Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 476 (Part 2)



476 (Part 2)

“Whoosh-!

As I twisted my body I reached out my fist towards the creature.

Just before my fiery fist made contact with its body.

Creeeak.

“…!”

I checked its eyes and hurriedly turned my body.

Whoosh-!

Kwahhh-!

My fist dug into the pillar beside me igniting flames.

Thud thud thud-! Boom-!

The pillar shattered and collapsed.

A loud noise erupted as the pillar fell to the ground.

I could have controlled the flames but instead I just stared at the creature with eyes much more surprised than before.

Even though I was right in front of it it merely tilted its head and did not take a stance to attack.

“You….”

Seeing that I asked it in a flustered voice.

“… Could it be a rival beast?”

The creature’s eyes lit up upon hearing my words. Then

Creeeak.

It slightly nodded its head.

“…”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

The demonic beast’s magic stone that I had captured.

The rival beast that hatched from within it.

Was this creature it?

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“But why did it turn out like this?”

I had no words to say.

It looked completely different.

At best it had been a thin snake-like form that could barely wrap around my arm.

Now it was as long as my body when fully extended and much thicker too.

No aside from being long and flexible it had become a completely different creature in color and appearance.

If I were to ask how I recognized it as a rival beast in such a situation.

Hmm.

It was because the energy I felt from my body resonated with it.

Could that be the reason? I could naturally tell that it was a rival beast.

Creeeak.

The creature stuck out its snout and rubbed its face against me.

Where had its thin elongated tongue gone? A massive tongue brushed against my cheek.

“You’re drooling. You little rascal.”

Perhaps because it had grown larger its drool was no joke.

‘What happened here?’

As I absentmindedly patted it I tried to recall what this situation was.

It didn’t seem like I needed to think for long.

“Is it because of me?”

Looking at its scales and the state of resonance with my energy it was obvious why the rival beast had changed like that.

“… Since I’ve changed have you changed too?”

Creeeak?

The creature tilted its head as if it didn’t understand my words.

Despite its somewhat more ferocious appearance its behavior remained the same.

‘Fortunately it seems like only its appearance has changed.’

That was the biggest problem.

‘What am I going to do with this size?’

As the situation rapidly escalated I hadn’t been able to pay attention but it was somewhat fortunate that it had returned with me like this.

When it was a small snake I could somehow hide it but now there was no way to conceal it.

Watching it tilt its head with its whiskers swaying I felt even more complicated.

‘What on earth is this creature?’

It was a demonic beast born from the magic stone that had consumed my energy but on top of that it had even changed its appearance according to my energy.

‘It won’t change any further will it?’

That was a bit scary.

What would I do if it grew even larger?

‘If it grows….’

The image of the bloodthirsty creature I had encountered in the river flashed through my mind.

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That one was quite large.

In terms of size it could be compared to the rival beast I had met in the river which made it even more concerning.

‘What will I feed it?’

Just looking at it now I was already questioning what I should give it to eat and if it grew larger that would be a problem in itself.

‘Sigh.’

Lost in thought I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

It was amusing that amidst all this I was thinking about how to feed it.

As I absentmindedly patted its head it eagerly rubbed its head against me.

After a few strokes I turned my head.

“Um.”

As I scanned the surroundings I suddenly spotted something I had been looking for and walked towards it.

At the edge of the pile something was stacked high.

It was the Poisonous Heaven Pill and the White Magic Stone.

Fortunately it was just as I had first discovered it.

“…”

At first I had drooled over this but now looking at it the same feelings didn’t wash over me.

I cautiously picked up a Poisonous Heaven Pill.

“Um….”

Can I eat this with this body? I still hadn’t properly grasped what had happened.

It was a somewhat hesitant situation.

‘What about martial arts?’

Is the Magic Absorption Technique still intact?

I set down the Poisonous Heaven Pill and casually grabbed the White Magic Stone.

Hmm.

The moment I activated the Magic Absorption Technique I immediately felt the energy being absorbed.

It seemed that my body had changed but my martial arts had not.

‘Then it’s okay to absorb energy?’

As I was checking the state one by one.

Suuuu.

“…!”

Somewhere along with a floral scent I felt a slight warmth on my body.

‘This feeling….’

I rolled my eyes at the familiar aura.

[Ugh….]

As expected a voice I had often heard echoed in my head.

‘Noya?’

[…]

Feeling that the new Noja had arrived I tried to speak but for some reason Noja did not respond.

‘Noja?’

[…]

What is it?

‘Could it be….’

Has it disappeared again?

Just as I was about to be engulfed in that anxiety.

[… Don’t talk to me.]

Fortunately it seemed that it hadn’t disappeared.

“Why is that?”

I asked with a puzzled expression.

[I’m feeling a bit embarrassed right now…. So don’t talk to me for a while.]

‘… Ah yes.’

It seemed something had happened.

The tone of the voice was quite subdued which made me a bit concerned.

‘Noja I’m just asking in case but…’

Even though it had said not to talk I had to ask this.

‘Did you get hit?’

[…]

There was no answer.

I had asked half-jokingly but was it true…?

‘Noja…. Could it be that you really….’

[W-Who said I got hit!]

‘…’

It shouted in response to my suspicion.

From its reaction it seemed that it really had been hit.

I couldn’t see its face to check its condition but judging by the tremor in its voice it seemed it had been quite scolded.

And the one who had scolded Noja like this was.

-What is this….

Had appeared right behind me before I knew it.

-What happened?

I felt a mix of confusion and slight anger.

Wondering what was going on I turned to look.

“Ah.”

I immediately understood why Dang Je-mun was saying such things.

The pillar of the temple had been destroyed.

Dang Je-mun frowned as she looked at the collapsed pillar.

Her gaze was quite sharp.

Soon.

-Huhin….

Her gaze turned towards me and the moment I met those fierce eyes.

“Sigh.”

I immediately sighed and pointed my finger somewhere.

There

Kruung?

The rival beast (that had been) tilted its head at my gesture.

I faced those sparkling eyes and shouted without a moment’s hesitation.

“I told you to be careful…! How can you just break everything like that!”

Like scolding a foolish child.

Of course.

-… Huhin?

Naturally it didn’t get through.

And rightly so….

Whoosh….

The fragments of the pillar were still burning with my blue flames.”