1306 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Rumble---!!!! It was as if lightning struck a clear sky—thunder roared, leaving a tingling sensation hanging in the air. I could feel the hairs on my arm stand on end. Crack. Rumble. The image of thunder concentrating on the ground, and like a flash, two people appeared and shattered the Sword Sovereign's blade. The golden aura, dispersing in the air like crumbling stardust, resembled a constellation. Witnessing such a scene. "Well." The Sword Sovereign exhibited his characteristic easygoing smile. "I guess I've really grown old." But the emotion reflected in his eyes was far from pleasant. "To have missed a guest's arrival because of a momentary distraction." As he broke through the thunderous atmosphere, the Sword Sovereign unleashed his energy. The potent force made me shudder. "This is absurd." An old man capable of exuding such power? Even if I believed age held no bar for a warrior, this was something else. "Who claimed that?" Among the trio of Heavenly Sovereigns, they said that the Sword Sovereign wielded the weakest aura. Clearly, the Demonic Cult's evaluation of him in my past life. "Do they still think that after witnessing this?" Witnessing such an aura that warped the surrounding air, could they still deem him the weakest? "The evaluation was wrong." Regardless of the quantity of his energy. "The quality is different." The quality of his energy was beyond imagination. It was overwhelming. "……Ugh." Namgung Jin visibly stiffened, feeling its weight. His divine thunder faltered momentarily. Observing this, the woman—Hyun Soyeon, no, Namgung Bi-ah—spoke. "Focus." "……!" With Namgung Bi-ah's words, enhanced by the thunderous charge, Namgung Jin regained his composure. "Concentrate." "……All right." Who was teaching whom? Seeing a daughter chide her youthful father, I almost chuckled. It was like witnessing a theatrical play. "Hmm……." Anyway, setting that aside, wavering, I stood up. "……What brings you here?" Namgung Jin turned to me at my words. "……I was dragged here." "You look the part. I meant to ask someone else." My eyes have been set on Namgung Bi-ah from the start. "You didn't show yourself the entire day just to appear now?" "……." Namgung Bi-ah didn't reply to my query. Her gaze was firmly fixed on the Sword Sovereign, not me. "Hahaha." The Sword Sovereign laughed. "It seems the youngsters wish to intimidate this old man." "Intimidate?" This was surreal. Let's set things straight. "It's more like a grown adult bullying a snot-nosed kid. Where's your conscience?" "These children might have an excuse, but." The Sword Sovereign's smile vanished, his golden pupils gleamed eerily. "You're not the same, are you?" "No, actually, I'm the youngest here." Whatever he meant, I wasn't about to indulge him. And frankly, I was indeed the youngest here. "In terms of physical age." I omitted mental age. Including my past life would make it nonsensical. "Haha-." The Sword Sovereign laughed again at my words but soon declared, "……This should suffice." Following his laughter, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. "Since I've brought two of you, this old man will summon some friends as well." Friends. Was he referring to people? Swish. "Damn it." It escalated further. The crude words slipped as an overwhelming number of sword forms emerged behind the Sword Sovereign, making the destruction of two seem petty in comparison. That's terrifying. "……Wow……." In that moment, Namgung Jin marveled. That madman. Awe in such a scenario? Frowning at the sheer number of swords filling the space, it dawned on me. "Yes, this aligns with expectations." Not surprising. Wasn't that how Wi Seol-ah displayed it as well? "Recalling Wi Seol-ah from the battlefield-." Reminded me of how she commanded dozens, even hundreds of sword forms. It was no different for the Sword Sovereign. Though Wi Seol-ah was an unparalleled divine sword, that old man's monstrous presence was undeniable. "Phew-." I exhaled, assessing the energy's concentration. "……Hey." Someone responded to my words. It was Namgung Bi-ah. As she subtly glanced at me, I met her gaze and asked. "Even if I told you to flee, you wouldn't, right?" "……." Her expression, as if questioning whether my words were legitimate, was answer enough. As always, she was impossibly stubborn. "……Fine." Sighing, I spoke. "I won't tell you to run, so at least heed my words." "……." Namgung Bi-ah nodded. "The same goes for you." "Huh… me?" "Yes, you." I directed my words to Namgung Jin as well. "Move as directed. If you're going to flee, do it quickly." In space---! Enveloping my body with immense power. The rings hummed and commenced their friction anew. I harnessed Demonic Arts. This time, I infused power so intensely that it felt like my blood vessels would burst. My physical form expanded, while the energy of the spell and the strength of my mind shielded the body from harm. "……Hmm." Observing me, the Sword Sovereign nodded slightly, exuding the aura of an absolute entity. "A wonder, truly." Why wasn't such a being the strongest under the heavens instead of Cheolhyun Buseon? "How could Heavenly Demon possibly have defeated such a monster?" In the prime years of the Sword Sovereign, not broken by the heart-devouring demon, nor aged in decline, there stood a true wielder of the sky's might. Golden Sword Wi Hyogun. Facing him, I swallowed my trepidation. Thud. I planted my foot firmly as the self-generated energy was barely tolerable for my body. Still, this was necessary. To engage him meaningfully. "Even if it weighs down on the soul and fractures the body, the burden had to be embraced to confront the Sword Sovereign." Swish. The Sword Sovereign observed my movements and beckoned with his hand. His frail fingers waved. Whooosh---!!!! Swords bloomed like flowers, dispersing in all directions. The golden energy surged like a storm, seeking to subjugate the world. Moonlight Sword Dance. Moonlit Fish School. Swoosh---!!! Creating an ocean in the sky, the swords moved in precise harmony, akin to a school of fish swimming gracefully. The undersea spectacle was complete, its aim unmistakably targeting me, the spear overhead wavered. Boom---!!! It poured down. Like a torrential downpour. Watching this, I couldn't help but lift the corners of my mouth in a smirk. Thud-!!! Planting my foot firmly, I unleashed my aura. Heavenly Demon Sovereignty Step. "Gah……!?" Namgung Jin let out a groan. There was no time to adjust his momentum. I pressed down on all the sword forms, reducing their actions. Even as I did this, Namgung Bi-ah remained unscathed. For a simple reason, as she turned to Namgung Jin beside her and spoke, "Use the Sword of the Emperor." "……!" Upon Namgung Bi-ah's words, Namgung Jin immediately executed the technique. Crackle-!!! Thunder surged, and his presence erupted. Only then could Namgung Jin catch his breath, albeit with difficulty. 'Well done.' Just as I was about to instruct him, Namgung Bi-ah spoke up instead. After all, the Heavenly Demon Sovereignty Step was modeled after the Sword of the Emperor. To neutralize a formidable presence, it was right to use a martial art of the same kind. I pressed down the sword forms and surged forward. My speed had significantly increased. Whoosh-!! The swords came at me as if they had been waiting for the opportunity. A crescent moon emerged in the night sky. The Sword Sovereign began his dance of blades, too. I rolled my eyes, capturing the Sword Sovereign’s intention with my mind's eye. Swiftly maneuvering my body, I evaded his assault. Swish-! My chest was grazed slightly. Was I too slow? 'No.' It was just that my body's speed couldn't catch up to my thoughts while executing the Heavenly Demon Sovereignty Step. Even if I had anticipated being faster. 'Tsk.' I clicked my tongue briefly. At that moment, the Sword Sovereign's blade came at me once more. So dangerously close to my neck, leaving it unchecked might have led to dire consequences. Clang-!! Another sword intervened, deflecting the Sword Sovereign’s strike. It was Namgung Bi-ah. 'Thunder Fang.' Using the lightning in her grasp, she deflected the Sword Sovereign's blade. "Hmm?" The Sword Sovereign's brow furrowed at this sight. It was a look of surprise, as if he hadn't expected Namgung Bi-ah to intercept his blade. And it wasn't just that. "Hrgh!" Crackle-!! As Namgung Bi-ah blocked, Namgung Jin leapt in, swinging his sword. Their joint coordination was seamless. The aura of thunder expanded, encroaching upon the Sword Sovereign. Observing this, he flicked his wrist. Crash-!!! The blade formations contained Namgung Jin. He dodged the swords piercing into the ground. At that moment, Namgung Bi-ah surged in once more. Like wielding blade forms, she released thunderous energy. Even as she expelled energy, she swung her sword. Smack-! Crash-!! With a swift blade cutting through the thunder, the Sword Sovereign fixed his gaze on Namgung Bi-ah. Shiiiing--!! Changing his stance, he moved as if to cleave Namgung Bi-ah with all his might. Seeing this, I sprang into action. Was it to rescue Namgung Bi-ah? No. 'I trust her.' Bang-!! Namgung Bi-ah used the Thunder Child to deflect the Sword Sovereign’s blade. Though the recoil forced her back, she had nonetheless successfully blocked it. I believed in that. 'Namgung Bi-ah will manage it.' I trusted that she could fend off the Sword Sovereign’s blade. I believed it wholeheartedly. Thus, I didn't rush to her aid. 'I see an opening.' I could seize the opportunity to exploit the Sword Sovereign's vulnerability. Now. Boom---!!! The aura I'd gathered from the blood vessels from the start was unleashed. It wasn't merely for enhancing my body's strength. 'Amplification.' Constantly amplifying it from within. The pain from the friction was doubled, but in turn, the power could be intensified. 'Now.' Concentrating the amassed power into a single point at my fist, I sought to unleash it. Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Fourth Division. 'What should I name it?' I hadn’t decided yet. As I extended my fist, I recollected. 'Yes.' Heavenly Demon Solar Burst (天魔日揙揚). It would destroy the sun. With such intentions, the force connected with the Sword Sovereign. Thud. With a sound, the moon trembled mightily.