Childhood Friend of the Zenith

A deep vibration shook the earth beneath the blackened sky.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The force was so intense that it shook the entire mountain.

Craaaack-!

A powerful wave of Qi surged forth like a tsunami, consuming everything in its path.

Trees toppled over, and rocks embedded in the ground broke free under the force of the Qi wave.

Swoosh-!

Wind mixed with Qi continued to storm outwards.

It’s sheer power was unbelievable, it seemed impossible that he did this in a single blow.

“What the…?”

What had she just witnessed?

And who was this figure standing before her?

He was wearing a black outfit. It was similar to the one that her older brother wore, and he also had black hair, but he felt completely different.

The atmosphere around him was much denser.

This person…

She wondered who he was.

But after watching his back for a moment, she realized his identity.

“…Master Bi?”

She spoke in shock.

It was none other than the Dragon Warrior Bi Eejin, one of the renowned Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.

He was from the Bi Clan, known as the home of one of the Heavenly Venerables, the Dishonored Venerable.

He earned himself the Dragon title only after participating in the tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes a few years back.

However, he was still a man full of mysteries as he never showed himself afterwards.

There was a rumor of him attending the Academy this year, but his presence left many questioning if he was really there at all.

What’s going on…?

Peng Ah-hee couldn’t help but feel bewildered by the scene before her.

The Sword Dancer, still fought while struggling on the ground, was at least a Peak Realm martial artist.

Yet even the Sword Dancer was powerless against his opponent, while the young man had sent him flying with a single strike.

Was the Dragon Warrior really that strong?

Could it be that he had reached the Fusion Re-

“Focus on stopping her bleeding instead of just watching.”

“…!”

Through the dust of dirt and traces of Qi, the Dragon Warrior spoke to Peng Ah-hee.

To be more accurate, he was speaking to Tang Soyeol.

“If you’re looking to die, go ahead, but if not, you’d better tend to your wounds quickly.”

Blood poured dangerously from Tang Soyeol’s thigh and shoulder.

Peng Ah-hee immediately tried using her Qi to stop her from bleeding, but it wasn’t easy.

Watching her struggle, the Dragon Warrior clicked his.

Tsk.

“…Kids these days don’t get to fight until they are seriously wounded, so I guess they also lack experience in treating others.”

“Huh? What did you just…”

“It’s nothing.”

The Dragon Warrior shook his head and looked in another direction.

Ugh…

A pained groan came from that direction.

It was Cheol Jiseon, the one who had been sent flying earlier.

“Cough…”

He repeatedly coughed out loudly.

Fortunately, he didn’t appear too injured; there was no sign of blood.

Noticing him, the Dragon Warrior called out to Cheol Jiseon.

“Good work.”

He stalled just enough time.

Cheol Jiseon had charged the Palace Lord like a madman because the Dragon Warrior had instructed him telepathically.

Though of course, it was ultimately Cheol Jiseon’s decision to charge in.

What kind of trust did he have to act so recklessly?

Even the Dragon Warrior couldn’t understand it.

He wanted to ask him about it, but now wasn’t the time.

“If you can move, then get these ladies out of here.”

“W-What…?”

Cheol Jiseon, barely able to stand, looked up in confusion.

The Dragon Warrior wanted him to take the Sword Dancer, Peng Ah-hee, and Tang Soyeol out of here.

“W-Where should I go?”

“That, I’m not sure myself. But anywhere should be safer than here.”

Crack.

The Dragon Warrior’s joints cracked with each movement.

His strike from earlier clearly wasn’t an illusion; traces of his dense Qi lingered heavily in the air.

“T-Then what will you do?”

Cheol Jiseon asked, hoping the Dragon Warrior would join him for his own safety.

The Dragon Warrior smirked at his request.

“I have to stop that thing, so how could I leave?”

“Huh? That thing…?”

The Dragon Warrior’s gaze was fixed in the direction the Palace Lord had been thrown.

Cheol Jiseon frowned slightly in response.

The Palace Lord seemed to have taken the hit hard, so didn’t that mean he was practically dead?

The blow had been strong enough to shake the entire mountain, and the lingering Qi in the air made it difficult for Cheol Jiseon to breathe.

Noticing Cheol Jiseon’s reaction, the Dragon Warrior answered him.

“I had hoped it would end with one strike, but he won’t die from something as simple as that.”

“But…”

Cheol Jiseon thought it would be better for them all to escape now that they’d bought some time.

But the Dragon Warrior clearly didn’t share his idea.

“I cannot run away when there is an opponent in front of me.”

“M-Master Bi?”

“Especially one who dares to display Combat Qi against me.”

His smile on his face made him look scary in a way.

How could he smile in such a situation?

“Master Bi… Your opponent is an extreme master.”

“And?”

What did he mean, ‘And’?

Their opponent could well be a martial artist at the Fusion Realm, a level Cheol Jiseon couldn’t even dream of reaching.

He didn’t know the extent of their opponent’s power, but the title “Lord of the Black Palace” was warning enough.

The Lord of the Black Palace, who had been defeated by the Murim Alliance years ago.

He was also one of the Four Emperors and Five Kings, among the most powerful of the Unorthodox Faction.

His whereabouts became unknown after the Murim Alliance destroyed the Black Palace, but he was ambushing the Academy for some reason.

Was he really the Palace Lord?

If so, they were facing a Fusion Realm martial artist.

Yet, the Dragon Warrior showed no fear, his smirk proving his confidence.

“What point is there to run away from a powerful opponent?”

“But…”

“You may feel fear, but a martial artist cannot afford to do such a thing.”

Crack.

Cheol Jiseon clenched his fist, the sound echoing in his ears.

He tried responding,

Tap.

“Ah.”

But the Dragon Warrior pushed Cheol Jiseon away.

Just as Cheol Jiseon was about to ask what he was doing,

Swoosh-!

Something whizzed past Cheol Jiseon’s cheek, hurtling toward the Dragon Warrior.

At that moment, the Dragon Warrior shot his fist forward.

Slaaam-!

A black aura streaked past Cheol Jiseon, colliding with the Dragon Warrior’s fist.

Then,

Craaack-!

With a violent crack, Qi exploded around them.

The wave of Qi was so strong, Cheol Jiseon felt he’d be thrown back if he didn’t hold his ground.

After a short storm, the black aura broke into pieces and disappeared.

“Huff… Huff…”

Cheol Jiseon collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

His head would have been taken clean off if the Dragon Warrior hadn’t pushed him aside at that moment.

He was filled with relief and fear.

Just as he was about to let out a sigh of relief,

“…Phew…”

A deep voice echoed from the shadows of the woods.

“…How shocking.”

Emerging from the rustling grass was the Palace Lord, the very one the Dragon Warrior had sent flying.

“The girl was shockingly strong… but this, I did not expect.”

He limped forward, clutching his ribs.

He had gathered his Qi for a counterattack when the Dragon Warrior struck, but that decision had been a grave mistake.

He should’ve put all his focus into his defense.

Though he managed to block the attack, his Qi flow had become unstable.

He could feel his broken bones with every painful step.

Despite his injuries, the Palace Lord scrutinized his attacker.

“Who are you?”

The Palace Lord knew this generation was teeming with talented prodigies, but this one far exceeded the usual level.

The battle against the Sword Dancer had surprised him, but this situation left him speechless.

Seeing the Palace Lord approach, the Dragon Warrior glanced at Cheol Jiseon.

“I’ll say it once more. Take those ladies and get out of here.”

“And you think I’ll allow that?”

The Palace Lord made his move, but the Dragon Warrior was faster.

The Dragon Warrior struck out with his fist once again.

The Palace Lord attempted to brace himself defensively,

“…!”

But he found his aura difficult to control.

Was it because of the previous attack?

It seemed like the aftermath of the attack.

Even so, the Palace Lord reached out, forcing his aura toward Cheol Jiseon, but the Dragon Warrior intercepted it, shattering the flow.

He used his bare hand to break my aura?

The Palace Lord moved quickly, not even allowing himself the time for shock.

As the Palace Lord prepared to close in, the Dragon Warrior struck, kicking his leg and breaking his stance.

Pow-!

A wave of Qi erupted as their clash echoed.

The Dragon Warrior had surely taken some damage from the impact, yet he remained calm, blocking the Palace Lord’s path with ease.

How…!

The Palace Lord could no longer mask his shock at his opponent.

The Palace Lord was fast, and the Dragon Warrior wasn’t necessarily faster.

He was certain the Dragon Warrior was slower than him.

He didn’t know if it was because of the difference in their levels, but the Dragon Warrior was definitely slower.

Yet, despite this, the Palace Lord couldn’t get past him.

It was as though the Dragon Warrior anticipated his every move, intercepting each one with ease.

How was such a thing possible?

What is this…

It was unbelievable.

Ting-!

The Palace Lord’s shoulder was shoved back before he could extend his arm.

The attack didn’t damage him in any way, but it stopped him from moving as he intended.

Cheol Jiseon then moved, lifting the Sword Dancer onto his back.

He’d realized there was no time for hesitation.

At the same moment, Peng Ah-hee began supporting Tang Soyeol.

She wasn’t done treating her, but she knew that they couldn’t afford to stay here.

Seeing this, the Palace Lord clenched his teeth.

To lose his target because of a mere Young Prodigy?

He couldn’t let such a thing happen.

He pulled more of his auras out.

The ominous aura surged forward, aiming for the others, only to be blocked by the Dragon Warrior.

It’s not like he used a barricade either.

The Dragon Warrior simply moved, tapping the aura until it shattered effortlessly.

“…Impossible…!”

In just a few simple moves, his aura and authority had been shattered.

There was no time for him to remain stunned.

Slaaam-!

“Ugh…!”

The moment his guard slipped, a blow struck his stomach, sending him stumbling back.

Not only had he taken damage from the last strike, but all his attacks had been blocked, and his aura was slipping from his control.

The pain was bearable, but the fact that the Dragon Warrior’s attack had actually reached him was a shock.

He’d been injured before, fighting the Sword Dancer, but this felt entirely different.

“You said you wanted to know my name, didn’t you? How polite. I can’t say I’m that interested in yours, though.”

That smirk still lingered on his face.

The Dragon Warrior looked as though he was enjoying himself.

Just what was he so happy about?

It was always the same answer for the Dragon Warrior.

How could he not enjoy this?

For a martial artist, the thrill of battle was the ultimate entertainment.

Even in a dire situation like this, the Dragon Warrior found joy in the fight.

“I’ve been called many names in the past, but now I have only one.”

Who cares about what he was called in the past?

He wasn’t worthy enough to be called by such titles now.

In the past, he hadn’t rejected the title of Dishonored Venerable, for he’d believed himself worthy of it.

However, it was a different story now.

“I am Bi Eejin. I go by the title… What was it again? Oh, Dragon Warrior was it.”

He barely remembered his own title; he cared little for such things.

Anyway, this title was enough for his current self.

The Palace Lord responded after hearing Bi Eejin’s introduction.

“…Dragon Warrior. Wait, are you the Dishonored Venerable’s descendant?”

The only known descendant of the Three Venerables was the Sword Venerable’s descendant.

The Sword Dancer and the Lightning Dragon were technically the descendants of the Heavenly Venerable, but they were a different case.

They were very famous for their powerful martial arts.

That much alone,

…I see.

It convinced the Palace Lord that it was, perhaps, understandable to be held back by a Young Prodigy.

It was understandable if he was the Dishonored Venerable’s descendant.

The Palace Lord had never met him, but he knew the Dishonored Venerable was the one who’d slain three powerful Unorthodox masters, forcing the faction’s name to change to the Four Emperors and Five Kings.

Even so, he didn’t think that his descendant would be this monstrous.

Could he have passed down his martial arts to his bloodline?

So that power from earlier… that’s the Dishonored Venerable’s martial art.

If the Palace Lord had focused only on counterattacking, without protecting himself, he might have died on the spot.

Even now, he struggled to control his Qi because of that single strike.

Swish-!

The Palace Lord unleashed his aura again, but the Dragon Warrior reacted as if he’d expected it.

It seemed like he was too late, but the aura crumbled before it reached Cheol Jiseon.

In the end, Cheol Jiseon and Peng Ah-hee managed to escape with the others.

The Palace Lord ground his teeth at the sight.

This was not a good situation.

The mountain might be crawling with the Black Dragon’s army, but failing to capture the Poison Phoenix was a serious problem.

The Palace Lord wondered if he should ignore the Dragon Warrior and pursue her

“You must have plenty of time, if you can afford to think about other things.”

The voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

The Palace Lord quickly masked his shock.

His opponent seemed to have reached at most Peak Realm, but he was feeling tension as a Fusion Realm martial artist.

Even knowing his opponent was the Dishonored Venerable’s descendant, it stung his pride.

Though of course,

Craaack.

That pride shattered instantly under the weight of the Dragon Warrior’s Qi.

“Now that the kids are gone, we can get serious.”

He poured out his Qi.

“…!”

The force was beyond belief.

This was not the Qi of a mere Peak Realm martial artist.

And if his words were true, the Dragon Warrior hadn’t even been serious until now.

Unknowingly, the Palace Lord stepped back as the Dragon Warrior advanced, speaking calmly.

“I’ll tell you good news since this is the first time I’m using this with this body.”

In an instant, the Dragon Warrior was standing right in front of him.

“Ten times.”

The Dragon Warrior moved.

“I think that’s your limit, so I’ll tell you what.”

Recalling his earlier mistake, the Palace Lord braced himself defensively.

“If you endure ten strikes, then you win.”

With that, the Dragon Warrior sent his fist forward.

But the Palace Lord noticed something strange, why was he moving so slowly?

Is it… a feint?

It was so slow to the point that the Palace Lord had enough time to have that thought.

This felt nothing like the swift ambush he’d experienced before.

…Should I even dodge this?

The Palace Lord thought in an instant of what decision he should make.

He concluded that blocking the attack might be too risky.

It felt possible for him, but it was also too risky.

He couldn’t afford to fall for a feint.

Instead, he thought of gaining some distance.

However,

Squish.

“…!”

The Dragon Warrior’s fist had already reached his body.

It was so slow to the point that it was visible to my eyes, so how did it manage to reach me already?

The Palace Lord frowned.

A powerful surge of Qi gathered around the Dragon Warrior’s fist.

Determined, the Palace Lord resolved to block the attack.

Moreover, he was in a different situation than last time.

He put all of his focus onto his defense.

He knew he’d be pushed back, but it would allow him to rebound and…

Craaack-!

“What…?”

His defense shattered effortlessly as the fist connected.

The Dragon Warrior’s fist slammed into the Palace Lord’s stomach.

Slaam-!

The mountain shook violently once more.

This tremor was far more intense than before, and the impact split the blackened sky with a crack.

Crack.

Fragments of the dark aura began falling from the fissure.

From the crack,

Whoosh…

A familiar red aura shimmered, radiating heat.