Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 422 (Part 2)



422 (Part 2)

News spread that a peak martial artist had hunted a demonic beast.

It was a time when the geniuses known as the generation of meteors were beginning to shine.

That moment coincided with the emergence of the red demonic beast.

Among them these three were the holders of talents that represented this generation.

Even if I hadn’t pointed it out they would have figured it out on their own eventually.

And this would also apply to figures like the Poison King and the White Lotus Sword.

Reaching the level of Hua-gyeong itself meant that one possessed no small amount of talent.

Now here.

“Move to the left in three steps.”

If someone were to ask what I who was not even a genius but merely considered myself an average talent was doing here.

“Put more energy into your swings than before.”

At least in this regard I could say there was no one more specialized than me.

The three moved in an orderly fashion according to my words.

In the meantime I shifted my gaze here and there observing the movements of the demonic beast.

I am not a genius.

The reason I lived with this phrase on my lips was because of that place.

In my previous life I had particularly struggled to grasp the differences in energy like that.

Even during my time working as a swordsman in the Murim Alliance there were times when I had to struggle to hunt the red demonic beast without the help of Jang-ryong or others.

It was not something I could achieve through effort.

This was not the realm of training.

No matter what I did I could not perceive the difference in energy.

No matter how dull I was I eventually felt the difference.

But even that was beyond my capability.

I truly felt nothing and as a result I had to endure being treated as a hopeless dullard receiving scornful glances.

A guy who just picked up the crumbs falling next to Jang-ryong.

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I think I heard something like that.

I wouldn’t deny it.

If it weren’t for that guy Woo-hyuk I wouldn’t have been able to endure those times.

So it was a time when I could only lament my pitiful talent.

“Two of you distract from the left. The remaining one move to the right.”

But if you were to ask how this was possible now it was due to the influence of the Demonic Absorption Technique I possessed.

The energy possessed by the demonic beast is in fact demonic qi.

Thus the demonic stone of the demonic beast is imbued with demonic qi which the Demonic Absorption Technique absorbs.

Could it be due to this influence?

When it comes to demonic qi I have become able to feel it like a ghost.

Though to others it may appear as a transparent veil surrounding the demonic beast.

To my eyes it only looks like a dark and murky veil.

The shallow and deep parts within it?

Setting aside the feeling they are clear enough to see.

The reason I was able to become incredibly strong right after becoming a demonic practitioner and receiving powers from the Heavenly Demon.

In terms of demonic beasts with such characteristics as long as the level matched I could be stronger than anyone.

This was something I had been obsessively doing in my previous life; how could I not know?

‘It’s about time he reaches his limit.’

Having only targeted weaknesses the veil he possessed was already in shambles.

As is often the case when one part collapses another part becomes flawed.

If you break one weakness another part weakens. It was simply a matter of finding and continuously breaking them.

Shaaak-!

With the combined efforts of the three the beast seemed to scream in exhaustion.

Fortunately it didn’t seem to be that strong.

The cold sweat it had shed was due to the appearance of the red demonic beast itself not because it was frightened by the strength of the demonic beast.

‘This should be enough.’

Seeing the veil crumbling I turned my head.

“Clan Head Dang.”

“…!”

I called out to the Poison King who was looking at me with a face full of astonishment.

For some reason Clan Head Dang was staring at me with his pupils wildly shaking.

‘Hmm.’

It seems it was because of the sight of hunting the demonic beast….

Though it was a bit bothersome that unnecessary misunderstandings might arise around us it couldn’t be helped.

“I think you can enter now.”

“…Is it because that veil has disappeared?”

Oh….

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‘So he noticed after all.’

It seems the Poison King also realized that the demonic beast possessed a veil that absorbed qi.

Is that why he was so surprised?

“It hasn’t completely disappeared. But now it seems we can push through with strength. It will crumble soon.”

“…Mister Gu.”

“Yes.”

“What exactly are you?”

Hearing the Poison King’s question I tilted my head.

It’s a question I’ve been hearing often lately.

I recalled the time when I had unconsciously answered “Heavenly Demon” to a question posed by Dang-deok.

‘Why did I say that?’

I still wonder.

Why did I give such an answer?

Was it because it felt like this world was trying to make me into the Heavenly Demon?

I don’t know. At that time it felt like I had to answer that way.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I’m just a martial artist from Gu.”

“…You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

“No I don’t understand.”

As I shook my head and was about to respond a loud bang echoed.

Kwah-!

Kyaaaahhh-!! The demonic beast let out a rough scream.

Wondering what was happening I checked and saw that someone had swung a sword in place of Wi Seol-ah.

It was the White Lotus Sword.

…When did that lady arrive?

“Hahaha!”

The White Lotus Sword laughed brightly as if she were a goddess.

‘Ha.’

I let out a sigh of exasperation at the sight.

The place where the White Lotus Sword attacked was the weak point of the demonic beast.

‘Did she realize it by watching?’

If that wasn’t a coincidence.

It seems the White Lotus Sword has figured out the method to hunt the red demonic beast.

Perhaps due to the difference in levels.

The balance of the serpent was thrown off by the sword swung by the White Lotus Sword.

Sasaak.

The veil surrounding the demonic beast shattered and scattered like powder. The veil had finally collapsed.

Seeing that I finally moved my steps.

Splash.

It had been a while since I walked on water so I felt quite awkward.

This was originally a highly advanced skill that required delicate control of qi.

‘Those guys are crazier than I am.’

Unlike me who had reached Hua-gyeong it was even more surprising that those three who were still at their peak succeeded.

I had explained it briefly thinking if it didn’t work we could just abandon it but they went ahead and did it.

Anyway…. They have talents that are astonishing every time I see them.

Splash.

Taking another step I ignited flames around my body.

Whoosh-!

Since the fighting environment was on the river it was somewhat bothersome.

But it wasn’t a major issue.

‘This should be enough.’

Thump-!

I exerted strength and leaped.

Since the serpent was quite large I had to rise high accordingly.

The reason I hadn’t directly participated until now while commanding the kids was simple.

The first was to give them experience against the red demonic beast.

The second was.

‘To avoid wasting unnecessary strength in breaking the veil.’

It wouldn’t have been a big problem if I had used my strength.

But I had to minimize the risk. I needed to be prepared for unexpected situations.

But now the reason I was participating was.

‘I need to eat the demonic stone.’

I had to obtain the demonic stone possessed by the red demonic beast.

Even if the situation was going strangely due to the appearance of the demonic beast.

I couldn’t miss the demonic stone it possessed. Given the energy contained within it I couldn’t afford to let this slip away in a situation where I needed strength urgently.

As the beast staggered and lost its senses from the blow of the White Lotus Sword.

I burst forth with flames and quickly approached it.

I gathered flames in my hand.

I didn’t feel the obstructive veil.

Fortunately it seemed to have completely shattered.

As I got closer to its scales I extended my fist enveloped in enhanced qi sharply.

Pook-!

My arm pierced through its scales.

Comparatively it seemed too weak to inflict a wound.

But it didn’t matter. What was important was that my arm had entered its interior.

I gathered qi into a point and concentrated flames at my fingertips.

A flame jewel (炎玉) was created at my fingertips.

And at the same time without hesitation I detonated it inside the serpent’s body.

Kwahhh-!

Kyaaaahhh-!!!

The heat I felt from its body made it thrash and dive into the water.

It seemed to be trying to extinguish the flames.

But flames created from qi don’t extinguish that easily.

I detonated the flame jewel and intensified the flames.

‘Tsk.’

Though I couldn’t breathe underwater given my level I could endure for quite a while.

Right now I had to focus solely on cutting off this beast’s breath.

Just as I was considering using demonic qi against its stubborn thrashing.

[…W-why…?]

A voice echoed from somewhere.

What is this? Telepathy?

[Oh great being…. Are you abandoning us…!!!]

It was a scream that felt like it would tear my ears apart.

What is this sudden noise?

‘What the hell?’

As I shifted my gaze slightly I could see it.

The demonic beast gradually dying in the flames was shedding tears of blood while looking at me.