1056 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The world was split in half. At least, that's how it seemed to the man. With the sky as the starting point, petals bloomed profusely, and a thin line appeared to turn the horizon on its head. Something was dividing at the horizon. Crack. The man instinctively knew it was his own body. All he could see was a low angle view. An old man looking down at him from a higher floor. The one who introduced himself as a martial artist gazed down at him with an indifferent expression. "......How?" A barrier that should never be crossed. Unless one attains enlightenment, or the world undergoes drastic changes, it was an impossibility. "A mere wretch like you—." A foreigner from another world. His strength was acknowledged but that was its limit. Without a barrier, one could never reach him. That was the law and order established by the world. "Ugh......" The man felt his body splitting and glared intently. "This cannot be." His voice seemed to come from two places. "Mere." He couldn't accept being defeated by someone without a barrier. "By the likes of you--!!" Tzzzzztt-!! Just before his split body fully separated, something tentacle-like spewed from the cut. What emerged stretched across the cut, merging his body back together. In an instant, not only was he restored but- "Ha-!" He felt a form superior to even his original state. The man marveled at the formidable energy and divine power. "This is......" It was clear how this had happened. The man immediately looked to the sky. "O heavens!! As expected...... it was you!" It was Him. Undoubtedly, He had bestowed another blessing upon him. Not to allow a defeat to such a lowly foe. So that his allegiance wouldn’t suffer this pitiful defeat. Thus, the blessing was given. Realizing this, the man attempted to smile radiantly. "What?" He realized something. What was it? Why. "Is my gaze." Why was it moving on its own? It even spun around. His vision spun dizzyingly, and it wasn't long before he saw it. His own body. His neck cut cleanly and separated from his body. The moment he confirmed it, he realized his neck had been severed. But it was too late. Petal Ten Thousand Slash. Petals bloomed from the sword's tip and filled the sky. That many slashes poured onto him. Crraaaccckkkkk---!!!! Like petals caught in a hurricane, the tremendous torrent of slashes shredded him. In an instant, his head turned to dust, and the same happened to his body. Everything became dust. Leaving not even a small piece behind, Shincheol swung his sword at an imperceivable speed. “…….” Shattered into dust and vanished. Only then did Shincheol cease his slashes and look at the spot. Watching the slowly dispersing dust, he turned his gaze. There, a turtle was bleeding. Step. He stepped down onto the floating petals, gently descending to the ground. Reaching the ground, Shincheol inspected the turtle. A lot of blood was flowing. Seeing that, he brought his hand to its abdomen. Wooosh---!!! He infused energy to stop the bleeding. “For someone so confident, what’s with this state?” He chuckled softly, and the turtle frowned. “……It is because you lay around sleeping that I ended up like this, yet you speak so flippantly.” “Well. Thanks to you, I did have a good rest. How is it? Can you endure?” “Do I seem like I’m enduring?” enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013NjdCQnJrenRBeFJ3RlFTUWM3VkJ0L2MxTDd6RU1JRVNTYlVMSERGb2ZFcQ “No?” He looked as though he might die any moment. “Thank you.” “…….” Having accomplished this much, Shincheol was genuinely grateful to him. Hearing this, the turtle showed an awkward expression. “……It's unnecessary. Enough.” He requested to pretend ignorance, avoiding the awkwardness. Though there was a creeping feeling, there was an even bigger issue. “Nothing’s really over yet, is it?” Upon the turtle’s words, Shincheol's expression became impassive. He was right. Shincheol turned his back and looked into the air. Empty air where nothing was visible. Looking there, Shincheol murmured. “How long do you plan on hiding?” His low, prickly voice swept through everywhere. Even though it was just a voice, vibrations spread. At that moment. “Oh. My.” With a startled tone. Crackkk---!!! The air shook and began to crack. Despite the sudden events, Shincheol and the turtle weren't particularly surprised. They had expected it. And after some time. Whooosh---!!! A massive gust surrounded a wide area, resembling a swirling vortex. The sky was obscured, and because of the vortex's color, the ceiling appeared to be tinted gray. After the space appeared. “A curious thing, indeed.” With the previous voice, even the cracks in the air changed. Creeeaak-!! It tore sideways, and eyes emerged from within it. “How did you know?” “It was obvious, wasn’t it?” Hearing this, Shincheol smirked. Whir. The sword spun around. Slaaash---!!!! He slashed horizontally across the eyes. Yet, for a strike that landed, there was no change to the eyes. “A proper introduction, perhaps. Who might you be?” Even then, Shincheol casually spoke, and the eyes slightly narrowed. “For a greeting, wasn’t that a bit too aggressive?” “That’s the charm of such greetings.” Shincheol grinned, and the eyes laughed. “Hahaha--!!” Crrackk. The ground quaked with laughter. “Cough-!” The turtle, unable to withstand the tremors, spat blood, and Shincheol lightly snapped his fingers. A petal fell, touched the turtle, and formed a thin barrier. “Interesting. Just like the beings from your world I’ve seen before, you are no different. Quite entertaining.” "In the past? Who did you see?" "Well, I’m not someone who has the luxury to remember names. I just recall that they came. They were quite interesting." "......Hmm." Who could it be? Another person from the Central Plains besides himself. He wondered for a moment but quickly dismissed the curiosity. It wasn’t important right now. "Then let me ask you something else." Ssss. A crimson aura wrapped around his sword. "How did a being from another realm descend all the way here?" "Huh." The eyes widened at Shincheol’s question. "You’re quite perceptive." "Wouldn't it be strange not to notice?" A being capable of influencing myriad realms to this extent. Shincheol knew the moment he saw the man with white wings that something had happened. "Who are you?" He asked, pointing his sword at the eyes. "Who dared to disturb my precious sleep?" An arrogant tone. Indeed, he had the power to be arrogant. The eyes thought this as they observed Shincheol. The body that contained power beyond that small barrier was indeed noble. To the point of envy. "I am known as Taicheon." "Taicheon......" "Since the birth of the sky, I've been the only one standing supreme." "For such a great one, what brings you here?" Shincheol nodded slightly as he asked, and something began to move in the air. Dust. Ash-gray dust flowed and gathered before the massive eyes. Before long, it took shape. It was the winged man, the one Shincheol had turned to dust. "Because I had business here." "Because I had business here." The words from the eyes echoed through the man. "In the myriad realms?" "Yes. I just happened to have some business here." "For mere business, you seem quite excessive." Barreling in without permission and creating chaos. How could this just be business? "The homeowner isn't here, so I’m just thinking of quickly finishing my business and leaving." "Oh, so this is trespassing." With those words, a flash erupted again. Shincheol’s sword extended, aiming to cleave the man. Schreech-! Stopped as though blocked by something right before the target. But it didn’t matter. "Huup!" Crash-!! When blocked, it was just a matter of cutting through. With a shout, he poured power into the sword, unleashing the mental blade. A massive blade poured down, striking the man. The body was split in half again. It seemed the attack was effective at first glance, but... "Tch." Shincheol retreated immediately. He glanced at his sword. The blade was free of any stain. A troubling sensation. "You’re quick to sense." The man, Taicheon, commented as he observed Shincheol. "I like it. So let me ask you once. Would you become Taicheon?" "Hmm?" "I'll give you what this poor creature could not attain. How about it? Do you want to move beyond that small barrier and become the sky?" The sky. At that, Shincheol glanced up. The gale dyed gray by the storm was visible. "The sky. It's a fine idea." A pleasant notion. If he could ascend to greater heights, it would be an admirable desire for any martial artist. "But you see." Lowering his gaze from the heavens, Shincheol looked at Taicheon. "It only has meaning if I make the ascent myself. Not by being pulled up by your worthless hand." "I see." With the firm refusal, Taicheon nodded. "Then just die." Kuuurrrrr---!!! With Taicheon’s words, enormous tentacles burst forth from his shadow. Dozens of giant, grotesque tentacles. The chaotic, vicious masses descended upon Shincheol. "Ssss......" In response, Shincheol steadied his breath and infused energy into his sword. As he thrust his blade to block the attack. Roaarrrrrr---!!!!! "Hmm?" A blaze engulfed the tentacles before his eyes. Kuguugung-!! He felt the scorching heat sweeping across the ground. It was a white flame. "Ha." Shincheol turned his head toward the direction where the flames erupted from. There. "……You always appear so flamboyantly." A fiercely rugged youth with a twisted face. Goyangcheon glared at Taicheon with murderous eyes. As Taicheon turned his gaze toward Goyangcheon. "The damned bastard dares." Goyangcheon cursed, enveloping himself completely with the white flame.