Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 636: The Wall (3)

Whoosh—!

Flames engulfed his body as he soared into the air. The cold wind brushed against his cheeks, and he surveyed the dimming sky above.

‘The snow has stopped.’

Though it had turned into rain, at least nothing was falling from the sky anymore.

‘Thanks to that, the visibility has cleared up.’

The blizzard that had obscured his view was gone, and for a moment, it felt like he could breathe easier.

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But—

‘The cold has grown stronger.’

The chilling air blowing from the North Sea felt even harsher now.

The reason was likely—

He glanced downward {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} at the place he had leaped from.

‘The destruction of the Ice Essence...’

The Ice Essence, which had been holding back the extreme cold, had shattered.

That was undoubtedly the cause.

‘Not that its existence was anything noble in the first place.’

The Ice Essence had been drawing on the life force of the bloodline, forcibly consuming their vitality to maintain its power.

Given that, perhaps its destruction was for the best.

But still—

‘The effects are immediate.’

With the Ice Essence gone, the North Sea was already starting to feel the impact.

Its role had clearly been significant. The cold was spreading quickly, faster than expected.

‘At this rate...’

It wouldn’t take long before the entire North Sea froze solid.

‘Tsk.’

Damn it.

Nothing ever seemed to go smoothly.

Then again—

"My life has always been like this, hasn’t it?"

Or rather, my dragon life now, he thought with a dry chuckle.

Faced with such an infuriating situation, he tried to laugh it off with pointless musings.

‘This isn’t the time to be thinking about such things.’

He knew it was nothing but escapism.

"What's going on—!"

"We’re under attack!"

"Report to the Grand General immediately!"

The palace forces below had finally noticed the chaos he had caused. The commotion from below grew louder.

‘No, they’ve only just realized.’

It was a late realization—far too late.

The palace had been demolished, and not a single reinforcement had come until now. The sudden awareness was likely due to—

‘The Authority transferring to me.’

The Authority that had been spread around the palace had vanished when it transferred, leaving the palace vulnerable.

‘Hmm.’

He frowned as he felt the imprint of a new Authority etched into his soul.

Of the two Authorities that had belonged to Mang, only one now resided in him.

The regenerative aspect had been passed on to Woo Hyuk.

‘...’

The thought made him scowl. Was it because he regretted it? Perhaps partially. How could he not?

Regeneration was invaluable—a power that allowed one to heal from even severe wounds during battle. It was only natural to feel its loss.

But that wasn’t the only reason for his unease.

The bigger problem lay in what he had discovered.

The fact that he could transfer an Authority to someone else.

‘...That’s exactly what Cheonma used to do.’

In the past, Cheonma had bestowed blessings to demons, granting them abilities under the guise of "divine gifts."

His own Magical Devouring Art had originated from one of those gifts, as had the initial powers of the first demons.

‘Thinking back, it’s strange.’

Not only did Cheonma corrupt individuals into demons, but she also bestowed inexplicable powers upon them.

Until now, he had simply dismissed it as something a bizarre entity like Cheonma could do. But it was undeniably peculiar.

What exactly was Cheonma, and how had she been capable of such feats?

Could the blessings Cheonma distributed have been—

‘Similar to how I transfer an Authority?’

If so, Cheonma must have held countless Authorities.

The bigger question, however, was—

‘How did she transfer them?’

If these were Authorities, how could they be given to someone else?

Authorities were supposed to be attainable only through mastery or dragonhood. Yet Cheonma had granted her "gifts" to others freely.

‘Could it be that Authorities and gifts are entirely different things?’

Though they felt similar, perhaps they were distinct.

But then—

‘If I was able to transfer an Authority, how does that fit in?’

Another question arose.

When transferring the regenerative Authority to save Woo Hyuk, he had realized something.

First—

‘Transferring an Authority requires demonic energy.’

To pass on the Authority of regeneration, he had to imbue it with demonic energy, recalling how Cheonma had bestowed her blessings.

The ability to corrupt someone into a demon had lingered in his mind ever since.

He had always wondered: could he eventually do what she had done? And now, it seemed the answer was yes.

This wasn’t mere coincidence.

He had known for some time now.

The flow of events seemed to be pushing him toward becoming Cheonma’s successor.

‘Setting aside the relationship between Authorities and gifts for now...’

The second realization:

‘Dragons can be corrupted into demons.’

Thanks to Mang’s interference, Woo Hyuk’s body had transformed into a dragon. This transformation persisted even after Mang disappeared.

And then—

‘I corrupted him.’

By infusing demonic energy, he had tainted Woo Hyuk and passed on the Authority.

It had worked, but the process left an unpleasant aftertaste.

The reasons were clear:

‘Infusing an Authority requires demonic energy, and corruption is unavoidable.’

Moreover—

The reason he could transfer Authorities lay in—

‘The Magical Devouring Art.’

The demonic technique from Cheonma, embedded within his body.

The ability to corrupt others and transfer Authorities stemmed from this very art.

While greed allowed him to absorb Authorities, the act of granting them came from the Magical Devouring Art.

‘What the hell is this?’

It was no longer about merely absorbing energy from magic stones, as in his past life.

Now, it was about transforming others into demons and even transferring Authorities—just as Cheonma had done.

‘This is... exactly like her.’

It was as though the powers Cheonma had displayed were manifesting in him.

He couldn’t comprehend it.

If these abilities had existed in his past life, perhaps it would have made sense. But they hadn’t. This was new.

Thus, a hypothesis formed:

‘Maybe transferring Authorities was possible only because he was a dragon.’

Or perhaps it was because Woo Hyuk had already been corrupted into a demon.

And finally—

‘The connection between the Magical Devouring Art and my Authority.’

Greed and the Magical Devouring Art felt eerily intertwined.

‘Is this all tied to Cheonma?’

Though it was framed as a question, he knew the answer.

It was.

There was no denying it anymore.

Cheonma had orchestrated everything. She had sent him back in time, imbued him with the Magical Devouring Art, and was entangled in every step of his journey.

Everything he was experiencing inevitably traced back to her.

Clench.

He ground his teeth.

‘...Even knowing all this.’

He had met Cheonma in the back alleys of Hahnam. Thinking of that encounter made his head throb.

‘I knew she was there, and yet I came here instead.’

Why? He didn’t know anymore.

She was the very existence he had resented.

Since his return, she had been second only to Jang Seon-yeon as a threat to be guarded against.

Yet instead of focusing on her, he had come to the North Sea.

Why?

Was it simply because something had happened to Namgung Bi-ah?

While that wasn’t an insignificant reason, could it alone justify everything?

‘No, it’s not enough.’

He had known of her presence in Hahnam. He had known of the looming matters there.

And yet he had fled to the North Sea, using Namgung Bi-ah’s plight as an excuse.

No matter how he tried to justify it, the truth didn’t change.

He had wanted to escape Cheonma.

Or perhaps—

‘...I couldn’t face her.’

It was an inexplicable emotion—a refusal to confront her, even in thought.

And so, he had run to the North Sea.

‘Why?’

He asked himself.

‘Why did I run?’

Fear, he understood. She was a being worthy of that fear.

But running away? That, he couldn’t understand.

It wasn’t a strategic retreat. It was hesitation—a mere flight.

And that was unacceptable.

Why had he done it? And why was he only realizing the absurdity now?

A heavy, suffocating weight pressed on him. There was only one way to clear it.

‘I must meet her.’

Meeting Cheonma was inevitable.

It always had been.

"Haah."

He exhaled, his breath turning white in the cold air.

Having resolved himself, his mind felt a little clearer.

He surrounded himself with energy as the decision solidified in his mind.

Whoosh—!

A fiery ring coiled around his waist, the heat wrapping him like a companion as he propelled forward.

Boom!

The air reverberated with a massive sound as his body shot ahead.

He accelerated, pushing himself harder, only to feel a tightening around his heart.

A wave of exhaustion swept over him, and his brows furrowed.

‘I’m almost out of energy.’

It wasn’t surprising—he had been through an intense battle. Worse still, he hadn’t managed to regulate the techniques he used, expending energy recklessly until his reserves ran low.

On top of that, his body was far from unscathed.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve kept some for myself.’

Before transferring the Authority to Woo Hyuk, he could’ve used it to recover first. The thought of his short-sightedness only now struck him as regretful.

‘Should I take it back?’

Woo Hyuk was already treated, after all. The idea of reclaiming it lingered for a moment but was dismissed just as quickly.

Because if he did—

‘Woo Hyuk would die.’

A dragon stripped of its Authority would perish. It was one of the conditions tied to Greed’s abilities.

Reclaiming what he had given to Woo Hyuk was simply not an option.

‘What a strange yet powerful ability.’

When it came to fighting dragons, Greed provided an overwhelming advantage.

Its ability to nullify the unfairness of Authority meant he could rely on pure martial arts and physical combat.

But—

‘That’s all it can do.’

The problem with this power was that if he were weak, it meant nothing.

To take, he had to win. To kill, he had to win. It was a tool that only shone when he prevailed.

At times, it felt like a deceptive blessing, but—

‘It’s better than having nothing.’

Knowing that his ultimate enemies were dragons, Greed was undeniably a vital asset.

If it were up to him, he’d return to Zhongyuan immediately, but—

‘Tsk.’

The current situation made that impossible, and it was infuriating.

‘...I’ve done everything I needed to.’

He had found Namgung Bi-ah. He had dealt with Woo Hyuk. There was no reason to stay.

The Ice Palace Lord refusing treatment only further removed his reasons to linger.

But still—

‘Damn it.’

He grimaced, sensing the energy emanating directly ahead.

Greed, the Magical Devouring Art, Cheonma—none of it mattered right now. The most immediate threat was that energy.

‘Nothing ever goes smoothly.’

It was a thought that crossed his mind as he sped through the cold winds, their bite carrying something within them.

Energy.

A tremendous force rode the wind, brushing past him as it spread.

‘This is insane.’

The sheer intensity of it left him speechless.

It dwarfed what he had felt when encountering Yuseon or even Mang disguised as Woo Hyuk.

This suffocating energy—what was it?

And why had it suddenly emerged?

Worse still was the location from which it emanated.

Of all places—

‘The hideout.’

The sanctuary where Namgung Bi-ah, Tang So-yeol, and the others had sought refuge.

‘Damn it.’

Instinctively, he knew.

This was the result of Mang’s demise—something the fiend had done before disappearing.

‘What the hell did he do?’

At full speed for several minutes, he began to pick up traces of something with his senses.

‘What is this?’

The first sensation was so overwhelming that he doubted himself for a moment. Was he misinterpreting it? But no.

He wasn’t wrong.

It was just that massive.

‘...This can’t be real.’

It wasn’t the amount of energy but the sheer size of the presence itself.

It was colossal in a way that defied comprehension, something he had never encountered before.

Was it truly possible for a living being to possess a body this immense?

Whoosh—!

He arrived in a flash, hovering above the ground below. When he looked down, his eyes widened in shock.

"Holy..."

A massive crater had replaced the area where a cave should have been.

And within it—

"Kraaaahhhhh!"

"Fall back!"

"Protect the Palace Lord—!!"

A monstrous creature was rampaging, its enormous body tearing through everything around it.

"...You’ve got to be kidding me."

It was a demonic beast.

But not just any demonic beast.

If ordinary crimson-ranked beasts were roughly the size of a large house, this creature was dozens of times larger. Its body was covered in glossy, glistening scales.

And most importantly—

"...White?"

The beast was coated in pure white scales.

"No way."

There was only one thing that could mean.

The creature was none other than a White Demonic Beast (백색마물)—the apex of demonic beasts.

Once revered as dragons, they had vanished centuries ago. A single appearance from one of these catastrophic beings could reshape the continent itself.

This was a calamity-level existence.

******************

At the same moment Gu Yangcheon encountered the demonic beast...

"...Ugh."

Woo Hyuk, left alone, groaned as he clutched his throbbing head and slowly got to his feet.

"Looks like a disaster zone," he muttered, letting out a dry laugh as he surveyed the wreckage around him.

"What in the world happened here?"

He couldn’t comprehend how part of the palace had been left in such a state, though he already had a good guess about the culprit.

Sizzle.

Among the shattered walls were signs of something melted and scorched, the faint warmth lingering in the air confirming his suspicions.

Who else could it have been?

It was obvious.

"...Heh."

It had to be his crazy friend. Woo Hyuk was certain of it.

The reason?

‘Probably because of me.’

It must’ve been because of his sudden disappearance. The thought left Woo Hyuk with a bitter expression.

‘I made him do something dangerous.’

His own inadequacy had forced someone else to take unnecessary risks. Guilt weighed heavily on him.

Yet, what puzzled him was—

‘Why go this far?’

He couldn’t understand why Gu Yangcheon would go to such lengths for him. Woo Hyuk himself couldn’t justify it, and Yangcheon, even less so.

They weren’t childhood friends. Their bond hadn’t been forged through meaningful events or deep camaraderie.

In reality, Woo Hyuk had been the one clinging to Gu Yangcheon, calling him a friend. Yangcheon had seemed indifferent, simply accepting the label.

Despite that—

‘What is it all for?’

What was Gu Yangcheon fighting for? It was a question Woo Hyuk couldn’t answer.

Even more baffling was—

"Take care of yourself."

Yangcheon had disappeared without hesitation, claiming there was something urgent to handle, leaving Woo Hyuk behind.

Something big must’ve happened, but what? Woo Hyuk could only sigh deeply as he scanned the ruined palace.

The chaos was evident, but he had no idea what had transpired. Gu Yangcheon hadn’t explained anything before departing.

Woo Hyuk, however, could feel that his body had undergone some kind of transformation.

His hair had turned completely white, and an overwhelming energy now coursed through him.

How had this happened?

The question lingered only briefly before he came to a conclusion.

‘Whatever it is, I need to move.’

There was nothing to gain by standing around. More importantly, he needed to check on Yuseon’s condition.

Determined, he began to take a step forward.

But then—

"The seal has been broken."

He froze.

A voice.

An unfamiliar voice echoed around him, and Woo Hyuk whipped his head around.

‘Where?’

Where was it coming from?

Scanning his surroundings warily, he remained on high alert.

"This is strange. The time wasn’t supposed to come yet."

The voice spoke again, resonating in Woo Hyuk’s ears.

"...Who are you?" he asked, his voice tense.

"Hmm?"

The voice responded, acknowledging him.

"You can hear me?"

"...Yes," Woo Hyuk replied.

The voice chuckled lightly, a sound that felt cold and sharp, like it could cut through him.

"Interesting. A child of Wudang, yet not of the main bloodline, hearing my voice? Fascinating."

Woo Hyuk’s eyes widened. How did this voice know he was from Wudang?

But before he could question it further—

"It doesn’t matter. Now is not the time for such trivialities."

The voice dismissed the thought, its tone casual yet chilling.

Swoosh—!!

"...!"

Before Woo Hyuk’s eyes, cold energy began to coalesce.

Reacting quickly, Woo Hyuk reached for his waist, only to realize—

‘Damn it.’

His sword was gone.

Crackle!

The gathering cold began to fuse with faint traces of lightning energy. As the power converged, it gradually took shape.

"...What?"

Woo Hyuk, watching cautiously, tensed as the figure solidified.

And when the form became clear, his expression froze.

It had taken on a human appearance.

And that human face was—

"Master...?"

It was identical to his teacher, the Hermit of Wudang.