Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 522 (Part 2)



522 (Part 2)

Compared to the overwhelming presence that had pressed down on the surroundings back then.

Namgung Bia now still falls short.

The presence of a martial artist intertwined with the explosive form of the Emperor’s Sword can easily crumble before an even greater presence.

It was a method of countering that I realized while grappling with the Demon Sword Lord in my previous life.

Unthinkingly pouring out qi to amplify presence.

A crude method of countering that could only be used by someone like me who has an excess of qi.

The thrust was shot towards Namgung Bia without any hesitation.

The disappointing part was.

‘A brief opening has appeared.’

While countering the Emperor’s Sword form an opening had emerged.

Namgung Bia did not miss this.

Kki-ki-ki-!

Taking advantage of the opening she twisted her body and let the thrust slide off her sword.

Gggggg-! The Demon Sword responded as if it had been waiting for this moment.

Namgung Bia managed to withstand it and successfully deflected the attack.

‘Hmm.’

The tip of the sword brushed through the air.

I believe my judgment just now was not bad.

I turned my body and swung my foot.

Pbeok-!

“Keugh…!”

Namgung Bia was pushed back after being kicked in the chest.

“Kugh….”

After flying a couple of steps back Namgung Bia knelt partially and let out a breath.

I looked at her and said.

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“Is that all?”

“…”

She was still lacking.

The judgment was not bad but that was all.

And rightly so.

“There were countless moments to finish this. You know that right?”

“… Yes….”

When I first swung my sword.

At the moment when Namgung Bia’s sword would have bounced off from the recoil.

If I hadn’t been holding a sword then it would have ended right there.

The performance of the Demon Sword is indeed good.

But in the end the fact that I wield a sword is nothing but a shackle for me.

Not to mention my footwork my body is also adjusted to be far from swordsmanship.

I can’t say anything since I trained myself that way.

“… If you’re only going to show me this I won’t let you go.”

“…”

Namgung Bia slowly rose to her feet.

She had expended quite a bit of energy even with that kick and her breath must have been ragged.

Yet she managed to regain her expression with just a few deep breaths.

Sreung.

The sword pointed towards me once more.

“Again… please.”

“…”

The sword remained steady.

Her gaze was the same.

Namgung Bia must have known for sure.

She must have realized that it was impossible to reach me with her previous combination.

Yet she seemed determined to try again.

“Why? Why are you trying to do this?”

“…”

“Can’t you just leave…?”

As I spoke I unintentionally let out a pitiful remark.

I hadn’t intended to say such a pathetic thing.

Once the words were out they wouldn’t stop.

“You said you wouldn’t leave.”

She wouldn’t leave me.

It was definitely Namgung Bia who said that to me.

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“… You said that.”

I know this is obsession.

I was aware of the desire for possession as well.

Still I didn’t want to let go.

It was dangerous.

I had been careful not to get tied down like this. Each individual should not gain more influence over me.

I was preparing my heart in advance for when the bloodlust would erupt.

No matter what happens I wanted to be able to throw my body without hesitation.

So that I wouldn’t have even a thought of wanting to live.

I wanted to create that.

But now it seems it was already too late.

Hearing my words Namgung Bia steadied her posture and said to me.

“I won’t leave. No matter how long it takes.”

“Then even now….”

“To do that I have to go.”

What a contradictory statement.

I bit my lip and gripped the Demon Sword tightly.

“… Okay if you want to go that badly I understand. But no matter how I think about it I dislike the idea of you leaving.”

“…”

“The promise still stands. Prove yourself to me. Then I will let you go.”

Could it be the influence of the detachment?

Something in my arms was extremely concerning as it began to fade away.

I wanted to protect it by any means necessary.

That feeling started to wrap around my body.

Thud-!

Namgung Bia launched herself again. The same trajectory as before.

I frowned at the sight.

‘What is she trying to do?’

If it’s the same as before it would be meaningless. Just as that thought crossed my mind.

Woong-!

A sound came from Namgung Bia’s sword. It was the sound of the sword’s spirit.

An unusually clear and deep sword spirit. This indicated that Namgung Bia’s level was quite high at this moment.

As the sword spirit resonated Namgung Bia’s sword began to tremble gradually.

The sword path unfolded.

It was the swordsmanship of the Namgung Clan. A slight disappointment crossed my mind at the familiar sword path.

At that moment.

[… Huh…]

Namgung Myung let out a gasp mixed with admiration.

The person who had just been shouting to let go of the Demon Sword was now reacting in astonishment.

[… How… how can that child do that.]

The sword path flowed smoothly.

I wondered why Namgung Myung was reacting this way.

‘This…?’

As I watched the slowly extending sword path I too began to understand.

This is.

‘The sword of the Demon Sword Lord.’

The sword dance she performed under the moonlight.

It was similar to the sword path from that time.

The sword that had finally transcended all the problems of the Namgung Clan reaching completion.

It still seemed somewhat lacking compared to the Demon Sword Lord and its roughness felt weak.

But this was undoubtedly the sword from that time.

‘When did she…?’

I swallowed my surprise as I dodged the sword path.

When on earth did she acquire something like this?

‘Did she learn from the Sword King?’

I recalled the condition that the Sword King had mentioned about teaching the Namgung Clan’s sword.

If she gained some enlightenment she had asked to let me know.

Could it be that?

‘No….’

There wasn’t enough time for that.

The only time she had met the Sword King recently was just a few days in Henan.

That was far too little time to say she learned it then.

That means it would be correct to say that Namgung Bia figured this out on her own.

‘Impressive.’

I wondered how long she had trained to reach this level of swordsmanship.

She must have put in a tremendous amount of effort.

No one would have told her she was right so she must have been engulfed in countless confusions while honing her sword.

Was this path the right one?

She must have walked with endless contemplation.

If she had finally discovered it to this extent.

‘I must not have been watching you.’

It meant that I hadn’t taken notice of Namgung Bia who was putting in such effort.

I could feel her martial arts.

I could sense her unwavering heart.

“…”

I felt it.

Perhaps because it was martial arts there were no lies.

I could feel her feelings towards me painfully clear.

Paan-!

“Ugh…!”

I deflected her sword and tripped Namgung Bia disrupting her stance.

As I was about to swing the Demon Sword.

Pachik-! The energy from Namgung Bia’s body took form and poured towards me.

It was her will to not cease the attack even in the moment her stance was broken.

I widened the distance and swung my hand back.

Hwaaaak-!

Flames erupted engulfing all the energy.

I rolled my eyes.

The energy was weaker than it appeared.

It was merely an attack that had increased in size was it a false pretense?

I spread my senses. Something was caught.

I immediately swung my sword to the left.

Kkaang-!

As expected Namgung Bia dove in from the left to launch a surprise attack.

Gradually her offensive became sharper.

Is she growing stronger while fighting?

No.

She was merely revealing her strength little by little.

She must want to show me.

That she has worked this hard.

So please acknowledge her.

That pure heart made me feel heavy inside.

Was it shameful?

Was I embarrassed by my own actions driven by desire for possession?

Perhaps that was the case.

Shwiik-! Shwiik-!

The energy seeped into the sword path.

The speed increased.

Hooook-!

“…!”

Using the sword path Namgung Bia was even unleashing the Emperor’s Sword form.

Binding my ankles with pressure she pressed forward with her energy-filled swordsmanship.

Within that there was a mix of false pretense and cleverness.

For someone just past their youth her skill was far too refined.