Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 450 (Part 1)



450 (Part 1)

**Chapter 451: This Can’t Be Right (3)**

Clank.

The damp musty smell mixed with the distinct metallic odor of iron filled the air.

There was a small window but not a single ray of light came through.

Only a tiny lamp stuck to the wall illuminated the surroundings.

This situation felt oddly familiar.

In this subtly familiar scenario I couldn’t help but let out a slight hollow laugh.

Crack—

As I raised my hand and moved it slightly I felt something constricting.

Handcuffs were tightly binding my wrists.

“…”

I frowned at the sight. Could handcuffs really hold me back?

As I looked around I began to understand the nature of these handcuffs.

‘They used something ridiculously expensive.’

It was obvious that this was an item with such a dark energy and strength.

‘Eternal Iron…’

These handcuffs were undoubtedly made of Eternal Iron.

It would be impossible to restrain a peak-level martial artist without handcuffs of that caliber.

‘It seems to be mixed with something murky…’

Eternal Iron isn’t something that just rolls around easily and they wouldn’t use a whole piece of it just to make a pair of handcuffs.

‘No there’s probably more than before.’

If this is still the world of the past there would indeed be more Eternal Iron than in the world after my regression.

Originally Eternal Iron was so rare that it was hard to obtain even for a fortune.

However about five years from now a mine filled with Eternal Iron will be discovered at an escort agency located in the Zhejiang region significantly increasing its quantity.

Of course.

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In the process the escort agency that discovered it will mysteriously be attacked and disappear.

The Murim Alliance will secretly distribute it and get caught among other incidents.

All sorts of things will happen but the fact remains that there will be more Eternal Iron than before.

Thanks to that even handcuffs are mixed with Eternal Iron now.

‘…This is absurd.’

Even if a minuscule amount of Eternal Iron is mixed in it’s treated like a famous sword.

At this time Eternal Iron was mixed into the handcuffs.

It’s truly ridiculous.

‘When I return I should visit Zhejiang.’

Despite having a ton of things to do this was a significant reason why I hadn’t thought much about money.

I don’t know all the future but I remember the major events.

Naturally I remembered the stories about Eternal Iron.

What worried me was that since the timeline had changed significantly trying to use time wisely might lead to problems.

Even now knowing the information doesn’t mean I can trust it completely.

‘But I can’t not go.’

It’s not just anything; it’s Eternal Iron.

For the future it would be a significantly helpful item so giving up on it felt regrettable.

As I pondered while looking at the handcuffs I suddenly felt a sense of futility and let my body slump.

After all this wasn’t the time to be thinking about such things.

“Ha….”

I looked back at the wall.

Then with a clatter—! I felt a movement from the floor that made my body lift slightly.

Feeling that uncomfortable sensation I muttered.

“Ah… the driver sucks.”

It was a rather rough remark.

But no good words could come out.

My situation was like that.

I was currently on a moving carriage.

Ah I can’t be sure since I can’t see but given the situation and sensations it must be so.

In the vibrating and thumping space I ground my teeth.

I was being transported by the Murim Alliance’s troops.

Looking at the handcuffs binding me I sighed repeatedly.

“Ah this can’t be right…”

How did I end up in this situation?

“What do you mean how did it happen?”

There was no need to think.

The reason I ended up like this was entirely due to my own actions.

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

Thunder rumbled from the suddenly dark clouds in the sky.

Inside the blackened clouds a sharp lightning energy enveloped the area furious enough to strike the ground at any moment.

Is this truly a phenomenon created by humans? It was awe-inspiring to the point of evoking a sense of reverence.

I recalled the martial artist who created such a phenomenon.

‘Thunder Lord (雷后).’

Another alias of the Sword Demon Lord and the one I thought suited him best.

Having reached the pinnacle of controlling thunder energy he was capable of causing anomalies in nature.

This was the realm that those who practiced emission-type martial arts and used energy aspired to reach.

A martial artist who had trained to the extreme in handling energy including Sword Unification.

I remembered the transcendent realm that the previous master had once mentioned.

He said it was a state of transcending the framework of martial arts to become one.

Looking at the current Sword Demon Lord I wasn’t entirely sure but I believed he had either reached that realm or was on the verge of it.

Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to display such a form.

Rumble—!

The range of the dark clouds gradually expanded.

The thunder energy emanating from the Sword Demon Lord also thickened significantly.

It was as if she had decided to unleash her full power; the energy radiating from her was extraordinary.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

I swallowed hard as I watched.

Why was she acting like this?

I was surprised to hear that the Sword Demon Lord wanted me.

But it was even more shocking to see her react like that.

‘Wait they want me so why is she acting like this?’

I wondered if she was angry because a new subordinate was being taken away.

‘Could she be?’

The Sword Demon Lord wouldn’t act that way.

Even if she belonged to the Black Flame Sect she had no connection with other demonic practitioners and she had never cared about anyone else so why would she care about a newcomer?

‘Then what is it?’

I stared at the Sword Demon Lord who was emitting energy like a madman.

This is serious.

‘Does she recognize who I am?’

I thought it might be possible but if so how did she figure it out?

I had no idea.

The energy was sealed and my appearance was entirely different plus the Black Flame Demon Lord was walking around just fine.

I had experienced regression but it was impossible for the Sword Demon Lord who had never gone through such a thing to recognize me.

“…Sword Demon Lord.”

The thunder energy radiating from the Sword Demon Lord spread out.

The one most taken aback by this was none other than the Sword Saint.

She realized that the Sword Demon Lord’s killing intent was genuine.

Crackle—!

The sword flux made of thunder energy wrapped around the Sword Demon Lord’s sword.

With an energy that seemed ready to explode at any moment the Sword Demon Lord approached the Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint frowning began to wrap her own unique energy around herself.

‘Huh?’

I widened my eyes as I watched.

The Sword Saint raising her energy as if to counterattack surprised me.

‘Are they really going to fight?’

It was terrifying.

Moreover the Sword Demon Lord was a member of the Demonic Cult but did not use demonic qi.

This meant that she wouldn’t be resisted by the Sword Saint’s power.

In other words she was the only one from the Demonic Cult who could fight the Sword Saint purely based on skill.

This meant that if a battle broke out it could turn into a bloody fight.

Swish.

Several energies rose behind the Sword Saint transforming into the shape of swords.

In her other hand she held a sword.

Dual-wielding.

In one hand she wielded the weapon she usually used.

And in the other hand a sword made of energy.

Additionally countless sword blades flew around her back in the form of the Sword Levitation Technique.

This was the appearance of the Moonlight Sword Dance she had been using.

The Sword Saint now in a combat stance looked at the Sword Demon Lord with sharpened eyes.

“Are you really planning to fight like this Sword Demon Lord?”

“If you wish.”

The Sword Demon Lord’s response was resolute.

“Even the Demon Lord is standing still so why are you stepping in?”

The Demon Lord the actual leader of the demonic practitioners present was watching the two without saying a word.

It was as if he was curious about how things would unfold.

That bastard he’s not stopping them but just watching.

‘You bastard may your heart burst and die.’

I cursed inwardly my eyes blazing with anger.

In the meantime it seemed the Sword Demon Lord had no intention of stopping despite the Sword Saint’s words.

Truly if she wished it seemed blood would be spilled at any moment.

The white hair of the Sword Demon Lord was infused with thunder energy changing its color.

Her blue eyes which seemed to hold the ocean were the same.

Now fully transformed into the Thunder Lord the Sword Demon Lord approached the Sword Saint and said

“That doesn’t matter.”

“…”

“Nothing at all.”

“What do you mean…?”

At the Sword Demon Lord’s response the Sword Saint’s expression turned to one of confusion.

“The important thing is that you are trying to take something from me and I have no intention of letting it go.”

“…!”

The Sword Demon Lord’s usual clumsy speech was replaced by a firm and clear tone causing the Sword Saint’s eyes to widen.

Her gaze turned cold.

“I have no intention of giving you anything in your current state.”

“Sword Demon Lord…!”

Rumble—!

Thunder gathered in the air.

As the situation suddenly turned the energies of both martial artists rose sharply.

The Heavenly Lord still stood with his arms crossed but I could sense the unusual energy around him.

It meant he could intervene at any moment and the Demon Lord showed no signs of intervening in this situation.

It seemed he was merely watching but I could tell he was likely thinking a thousand different thoughts inside.