[{"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-626":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},1240476,1667,"Chapter 625","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-626",626,"\u003Cp>\"What was I doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the thought that came to me the moment I opened my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had I been doing until now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Certainly…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to enter my inner mind and eliminate my hesitation. How long had it been since I closed my eyes with that thought?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, I let my dazed mind wander and shifted my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The environment hadn't changed much from before I closed my eyes. I could still see the Ice Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Palace Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I looked around, I saw the Palace Lord gazing at me as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she wearing that expression? Surprise and bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord, whose demeanor was usually as cold as ice, now wore an expression brimming with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was her face like that? As I wondered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you crying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words she uttered made me tilt my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crying? I raised a hand to touch the corners of my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To my surprise, I was indeed crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I crying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn't been through anything particularly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to recall the previous events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, I couldn't remember anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Surely…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering my mental space to eliminate my younger self's hesitation—right after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What was it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't remember. It felt as though someone had painted over my memories, leaving only murky traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Annoying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned deeply, trying hard to remember, but all that surfaced was a fleeting image, blurry and unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone holding a child. That was the extent of what I could recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had I seen? What had I experienced to feel this lingering unease?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Gu? Are you alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord’s voice prompted me to wipe away my tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…How much time has passed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only a few seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds? Had only that much time passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just that short amount of time…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fist as I thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…And I’ve improved this much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I examined my body, astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overflowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My energy was brimming, overflowing even, and the vessel containing it had grown larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my previous state had been far inferior to what I achieved in my past life—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s well beyond halfway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t say I had fully regained my former strength, but I was close. This was a noticeable improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hollow laugh escaped my lips. To think that simply abandoning hesitation could bring such a drastic change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s less about gaining something new and more about reclaiming what was already mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t new power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was energy that had existed within me but had been bound because my mental state had been unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had vaguely understood this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just didn’t realize how much it was.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to examine my current state more thoroughly, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my gaze back to the Ice Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord had said that I would understand once I made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled her words as I stared at the Ice Essence. Her statement was half correct and half wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why I had come here—that remained a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know what this is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I extended my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As my palm touched the Ice Essence’s surface—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuuuuum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ice Essence began vibrating violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the Palace Lord flinched and shuddered, but I ignored her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I concentrated, I saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ice Essence, which had appeared to be just a chunk of ice before, now revealed its true nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused on the myriad sensations I felt at my fingertips. After a while of probing and sensing the Ice Essence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wiped away the cold sweat with the back of my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this sweat because I was hot? Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This space was freezing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sweat was merely a reaction to the overwhelming energy within the Ice Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had been invisible was now visible. What had been imperceptible was now tangible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Palace Lord had said, I could see and feel far more than I could before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, it’s an egg.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This part of the Palace Lord’s statement was correct. The Ice Essence was an egg—a terrifying one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know if it’s a heart, but—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could at least sense the monstrous entity contained within. Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t long until this entity hatched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To think the North Sea had been holding onto such an absurd artifact all this time—it was beyond belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the Ice Essence and contemplated whether I should exert my newfound strength on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exerting force—what would that entail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the thought was sudden, my body already knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since waking up, my realm of cultivation had advanced dramatically, and both my body and energy had transformed. This was undeniably an extraordinary change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But an even greater change had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I instinctively knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had gained a power that I hadn’t possessed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be precise—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power one gains by becoming a dragon. Unlike martial arts that grow gradually through training—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an innate ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to explain how to use it, whether it truly had power, or what its principles were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body already knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it was surprising that I hadn’t noticed it until now. It felt as natural as if I’d always possessed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Will it work?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered applying this newfound power to the Ice Essence but hesitated. After a brief pause—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withdrew my hand from the Ice Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The sequence is wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the first step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Palace Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to the Palace Lord and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you consider this a heart?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to continue the conversation we had begun earlier, a thought struck me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped mid-sentence and realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is out of order, too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll hear about it after I return. That should come first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Gu? What are you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord seemed confused and tried to stop me, but I turned and walked toward the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to grab the doorknob. As I approached, the door moved on its own, just as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she called after me, I turned my head slightly and replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s nothing much. I just remembered something I’ve learned recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, something I had learned. Something I had become certain of in recent times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You know it too, don’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—We never let go of what’s ours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice echoed in my mind. Why this phrase came to me now, I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, that’s not right. It’s not that it came to me now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was closer to something I should have remembered all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I was only thinking of it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We never let go of what’s ours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrogant yet potent words of desire. And they were undeniably true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t lose it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I considered something mine, then losing it wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought coursed through my entire being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t something my former self would have done. Back then, I would have hesitated endlessly, seeking plans and justifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, I chose otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thought in my mind was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I lost it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must take it back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord frowned slightly, as if she didn’t understand my words at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I merely averted my gaze once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It won’t take long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Palace Lord could finish her sentence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already gripping the door I had entered through and opening it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping outside, I encountered someone waiting for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stepped through the door I’d opened myself, the Black Lion’s expression twisted for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke as I looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve finished what I needed to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waving my hand dismissively, I added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you, by any chance, disrespect the Palace Lord again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because of the earlier tension, the Black Lion’s tone felt much sharper now. Hearing his words, I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t think I did anything, but did I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure. I said it because I couldn’t quite remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps thinking I was mocking him, the Black Lion released a menacing aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…If you keep that attitude, I’ll have no choice but to spill blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I smiled and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t trying to provoke you. I genuinely don’t know. If I offended you, I apologize.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, I smiled and apologized. Then, I tried to casually walk past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re mocking me again—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Black Lion reached out to grab my shoulder—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you touch me,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I erased my smile and spoke to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'll die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flinch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the Black Lion hesitated, his hand stopping mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the now-frozen Black Lion. His trembling eyes betrayed his shaken state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more words were exchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we silently locked gazes—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Lion withdrew his hand first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Something has changed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, laced with a slight tremor, reached me. Changed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem like he was simply referring to my cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something had truly changed, I couldn’t feel it yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I had abandoned something—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was still me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could say for sure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered with a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s meet again later. I have something I need to take care of right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving behind the still-stiff Black Lion, I firmed my steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would I have done in the past?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would I have gone back to my group? Probably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, there was something else I had to do first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, that’s how it felt to me now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already outside the hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As before, stepping out of the cave hadn’t been difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow was still falling outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched the snow, a thought crossed my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This land still felt unpleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath my feet, the air I breathed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the falling snow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything felt distasteful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t realized it at first, but now I understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason this land felt so vile wasn’t simply because another dragon was on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real reason was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s someone else’s territory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just because a dragon resided here—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because this land was ruled by that bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why it felt filthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vague feeling I’d had before was now clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that’s why it felt so wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it wasn’t mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That simple fact was enough to set my nerves on edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How arrogant and greedy could my kind be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I’m the particularly greedy one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought made me chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered as I recalled this \"Authority\" I had gained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe my excessive greed and arrogance were the reasons I had this kind of Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I loosened my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to keep things simple. It was better than hesitating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll reclaim what was taken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my gaze from the snow to what lay beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t see it, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had been imperceptible was now within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I enveloped my body in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I took a step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—! Crackle, crackle—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow falling from the sky turned into rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Northern Ice Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aftermath of rebellion had left buildings in ruins. The rubble, left untouched, made the scene even more chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the inner sections of this palace, near the entrance to the main hall, a man patrolling the area broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t fathom what Vioe-gun is thinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the man beside him flinched and hastily replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch your words. What if someone hears you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s expression darkened with frustration as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Word is, the Palace Lord’s hiding place is already known. Why are we just waiting around like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whereabouts of the fugitive Palace Lord and his faction had already been identified long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the palace successfully seized, the war could have ended at any moment if Vioe-gun willed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why was there no further progress?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the man’s only question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sure he has his reasons. We just need to follow orders, don’t we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m saying this because if we fail, we’ll all die for nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The war is as good as won. Do you really think we’re at risk of failure here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord, once the absolute ruler of the North Sea, had been defeated and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On top of that, even the bloodline has been swayed. This is victory in all but name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite listening, the man’s doubts remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you truly believe the Palace Lord was using sorcery, sacrificing people for his own gain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the pretext for the war: that the Palace Lord had been killing people to satisfy his greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the other man sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The evidence has already been found, hasn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traces were uncovered in the Palace Lord’s quarters and the underground chambers of the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone doubt it after seeing those?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Palace Lord has fallen. He’s no longer the person we once knew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloodline had always sacrificed for the North Sea. Thanks to them, humans could still survive in this cursed land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the Palace Lord had succumbed to corruption, unable to bear the burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fortunate the Princess sided with us after witnessing it all. Otherwise, this war might not have even begun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confirmation that the bloodline stood with Vioe-gun had settled matters, yet it still didn’t sit right with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that really true?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it truly the case?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With evidence presented and the rebellion a success, there was little room for further dispute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he just couldn’t bring himself to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced up at the sky, where snow continued to fall endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The precise reasons behind their protection of humanity against the cold weren’t something a lowly soldier like him could know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the claim that the Palace Lord sought eternal life felt too absurd to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not for his own immortality, but perhaps…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To erase this harsh winter—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the reason, he might have believed it instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these thoughts ran through his mind, he continued gazing at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man uttered a sound as he stared at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm? What’s wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretched out his hand, palm upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn’t snow…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other man frowned in confusion at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow had always fallen here—wasn’t it natural? But as he extended his hand as well,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…This isn’t snow—it’s rain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the words, he quickly looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A drop of water fell onto his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What in the world…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold sensation left him bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip! Drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the falling snowflakes, droplets of water began to appear, one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip-drip-drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, the rain intensified, pouring down heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was undoubtedly rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain, falling in the North Sea, where only snow had fallen due to the eternal harsh winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The implications were anything but trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… What in the world is happening—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to shout in shock—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short burst of flames ignited beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the unusual sensation, he turned his gaze to where the flames had appeared and saw someone standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure in a black robe fluttering in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pouring rain seemed to avoid the person entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a mystical sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And perhaps that was why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of immediately going on guard, they found themselves captivated, simply staring at the figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two men watched in a daze, the figure slowly raised his head and looked at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared to be just past his coming of age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was far from ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With piercing blue, slit-like pupils and an indifferent expression, the man couldn’t help but feel himself shrink back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the figure addressed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since I’ve run into you, I’ll ask this favor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure erased his expression, replacing it with a faint smile as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could you pass along a message to your leader?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile sent shivers down the man’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never in his life had he seen a smile so terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell him,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve come to reclaim what’s mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3055,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","f7d9e14d9673667e67051cf521d0ce2187a514f0243d3e444a64c73e1d55ed0d","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-627","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-625",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]