1141 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Swoosh--!!! The wind whipped through my hair for quite some time. The fierce wind pressure naturally made me squint, causing me to instinctively close my eyes. ‘…Just how far are we planning to go?’ Dishonorable Venerable. How long had I been flying, having been caught by this cranky old man? It seemed like at least half a 'gak' (approximately 15 minutes) from my perspective. If we've been flying at this speed for half a 'gak', where exactly have we ended up? ‘I wonder if we've left Hanam.’ It's entirely possible. Although there's no particular reason to leave Hanam, considering the calculations, there's a chance we've crossed its boundaries. As we flew for a considerable time, finally— Boom-!!! A shockwave reverberated as Dishonorable Venerable landed with a crash. The ground shattered and bounced with the impact. Whirr-! He released the grip he had on me. My body spun in the air. Harnessing my powers, I landed with precision. "Hoo-!" I let out a breath. He grinned sharply and spoke to me. "Running like this after a long time feels refreshing. Not bad." “…I almost died.” What was he thinking by suddenly grabbing me by the neck and leaping? I relaxed my tense body and spoke to him. "Why did we come all the way out here?" I had no clue about this place. All I saw were forests and trees everywhere. What was his reason for dragging me here? Upon asking this, he looked at me with gleaming eyes. “Don’t we have some matters to discuss? And surely, it’s not me but you who doesn't want to do that where Sword Venerable is, correct?” “….” I had no words. He was right. "The rascal. After saying something so crucial, you flee to Hanam. What am I supposed to do with that? Do you want me to relay everything to that old Sword Venerable?" “...No, that wasn't my intention. I was just in a rush, and I couldn’t help it.” Not really, I did flee. Otherwise, who knows how that old man would have reacted. At least there was one thing I could count on. ‘He likely won’t snitch to Sword Venerable.’ Having known Dishonorable Venerable for some years, I had some understanding of his character. I trusted he wouldn’t act frivolously. Especially because this concerned something else entirely. ‘It’s about the martial arts.’ He is one who has pursued mastering the Art of the Heavenly Disruption as his life’s goal. His student is yet to be discovered, and he’s thought about reversing the effects of aging due to his decaying physique. With someone like me appearing before him, the only thing reflecting in his eyes would surely be one thing. ‘Martial arts.’ The techniques I mastered in the Art of the Heavenly Disruption. That’s all Dishonorable Venerable is probably concerned about. “No matter. I’ve thought over your words since then.” As if to prove it, he said, looking at me. “I can’t be sure if what you say is true or not. It sounds absurd… but.” It was a ridiculous statement. I never believed that Dishonorable Venerable would just take my words for truth. However, given his expression, I could predict what his following words would be. ‘Whether he believes me or not isn’t crucial.’ It’s not about believing my words. What he should trust isn’t just empty talk. “In the end, it’s the Art of the Heavenly Disruption within you that I’m interested in seeing.” He trusts the martial arts. Not victory or defeat, but only the martial arts unwaveringly sought by Dishonorable Venerable. I believed he would trust the strength harbored within me. “I’ll ask you once again.” He clenched his fist. It was a sturdy fist, appearing twice as large as the fist of the young Dishonorable Venerable I remembered. “Are you indeed my disciple?” “…It seems so.” Given the situation now, yes. “Are you?” “Yes.” “Then, to what extent have you mastered the Art of the Heavenly Disruption?” “…Up to the fifth form, Parrupture.” ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVckV0dzdRa1dUdHVieDRkWW5KMFlONXhtaXV4d3VMdmJVU25QU2xjTFp2cQ “Parrupture?” He tilted his head. His expression was distinctly puzzled. “What do you mean? The fifth form shouldn’t be Parrupture, should it?” “Is that so?” Was it not? The fifth form I learned is Parrupture though? “Seems you don't know what Parrupture as a martial art entails. Show me.” After saying so, Dishonorable Venerable approached a nearby rock and perched himself upon it. Then, resting his chin on his hand, he looked at me with a curious gaze. Ha. ‘Now it makes sense.’ From his reaction, I understood. The reason for dragging me all this way, instead of asking directly, and additionally asking to see my martial arts rather than converse— ‘He’s curious.' If, as I claimed, I truly traveled through time, and as I said, I am indeed his disciple. ‘The differences in the Art of the Heavenly Disruption that I have mastered.’ He’s solely focused on that. ‘Really.’ It's baffling how driven by madness this man is. “I always think about it, but sir.” “What is it?” “You are truly remarkable.” “…Hmm?” “I often get called crazy wherever I go, but I learn a lot from you, sir.” That there are far crazier people in the world than me. “…What did you say?” “…Never mind. Just watch from there.” Anyway, it’s true that he sided with me. It’s also true that I am his disciple. I can do this much for him. With that thought, I steeled myself. Boom-!! A rebound sensation surged as energy expanded within my meridians. Instantly, the aura of the Art of the Heavenly Disruption enveloped my entire being. Saaaa—!! It was rugged and crude. Meanwhile, a violent energy began to stir. Controlling it bolstered my body with vitality. Parrupture (破天) is to shatter the heavens. For that to happen, there must first be a sky. Thus, one must first conjure the fourth form, Creation of the Sky. Twist-! A sensation of heat rose from the energy dominating my meridians. This fierce energy, if mishandled, could shatter me. Yet Dishonorable Venerable sought this physical body. The divine body, born anew through metamorphosis, quells these side effects. With the sky firmly established within my body. The heat generated by the Art of the Heavenly Disruption was condensed and focused at my fingertips. Whoosh—!!! “Huh?” Dishonorable Venerable let out a breath as he watched the energy gather in my palm. The gray sphere began to coalesce, taking shape gradually. Not long after, a perfectly formed sphere materialized. Seeing it, I immediately clenched my palm, distorting it. Parruption. Crack-! The created 'sky' shattered, unleashing a tempest. Kwaaaaaaah—!!! Waves imbued with pressure slashed through the surroundings. Instead of merely spreading, the explosion spiraled outward with blade-like rotations, devastating everything nearby. Screeeech---!!! Rocks and trees, ground and grass—everything was consumed not long after. Hisssss!!! I controlled the energy and suppressed the aftermath of Parruption, stopping it just shy of the rock where Dishonorable Venerable was seated. Retracting the Parruption before it reached his toes. Then— “Haha.” Dishonorable Venerable laughed, looking at me. “Hahahaha—!!” His laughter seemed to indicate some sort of satisfaction, and I wondered why as I watched him. “This is the fifth form, you say.” “Yes, that's what I was taught.” “…You've crafted something peculiar indeed. I once pondered what to insert between, but ultimately what you selected was to utilize Creation of the Sky?” Was it disappointment or admiration? His expression was difficult to interpret. His gleaming eyes were just unsettling. “A fifth form of Parruption. Not bad.” With that, he appraised it and stood up. Additionally— Whoooosh---!!! “…!” A gray sphere rose upon his palm. It was Parruption. ‘What? Since when?’ I was taken aback. To have reproduced Parruption identically? No, that wasn’t it. ‘I didn’t sense him using Creation of the Sky.’ Typically, Creation of the Sky, which imbues your body with immense power, can be felt intensely when used. But I hadn't sensed a thing. Yet suddenly, he produced Parruption? ‘…Without a doubt.’ His management of energy surpasses that of the Dishonorable Venerable I once knew. It hinted at how much reverse aging had taken from him. Swish-!! He tossed the Parruption into the sky. In that moment— Kwaaaaaaah—!! The sky erupted with Parruption, and as if creating ripples, the energy surged out. It was strong. An immense pressure followed. "Good. I'll make use of the fifth form." Dishonorable Venerable nodded, satisfied with himself. He continued. "Now, you've mastered up to the fifth form… or is it that you haven’t learned the sixth form?" "Yes." "Why? Didn't I teach it to you?" "No, it wasn't that." There were too many incidents before I could grasp it, leaving no time to learn. I was occupied enough perfecting the Nine Flames Revolving Technique. There was no room left to learn the Art of the Heavenly Disruption. "Hm… is that so?" He tilted his head, contemplating my response. “It doesn’t seem like you lacked the prerequisites… hmm. Is that right?” “Why do you ask?” “Oh, it just seemed fortuitous.” “Pardon?” “I saw something good… If it were up to me, I would certainly not alter the sixth form. It couldn’t be more perfect than this.” “What are you—?” Before I could finish. Tap. He appeared right in front of me. Thump-! Instinctively, my eyes narrowed. An internal sense involuntarily opened. My heart pounded rapidly. Instinct roused the energy within me, forming a protective aura. A clear instinct for survival. “I’ll now teach you the sixth form. The method will… undoubtedly be fastest to learn physically, don’t you agree?” There was no time to respond to Dishonorable Venerable’s words. He was already moving his arm. “The name of the sixth form is Ilkwon (One Fist).” A crude and unadorned name. True to its name, his fist extended lightly. “Master it well. For it is a power no one can withstand.” What followed was anything but light. Thud. With a subtle contact. Rumble. The world around twisted and distorted.