1271 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Rumble--!! With the roar akin to a thunderclap, the cave trembles. Crack-! The sound of something fracturing echoes, and an intense oppressive force sweeps through the air. “Ugh!!” “Gah...!” The martial artists engaged in a standoff fall to their knees, coughing up blood, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. “Ugh...” Dok Bong and Dang Cheon Gi are also pressed down by the weight, unable to move properly. ‘It's Jeowang Geomhyeong.’ [TLN: Means the Imperial Sword Technique as mentioned in the last line of the previous chapter] From the aura permeating the environment, the source of this power was immediately identifiable. Jeowang Geomhyeong, an ultimate technique of the Namgung family, is a martial art that showcases their identity. ‘It crushes opponents with sheer presence.’ Energy fueled by emotions like intent to kill or rage — martial artists are known to amplify and wield it to their advantage. Jeowang Geomhyeong is a martial art that uses such energy at an extreme level. It emits presence mixed with thunderous energy and sword intent, seizing an opponent's movements and pinning them down with just its aura. But. ‘Something's different.’ A strange sensation arises from Nam Gung Jin's Jeowang Geomhyeong. ‘The presence of thunder is there, and yet...’ I checked my fingertips. They were trembling. It's natural for the body to react to the Jeowang Geomhyeong, but— ‘Just this?’ My physique, bolstered by absorbing several apostles, shouldn't be shaking from mere energy. ‘If such an aura causes my body to tremble...’ It meant there's something within that energy. I immediately enveloped myself with internal energy to investigate. ‘Ah.’ I soon realized. ‘...It pierces through.’ In front of me stood Nam Gung Jin, having pierced through the natural defensive disposition of my heightened realm with the energy of Jeowang Geomhyeong. It came in unresisted, altering the direction of the force. Wrapping sansang [Refers to the defensive qi around his body] around my body proved useless. Regardless, it solidified my surmise. ‘It's a divine power.’ This is what his divine power is. Realizing this, I gathered strength. Hooosh---!!! I refrained from expending my energy. “...Huh?” The energy was directed towards Mi Hyo Ran, who was standing right behind me. She almost fainted from the overwhelming presence of Jeowang Geomhyeong. ‘As long as it’s not completely penetrable, it should help.’ It wasn’t a complete pierce-through, and that was more than enough. I fortified the barrier to protect Mi Hyo Ran, who was relatively weaker. “Look at this guy.” I smirked at Nam Gung Jin. “Did becoming an apostle make you this strong?” He’s far more formidable than expected. Observing Chu Yeong Yeon and other apostles, their level hadn't drastically differed from what they had before. ‘This really isn't the same person.’ Nam Gung Jin in front of me was not the human I once knew. ‘At least a transcendence realm.’ He’d surpassed the wall, reaching a realm where even Chu Yeong Yeon could be easily crushed. Becoming an apostle also elevates one's realm. I absorbed the heretofore unknown information into my mind. Crack---!!! I emanated energy, turning towards Mi Hyo Ran. “Miss Mi.” I asked her. “Y-yes...?” “You were told to capture, right?” “Huh?” I pointed my finger at Nam Gung Jin. “Ah...yes.” Mi Hyo Ran nodded. Seeing that, I nodded as well. “...It's going to be difficult, but we'll try. If things don't go well...” Turning back around, I added. “We'll just kill him.” Thud-!!! I dashed towards him. In an instant, the gap closed between us. As I approached, Nam Gung Jin expressionlessly drew his sword. Sching-! With the sound of the sword unsheathing. Flash-!! A burst of light blinded my vision as Namgung's sword technique flew toward me, filled with thunderous energy and incredible speed, easily surpassing the speed of sound as it spectacularly plunged toward me. Shing-! Shing! Trained senses and instincts clearly revealed the position of his sword. ‘Left, one step back. Right, next to the feint.’ I evaded all of Nam Gung Jin’s sword attacks. In the midst of it, Slish-! ‘...Oh.’ A strand of my hair was slightly severed. He had subtly increased his speed. Thus, even the earlier speed was a feint in itself. ‘He can move even faster?’ He’s hiding more of his strength. Recognizing this, I also lifted my expression into a smirk. Simultaneously. ‘It's the same for me.’ Crunch-!!! I stomped the ground and dove straight into Nam Gung Jin. Even as his sword blade came flying toward me, my hand was swifter. Snatch-!! I clasped Nam Gung Jin's neck. Channeling strength through my body, I launched him. The scenery changed, and I hurled him out of the cave and into the woods. Crash-!!! His body flew through the forest, crushing trees in its path. It still wasn’t over. I approached the staggering Nam Gung Jin, pinning him to the ground with a kick to his chest. Crack-! Boom-!!! The earth cracked open, and my energy explosively hurled towards him. “...Gah!” “There you are.” I heard his voice for the first time. As Nam Gung Jin groaned, I clenched my fist. Fwoosh-!! Flames wreathed around it. I fired the blue flames directly at him. Fwooosh--!!! Through the cracks in the earth, flames erupted. Normally, it would incinerate everything, but— Slash-!!! A slash of light flew, pushing back the flames. I dodged it by twisting aside. The flames subsided, revealing Nam Gung Jin, perfectly intact. ‘As expected, it won't work?’ My energy wouldn’t reach him. This level of energy was nowhere near enough. ‘Judging by the lack of even a scratch...’ It confirmed my suspicion that Nam Gung Jin’s strength seemed greater than Chu Yeong Yeon’s. Dodging his sword paths, I posed a question. “Let me ask you one thing. You said you'd come some days later, so why now?” “...” There’s no answer, just another wave of attacks. I continued to evade them. His speed increased, but I could still manage. “They said you became an apostle, but why did you do it?” Rumble-! Thunder overtook the atmosphere. I narrowly escaped it. “For what purpose did you come here?” It was my third question. Bang-!! Still no response, only continuous attacks. I tried dodging this last one as well but— Tip-! A drop of blood tinged my cheek. I couldn’t completely avoid the attack. “Alright.” This far. Feeling the blood trickle down my cheek, I smiled. “I've waited three times now.” I’ve been as patient as I could. That decision made, I clenched my fist. Now it was time to make him talk by other means. At that exact moment— Krooaaah--!!! An immense surge of thunderous energy erupted from Nam Gung Jin's body. "……!" I widened the distance between us with astonishment. The intensity was overwhelming. “……Ha.” Yet, it felt familiar. I had sensed this aura before. Of course, it was the formidable presence often felt from the Demon Sword Queen in my past life. The problem is... "How is he using that?" The issue lay in how Nam Gung Jin was able to wield this power. Even more surprisingly, "Without the Thunder Child?" [TLN: The Sword Namgung Bia used in the previous life] The Namgung family's treasured possession, the power of Thunder’s Primordial Blade, is unattainable without the Thunder Child. Crack-!! Rumble. Thunderous sounds echoed as dark clouds gathered in the sky. Nam Gung Jin’s appearance also changed. Gray lightning swirled around his whole body, and his once black hair turned a stormy gray. Like flames flickering, the energy danced around his body, showcasing a magnified presence completely different from before. There’s only one name for that form. ‘Thunder God's Descent.’ A combat state achieved only by merging with the Thunder Child and the Divine Sword. It was a form the Demon Sword Queen used in my previous life, and it was because of this form that she was adorned with the title of Sword Queen. ‘How is Nam Gung Jin wielding it without the Thunder Child?’ How could this be possible? It defies comprehension. “…….” Setting my thoughts aside, Nam Gung Jin pointed his sword at me. Rumble--!!!! The thunderous energy surged down from the ashen sky. Crash-!!! Lightning struck me with force. Boom! “Ugh...” It pierced through my defenses, attacking my body. Whoosh-!! I barely managed to escape, my ankles caught, as the pressure weighed heavily on my shoulders from the Jeowang Geomhyeong. ‘This guy.’ He’s using everything in his arsenal for a proper assault. Is this truly Nam Gung Jin whom I once knew? At this rate... ‘He’s stronger than the Sword King.’ He’s much stronger than the Sword King in this lifetime, and far surpasses the future Nam Gung Jin. Indeed, much stronger. ‘See for yourself.’ The unending torrent of thunder was relentless. Nam Gung Jin, now a Thunder God, began preparing something. Zzzt. He was readying a strike, gathering copious amounts of electrical energy into the sword. The amplification of his sword's attack was visible instantaneously. I sighed internally as I observed. ‘…I told you capturing won’t be simple.’ Whether it was subduing or capturing him. It won’t be easy. ‘Tsk.’ If it isn't simple, so be it. ‘Have to go the hard way.’ I organized my thoughts and focused energy into my heart. Ripple-! Shadows moved. Just as Nam Gung Jin was about to unleash his strike. Snap-!! “……?” The allure seeping from my body devoured the thunderous energy that was pressing down on me. That immense energy vanished in an instant. For the first time, a flicker of dismay crossed Nam Gung Jin’s eyes. "Where are you looking?" “……!” I was already at his back. Nam Gung Jin started to move his sword, seemingly to attack me, but— -Stop. Freeze-! With a Word of Command, I halted his body. Then I concentrated the force gathered in my hand. Chaos. I utilized every mechanism in my body, causing friction. This attempt was better. The speed of completion was much faster. Before Nam Gung Jin could properly react, a dark, burnt pearl had formed in my hand. Heavenly Demonic Dark Orb. The power of the Heavenly Demon Art formed through friction. I condensed it fully and let it strike him. The chaotic energy hit Nam Gung Jin squarely in his chest. Screeeeee---!!! The internal energy screamed, unleashing a shockwave in all directions.