1310 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Rip. Crackle. A huge hand. Evidently, the hand, which was no ordinary size, tore the Demonic Mirror Gate like a piece of paper. It was bizarre. What was that? Could the Demonic Mirror Gate be torn apart like that? “Cough.” The Sword Sovereign, who was shoved aside, coughed up blood. His eyes were filled with bewilderment. I felt the same. "What is this...?" What just happened? I saw the Sword Sovereign being repelled, but... ‘How did he get thrown back?’ I didn’t witness what occurred. A tremendous sword force was definitely aimed at the Demonic Mirror Gate. ‘Even the storm of Cheolhyun Buseon.’ It all dug in as if ripping through. ‘Where did it all go?’ The advance shattered as if it were an illusion. I failed to grasp what happened. “...Ha.” Cheolhyun Buseon’s voice was heard. He grimaced. “This unbearable thing.” Clatter. He opened his fan. With intense resolve, he summoned the wind again. At the moment he was about to unleash a massive gale pressure— Boommm--!!! “...!!” “...Grrk!” “...Urgh.” Under the immense atmospheric pressure, my knees buckled. My shoulders collapsed, causing my upper body to disintegrate helplessly. With difficulty, I knelt, but that was the extent. Rising again didn’t even cross my mind. It wasn’t just me. The Sword Sovereign and Cheolhyun Buseon seemed unable to move their bodies, visibly struggling. “...What is this?” I trembled. Could the air be this heavy? This wasn’t merely atmospheric. Calling it simply atmospheric was far too kind. I widened my eyes, looking at the Demonic Mirror Gate. This pressure undeniably emanated from the Demonic Mirror Gate. What could possibly cause such energy to pour out? Crackle. The gate continued to rip apart further. The pressure that was pinning down even the Sword Sovereign and Cheolhyun Buseon— Rip. Finally, tore the Demonic Mirror Gate entirely. ‘...What on earth.’ What is trying to come out? My mind was scattered. Initially, I thought it was my grandfather. But... ‘...It doesn’t seem like him.’ The hand was far too large to belong to my grandfather. It doesn’t seem to be him. But if not my grandfather, then what? ‘If not him, then what is it?’ The orb’s power is said to summon the current head. By all rights, it should be him emerging. How did this transpire? Flutter. The Demonic Mirror Gate flickered. The fully torn gate seemed to wail in pitiful agony. And finally... Thud. A foot emerged first through the ripped Demonic Mirror Gate. Astonishingly, the ground melted beneath the footstep. Next, a body and face emerged. “...Huh?” Upon confirming the figure emerging from the Demonic Mirror Gate, I uttered a stupefied sound. The previously felt pressure became irrelevant. It had to. Because the figure stepping through the Demonic Mirror Gate was... “...Father?” It was Father. I widened my eyes. His hair, originally black with a hint of red, had already turned crimson. His hollow eyes contained a fiery, red glint devoid of life. Though he looked significantly different from the figure I once knew, it was unmistakably Father. “But why... why is this happening?” Not as his younger self, but the Gu family head as I knew him; the chivalrous Gu Cheolun. How did my father emerge here? ‘Could it be?’ Looking at Father, I thought of the orb. The orb had the power to summon the Gu family head. And... ‘...The Gu family head I know is...’ Not my grandfather, but my father. Could that be why my father appeared here? While pondering such thoughts— “...What is it?” Cheolhyun Buseon rose, piercing through the pressure. “What is that monster?” His eyes conveyed shock, not competitiveness. “This is impossible—.” Father’s head turned in response to his voice, focusing on Cheolhyun Buseon. The elder, meeting his gaze, flinched. With just a glance. As soon as their eyes met, Cheolhyun Buseon froze. A testament to the mightiest in this world. “...” Father gazed at Cheolhyun Buseon for a long time. Then, slowly, his heavy head turned towards me. I, just like Cheolhyun Buseon, had to freeze upon meeting Father’s gaze. ‘What is...?’ What were those eyes? The fiery eyes, glowing red, were eerily devoid of life. They had always been stern, but this seemed odd. “...Father?” I called out cautiously. Why had Father suddenly appeared in this world? Why did he look like that? When questioned, puzzlement in my voice— “...” The life in Father’s eyes gradually returned. “...Ah...” A thick hand reached for my face. It was hot. The heat in his hand was palpable. “Ah...” That was the only response. Why was this happening? As I stood silently, staring at Father— “...I see.” Eyes gaining a slight vitality, he spoke. “It’s a dream.” “Pardon?” “Is that so...” His emotionless voice carried an odd sense of longing. “What do you mean...” “My son.” “...!” I clamped my mouth shut. The term ‘son’ made my body stiffen. All because it was nearly the first time I’d ever heard it. Moreover, what he said next troubled me further. “I’m sorry.” “Pardon...?” An apology. He suddenly apologized? What was this reaction? “Father, are you alright? What are you suddenly...” I trailed off mid-sentence, stopping abruptly. Behind him. Cheolhyun Buseon appeared behind Father. It was an ambush. His speed was incredible. He gathered energy into his fan to swing. “Watch out—!” Boom—!!! “Ha...” Thud. “...Huh.” The sound of something breaking was heard as Cheolhyun Buseon collapsed to the ground. Seeing this, I was slightly stunned. Father was still watching me, and I hadn’t seen him turn, but Cheolhyun Buseon’s face was caved in as he fell. He seemed to have been struck by Father’s fist. When? I hadn’t seen it. While I was still wondering— “Be quiet.” Rustle— A softly spoken word made the ground quiver. “Right now.” The sensation of vibration made my bones resonate. “I’m speaking.” Murderous intent? No. This wasn’t murderous intent. It was merely the pressure of energy. “Grrk... Kah...” Cheolhyun Buseon writhed on the ground, his face almost half-collapsed, yet he was still alive. Incredibly, he was regenerating. It seemed possible because he was a demon. “This monster… Just what… Grrrk.” Cheolhyun Buseon muttered, and something began to change. Crunch. His body started growing larger. Even the horns on his head expanded. His already large frame swelled so much that it became hard to see him as human anymore. ‘What is that now?’ A shiver ran down my spine. ‘Master?’ From Cheolhyun Buseon, I could sense a master’s aura. Was that even possible? I felt dizzy. I couldn’t have imagined that a demon could even transform into a master. ‘At this rate…’ Could it become dangerous? As that thought flickered by— “Hyogun, forgive me, but this time, I must intervene—” Thump. Once again, a sound resonated. And a hole appeared in Cheolhyun Buseon’s abdomen. “I believe I warned you.” Father’s gaze remained fixed on me. “Not yet.” At that moment— “I am still speaking.” Fwoosh—!!! The air began to heat up intensely. “Cough.” The knees of Cheolhyun Buseon, with a hole through him, gave way. As he coughed blood and collapsed, the Sword Sovereign moved next. His response was swift. A golden flash sliced through the air. His line was steady, and numerous flying swords following the elder poured like meteors. Was he going all out? I wasn't sure, but there were certainly many more swords than what he used against me and Namgung Bi-ah earlier. Father raised his hand upon witnessing it. Flick. A spark ignited in his palm. It wasn’t large. It looked like a gentle flicker. Swish-!! The Sword Sovereign’s sword sailed towards Father’s neck. I thought it would surely slice through, but— Tap. Father effortlessly caught the Sword Sovereign's blade with his fingertips. And it didn't stop there. Snap-! With a slight exertion, the tip of the Sword Sovereign’s sword snapped off. The Sword Sovereign's brow furrowed. Was his sword so easily broken? As I watched in disbelief. Whoosh-! My body suddenly lifted, drifting backward to create distance. It wasn’t my doing. It was the Invisible Manipulation Technique. Once the gap widened. “Grrk—!” Cheolhyun Buseon, having completed his regeneration, rose to attack Father again, and the Sword Sovereign’s flying swords began to pour in. Even then, Father didn’t move an inch. Only— “…Guyeomgeuktaesanohyeong.” He murmured the secret arts of the Gu family. “Flame Illumination (炎照).” Swoosh—!!!! Flames blossomed from Father’s palm. Light exploded forth as if to devour the world. It was blinding. The light was so intense I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Ultimately, I had to close them. But the light was brief, and gradually the energy subsided. When it all finally settled— “…….” I opened my eyes but was utterly speechless at the scene that unfolded. It was a sight so shocking it left me incapable of reacting. Tap. Tap. At Father’s feet, a blackened line etched into the ground looked like some kind of drawing. Over the ashen surface, with the same expression he wore at the start, Father— “Ugh…” He held Cheolhyun Buseon’s face, kneeling with one hand. “……Cough.” And with the other hand, he was grasping the Sword Sovereign’s neck. The shocking part was— ‘…He didn’t move a single step.’ Father hadn’t moved from his spot even once.