Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 625

"What was I doing?"

That was the thought that came to me the moment I opened my eyes.

What had I been doing until now?

"Certainly…"

I decided to enter my inner mind and eliminate my hesitation. How long had it been since I closed my eyes with that thought?

For some reason, I let my dazed mind wander and shifted my gaze.

The environment hadn't changed much from before I closed my eyes. I could still see the Ice Essence.

"Palace Lord."

As I looked around, I saw the Palace Lord gazing at me as well.

But—

"What is it?"

Why was she wearing that expression? Surprise and bewilderment.

The Palace Lord, whose demeanor was usually as cold as ice, now wore an expression brimming with emotion.

Why was her face like that? As I wondered—

"Why are you crying?"

The words she uttered made me tilt my head.

Crying? I raised a hand to touch the corners of my eyes.

"What?"

To my surprise, I was indeed crying.

What on earth was going on?

"What is this?"

Why was I crying?

"What is this?"

The tears that had suddenly started flowing made it hard to grasp the situation. Forget how long it had been since I last shed tears; I needed to figure out why they were falling now.

I hadn't been through anything particularly extraordinary.

"Hmm?"

I tried to recall the previous events.

But strangely, I couldn't remember anything.

"Surely…"

After entering my mental space to eliminate my younger self's hesitation—right after that.

And then what?

And then—

"What was it?"

I couldn't remember. It felt as though someone had painted over my memories, leaving only murky traces.

"Annoying."

And frustrating.

I frowned deeply, trying hard to remember, but all that surfaced was a fleeting image, blurry and unclear.

Someone holding a child. That was the extent of what I could recall.

"I don’t know."

What had I seen? What had I experienced to feel this lingering unease?

"Young Master Gu? Are you alright?"

"Ah…"

The Palace Lord’s voice prompted me to wipe away my tears.

"…How much time has passed?"

"Only a few seconds."

"…Hmm."

A few seconds? Had only that much time passed?

"Just that short amount of time…"

I clenched my fist as I thought.

"…And I’ve improved this much?"

I examined my body, astonished.

Overflowing.

My energy was brimming, overflowing even, and the vessel containing it had grown larger.

"This is…"

If my previous state had been far inferior to what I achieved in my past life—

Now—

"It’s well beyond halfway."

I couldn’t say I had fully regained my former strength, but I was close. This was a noticeable improvement.

"…Ha."

A hollow laugh escaped my lips. To think that simply abandoning hesitation could bring such a drastic change.

In other words—

"It’s less about gaining something new and more about reclaiming what was already mine."

This wasn’t new power.

It was energy that had existed within me but had been bound because my mental state had been unstable.

I had vaguely understood this.

"I just didn’t realize how much it was."

I wanted to examine my current state more thoroughly, but—

"For now…"

I turned my gaze back to the Ice Essence.

"This first."

The Palace Lord had said that I would understand once I made my decision.

"Hmm…"

I recalled her words as I stared at the Ice Essence. Her statement was half correct and half wrong.

Why I had come here—that remained a mystery.

But at least—

"I know what this is."

I extended my hand.

Ssshh.

As my palm touched the Ice Essence’s surface—

Wuuuuum!

The Ice Essence began vibrating violently.

"…!"

Seeing this, the Palace Lord flinched and shuddered, but I ignored her.

As I concentrated, I saw it.

The Ice Essence, which had appeared to be just a chunk of ice before, now revealed its true nature.

I focused on the myriad sensations I felt at my fingertips. After a while of probing and sensing the Ice Essence—

"Hmm."

I wiped away the cold sweat with the back of my hand.

Was this sweat because I was hot? Of course not.

This space was freezing.

This sweat was merely a reaction to the overwhelming energy within the Ice Essence.

What had been invisible was now visible. What had been imperceptible was now tangible.

Just as the Palace Lord had said, I could see and feel far more than I could before.

"So, it’s an egg."

This part of the Palace Lord’s statement was correct. The Ice Essence was an egg—a terrifying one at that.

"I don’t know if it’s a heart, but—"

I could at least sense the monstrous entity contained within. Moreover—

It wasn’t long until this entity hatched.

To think the North Sea had been holding onto such an absurd artifact all this time—it was beyond belief.

"…"

I looked at the Ice Essence and contemplated whether I should exert my newfound strength on it.

Exerting force—what would that entail?

Even though the thought was sudden, my body already knew the answer.

Since waking up, my realm of cultivation had advanced dramatically, and both my body and energy had transformed. This was undeniably an extraordinary change.

But an even greater change had occurred.

I instinctively knew.

I had gained a power that I hadn’t possessed before.

"To be precise—"

It wasn’t a new power but something I had forgotten. Regardless, upon realizing it, I understood the words Amwang had once spoken to me.

The power one gains by becoming a dragon. Unlike martial arts that grow gradually through training—

It was an innate ability.

Authority.

There was no need to explain how to use it, whether it truly had power, or what its principles were.

My body already knew the answer.

In fact, it was surprising that I hadn’t noticed it until now. It felt as natural as if I’d always possessed it.

"Will it work?"

I considered applying this newfound power to the Ice Essence but hesitated. After a brief pause—

Ssshh.

I withdrew my hand from the Ice Essence.

The reason was simple.

"The sequence is wrong."

This wasn’t the first step.

I inspected my palm, which had been in contact with the Ice Essence. Despite touching the frozen surface for so long, not a single trace of moisture clung to my skin.

"Palace Lord."

I turned to the Palace Lord and asked.

"Why do you consider this a heart?"

Just as I was about to continue the conversation we had begun earlier, a thought struck me.

"Ah."

I stopped mid-sentence and realized.

"This is out of order, too."

"…What do you mean?"

"I’ll hear about it after I return. That should come first."

"Young Master Gu? What are you—"

The Palace Lord seemed confused and tried to stop me, but I turned and walked toward the exit.

There was no need to grab the doorknob. As I approached, the door moved on its own, just as before.

"…Where are you going?"

As she called after me, I turned my head slightly and replied.

"It’s nothing much. I just remembered something I’ve learned recently."

Yes, something I had learned. Something I had become certain of in recent times.

—You know it too, don’t you?

—We never let go of what’s ours.

A voice echoed in my mind. Why this phrase came to me now, I wasn’t sure.

"No, that’s not right. It’s not that it came to me now."

It was closer to something I should have remembered all along.

That’s why I was only thinking of it now.

"It’s true."

We never let go of what’s ours.

Arrogant yet potent words of desire. And they were undeniably true.

"I can’t lose it."

If I considered something mine, then losing it wasn’t an option.

That thought coursed through my entire being.

This wasn’t something my former self would have done. Back then, I would have hesitated endlessly, seeking plans and justifications.

But now, I chose otherwise.

The only thought in my mind was simple.

If I lost it—

"I must take it back."

It was a simple truth.

The Palace Lord frowned slightly, as if she didn’t understand my words at all.

I merely averted my gaze once more.

"It won’t take long."

"Are you—"

Before the Palace Lord could finish her sentence—

I was already gripping the door I had entered through and opening it.

Creak!

Stepping outside, I encountered someone waiting for me.

The Black Lion.

As I stepped through the door I’d opened myself, the Black Lion’s expression twisted for a moment.

I spoke as I looked at him.

"I’ve finished what I needed to do."

Waving my hand dismissively, I added.

"Did you, by any chance, disrespect the Palace Lord again?"

Perhaps because of the earlier tension, the Black Lion’s tone felt much sharper now. Hearing his words, I replied.

"I don’t think I did anything, but did I?"

I wasn’t sure. I said it because I couldn’t quite remember.

Crack.

Perhaps thinking I was mocking him, the Black Lion released a menacing aura.

"…If you keep that attitude, I’ll have no choice but to spill blood."

Whether it was because I had touched a nerve or because he had been holding back for too long, the Black Lion now seemed genuinely furious as he blocked my path.

Seeing this, I smiled and spoke.

"I wasn’t trying to provoke you. I genuinely don’t know. If I offended you, I apologize."

With that, I smiled and apologized. Then, I tried to casually walk past him.

"You’re mocking me again—!"

As the Black Lion reached out to grab my shoulder—

"If you touch me,"

I erased my smile and spoke to him.

"You'll die."

Flinch—!

At my words, the Black Lion hesitated, his hand stopping mid-air.

I stared at the now-frozen Black Lion. His trembling eyes betrayed his shaken state.

No more words were exchanged.

As we silently locked gazes—

Swish.

The Black Lion withdrew his hand first.

And then—

"…Something has changed."

His voice, laced with a slight tremor, reached me. Changed?

I tilted my head at his words.

It didn’t seem like he was simply referring to my cultivation level.

If something had truly changed, I couldn’t feel it yet.

Even if I had abandoned something—

I was still me.

But—

"Maybe so."

Who could say for sure?

I answered with a faint smile.

"Let’s meet again later. I have something I need to take care of right now."

Leaving behind the still-stiff Black Lion, I firmed my steps.

What would I have done in the past?

Would I have gone back to my group? Probably.

But right now, there was something else I had to do first.

At least, that’s how it felt to me now.

I shifted my gaze.

I was already outside the hideout.

As before, stepping out of the cave hadn’t been difficult.

I looked up at the sky.

Whoosh—!

Snow was still falling outside.

As I watched the snow, a thought crossed my mind.

"Hmm."

This land still felt unpleasant.

The ground beneath my feet, the air I breathed—

Even the falling snow—

Everything felt distasteful.

I hadn’t realized it at first, but now I understood.

The reason this land felt so vile wasn’t simply because another dragon was on it.

The real reason was—

"It’s someone else’s territory."

Not just because a dragon resided here—

But because this land was ruled by that bastard.

That’s why it felt filthy.

The vague feeling I’d had before was now clear.

"So that’s why it felt so wrong."

Because it wasn’t mine.

That simple fact was enough to set my nerves on edge.

How arrogant and greedy could my kind be?

Or maybe—

"Maybe I’m the particularly greedy one."

The thought made me chuckle.

Perhaps it was true.

"Is that why?"

I muttered as I recalled this "Authority" I had gained.

Maybe my excessive greed and arrogance were the reasons I had this kind of Authority.

Crack.

I loosened my fingers.

"Whatever."

I decided to keep things simple. It was better than hesitating.

"For now,"

I thought,

"I’ll reclaim what was taken."

That was my priority.

I shifted my gaze from the snow to what lay beyond.

I couldn’t see it, but—

What had been imperceptible was now within reach.

Whoosh.

I enveloped my body in flames.

And I took a step forward.

Then—

Fwoooom!

Light exploded.

Whoosh—! Crackle, crackle—!

The snow falling from the sky turned into rain.

   ******************
   

The Northern Ice Palace.

Once a place of grandeur and the heart of the North Sea, where the Ice Palace's bloodline resided, it was now in a state of disrepair.

The aftermath of rebellion had left buildings in ruins. The rubble, left untouched, made the scene even more chaotic.

Within the inner sections of this palace, near the entrance to the main hall, a man patrolling the area broke the silence.

"I can’t fathom what Vioe-gun is thinking."

At this, the man beside him flinched and hastily replied.

"Watch your words. What if someone hears you?"

"Am I wrong?"

The man’s expression darkened with frustration as he continued.

"Word is, the Palace Lord’s hiding place is already known. Why are we just waiting around like this?"

The whereabouts of the fugitive Palace Lord and his faction had already been identified long ago.

With the palace successfully seized, the war could have ended at any moment if Vioe-gun willed it.

So why was there no further progress?

That was the man’s only question.

"I’m sure he has his reasons. We just need to follow orders, don’t we?"

"I’m saying this because if we fail, we’ll all die for nothing."

"The war is as good as won. Do you really think we’re at risk of failure here?"

The Palace Lord, once the absolute ruler of the North Sea, had been defeated and fled.

Even when five of the grand generals combined their strength, they couldn’t scratch the Ice Palace Lord. Yet, he had fallen to Vioe-gun’s sword, fleeing before the eyes of countless warriors.

"On top of that, even the bloodline has been swayed. This is victory in all but name."

"…Hmm."

Despite listening, the man’s doubts remained.

"Do you truly believe the Palace Lord was using sorcery, sacrificing people for his own gain?"

That was the pretext for the war: that the Palace Lord had been killing people to satisfy his greed.

At this, the other man sighed.

"The evidence has already been found, hasn’t it?"

Traces were uncovered in the Palace Lord’s quarters and the underground chambers of the palace.

How could anyone doubt it after seeing those?

"The Palace Lord has fallen. He’s no longer the person we once knew."

The bloodline had always sacrificed for the North Sea. Thanks to them, humans could still survive in this cursed land.

Yet, the Palace Lord had succumbed to corruption, unable to bear the burden.

"It’s fortunate the Princess sided with us after witnessing it all. Otherwise, this war might not have even begun."

"…"

The man remained sullen. Just days ago, a shocking revelation had rippled through the palace: among the bloodline supporters captured by Vioe-gun, one wasn’t a prince but a princess.

The confirmation that the bloodline stood with Vioe-gun had settled matters, yet it still didn’t sit right with him.

"Is that really true?"

Was it truly the case?

With evidence presented and the rebellion a success, there was little room for further dispute.

But he just couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

He glanced up at the sky, where snow continued to fall endlessly.

An unending harsh winter. Though cursed and bitterly cold, it was said that humanity had only endured thanks to the bloodline, especially the Palace Lord.

The precise reasons behind their protection of humanity against the cold weren’t something a lowly soldier like him could know.

But the claim that the Palace Lord sought eternal life felt too absurd to accept.

"Not for his own immortality, but perhaps…"

To erase this harsh winter—

If that were the reason, he might have believed it instead.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, he continued gazing at the sky.

Drip.

"…Huh?"

The man uttered a sound as he stared at the sky.

"Hm? What’s wrong?"

"This…"

He stretched out his hand, palm upward.

"This isn’t snow…"

The other man frowned in confusion at his words.

Snow had always fallen here—wasn’t it natural? But as he extended his hand as well,

"…This isn’t snow—it’s rain?"

"What?"

Startled by the words, he quickly looked up at the sky.

In that instant—

Drip!

A drop of water fell onto his cheek.

"What in the world…?"

The cold sensation left him bewildered.

Drip! Drip!

Among the falling snowflakes, droplets of water began to appear, one by one.

Drip-drip-drip!

In no time, the rain intensified, pouring down heavily.

It was rain.

This was undoubtedly rain.

Rain, falling in the North Sea, where only snow had fallen due to the eternal harsh winter.

The implications were anything but trivial.

"This… What in the world is happening—!"

Just as he was about to shout in shock—

Fwoosh!

A short burst of flames ignited beside him.

Startled by the unusual sensation, he turned his gaze to where the flames had appeared and saw someone standing there.

A figure in a black robe fluttering in the wind.

Whoosh…

The pouring rain seemed to avoid the person entirely.

It was a mystical sight.

And perhaps that was why—

Instead of immediately going on guard, they found themselves captivated, simply staring at the figure.

As the two men watched in a daze, the figure slowly raised his head and looked at them.

A young man.

He appeared to be just past his coming of age.

But he was far from ordinary.

With piercing blue, slit-like pupils and an indifferent expression, the man couldn’t help but feel himself shrink back.

Then, the figure addressed him.

"Since I’ve run into you, I’ll ask this favor."

The figure erased his expression, replacing it with a faint smile as he spoke.

"Could you pass along a message to your leader?"

The smile sent shivers down the man’s spine.

Never in his life had he seen a smile so terrifying.

"Tell him,"

The young man said,

"I’ve come to reclaim what’s mine."