1275 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

I emerged from the cave, distancing myself slightly from it. Although unsure if stepping outside was wise, having already captured a apostle gave me free rein. No one could stop me from venturing out. Tae Hoan seemed to tacitly understand, making it alright. 'Namgung Jin should handle things on his own.' Whether Namgung Jin remembered anything or not was unknown, but it would take some time for him to awaken. 'He hasn't even stirred from my energy.' Attempts to rouse him by forcefully channeling energy were futile. It wasn't a matter to be solved with energy alone. 'Perhaps this is for the best.' Taking this opportunity to wander around a bit seemed fitting. It was time to explore. "In that regard, I have a favor to ask." “…….” Addressing the King of Assassins, who was disguised as someone else, my brows furrowed slightly. “What are you hoping to gain? Where do you intend to go?” Although he seemed uncomfortable, he fortunately didn't refuse. He must have realized my powers weren't ordinary after witnessing me reverse Namgung Jin's state. Thus, he tried to treat me amicably. "Ah, I'm not pinpointing a specific location. Just intending to go as far as possible." "……Far?" "Yes, far." “…….” Asking him to take us as far as he could, he seemed momentarily puzzled. Woooosh-!!! Soon, a black aura enveloped us both. When my eyes opened again, we were greeted by a vast, desolate plain. “……Here?” “I visited this place while scouting. I haven’t ventured further from here.” "Hmm." It appeared to be a simple plain. The sky and the surrounding terrain seemed familiar. Distance-wise, it felt far enough. ‘I've got a rough idea of the location.’ I unleashed my energy once more. Wooosh---!!! Even though I expended considerable energy, the surroundings were engulfed in an instant. After my energy blanketed the space, I assessed what lay within. ‘No sign of any demons.’ There was no trace of demons as expected. Having gathered enough details, I promptly withdrew his energy. "That's it." “……?” The efficiency with which he finished had the King of Assassins casting an odd glance at him, as if to say, "Was this all you planned to do?" Yes, this was the reason for coming here. ‘I foresee needing this information later.’ Documenting the insights gained from his sensory exploration, I asked another favor of the King of Assassins. “We're done here... Let's move to another location.” “What location do you want next?” "The hideout where the fallen one resided. You've been there before, correct?" “…….” Upon mentioning it, the expression on the King of Assassins' face shifted subtly. The place where the fallen one had been. At this, he nodded in understanding. “Do you have business there?” “Yes. Have you not visited before?” “I have.” "Great, let's head there." Originally intending to go there, knowing that the King of Assassins had been there made it convenient. “…….” The King of Assassins looked as if he wanted to say something about my response. Swoosh. Rather than speaking, he chose an action. Whooosh-!!! Once again, the black aura obscured our sight. * * * Ssssss-!!! As the aura dissipated, I looked ahead. “…….” And lost my words for a second. 'What is this?' My eyes narrowed instinctively. The view was bewilderingly strange. ‘A complete mess?’ The barren plain earlier hadn't seemed odd. But here, it was as if several meteors had fallen. Otherwise, it resembled a scene with a high-level beast rampaging. Forests were uprooted, and what once were grasslands were utterly ruined. It was impossible to discern the original scenery. ‘What on earth happened here?’ Despite the passage of time, the lingering peculiar energy in the area was unmistakable. This? ‘It is the work of martial artists.' Humans, specifically martial artists, had wrecked this terrain. What kind of battle could have transformed it into this state? ‘Wow.’ Never had he fought so fiercely. Wondering how long such a confrontation would have lasted. “……This is where the hideout was, yes?” “Indeed.” “Hmmm.” This was where the fallen one battled Cheolhyeol Buseon. It was supposed to be a hideout, but was no longer one. While expecting something out of the ordinary, I didn't fathom it would be to this extent. The vision of their battle was unimaginable. ‘Finding remnants or traces here is unlikely.’ Even with remnants, finding anything amid this chaos was pointless. “Regrettable.” I scooped up a handful of dry earth. While feeling its distinct texture, he detected a faint trace of unique energy left within. Nearly dissipated, yet palpable. Something no ordinary person could perceive. ‘Yes, indeed.’ He could feel it. This was the residual force from Tuapha Chongong. Proof that the fallen one had unleashed havoc here. “Is it true?” The tale that the fallen one clashed with the apostle Cheolhyeol Buseon, and the two vanished from sight. Was this story a fact? “…….” The place bore evidence too undeniable to claim otherwise. This terrain was so ruined, survival seemed improbable. Though I considered releasing my senses to search for survivors. ‘Pointless.’ Pointless, indeed. There was no reason to strain myself to find anyone. Even more so in this world. ‘Having seen enough, it's about time to return.’ Deriving no useful information here. While thinking it was time to move on, just as I was about to speak to the King of Assassins. Vvmmm. “…….” I stopped and turned around. A vibration was felt. ‘What is that?’ Something was there. Heat surged within his body, and energy radiated outward. The energy transformed into his senses. Swoosh--!!! Quickly, I surveyed the direction of the vibration. Narrow, targeted, and swift. It wasn't long before he identified the source. Thud. I took a step forward. Among several hollowed spaces, I focused on the one most deeply sunken. Descending deeper and deeper, I clenched my fist immediately upon reaching the bottom. Channeling my energy, I punched directly into the ground. Kuaaaah-!!! A burst of air pressure scattered dust everywhere. The ground shattered and dispersed, revealing something within. "……." I picked up the item that emerged. What could this be? 'A gauntlet?' Indeed, it was a black gauntlet. An odd vibration emanated from it. This was... ‘Tuapha Chongong.’ The gauntlet radiated the unmistakable inner power of the fallen one. It should not have been possible to sense this from a mere gauntlet. ‘...This.’ It seemed to be no ordinary gauntlet. The sensation was something one wouldn't find in a standard gauntlet. Only a mystical artifact. Something recognized by an innate instinct within him. ‘Did the fallen one use a mystical artifact?’ That was a mystery. Such a proud individual seemed unlikely to rely on such things. Yet the energy felt at this place undeniably belonged to the fallen one. 'Hmm.' As I scrutinized the gauntlet, the King of Assassins queried him. "What are you holding?" "King of Assassins, do you recognize this?" Showing the gauntlet, the King of Assassins' eyes narrowed in a manner similar to his own. "Black Iron Gauntlet." "…Black Iron Gauntlet?" "A mystical artifact of the Bi Clan. It was said to be lost, yet it appears Bijuu was in possession of it." A mystical artifact of the Seonyan Bi family. It was something he had never heard of. In that case, it wasn't strange for Bijuu to have held it. ‘The fallen one using a mystical artifact?’ Hard to believe that such a proud individual would rely on this. Keeping it concealed? That certainly was curious. ‘What could have happened here?’ The repeated puzzles were unsettling. He placed the gauntlet into his robes. "Planning to take it?" "…Leaving it here would be reckless." "Do as you wish. It's of no consequence to me." Unconcerned, the King of Assassins emitted a subtle aura. The black energy enveloped him once more. Gradually, my vision was obscured. ‘I'm back.’ When his eyes opened, he was standing outside the cave where they initially began. * * * Meanwhile, where Gu Yangcheon and the King of Assassins disappeared from the ruined realm, an anomaly began to unfold. Rumble...!!! As space tore apart, a massive arm emerged. The arm exerted force, further ripping the space apart. Soon, a figure emerged entirely from the tear. "Uhmm." The hulking figure with two massive bull-like horns. It was Cheolhyeol Buseon, now with gray eyes, landing slowly on the ground. Thud-!!! Despite the gentle landing, the earth shook violently. Feeling the tremor, Cheolhyeol Buseon surveyed the surroundings. "What is this?" His voice dripped with puzzlement. "…Where have they gone?" The presence he pursued was absent. Having followed the trail of energy, he arrived to find nothing. Cheolhyeol Buseon scanned the area. "There should be the gauntlet imbued with his energy." The object he left behind was no longer there. This was problematic. "…Damn, after spending months imbuing it with energy." To have it suddenly vanish after months of effort? No, it hadn't disappeared. ‘It wasn't gone, it was taken.’ Cheolhyeol Buseon examined the ground. It looked significantly altered from what he remembered. Someone intentionally dug it up. "Ha." Who could it be? "Intriguing." Cheolhyeol Buseon's eyes gleamed with interest. Though tasked with orders from the Sword Queen, this might be something they’d forgive. "Hide and seek has always been an old man's game." A new pursuit awaited. One that promised to be entertaining.