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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter 1093: The World of Ascension (23)
Chapter 1093: The World of Ascension (23)
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
Kuaaaaaahhhhh---!!!!It was hot—no, scorching.
A suffocating heat surged through the air, instantly setting the autumn atmosphere ablaze.
Kwaaaaarrrrkkk-!!!
As if to prove the sheer intensity of the flames, the fiery pillar devoured everything it touched, melting the ground beneath it.
Kuwaaaaaang-!!!
The monster caught directly within the inferno let out continuous cries of agony. Yes, agony.
"It's feeling pain."
For a creature to scream amidst the raging fire meant that the attack was indeed landing.
"What the hell?"
I found the situation unexpected. The energy barrier remained unchanged—it still surrounded the monster, shielding it from the flames.
"Yet, it's still in pain."
Even in that situation, the monster writhed in suffering. How could that be? I couldn't understand it.
"It's not even that powerful."
No matter how intense the flames were, they weren’t at the level to break through the energy barrier.
"Deputy Commander...!"
Soi looked at my father and beamed brightly. The reactions of others weren’t much different.
"Deputy Commander...!"
"Divine Dragon has arrived!"
The warriors of the Azure Dragon Division cheered as if they had just seen their savior. Meanwhile, the members of the Iron Dragon Division had a more reserved reaction, though they still shared the same relief at their survival.
Relief.
That emotion was evident in the way they looked at my father.
"...Hmph."
Watching this, I understood the position my father had secured within the Martial Alliance.
Simply his presence was enough to reassure them. That alone spoke volumes.
"If I look at this, I can understand why."
Even just the sheer heat he radiated evoked such emotions.
It was truly an absurd level of fire. The blazing light poured down relentlessly, towering like a pillar.
However—
Kuwaaaaaahhhh---!!!
Despite that, it couldn't penetrate the barrier, and the Red Stone Beast began rampaging even more fiercely.
At this rate, it would break free soon.
I wondered—what was my father planning to do?
As I observed with curiosity—
"Hmm."
My father, noticing something was off, suddenly ceased his fire attack.
Kuwaaaaaaahhh---!!!
The moment the attack stopped, the creature's body, which had been restrained, was freed.
Kuaaaaaaaahhhh---!!!
With its pent-up rage, the Red Stone Beast let out a deafening roar—
Kwaaaang—!!!
Kuwok!!
—Or at least, it tried to.
Before it could complete its roar, a strike came crashing down, slamming the beast into the ground.
Its massive body toppled over completely.
My father had leapt forward and struck the back of its head.
"Huh."
Sparks scattered, and a shockwave burst from the impact.
"...Gu Clan’s Flame Embodiment."
A technique of the Gu Clan. Originally, it was a flame-based martial art meant for ranged attacks.
But my father didn’t fire it—he detonated it at close range.
As a result, its destructive power increased dramatically. Though, given how much fire he had unleashed earlier, there had to be some recoil for him as well.
Bang! Bang, bang—!!
But my father seemed completely unfazed. He continued to wrap himself in flames and pummel the monster.
Fire flickered in his burning eyes.
The flames spiraling around him relentlessly battered the monster.
Bang! Crack—!! Bang, bang—!!!
The deafening sounds rang out. A wild ferocity that clashed with his emotionless face.
And flames so intense they seemed to turn back the seasons.
My father’s attacks were truly monstrous.
"Extreme compression."
The fire I used specialized in mass destruction through dispersion.
But my father compressed his flames endlessly, increasing their density.
That was why he could manifest such overwhelming power in a one-on-one fight.
"But still—"
Just like before—
Kuaaaaaaaaahhh---!!!
He couldn't break through the barrier, and the monster thrashed in retaliation.
Its massive claws slashed through the air. My father raised his hand to block.
Boom—!!!
His protective energy managed to deflect the attack, but due to his comparatively smaller frame, he was sent flying.
Crack.
He dug into the ground, slowing his momentum.
Adjusting his trajectory, my father redirected himself toward our side.
Flap.
The Deputy Commander’s cloak fluttered as he flicked his hand.
Flick, flick.
Each motion released embers mixed with his internal energy.
"Soi."
A deep voice called for Soi.
"Yes, Deputy Commander."
"Report."
Without looking at her, my father spoke.
"...During joint training, a conflict arose. The Azure Dragon Division and Iron Dragon Division engaged in combat, and during that time, a rift from the Magyeong Gate opened. We were holding our ground until reinforcements arrived."
Soi swiftly summarized the situation. My father nodded.
"So, that thing is what emerged."
"Yes, sir."
"...Red Stone."
Kuwaaaaaaahhhh—
The Red Stone Beast glared at my father with murderous intent. It was desperate to eliminate the one who had tormented it.
"Hmm."
Seeing this, my father clenched his fist.
Fwoooooosh----!!!!
A violent blaze erupted around his body once more. It was still as wild and unrefined as before. But—
"What have you figured out?"
Despite the burning flames, his voice remained calm—colder than anyone else’s.
"...Martial arts don’t work on it. Something is blocking them."
Soi had perfectly identified the monster’s trait. Martial techniques had no effect. Upon hearing that, the warriors around them paled.
"It doesn’t work...?"
"Then how the hell are we supposed to kill that thing?"
"Shit... what the hell is this?"
"Quiet."
At the looming chaos, my father spoke in a low voice.
"Shut up. I need to focus."
"Oh..."
So he could talk like that too, huh?
I stared at him with fascination. I had seen my father get angry before, but never quite like this.
The chilling warning silenced everyone instantly.
"Martial arts don’t work, huh."
Repeating those words, my father fixed his gaze on the monster.
Kuaaaaaaaaahhhhh----!!!
But the beast had no intention of sitting still. It roared and charged at him again.
At that moment—
"Poison Dragon. Soi."
My father called for Tang Cheongi and Soi.
"Support me. I need to analyze it. And..."
He turned his back—then looked straight at me.
"Yangcheon. You as well."
"...Huh?"
Boom—!
Leaving those sudden words behind, my father transformed into flames and charged at the monster.
"He wants me to assist?"
I stood there, momentarily dumbfounded by my father’s sudden command. But before I could process it fully, Soi and Poison Dragon had already rushed forward, following my father into battle.
No hesitation.
They had already charged in.
"Ah."
Well, that left me no choice.
Resigned to the situation, I leaped into action as well.
Kuaaaaaaaaahhh---!!!
The monster's relentless attacks continued. Even though its energy barrier prevented the strikes from landing, it could still deflect them.
"I’ll handle the upper body. Restrain its legs."
Blocking the Red Stone Beast's arms, my father issued his command. Soi and Poison Dragon swiftly moved to the lower half, working to bind its legs.
The hulking beast's feet were restrained.
Seeing this, I swung my arm.
I narrowly avoided its claws, pretending to deflect them at the last moment.
"Tsk."
Even that wasn't easy.
My internal energy, after all, was that of the Gu Clan.
If I applied too much force, my flame arts would activate. And there was no way my father wouldn't notice that.
So, I carefully adjusted my strength, holding back as much as possible.
Because of that, I couldn't block the Red Stone Beast's attacks effectively.
I evaded, rolling my eyes as I calculated my movements.
Luckily, the monster’s focus was entirely on my father.
That made dodging much easier.
Thud—! Boom, boom—!!
The clash continued.
Even in those moments, my father managed to land several devastating blows.
Crack—! Bang, bang—!!
His fists, wreathed in flames, repeatedly pounded against the energy barrier.
And each time his strikes connected, I could see the energy dissipate slightly.
Though he failed to break through, my father didn’t stop.
No matter how well the barrier held, he continued to hammer at it. Over and over again.
By the time he had landed more than twenty consecutive blows—
Crack.
"...!"
A fracture.
It lasted only for a brief moment, but it was definitely there.
The barrier quickly regenerated, erasing all signs of the damage.
But it had been a crack, nonetheless.
"I see."
Upon witnessing this, my father immediately nodded.
Then, he withdrew.
"Hold it off for a moment. I found it."
"Understood."
With a calm, matter-of-fact tone, he gave his order. Hold it off?
Soi answered instantly, already busy keeping the monster at bay.
What was he trying to do?
While dodging attacks, I focused on my father, sensing something brewing.
Fwoooooosh-----!!!!!!
An overwhelming heat erupted from his body.
Chiiiiiiiik---!!!
The flames surged into the sky, instantly enveloping the air above.
"Ah."
Red Heaven.
The Gu Clan’s secret art—forming a domain.
"No way."
My eyes widened as I realized what he was planning.
The heat surged, flames coiling around him.
Then, my father stretched out his palm.
Fwooooooooosh---!!!!!
The flames converged into his hand.
"...Flame Jade."
A condensed sphere took shape.
It was the Gu Clan’s secret technique, one I used often myself.
Flicker. Flicker.
A density beyond imagination.
There were subtle differences between my Flame Jade and his.
My father wasn’t necessarily stronger, but...
The level of precision in his control was on another level.
"...Unbelievable."
He was planning to break through the energy barrier.
He had realized that the barrier took damage if it endured enough impact.
And so, he prepared the Flame Jade, aiming to shatter it in a single blow.
"He figured that out in such a short time?"
We hadn't even been fighting for long. How had he noticed the barrier’s weakness so quickly?
My father’s talent was almost absurd.
"Step back."
With his usual bluntness, he commanded me, Soi, and Poison Dragon to retreat.
We immediately widened our distance.
My father then prepared to hurl the Flame Jade at the Red Stone Beast—
Then suddenly.
He stopped.
His body froze mid-motion.
"What?"
Why did he stop?
I was confused.
I couldn’t understand.
Was someone coming?
Curious, I slightly heightened my sealed senses to investigate.
And immediately—
"Ah."
I understood.
"Someone is coming."
And not just anyone—someone very strong.
Kuaaaaaaaahhhhh---!!!
Seizing the moment, the Red Stone Beast lunged at my father, claws swinging straight for him.
It closed the distance in an instant, its talons poised to rip him apart—
Then.
Shhhhkk.
A sharp slicing sound rang out.
Ku...?
A strangled gasp.
The Red Stone Beast's head was severed.
Thud---!!
Its massive head tumbled to the ground.
Even as the monster’s severed neck collapsed sideways, my father’s gaze remained locked forward.
Standing there, without shifting his eyes, my father offered a respectful bow.
And then, he spoke:
"I greet the Alliance Leader."
At those words, everyone turned to look.
There, walking toward us—
A frail-looking old man, gripping a golden sword.
Sword Master.
The current Leader of the Martial Alliance.
A living symbol of peace.
A monster who had led the Martial Alliance to its golden age.
With his golden eyes gleaming, he fixated his gaze on the Red Stone Beast.
