Childhood Friend of the Zenith

TL Notes: The art with Cheonma is not official.

We tried to work on it with my friend AI))) ________________________________ Her long, flowing black hair fell past her waist, smooth as silk.

Untouched by any hint of color or light, her jet-black hair only emphasized her noble presence.

Her pale skin made this contrast all the more striking.

Beautiful.

Anyone who looked at her would say so.

Her violet eyes gleamed, holding a light all their own.

Though that violet gleam was a common mark of demonic energy in any demon, hers was on an entirely different level.

Far clearer, lacking even a trace of murkiness, her eyes looked like finely cut, precious jewels—enough to set anyone’s heart racing.

However, what I felt when I looked at her wasn’t some trivial sense of excitement.

Why.

Only terror.

Why is she here?

And fear.

The emotions deeply engraved within me surged to the surface, prickling at my scalp.

I clenched my fists tightly; it felt like I could start trembling at any moment.

It began the moment I met those violet eyes.

I could hardly breathe.

It felt as though my heart had turned to ice.

My body weighed heavily, as though something was crushing me, squeezing relentlessly.

Creak… Creak… Creeeeak.

The grinding sound echoed around me.

When I shifted my gaze, I saw the source—the space she was holding onto.

What the hell?

The strange portal that had been trying to drag me away was now gripped tightly in her hand, forcibly shut.

That creaking was the sound of it straining to reopen.

…She closed a dimensional portal by force?

What kind of outrageous power was that?

Whether or not it was even possible, the force it exerted trying to reopen was enough to feel suffocating.

Even the mere ripple of its energy made my skin crawl.

The woman—no, the ruler of all demons—Cheonma—appeared undisturbed.

Creak… Creeeak!

At the continuous noise, Cheonma turned her gaze to the fissure.

“Be quiet.

”The faint smile she’d been wearing vanished.

“…Silence, for just a moment.

Your racket is distracting.

”Her voice carried a chill.

And suddenly, darkness began to unfurl beneath her feet.

Rumble—The darkness spread outward.

Though it was still broad daylight, as Cheonma cast her gaze upon the ground, it transformed into night.

Staring at the dark expanse surrounding her, my eyes widened.

It was demonic energy.

That darkness was pure demonic energy.

Only, far denser than what other demons could produce.

An unrelenting darkness.

The night had descended.

This thought crossed my mind as I took in the blanket of Cheonma’s energy that covered the ground.

She had created a night without the moon.

This wasn’t some advanced technique like Red Heaven or a secret martial art of the Nine Families.

It was purely the force of her energy, altering the atmosphere and bending reality around her.

Creak… Creeak… Cree—Cheonma quietly watched the rift.

Her icy, violet gaze bore into it with an aura of power.

Then, surprisingly, the rift swallowed its own noise.

“Good.

How obedient of you.

Very well-behaved.

”Did the rift really silence itself out of fear of Cheonma?

Of course not.

A dimensional portal wouldn’t have the consciousness to feel fear.

And yet—…What other explanation is there?

There’s no other way to make sense of it.

The portal, which had been struggling as if trying to escape her grasp, suddenly stilled the moment Cheonma unleashed her energy.

The overwhelming sense of futility washed over me as I watched.

Cheonma’s gaze shifted back toward me.

As we locked eyes, I frowned.

…So it’s her.

It was indeed Cheonma.

Only she in this world could exude such an aura.

Known as the “Heaven of the Demonic Cult,” she was the one who had risen to the pinnacle of martial arts in the shortest time.

Simply looking at her made me feel as though my head might bow involuntarily.

No one else fit the image of being above everyone else as she did.

Cheonma was that kind of being.

“Fascinating.

”“…!

”Though I said nothing, Cheonma was the one to speak first.

Only then could I force my thoughts into focus.

“This is the first time I’ve encountered something like this.

”A faint smile appeared on her face.

That smile terrified me.

“It’s quite a refreshing gift, wouldn’t you say?

”She took a step toward me with a smile, extending her hand.

What to do?

I tried to come up with an answer, thoughts racing.

Swish.

Before I knew it, I had already taken a step back.

Instinctively.

Though it was an act that might bruise my pride, no such thought entered my mind.

Cheonma wasn’t someone who allowed for such trivialities.

The problem was—Even as I took a step back, she was already standing before me.

Tap.

She had me.

Cheonma approached and grabbed my left arm, raising it for a closer look.

I immediately tried to wrench my hand free.

Grit.

Damn it.

Her grip wouldn’t budge an inch.

“Hmm.

”She raised my left arm.

As the sleeve slipped back, my skin, twisted and strange, was revealed.

The arm covered in azure scales.

The grotesque sight was laid bare for all to see.

After holding it briefly, she abruptly let go.

Did I manage to break free on my own?

No way.

She released me because she allowed it.

Annoying, but that was the reality.

“Little Lord.

”“…!

”Her title for me made me freeze.

Little Lord.

She’d called me that.

I looked at her, trembling.

“…How…?

”She recognized me.

How did she know?

And to begin with—What’s Cheonma doing here?

The fact that she was here made no sense.

Unable to utter a single word, I looked at her.

She narrowed her eyes, her voice soft.

“I remember telling you, didn’t I?

”Her words made me swallow dryly.

“I’d be angry if you returned all beaten up.

”Her eyes curved into half-moons.

Her smile was exceptionally beautiful, but the energy radiating from her presence was anything but gentle.

It felt as though I’d collapse from fear.

Or maybe I already had?

If so, I’d just have to endure it.

“…I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not this ‘Little Lord’ of yours.

”I forced myself to say the words.

Someday, I would kill her, so I couldn’t allow myself to tremble or retreat.

“Hmm.

”Upon hearing this, Cheonma gave a pensive look and, after a moment, nodded slightly.

“I see.

”What was this?

Had she accepted it so readily?

The thought had barely crossed my mind when—“So you’re not called Little Lord here?

”“…!

”The matter-of-fact tone of her words sent a chill down my spine.

“Or perhaps I haven’t appeared here yet?

But that doesn’t seem likely.

”Cheonma rested her chin in her hand, frowning slightly.

I swallowed a scream as I watched her.

Does she know I’m from another dimension?

Not only had she appeared with the severed head of the Heavenly Lord, but she also seemed to know exactly who I was and where I’d come from.

Grit.

I felt something stir near my heart.

My energy began to surge.

What’s happening?

The unexpected sensation made me bend over slightly, my body wracked with tremors that felt like pain.

And it wasn’t just my heart.

It was as though I had a second heart in my left arm, thudding furiously.

Where was this coming from?

I felt as though I’d experienced it before.

This feeling—Ah.

It dawned on me.

During the last Gathering of the Orthodox, when I had faced Blood Demon disguised as Jang Sun-yeon.

The hostility I’d felt then.

Why is that…?

Why did that same sensation surface now as I looked at Cheonma?

No, now isn’t the time to be thinking about this.

The situation I was facing was too perilous to be dwelling on my condition.

What do I do?

Her gaze felt tangible.

Cheonma’s eyes bore down on me.

Even though she was looking at me from the same level, it felt like she was towering above me.

Thump… Thump…The animosity within me rose, pushing my temperature higher and higher.

Swish.

I felt a hand beneath my chin, tilting my face upward.

Cheonma had lifted my chin with her hand.

“Little Lord.

”“…I’m not your Little Lord….

”“I see it in your eyes; you know me, don’t you?

”“…”“How would you know that?

I’m quite curious.

”With my chin tilted, I found myself gazing up at her.

She was still smiling.

“Those aren’t pleasant eyes.

I could rip them out right now.

”Her words were nothing short of chilling.

“…”“But I’ll let it slide.

I’m merciful, after all.

”I should’ve pushed her hand away right then.

But my body refused to move.

I had strengthened my form, finally grounding myself in a stable stage.

Just a moment ago, I thought I could hold my own.

Damn.

Yet here I was, face-to-face with Cheonma.

I was beginning to think my luck was cursed.

And there was—My eyes darted down.

The Heavenly Lord’s severed head lay unceremoniously on the dirt.

And even now, the Sword Phantom was weighing heavily on my mind.

Tsk.

Sword Phantom had already been kneeling with her head bowed the moment Cheonma appeared.

That was the expected stance for any demon before their leader.

“Little Lord.

”The voice that pierced the air redirected my attention.

“When you’re speaking with me, keep your eyes forward.

”The calm command made me grit my teeth as I grabbed her hand.

Fwoosh.

“Hmm.

”She made a small sound as I clasped her wrist.

“I told you, I’m not your Little Lord.

”Even as I spoke, I had to control my voice to keep it from trembling.

Her violet eyes drifted to her captured wrist.

I braced myself.

“Interesting.

”I had thought she’d pull her hand away immediately, but Cheonma remained calm.

“This is the first time something like this has happened….

”There was a subtle heat to her tone.

My shoulders began to shake.

“This isn’t so bad.

”She smiled as she spoke.

That seductive smile held a chill to it.

“I have a question.

”Was this intense fascination?

Or simply idle curiosity?

Cheonma’s gaze held some kind of emotion.

Which was rare.

Emotions rarely appeared in her eyes, and when they did—They were usually a harbinger of killing intent.

“The choice I made at the end—was it you?

”“What does that mean—”I began to respond, but Cheonma’s eyes shifted to the sky.

Still, she didn’t release her hold on the rift.

“Looks like we have company.

”Her voice was matter-of-fact, prompting me to look in the same direction.

…Huh?

Beyond the empty sky, something approached.

Shhh—Swords.

Hundreds of white swords hovered in the sky, all aimed in this direction.

There were hundreds, perhaps thousands.

Seeing the countless blades, I couldn’t help but bite my lip.

And now you too…?

The situation had grown even worse with Cheonma’s arrival, and now an even more dangerous presence had appeared.

As I stared at the overwhelming display of swords, Cheonma casually adjusted her hair.

And now, I could see clearly.

A figure had stepped down onto the swords, approaching.

Her once-golden hair was now bleached white.

The swords in her hands glowed with a fierce light.

It was as though she’d become one with the sun, taking on its radiant form.

It was the version of her I hated most.

The one she could only assume by burning her own life force.

As I watched this woman’s sudden entrance—“It seems you felt my presence after all.

”Cheonma’s voice turned cold.

“I still can’t stand the sight of you.

”It was almost funny.

How could it not be?

Cheonma spoke these words to the woman who had just arrived.

And they wore identical faces.