he do then? The solution was simple. "Visit them all." Visiting each spot where a presence was felt was the solution. However, "Going to each one is a bit much." He only had one body, so he couldn't visit them all. Then, "I just need to multiply." If he could extend his body to visit multiple places at once, that would suffice. A resonant hum filled the air. He manifested his power. Behind him, the dimension split open, forming a demonic gateway. A black abyss opened with a resounding tear. From inside, Ferocious beasts emerged in large numbers. "Search." At his command, the beasts darted into the forest, scattering instantly as he closed his eyes. In that moment, Multiple perspectives appeared. The beasts' visions. They swept across the surroundings, making him dizzy. It was enough to make someone queasy, but he was accustomed enough to manage. "I always calculate the routes of techniques through my inner sight, so..." Constant calculations of martial technique paths made the beasts' perspectives tolerable. In previous battles, he noticed that he could share the beast’s vision and made use of it. The beasts swiftly comb through the forest. Their goal was to find something according to his will. Time passed briefly. One beast halted at the border of the forest. It was in front of an open expanse. "Found it." Although it seemed empty, he could sense it. "There it is." He snapped his fingers. The beasts dispersed, transforming back into energy. Now that he had located the position, there was no need to maintain them. He leaped towards the location. He landed in the same open plain the beast had seen before. It confirmed his suspicion. "This is the place." The presence could be felt strongly, even though nothing seemed to be there. "As if it could be infested." He chuckled. Thinking of that made the oddities even more apparent. "Curiously, no signs of bugs or animals here." Unlike other forests where the presences of insects and wildlife were ghost-like, here, they weren't detectable at all. This meant one thing. He focused his energy into his eyes, deploying his Inner Sight. Still, nothing was visible. He pushed more energy in. The power from his core channeled into his eyes, illuminating the backdrop. And then, "I see." A wavering became visible. Appearing in the field as if from nothing. He didn't lose track of it. "It's a spell." This was also a spell. Similar to the one spread across the Demonic Valley. The difference being, "This one doesn't seem to mask presences." The one at the Demonic Valley concealed space and suppressed any presences within, while this merely deceived space itself. "Hmm." Watching it, he extended his hand. His core surged with energy. The array of spells arose and spun around. Energy coursed along his fingers, brushing against the void. A hissing sound erupted as his fingers met the spell ahead. Instantaneously, the information within flowed into him. A complex and tightly woven spell. The intricacy was no small matter, but, "It's not too hard." It was straightforward enough. The bits shown before by the turtle were far more challenging. With precision, four deft movements were made with his fingers. Upon the fourth swirl, the void undulated. A surge scattered as the confined spell burst forth, thrashing. The reaction was intense, yet, he observed calmly and moved his hand once more. Inserting his hand into the tidal waves. While water normally defies capture, A spell differs. Within it lie many formulas and incantations. Understanding this flow, Grasping it was not difficult. There was a consistent thread within the tumult. Gathering and seizing it, With a tug, The void unraveled, bringing about a small transformation. He glanced down at his trembling arm. His hand shook slightly, not from fatigue, but because he left the spell partially intact, merely revealing the entrance. Doing so demanded more effort. He frowned at the disrupted space. A momentary lapse could sever the spell entirely. That couldn't happen. "It'll be found out." Admittedly, even this level might have already been detected, but he assumed otherwise. The opening revealed itself rather subtly. "What is this?" The atmosphere was drastically different. Outside, it was fresh, with a lush forest that seemed vibrant and full of life. "What is this?" The sight before him contrasted sharply with that. Yet all the presences came from over there. It was strange. "Hmm." He stood there, staring silently before letting go of the spell he had been maintaining. There weren't many options anyway. Going back was not an option. "I have to go." With heightened tension, he stepped through the entrance. * * * Entering through the gateway, the first sensation was stifling. The air was thick, causing his face to involuntarily contort. Where had the fresh air from moments ago gone? How could it be replaced with such an unpleasant feeling? "And what's that?" Beyond the air, the scene itself was troubling. "Is this a forest...?" It was a forest. Though lined with trees as if connected to the outside. But their state was bizarre. "They're all dead trees." The trees were charred black, completely void of life. No vitality was felt at all. The world here was no different. A sky of grim gray rather than black. A land that seemed lifeless. And yet, "Vitality." Contradicting all, vitality was sensed ahead. "What's going on?" Though the space seemed devoid of any life, vitality was felt in the distance. He moved his body. Suppressing his presence as much as possible, he flew calmly towards where the vitality was sensed. The destination was a cliff. The cliff was visible ahead. The vitality felt strongest below. Approaching the edge, he looked down. "What?" His eyes widened. The view from the cliff was one that demanded such a reaction. "What is this?" A massive fortress lay below. Larger than any fortress seen in Yaowol. The castle, towering in blackness, just looking at it gave a sense of unease and frustration. And, "A village below." Below the fortress was a village. Also clad in black but with vitality emanating from it. He cautiously descended. As he scanned the outskirts to enter the village, there were no guards. "How is there vitality here with no one standing watch?" Not even gatekeepers. Sensing the oddity, he entered the village. Yet, even then, no one was visible. There were no people, yet vitality was retained. What was going on? "..." He released the restraint on his energy. Slightly unveiling his presence, he looked around. There was a house. He approached it. Vitality was sensed inside the house. Placing his hand on the doorknob as he found the door, Crumble! The doorknob crumbled under his touch. It seemed like it had not been touched by human hands for a long time. With the doorknob gone, he tried the door handle directly. Crumble---!! Similarly, the door crumbled to dust. "Hmm..." Awkwardly clenching his hand, he stepped inside the house. Inside wasn't actually clean. Several signs of time passed, scattered all around, creating a mess. Creak. Stepping on the dust and fragments on the floor, he ventured deeper. He followed the source of the vitality and eventually found it. "...Insane." His face twisted at the scene that met his eyes. In a house devoid of life, how could there be vitality? Something was embedded in the wall. It must have been a living creature once. Even now, vitality was sensed from it. "This isn't... alive." A form resembling a person was petrified into the wall. No matter how he looked, it didn’t seem alive. Yet. Thump! Thump! The sound in his ears caused his eyes to narrow. A heartbeat. A heartbeat emanated from the person-like form affixed to the wall. "It's alive?" Even in that condition, it lived. How was this possible? While reeling from the gruesome sight, "Is it amazing?" A voice came from behind. His body moved instinctively. Whoosh---!!! An arm wreathed in flames lashed out as a reflexive attack. Thud!! Blocked by something. A closer look revealed it was a black spear. The spear had intercepted his arm. Flutter! Behind the spear's owner, black wings fluttered into view. "Welcome." The man addressed him. "So you're the one trying to thwart my plans. I am..." "What are you talking about, you fool?" Not waiting for an explanation, he unleashed fiery fury. Boom---!!!! Fire severed the space.