Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Graaaah--!!!

"Piercing through the beast's savage roar, I launched myself forward.

Despite its massive frame, akin to a small hill, its movements were alarmingly swift.

Crunch!

The creature's claw slammed into the ground, tearing into the surface as if it were slicing tofu.

The razor-sharp claws carved through the earth effortlessly.

I narrowly evaded, moving closer toward it.

The target: its descending forearm.

As it came into range, I twisted my waist and unleashed a powerful punch.

Thud!

My fist connected squarely with the beast's forearm.

A harsh sound rang out as its hand was flung backward.

But...

Grrrr-!

"Damn.

"Judging by its reaction, the impact barely registered.

My attack had definitely landed, but it only managed to deflect the blow.

It neither broke the arm nor delivered a significant injury.

Screeeech!!

Angered by the hit, the creature lunged at me.

When a massive beast charges straight at you, it's natural to feel a twinge of fear.

Even so, I scrutinized its movements.

"No reasoning, just brute force.

It has no sense of self?

"It lacked consciousness.

If this were Mang's body, I expected some sort of calculated reaction.

But as it stood now, this thing was no different from a wild animal.

Whoosh!

I raised my energy as it barreled toward me.

Heat surged through my body as flames erupted forth.

Fwoooosh!!

Screeeeech!!

Even as the fire engulfed its body, it didn’t falter, charging at me without hesitation.

Crunch!

Its enormous maw opened wide as it lunged.

Wham!

BOOM!

GRAAAHHH!!

Its head snapped sideways, and its massive body staggered violently.

Paejon had struck the creature's skull, successfully halting its assault.

"Ha!

" Paejon chuckled as he looked at the reeling beast.

"This one's built tougher than most.

"He seemed to have realized something.

"It's covered in something...

unidentifiable.

""Seems so," I replied.

Just like the red beast before it, this one appeared to have some sort of protective layer around its body.

That must be why our attacks weren’t having much effect.

The problem was...

"I can't see it.

"The red beast had shown faint weaknesses, but this one revealed none.

"What kind of monster is this?

"Crash!

Debris flew as the creature thrashed about.

I dodged incessantly, observing its movements.

"How do I take it down?

"I needed to find a way to defeat it.

If every strike was blocked by that invisible barrier, continuing to expend energy would only put me at a disadvantage.

In the end, I'd tire out and become its prey.

Screeeech--!!

The oppressive energy made me grimace.

"A White-Rank beast, huh?

"They weren’t exaggerating when they called its very existence a calamity.

Its destructive power more than lived up to that name.

"If that’s Mang’s real body...

"Could such a beast be classified as a mere White-Rank monster?

And, come to think of it...

"Is that its true form?

"Could this grotesque shape truly be Mang’s original body?

If so, it didn’t make sense.

No matter how I looked at it...

"It’s just a monster….

"The "Third Pureblood Dragon.

" That was how Mang had introduced himself.

He claimed to be a dragon, like me.

"But this… this isn’t even a proper monster.

"Shhh!

I twisted my body to dodge its incoming claws.

Slash!

I couldn’t avoid them completely; my upper body was grazed, and pain seared through me as my robe was torn.

"Tch.

"The wound hurt more because it overlapped with the sword injury from earlier.

My movements were noticeably slower.

Grrr!

The creature wasted no time, swiping at me again.

Its claws were right in front of me when—Flash!

Someone suddenly appeared, intercepting the attack.

Screeeech!

The sound of claws scraping against steel rang out as the intruder deflected the strike with a sharp motion.

Boom!

A burst of sword energy repelled the creature’s claws slightly.

I widened my eyes at the sight.

"I’ll join you.

"The man had black hair and brown eyes—a giant figure.

The master who had stood guard at the gate leading to the Palace Lord.

It was the Black Lion.

I was momentarily stunned by his appearance when another figure appeared and supported me as I descended to the ground.

"Are you all right?

""...

You.

"This time, it was Seong Yul.

"I apologize for my delay.

I was helping evacuate the people.

"I had wondered where he’d gone.

It seemed he had been ensuring the townsfolk’s safety.

"...

This guy?

"To think that in a previous life, this killer—or Sword Demon—would now be rescuing people and coming back for me.

"If you were evacuating people, why didn’t you stay with them?

Why come back?

"When I asked why he hadn’t taken the chance to escape, he replied with his usual expressionless face.

"Because the Young Master is here.

""...

You’re insane.

"I didn’t hesitate to voice my thoughts.

When had I ever earned his loyalty?

We hadn’t known each other for long, and his words seemed absurd.

"You said you would give me a purpose for my life.

Until then, I cannot let you die.

""When did I ever say that?

"I’d never said anything of the sort.

All I had told him was to use his life for my benefit if he was going to waste it anyway.

"This lunatic is interpreting it however he wants," I thought, stifling a sigh as I forced myself to stand.

"And who’s that guy?

""I have no idea," Seong Yul answered, shaking his head.

It didn’t seem like they had coordinated anything.

"The one guarding the Palace Lord’s gate said he’d fight with us?

"Could he be unaware of what Paejon had told me?

It seemed unlikely for someone so close to the Palace Lord to be oblivious.

If so, could Paejon have lied?

Given his temperament, it wasn’t out of the question.

"But judging by his expression, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

"The Black Lion’s face, which was clenched in determination, betrayed a mix of grief and resolve.

He wasn’t fighting in ignorance.

It was clear something had happened.

Paejon’s words seemed to hold some truth.

"The Palace Lord has been consumed by Mang.

"It might not be the full story, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

Graaaah!!

The beast turned its head toward us, roaring again.

It charged once more.

As I prepared to dodge and formulate a plan—“Relax your footing.

Focus your energy on your back.

”A voice rang out in my mind.

Instinctively, I gathered energy.

Qi solidified across my back.

In that moment—Boom!

"Ugh!?

"A massive force launched me forward, hurtling me toward the beast at breakneck speed.

Though startled, I clenched my fists tightly, pouring my energy into them.

Approaching the beast with overwhelming momentum, I struck before it could open its maw.

Bam!

Grrrk!!

The creature staggered as my punch landed on its face.

"Well done," said the one who had kicked my back.

Paejon used my airborne shoulder as a springboard, propelling himself toward the creature’s head.

Extending his fingers as if aiming, he targeted its crown.

In one fluid motion—He clenched his fingers into a fist and drove it downward.

Boom!

Screeeeech!!

Despite the simplicity of the attack, its power was extraordinary.

The beast staggered more than ever before.

In that moment, I saw it.

Crack!

A small opening appeared where its protective layer had fractured.

It was a weak spot—barely there but undeniably present.

I couldn’t afford to miss it.

But before I could act, it was already too late to adjust my position.

As I deliberated—Whoosh!

Something flew toward me.

"My apologies.

"It was Seong Yul.

What was he apologizing for?

Before I could think further—Thud!

"You bas—!

"He stepped on me, just as Paejon had, launching himself higher.

Rotating midair to gain speed, he plunged his sword directly into the beast’s newly exposed weak point.

Thud!

Screeeeaaach--!!

The monster thrashed in pain as its flesh was sliced by the qi-infused blade.

Paejon and Seong Yul, floating mid-air, were now in a precarious position, easy targets for the creature’s retaliation.

Without hesitation, I channeled energy into my hands, wrapping it around their bodies, and yanked them back toward me.

Whoosh!

Just as they were pulled clear, the beast’s massive tail whipped through the air, narrowly missing them by a hair’s breadth.

Without even performing a landing maneuver, we hit the ground hard, quickly rising to assess the situation.

Grrrrrr...

The beast growled menacingly, blue ichor trickling down its forehead.

The attack had landed.

But...

"Not deep enough.

"Despite the success of the strike, the damage was minimal.

Ssshh...

Even the slight breach in its protective barrier had regenerated almost instantly.

"Unbelievable.

"A cold sweat ran down my back.

Its speed and strength were overwhelming, though not entirely unavoidable.

It wasn’t impossible to face this monster.

But...

"I can’t finish it off.

"Unless I could shatter its barrier, killing it was out of the question.

"Are all White-Rank beasts like this?

"I couldn’t tell if this was unique to this creature or a trait common to all White-Ranks.

"I should’ve asked Noya about this.

"The thought was fleeting.

Shin Noya, after all, had single-handedly defeated a White-Rank beast in the past.

Perhaps he could have provided insight.

But that was nothing more than a lament.

Who could have predicted that a White-Rank beast would appear here?

"Haah...

"I let out a long sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

"Hmm.

"Beside me, Paejon seemed lost in thought, his face contemplative.

After a few seconds, he looked at me.

"Disciple.

""Yes?

""Can you use your ‘Sim-sang’ right now?

""Uh, what?

"His question caught me off guard.

Sim-sang?

"You mean...

Heart Fist?

""...?

"Paejon’s brow furrowed slightly at my response.

"Did you really name it that?

""I mean, there’s already something called Sim-geom, so why not Heart Fist too?

""Hmph.

Well, whatever.

Can you use it?

""Two times, at most," I replied with a nod.

"Then try it.

"As soon as he gave the order, I didn’t hesitate.

Pouring my spirit into my hands, I focused on the energy.

It coiled around my fist like a living thing before being unleashed toward the monster.

Fwoooosh!

BOOM!

Screeeeech--!!

The creature staggered violently as the attack landed.

My eyes widened in surprise.

"What...?

"The beast’s reaction to Heart Fist was starkly different from its response to regular attacks.

Even when I had used an overwhelming amount of energy to strike it before, it barely reacted.

But now, with a relatively light use of Heart Fist, the creature was visibly shaken.

And more importantly—"Its barrier is broken.

"The opening was larger than the one Paejon had created earlier.

"Hah...

so that’s it," Paejon muttered, nodding as if he had expected this outcome.

"Sim-sang works against it.

"I turned to him, my disbelief apparent.

"Are you saying its barrier can only be broken with Sim-sang?

""When I mixed a bit of Sim-sang into my earlier strike, I noticed the difference.

This test confirms it," Paejon replied matter-of-factly.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

"So I need to use a metaphysical technique just to shatter its defense?

"This was absurd.

But at least now we had a method.

"Then we just need to keep breaking it.

Let’s go.

""Go where?

""Where else?

We have to kill it.

""And how, exactly, do you plan to do that?

""What?

"His question threw me off.

Didn’t we just figure out how to deal with it?

As I processed his words, Paejon continued.

"Tell me, disciple.

Who else here can use Sim-sang besides you?

""...!

"The realization hit me like a brick.

I scanned our surroundings.

Seong Yul, ever vigilant, was a consummate martial artist at the peak of his craft, and the Black Lion, though a master of Hwagyeong, hadn’t demonstrated any familiarity with Sim-sang.

"And you, Elder...?

""My earlier attempt was my limit.

My vessel is not yet fully formed.

"Damn it.

In other words, I was the only one here capable of breaking its barrier.

"...

And I’m at my limit," I muttered bitterly.

I wasn’t in great shape either.

After my earlier clash with Mang, my energy reserves were nearly depleted.

Heart Fist was never a technique meant for repeated use.

At best, I could use it one more time.

"This is bad.

"The situation was spiraling further out of control.

Just as I was wracking my brain for a solution, Paejon stepped forward.

"Five minutes," he said.

"I can hold it off for that long.

""Elder?

""Gather the others and secure a passage for escape.

""What the hell are you saying right now?

"I couldn’t keep the irritation out of my voice.

Paejon’s expression remained calm.

"It’s simple.

You can’t die here.

""You said earlier that retreating isn’t something you teach.

What is this now?

""Call it a tactical withdrawal," he said with a smirk.

"Don’t give me that bullshit.

"Paejon chuckled softly.

"Despite everything, I still consider myself part of the orthodox faction.

""That’s hard to believe.

""I don’t want to see younger martial artists die here," he said with a shrug.

"So what, you’re just going to sacrifice yourself?

We’re not going to die.

""Think of it as me finally acting like a proper teacher.

""Stop pretending to be noble.

It’s creepy," I shot back.

Despite my growling protests, Paejon’s resolve didn’t waver.

"You’ve seen the end of martial arts, and now this?

"It didn’t make sense.

Why would he do this now?

Grinding my teeth in frustration, I refused to accept it.

"Don’t be ridiculous," I spat.

There was no way I’d let Paejon die here just to save me.

Fwoosh!

Wrapping my hand in flames, I constructed a Flame Jade Spear.

Compressing and rotating it, I infused it with all the energy I could muster.

"Oho," Paejon said, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"You’ve mastered it at last?

"I didn’t answer.

Focusing all my attention on the spear, I steadied my breathing and gave him a curt command.

"Thirty seconds.

Hold it off for me.

"Paegon smirked.

"Stubborn as always.

"As he engaged the monster alongside Seong Yul and the Black Lion, I concentrated on reinforcing the spear with Sim-sang.

The energy solidified, forming a weapon sharp enough to pierce even a White-Rank beast.

Screeeeech!!

With a final deep breath, I raised the spear.

"This ends now.

"The three warriors broke away from the monster just as I hurled the spear with all my might.

BOOM!

The spinning projectile slammed into the creature’s barrier, shattering it.

The spear penetrated its flesh, exploding into flames that engulfed its body.

For a moment, I felt triumph.

But—Screeeeeech!!

The flames began to dissipate as the beast thrashed violently, regenerating its wounds almost immediately.

"...

Damn it.

"Even a direct hit to its weak point hadn’t been enough to kill it.

Grinding my teeth in frustration, I failed to notice the approaching presence behind me.

"You’ve done well," a deep, resonant voice said.

Startled, I froze.

The voice was impossibly heavy, carrying an eerie weight that didn’t belong in this desolate battlefield.

Turning my head, I saw a towering figure approaching.

A massive hand brushed against my hair as it passed.

For a moment, I thought to call out.

"Fa—?

"Before I could finish, a gust of heat surged forward.

Boom!

A colossal tremor shook the ground.

When I turned back, the White-Rank beast, once seemingly invincible, was collapsing.

Half its body was gone.