Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The white flame crackled softly.

Frowning as I stared at the slowly burning fire, I couldn’t help but question it.

"Is this even a flame?

"It was so unexpectedly white that calling it a flame felt strange.

“What is this?

”Pure white.

It was so pale that it was hard to distinguish whether it was fire or snow.

Even the way it flickered was unlike anything I’d seen before.

Slowly, gently, it wavered as if it were alive.

It was difficult to describe, but it was entirely different from the fierce and untamed flames I had always conjured.

Should I call it soft and tranquil instead?

"...

"I clenched my fist experimentally.

With a soft whoosh, the shimmering haze that had enveloped my body vanished.

I understood now.

If I wanted, I could let the flame ignite again, or I could keep my body in its original state.

‘Is this what they call mastery?

’This was the pinnacle of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique.

Was this the sensation my father described as becoming one with the flame?

‘It’s...

an odd feeling.

’Explaining it was difficult, but I understood one thing: the phrase "becoming the flame" wasn’t metaphorical.

It was literal.

The white flame crackled again.

When I used the Flames Firewheel Technique in the past, I always thought of it as creating flames.

But now, I didn’t need to make any effort to ignite anything.

"…Hmm.

"This sensation, from start to finish, was completely foreign.

But it wasn’t unpleasant.

In fact, it was exhilarating.

I barely managed to suppress a smile from creeping onto my face, but the overwhelming elation was hard to ignore.

The sensation I had failed to grasp before was now wholly within me.

It felt as though I could do anything.

The problem was...

‘Why is it white?

’Why had the flame’s color changed so suddenly?

It didn’t make sense.

My father’s flames were crimson, and I doubted this transformation was solely due to reaching mastery.

‘And just how strong have I become?

’Having achieved mastery, it was logical to assume that my level had advanced, but I couldn’t clearly gauge the extent of the change.

And yet...

“Are you okay?

”Now wasn’t the time to figure that out.

I bent down to check on the two people lying prone on the ground.

One of them, Wi Seol-ah, was crying uncontrollably.

“Why are you crying?

What’s wrong?

”Why was she sobbing so much?

As I tried to console her, she suddenly clung to me.

“Ugh...

hngh...!

”“…Seriously.

”What was I supposed to do with her?

After some hesitation, I finally settled on one action: I gently raised my hand and stroked the back of her head.

"Calm down for now.

"Even as I tried to soothe her, her trembling voice reached me.

"I...

I can’t...

hit you...

I can’t...

”"...

"My hand froze mid-stroke.

What couldn’t she do?

As the possibilities crossed my mind, an answer came quickly.

‘This is bad.

’Something must have happened while I was unconscious.

I shifted my gaze from Wi Seol-ah to Namgung Bi-ah.

Unlike Wi Seol-ah, she wasn’t crying, but she seemed far more dazed than usual.

Our eyes met.

"...

""...

"There were no words exchanged, but her eyes told me everything.

Understanding her unspoken plea, I waved my hand slightly.

Without hesitation, Namgung Bi-ah leaned into me, her fingers clutching my clothing tightly.

“…I’m sorry.

”I didn’t know what had happened, but I could tell it was my fault.

All I could do was offer an awkward apology as time passed.

The two of them seemed to calm down a little, their grips loosening.

Only then did I finally take a proper look around.

‘...

What a mess.

’The surroundings were in total chaos.

In a distant corner, I spotted someone slumped over, gasping for air.

‘The Master of the Celestial Stream Sect?

’The disfigured figure of the sect master sat against the wall, barely clinging to life.

It was a miracle they were still breathing.

‘...

The others wouldn’t have done this.

’Given their personalities, it wasn’t possible.

It had to be my doing.

‘What the hell did I do?

’How much force would it take to twist someone’s body like that?

The only fortunate thing was...

‘At least they’re not seriously injured.

’Compared to how they were before I lost consciousness, their physical states seemed almost unchanged.

That was the most important thing.

If I had woken up to see them hurt...

‘...

’I didn’t want to imagine it.

‘For now...

’There were more pressing matters than examining my current state after reaching mastery.

As I scanned my surroundings, something caught my eye.

I froze.

‘What is that?

’At the far end of the space stood a tree.

‘Was that always there?

’I should have noticed it earlier.

Was it possible that only I could see it?

Turning to Namgung Bi-ah, I pointed toward it.

“Do you see that?

”She followed my gesture and nodded.

“…Yes.

”It wasn’t a hallucination.

“…Has it always been there?

”“Yes, from the beginning.

”“Hmm.

”So it had been there all along, and I simply hadn’t noticed it.

‘How could I have overlooked something so unusual?

’Getting to my feet, I ignored the disappointed looks from the two clinging to me and walked toward the tree.

It was small, closer to a sapling than a full-grown tree.

But the leaves...

‘They’re white.

’The leaves clinging to the bare branches were unnaturally white, reminiscent of the flame I had just conjured.

Or perhaps...

‘They’re similar to Wi Seol-ah’s appearance...

or the state of the sect master.

’The tree didn’t just appear odd—it radiated an unsettling otherness.

Still, I wasn’t particularly shocked.

‘I’ve seen this before.

’It wasn’t something I could forget.

Back then, it had also been in Sichuan.

Around the time when...

‘We were searching for the Golden Stream Manor’s secret chamber.

’Wi Seol-ah had found a similar tree in my stead.

Of course, that one had been enormous, more akin to an ancient tree than this sapling.

‘What is this thing?

’That tree had disappeared along with the space it was in.

But what about this one?

It was clearly no ordinary tree.

‘Why does it emit this kind of energy?

’The aura it gave off wasn’t something a tree should have.

Divine?

Awe-inspiring?

Those were the only words I could use to describe it.

‘And this feeling...

’I turned to look at Wi Seol-ah.

‘It’s faint, but it’s similar to what I sense from her.

’Could it just be a misunderstanding?

I didn’t think so.

Back then, I didn’t understand.

But now, I know.

I understand how Wi Seol-ah located the secret chamber and why this tree gives off a similar feeling to her.

‘There’s some connection.

’Wi Seol-ah and this tree are linked for reasons I can’t yet fathom.

And that means...

‘Could Wi Seol-ah also be connected to Yeon Ilcheon?

’Otherwise, this situation makes no sense.

‘But how?

’If they are connected, what is the nature of that connection?

And beyond that...

‘What is this place?

’What was the Master of the Celestial Stream Sect planning here?

And what on earth was that grotesque transformation of his?

There was so much to uncover.

For now, I decided to examine the tree.

Reaching out, I aimed to gently touch one of its leaves.

But the moment my fingers brushed against it—Whhooooshhh---!!!

"Huh?

""What...?

"The previously still tree began to move.

Its branches swayed as if dancing, causing its leaves to flutter.

There was no wind.

This place was underground, a sealed space.

There was no reason for anything to stir.

"What is this now?

"Had I triggered something?

I stepped back instinctively.

Then—Rustle.

A single leaf detached itself from the branch.

I widened my eyes.

It wasn’t unusual for a leaf to fall, but this one wasn’t heading toward the ground.

Instead, it floated toward me, circling in the air around my body.

And it wasn’t alone.

More leaves detached themselves, forming a ring that spun around me.

"...

What the...

"I was about to curse when the leaves suddenly froze midair.

Snap!

The leaves disintegrated, scattering into fine dust that shimmered like fireflies in the dim light.

What were they trying to do?

I watched cautiously, preparing myself for the unexpected.

Whhooooshhh---!!!

"...!

"The glowing fragments surged toward me, piercing into my body before I could react.

It happened so quickly I didn’t have time to resist.

By the time I realized what was happening, all the glowing fragments had been absorbed.

"...

This is insane.

"Frantically, I checked my body.

Why was this happening?

It felt as if something had been forcefully crammed into me.

What sort of change would this bring?

While I was still assessing the situation, a voice erupted from behind me.

[No...

No...

NO!!!

]Turning my head, I saw the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master, the figure who had been on the brink of death.

Somehow, he had regenerated enough to scream at me with bloodshot eyes.

[You...

You dare...

to claim the miracle meant for Him?!

]Why was this old man suddenly throwing a fit?

Even though his body was still regenerating, he forced himself to his feet, shaking with rage.

[Unforgivable...

UNFORGIVABLE!

Our plan—ruined—!!!

]With a deafening roar, he stomped the ground and lunged at me.

Narrowing my eyes, I moved faster than Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, who had reacted at the same moment.

This worked out perfectly.

I had intended to kill him anyway.

Clenching my fist, I felt my body transform.

Whoosh!

White flames enveloped my hand, their heat pulsing through me.

As I threw my punch, my heart gave an unfamiliar jolt.

Thump.

‘What is this?

’The sensation was different from anything I had felt before.

Even so, I didn’t hesitate.

My shoulder aligned, and my fist extended straight ahead.

The technique felt the same as always—Conflagrating Flame Fang Wolf in its purest form.

Whoosh---!!!

The white flame surged with overwhelming intensity.

Conflagrating Flame Fang Wolf.

KWAHHHHHH---!!!

The white flames engulfed the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master.

[AARGHHHH!!!

]His agonized screams echoed through the chamber.

The flames pierced through his body, continuing toward the wall behind him.

Their heat was so immense that the stone itself began to melt.

The sheer force of the flames was terrifying, enough to dissolve bones entirely.

And yet—Whooooshhh---!

As the flames subsided, I frowned at the sight before me.

"Huh?

"The fire had melted a large hole in the wall, but the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master was unscathed.

Not a single wound marred his body.

‘That’s impossible.

’The power of the flames had shocked even me.

The energy surge after absorbing the White Demon Stone was undeniable.

There was no way he could have survived unscathed.

As I stared at him, confused, the Celestial Stream Sect’s Master staggered and fell to his knees.

[No...

No...

This can’t be...

]Crrrack.

"Hmm?

"The transformation began.

Crrk, crrack---!!!

The grotesque figure began to shrink.

His white hair darkened to black, and the scales on his skin vanished.

Even his eyes reverted to their original state.

The monster was turning back into a human.

Crrrack!

Before I could count to ten, he was fully human again, his expression etched with despair.

"This can’t...

How could this happen...

No, this isn’t right...!

"He touched his face in disbelief, then began crawling toward me.

"Give it back...

Give it...

Please, return it...

""...

"The madness in his eyes was evident.

He screamed at me to give back what he had lost, as though it were the most precious thing in the world.

"...

Ha.

"I let out a dry laugh—not because of his pathetic state but because of what had just happened.

The Celestial Stream Sect’s Master was no longer important.

I raised my hand, staring at the white flames still burning there.

So this was the change.

‘This power...

’As I realized what it was, a shiver ran through me.

It was similar to...

‘Pama.

’The divine force wielded by the Sacred Sword in her battle against Cheonma.

The power that had saved the world now seemed to reside within me.