1125 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

A shrill scream-like energy shot up towards the sky like a beam of light, a visible aftermath of the Heavenly Demonic Soul Pearl. Around the beam of light, a vortex of energy swirled like a storm, busy sucking in every possible thing nearby. It was a bizarre and uncanny sight. Could that truly be a sight produced by human strength? Those observing the scene swallowed hard. The trembling of their legs couldn't simply be due to the tremors felt from the ground. The fear emanating from that force. A spectacle of a supreme realm unapproachable by mere martial artists. Like gazing upon a being placed above the heavens, martial artists instinctively felt reverence. "Ahhh—!!!" "Urgh......" "My ears...!" The booming energy seemed to scream, unbearably dreadful enough to make them cover their ears. Goosebumps arose involuntarily. Just as the beam of light, that shone for a brief moment, disappeared, the surrounding whirlwinds dispersed too. Following that, the full effect of the energy took its form. "Oh my......" "Tha-that... is...!" All who had been watching couldn't help but tremble. The white-tier monster that had been wreaking havoc, the catastrophe they thought could never be overcome, was... "......disintegrating." "Collapsing...... it is." Its figure, so damaged beyond recognition, was falling apart. Kya... kyaar... kyaarrr... Unlike before, when it was still able to regenerate, the monster could no longer do so, only letting out weak cries. At that moment. Hwaaa—!!! A black energy clung to the monster's body. It appeared just like 'fire.' Not different in attributes either, the clinging energy consumed all traces of the monster in no time. Leaving not a single trace. Thus, reduced to a handful of ashes, it was whisked away into thin air. The very moment the white-tier monster vanished. Kurururu—...!? Kya... kyaah—!! Even the red monsters that had been roaming the mountains and attacking martial artists reacted. While somewhat contained, the numerous monsters began to fall one by one. When they all collapsed, Kyarrr? The black monster that had been massacring the red monsters at the center seemed perplexed and tilted its head. Then, Kya-. It nodded as if it understood something. Then, Pssss—! The monster melted and was absorbed into the shadows, disappearing. The same happened with the large black monster watching from across the mountain. Instantaneously, all monsters vanished. Giiiiii—!!! A change occurred in the demonic gate at the mountain's center. "Master! The Great Demon Gate...!" "......What?" Upon his subordinate's words, Namgung Jeohui turned his attention. The Great Demon Gate, which had been spouting monsters, was beginning to distort. Creeeak... creeeeak—!! Like crumpling paper, the demon door started to crumble. Pong-! In no time, it too vanished, as if nothing had ever been there to begin with. "This is......" The martial artists exchanged bewildered glances. It seemed absurd that there had been a battle moments ago. In an instant, everything ended. All that remained was chaos, a testament to the monsters' presence. After a long silence, "We survived......" "We, we made it." "We're alive—!!" Everyone cheered, shouting with excitement. Understanding the situation wasn't as crucial as the sheer relief of survival. * * * Wowaa—!! Amidst the continuous cheers from one side, "Phew." I surveyed the situation here and there from behind my mask. It was good to have killed the white-tier monster, but my own condition wasn't particularly great. 'I used quite a lot of energy.' Summoning two white-tier monsters to fight and managing the real white-tier monster took a toll. It was the use of the Heavenly Demonic Soul Pearl that sapped an unusual amount of my energy. 'There was no other choice.' Upon confirming the monster's regenerative ability, it was evident that minimizing that would require significant damage. Using the Heavenly Demonic Power was the quickest solution. I had already verified that when struck by the Heavenly Demonic Soul Pearl, they lost regenerative capacity. I used that to neutralize the white-tier monster. 'It wasn't a bad plan.' The plan wasn't bad, even from my first encounter with a white-tier demon gate. 'I learned something new too.' It seems from the nature of a white-tier demon gate, if the white-tier monster is defeated, all subordinate monsters are eradicated as well. As evidence, didn't all the other monsters disappear? '......White-tier demon gate.' Considering no other monsters emerged. 'Only the white and red ones come out, apparently.' The green and blue ones didn't appear at all. Then, does it mean until the gate closes, one white-tier and several red monsters emerge? 'Wow, the difficulty is just insane, isn't it?' If so, it’s an utterly absurd level. 'How could anyone fend that off?' This was a level of challenge no ordinary sword sect could withstand. It was the same here. 'If I weren't around,' Even though there was a celestial being, assuming he did not come. In such a case. 'Anhui might have been erased.' Anhui itself, where the Namgung family exists, might have vanished. The white-tier demon gate posed that significant a threat. '......Yet, somehow we've managed to block it, fortunately.' No lives were lost. No thanks to the effort I put in striving around here and there. "Phew." I sighed, brushing my hair back. Perhaps because it was the first time I showcased my full strength here, I felt unusually exhausted. But, I couldn't let it show. There was no choice. "What's the matter?" Because there were eyes watching. At my words, someone approached from behind. I silently clicked my tongue, looking at the figure. It was my father. 'Ah, persistent, isn’t he?' He should have had enough earlier. What more was there to say as he approached me with a stern face? "I haven’t heard you speak yet." "Sigh......" I sighed. His stubbornness was no joke. What to do? Should I just knock him out? I didn't want to get physical with my father, if possible. But this was awkward for me too, so there was no other way. As I contemplated that and moved to approach my father. "Will ask you again......" My father spoke to me once more. But then. “Are you perhaps the former head of the Goo family?” "......" At my father's words, I had to pause. What did he just say? “What are you talking about?” I asked with a frown. Fortunately, I was wearing a mask; otherwise, my surprised expression would have been all too obvious. Why suddenly ask if I'm the former head of the Goo family? It was such an out-of-the-blue question. I was puzzled over why he would say such a thing when my father added more. "The power you showed just now. That's the strength of the Goo family, isn't it?” "......" Ah, so that's what it was. “He sensed it.” It seemed my father had sensed the energy. The Heavenly Demonic Soul Pearl was ultimately a force generated from the friction between the Fire Wheel Art and Heavenly Demonic martial arts. Perhaps he felt traces of it there. “If not that, then...” The fire of demonic energy used to burn the white-tier monster. Its source also ultimately being the Fire Wheel Art. He might have sensed it from that as well. It didn't matter which it was. “The important part is that he sensed something.” Even from that brief exchange, my father sensed something. That's the issue right now. "But sensing energy and asking if I'm the former head, what does that even mean?" It's puzzling. If we're talking about a former head... “That would mean my great-grandfather.” My great-grandfather. The current head is my grandfather, so my father is referring to my great-grandfather. “Do you see me as your grandfather?” “......I don’t know. That's why I'm asking.” My father himself didn't seem entirely certain. What should I say in response? The decision was quick. “It’s not even worth answering. Leave now.” I turned my back and took off. I neither denied nor confirmed it. Somehow, it felt like leaving it that way was best. “......!” My father seemed ready to respond, but he couldn't this time. For I had already vanished using my power. * * * Escaping the situation, I climbed a mountain—one that was at least not in ruins. In the midst of where the Namgung family and Anhui lay, at the center. I arrived at a mountain in between these locations and relaxed. “Phew...” Once I confirmed there were no presences around, I finally let out a sigh. “Agh... This is exhausting.” My whole body felt stiff. I brushed my forehead with the back of my hand to find it sweaty. “I’ve used too much energy.” Did the problem lie in using it all explosively at once? The fatigue clearly hit me now. “...I guess I'll need to rest a bit.” I've dealt with everything I needed to, so I should catch my breath here for a while. With things to mull over, I planned to spend some time here before moving on. ‘The power can still be maintained, so it should be fine.’ They won’t think I've disappeared. I left an illusion with the power of the wind there. At this distance, it'll maintain for about half an hour before fading away. ‘That's plenty.’ It was just enough time to take a much-needed rest. Plopping down by a tree, I closed my eyes. While keeping my senses alert, I intended to rest for just a short while. Thoughts circled in my closed eyes. ‘...Great-grandfather.’ Why did my father see me that way? Why particularly the former head. The meaning that carried was oddly intriguing. ‘Indeed.’ The Goo family still exists in this era. My grandfather whom I saw also exists. Therefore, this means... ‘Shouldn't it be easier to find out?’ The existential value of the Goo family, known to have stood as an agent for the master. I might be able to learn more about that too. ‘...Should I consider heading to Sanseo?’ I hadn’t planned on checking out the present-day Goo family. But now, it piqued my interest. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea.” Thinking it a decent plan, I muttered unconsciously. But— “You’re right, it’s not bad.” “Right? It's not a ba—” A response came. “......?” Opening my eyes slowly at the voice, There she was. “Hello?” “......” A white-haired woman with gleaming crimson eyes sat there. My mother was sitting there. ...Why was she here? I couldn't even be startled by this completely unexpected situation. “Hey.” Suddenly, my mother asked me a question. “Are you like me?” It was also a question I hadn’t anticipated.