1046 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

--- **Chapter 1046: The Heavenly Tower of Blue Light** --- A vast column of blue light crashes down, easily surpassing the chasm I had created. The earth quakes violently, to the point where standing upright requires exertion of one's aura just to remain steady. "Ugh." I barely managed to stabilize after being knocked back by the impact. But, the force of the wind threatened to push me back again. With a crunch, my feet dug grooves into the ground, further cementing my precarious footing. I grimaced, infusing more inner energy into my body. Only when cracks began to appear beneath my feet from bearing the weight could I stop myself. Reaching out, I grasped at the air, pouring my energy towards it. With a swoosh—!! The aura emanating from my fingertip wrapped around the person beside me, holding them in place. The restrained figure, Yarang, turned to look at me. Although the mask hid their expression, the gaze was unmistakable. I saw no animosity in that gaze, only a neutral curiosity. Luckily, there was no sign of hostility. That fleeting thought I brushed away—now wasn't the time for such musings. ‘There's something more pressing that needs addressing.’ The insane pillar before me demanded attention. ‘What is that?’ What could that enormous structure be? The tension was palpable, and the answer was elusive. The problem was... ‘The sensation it carries is even more profound.’ What kind of energy could be contained in such an immense column? Yet, it wasn't merely vast aura. ‘It's all life force.’ The pillar was composed entirely of life force—vital energy, the innate chi with which living beings are born. Condensed and concentrated into a single form. It was overwhelming. Never had I encountered such raw and unchecked vitality. What sort of energy was this? One wouldn’t even need to think hard to know. The source of that life force was all too evident. ‘The crystal.’ It was the life force escaping from a crystal. It accumulated in the sky, then came crashing down. ‘That crystal…’ Ever since my arrival, the surrounding crystals exuded vitality—a pervasive presence across this ash-gray land. A single glance at the crystals told me everything. ‘There was life inside.’ Though concealed within crystal, the beings trapped within breathed—they still lived, suspended in time. How grim. What cruel force allowed them to persist in such a state? ‘Was this its doing?’ The final general known as the Raven. It seemed as though he intended to execute some clandestine plan, unknown to my mother, only to hastily resolve an unforeseen outbreak. ‘This?’ The result of those plans was this pillar? What folly. What could it possibly mean? Endless energy poured forth, holy yet somehow sinister, once its origin was discerned. ‘This isn’t the time to dwell on it.’ Indulging in such thoughts was a luxury I could ill afford. The crisis demanded resolution, or it would spell disaster. Instinctively, I knew this. With a clench of my fist, I focused my energy beyond the barrier of force. Though I unleashed flames with full force, they were feebly diverted. “Wha—?” Preposterous. They were rebuffed? The absurdity was undeniable. I watched, eyes wide with shock. At that moment, Yarang clutched my collar. As I turned, naturally, it was Yarang. She pointed to her sword. “Mistress.” A dark aura enveloped her blade. “……!” Recognition dawned. Was it a hint to wield the demonic aura? The question surfaced simultaneously with doubt. “You…” How did she know I could wield demonic aura? I wanted to ask, but conditions were less than ideal. I pushed the inquiry aside, pouring strength into my core. Whoosh—!!! Instantly, flames surged around my body. Grasping the fire that climbed from my shoulders, I accessed the depths of my core. And then— With a crackle, the flames changed hue. Not a transformation; rather, it was as if a shroud lifted, revealing pure white fire beneath. Pama (破魔)—a unique aura designed to annihilate demonic forces. A cleansing fire enveloped my hands. Seizing the white flames, I manipulated my energy. Flames rose, changing shape from a gleaming orb into a divine spear. Though it was my first attempt with white flames, the task wasn’t daunting. There was only a slight discomfort at my core—otherwise, fine. Grasping the forged divine spear, I stood ready. At that moment—Yarang, too, charged her sword with light. Noting her readiness, I pivoted sharply, and Yarang followed with her sword. The white flash cleaved through the air. Sword stroke and divine spear both converged on the pillar. Though the force of the wind diminished their strength momentarily, it was fleeting. With concentrated energy funneled precisely, they held firm. Light and energy surged forth. And then— With a slight thud— A resounding boom— An explosion spread, disrupting the pillar and splaying its shards. The aura inverted and shot skyward. A mushroom cloud erupted. Life force and white energy billowed into a disturbing cloud, spreading. Lowering my gaze, I sighed heavily. It’s not over. ‘What about that figure?’ Pama was effective, severing the flow of energy. ‘Still here.’ It exploded, causing disruption. Yet, from the ripples, it was clear. ‘Not dead.’ That presence persisted—worse now, even. ‘This sensation…?’ An increased sense of foreboding. My skin pricked, unease crawling along my nerves. The smoke dissipated. I initiated the dispersal, waving the air clear with my hand. I needed to see ahead. --- No matter how hard I strained my eyes, I couldn’t discern what lay within the cloud of smoke. As the smoke dispersed, an unsettling figure emerged. “…What is that?” Something was there. A body, breaking free from its shell, began to rise. Though it bore the form of a human, its skin was unnaturally white. Wings, once pairs of two, now numbered three. A raven? Could that be the raven? It appeared drastically different from before. What could this be? ‘Is it even a living being?’ Was it something that drew breath? Even seeing it, the mind struggled to comprehend. Hair, long and flowing, whipped across the ground. The creature rose to its full height, unveiling its massive wingspan. Its gaze turned, eyes peering from beneath its cascading hair. Blue. An intensely azure gaze. It was the sky, condensed within its eyes. Chill ran down my spine. “…!” I felt a shiver course through me upon meeting its gaze. A sensation akin to staring directly at the sky. An unfathomable entity, impossible to comprehend intellectually, regarded me intently. It was then. “How repugnant.” The creature spoke. The voice seemed to descend from above, strange and authoritative. “Even hindered thus. How could you pierce the divine blessing? It baffles me.” A shiver ran through its foot. A step back. Instinct from the human part of me screamed to flee. The dragon within whispered to devour it whole. The juxtaposition was surreal: terror at facing the unknown, yet the dragon’s impulse to consume its strength spoke to me. Regardless, the encounter signaled the face-off with an unreasonable existence. “Unattained, even halfway. A shame. Yet…” The creature vanished. Instinctively, I moved. “Even this suffices. What of it?” It had already closed the distance. “How does it feel to stand before a truly great being?” “….” Those blue eyes bore into me. I bit my lip, realization dawning. ‘I can’t win, can I?’ There was no path to victory. Its aura, even presence, couldn't be sensed. Only a feeble life’s resonance. I clenched my fists. The dragon’s instinct urged me relentlessly to tear at its throat. ‘Damn it. Stay still.’ I forced myself to adhere. “What are you?” I demanded. “Ha.” The creature chuckled softly. “Facing me, your spirit remains intact. That deserves praise.” It grinned broadly. “If you must know,” it continued. “I am the new master of all worlds, sent by the heavens.” “What kind of nonsense is this?” New master of all worlds? What bizarre claim was this? An abrupt assertion of dominion—utterly senseless. Realizing my confusion, I glanced back at the creature. “It matters not if you don’t understand.” Its eyes formed crescent shapes. “You need not concern yourself.” Upon those words, something shifted. An unsettling automatic response from within. With a swish, its hand infiltrated my shoulder, too fast to counter. At this rate, my upper body would be shredded. Eyes wide with danger, I tensed— Something intercepted. With a flash! A figure pushed me back in its place. Slice—!! The figure took the attack for me. It was Yarang. “What?” Yarang fell. Thud. The black mask she wore slipped away. Rolling across the ground, her face emerged, meeting the world once more. A familiar visage. The face I longed to see so dearly. “….” A face now lay powerless, fallen. Motionless on the ground. “Ah.” An involuntary gasp escaped. Then— Something snapped within my mind.