1068 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 1068: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Clang. Clatter---!!! The continuous sound of machinery moving echoed incessantly. A woman lifted her head in response to the endless noise. She peered into the darkness, where nothing could be seen. She looked towards the direction of the sound. In the pitch-black darkness, the noise came from afar. A door that was supposed to be perpetually sealed stood ajar. It was a door that should never have opened, no matter what transpired. Regardless of how much time passed, it was a door that should have remained closed forever. And yet, it was wide open, brilliantly so. The woman stared blankly at it. Shoooshhhhh----!!!! A black flood surged out of the open door with a frenzy. The torrent gushed out, swiftly filling the desolate, charred space where the woman stood. Shoooosh. Water seeped under her bare feet. Her eyes trembled at the sensation of water rising as if it was lapping at her skin. How? How did that door open? The woman was at a loss. She had used every method to seal it. It was never supposed to open. Its opening meant that her choice had been wrong. Or perhaps... 'The forgetting has been undone.' She had forsaken the most important thing for the sake of her decision. It implied that someone’s forgetfulness had been lifted. ‘No.’ It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. How could something she had locked so securely be undone so easily? Shoooo--!! Pushing through the rushing water, the woman advanced. It was a wave that would have filled this endlessly vast space. This torrent, filled with everything she had experienced over countless eons, threatened to bury her, but... Nevertheless, the woman did not stop. No, she couldn’t stop. Somehow, she had to reach the door and shut it once more. She had to. The door that had reopened was like a miracle. Leaving it open might be beneficial for her. ‘No.’ But it wouldn’t be good for him. Determined, she pressed on. Even as the water weighed heavily against her body, she didn’t halt. After a long while, she finally reached the door. With a distorted smile as her sole companion, she stretched out her hand. The door resisted, but she applied force. Creak... creak, creak. Thanks to her efforts, the door began to close slowly. As she braced against the current, attempting to close it fully... Suddenly, someone grasped her wrist firmly. “……!” Her eyes widened in shock. It was an impossible place for anyone else to be. To feel another person’s touch here? The startled woman hurriedly checked who held her wrist. “Ah…….” The moment she saw the face, she let out a low murmur. It was someone she never expected to see in this place. A face she longed for always. A face she desired endlessly. The one who carried warmth in those distinctly indifferent and wild eyes. He, who was everything to her, stood impossibly before her. “You……” As she began to speak towards him, “Yehwa.” “……!” He called her. The name she thought she'd never hear again. Upon hearing it, Yehwa’s body froze like stone. Her efforts to close the door ceased. Slowly, the young man released his grip on her wrist. Observing Yehwa's reaction, he asked. “Is this your name?” “…….” Yehwa couldn’t respond to his question. Or rather, she didn’t. She felt she shouldn’t answer. Yet. ‘Name? A name, huh... Well...’ ‘From now on, you are Yehwa. Let’s go with that.’ Despite that, she desperately yearned for it. She couldn’t articulate her thoughts. She remained silent. Surging emotions from the door she failed to close finally engulfed her entire being. Thus, Yehwa's abode filled with the black sea. * * * Boom-!!! A resounding explosion accompanied by violence. A spear shattered into two, tearing through the space. Far off, the distorted sky revealed the immense power of Taechun, but... “...Hahaha.” Despite showcasing such formidable strength, Taechun could only muster a resigned laugh. Thud. Something fell from his body. Checking what hit the ground, it was his arm. The severed arm from Taechun rolled on the ground. In no time, it disintegrated into dust. “How could something like this happen...” Despite the severed arm, Taechun didn’t even flinch. Instead, he stared straight ahead with a distorted expression. He was trying to behold the entity that had severed his energy and arm. Before him stood something beyond belief. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013eGcyN29HMWtOakhuZStVcEMrai93RGNwSHlHM1RoelJQNHdFLkZFVkFPQQ Rumbleee---!!! What could one call it? A mass of darkness gathered so densely it appeared utterly alien due to its absence of light. It couldn’t even be called night. It was pure darkness itself. The amorphous shapes expanded and contracted, repeatedly gathering and dispersing. Standing before such an unknown form, Taechun was left speechless. “How could something like that exist...?” Finally managing to speak, it was only a question. How could it be anything else? All that strangeness was divine power. An immense divine force of unknown origin. “...To that extent, isn’t it akin to the main body descending?” The possessor of the divine presence. To Taechun, the amount of divine power was akin to the descent of the deity itself upon the earth. Yet, even considering such, it was too powerful. The pressure was enough to affect the entire world. Such immense pressure could not be contained by the world itself. As proof... Creakkkkk---!!! Cracks began to form at the point where the darkness originated. Though initially shallow and faint, they would soon expand at a rapid pace. “…….” Taechun narrowed his eyes. An anomaly. Everything up to now had been anomalies, but this time it was even more so. Such a massive anomaly was overwhelming to bear. Even for Taechun, that darkness was intimidating. “Where on earth did it come from?” It was already too late to consider it merely a part of the Dragon Emperor. This was a solitary divine presence. Even among those beings, few possessed such an overwhelming sense of divinity like this. In this vast world, only a few like the master of Multiverse could be compared. “I can’t understand.” Taechun voiced what he felt while observing the darkness. “Why do you emanate the aura of Multiverse’s god-like presence?” This was the reason for Taechun’s bewilderment. It wasn't just one divine presence. An amalgamation of countless divine beings. Even more unsettling, “...I can sense my own divine presence.” A familiar sensation squirmed within that abyss. Even Taechun's power was there. How could such a thing be possible? “What on earth…” What is it that you harbor within you? Taechun was immersed in these questions when suddenly, Woooom---!!! The writhing darkness calmed and began to take shape. From a formless mass, it gradually molded into a human form. Initially, it was shrouded in shadow. Then hair emerged, its skin morphed, and color filled its eyes. Violet eyes. White skin and long hair. It was the exact appearance of the woman Taechun had just battled. “……!” Seeing her, chills traveled down Taechun’s spine. The same? Impossible. Fwoosh. The woman, having reformed her body, was nothing like what he had witnessed moments ago. “Huuu…” With a soft sigh, her hair fluttered. Her half-closed violet eyes locked onto Taechun. Aaaah. The surrounding darkness transformed into a garment, draping over her like a robe. A cloak of black fur hung over her shoulders. In her hand, a much more distinct sword than before. The woman, now fully transformed, “Aaaah…” Covered her eyes with her hand and sighed. “Why…?” Why had things come to this? She herself seemed unable to comprehend. “You… who are you really…?” Attempting to speak, Taechun was interrupted. Boom--!! An immense pressure bore down on him. He shut his mouth. Creaaaak-! With a sound of bones cracking, Taechun dropped to his knees. “Ugh…” “...Hush. My head aches too much to listen to you right now.” The woman looked at him as he collapsed. Her gaze bore intense emotion. “You… are just…” It was overwhelming. In terms of divine value, it was at the pinnacle, truly. This was undoubtedly the descent of her true form. Her presence suggested a divine power similar to his own. Yet, how did she manage to descend? “Multiverse would not permit it…” With such overwhelming power trying to enter, Multiverse itself, not its master, should have blocked it. Yet, how could she do it so effortlessly? While Taechun, collapsing, inquired. “Permit?” She responded with a faint smile. “That was buried ages ago.” Referring to a day no one else could remember. “……” Hearing her answer, Taechun’s face contorted. “What are you?” The question of her identity, asked yet again. He expected no answer this time either, yet... “Identity.” With eyes that appeared somewhat dry, she answered. “Cheonma (Heavenly Demon).” She uttered the words casually. Taechun tried to react, “But return now. I don’t have time to concern myself with you anymore.” Swick. A black line traced across, cleaving Taechun’s head in two. Thud. As his head hit the ground, it crumbled into dust much like his arm had earlier. Watching the dust scatter, Yehwa turned with slightly trembling eyes. Behind her, Guyangcheon watched with a thoroughly exhausted expression. His face suggested deep thought.