Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 348 (Part 2)



348 (Part 2)

Despite everything for some reason the intense emotions that had surged suddenly felt like they had faded away in an instant.

I was curious about the reason but first and foremost she needed to calm the thoughts that had briefly flared up.

She walked down to the barracks.

Her pounding heart was unusually hot yet her chest felt cold in contrast.

Was this what they called a memory?

That needed to be corrected.

This was regret.

A regret of wondering how things might have been if they had been just a little different.

That’s why she was still incessantly recalling it.

Even knowing she could not return to that time.

The regret that continued to resurface.

It was like a self-justifying excuse comforting herself by saying that it was unavoidable back then.

And so what remains for her.

No what remains for me.

Can I look at him even from a distance?

Or perhaps up close?

Am I satisfied with merely bearing the karma that would befall him?

Should I be happy to be forcibly piecing together a soul that should have long since shattered and disappeared?

I cannot understand anything.

“Get your hands off.”

Even so there was only one thing to do.

“Dare not touch him with those filthy hands.”

I will protect him.

That was everything.

Thud thud thud.

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The ground which had been a part of the great mountain was breaking apart.

The long stretched-out marks were gradually widening creating a new space.

With a single swing.

The aftermath it created was beyond imagination.

“Ugh… Hah…”

The resonance of the demonic qi that surged to the tip of my chin momentarily quieted down.

Gu Yang-cheon was barely shaking off the pressure.

But he could not calm his trembling eyes.

When facing the Heavenly Demon and when the demonic qi began to rampage at that moment.

I did not feel this kind of emotion.

Boom.

A sound came from the place where the ground had shattered.

As dust swirled the Heavenly Demon reappeared.

Thud.

The Heavenly Demon shaking off the dust that had settled on his body was in a state with not a single scratch.

‘…Even if the time is early is it true that the Heavenly Demon is still the Heavenly Demon?’

The young figure I had met back then.

The appearance that seemed to be just over ten years old now looked similar to my age after several years had passed.

It meant that the speed of growth was different.

“…”

The Heavenly Demon emerging from the dust was quietly gazing at Wi Seol-ah.

The Heavenly Demon watched as Wi Seol-ah held her sword.

Slowly.

He formed the black energy into the shape of a sword in one hand.

As if to mimic her.

Wi Seol-ah’s expression twisted as she confirmed him.

Soon after Wi Seol-ah’s body shot towards the Heavenly Demon at high speed.

Bang-! Grrr!

The energies clashed.

The impact spread in all directions.

The exhausted body of Gu Yang-cheon nearby was filled with the recoil. For now holding on to not be blown away was the best he could do.

‘Strange.’

I was not talking about the Heavenly Demon appearing at this time.

That was indeed strange.

But what mattered was Wi Seol-ah.

As far as I knew Wi Seol-ah was at her peak.

If I had to specify I would call it a fully matured peak.

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But it did not mean she was at a level to show such power.

I could see it.

Boom-!

The Heavenly Demon was gradually being pushed back by Wi Seol-ah’s sword.

Could this be happening?

Was the Heavenly Demon’s realm shallow?

That could be possible.

It was hard to say what position the current Heavenly Demon was in and what level he had reached.

The thick demonic qi spread in all directions.

Following the Heavenly Demon’s gestures it was rough but orderly.

Wi Seol-ah advanced cutting through the demonic qi.

Every time her sword sliced through the air a white trace was left behind.

That was the trace of the energy Wi Seol-ah had wrapped around her body.

That was the problem.

The sword of demonic qi was powerless against Wi Seol-ah’s energy.

The white energy that surpassed gold.

It was the reason why the previous life’s Wi Seol-ah could exert overwhelming power against demonic practitioners.

And ultimately it was the strength that could restrain the Heavenly Demon.

‘How is that possible?’

The current Wi Seol-ah should not be able to wield such power.

If it were the martial arts of the Sword Master recalling that even the Sword Master had been helpless against the Heavenly Demon it could be seen as a power that Wi Seol-ah had personally realized.

How could the power that Wi Seol-ah had mastered at the end of her previous life be used by the current Wi Seol-ah?

What could be the reason?

I found it amusing that this felt more important than the appearance of the Heavenly Demon.

My back tingled.

Strange sounds echoed in my ears as if I were surrounded by a thick fog.

My breathing was becoming rough.

Why was that?

Was it because of the backlash of the demonic qi?

That was also true.

The backlash of the demonic qi was still present.

The pain from it felt like I could lose consciousness at any moment.

‘Why?’

My focus was not on that but on Wi Seol-ah.

Wrapped in white energy.

Wielding her sword towards the Heavenly Demon with righteousness.

The current Wi Seol-ah was strong.

She was talented enough to be called the Divine Sword of her previous life.

This could be confirmed as she had reached her peak not long after we had parted ways.

So it was certain that Wi Seol-ah was strong.

But something was different about her current appearance.

‘Why…?’

The current appearance was not of the one who had approached me with a bright smile.

Not the one who had shown her gluttony and found happiness in eating.

But rather she was like the one who had mostly hidden her emotions.

The one who bore sadness and pain holding onto the single-minded determination to save the world.

Boom boom boom-!

As the white energy and demonic qi repeatedly clashed.

It became increasingly clear that the demonic qi was gaining the upper hand.

Just moments ago the white energy had been pushing forward eliminating the demonic qi.

My gaze turned to the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon had the same expressionless face as before.

He had shown a somewhat surprised expression for a moment when he was being pushed back.

But that was only for a brief moment.

The demonic qi was gradually gaining strength.

The demonic qi was still being devoured and scattered.

Yet the amount of demonic qi being emitted was increasing.

As if to say that if it was being consumed it should spew out even more.

It was truly a monstrous way of dealing with things.

“Ugh…!”

As the demonic qi surged Wi Seol-ah let out a groan.

The energy that she could not completely block brushed against her leaving scratches. In the midst of that she was also twisting her energy to prevent it from coming towards me.

‘No.’

I did not want to see that scene.

I did not want to see her facing the Heavenly Demon again.

That was why I had rolled around so much trying to gather strength.

Whether it was bloodshed or countless people dying in the future.

It was not that important to me.

Only one thing mattered.

That she should not have to bear such a burden again.

That was the life I wanted.

But.

Was I to watch this helplessly again?

What was the point of ascending to this realm?

Unable to protect that small woman instead being protected myself.

‘What should I do?’

I wanted to move immediately and pull her out. I wanted to stop the Heavenly Demon right here and now.

If I did everything would change.

‘Then I should move.’

So I should not just sit there uselessly but act right away.

“Ugh…”

I tried to rise to my knees but the pain I felt in my qi center made me sit back down again.

How? What should I do?

With bloodshot eyes I recalled.

How could I escape?

Calming the demonic qi that was rampaging as if searching for its master while looking at the Heavenly Demon.

Finding a way to rise.

“…”

It came to me quickly. It was a method I had known from the start so it was only natural.

As the resonance emitted by the demonic qi began to overwhelm me.

I recalled the only way to find comfort here.

As a result my current life would become a little closer to my previous life.

But for now I had found a way to feel at ease.

What followed was hesitation.

Because of that my life might once again be plunged into hell.

And after everything was over finding peace might become even more distant.

Or it might even disappear entirely.

But I lifted my head and looked straight ahead.

“Ugh…!”

I looked at the woman wielding her sword blocking the demonic qi claiming she would protect me.

Was the peace of the future more important than that?

It was not.

The contemplation ended.

It was a contemplation that was unnecessary from the start.

I released the grip I had on the rampaging demonic qi.

Immediately after.

I instead drew up the demonic qi in abundance.