Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Kuguguguung.

A crushing weight bore down on him.

His knees had hit the ground, his head forced so low that he could only see the floor.

Thud—!

Thud—!

Thud—!

His heartbeat pounded in his ears, reverberating through his entire body.

That was the state Yusa was in.

"Huff… Huff…"His breathing was ragged.

Each breath sent beads of sweat rolling down his face, dripping onto the ground beneath him.

'What the hell….

'What the hell was happening?

Why was he in this position?

Even now, Yusa couldn’t comprehend the situation.

Why was he kneeling?

Why couldn’t he say a single word?

It made no sense.

Even more so—Grkkk…!

This sickening, unfamiliar sensation welling up inside him—what was it?

The hunger he had always felt dulled.

Never before had his endless starvation felt so faint.

Was he… not hungry?

No.

That wasn’t it.

'This is…'Something else had settled over his hunger, smothering it completely.

Something dense.

Something crushing.

Something that left no room for anything else.

As he racked his brain, Yusa realized it.

'…Fear?

'His trembling fingers were all the answer he needed.

But—'That’s impossible.

'The moment the thought crossed his mind, he rejected it outright.

Him?

Feeling fear?

Unthinkable.

And—'Move.

Move, damn you.

'Even the fact that he was kneeling like this was impossible.

He was a General.

And yet, he had been forced to his knees by nothing more than a word?

By a mere Moonlit Night Tribe bastard?

'Move!

'Get up.

Tear him apart.

Devour him until there’s nothing left.

Grinding his teeth, Yusa tried to move his body—Kggggkkk—!!!

But nothing happened.

The only thing that increased was the trembling in his fingertips.

"Kh…!

"Blood vessels throbbed visibly in his eyes as he strained.

And then—["How pitiful.

"]The masked figure spoke to him.

["The desperate struggles of the weak are always such a pathetic sight.

"]His chin was lifted.

The figure had tilted his face up with a single finger.

["It makes me want to crush you.

"]Yusa's heartbeat grew louder.

By now, it felt as if his entire body was trembling from it.

["Don’t you agree?

Because I certainly do.

"]His pupils quivered.

Even through the mask, Yusa could tell—The bastard was smiling.

Humiliation.

Unbearable humiliation.

A General of Mangye, bowing to this thing?

And—'What the hell is he?

'He wasn’t his master.

And yet, he had commanded him.

None of this made sense.

Even more than the emotions coursing through him, the bastard’s very existence was incomprehensible.

Commands were absolute laws, carved into the soul itself.

Unless the one issuing it was of higher status, they simply could not work.

'…Then why….

'Why could this bastard command him?

Yusa couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Could it be—'…Did my master appoint another General?

'Was there a possibility that, without his knowledge, a new General had been added?

He considered it.

But just as quickly, he shook his head.

'No… the Sacred Tree no longer bears fruit.

'One could only become a General by receiving the Sacred Tree’s blessing.

Only with that blessing could one be acknowledged by their master and granted power.

Yarang had been an exception—granted authority without the Sacred Tree.

But that had been an exceptional case.

Even his master had declared it a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Then—'What is he?

'Even among Generals, commands could not be exchanged.

The only explanation was that this bastard’s soul was on an even higher level.

'…Who the hell is he?

'No matter how he thought about it, Yusa found no answer.

His brows furrowed.

And then—Thunk—!

"…!

"Suddenly, the pressure vanished.

The force that had been locking him in place was gone.

He could move again.

Why?

Why had it disappeared?

It was odd, but he had no time to dwell on it.

Yusa turned his gaze back to the masked figure.

He was still watching him.

And that was enough.

Yusa gritted his teeth and channeled his strength.

Crack.

The fear dissipated.

The hunger returned.

He was starving.

He needed to devour him.

The moment the thought formed—'I’ll eat him.

I’ll devour everything.

'Yusa’s lips curled upward as he swung his massive arm.

The beastly limb shot toward the figure.

"Feast.

"As the word left his lips, cracks formed across his enormous palm—And then—Shrrrkkk—!

Like a maw splitting open, his hand unfolded, turning into a grotesque mouth.

He lunged forward, intending to swallow the figure whole.

'I don’t know what you are, but once I eat you—it won’t matter.

'Whatever mystery surrounded him, it would be meaningless the moment he devoured him.

The instant his shackles had been lifted, this had already been decided.

His power allowed him to consume anything.

This bastard would be no different.

Or so he thought—Until—Crunch—!

"…Huh?

"A stunned breath escaped Yusa’s lips.

Because instead of devouring him—His own arm had been bitten into.

"What…?

"The form was black.

Something had emerged from the figure’s shadow and was now clamping down on Yusa’s beastly arm.

Crack—!

"Kh…!

"Pain.

Excruciating pain shot through him as he instinctively yanked his arm back.

He managed to pull free—But—Drip, drip, drip.

Blood dripped to the floor.

"…Kh….

"A chunk of flesh had been torn straight out of his arm.

Yusa’s trembling eyes darted to the figure.

And then—["Feast, is it?

Not bad.

"]"…You….

"The bastard had spoken the name of his authority.

He wasn’t surprised.

He wasn’t alarmed.

He merely watched.

And from his shadow—That thing slithered up his body.

Like a serpent, it coiled around him, climbing up his arm.

'What… the hell… is that…?

'Yusa shuddered.

Just looking at it made his skin crawl.

"You…!

What did you do?!

"["What did I do?

We merely did what we do best.

"]"Best…?

"["Yes.

Just as you enjoy devouring others—"]Slither…The black form twisted around his arm.

["I happen to be quite good at it myself.

"]"…"Yusa's expression twisted.

Could it be—?

'An Authority?

'Was that thing an Authority as well?

Yusa glanced at his torn arm.

The searing pain gnawed at him mercilessly.

How could it hurt this much?

Even that was a mystery.

'…It’s not regenerating?

'His injured arm wasn’t healing.

By now, any other wound would have long since disappeared.

But instead, all it did was ache.

There wasn’t even the slightest sign of recovery.

Yusa shifted his gaze.

Beyond the window, the moon hung in the sky.

It was unmistakably nighttime.

Which meant his body should be regenerating.

And yet, it wasn’t.

Even worse—"…Why isn’t it working?

"His Feast—the ability to devour all—wasn’t activating properly.

No matter how much he strained, his palm wouldn’t open into its grotesque maw as it had before.

Realizing this, Yusa turned to face the figure once more and roared.

"What the hell did you do to me?!

"It was him.

That bastard had done something.

That was the only explanation for why his Authority refused to obey.

["Hm.

"]The masked figure merely tilted his head.

["I truly don’t know how much lower my expectations can sink.

"]His voice struck Yusa like a dagger to the chest.

Grit.

Yusa clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening to the point of pain.

Then, suddenly, the figure turned his back.

["I sought you out because I was curious about the so-called Generals of Mangye… but at this rate, I see no reason to waste my time.

"]"What…?

"What did he just say?

Could it be—"Are you running away?

"Yusa snarled at his retreating figure.

["Running?

"]The figure barely glanced over his shoulder.

["That’s not something a weakling like you has the right to say.

"]There wasn’t even a need to flee from him.

That’s what he was implying.

["If anything….

"]The figure paused for a moment, as if thinking.

["It would be more accurate to call it… a matter of preference.

I simply don’t eat food that disgusts me.

"]"You bastard…!!

"Yusa’s blood boiled.

His rage surged, and he tried to unleash every ounce of his power—But—Throb—!

"Kh…!!

"A violent pain flared in his arm, obstructing the flow of his energy.

His Authority refused to activate, and even his Qi wasn’t circulating properly.

And on top of that—"Huff… Huff…"His breath grew ragged.

Something was wrong with his body.

He could feel it.

Yusa clutched his knee, trying to steady himself, but the masked figure merely looked at him with disinterest.

["The next time we meet, I hope you’ll be a little more entertaining.

"]He grasped the door handle and stepped out.

And just before the door shut—["There will be no second mercy.

"]Thud.

The door closed.

"Kh…!

"Yusa immediately forced himself up.

The strange affliction that had overtaken his body for those brief moments had faded—just enough.

Without hesitation, he kicked the door open and burst into the corridor.

"Where—?!

Where did he go?!

"The passage was empty.

Not a single trace of him remained.

Yusa scowled, searching for any sign of his presence—But—"Goddamn it…!!

"He couldn’t sense anything.

Something had gone wrong with his Authority, and its effects had disrupted even his perception.

"That bastard—!

"Veins bulged in his forehead as his eyes flared with rage.

Where had he gone?

He had to find him.

And fast.

As his eyes darted around in fury—"…!

"A thought struck him.

His gaze snapped toward a specific location.

The prison within the Blue Clan’s domain.

There was no hesitation.

In an instant, Yusa sprinted toward the prison.

His speed was faster than the wind.

*************Bang—!

Yusa stormed into the prison, flinging the door open.

There was no one to stop him.

The commotion from earlier had already driven the guards away.

Even if that weren’t the case, Yusa had personally ordered them to keep their distance.

With urgency, he rushed inside and peered through the bars.

But—"…Hah….

"What he saw was completely different from what he had expected.

"Why…?

"His widened eyes scanned the cell.

Inside—"Hm?

"A black-haired woman, the prisoner he had taken, sat quietly.

And beside her—"…Ugh… What?

Is it morning already?

"A young man, the one who had introduced himself as Cheol Ji-seon, groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"…""Oh, you’ve arrived?

"Cheol Ji-seon greeted him with casual indifference.

Yusa’s face twisted in irritation.

The cell remained intact.

The shackles on their wrists were the same as before.

There were no signs that either of them had left.

Which meant—"…It wasn’t you?

""Pardon?

""I asked if you were the one I just fought.

Answer me.

""What?

What are you—""Answer me!!

"Boom!

Yusa’s thunderous voice shook the entire prison.

Finally, startled by the outburst, Cheol Ji-seon hurriedly replied.

"I… I don’t know what you’re talking about, but no, it wasn’t me.

I’ve been here the whole time.

""…"He denied it again.

Could he be telling the truth?

But—'That bastard resisted my command too.

'The masked figure had ignored his authority.

If this one could do the same…Could it really be him?

Yusa’s instincts kept pointing toward him.

Then—"I need to check something.

"He would confirm it himself.

Yusa gathered his strength—"General—!

"A voice called out from outside.

"Look to the sky—!

""…!

"The urgency in their voice made Yusa immediately whirl around and rush outside.

And when he looked up—"That bastard…!

"Against the backdrop of the dark night sky and the crimson moon—Someone stood in midair, gazing down at him.

Him.

The one who had humiliated him.

The one who had toyed with him.

The one who had commanded him.

"You bastard!!

"Boom—!

Yusa launched himself into the sky.

His razor-sharp claws slashed straight toward the figure, aiming to rip him apart—Swish—!

But—Nothing.

His attack sliced through empty air.

There was no resistance.

No flesh.

It felt like cutting through a ghost.

"What…?

"Why?

Why did it feel like this?

Yusa froze, his expression blank with confusion.

["General, let me say this again.

"]The figure ignored Yusa’s attack completely, speaking as if nothing had happened.

["There will be no second mercy.

Next time we meet—do not disappoint me.

"]And then—Like mist dispersing into the night, he vanished.

"Where— Where did he go?

"Yusa bared his fangs and roared.

"Where the hell did you go—?!

"Kwooooooooosh—!

A violent shockwave erupted from his fury.

A sheer force so powerful that it tore through the mansion—And even reached the prison.

"Mm.

"Feeling the howling wind, Cheol Ji-seon—No, Gu Yangcheon—Casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

And in that moment, he was certain.

'I can kill him.

'A General—He could have killed him no problem.

That much, he knew.