Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 327: The Abyss (2)

This happened just after the hands-on training test had started.

Cheol Jiseon followed Jang Seonyeon, but he was very hesitant about it.

This feeling of unease had been with him for days.

Moreover,

It’s not too late to turn back…

Despite continuing to make his way, his mind was a tangled mess of thoughts.

The Meteor Sword remained silent, but the oppressive atmosphere he exuded sent cold sweat trickling down Cheol Jiseon’s spine.

Even in the silence, Cheol Jiseon could sense it.

Dark emotions seemed to radiate from the Meteor Sword.

The tension was so palpable that Cheol Jiseon kept quiet out of fear.

This is the Meteor Sword?

Cheol Jiseon’s first impression of him had been poor, yet he was the son of the Alliance Leader.

The Meteor Sword had a reputation for kindness, but his current demeanor was entirely different.

At this point, I’d rather…

A familiar face flashed in Cheol Jiseon’s mind.

The man had the fierce look of someone from the Unorthodox Faction, but he carried an air of honesty.

…Instead of him.

Cheol Jiseon halted his steps.

He had been commanded to follow Jang Seonyeon’s every order, but it wasn’t something Cheol Jiseon could bring himself to do.

To open the gate right underneath where a person is standing…?

The memory of his childhood resurfaced.

Flames consumed the land, swallowing houses whole, and his father stood amidst the inferno.

He had screamed in despair until his voice broke, and his sister had held him close, comforting him until the end.

After that day, his mother never treated him the same, making the memory a living nightmare for Cheol Jiseon.

…But he is telling me to do such a thing again with my own hands…?

His fists clenched tightly.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, sliding down to the tip of his nose.

Lost in the grip of his past memories, Cheol Jiseon didn’t notice…

“Master Cheol.”

The Meteor Sword’s voice pulled him back to the present.

“…!”

Jang Seonyeon must have noticed his hesitation, because he called his name.

Cheol Jiseon turned to Jang Seonyeon in shock, instinctively covering his mouth.

The look in Jang Seonyeon’s eyes was utterly terrifying.

“You seem to be hesitant.”

The Meteor Sword said to Cheol Jiseon.

“N-Not at all.”

Hearing Cheol Jiseon’s unsteady reply, Jang Seonyeon’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Yet, to Cheol Jiseon, that smile was more chilling than comforting.

“You’ve come too far to hesitate now,”

“…”

“We both have our own desires.”

With that, Jang Seonyeon turned his head away.

My desires…

Jang Seonyeon’s words made Cheol Jiseon reflect on his own desires.

The revival of my clan.

To clear the false accusations that had tainted his clan, and to bring his back into the Orthodox Faction.

‘…And for my sister’s happiness.

He wanted his sister to live a happy life.

That was all he wanted.

He wanted to achieve the dreams his father couldn’t.

My sister…

I will cure her illness.

That was why he had journeyed to the Central Plains.

Jang Seonyeon had promised to help him restore the Zhuge Clan.

Though he hadn’t mentioned anything about his sister, if Jang Seonyeon had, Cheol Jiseon would have accepted without a second thought.

…If I didn’t meet the True Dragon that is.

Yes, that would’ve been the case if he didn’t meet him.

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Putting aside the fact that he had the intention to kill him, the True Dragon’s presence alone was overwhelming.

His mere presence at the Heavenly Dragon Academy spoke volumes.

Cheol Jiseon was initially shocked by the arrival of blood relatives from all Four Noble Clans, especially given that this year’s Young Prodigies were said to have the greatest potential in the Academy’s history.

Most of the Six Dragons and the Three Phoenixes attended the Academy, and each one exuded an extraordinary presence.

But that wasn’t all.

There was the Sword Dancer of the Namgung Clan, famed for her breathtaking beauty.

Then there was the Meteor Sword, the son of the Alliance Leader, whose name had been on everyone’s lips lately.

Even the descendant of the Sword Venerable, who had vanished after his retirement, was present.

There were unbelievable monsters here.

And yet, in just two months, the one who had made the greatest impact was none other than the True Dragon.

He had not only secured the top spot in the entrance exams but had also defeated an instructor on his very first day at the Academy.

The True Dragon seemed to be at the center of every major incident at the Academy, as though he were a harbinger of storms.

…Because of him, I became the Mad Dog or whatever.

The thought made Cheol Jiseon grind his teeth, but that wasn’t what mattered now.

The True Dragon didn’t act superior or aloof.

Countless rumors surrounded him, most of them negative, yet he appeared completely indifferent.

He paid no mind to the rumors, as if other people’s opinions didn’t concern him in the slightest.

But he never tolerated anyone who insulted his friends.

Once, someone spread a rumor about the Poison Phoenix, and the True Dragon hunted him down, beating him to a pulp when he found him.

He had said, “Do that again, and I’ll burn your mouth so you’ll never speak another word.”

Those who witnessed it knew immediately he wasn’t bluffing.

The killing intent he radiated had filled the entire room.

This is why Cheol Jiseon referred to the True Dragon as honest.

The True Dragon didn’t care for others’ opinions—he simply followed his own path.

He crushed those he disliked and kept those he favored close.

His ways were simple.

But his disregard for others’ judgments was another matter entirely.

Of course, he had his secrets too, but unlike the Meteor Sword, his presence didn’t feel sinister.

…In that regard, he is better than the Meteor Sword.

Whether it was the rumor about the True Dragon that the True Dragon felt guilty toward the Meteor Sword, or that he was jealous of him, none of it seemed to matter to the True Dragon, at least in Cheol Jiseon’s eyes.

On the contrary,

The person in front of me seems to care more about it.

In fact, it seemed more likely that the Meteor Sword harbored feelings of guilt toward the True Dragon.

Even now, the atmosphere surrounding him seemed to confirm it.

The True Dragon had instructed Cheol Jiseon to follow Jang Seonyeon’s orders, but Cheol Jiseon questioned if it was truly right to raise his sword against him, even as a mere act.

The True Dragon was unaware of the full extent of Cheol Jiseon’s abilities.

Cheol Jiseon could not only summon a gate that unleashed Demons but also open a dimension that consumed everything in its vicinity.

Furthermore, once the gate was formed on the ground, anyone standing above it would be immobilized.

It was powerful enough to keep even Peak Realm martial artists from moving, and the ones that were devoured by it still hadn’t made it back.

That was exactly what happened to his father.

Cheol Jiseon continued to hesitate, and the two of them headed to the highest point of the mountain.

After a long silence, Cheol Jiseon spotted Gu Yangcheon in the distance.

So, the Meteor Sword had indeed come for Gu Yangcheon.

Cheol Jiseon had anticipated some complications, but it seemed everything was unfolding according to Gu Yangcheon’s plan.

Then,

“Stay here.”

The Meteor Sword instructed Cheol Jiseon.

Following his command, Cheol Jiseon crouched low in the tall grass.

Swoong-!

The moment he settled down, a strange barrier formed around him.

A faint Qi enveloped him, and he began to hear soft, vibrating sounds.

It appeared to be some sort of protective barrier.

Cheol Jiseon was momentarily awed by the Meteor Sword’s mastery over his Qi, but the feeling quickly passed.

He was clearly able to see.

In the midst of his conversation with the Meteor Sword, Gu Yangcheon’s gaze locked onto Cheol Jiseon, if only for a split second.

Did he notice this…?

Despite the distance and the barrier, Gu Yangcheon had still noticed him.

Gu Yangcheon smirked when their eyes met, then casually returned his attention to Jang Seonyeon.

Cheol Jiseon swallowed nervously at the sight.

It was clear Jang Seonyeon had meticulously prepared for this, but to Cheol Jiseon, it all felt like a stage orchestrated by Gu Yangcheon.

It was almost as if Gu Yangcheon knew that this was going to happen.

Just what is he?

Cheol Jiseon wondered.

Gu Yangcheon was younger than him, but his attitude said otherwise.

He played the part of a reckless bully, but every move he made was calculated, as if he were far more experienced than his age suggested.

Yet, it was difficult to view him as an Orthodox Faction martial artist, given how brutally he dealt with some people—leaving them unable to even stand.

And then there was the fact that he had once intended to kill Cheol Jiseon.

Cheol Jiseon felt uneasy around the Meteor Sword, but Gu Yangcheon filled him with outright fear.

He was horrifying.

The more Cheol Jiseon tried to understand Gu Yangcheon, the more elusive he became.

Even though Gu Yangcheon appeared honest, that didn’t mean he wasn’t hiding secrets.

In the current moment, Cheol Jiseon wrestled with doubt and hesitation—could he really go through with this against Gu Yangcheon?

He glanced between the Meteor Sword and Gu Yangcheon, but he wasn’t able to hear what conservation they were having.

It was because of the barrier the Meteor Sword set up.

The barrier not only concealed Cheol Jiseon’s presence but also muffled all sound within it.

Though Cheol Jiseon couldn’t hear them, he could sense the tension between the two was palpable.

Gu Yangcheon wore his usual smirk, while the Meteor Sword’s menacing expression sent shivers down Cheol Jiseon’s spine.

He then thought to himself.

Is it really okay to do this?

Cheol Jiseon still wondered.

Instead of questioning how the Meteor Sword knew his secret, Cheol Jiseon now questioned whether it was right to use his power in this way.

What could the Meteor Sword be thinking, risking this when instructors were all around?

He told me to do as he says without worrying about it, but how could I not?

As Cheol Jiseon struggled to shake off his doubts and hesitation,

-Now.

“…!”

The Meteor Sword’s telepathic voice echoed in Cheol Jiseon’s mind.

He was commanding him to open the gate.

Cheol Jiseon, following the order, reached out toward the spot where Gu Yangcheon stood.

As he stirred the air with his hand, a familiar sensation coursed through him.

This was it…

If Cheol Jiseon tore it open, calamity would be unleashed.

Gu Yangcheon would be immobilized and dragged into the Abyss.

And there was a chance he’d never return.

Just as Cheol Jiseon’s father hadn’t.

“Ugh…”

The strain of holding the sensation without tearing it apart caused him great pain, but he continued to hesitate.

Memories of the past surged back, and he knew that reviving his clan this way wouldn’t bring his sister any joy.

-Master Cheol.

The Meteor Sword called to him again, more insistent this time.

Cheol Jiseon glanced at Jang Seonyeon and saw that he had lowered his head, attempting to distract Gu Yangcheon.

Cheol Jiseon couldn’t hesitate any further if he wanted to fulfill the promise he made.

However,

I… I can’t do it.

Cheol Jiseon couldn’t bring himself to use his power.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

There was no way he could commit to such a terrible act.

‘I…

-Hey.

‘…!’

Just as Cheol Jiseon was about to release the sensation, a rough, fierce voice cut through his thoughts.

It wasn’t the voice of the Meteor Sword.

-Stop being a wimp and open the gate. What are you only watching for, do you want to die?

It was Gu Yangcheon’s voice.

Despite the barrier, Gu Yangcheon’s voice sliced through, ringing clear in Cheol Jiseon’s ears.

But Cheol Jiseon didn’t have time to question how it was even possible.

“But… I.”

-Can you hurry up? What do you have your arm for then, do you want me to rip it off of you?

Gu Yangcheon’s irritated tone broke through his hesitation, and Cheol Jiseon’s trembling hand reached toward the sensation.

Gu Yangcheon’s words shattered his hesitation.

Riiiiip-!

The air felt as though it was being torn, like paper ripping apart.

Cheol Jiseon despised this sensation to the death.

And then…

Rumble-!

As Cheol Jiseon had expected, the ground beneath Gu Yangcheon began to warp, and the gate to the Abyss slowly took shape.

The Meteor Sword smiled in satisfaction, while Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in shock.

As I expected…

Gu Yangcheon’s body should have frozen-

-It won’t take long, so stay still.

…Huh?

Though Gu Yangcheon’s expression showed shock as he stared at the Meteor Sword, his voice was unexpectedly calm.

Just as Cheol Jiseon began to question what was going on,

“Hey, you can close it now.”

This time, Gu Yangcheon’s voice wasn’t telepathic—it came from outside the barrier.

His voice pierced right through the barrier.

“…Huh!?”

Cheol Jiseon had been certain that Gu Yangcheon wouldn’t be able to move, yet he moved freely on top of the gate as if unaffected.

Not only was he moving, but he moved with incredible speed, grabbing the Meteor Sword by the neck and dragging him onto the gate of the Abyss.

“How…?”

Cheol Jiseon gasped in shock.

Even his father, far beyond Peak Realm, couldn’t have moved a muscle on that gate, yet Gu Yangcheon moved as if nothing held him back.

And he moved so fast that even the Meteor Sword couldn’t react in time.

Rumble-!

At that moment, the gate to the Abyss began to close, ready to swallow the two standing atop it.

Cheol Jiseon hadn’t meant for the gate to close.

He had hoped to keep it open as long as possible.

The Meteor Sword thrashed in Gu Yangcheon’s grip, but his body was frozen, paralyzed by the gate beneath him.

Somehow, only Gu Yangcheon could move freely.

Before Cheol could even begin to question how this was possible,

Slaaaam-!

The gate swallowed the two atop it and vanished in an instant.

“Uh… Huh?”

All Cheol Jiseon was able to do was sit there dumbfoundedly,  unable to comprehend what had just happened.

He stared blankly at the spot where they had vanished, before snapping back to reality.

Now…

“Now… what do I do?’

He had opened the gate like the Meteor Sword wished, but Gu Yangcheon dragged him into the Abyss.

His mind was spinning—he couldn’t think straight.

He had no idea what to do next.

Could Gu Yangcheon have wanted to die?

But that didn’t seem like something Gu Yangcheon would do…

Desperate thoughts raced through Cheol Jiseon’s mind as the situation overwhelmed him.

“W-What do I do from now on…?”

It was one thing if Gu Yangcheon was gone, but if the Meteor Sword—the one who had promised to help—was lost as well…

Then what am I supposed to do from now on?

Cheol Jiseon tugged at his hair in frustration as he agonized over what to do next,

Woong-!

“…Hmm?”

The clear blue sky above him began to shift.

A strange feeling of unease crept over him, prompting Cheol Jiseon to look up.

“That’s…?”

Cheol Jiseon’s eyes widened as he took in the sight above.

It couldn’t be a coincidence.

The once clear, pleasant sky was slowly being swallowed by darkness.

“What is that…”

He knew this ominous event had nothing to do with his own abilities.

He lacked the power to turn day into night.

Cold sweat dripped down his back as he recalled the Meteor Sword’s words from earlier.

-Don’t worry. I have a plan.

A bead of sweat hit the ground as the words echoed in Cheol Jiseon’s mind.

“…Perhaps.”

Had this been the Meteor Sword’s plan all along?

Forcing himself to his feet, Cheol Jiseon bolted down the mountain.

It was to look for others.

Not only was he worried about both Gu Yangcheon and the Meteor Sword, but his instinct was telling him.

He wasn’t sure if it was tied to what had just occurred, but something felt wrong—something strange was beginning to unfold.