1180 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

When it comes to the quality of energy, it's not significantly different from the one I place. An energy that extends in a single line. Even with an extremely small amount, it demonstrates tremendous destructive power. The scene that just exploded in front of him was proof of that. Dan frowned as he assessed the energy. “Hmm.” ‘The quantity is indeed too little.’ That last strike took over half of it. Although it's replenishing rapidly, it wouldn't keep up. ‘What is this?’ It's like an illness being given and a cure being withheld. They took everything away, yet the power is this strong. Should he be pleased about this or not? ‘Hmm.’ If he had to choose now, ‘It's not good for now.’ The small quantity was a significant burden in real combat. Rumble-!!! A section of the shattered forest was in ruins. Dust and sand slowly risen above it. It was wrecked quite far. ‘Indeed.’ It was a direct hit. He clearly felt it in his hand. ‘Truly...’ So, what happened to the opponent? Just as he was about to leap to check the great-grandfather's condition... Whoosh—!!! “...Well.” He raised the corners of his mouth at the suddenly approaching storm. It wasn't just any storm. It was a storm made of flames. Which meant, ‘It's not over.’ It signified that the great-grandfather was fine. As if to prove this, the moment the flames subsided, a figure emerged from within. However, “Ha.” Thud-! The lowly muttered word resonated in his gut. ‘Changed.’ Something was different. The feeling was entirely different from earlier. “You've not only bloomed the seed but absorbed it into your body.” The stature of the owner. A persistent and distant something was constantly felt. “But why? How is it you've manifested something other than flames?” It was a remark of disbelief. “You’re from the Gu clan. You must certainly possess flames.” Whoosh. Flames erupted from the great-grandfather's body. Fierce crimson flames. Blazing hot, as if intending to consume everything. Swoosh—!!! The crimson flames traveled from the great-grandfather’s hands toward him. “Click…” Whoosh-! He raised azure flames in response and fired them back at him. Swoosh—!!! The clashing flames reverberated with heat. He was losing ground. His flame power was inferior. ‘This is annoying, for real.’ Due to the small quantity of energy, he tried to conserve, but then the flame power became an issue. Despite the overwhelming force compared to the quantity, as mentioned, the amount was the matter. As his flames were gradually overwhelmed, he began to think. ‘If the azure flames are blocked.’ And if that is the stature of ownership. ‘How about the white flames?’ The flames of the Pama. That power which worked on the heavenly demon, the blood demon, and other non-humans alike. Even if the energy had become a line, it could still be used. Because, ‘The very stature granted to me is that itself.’ The primary power of the azure flames is the white flames. He instinctively knew that. Swoosh—!!! The hue of the azure flames gradually lightened. Ultimately, they turned completely white. At that moment, Swoosh—!! “Huh!?” The white flames began to devour the crimson flames and advance. “This is...” The great-grandfather’s eyes widened at the unfolding scene. “A divine execution. Ha. This brat…!” Whooooosh—!! The great-grandfather canceled his power as the crimson flames were being projected. As he avoided, the white flames poured into the spot. Whooosh—!!! The white flames couldn’t harm anything other than non-human entities, simply sweeping over the ground. ‘It works.’ But it would work on the great-grandfather. That was what mattered most to him now. “You possess divine execution. No wonder I couldn't steal away the fire. What on earth…” The confusion was overwhelming. Divine execution? He found the name rather peculiar. ‘A power to kill gods.’ It had been simply referred to as Pama. Divine execution, what a violently extreme name. Moreover, speaking accurately, ‘...Are non-humans equivalent to gods?’ Whether dragons or goblins or any other. He wondered if they referred to them as god-like. “To possess both the stature of ownership and divine execution... the world wouldn’t leave such a thing unchallenged. Especially for the Gu clan, bearing the punishment handed down.” As the great-grandfather's voice continued, the surprise was gradually replaced with fleeting anger. “What is your purpose, descendant? You, who shouldn’t belong to this place, why do you come here and disrupt the karma?” “I didn’t come here by choice. People might think I came here just to wreak havoc.” “Then what is your purpose?” “That so-called purpose, I’m still busy searching for it myself.” Speaking, he assessed the energy. Fortunately, it was fully restored. “The Gu clan must inherit the curse. There is karma to bear to prevent this land from collapsing. Why do you attempt to twist the foundation?” “Ugh, that damn karma.” Frustration surged forward. “It’s just cleaning up after the ancestors’ mess; what's so grand about it, I don’t see why they make such a fuss.” “What?” “Who told them to do it? They made a mess of their own accord, and now they want me to deal with all the consequences. So selfish, seriously.” “Ha—!” Whoosh! Flames rose from the great-grandfather’s body. “You've harbored misguided thoughts. As a member of the Gu clan, one mustn’t think in such... huh.” Mid-sentence, the great-grandfather paused momentarily. “...I see. The foundation itself is already twisted. Who is it? Who tampered with you? Fundamentally, it is an issue that a member of the clan has become something other than human. Who are you?” “Took your time to ask.” He flicked his hands. Rotated the energy so he could use the white flames at any moment. “It’s not strange for a Gu clan member to turn into a calamity. It might have been predestined. As it was the seed prepared for that.” “...Hmm?” Upon hearing this, Dan’s expression twisted. A seed prepared for this? ‘...Wait a minute. So the divine tree’s seed was originally for the calamity to be born from the Gu clan?’ “Didn’t know? Utterly ignorant, you are.” “Damn ignorance, how would I know unless someone tells me?” Who would know that? This is absurd. 'So that seed…' It was meant to be mine all along? A calamity to be born from the Gu clan. This phrase was referring to me. I had already understood and accepted it on my own. My destiny was to become a calamity. 'In the end, the fact that I was the one who bloomed the seed.' This, too, seemed to be fate. ‘The strange thing is….’ Despite becoming a calamity... ‘Nothing has really changed.’ The fact that I gathered energy into one stream and that the vast amount of accumulated energy diminished. That's about the only change. People had said that becoming a calamity meant erasing all other life and becoming the master. But it seemed different from what had been said. Actually, from the outset, ‘It’s strange that blooming a seed in this world would bring about change.’ The thoughts of the blood demon faded, sensing a strangeness. It had talked about manipulating its senses, and vanished as if uninterested in this artificial world. ‘Looking at it this way,’ It confirmed that this world was fake, just as my ancestor mentioned. So, ‘The fact that nothing changed even after becoming a calamity…’ Perhaps it’s because blooming in a false world holds no meaning to begin with. Or perhaps, ‘…Something.’ Something my mother arranged. There might have been an intent in that. “It’s twisted. You’ve shaken the foundation of the world. You are not a mere scorching. You are—.” The great-grandfather paused and then continued, “A cinder.” “... A cinder?” “A place already burned and nothing is left. Just a remaining ember barely kept alive… a futile hope. Who is it, the one pushing you?” “…” A desperate struggle against a predetermined fate. Thinking about it, ‘It suits me.’ A cinder. That word seemed apt. Just like those who pushed my back to help. “Well, there are too many for me to pin down just one.” There are so many helping me that it’s hard to reflect on each one. So, he casually spoke with a smile. “It’s a pitiful act.” The great-grandfather showed no expression and simply ignited flames upon his body. “Do not defy fate. No matter how you twist your path, there’s only one destination.” “What a boring statement. It’s words I hate to hear.” Whoosh. Matching his flames, Dan raised the white flames. “If you won’t uphold the burden and leave the scorching as is, descendant. To prevent the rupture, we shall simply erase you.” Is this a warning that he intends to kill me? “Then I will have to fight my ancestor... hmm.” Is he destined to fight against his precious ancestor? It was indeed heart-wrenching. But. “It’s fine. It’s possible.” It’s fine. The first act of treason is hard; the second isn’t. After all, I had already killed my father with my own hands. “How difficult would it be with an ancestor?” Whoosh—!!! Enveloped in white flames, he charged at the ancestor. The spreading crimson flames prove useless against the white flames, yet again. And thus, Clench—!! His hand reached the great-grandfather’s chest. Flash—!!! The white flames exploded, radiating outward. The brilliant light engulfed the great-grandfather. Following the flames, the great-grandfather’s body began to burn slowly. The problem was. “Oh.” Watching him burn, I realized what I hadn’t noticed. “…This.” It seemed… “It’s not the true form…?” I could feel for sure upon contact that it wasn’t the real body. “Just you wait.” Amid burning, the great-grandfather—or rather, the flame in his shape—spoke. “This time, I’ll come and see for myself.” Fsssss—! With those closing words, he completely faded away. “…” He swallowed slightly, watching the ashes drift away. “…This is troublesome.” Was it merely a mental projection capable of this? I wondered what would happen if the real body came.