1161 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Crack--!!! The sky is collapsing. There are no words to aptly describe it. The consequence is captured in just that single phrase. The golden light, originating from the Overlord, branched out rapidly in all directions, overcoming the blazing flames and shooting straight into the sky. Crackle, crackle--!!! The rampant energy crushes the sky, reducing it to fragments. It's a raw and violent energy, embodying sheer destruction. A pure emotion, wrapped in this energy, seems to start quieting the entire sky. ‘It really feels like it’s breaking.’ Sky-Breaker. True to the name of Tua Pacheonmu. The energy genuinely shatters the sky. No, it’s not that the sky literally breaks, but rather that the perspective makes it seem that way. ‘…What is that?’ The form of the energy. Adorned with destruction, it affects the space itself. What on earth is it? ‘…What am I seeing?’ I took in the aura of the Overlord in its entirety, as if missing a small detail was out of the question. ‘Is that the path?’ Could that be it? The direction that enhanced the technique I saw from Gu Seongyeol. Everything that momentarily bewitched me subsided upon seeing it. Uuuung-! My Mind’s Eye activated on its own. The sight of the energy's form and density unfolded before me. ‘It’s overwhelming.’ The moment I laid eyes on it, shivers ran down my spine. ‘What is this?’ A complex web, tightly woven. A sandcastle that could crumble at the slightest mistake. While the delicate structures formed by the energy appeared robust, they precariously rested in positions where even a minor misstep could cause them to crumble instantly. ‘Strong yet fragile.’ How could there be such an alien force? And what about the precise control necessary to maintain it? It’s evident it could collapse with the slightest tension, yet the Overlord maintains it effortlessly. It's astonishing. The essence of Tua Pacheonmu is destruction. Its energy is rough and vehement. Just how much mental fortitude is required to control such a precarious and delicate form and state? ‘…It’s unfathomable.’ Considering I’m currently learning Tua Pacheonmu, it’s even harder to believe. This shouldn’t be possible. And yet. ‘He’s doing it.’ The Overlord has achieved it. Any warrior witnessing this couldn’t help but be awestruck. “Heh, heh, heh.” Sensing my gaze, the Overlord laughs. “Boy, seems like you've got keen eyes. Close your mouth lest you start drooling.” “……” “Do you see it? Answer me.” “…I see it.” “Good. What do you see?” “I see you struggling a lot, Master.” “Cheeky brat. Is that what you call an answer?” “……” But truly, what else could be said? “…I can’t even begin to guess how you’re maintaining this, though.” “How much do you see?” “It seems like you’re trying to brace the energy to keep it from faltering, yet it flows without hindrance.” “Not a bad answer.” The Overlord nods, seemingly satisfied. “But I still don’t understand how it’s done.” “That’s alright. With your current mind, you’ve seen something beyond your grasp. How could a novice comprehend fully cooked meat?” “……” What on earth was that dismissive comment? It left me feeling quite miffed, yet I couldn’t come up with a rebuttal. “I hadn’t planned on revealing it, but since it’s come to this, I thought showing you would be right.” The Overlord begins moving slowly. With just a single, decisive step. Craaaack---!!! “…!” The ground collapsed entirely. The expanse it covered was unbelievably vast. “Watch closely.” The Overlord takes two steps forward. “This is the Seventh Stage. The name is… Ah, yes.” Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds. “That will do nicely.” The Overlord laughed, and destruction ensued in chaos. Kuaaaaa--!!! Covering my ears, I managed to suppress the splitting sound with energy. Broad clouds break the sky. It's an apt description. The scale resembles that of an immense legion. Two mere steps transformed the world. ‘…This is madness.’ How could something like that be created? As I was in awe, bewildered by the sight. “This won’t be fun.” Flickering flames accompanied the voice. “So, this is the violent spectacle you wanted to show off.” It was Gu Seongyeol’s voice, tinged with amusement. What followed was unexpected. Uuuuuuuung-!! “…What?” Above the fractured world, red skies descends. Crimson skies indeed. ‘…What is this?’ The feeling was entirely different. The surrounding temperature rose the same, the changes were similar, but. ‘It’s sticky?’ Something felt sticky. It was the only expression that fit. “Run wild.” Gu Seongyeol laughed. Even facing the Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds, he laughed. A tingling flame floated in his palm. Fwooooosh-!! “…Insane.” An ember, initially small, rapidly expanded. Its size, achieved through sheer energy, was incomprehensible. A massive flame orb, expanded for size alone. Seemingly devoid of any nuanced techniques. Simply filled to the brim with overwhelming energy. The existence stemming from such a crude and direct method was colossal. “Hahaha-!” Witnessing it, Biju laughed. “You’ve grown even cruder. You’ve not changed a bit.” Talking about the energy, of course. In unison with his casual insult, his energy intensified. Watching this, Gu Seongyeol hurled the flame orb. An infernal orb, grand as a descending sun, descended upon the Overlord. But. With Tua Weaponry. The Overlord cloaked by Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds employs Tua Pacheonmu’s martial arts. Screeeech-!! The air tore as a hole pierced through the flame orb. Boommmm-!!! In an instant, the dismantled flame orb burst apart, and the energy gathered swept the surroundings. The forest path shattered, dissolving to ash. Despite this, Gu Seongyeol showed no surprise at his failed attack. His gaze simply shifted, seeking the Overlord. Suspended in midair, he remained as before. Not moving an inch, he lightly waved his hand. Fwooooosh-!!! The scattered flames on the ground ascended towards the sky. Flames, imbued with intent, followed Gu Seongyeol’s command, aiming once more at the Overlord. Crunnnch-!! Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds deflected the flames, creating an opening for the Overlord to charge at Gu Seongyeol. "Move, you mad dog. Will you just stand there idle?" "......" The brawl commenced. The Overlord, engaging with sincerity, seemed to channel all his strength into combating Gu Seongyeol. In response, Gu Seongyeol started coordinating his moves, matching his intensity. They were swift. The sound couldn't keep up with their rapid pace. ‘…This is...’ The level of two grandmasters. One was a recognized grandmaster from the start, while the other had surely reached that echelon as well. Seeing my grandfather's strength was startling, but beyond that, I couldn't tear my eyes away from witnessing these two titans clash. ‘…Why are they even fighting?’ Why they had suddenly started fighting over a meal was inexplicable. Even the fact that they were exchanging such devastating blows at this formidable level was baffling. Just how far do they plan to take this? The battle grew fiercer by the second. Surprisingly, it was Gu Seongyeol who seemed to be getting pushed back. The Overlord, adept in close combat, was keeping the distance tight, and the flames Gu Seongyeol cast were being countered by Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds, leaving him at a disadvantage. As the skirmish progressed rapidly, a brief pause occurred. Thud-!! The Overlord widened the distance, locking eyes with Gu Seongyeol. "What are you doing?" His voice carried clear disapproval. "Do you have no intention of doing this properly? If so, there's no point." Creak--!! Without deactivating Sky-Smashing Vast Clouds, the Overlord spoke to him. "There must be something you wanted to show your son, right? Isn't that why you listened to me in the first place?" The Overlord spoke, glancing somewhere. Opposite of me stood my father. He too, shared my bewilderment, watching the ongoing duel with astonished eyes. "If you're going to do it, do it properly. There's nothing more pointless than a boring fight." "......" Hearing the Overlord's words, Gu Seongyeol ran his fingers through his hair. “Hm.” A subtle sound of contemplation. That became the turning point. ‘What the…?’ A chill crept up my spine. What is this? A strange sensation urged me to focus my gaze. Fwooosh-!!! An immense wave of heat was unleashed. My head lifted instinctively. At the end of my gaze stood Gu Seongyeol. "Young Lord." Gu Seongyeol called out to my father. "…Yes." Before my father could finish responding, Gu Seongyeol's hair underwent a complete transformation. The air around him shimmered with heat waves. I recognized this phenomenon. ‘…Total unification with flame.’ This is the state achieved when Guiyeomhwarun Gong reaches its pinnacle, allowing complete control over internal energy by transforming the body itself into flame. "Look closely." While maintaining this form, Gu Seongyeol addressed my father. However, "This is the burden you must bear." Though his gaze was directed at my father, it felt as if his words were aimed at me. Fwooooosh-!!! Intense heat erupted, engulfing Gu Seongyeol’s body entirely in flames. The mist enveloped him, obscuring his form. Hooo—! It wasn't long before his complete form re-emerged. “Haha.” Upon seeing the transformed Gu Seongyeol, the Overlord laughed. “……” My father's eyes widened in disbelief. “…What?” I found myself bewildered by the sight. “That’s…” Gu Seongyeol had turned into a literal embodiment of flames. His crimson martial garb had fused with the flames, emanating a fiery aura, while his skin turned stark white. The transformation was grotesque in its uniqueness. While everyone was taken aback, my reason for being startled differed. ‘That…’ The aura emanating from Gu Seongyeol. This is— enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013M0NpdUlLNUFjUzMzaEFnN3pkaG0zb0lIWnk1a0lxNUMxekxwdkR5dHV0Zw ‘That's the aura of the Master.’ Master’s Rank. It was that unparalleled presence, the same one I felt from my mother and Taecheon.