Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Crunch.

Debris crumbled around me, and the overwhelming stench of burnt remains filled the air.

The walls, scorched by the heat, were melting.

The oppressive cold that had filled the space earlier was gone, replaced by an indescribable heat radiating everywhere.

"Cough.

"Amid the wreckage, I pushed myself up, forcing my body upright from under the debris.

"Ptoo.

"I spat out a mouthful of blood as I struggled to sit up.

Throb.

"Tsk...

"Pain shot through my torso, making me grimace.

My ribs were undoubtedly broken, and the searing pain in my abdomen hinted at more significant internal damage.

On top of that, the spot where the sword had impaled me, as well as the gash across my chest, weren’t trivial injuries.

"Damn it.

"Even worse, the cold had infiltrated my body, penetrating deeply.

I immediately began circulating my energy.

Sssss.

Heat spread through me, alleviating the frostbite somewhat.

Kicking aside debris, I began walking.

The explosion had hurled me against the wall, leaving me momentarily unconscious.

At most, I’d been out for a few seconds.

"Hah.

"Regulating my breathing, I pressed on.

"That was close.

"If I hadn’t used my energy to brace for impact, my insides might’ve been completely ruptured.

After all the abuse my body had taken, I had learned to preserve it—well, somewhat.

At least enough to avoid worse injuries.

Brushing dust off my shoulders, I kept moving.

"Why is there so much damn smoke?

"I infused a small amount of energy into my hand and waved it.

Whoosh.

The air cleared, pushing away the thick smoke.

Finally, with my vision restored, I continued toward my target.

The wall ahead had a massive hole blasted through it, and the debris inside was sizzling, resembling molten lava.

And below that—"...

Ugh...

cough, cough...

"Mang lay collapsed, a gaping hole in his abdomen.

I walked toward him, observing his mangled form.

One arm was torn off, and his abdominal wound was severe.

His condition was far from good.

"Regeneration is slow," I thought.

His missing arm hadn’t regrown, and neither had the damage to his torso healed.

Considering his earlier regeneration, I had expected such injuries to mend quickly.

"So it’s not unlimited regeneration," I mused.

Perhaps there were limits, or maybe there was a fixed number of times he could regenerate.

"Hrk...

"Mang groaned, coughing up blood.

Seeing Woo Hyuk’s face in that state was a strange and unsettling sight.

"You okay?

" I asked.

Of course, I knew the answer.

It was a rhetorical question.

He turned his gaze toward me.

"Hah...

hah...

damn it...

"Despite his grim expression, he let out a weak, bitter laugh.

"...

I didn’t think it would end up like this...

"Every word he spoke was accompanied by more blood spilling from his mouth.

It seemed clear that his regeneration had completely stalled.

Just in case, I activated my senses, maintaining my guard.

I wasn’t about to fall for any tricks.

"Just a mere fledgling...

who was only just born...

and yet, you’ve managed to meddle this much.

"His words drew a click of my tongue.

"Let me make this clear—I wasn’t trying to interfere.

"If it weren’t for people getting dragged into this mess, I wouldn’t have gotten involved.

I wouldn’t even have come to the Northern Sea.

That made me wonder.

"What happened to him in the previous timeline?

"Mang had mentioned being on the verge of resurrection, which meant he should have made his move back then.

But I had no recollection of such an event in my past life.

"Either he succeeded in hiding after his resurrection...

""Or he failed entirely.

""Or, like now, someone else prevented his resurrection.

"One of the three.

Which one could it be?

There was no way to know at this moment.

"You said you were the third, right?

""...

Yes.

I am...

""Honestly, I don’t care about that.

""...

"It was obvious he’d start a long-winded explanation, but I didn’t have time for that.

Not for me—for him.

I decided to cut to the chase and ask the most important question.

"Who is the Dragon King?

What’s his deal?

"Straight to the point.

At my abrupt question, Mang turned his gaze toward me.

The Dragon King—a past villain who had caused untold bloodshed, the first calamity to descend upon this world, and someone who was undoubtedly plotting something even now.

I needed answers.

"...

Hah...

hah...

"In response, Mang chuckled weakly.

"...

You’re cold, aren’t you?

""What?

""Your dear companion’s body is dying, and yet that’s what you’re choosing to ask?

"His words made me frown deeply.

"Cut the nonsense.

Are you going to answer or not?

""...

If I do, will you let me live?

""Maybe.

If you beg while answering, I might consider it.

""Heh...

"He laughed bitterly, blood pouring from his torso with every chuckle.

I kept a close eye on him.

"He’s at his limit," I thought.

His lack of regeneration wasn’t a choice—it was beyond his control now.

As I observed, Mang suddenly spoke.

"Do you want an answer?

""Oh?

Are you finally—""Ptoo!

"He spat bloody saliva at me, forcing me to tilt my head aside to avoid it.

My fist swung reflexively.

Crash!

"Guh!

""Damn it.

"Seeing his head snap back from the blow, I immediately realized my mistake.

I hadn’t intended to hit him anymore.

Retracting my hand, I glared at him with irritation.

"If you’re not going to answer, fine, but why spit at me?

"I’d punched him without meaning to.

"...

Hah...

hah...

heh...

"Despite the hit, Mang chuckled weakly, his expression dazed.

"Do you think you’ve won?

""Huh?

""Little Ninth...

you don’t realize the grave mistake you’ve made.

""What mistake?

""...

Because of this choice...

you’ll ultimately lose to the Dragon King and be devoured...

You’ll never defeat him.

"Hearing this, I let out a dry chuckle.

"Like you?

""...

"Mang fell silent at my retort, but the pause didn’t last long.

"Yes.

Like me...

"His voice carried a strange emptiness, his acknowledgment tinged with resignation.

"Do you truly think you, left alone, can defeat him?

""What?

Because you’re not here?

""The other Purebloods were devoured by him.

What could a lone child like you possibly do?

It’s impossible.

"Hearing this, I idly stroked my chin.

"You will ultimately...

""So what’s your point?

"I cut him off mid-sentence.

His words were heading in a tiresome direction, and I needed to steer the conversation back.

"You failed, so you think I will too?

Is that it?

""It’s not that simple—""Bullshit.

That’s exactly what you’re saying.

"Arrogant bastards.

Conversations with them never went anywhere.

"I get it—you’re still mad about getting beaten down ages ago.

If you were too weak, just shut up and stay down.

Stop whining like this.

""...

Hah?

""Hah, my ass.

"I let out a sigh.

This wasn’t the kind of conversation I wanted to have.

If he wasn’t going to give me real answers, there was no point in dragging it out.

"If Woo Hyuk’s body dies here, it’ll be a problem too.

"That was something I couldn’t let happen.

It was time to wrap things up.

I stared at him and spoke.

"How do you know whether I’ll win or lose against the Dragon King?

You lost to me, didn’t you?

""...!

"My words hit a nerve, and Mang’s expression twisted in anger.

"Do you think defeating me in this feeble body means you’ve truly won?

""Feeble or not, you lost.

""...

Hah!

"Mang let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Though I may have lost this fight—"His attempt to justify himself brought a smile to my face.

"Gotcha.

"That was what I had been waiting for.

From the ground beneath my feet, I felt a subtle shift.

This was the signal that the conditions had been met.

Feeling the sensation clearly, I silently commanded:"Devour.

""Do you truly believe you can defeat the Dragon King—!?

"Mang’s words abruptly stopped.

Fwoooosh—!

From my feet, black energy surged toward him.

"Guh!?

"Enveloped in the dark aura, Mang writhed, his injured body thrashing.

Yet the energy seemed more resilient than even I had expected.

"What...

what are you doing—!?

"Crunch.

"...

Ugh!!

"A sharp sound echoed in my ears, the sound of something being bitten down on.

It came from within the aura.

The first crunch was followed by another.

Crunch—!

Crack—!

Gnaw—!

The noises of relentless chewing and swallowing filled the air.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!

"Mang let out an agonized scream from within the energy.

"Gaaaaahhh!!

"The cries were deafening, so filled with pain that they made me grimace—not out of sympathy or pity, but because of what I was feeling in response.

Ssssssss—From the tips of my feet, the dark energy began to flow upward, carrying something into my body.

It was hard to describe—neither energy nor something wholly material.

Was it memories?

Thoughts?

Or perhaps a fragment of his soul?

Whatever it was, the sensation was unmistakable.

It traveled through me, reaching my heart, where it merged with my own spirit.

"Disgusting.

"It felt as though I was taking something I shouldn’t, stealing something that wasn’t mine.

But guilt?

No, it wasn’t guilt—just an inexplicable unease.

Still, this confirmed one thing.

"So this is Authority.

"I could feel it clearly now—this was what it meant to seize Authority.

I was devouring Mang’s Authority.

Crunch.

Crack—!

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!

"It wasn’t something I could have done mid-battle.

So why could I do it now?

"Because he admitted defeat.

"The conditions for consuming Authority were twofold:The opponent had to acknowledge their defeat.

They had to verbalize it.

Both conditions had been met.

"What an absurd condition.

"It wasn’t enough to defeat someone in battle; they had to concede and say it aloud.

The condition was as frustrating as it was peculiar.

"Is it because I want acknowledgment for my victories?

"It sounded childish and immature, but given how closely the Authority mirrored my own emotions, it wasn’t impossible.

"N-no...

no!!

Don’t take it...

Don’t take what’s mine!

"Mang, shrouded in the black energy of greed, screamed in desperation.

But the devouring didn’t stop.

For what felt like an eternity, the relentless chewing and swallowing continued.

Smack.

Gulp.

Growl—!

Finally, the devouring ceased.

Greed seemed satisfied, letting out a contented belch before retreating back into the shadows.

Ssshhhh—With its departure, I let out a deep breath.

For some reason, I felt full—even though I hadn’t eaten anything myself.

Turning my gaze forward, I saw Mang’s face, pale and trembling, as he gasped for breath.

I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

"So that’s how it works.

Interesting.

""Y-you...

took...

what’s mine...

"Mang’s trembling hand reached out toward me.

"Give it...

give it back...

Return my...

power...

"His desperate voice carried no weight.

I casually swatted his hand away.

Smack.

The hand fell limp, flopping to the ground.

"Give it back?

It’s mine now.

""No...

It’s...

mine...

""Yeah, it was yours.

"But not anymore.

"Now, it belongs to me.

"Mang’s face contorted with rage at my words.

His anger was palpable, but it wasn’t intimidating in the least.

Now that I’d taken what I needed, there was nothing left to fear from him.

"I’ve gotten what I wanted.

Now, disappear.

""Ugh...

gaaahhh...!!

"Mang tried to resist, but his body, already shattered, couldn’t pose any threat.

And based on what I felt during the process of devouring his Authority, his time was almost up.

The moment I took his Authority, I also claimed the remainder of his vitality.

"How...

regretful...

"The light in his eyes faded with each passing second.

All that remained was the faint trace of hatred directed at me.

"I...

curse...

you...

I’ll curse you...

"Thud.

His words cut off as his body stiffened like a stone, completely lifeless.

A Pureblood Dragon had died in disgrace.

There was no particular satisfaction in witnessing his death.

"...

"I placed my hand on his chest.

"He’s not completely dead.

"Though faint, I could feel a heartbeat and shallow breaths.

I had avoided striking his vital points.

Mang’s presence was gone, but the body left behind was Woo Hyuk’s.

However, this was far from a safe situation.

"At this rate, he’ll die.

"Perhaps it was because Mang’s energy had been absorbed, but Woo Hyuk’s body had undergone changes, similar to mine.

Yet the extensive injuries posed a serious problem.

"Tsk.

"Clicking my tongue, I thought back to my original plan.

I had intended to take Mang’s Authority and use it to heal Woo Hyuk.

But there was an unexpected issue.

I now possessed two Authorities, and I knew immediately what they were upon claiming them.

"…But this won’t save him.

"The regenerative Authority wasn’t what I’d expected.

It wasn’t like Yuseon’s ability to heal others.

My newfound regeneration allowed me to rapidly heal my own injuries, even regrowing severed limbs if needed.

But...

"It doesn’t work on others.

"Mang’s second Authority, the power of regeneration, had its limits.

"Was it always like this?

"Thinking back to Yuseon’s ability, it didn’t seem like it should’ve been restricted in this way.

Could it be...

"The Authority weakened during the transfer?

"That possibility crossed my mind.

Perhaps the process of stealing and assimilating it diminished its effectiveness.

It was plausible, but...

"In this situation, it’s irrelevant.

"There was no point in pondering it now.

"What do I do?

"If I left Woo Hyuk like this, he would die.

Even if I somehow got him to a safe place, he wouldn’t survive the journey.

And even if he did, could anyone save him in this state?

Not even the Divine Doctor could help at this point.

"...

"What could I do?

What was the answer?

I clenched my teeth in frustration.

"Damn it, I could’ve saved him before.

But now...

"The regenerative Authority was what I had sought, but now it was practically useless.

"Wait.

"A thought suddenly struck me.

"It enhances the wielder’s regeneration, doesn’t it?

"Recalling the conditions, I thought of a possibility.

A distant memory surfaced—of the Heavenly Demon and the creation of Demonic Beings.

The process of turning them into Demonic Beings granted them strengthened bodies and unique powers—what they called “baptism.

”It felt similar to what I was experiencing now.

"...

Could it work?

"Summoning my resolve, I let demonic energy rise within me, flowing through my body.

Placing my hand on Woo Hyuk’s chest, I prepared to act.

Before releasing the energy, I hesitated, staring at his unconscious face.

"If this works...

will you hate me for it?

"The thought gave me pause, but weighing that against his impending death, the answer was simple.

"I’ll save you.

"That was the only choice I had.

Fwoosh!

Demonic energy surged into Woo Hyuk’s body.