[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith":3,"chapter-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-470":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Childhood Friend of the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1239996,1667,"Chapter 469","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-470",470,"\u003Cp>When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the feeling of being held by someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft, careful hands gently stroked my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I lifted my head to assess the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stroking hand paused as I shifted, and I looked directly into the eyes of the person holding me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me, her eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re… awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked utterly exhausted, her expression weary. I found myself at a loss for words as I looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she like this? As I glanced around, my expression turned puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was immediately stunned by what I saw. The situation was far from normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark, unfamiliar shapes littered the ground around us, their forms fading but still leaving an unsettling impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Burned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were traces of fire everywhere around us. Just one glance, and I knew immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame, still flickering on the ground, was brilliant. It was deep blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blue flame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My flames typically had a purplish hue, or they mixed with dark energy. But seeing this blue flame burn so brightly could only mean one thing—bloodlust’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was such a flame left here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling something strange, I clenched my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flame rose from my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was sure I hadn’t called forth my bloodlust, and I’d suppressed my dark energy, so it should have been the usual purplish flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame on my hand was unmistakably the one that appeared when I used bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately checked within myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing I focused on was my dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to know what had happened to the empty space left when the vessel shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I directed my energy inward, I felt a response from an unexpected place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, from where my middle dantian was located.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was it suddenly reacting? Confused, I began circulating my energy through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, my energy moved according to my will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did that mean my vessel had returned?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…All of it’s centered around my heart.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The origin of all my energy was the middle dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, it should be flowing from the lower dantian to the middle, then eventually filling the upper dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it starts at the middle dantian…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It means my lower dantian, the source of my energy, has disappeared. So where did all that energy go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately delved into my middle dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ha.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the energy that had once resided in the lower dantian had moved and now resided within the middle dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could this happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was struggling to understand the bizarre situation, I felt a cool touch on my cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you… alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Mageomhu’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, I quickly straightened myself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I tried to rise, I stumbled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The height…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed a little higher than I remembered. The unfamiliar perspective made my body briefly unsteady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu also stood up slowly, and seeing her, I finally grasped the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My height…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, she seemed smaller than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had always been slightly taller than her, but not by this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where there had been a difference of only a finger’s width, now it looked closer to half a hand span.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve grown taller.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I especially noticed my arms and legs had lengthened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all. As I looked down at my right arm, my eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What the hell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The purple bandages wrapped around it had turned blue, and the state of my arm underneath was utterly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was covered in scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, only a few scales had appeared on my right arm…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now there are even fewer on my right arm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to my left arm, the right arm almost looked normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My left arm was entirely covered in blue scales, to the point where it didn’t look human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had my arm come to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I thought back, a memory surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the bloodlust had taken the form of a dragon, my left arm was the one bitten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this be the result of that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appearance was unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the bandages covered it, the scales had extended up to my shoulder, which was far from normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is the rest of my body intact?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I examined myself, and thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any other issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least not visibly. For now, aside from my left arm, everything else seemed fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched and unclenched my fist a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grip felt stronger. My physical body itself seemed to have grown more powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s like I’ve been reborn.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the energy centered in my middle dantian and the physical changes, it was practically a transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…My incomplete state seems to have stabilized.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unstable state I had lingered in finally felt balanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from my outward appearance, was there anything else that had changed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If my vessel shattered, I should no longer be human.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, I wasn’t sensing any drastic transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I’d turn into some kind of monster, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Although, looking at my left arm, that’s not entirely accurate.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While my left arm was far from human, this was much less severe than I’d anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I continued examining myself, I looked over at Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was watching me with a peculiar gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, her eyes were on my left arm, but now, she looked straight into my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze made me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, I looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found myself brushing my hand over my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Mageomhu felt as if something was pressing down on my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the current situation, it was impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when recalling her actions toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t pretend anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back at Mageomhu, she was still staring at me with those enigmatic eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze felt oddly uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to keep my composure and spoke to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words came out naturally in informal speech. Speaking to her now was far easier than back when I called herVice Leaderand used honorifics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You know who I am, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally voiced the question that had been lingering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment I felt she was treating me differently, I suspected that she knew my identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t merely a suspicion—I had a strong sense of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu tilted her head, looking at me as if she didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she not grasped my question?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Does she truly not know?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That possibility couldn’t be ruled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I first arrived, my face had appeared different to her. My martial arts were sealed, so there was no way for her to identify me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She just saw my flames.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had seen the flame that I had conjured myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she really be unaware?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did my face still appear different now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As doubt crept in, Mageomhu finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me, genuinely confused by my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it better that way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn’t recognize me, maybe it was for the best. Now, I only needed to understand why she was treating me so specially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to say something else—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… forget what I just said….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Yangcheon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened as I looked at Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she just called my name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me calmly as she spoke. I stared at her in bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No matter what happens…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu continued in her usual tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I would never fail to recognize you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was filled with certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she be so sure? Those unwavering words were enough to stir my troubled heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, I couldn’t comprehend her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I didn’t want to admit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hated knowing the things I’d once been blind to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, I understood how bitter it was to look at her, seeing the parts of her I hadn’t noticed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to ask her something but kept stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked exhausted, her body wounded and bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to ignore that, I finally asked something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why aren’t you surprised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t it seem odd that there’s another me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was already one of me in this world—a sight that annoyed me every time I looked at him, but he was undeniably me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet here she was, aware of my identity, and showing no hint of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Mageomhu only looked at me with her characteristic blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It’s curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her short answer seemed almost calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just curious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t even intrigued, merely curious. Somehow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s so you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, it was the mostheranswer possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gently, her fingers touched my cheek once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I didn’t flinch or pull away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I could have blocked her, I chose not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…In the world where you came from, was there someone like me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed obvious to her that I wasn’t from this world. I didn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was she like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Similar. Just as slow and oblivious, with the same dull eyes as now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu’s brows furrowed slightly at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her expression made my chest feel heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, she always had eyes like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Namgung Bi-ah I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t all that different. So, why had I thought otherwise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it wasn’t that I thought they were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was that I’d hoped they would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking into her eyes, Mageomhu, still frowning, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you look at the other me with these same eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you mean? What kind of look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t understand, so I asked. Her hand drifted away from my cheek, and she muttered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m envious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint smile that accompanied her words stirred all kinds of emotions within me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A feeling I’d rather not acknowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could I possibly say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few responses came to mind, but ultimately, I couldn’t say a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no words I could bring myself to utter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, I looked at her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…For now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering that she wasn’t in great shape, I reached out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t safe for us to linger here. For now, it was best to get her out of here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once we moved, I’d also have to examine my own body further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to understand the extent of the changes and find out if I was no longer human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I thought this, I reached out to help Mageomhu find a safe place when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzz—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I sensed something in the air. Noticing the distinct disturbance, I turned my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crack appeared behind Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riiip—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air tore open, leaving a shadow. I immediately grabbed her and pulled her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden phenomenon made me frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unmistakably the Magyeong Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any prior warning, the Magyeong Gate had appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just wondering why it had appeared when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A force tugged at me, and I felt myself pulled forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear this force had every intention of dragging me through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed down hard with my feet, resisting as best I could. There was no way I could allow myself to be pulled into the unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force pulling me was unbelievably strong. What the hell was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t want to use it before I confirmed, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting my teeth, I knew I’d have to use my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still didn’t fully understand the changes in my middle dantian or the energy that flowed from it, so I wanted to avoid using it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this rate, I’d be dragged into the Magyeong Gate if I didn’t, so I had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy pooled in my middle dantian began to vibrate, flowing through my blood vessels and filling my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the weight of this newfound power, I was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a lot stronger than expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amount of energy was overwhelming. Though I wasn’t exactly sure, it felt about 30% stronger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘With this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn’t be helpless in a fight. I could confidently call myself a Haegyeong warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But that’s not the focus right now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I needed to get out of here, regardless of these changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I tightened my grip on Mageomhu and prepared to escape the Magyeong Gate—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something fell from above, rolling to a stop in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was shocked by the sudden appearance, and so was Mageomhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even clung to my shoulder, startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t blame her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had appeared was a severed head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A human head, wrenched cleanly from its body, still wearing a despairing expression as if it hadn’t had time to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is that…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognized the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head belonged to none other than the Heavenly Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder who had once killed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah’s great-grandfather, one of the Three Sovereigns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shocked by the sight of the Heavenly Lord’s head rolling on the ground, I was only given a moment to process it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had a hard time finding you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice followed, and my body froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a familiar voice—one I could never forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I ever forget the voice etched deep in my heart?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale hand appeared from nowhere, reaching toward the Magyeong Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman’s hand, but it wasn’t Mageomhu’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slender and graceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her calm, delicate actions captivated my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand, elegant like a piece of fine jade, reached out and grabbed the Magyeong Gate, as if it were truly a door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed it effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense friction and energy that burst forth didn’t faze her in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the face of this suffocating situation, everything resolved with unsettling ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was her existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being powerful enough to treat a disaster like the Magyeong Gate as if it were a casual nuisance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monster whose very presence felt like an affront to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creaaaaak…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Magyeong Gate trembled, still not fully closed, and she held its edges with her hand, keeping it stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite what she was doing, there wasn’t even the slightest tremor in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she observed the gap she held with curious interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her black hair, without any other hue, fluttered gracefully in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her, I couldn’t utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, her gaze turned toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As our eyes met, I felt like I might stop breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t anything overt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only emotion I felt looking at her was pure, unadulterated fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled at me, her violet eyes curving gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression was unreadable, her aura enigmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bit down on my trembling lips to stop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman, looking into my eyes, tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes more brilliant than any other demon’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master of all demons, the sky of the Demonic Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being of unyielding strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was known by many powerful names, but there was only one title that truly fit her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s good to see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon brought down by the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despair was smiling at me.\u003C\u002Fp>",2593,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.032Z",1,"novelbin.me","a5500103f6bb0f0e910b4294ce94f036b4cef6625f2ce3b7b144789ab0dcd263","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-471","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-469",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]