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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter CH.1131: The World of Ascension (61)
Chapter CH.1131: The World of Ascension (61)
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Whirrrrr---!!!
A spinning sound emanated from a body, specifically not mine, but my father's.
The noise of the ring spinning rapidly. As it spun, a counterforce seemed to react within me.
Sparks erupted from that friction, wrapping around the body.
Whooosh—!!!
A bright, searing red flame engulfed my father's entire body. I swallowed dryly at the sight.
It was different. The flames I had seen before were of a completely different quality.
“This is absurd.”
It seemed he too had been hiding his strength. Now, my father was showing me a completely different kind of flame.
The once dim training ground ceased to exist. It was as if a small sun were in front of me, the light fiercely rebounding.
“...Are you suggesting we fight again?”
I asked, unable to hide my confusion. Fight again? Had we not just exchanged blows?
I frowned, wondering if that was really necessary.
“It's not ‘again.’”
Father spoke in his uniquely heavy and calm tone.
“That time, both you and I had a purpose.”
“...”
I furrowed a brow upon hearing that. It did sound odd.
'Purpose.'
Father’s purpose back then was to prevent Namgung Hyeong's escape. That was why he fought. It should have been the same in our fight.
But.
'To mention a purpose here means...'
The implication of not showing his true intentions, if he really had to stop Namgung Hyeong, meant he should have revealed his sincerity.
Of course, even though the opponent was me, it shouldn’t have been any different.
Surely that was the case, yet to mention having a purpose here without showing his true strength meant.
'Could it be.'
I widened my eyes and questioned my father.
“...Commander, could it be... did you actually help Namgung Gongja escape?”
If father’s purpose was not to capture Namgung Hyeong but something else?
And he didn’t even show his real strength but went as far as to assist me afterwards.
'...That can't be, right?'
Something was off.
“What about Hyun Soyeon then?”
What about Hyun Soyeon, who had asked my father to capture Namgung Hyeong? I couldn’t grasp what was happening.
“Well.”
Father simply responded to my words and shook himself off.
“It's only proper to keep the client's word.”
“...”
I let out a hollow laugh at his response. It wasn’t a complete answer, but those words ultimately meant...
'Father also helped Namgung Hyeong escape.'
It implied a shared purpose.
“...Wow.”
This was a betrayal. I had racked my brain, only to find that father was one step ahead.
“...And now you want to fight?”
“Is there a problem?”
“...I’m the one who was duped, how can there be no problem?”
“There isn’t. My helping you hasn’t changed.”
“...”
He had helped me, so let’s fight properly. Such a simple yet correct statement.
In fact, since father kept his mouth shut, I wasn’t bothered further.
But why did we have to fight because of that?
'This is utterly senseless.'
That was what the situation felt like to me right now.
“...Why do you want to fight?”
“You intrigue me.”
“What do you mean?”
“How far can you go?”
“...What?”
“The Sword Master told me to watch over you. You must be aware of that.”
“...”
I shut my mouth again upon hearing about the Sword Master. Right, I was aware of that too.
“But the more I see, the more I wonder. How far can you go?”
Whoooosh—!!
His fighting spirit intensified. The size of the red flame remained the same, but the concentration of pressure within it clearly deepened.
“You don’t have to say it. Just show me.”
“...”
“Think of it as thanks for saving you.”
With a firm stance, my father tensed up.
Kwooooo—!!!
Stable flames wrapped around him like a barrier.
'...Has he surpassed the eighth level?'
Father’s current realm. The flames of the Nine Flames Firewheel clearly seemed to have reached the eighth level.
At his age, to reach that level.
Even in my previous life, when I used the power of the Heavenly Demon to increase my energy, I barely touched that realm.
Yet father had reached there at an age not much older than mine.
“...”
The intense heat burned through me.
Creeeeak—!
The same type of ring contained within me kept being stimulated, poking its head out.
I was busy pressing it down hard.
'Stay down quietly.'
Don’t make a scene, just stay put. I clenched my teeth and held my breath.
It kept trying to protrude, which was impossible to ignore.
“Huff.”
I took a deep breath. Using my internal energy, I crushed the ring inside my heart.
Though it felt suffocating, I could endure it.
As I regulated my breathing and gathered my energy.
“Here I come.”
“...”
Father moved. With the embers flicking, a flash occurred.
Thump—!
Suddenly, he was in front of me, throwing a punch.
'Hmm.'
I wondered. Should I really do it?
'...But against my own father, isn’t that a bit much?'
It was a moment of hesitation.
Then father’s words ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) about repayment weighed on my mind.
I nodded briefly.
The hesitation was over. There was really nothing to ponder in the first place.
'Filial impiety is my specialty, isn't it?'
The best among my skills as a human is surely my lack of filial piety.
Clack—!
“...!”
I broke through the flames and grabbed my father’s wrist. Just like before. But the speed was different.
Ignoring the wrapping flames, I yanked at his wrist. His body followed directly.
I threw a punch.
Kwoong—!!
“...Kuhk.”
With a single hit, his protective energy was shaken. The flames within him stirred.
Father’s leg wavered. That was intentional. I aimed for a meridian, easily breaking his stance.
Watching that, I threw another punch.
Kwaaak—!!
It burrowed precisely into his side.
Using the recoil, I pushed power into my fist.
And then I struck outright.
Bang—!!
With a sound like air bursting, father’s body was flung away.
Squeeeak—!!!
I braced myself on the ground with my foot.
He slowed down in his broken stance.
The pain must be no joke. I hit a spot not protected by his energy, likely throwing off his body’s balance. Yet, father endured.
Admirable mental strength. If it were me, I would have already been rolling on the ground.
While I respected that aspect.
'Not yet.'
I had already approached father and lightly pressed on a joint with my foot.
Thump—!
“...!”
Powerlessly, one knee completely collapsed.
The upper body bent forward as a bonus.
With the recoil, his head dropped.
And there my fist flew in.
Paak—!!!
Father’s face shot upward.
I manifested Tua Infinite Fist and, at that moment, absorbed Azure Sky into my body.
Heat surged through me, stimulating my meridians.
A seemingly weightless fist tore through the air.
Papang-papapapang—!!!
The speed was enough to make the sound lag behind. I swung my arm like a whip, striking Father’s entire body in a relentless assault.
In terms of time, it was truly a mere instant.
I intended to end it here. To immobilize him completely, preventing any movement or counteraction. Tua Infinite Fist made that possible.
Or so I thought—just as I was about to move even faster.
Kwak—!
‘Huh?’
My left arm was suddenly caught.
What the hell?
‘He reacted to this—?’
Kwoong—!!
“...Kugh!”
A fist slammed into my abdomen. As if grabbing my hand wasn’t enough, Father had even managed to counterattack.
Even with my energy protecting me, the impact was dizzying.
I couldn’t suppress a groan. My body twisted as I staggered backward.
Just barely, I managed to disperse the shock.
We widened the distance.
From one end of the training hall to the other, we stood apart, eyeing each other.
Father had undoubtedly been hit, yet his expression showed no sign of damage.
On the other hand, I had only taken a single blow—yet my eyes, now wide as lanterns, were busy fixating on him.
‘How did he react?’
I couldn’t comprehend how Father had managed to respond at all.
‘Clearly...’
I had predicted his movements, sealing off every possible trajectory. I had made it impossible for him to counterattack.
So what had he seen in that opening?
Even I hadn’t grasped that path.
My brows furrowed. Father was terrifying.
Tuk, tuk.
Despite what he had just done, he simply dusted off his clothes.
Wooduduk.
Perhaps he hadn’t been entirely unscathed—his joints let out a rough sound as he loosened his body.
“Yangcheon.”
Father called my name.
“...Yes.”
“Was that your best?”
“......”
His eyes bore into me. I let out a sigh at the intensity of his gaze.
“If I went all out here... the house, hell, everything would be blown away.”
After having already destroyed so much, what more did he expect me to do here?
‘Going all out is the problem itself.’
The moment I sealed away Nine Flames Firewheel, fighting at full power became impossible.
Not that I had any particular reason to go all out anyway.
Just as I was hesitating for a brief moment—
Hwaaaa—!
‘Huh?’
A sudden surge of overwhelming energy erupted from Father’s hands. Flames gathered, forming a Flame Prison.
And not just any Flame Prison.
A perfect one.
“...Deputy Leader?”
“If you won’t go all out, I’ll make sure you do.”
“...That... No, wait. Calm down. If we cause another disaster, we’re seriously screwed.”
It was as if my words didn’t reach him at all.
Father completed the Flame Prison—
Guoooo—!!!
And then began expanding it.
In an instant, a Grand Flame Prison was fully formed.
“Go all out.”
“......”
This man is insane.
‘What the hell... is this a threat?’
If I didn’t fight seriously, was he really planning to detonate the Flame Prison? What kind of absurd threat was this?
The problem was, knowing my father... this wasn’t just a threat.
‘Tch...’
I clicked my tongue.
Whatever.
I released the restraints on my power. My body surged to its maximum speed.
“If you won’t go all out—.”
Kuuk.
Before he could finish his sentence, my fist slammed into his cheek. With all my strength behind it, I drove him straight into the ground.
Kuwaaaaaa—!!!!
The training hall floor shattered like a spiderweb.
Father’s body was sent flying.
It seemed the impact had knocked him unconscious.
The Grand Flame Prison in his hand wavered.
Ziiiiiing—!!
With its caster unconscious, it was about to explode.
Seeing that, I quickly grabbed the Flame Prison.
Kwaaaaaaaa—!!!!
I forcibly reversed its rotation. My flames clashed with my father’s, creating a violent backlash.
‘Don’t resist. I’m busy.’
The unleashed energy gradually compressed—
And then, the Flame Prison vanished before it could detonate.
“...Whew.”
Only then did I dust off my hands and run a hand through my hair.
I turned to check on Father.
He was lying motionless.
“......”
I bent down and poked him lightly.
“Hey... Father—no, Deputy Leader...? Are you alright?”
Fortunately, I could hear his breathing. But with half his body buried in the ground, his state seemed... questionable.
“...Mmm.”
Did I overdo it...?
For a moment, that thought crossed my mind.
