1186 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

If you ask how it can be done, I'd answer that I don't know. Ever since I awoke. Since I realized I had gained the power of a master. It felt like a sudden sensation that blossomed within my body. Yes, if I were to define it, it would be authority. The authority I obtained when becoming a dragon wasn't much different. I simply could. It's as if wings that didn't exist sprouted, and I could naturally unfurl them. Even though it was a feeling I experienced for the first time and had never felt it while living, it was as though I had always been able to use it. My body knew what to do with it. I recall what Gu Seongyeol said. ‘Didn't he ask how I didn't know?’ I apparently didn't know something I was supposed to. I recognized his gaze, which found it odd that I didn't know. So that's why. That's why... ‘That's the kind of look it was.’ After learning, I understood. ‘It's strange not to know.’ If you know, you can't unknow it. That's why Gu Seongyeol found me peculiar. *Krrrrrrrr...* The beginning was my heart. The energy, tied within, moved on its own. The start was my intention, but from then on, it was different. The energy wrapped around my entire body as if it had a will of its own, and in an instant, it reached my upper dantian. Heat surged in my head. The light seemed to be felt not in my vision, but from my head. As if the air was expanding, it filled my entire body. An energy so vast that it felt as though it would burst, yet no longer the tiny energy it was before. Even with all this energy contained within me, I felt no discomfort. Rather, I felt refreshed and at ease. A sense of unfamiliarity of being about to float filled my body. If I wanted, I felt I could fly off immediately. The energy, intertwined and knotted together like threads being woven, felt natural, as though it had always been within me. "Haaahhh." The breath I exhaled. That was the starting point. *Whoooooosh—!* Flames enveloped my body. Not a fierce heat that would scorch everything around it, but a calm and serene ember. The flames were white. White, wavering flames enveloped my body. In that moment. *Krrrraaaack—!* The authority within my body reacted. A being. It erupted and mingled with the white flames. Thump, thump. In sync with the pulsating sound, my energy and the being wrapped around my body. Like oil and water, they didn't merge. At this rate... *Krrrrrrr.* “……!” I slightly opened my eyes. I recognized the sensation. This is... ‘From the realm of ten thousand.’ A fight with Taecheon. It was the same unpleasant feeling I had experienced then. A strange sensation intruded upon the carefully gained tranquility. An overwhelming energy endowed with the dignity of a master. My inner self resisted it. As if warning me that if I let it continue unchecked, I'd be engulfed once more. I felt as though I must not let it consume me. So, I forcibly held it back. But. *Krrrrrrr—!!* ‘Damn it.’ The energy continued to rip apart the white flames and the being as if asserting its superiority over them. ‘What did he call it?’ Was this energy called a divine attribute? The power of a master. It constantly surged, causing disruption. No, rather than causing disruption, it seemed intent on consuming everything. ‘Should I not have attempted this?’ I tried because I thought I could. But if things continued like this, it would be troublesome. I couldn’t control it. Would this be just an extension of the same old issues? At the moment anxiety welled up. “Calm.” “……!” A gentle voice accompanied by a touch. A tender hand that wrapped warmly around my neck. ‘……Mother?’ It was my mother's voice. It was undoubtedly her voice, yet. ‘She's not here.’ Mother is nowhere to be found. What could this mean? I was perplexed, but there was no time to dwell on it. Perhaps due to the voice and touch that reached me, the divine attribute that aimed to devour me calmed down. Instead, it intertwined with the white flames and the authority. The energy, which seemed never to blend, merged like that. Thump. A small vibration spread from within. The suppressed heat exploded. And so, my world changed. * * * “…….” Upon the rippling lake, white flames formed a circle. A circle created as if to warn: do not approach. Taecheon, wearing her face, frowned at the sight. What is this? What should I call this formed circle? He pondered briefly and reached a conclusion. “A cocoon.” Yes, it was a cocoon. A barrier wrapped around oneself for a new beginning. There was no time to think and ponder further. Whoosh—! Taecheon plucked out one of his feathers, transforming it from a sword to a spear. While generating the energy, he felt a sense of impotence. “The vessel is in shambles.” The limitations of the vessel used as an apostle were evident. Overexertion was one of the causes. “……The Keeper's eye will be upon you.” There wasn't much time. The reason for choosing this creature was, in the first place, for that very eye. A body infused with inhumanity. Hard to consider entirely human. It could contain the master for a short while but wasn't strong. Taecheon was aware of this body. It belonged to the Keeper's clan he spoke of. A failed being, born a keeper but unable to become one. That was Taecheon's judgment of her worth, yet. “Nevertheless, the Keeper will come.” Violation of neutrality and burden on karma was something he would surely feel. Even though a barrier created with divine power was used, the time it bought wouldn’t last long. Originally, it wasn’t supposed to last this long. Had he taken only what he could and vanished, neither the Keeper nor the Dragon Emperor would have noticed. “Something strange is entwined.” An unfamiliar master was coincidentally present here. What could that be? To look at its existence, it was a master who had barely ascended. Yet. “How is it here?” How could such existence be here? This was the realm of the Blood Demon and the Keeper. Precisely a world that required the Keeper's permission to appear. Henceforth, for it to appear... “Either the existence has always been of this world.” Or the world was playing a game. Clench—! There were many questions, yet it wasn’t the time to contemplate. That cocoon was dangerous. Whatever it intended, it could not remain unchecked. With a spear imbued with the measure of his might, Taecheon thrust it forward. *Whooooom—!!!* The lake quaked. Though lacking vigor as an apostle, it was a strike imbued with might. Ultimately, his opponent was just a minor master. Taecheon judged that this level of force would be sufficient. Thus, the spear tip was launched towards the cocoon. At the very moment it was about to pierce through— *Whoosh—!* A flame unfurled. *Klak!* Simultaneously, the spear halted. "Huh." Taecheon's eyes widened. What he had assumed to be pure white flames spread out in both directions like wings. It took only moments for Taecheon to realize it was not wings he was witnessing. Those were tails. Six tails swayed behind, adorned with luxurious white fur. The being that reappeared effortlessly stopped Taecheon's spear. "……This one." Taecheon's expression contorted upon confirming it. It wasn't because his attack had been thwarted. It was the form of the entity now visible to his eyes. He recognized it all too well. That was unmistakably... "What dealings do you have with the realm of ten thousand?" An entity master of the realm of ten thousand. It was the dignity she possessed. "Could you be one sent by the realm of ten thousand? No. This essence is......" The very essence of the realm itself. Unlike the concepts of an apostle or a lower master, her essence was intrinsic. The end of all life. Be it a master or other, under her mercy, all life moves towards the realm of ten thousand. The grand life mass cultivated thus, and the entity that held the vessel to bear it, was a master of a different caliber. That superior command was felt distinctly from the entity before him. "……." The being gazes at the spear it had grasped. The being's form had altered significantly, not just the tails. The hair had turned a stark white, and its previously pale blue eyes now glowed with a reddish hue. A testament of essence lay there. "You...!" In the instant Taecheon moved to counter. *Snap.* “……!” His head dipped. It was hot. Something grazed him. Upon looking down at his body, confused by the odd sensation. "Damn." A whitish embrace of reddish flames had touched Taecheon. A very small flame. Yet. *Whoosh—!* The flames rapidly spread, engulfing Taecheon's body. “Heuuu—!!!” Taecheon screamed. It was agonizing. Not merely his body burning, but this was— "My divinity...!" The sense of his divinity set ablaze. The energy and essence used for the descent ignited in the flames, disappearing. “Grrgh… This brat….” Taecheon thrashed about. The entity mirrored his movements. In a gentle stride, its form vanished. When it reappeared, it was before Taecheon. He couldn't move. *Klak—!!* “Ugh!?” The entity grasped his neck. He froze under the piercing gaze. Not out of fear, but unable to resist the dominating disparity in essence. A barrier created from the disparity which his soul reacted to involuntarily. This means, “……This energy.” Does it signify a higher essence than his own? “That's impossible—!” How could one who barely ascended surpass him? It was not to be believed. “…….” Yet, it mattered not whether Taecheon believed it; reality remained unchanged. The reddish gaze looked down upon him. The entity drew a flame into its hand. *Fwoosh.* A purple ember appeared at the fingertips. It was dangerous. Despite being a mere vessel for descent, he understood. Contact with it was forbidden. He attempted to escape somehow, yet his frozen body wouldn’t allow it. Just as the flame was about to reach Taecheon. *Pop.* Suddenly, the flame burst. Both the flame consuming him and the one the creature held. Before he could express his confusion over what had occurred. *Splash—!* The entity holding him seemed to lose strength and sank to its knees. Its altered state reverted to normal. “What is this?” What on earth transpired? He couldn’t comprehend, but Taecheon acted before understanding. “……Grr.” Though pride was trampled, he chose to flee. Escaping from this place. That was his sole thought. *Whoosh—!* His presence fled the vessel and soared into the upper heavens. Along with the surrounding barrier dispersing, Taecheon's presence disappeared. Gu Seon's body, vacated by Taecheon, staggered and fell into the lake. Simultaneously, as Gu Yangcheon’s body slowly sank into the lake. *Splash.* Someone descended upon the water. “…….” With graceful and light steps, she approached the two. The woman soon reached them and looked down. *Crackle.* For some reason, it seemed as though lightning crackled in the air.