1060 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 1060: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive** "No-ya...?" No-ya, with his chest pierced through. Seeing him like that, I asked weakly. I tried to rush over to him, but my vision swayed at its own will. My legs gave out, and I stumbled repeatedly. Determined, I forced strength into my knees and approached him. "No-ya...? No-ya." I questioned him as I drew near. No-ya, looking at me, smiled, displaying his pearly white teeth. "Ah, how unfortunate. It’s even more so because my body isn't whole. If only I had a little more time." "Right now... Is that really the issue? No-ya, your body is..." "Yangcheon." No-ya placed a hand on my head. He gently caressed me. "Even if you try to hold onto the setting sun, you cannot stop the night from coming. You already knew this, didn't you?" This was a fate that No-ya had accepted as inevitable. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to accept it. "No... There was a way. I've been desperately searching for the Divine Tree for this moment...! Because of someone, I..." "Because of whom?" "...What?" "Was it truly because of me? Or was it something you sought for yourself?" "...!" I was momentarily speechless at No-ya's firm words. "I know you're very lonely. But if you cling too tightly, it just becomes unattractive and unsettling, you know. Tsk, tsk..." "Do you think this is the right time to joke around...?!" Rattle. Fragments began to fall from No-ya's body. I tried to grab them with trembling hands. “Leave it.” No-ya shook his head and stopped me again. "Did you see what this old man wanted to show you in the end?" "...I don't know. No, I didn't see." I spoke with trembling eyes. Yet, in my mind, another thought surfaced. 'Bloom.' Just as he had created a tree, he told me to make something bloom as well. Even though I understood, I pretended not to. I didn’t want to acknowledge it. Admitting would mean it was over. “You clever fool.” No-ya seemed to understand my heart completely and dryly laughed. "I've always teased you for being a fool, but I know you're clever. You're just pretending not to notice." "Please, don't praise me. Just curse me like you always do." Why is he praising me now? "I cannot bloom what is yours. My tree will grow no further here." "...What are you telling me to bloom? I can't do such a thing. I don't know how." There were so many lessons yet to be learned. "Please." So please, don't go. Please don't go. I held onto No-ya's sleeve, but even that crumbled away. "I believe you know why I told you not to come to me." "I said I don't know. I'm too foolish to understand such things." "Have you seen enough? I'm not good at teaching, so this is the best I could offer." "Please, just listen to me." What should I do? How do I handle this? How do I resolve this? My mind isn't working. Grit. Drip. When I bit down hard, blood trickled from my lips. 'Damn it.' What use is reincarnation? What difference does another chance make if it isn't ordinary? 'Damned fool.' Watching No-ya's crumbling body, there was nothing I could do but... "Haha? Look at this fellow. Is he crying?" "Not... I'm not crying." There was nothing I could do but tremble while holding fragments in my broken vision. Even then, No-ya’s body had already started to collapse. "Ah, damn... Damn it, what should I...? What can I...?" “What do you mean, what should you do, you fool?” As I was struggling, No-ya gave me a gentle thump on the head. "Just accept it. However much affection there was, it couldn't have been much." "For... For now..." Is that really something you should say to me? Just as I was about to respond. "I'm going first." No-ya said with a smile. Crumble. He turned to dust and fell apart. "Oh... Ah..." I stopped as I looked at the particles gathered in my hand. They were just dust. Dust of what was once, or pretended to be, a body. I stood there silently, staring. It felt as if my body had broken down. I was blankly staring at just that when... Crumble. Another sound of something breaking echoed. No-ya's body had already been reduced to dust. What else could be shattering? In my blurred vision, I soon realized. The sound came from me. 'Ah.' It was the vessel. The vessel that had been crafted as I became a dragon. It cracked and shattered after becoming unstable recently. Finally, it collapsed from within. Realizing this. Hissss. The energy stored in the vessel spilled over, engulfing my consciousness. * * * “Hmm.” Taechun, who had been observing a dazed figure in silence, finally spoke. “Such a pity.” It was indeed a loss. Seeing such an opportunity after so long. No, not even after a long time. “This is the first time I've seen such a genius. What a pity.” Born insignificant at first but breaking through barriers by sheer will alone. I had never seen anything like it. How could such an existence be? Leaving the worth of the soul aside, it should be a soul mixed with profound conviction and understanding. A normal soul should have crumbled long before enduring such things. “The one that broke was the body, not the soul.” The soul seemed ready to withstand everything, but the body couldn't contain it. The false nature was to blame. “Truly a shame.” Whatever the purpose, such a thing should be observed. Within the mortal life defying time, witnessing such an event was incredibly rare. “Compared to that…” Taechun looked at Shinchul, a remarkable object, and then turned to what Shinchul had left behind. The reason it persistently wielded a sword against him till the end. “For the sake of just that?” A body encasing a dragon. Or a body containing a dragon within. Whether it was the purpose of a Dragon King or merely a fissure. Taechun pondered as he looked upon Guyangcheon. “What is it intended for?” It's clear this represents an unforeseen fracture in the world. Whether the Dragon King crafted it intentionally, or it’s the will of another being, it’s certainly not what the world desired. Nonetheless. “For all that.” Something like Shinchul is far more precious. Rather than being determined by the intentions of others, a life lived solely for one's own growth is indeed valuable. Why would one willingly sacrifice themselves for something like this? Moreover... "What were you trying to show?" What was Shincheol, who sought to realize their potential, trying to display to that? Whatever it was, it felt like a meaningless sacrifice. That thought wouldn’t go away. As if there were no further sentiments to express, Taechun spoke thus and withdrew his gaze. He relaxed his eyes as he spoke, then surveyed his surroundings. "Then. Now." The intriguing spectacle had ended. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013NmhXRkhpVXRyRVFYSnZablp3bFV0S2FpNmlJOGNpWjZ1VS9pQkhaMFRnZQ Time was running out. Recalling this, Taechun spoke. "I must move swiftly." Clear the surroundings and fulfill the objective. Maintaining the descent any longer would alert the myriad realms. No, perhaps they had already noticed. If they had, that might be for the best. Because even knowing, they couldn't come. "Something significant seems to be happening." That arrogant one has yet to show themselves, after all. It seemed likely he had eluded the world's eyes. "Good." This was a fortuitous chance. Things being as they were, he could place the myriad realms within his grasp. If only he could achieve that... "I will obtain the world itself." A stepping stone to rise higher than ever before. Taechun took a step with a grand ambition in mind. Towards Guyangcheon. The ominous presence needed to be dealt with first. If it couldn’t be removed, it would be absorbed. With that in mind, he approached. Swish. Someone appeared before Guyangcheon. Something with black hair. It was also a dragon. Taechun could sense it. Not just that, but he could also sense what lay buried within it. "The dregs of the Dragon King." "…" A mocking smile appeared. "So, the pitiful traces of that wretched thing's struggle. It's quite a sight." "Hmm..." At those words, the woman—Cheonma—scratched her cheek. There seemed to be a certain resolve in her usually listless eyes. "Your words are repulsive. Dregs, you say." "Mm?" Taechun frowned at Cheonma's words. Something felt off. "You. What are you?" Watching her, something felt uncanny. She was different. Something was smeared all over what should just be a mass of energy. Even with his standing, he couldn’t perceive it all. An impossibility. Even as a mere avatar and not in his full form, should he not see through such a mortal being? "Who..." "No need to understand. Besides, I don't want to fight you. I just don't like you very much." A captivating smile. Taechun narrowed his eyes at it. Simultaneously, he prepared to move his hand. "You know of me." "Of course, I know you well. I've picked up a few things thanks to you, but..." Cheonma brushed back her hair. Her violet eyes glowed against her pale skin. "But aside from that, it seems like I shouldn't allow our darling to get tangled with you." "What do you mean..." "It's enough now. We've stalled for plenty of time." "Mm?" At the woman’s words, Taechun showed a puzzled expression. Creak. Guyangcheon's body began to change. Muscles swelled, and his form began to alter. White fur proliferated, and a tail emerged. A behemoth. The once distinctive features were entirely gone with his now enormous build. "Growwwwl." A monstrous transformation. "Huh?" Watching this, Taechun let out a dry laugh. It wasn’t surprise at the transformation. This was... "...Divinity?" A sign of someone who had surpassed their limits. That was its aura. "Ha. I see." He realized. "So this is what the myriad realms have been up to. Plotting such a thing all along." Taechun understood what the master of the myriad realms had been attempting. Just as he was about to express his anger upon this realization... "Rooaaar--!!!" The monster lunged at Taechun. * * * I opened my eyes. "What...?" The bright light blinded me, forcing me to rub my eyelids to disperse it. An unfamiliar space revealed itself. A white expanse. Within the whiteness, something floated. It appeared like ash, proved by the burnt scent filling my nostrils. "...What is this all of a sudden?" What is this place? Why am I suddenly here? While I was bewildered by the inexplicable circumstances... "...Wait, where is this?" I began to recognize it. I had been here before. Remembering the occasion, it was probably related to the incident in Sichuan. When I fought that guy Dae-Hyeon and ended up here after swallowing that strange elixir. It seemed like this was that place. "Why here again?" Why have I come to such a place? I clearly remember. Ah. "No-ya...!" Master No-ya. I remembered him vanishing as his body crumbled. Recalling No-ya's death, I widened my eyes in shock. "Why are you calling?" "Uh...?" A familiar voice spoke. I immediately turned my head. There, standing before me was... "What... No-ya?" “Why are you calling me?” Master No-ya was standing there, looking perfectly fine. Seeing him, I spoke without thinking. “How are you... alive?” “…What did you say, you brat?” No-ya's expression twisted at my words.