351 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Hot.** That was the first impression of becoming a demon. From head to toe, everything was scorching. It's not the heat from a fire skill. Even compared to the notorious energy of martial aura or internal energy, demonic energy is much more fierce. It seeps into the martial artist's body. Blocking and rotting the internal force ultimately stems from the dislike of any energy moving through the body besides one's own. As with the Heavenly Demon, who was said to be the source of demonic energy. So flows the intention of the one above all others. And becoming a demon means. The body becomes capable of wielding such demonic energy. It means that demonic energy can intertwine with martial arts to unleash even more ferocious power. The constant boiling hostility of the demonic energy. When it harmonizes with the body, the body inevitably heats up. "Hu." The heat escapes from me naturally. It's not the warmth from fire skills; the body, heated purely by its combative energy, presents another sensation. Those who experience this feeling for the first time often get consumed by it, soaked in madness. But for someone like me, I've dealt with it so often that I'm quite seasoned. I've put considerable effort into preventing that fate. 'Stay calm if you don't want to die.' Ssss.... When I assertively pressure it internally, it quiets down as if it understands. The reason demonic energy runs wild is simple. It doesn’t align with its master’s will. Since the beginning, demonic energy was a power bestowed by the Heavenly Demon, so perhaps it doesn’t acknowledge the demon practitioner as its master. Thus, from the outset, it was subdued. I established my position, asserting that I am its master. Although engaging in a battle with the rampant demonic energy nearly caused my body to burst apart, I ultimately resolved it. ‘Is it severed?’ Is the connection line with the Heavenly Demon and demonic energy severed? Even observing the Heavenly Demon now, I no longer feel the same resonance as before. ‘Was it this easy?’ The thin line I saw at the time I aimed to become a demon. Cutting that line seemed to cause some change. Could it have been achieved if it was such a simple matter? ‘No way.’ It's an absurd thought. If it had been that easy, I wouldn't have struggled in my past life. Did I say it could have been severed if I wanted to? Preposterous! It's merely a transformation. One amidst the numerous changes I have felt in this life. And it seems that an unknown wish from someone unknown is intertwined with that transformation. I seemed to grasp that faintly. "...Ah...No." Startled by the panicked voice, my gaze turns. It was Wi Seol Ah, clasping her mouth with both hands in shock as she looked at me. I examined the white aura still lingering around her and the power gathered at the tip of her sword. Then I looked up at her face. Her features matched the Wi Seol Ah I knew, but... Her eyes. Seeing the look in her eyes as she watched me, I had to furrow my brow. The subtle difference in that gaze irked me. "Stay right there." "..." Wi Seol Ah flinched at my words. "It seems we have a lot to discuss." "...Ah." Her large eyes trembled. With such big eyes, it was easy to see such things. Now that I think about it, what color are my eyes at the moment? Red or perhaps purple? Swish. I brushed my hand over my face, but of course, I couldn't tell. If I were to express a slight thought, it's that while my skin, always filled with heat, should feel hot, it felt cold. Inside, it felt increasingly heated due to the characteristics of demonic energy, yet my skin was cold. This contradictory sensation. It's been a while since I've felt this. Thud. Turning my head to the presence drawing near. There, the Heavenly Demon with those distinct violet eyes was looking up at me. "...Ah." It wasn't that I didn't notice her approach. I simply watched since there was no hostility. This is also a difference. Being able to sense whether the Heavenly Demon had hostility or not. And despite feeling the approach of such a being, I only felt tension instead of fear. "How did you do it?" A somewhat awkward but precise pronunciation reached my ears. Was the Heavenly Demon's speech always like this? Or is it just this way in this era? "What do you mean." "That thing." The Heavenly Demon's fingertip pointed at my dantian. "My thing.... How did you do it?" What was she referring to? It seems she’s talking about severing that connection we had. If not that, perhaps she means something concerning the demonic arts swallowing heaven. Seeing this reaction, is it alright to think I really severed it? “Why would that be yours?” “It’s mine.” Engaging in even a short conversation with the Heavenly Demon stirred a strange feeling. Because I had never conversed like this before. Her features became clear. Unlike the past, when I could merely recognize her as resembling Wi Seol Ah. The appearance of the Heavenly Demon became clearer. Her gaze, seemingly vaguely intimidating. And her eyebrows, as though something displeased her. Among those features, her particularly vivid purple eyes. Was this the original feeling? The being so feared and revered now felt strangely close. Was it because she resembles Wi Seol Ah? No, it couldn’t be. -I am the Heavenly Demon. Much must be different. Both the current Heavenly Demon. And the current me. ‘Was this the original feeling?’ The Heavenly Demon, who once seemed like a figure with confidence skyrocketing to the heavens, transforming the concept of being above all others into a human form. The current Heavenly Demon feels fundamentally different. “That’s mine.” Her demeanor, expressing displeasure, seemed almost petulant. Her cascading hair catching my attention each time. -The Archlord. So different from the one who once looked down on me. ‘Can it be like this?’ Recalling the appearance of the Heavenly Demon in my past life. I was barely past my early twenties, just a few years into my journey. Could someone so young have changed so drastically in such a short time? ‘Is it possible she’s not actually the Heavenly Demon?’ The thought crossed my mind, but it was a meaningless conjecture. Isn't it still felt through the senses? The incomprehensible energy contained within her small frame. A power so overwhelming that it concealed its presence, making it difficult to perceive. I looked into the Heavenly Demon's eyes. Still glaring, as though displeased, they looked exactly like Wi Seol Ah's when I took away her sweets. **This naive being, eventually becoming the Heavenly Demon.** Is this demeanor also an act? Perhaps it is. But that doesn’t matter. “You say it’s yours? No, it isn’t.” I gathered the demonic energy within me. It reached the upper dantian in an instant. Fiercer and faster than any internal force. Demonic energy aligns with my martial arts, securing a much more powerful position. That is the strength of demonic energy. The energy that surged over my shoulder quickly spread to the void. “What... what is that...?” Heukya Archlord, watching with a faint expression, coughed up blood. The Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened. Was the energy emanating from my body familiar? The demonic energy, manifesting its true nature, spread. The instinct of demonic energy is domination and greed. The energy, spreading as though to claim everything as its own, ascended into the sky. Mixing with the black barrier. Creak... creak. And then. It began to gnaw away at the barrier covering the sky. Feeling the flow, I spoke to the Heavenly Demon. “It’s mine now.” The demonic energy coursing through my body now doesn’t belong to the Heavenly Demon. Even if its origin is the monstrous or the Heavenly Demon’s demonic power, Demonic Absorption Art. Implanted into my heart. Contained within my body. I suppressed the demonic energy, seized its will, and imprisoned it. Now it’s mine. “...” The Heavenly Demon, listening to my words, said nothing for a moment. Then silently, she extended her white hand toward me. I didn’t intend to comply quietly. Firmly. Just before her hand touched my face, I seized her wrist. Despite my hands not being large, I easily enclosed her slender wrist. The moment the Heavenly Demon's and my bodies made contact. Kiyaaaaah-! The demonic energy within me suddenly screamed. It wasn’t the feeling of wanting to return to the Heavenly Demon from earlier. This time, the hostility was so intense, it even surprised me. Just moments ago, it was throwing a fit to return, yet now this? Unbelievable. Ha. Just as I inwardly sighed at the absurdity, it felt like the intense reaction came not only from me. Kiaaaa! As if the Heavenly Demon didn’t expect the backlash, she quickly retracted her hand. Those startled eyes were fascinating. It meant the Heavenly Demon could make such expressions too. “...” Her eyes, as she caressed her wrist, were unsettling as they focused on me. Watching those eyes, I drew out more demonic energy. Devouring the black barrier, it grew larger. Compared to the force that had pierced before using extreme abilities, it was incomparable. Having consumed more than half. But the sky beyond wasn’t red. A black hue darker than the barrier’s color. Affected by the intermingling demonic energy and inner force within me. Is it now Hekcheon instead of Cheokcheon? ‘In any case.’ It’s peculiar how martial names that have a ‘black’ in them conjure such a lousy feeling. Even in past lives, I never liked it. Swoosh. Contrary to my words, black flames flared around me. It was preparation for the battle with the Heavenly Demon ahead. ‘Could I capture the Heavenly Demon here?’ Frankly, I hadn’t thought of it. I always assumed a confrontation would eventually happen. Wouldn’t it be so? If I truly intended to take on the role of the Divine Sword wielder. Someday, I’d have to defend against the Heavenly Demon in its place. Is now that time? ‘It’s too soon.’ Much faster than anticipated, but oddly, there’s no hesitation. Perhaps it’s a relief. Compared to the nearly complete Heavenly Demon. Killing this young Heavenly Demon might at least be easier. I opened my palm. Whoosh! The black flames around me concentrated on the palm. The gathered energy created a colored flame bead of the same hue. I could feel it. This flame bead was much stronger than the ones I’d normally produce. If it exploded thoughtlessly, it could obliterate the surroundings. ‘It’s too much to change so drastically just by becoming a demon practitioner.’ I have surpassed half the power I had in my previous life. To reach such strength simply by choosing to become a demon practitioner. No wonder power-hungry factions in my past life flocked to the Demonic Sect. As the flame bead was completed, I turned to the Heavenly Demon. Noticing my hostility, she looked up at me with a curious gaze. Her hand moved just like before. “…!” Unexpectedly, reaching for the flame bead instead of attacking. For a moment, I hesitated at a behavior different from the anticipated attack. But I still moved to unleash the flame bead toward the Heavenly Demon. Snap. “What?” Until the Heavenly Demon casually took hold of the flame bead and crushed it. Despite the enlightenment and the far stronger energy gained from demonic transformation. Crushed it? Boom-! Rumble-! The aftershock from the explosion on my palm wreaked havoc around us. Trees that were rooted got uprooted effortlessly. Of course, the shockwave wasn’t strong enough to carry me away, so I managed to hold my ground. But I couldn’t calm the rising surprise. ‘What on earth?’ What just happened? As I looked at the Heavenly Demon with a bit of a dumbfounded expression. She was pouting. She briefly examined the traces left on her hand. There were scratches on her palm, indicating it wasn’t entirely without damage. But that was it. Just that. The Heavenly Demon, observing her bleeding palm, then looked up at me again and spoke. “I’m leaving.” “What did you just say?” “I want to leave now. It’s boring.” Thinking I misheard, I asked again. But the Heavenly Demon, leaving those words, really turned and walked toward Heukya Archlord. Upon her words, the space behind Heukya Archlord began to tear. It was similar to the demon gate seen at the Heukya Palace. What is this nonsense they’re pulling? Appearing out of nowhere and now planning to leave? Am I supposed to let them go just like that? “What kind of nonsense is this?” Whoosh. Flames enveloped my entire body. I couldn’t possibly let them leave like that. Did she think she could disregard me? I gathered the flames bottled within my body into my fist and extended it outward. Nine Flames Hell Technique. Kwaaaa-! The move representing the form of a beast. Violently mixed with demonic energy and burst forth. The heat it emitted was enough to dry the plains instantly. Without breaking stride, the Heavenly Demon slightly turned her head towards me. With a light, swaying motion, she swung her hand. What could such a delicate motion possibly achieve? Though the appearance seemed weak, the result was anything but. **Whoooosh—!** **Rumble!** "What the...!" The earlier standoff with Wi Seol Ah seemed like child's play in comparison. A completely different energy emanated from the Heavenly Demon. The black energy swallowed the flames of my Nine Flames Hell Technique, then immediately poured over me. An overwhelming wave of energy crashed down. The speed and vastness of the aura struck the ground where I stood head-on. **Crrash!** Everything shattered and split around me repeatedly. Rocks crumbled like paper; the earth split and vanished with ease. The landscape was transformed. This was caused by a mere wave of the Heavenly Demon's hand. What was astonishing was that, despite being attacked by such an energy, I suffered no harm. The Heavenly Demon’s assault veered away from me. I instantly understood that this was an intentional gesture by the Heavenly Demon. It meant ‘do not bother me.’ Until now, everything she had shown was mere playfulness. The way she had fought Wi Seol Ah earlier— Was it just playful trickery? As I faced the Heavenly Demon with a shocked expression, she spoke. "Next time... let's meet again." "What...?" "You're interesting. I want to see you again." The Heavenly Demon, somehow, seemed to be smiling while saying that. Having left those words, she casually walked away. As the Heavenly Demon passed by Heukya Archlord, the Archlord suddenly levitated. "O...Oh, Heaven's Will." Despite his whispered plea, he didn't even warrant a glance. In the end, the Heavenly Demon and Heukya Archlord vanished into the demon gate, **Thunk.** The gate closed swiftly, leaving no trace. Watching it, suddenly, I staggered and sank to the ground. "...!" Wi Seol Ah rushed over, enveloping me in her arms to support me. Gazing at the half-erased ground, I had to swallow a gasp of breath. I corrected my misconception. Wasn’t she an incomplete Heavenly Demon? No. The small entity I encountered just now— She was already complete.