[{"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-628":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},1240478,1667,"Chapter 627","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-628",628,"\u003Cp>Greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fundamental desire, an emotion inherent to all living beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Shaolin, one of the esteemed nine orthodox sects, seek to transcend such desires, yet to me, desire is the essence of life itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drive for humans to progress—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The struggle to obtain and conquer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it material greed, the thirst for honor, or even primal lust—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it may be, it is ultimately desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To me, it is the most primal aspect of humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which makes one wonder—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it any different for dragons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it their bloodline or Yuseon herself, who arrogantly proclaimed her greatness, they were no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my eyes, dragons are no different from humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, they are even more transparent in their desires, not beings devoid of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They wouldn’t possess such instinctual power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thought crossed my mind as I gazed at the unfolding scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrraack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bone-chilling sound drew my focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world of deep black interwoven with faint traces of blue spread before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fascinating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my first time witnessing this directly, and the sight was refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, this is…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It evoked a variety of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the dragon's speech, the rapid regeneration, or the near-perfect body I possessed as a human—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the real deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a level of martial prowess that could be attained through training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was pure power, intrinsic to one’s very existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I opened my eyes, I instinctively understood that Authority now coursed through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, instinctively, I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That I had Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of power it held, how it could be wielded—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What conditions were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t need to experiment or test it to understand most of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the powers I’d gained before, which required relentless practice to uncover their secrets,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This power was absurdly convenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Utterly unfair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but find the situation unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial arts I had painstakingly refined over years,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy I had meticulously built up, consuming and accumulating it bit by bit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of it felt trampled upon simply because I had become a dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that’s why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My unease seemed intertwined with this power, which had been shaped by my deepest desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This power seemed designed not for use against humans but solely against dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Authority reflects its master, after all. Perhaps that’s why it took this form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what I believed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my pierced heart, a shadowy force began to envelop everything around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It consumed the entire room, leaving no light to penetrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark and oppressive,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was filled with an unmistakable emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the name of my Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!Crrrack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sound of something being chewed and swallowed reverberated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unpleasant, to say the least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart pierced by Yuseon’s hand pulsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being shattered, my heart continued to beat steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could dragons truly survive even when their vital points were destroyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought made me chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only because of the peculiar circumstances that I could endure it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrrack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The consuming darkness devoured the surroundings for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hrrruuummph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if satisfied with its meal, it let out a deep burp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, cracks began forming in the engulfing darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Craaaack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadows shattered and crumbled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And were soon drawn back into my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took only a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the darkness receded, the world returned to its original state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not quite the same as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my gaze to my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though my shoulder had been blown apart,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My arm was now fully restored, as was my pierced chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same as before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my mangled body had returned to normal after the collapse of that space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dusted off my chest and surveyed the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had anticipated this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound drew my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There lay Yuseon, collapsed near her throne, coughing up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had been gripping my neck just moments ago,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had been so close to me within the darkness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she lay sprawled near the throne, a pool of blood forming beneath her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keuh… kuhuhk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip!Blood dripped from her mouth, staining the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trembling arms, she raised herself and looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What just… What did you do—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t wait for her to finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped forward and delivered a swift kick to her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her head snapped back, blood splattering from the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long white hair whipped through the air, and without hesitation, I grabbed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swung her by her hair and hurled her backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body smashed into a massive pillar, shattering it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The debris collapsed, burying her underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flexed my left hand slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!Flames immediately flared up around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat was far more intense than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the sensation, the flame’s power had nearly doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gathered the flames into my palm, compressing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The process was smoother than ever, the flames deeper and heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I infused my intent into the flames, they began to spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whirrrrrr!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames resonated with the spinning rings of myGuyeomhwaryungongtechnique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flame Orb.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurled the compressed flame orb with all my strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb streaked toward Yuseon, striking the pile of debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small tremor preceded—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KA-BOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An enormous explosion that tore through the palace walls, scattering debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold air rushed in through the gaping hole in the wall, and I looked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain outside continued to pour relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned and walked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the burning rubble, I sensed movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Yuseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was slowly pulling herself out from beneath the debris, her body trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keuh… kuhuhk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her disheveled appearance, bleeding profusely, was pitiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed her left hand—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackened, charred from the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did she block the flame orb with that hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed she had sacrificed her hand to fend off the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her battered state, Yuseon glared at me with frost in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She extended her uninjured right hand toward me, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Despair !\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingertips glowed as she tried to unleash something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadowy force emerged from my own shadow, devouring her light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her shocked expression turned to a grimace as she glared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What… What did you just do?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her disbelief was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fascinating, isn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What in the world…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re wondering why your Authority doesn’t work, aren’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her widened eyes and bitten lips confirmed my guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced around at the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze moved slowly, surveying the damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon, I saw it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More specifically, the edge of the area once tainted by my shadowy aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond it, an unusual ripple distorted the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be precise…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought to myself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The parts consumed by my power have returned to their original state.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that realization, I turned my gaze back to Yuseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There were plenty of strange things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first moment of doubt was, naturally,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I met Yuseon for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking through an inexplicable barrier, only to find Woo Hyuk’s childhood garden beyond—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was sorcery or a formation, I couldn’t understand it as a simple-minded fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What matters is this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did I feel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my arm was torn off, when I was on the brink of death, and when Yuseon’s supposed mercy saved me, the sensation was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was eerily similar to Amwang’s domain, to his Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The people here couldn’t even navigate the palace properly,\" I said aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had barged straight into the Palace moments ago. Naturally, I expected a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was prepared for resistance. I didn’t plan to demolish everything, but I came knowing I’d face battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The outer garden and entrance were fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as I set foot in the main palace,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one seemed to even register my presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an odd situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they all have been under some sort of spell? Or was it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did someone cast something over the entire palace?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her glare only intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I observed, the more familiar this sensation felt—the strangeness permeating the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just like the enchantments cast over the hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It feels like sorcery,\" I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A power different from formations, sorcery had been used to complicate access to the hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This felt similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I mentioned it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon let out a hollow laugh, as if she found the notion absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Similar? You’re wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice carried a subtle anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorcery itself is a power derived from dragons,\" she declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not something humans should even be meddling with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a curious claim. I tilted my head, watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorcery is derived from dragons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You truly know nothing, do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the strange one. The way you talk, anyone would think you’ve lived for centuries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, I’d heard that becoming a dragon would bring understanding, but it wasn’t all-encompassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not that it matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing or not knowing didn’t bother me anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel like I’ll find out eventually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t need to fuss about what I didn’t know; it would reveal itself in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve got someone right in front of me who knows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon could tell me everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’d be nice if you’d play along a bit more,\" I said, launching myself toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I closed the distance, Yuseon reacted quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her charred arm suddenly regenerated, and I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was that level of regeneration?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could that be another Authority?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that how she healed my internal injuries?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious—could she regenerate others as well as herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How far can it go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought stirred a strange excitement in me. It felt inappropriate for the situation, but emotions rarely obeyed reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I closed in, frost surged from Yuseon’s feet. I adjusted my footwork slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp ice spikes erupted where I would’ve been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t shifted, my body would’ve been skewered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I turned my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something grazed my cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Yuseon’s fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp burst of sound shattered the air. Her strength was formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone who had appeared exhausted earlier, Yuseon moved swiftly and struck with precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her footwork was solid, her stance balanced. Her punches were sharp and calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Upper. Then mid-level strikes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!Tap-tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I parried her moves, redirecting the flow of her attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she stepped forward by half a step, I retreated by the same measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever she extended a punch, I disrupted her rhythm before the motion could fully form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud-thud! BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the lightest collisions between our hands sent vibrations through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace trembled, as if an earthquake had struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!I deflected her wrist as her fist came toward me, meeting it with my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Energy erupted, accompanied by the sound of something cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced toward the source of the noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the point of impact, frost clung to our fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is her ice art.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard of it before but hadn’t faced it directly until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I infused heat into my hand, melting the frost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was at it, I channeled more energy into my palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!Energy coursed through my shoulder and enveloped my right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yuseon darted toward me, closing the distance rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to be exploiting the moment I was gathering energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She noticed something was amiss and widened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gui-jeong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my command, shadows surged from my left arm, binding Yuseon’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though momentarily restrained, she didn’t stop her attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand emitted another burst of light, aiming for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, shadowy tendrils emerged, consuming her light entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound by my Authority, Yuseon was left with an opening, and I seized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My energy-infused fist surged with power as I struck her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soul Strike (심권).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The motion was simple, yet immense energy flowed through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact produced a soft sound, almost too light to match the power behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentle sound didn’t mean a gentle result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon let out a brief groan as a massive shockwave erupted from her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-BOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tremors destroyed the hallway, debris crumbling in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force didn’t throw Yuseon far, though—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I was gripping her hair, holding her in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, one of Yuseon’s knees gave out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She struggled to stand, her body trembling as if it could collapse at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keuhk… kuhuk…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood poured from her mouth, pooling on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her, I couldn’t help but confirm my thoughts aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not all that strong, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon flinched at the remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t mean she was weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon was powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She far surpassed the realm ofHwagyeong, perhaps even stronger than I had been a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t strong enough to rip off my arm or overpower me like before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Outside the domain you created, you’re not much, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Huff… huff…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her silence was enough of an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed her strength relied heavily on the domain shaped by her Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without it, she couldn’t exhibit the same dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through gritted teeth and a face twisted in pain, she finally managed to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What did you do…? Why…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must’ve been wondering why her Authority kept failing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to enlighten her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Authority,\" I began,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is so greedy that it can’t stand others using theirs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It devours other Authorities. That’s my power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Authority that consumes and ultimately steals others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t bothered with the conditions required to fully claim an Authority—it was too much of a hassle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the nature ofGreed (탐).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon’s trembling gaze betrayed her disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s…! There’s no way… That can’t be real…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The notion of a dragon’s Authority being consumed was unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression screamed denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’re you gonna do if you don’t believe me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t here to win her trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had other business to attend to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had something to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d momentarily forgotten amidst the fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed Yuseon’s shoulder and tore it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"AAAAHHH!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her agonized screams filled the air as her arm was ripped from her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyed by the noise, I slapped her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her head snapped to the side, but despite her pitiful state, I found her fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tossed the severed arm aside and turned back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were regenerating your body earlier,\" I remarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling her miraculous recovery, I asked her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you regrow something like this? That arm I just ripped off—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How far can you go? Could you regrow your heart if I ripped it out? What about your vital organs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere along the way, I had forgotten the original point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity overwhelmed me as I peppered her with questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in Yuseon’s eyes, fear began to take root.\u003C\u002Fp>",2588,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","7ac4e0994ff175b505cd797f827fd890d7a55e04df3a234a09cd5bd31365d7cd","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-629","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-627",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]