1326 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Whoosh. Scarlet flames rose, heating the air to the point of discomfort. It felt like the skin might burn. But that wasn't important. "……What." The sight of Father now. It was reminiscent of the supreme mastery of the Nine Calamities that Grandfather had demonstrated back then. ‘Masters Form.’ The state in which one becomes the vessel, drawing out the full power of the master and embodying it. When he was a Apostle, he was surrounded by gray flames. But now, it seemed it was entirely Father’s own power. “How….” How did he manage it? As a Apostle, it was possible. I had thought he used the power of the master, so it seemed plausible back then. “How did you do that…?” Not now, though. Especially since he just awoke, and I had even absorbed some of his energy. How did he execute the Masters Form? I, confused, sought an answer. Father looked at me and spoke. “Because I learned it.” “Learned it? When?” “Then.” “Then….” Could it be? “……You mean when the former head used it?” “Yes.” “……When did you learn it then.” Was it ever taught? It seemed brief, didn’t it? In response to my bewilderment, Father spoke as if puzzled by my question. “He showed it, didn’t he?” “Huh?” “That was enough.” “…….” What kind of nonsense is this? A headache loomed. Was he implying he mastered it just by seeing Grandfather once perform it? “Oh…….” How should I react to this? I almost swore instinctively. “Hahaha-!” At that moment, Cheolhyun Buseon burst into laughter. “……Look at that? When did you revert back to this form? Moreover….” His sharp eyes scanned Father. “It's even better. More so than back then.” “…….” Father offered no response. His gaze remained fixed on me. “Energy doesn’t matter. Because this state isn’t reliant on energy in the first place.” “……What do you mean?” “Like I said before, you do what you must. And I shall do the same.” As he said this, Father glanced at Cheolhyun Buseon. “I will do what I must.” “…….” Crack. The ring of flames behind Father began to spin. The problem is. ‘He hasn’t mastered the Flame Wheel yet.’ How could Father use that despite not mastering the Flame Wheel Technique? What does he mean energy isn’t essential? I couldn’t grasp it, and it unsettled me. To wield unfathomable power ultimately demands a price. “……Surely not.” Pondering this, I spoke. “Are you using Innate Qi?” No answer came. Kwa-ga-ga-ga! Father had already begun battling with Cheolhyun Buseon. “Unbelievable.” Using Innate Qi doesn't guarantee crossing that wall. If it did, anyone would have used it. But. ‘……It seems so.’ It strangely seemed that way, and as it increasingly irked me, Father’s eyes signaled at me. A look urging me to move quickly. Ah, damn it. ‘Where am I even supposed to go?’ I grimaced and turned away, heading towards where the Sword Queen was. At that moment. Kyaaaa!!! Monsters emerged. The Apostles, too. Sensing their intent to intervene, I focused. Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step. Kwa-ga-ga-ga! Pressure crushed the ground imperiously. The monsters burst under the strain, and the Apostles froze in place. “I’ve been pondering.” Despite the extreme pressure, the Sword Queen's expression remained unchanged. The Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step wasn’t cost-effective. The power expended didn't match its efficiency. I had to expend too much. Hence not using it. But now, driven by anger, it had to be deployed. Approaching her, I inquired. “You.” I said, looking at the Sword Queen. “You don’t seem too concerned about protecting yourself. Nor do you seem particularly motivated. Do you want to do anything at all?” She looked at me with incomprehension. “…….” “I Don’t understand it.” I advanced. “Though you wish to save your son, your focus is elsewhere. You know that, right? That unresolved regret you can’t let go of.” “…….” The Sword Queen didn’t answer. “Creating so many Apostles, clearly aiming at something. If that was the case….” Kwa-ga-ga-gak. I unleashed pressure again, stilling the movement of the Apostles. “You wouldn’t have deployed them so inefficiently.” There was no sense of urgency. That’s how the Sword Queen I saw seemed. If importance truly lay in achieving something, recognizing me as a threat would have meant not letting me in this easily. “It was strange from the start.” Right from ascending this mighty mountain. And even at that moment of walking out unharmed. Everything was bizarre. That's not how one just walks out of there. “So I came to check in my haste and curiosity. Perhaps it’s true, after all.” I caught the Sword Queen by the neck. “You really don’t care what happens to you now, do you?” “…….” “You’re like a scarecrow.” Those familiar eyes. Since the day I saw the Sword Queen, or perhaps even before Mad Demons appeared, her eyes resembled someone’s. They were eyes filled with sorrow and weariness. Smiling forcibly when nothing is felt. Yes. ‘Mine.’ The sight I bore in a previous life. Those eyes were embedded in the Sword Queen. “Is that so.” The Sword Queen spoke. “Don’t assume things so easily. I’m…….” “The reason you accepted the role of a Apostle doesn’t seem to be because of your son. What resides in your eyes isn’t desperation but longing.” “…….” “What’s the real reason?” Looking at her, all I felt was one thing. ‘Pity.’ An inexplicable pity emanated from her. That wasn't something I expected to feel toward an enemy. And so the puzzle began to piece together. “What is it that you’re enduring?” She was enduring something. That’s what the Sword Queen was doing. “…….” She stayed silent. Then. “……You……” Just when she tried to say something. “That won’t do.” “……!” A red energy surged from the Sword Queen’s body, tightening around her neck. “You were doing so well, why start doing this.” It was the Blood Demon. "……So that's where you were hiding.” Had he been there all along? “After crafting such a meticulous trap, you cannot afford to be so weak.” “……Urgh.” The Sword Queen let out a pained groan. Witnessing that, I ignited the White Flame. Whoooosh-!!!! I tried to burn away the crimson aura, but— “Ggh!” It wounded the Sword Queen’s physical body. Seeing this, I extinguished the flames. Damn it, since her body was linked to the demonic power, it seemed the White Flame couldn't be used. If it affected her, her body would be consumed by the flames as well. Now what? ‘No.’ I changed my thinking swiftly. If the Sword Queen’s body was aligned with the demonic Apostles, there was actually something to attempt. I cast my gaze toward Father. Kwakakakak--!! Father was still in combat with Cheolhyun Buseon. Surprisingly enough— ‘……Cheolhyun Buseon too.’ He had also utilized his powers to enter the Masters Form. It signified a dire struggle. ‘There’s no time.’ Seeing that, I concentrated my energy. Hooooong-!!! The Heavenly Absorption art manifested. I aimed to convert the demonic aura within the Sword Queen back to human form. Squeeze-!! The Sword Queen grabbed my hand. “……Don’t.” “What?” Don’t want to? Does she not wish to return to being human, even in this situation? “This… if you do it, everything collapses.” “What’s that supposed to…” “Since she is the vessel, it’s only natural,” said the Blood Demon to me. “If the Marital Abyss collapses, everyone within will perish. Because she holds the Marital Abyss within her. She must not die.” “…….” My eyes narrowed at the mention of her holding the Marital Abyss. Ruler of the Marital Abyss. Was that the current state of the Sword Queen? Hearing this made things clear to me. ‘An empty world must have a ruler—.’ The role initially meant for Muah was being fulfilled by the Sword Queen, who had absorbed her powers. If she fell, the Marital Abyss would crumble. If the world collapsed, it implied everyone here would die? In response, I looked at the Blood Demon and spoke. “……That’s not it, is it? Even if one perishes within the Marital Abyss, no one actually dies.” Silence followed my words. My statement brought a hush over the surroundings. The Blood Demon and even the Sword Queen watched me with wide, startled eyes. “What do you mean by that……?” “Haha.” The Blood Demon chuckled. And then. Cliiick—! “Urgh!” The Blood Demon tightened his grip on the Sword Queen’s throat. “What a fascinating revelation. How do you know this?” “……I simply know quite a bit.” Having experienced it firsthand, it was knowledge I possessed. The Blood Demon reacted to this. In that case. “That means I can proceed.” White Flame once again came forth. At the thought of fully absorbing the Sword Queen’s powers. “Well, well…….” The Blood Demon spoke. “The time isn’t right yet. If this goes on, it cannot be helped.” Shhhhhhhh-!! “……!” The crimson energy from the Sword Queen began dissipating. No, not dissipating. ‘Where did he go……!’ It scattered, sprayed into the air like mist, and a thin ray of light emerged. Then— ‘Over there……?’ The red hue seeped into the ancient tree at the center. To the location of Paejon. “……What?” My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched this unfold. Why was it heading there? In the moment of confusion— Creeeak. The tree began to move. The ancient tree withered and died away. The branches that had been binding it unfurled and let go. And then— “…….” The one who had been restrained, Paejon, opened his eyes. “Hoooo.” He exhaled softly. The elderly man's dark eyes were now awash with crimson. “……Not a bad sensation.” As red as blood itself.