Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 631

It was Woo Hyuk.

The same Woo Hyuk who had been inside the Ice Essence moments ago now stood before me, wide-eyed, gripping my fist.

But there was something different.

His long black hair had turned white.
His eyes glowed with a piercing blue light.

The moment I saw him, I understood the situation.

"You bastard..."

This wasn’t Woo Hyuk.
It was the Third Pureblood, Mang, controlling his body.

Mang grinned when he saw my startled expression.

"That expression suits you well."

Though it was Woo Hyuk’s face, the smile was entirely different.

"If only just a little more..."

His voice was filled with regret.

"...just a little longer, and I could have fully reclaimed everything."

His tone grew sharper as he spoke.

"To think you would intervene in that fleeting moment."

The grip on my hand tightened.

"Well, this will have to do. It’s sufficient for now. I had intended to show mercy to a kin I hadn’t seen in ages, but..."

A sly smile crept across Mang’s face.

"This turn of events isn’t bad either. I’ll deal with this distortion preemptively. Now, why don’t we see how death feels through the body of your dear friend—"

BAM!

"Gah!"

My other fist connected with Mang’s face, snapping his head to the side.
Not missing a beat, I followed up with another punch.

Bang! Thud! Bam! Boom!

I pummeled him relentlessly,
unleashing blow after blow as if trying to break him apart entirely.

At this range, it was easy to keep hitting him.

The relentless assault shook the entire space with its force.

"You...! You damned fool!"

Mang finally released my hand, erupting with energy to force me back.

Shhhhhh—!

A surge of icy cold shot toward me, forcing me to retreat and shake off the frost forming on my body.

Thud.

As I brushed the frost away, Mang spat onto the ground.
The spit was thick with blood.

He looked up at me with a mix of disbelief and irritation.

"Are you truly out of your mind? Do you not recognize who I am?"

"You think I don’t have eyes? I can see perfectly well."

It was Woo Hyuk’s body.
That much was obvious.
Whether his hair had turned white or his eyes blue, it was still Woo Hyuk’s body.

“Mang just happened to hijack it.”

I stated it matter-of-factly, causing Mang’s expression to twist further.

"Surely, you came here to save this body."

"That’s right."

That had been my original intent.
For a moment, I’d even forgotten about it.

"Yet, the moment you saw it, you attacked without hesitation. Do you truly not care what happens to this body?"

I tilted my head at his question.

"What’s the problem with that?"

"What...?"

Mang’s tone was incredulous, as though he couldn’t comprehend my response.

"Why should I hesitate to hit you?"

Just because he was using Woo Hyuk’s body,
why should that stop me from beating him senseless?

"You’re planning to fight me, aren’t you?"

“...”

He couldn’t deny it.

"So what? Was I supposed to just stand still and let you hit me? You’re more selfish than I thought."

"No, that’s not what I meant—"

"Or did you think I’d hesitate because you’re using a friend’s body? Are you my friend?"

"...Hah."

"You’re not."

Even if it was Woo Hyuk’s body, Mang wasn’t my friend.

Besides—

"I already planned to beat that bastard up anyway. He stabbed me in the gut, remember?"

Whether it was Mang or Woo Hyuk,
I’d intended to land a few hits after getting him back.

This just made it more convenient.

"I can take care of my frustration at the same time."

With that, I charged at Mang.

Thud! The ground cracked beneath me as I launched myself forward.

Whoosh.

Engulfing my body in flames, I hurtled toward him, kicking out as I approached.

Guyeom Taearang (俱炎態牙狼)

Fwoosh—!

KRAAANG—!!!

Flames burst from the tip of my foot, reshaping as they engulfed Mang.
Though originally meant to be a fist technique, I could adapt it to any part of my body once I mastered it.

Whoooosh—!

The flames expanded rapidly, taking on the shape of a dragon.

Mang frowned and raised his hand.

Shaaah—!

A surge of frost erupted from his fingertips, forming a barrier.

KWAANG—! The flames collided with the barrier, scattering in all directions.

But by the time Mang finished erecting his barrier,
I was already behind him.

From the start, the flames had been a feint.

The moment he turned his attention to the front,
I moved behind him and launched my strike.

Heart Fist

Pouring my intent into my fist, I thrust it forward.

BOOM—! The formless energy erupted, tearing up the ground as it shot toward Mang.

Had this been Woo Hyuk’s body alone,
it would’ve been crushed instantly.

"You’re quite impatient."

"...!"

Instinctively, I stepped back just as Mang spoke.

In that instant—

Slash—!

A blade of ice grazed my chest, drawing blood.

Looking at the shallow cut, I thought to myself:

“That was close.”

If I hadn’t stepped back, I’d have been sliced open entirely.

Though injured, it wasn’t fatal.
Rotating my energy slightly, I turned my gaze to Mang.

At some point, he had conjured a sword of ice.
I couldn’t help but be surprised.

"That... is that your power?"

The sharp, icy sword was eerily similar to the techniques Yuseon had used.

That technique—
“Wasn’t supposed to be an Authority, though.”

How was Mang able to wield it so effortlessly?

Smirking, Mang answered my unspoken question.

"Why should it seem strange? After all, the abilities of the Ice Palace bloodline originate from me."

"What?"

Mang continued, seeing my confusion.

"Think about it. Did it never strike you as odd how that inadequate Apostle wielded a sword?"

The question stirred memories of my battle with Yuseon.

Though clearly a martial artist,
Yuseon had gone out of her way to fight with a sword.

"The answer is simple. The power is aligned with me."

"So, because you use a sword, the technique manifested as one? Is that it?"

"Ninth, you were once nothing but a feeble creature. Have you never questioned it?"

"What?"

Spinning the sword in his hand, Mang continued,

"Fire, ice, thunder—these powers you wield. Do you truly believe humans alone could achieve such things?"

"What are you talking about?"

His words momentarily threw me off.

In that instant—

Swoosh—!

"!"

Seeing Mang’s movement, I ducked quickly.

A sharp gust grazed past my head,
followed by a loud slicing sound behind me.

Something had been cut.

Frowning, I gathered flames in my hand,
forming a Flame Jade.

Throwing it with all my strength,
the Flame Jade streaked toward Mang.

Fwoosh—!

Just before it could explode—

Swoosh—!

Mang sliced through it with his sword.
The split Flame Jade veered off course, striking the wall instead.

BOOM—!

The explosion rattled the space,
but Mang seemed unfazed.

He swung his sword lazily a few times before resting it on his shoulder.

His expression was one of dissatisfaction.

"It seems even this fleeting moment wasn’t enough. This body won’t move as I wish."

Mang’s discomfort was palpable.

I asked,
"What was that you said just now?"

"Hmm?"

"About humans not being capable. What did you mean?"

Mang smirked.

"It’s hardly a remarkable statement."

"It’s remarkable enough to me."

"Perhaps to you, it might be. But,"

Mang pointed his sword at me.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Hah."

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

"You’re really good at pissing people off."

"And seeing you flustered pleases me."

"Why’d you have to drag an innocent guy into this mess? Did you even ask permission from the owner of that body?"

"This body? I liked it. And more importantly, it carries a fragment of the Dragon King."

"A fragment?"

That was a term I had heard before.
A fragment of the Dragon King.

What did he mean by that?

"Don’t worry. Once I reclaim my original body, I’ll let this one go."

"It’s been centuries. Where do you expect to find your body?"

"Why wouldn’t I find it?"

Mang brushed the ground with his foot, kicking aside shards of the shattered Ice Essence.
The broken pieces scattered around him.

"This Essence contained my energy."

"What?"

"After my battle with the Dragon King, my energy was completely depleted. It took time to recover, but it wasn’t impossible."

The life force of the Ice Palace’s bloodline,
sacrificed over the years to stave off the eternal cold—
had it all been absorbed by Mang to restore his energy?

“Wait. If your energy was here, then your body must...”

Mang chuckled at my realization.

"Sharp as ever."

He nodded as if impressed.

"My body is sealed in another Ice Essence."

"But I saw nothing there..."

"The form doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it’s there."

Was that true? Or was he bluffing?
I wouldn’t have to speculate for long.

I had seen it myself—the overwhelming energy emanating from the Ice Essence.
The "egg" or "heart" that the Palace Lord had described.
That energy was Mang’s.

"It’s still far from satisfactory, though. This power doesn’t even come close to what I once held. But that’s fine."

Mang turned his gaze toward me.

"Once I reclaim my body, this deficit will be rectified. Then..."

The killing intent in his eyes became palpable,
as the tip of his sword pointed directly at me.

"I’ll finally devour the weakened Dragon King."

It seemed his hatred toward the Dragon King, or the Blood Demon, was genuine.

Mang’s words left no doubt—his rage was real.