Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The sound of crackling flames echoed all around me.

With blurred vision, I turned toward the source of the sound.

From the sky, embers gently fell, and along with them, something else dropped to the ground.

Thump.

The soft noise reverberated across the vast space.

Crack.

Crack.

The embers on the ground seemed to form a path, guiding me to my destination.

Following them, I arrived to find something lying on the ground.

It was him, his chest pierced through.

Around the gaping hole in his chest, cracks were slowly spreading.

Crack, crackle.

Not just his body—this entire space was fracturing.

“Haah…”My exhaled breath carried heat, and I ran a hand over my chest.

Wooong.

The lost heat was gradually returning.

The sensation, one I hadn’t felt in days, didn’t bring relief.

For some reason, I felt indifferent.

My weary body felt light, almost detached, rather than weighed down by fatigue.

Even my heartbeat, which should have been thundering, felt faint and distant.

It felt as though even the slightest lapse in focus would send me floating away.

This sensation of my body and the flames becoming one—it was the same as when I first consumed the Dokcheon Pill I had created.

Back then, I had fought desperately to maintain control.

But now, I didn’t even bother.

I was too preoccupied staring at the bastard lying before me.

Haaah… haaah…The shallow breathing, the dimming eyes that signaled the approaching end.

From his chest, where his body was breaking apart, to the rest of his form—it was all deteriorating.

He was truly dying, or so it seemed.

Then again, could it even be called death?

This wasn’t a human—it was pure energy.

Though countless thoughts crossed my mind, this wasn’t the time for such reflections.

“Hey.

”At my call, his eyes turned toward me.

I looked at him and spoke.

“Why did you hold back?

”[...

]He didn’t answer.

His resigned eyes seemed to accept the current situation.

That only irritated me more.

“I asked you why.

Why did you hold back?

”Even if I had surpassed my past life’s body in cultivation, he wasn’t the me of my previous life.

“You could’ve done more, couldn’t you?

”He could have ended it earlier.

When he used that feint to drop the flame cores on me, he could’ve easily killed me.

If he truly intended to kill me, I wouldn’t still be alive.

But instead—“Why?

”He had given me chance after chance.

He kept provoking me, forcing me to react, to grow more desperate.

Almost as if—“Did you want me to realize something?

”As if he wanted me to realize something specific.

And what might that be?

I didn’t dwell on it long.

I already knew the answer.

“You wanted me to realize that your flames were mine, didn’t you?

”The flames residing in my body were entirely my own.

The moment I recognized and harmonized with them, I could turn his flames into mine.

It was simple.

All it required was recognition.

But to think he went through all this just to show me that?

Why?

Unable to understand, I asked again.

“…Wrong.

”At last, he answered.

“You would never have realized it on your own.

”“And why is that?

”“Because you had too much.

”“...

”His voice, carried on strained breaths, sounded utterly exhausted.

“You were so burdened by what you already had that you couldn’t see anything else.

That’s the kind of person you are.

”I couldn’t argue.

He wasn’t wrong.

“So, you did all this to teach me that?

”Could it really be that he pushed me to the brink of death just to make me realize this?

Before the thought could take root—“Don’t delude yourself.

”His voice turned savage.

“I wanted nothing more than to kill you.

”His words dripped with killing intent.

“The way you clung to this new chance, hoping for redemption.

The way you deluded yourself into thinking you could atone for sins no one remembers.

It’s revolting.

”“...

”“And…”Scratch.

His fingers clawed at the ground with enough force to shatter them.

“The way you run from the burden placed upon you—it disgusts me.

I hate you.

”Hearing this, I quietly clenched my fists.

His words were too sharp, too true for me to respond.

“Do you know why I appear to you in this form?

”“…No idea.

”“Because you never escaped it.

”His form, a replica of my past self, existed because I hadn’t moved on from that time.

I couldn’t deny it.

He was right again.

“You are still weak and pitiful.

You haven’t freed yourself from anything.

Do you think you’re struggling to break free?

You’re not.

”His eyes glimmered with resentment.

“Do you even know what burden you carry?

”I wanted to say I did.

I wanted to tell him I knew.

But the words wouldn’t come.

“You don’t.

If you did, you wouldn’t be like this.

”He was certain.

How could he be so sure?

Perhaps because he had seen more of me than I had.

“The burden you bear is written in blood.

The head of the Gu family and its successor share the same fate.

”My eyes narrowed.

“Do you know what you gain by becoming the successor of the Gu family?

”I nodded.

The authority to open the gates beneath the Gu family grounds.

And the freedom to act outside the constraints of the family.

That was as far as I had understood it.

“It erases the barrier the world has placed upon martial artists.

”“…!

”His words made my eyes widen.

“…What?

”“Do you truly think you gained strength so quickly just because of demonic techniques?

You’re wrong.

”“It merely assisted you.

The critical factor was the authority you obtained as the family’s successor.

”Years ago, Noya had said that the world placed constraints on martial artists, preventing them from becoming excessively powerful.

That’s why martial artists today were weaker than those from before the Blood Demon era.

“…Becoming the Gu family’s successor removes those barriers?

”I had never heard of such a thing.

Seeing my shock, he continued.

“Of course not.

You ran from your father before you could learn.

”“...

”“Then again, that’s your father’s fault.

He must have cherished you too much.

”What was he talking about?

When had my father ever cherished me?

My mind was a tangled mess, unable to process his words.

Why would becoming the family’s successor grant such privileges?

What was the Gu family, really?

As my thoughts raced—“Don’t misunderstand.

”His voice rose in anger.

“Don’t think of this curse as a privilege or blessing.

It’s merely a reprieve the world has offered out of necessity.

”“What does that mean…”“It’s a process designed to forge a stronger vessel.

So that it can endure.

”A stronger vessel?

I focused on his words.

Was the Gu family’s succession designed to make someone stronger faster?

“…Why?

”“Because the vessel must be resilient to bear the burden.

”Thump, thump.

My heart began to race again.

“When you become the successor, forming the nine links, you will gain a qualification.

”“…And that qualification is?

”“The right to become the head of the family.

”“...

”When one ascends to the position of Successor and masters the Gu Flames Firewheel Technique, only then can they become the head of the family.

It was a condition I had never known.

"You wouldn’t know," he said, as if scoffing at my ignorance.

"You never had the qualifications, and your father likely didn’t want you to know.

"Heh heh…A hollow laugh escaped him.

"Truly an idiotic man.

His way of protecting his child was twisted beyond reason, wasn’t it?

"Protecting his child?

By "child," he clearly meant me.

Was he saying my father did something to protect me?

I couldn’t comprehend it.

I had to wait for him to explain.

"You probably never even thought about it.

"His face was full of ridicule.

"You rose to the rank of successor and then fled the family.

Why do you think your father never came after you?

"“...

”"Do you think it’s because he couldn’t?

Don’t be absurd.

Few in this world could defeat your father.

Do you think you’re among them?

"Even Cheonma couldn’t subdue him, resulting in an uneasy truce.

In my previous life, I had been utterly helpless against him.

I couldn’t even touch the hem of his robe.

That’s why I had believed his inaction meant he had given up on me.

I thought he had simply abandoned me.

But—"He was merely letting you be.

"His explanation was different.

"He didn’t want to trap you within our family again, so he simply stood by and did nothing.

""Truly a foolish man, isn’t he?

"Crack.

His hand shattered completely.

"The burden of blood doesn’t disappear just because you run from it.

Someone has to bear it eventually.

So tell me," he said, steadying his trembling voice, "when you reached mastery in your previous life, why didn’t you become the family head?

And then…"Crack… crackle.

The rate at which his body disintegrated quickened.

"The burden you didn’t bear—who do you think carried it?

"“...

”The words struck like daggers, piercing my chest.

Like nails driven in, hammer blows that followed.

I couldn’t stop the memories from surfacing.

My father, crumbling under the force of my fists.

His energy dissipating as he grew weaker, older, and frailer.

"Ah…"Breathing suddenly felt impossible.

"The time had come.

Yet nothing was fulfilled.

Your father should have stepped down from his position long ago to bear the burden, but he didn’t.

""The world isn’t so considerate as to tolerate such sentiment.

""And so, what do you think your father endured?

"My hands trembled.

"And whatever it was, the wrath of the world," he spat, "is not something a mere human can withstand.

""It wasn’t light enough to bear.

He endured it.

All for the sake of a pathetic creature like you.

You never knew, and you never wanted to know.

That’s just the kind of person you are.

"“...

”My knees nearly buckled under me.

It was as if all strength had drained from my legs.

I forced myself to stand.

There were still things I needed to ask.

"What is… the family head’s burden?

""Why, do you want to bear it now?

"“...

”"It’s far too late to ask that question.

If you want an answer, ask your father.

Though I doubt he’d even explain it properly.

"His words dripped with derision, but I ignored them.

"And that’s why I hate you," he said.

For the first time, I understood the weight of his resentment.

And, honestly, I hated myself just as much.

My vision blurred.

What was this?

Was my sight faltering?

"Let me ask you again.

"I wiped at my eyes, not knowing why.

"Why are you still alive?

"Tears.

Something warm trailed down my cheek.

It was tears.

"Ah…"Realizing it, I couldn’t stop myself.

I covered my face with my dry hands.

"Why are you alive?

"No answer came to mind.

I wanted to ask myself the same thing.

Why was I still alive?

To atone?

Was that really it?

If so, maybe dying would have been easier.

Was it because I liked the changed world?

Because I felt comfort in a world where no one knew my sins?

Or…Was it just because I liked seeing the children?

Was that it?

I didn’t know.

Nothing made sense.

"Answer me.

"“…I just…”I truly didn’t know.

So in the end, I could only say one thing.

"I just wanted to live.

"[...

]No elaborate reason.

I simply wanted to live.

Foolishly, stubbornly—that was all.

Atonement, regret, fear— It all boiled down to the same answer.

I didn’t want to die.

I wanted to live.

Though my voice was tinged with sobs, the words spilled out.

They were pathetic, but they were mine.

"…Ha…"He chuckled, as if finally hearing what he had waited for.

"I didn’t think it would be so hard to hear those words.

"“…What?

”"Now, disappear.

I don’t want to see you anymore.

"I wanted to ask what he meant, but before I could— At his words, my vision crumbled in an instant.

*****************Crackle.

Crack-crack.

In a space where no voices could now be heard, only the sound of embers burning filled the air.

There, a goblin, bearing someone’s appearance, lay sprawled.

[Haaaah...

]It let out a weary sigh.

Truly, it was exhausted.

For the first time in centuries, this level of fatigue was new.

[Foolish creatures...

]Was that stubbornness something they inherited from it?

Their refusal to listen to reason was infuriating.

Not one of them could ever be honest.

Every single one of them was unlikable.

And yet—[...

I’m sorry.

]Because everything was ultimately its fault, the goblin whispered a quiet apology.

Crackle.

Crack-crack.

The sound of burning embers grew louder.

Soon, the entire space would collapse.

Then it would once again enter a long slumber.

Thinking of this, the goblin closed its eyes.

Step.

Footsteps echoed from behind.

The goblin’s eyes opened faintly at the sound, though it wasn’t startled.

It already knew who it was.

[A pointless interruption.

]At the goblin’s words, the figure who appeared let out a chuckle.

“You needn’t have meddled.

That child would have realized it on their own.

Didn’t I warn you not to interfere in my affairs?

”“For that, I offer my apologies.

”Hah!

The goblin slowly rose from where it lay.

“I’ve told you before.

You should show respect when you speak to me.

”It glared at the figure— A woman.

With black hair and violet eyes, she held a child in her arms.

Her demeanor suggested a less-than-pleasant personality.

Looking at the goblin, she spoke.

“I don’t speak respectfully to anyone.

If I ever did, it was only occasionally, and to one person.

”[Still an insufferable woman.

Don’t you realize that child is mine?

]Instead of responding, the woman simply laughed.

Her laughter prompted a short, irritated click of the goblin’s tongue.

*[You’re no better.

Your taste in men is abysmal.

]“My standards are quite high.

That’s why I have no regrets.

”[Tch...

]Foolish woman.

The goblin swallowed its words.

Telling her anything wouldn’t change a thing.

If anything, calling her pitiful seemed more appropriate.

A wretched being who had thrown everything away for an undeserving man.

Because of that, the goblin couldn’t bring itself to hate her.

[If you’re so concerned, why didn’t you show yourself?

]“I can’t.

”The woman was still smiling, but the subtle shift in her expression didn’t escape the goblin’s notice.

“That wouldn’t be good for him.

”[Tch.

]“I only came to see your face before you go to sleep again.

Even if it’s not truly your face...

I wanted to see it.

”The goblin understood her meaning.

Its current face resembled someone else’s, making her sentiment clear.

Satisfied, the woman turned and walked away, still holding the sleeping child.

The goblin watched her retreating figure before lying down once more.

That was the end of their conversation.

As its eyes slowly closed, sleep came to greet it, as if waiting for this moment.

Before falling into another long slumber, the goblin thought of the woman and murmured:[This is a small solace I’ve given you.

]A gift, secretly bestowed for her sake, through the incompetent descendant.

Whether that fool would realize it in time was uncertain.

[Please, realize it before it’s too late...

]With that silent wish, the goblin drifted into a deep, endless sleep.