[{"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-860":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},1240710,1667,"Chapter 859","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-860",860,"\u003Cp>\"Aaaaaargh—!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Stream Sect Leader screamed as the flames consumed his face.Staggering backward in pain, he desperately tried to pull the fire from his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrr—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames wouldn’t go out. It felt as though his skin was being burned away entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to withstand the agony, he collapsed and rolled on the ground.Whether it helped or not, the flames began to diminish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… what is this…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face, still emitting heat and smoke, was partially visible as he covered it with his hands and struggled to stand.At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice reached him.The Celestial Stream Sect Leader lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insects belong on the ground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a low tone, a fresh wave of scorching darkness descended upon his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaaaargh—!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, his screams were even louder. He couldn’t move at all; the flames clung to his face, flaring wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrhh…!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flailed, writhing on the ground as the overwhelming heat engulfed him. He struggled to escape, but his body wouldn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insects burn far too slowly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice, devoid of rhythm or emotion, sent a chill down his spine despite the unbearable pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no trace of humanity in that voice.And yet, it carried an undeniable killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could such contradictions coexist?He couldn’t understand it. And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"How… how does he wield flames…?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment ago, this man couldn’t even use fire techniques, and now he was unleashing such devastating black flames.Was he hiding his power all along? If so, why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why wait until now to reveal it? What was his reason for withholding his strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incomprehensible situation offered no answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrrgh!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now wasn’t the time to think. Even enduring the pain was a challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Celestial Stream Sect Leader struggled, Gu Yangcheon spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does it hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice carried genuine curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does something this minor really hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ghh… gah!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Stream Sect Leader forced his energy to stir, twitching his fingers.Four swords lying on the ground flew toward Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiing---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blades pierced through the air at tremendous speed. Gu Yangcheon merely shifted his gaze, watching them approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Stop.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—! Clang, clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swords lost their momentum mid-flight and crashed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrr—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the face of this inexplicable event, the Celestial Stream Sect Leader had no time to process his shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re pathetic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames on his face abruptly vanished. But before he could feel any relief—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaaaargh—!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arm bent at an unnatural angle.The force was so severe that the bone nearly pierced through his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-you… bastard—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the excruciating pain, the Celestial Stream Sect Leader glared at Gu Yangcheon. His melted skin was slowly regenerating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The regeneration process was accelerating.He knew the power of the Dragon Orb was spreading rapidly throughout his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a little longer. If he could endure a bit more, he would become a perfect being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging this, he focused his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insignificant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s gaze remained unchanged as he watched. His eyes, as if staring at a bug, held only disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a slight difference now. Amid the depth of his gaze, another emotion was surfacing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Stream Sect Leader identified that emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your eyes displease me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon reached out and plucked the Celestial Stream Sect Leader’s left eye from its socket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoooosh---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tidal wave surged, sweeping across the ground and dominating a vast area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I planted my feet firmly and leaped, putting as much distance as possible between me and the wave.That massive thing was even faster than it looked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No ordinary speed would let me escape it. I had to push myself to my limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even brushing against it would be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wave wasn’t just an ordinary tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goddamn, it’s hot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire wave was composed of searing black flames, pursuing me as though intent on melting everything in its path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You crazy bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I dodged, I couldn’t help but curse. Who the hell unleashes something like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder your skills never improve, you idiot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firing energy so recklessly only increased his destructive power without refining his technique. The flaws were glaringly obvious now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…It’s terrifying, though…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming wave of fire surged toward me like an all-encompassing flood.How could it not be terrifying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally understood the fear I saw in people’s eyes when they looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping out entire villages or incinerating countless soldiers on the battlefield with a mere wave of my hand—it was only natural for people to see me as a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bastard… he’s utterly insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced back, scowling.The black-flamed idiot was standing atop the tidal wave, still pursuing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t seem to tire.If anything, it looked like I was the only one exhausting myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My energy and skills had improved since then, so why was it always me running out of steam?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, the problem lay with the fire technique itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s so damn inefficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I had learned Tua Pacheonmu, the foundation of my power was still rooted in Flame Revolving Core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While my movements weren’t entirely tied to it, it remained the core of my footwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using bursts of fire to propel my speed—it worked, but with my fire techniques sealed, it was problematic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m too slow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, I had to use far more energy to achieve the same speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not being able to use just one technique had left me in this state. It was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, wait. Isn’t it normal to die when one technique is blocked?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only because of my ridiculous body that I’ve managed to hold out this long. Under normal circumstances, I’d already be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that doesn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What good is that reasoning right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t provide any solace. It wasn’t helpful at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What good was survival if I couldn’t use it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat drew closer, and the gap between us narrowed significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in running anymore. I’d known that for a while now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bastard. He’s not even going full throttle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That damn idiot was toying with me on purpose. I knew it because I was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted to, if he really wanted to—he could make that wave twice as fast and twice as large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goddamn bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought infuriated me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped running and twisted my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Energy surged within me, focusing entirely on my fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tua Pacheonmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Form: Prepared Celestial Strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A storm of combat energy collided with the tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive hole tore through the approaching wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a complete block. The difference in energy levels made that impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tua Pacheonmu isn’t designed for raw firepower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much my flames improved, Tua Pacheonmu was fundamentally built on compression.Trying to increase its power beyond its limits would only degrade its effectiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the best I could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And besides, I wasn’t planning to block it anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I intended to stop it, I wouldn’t have done this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was simply to create an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To halt the wave momentarily and force him to change his actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the bastard moved just as I predicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose slightly above the now-paused wave, raising his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive wave beneath him began to ripple violently before slowly rising into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching all those flames ascend, I couldn’t help but think—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seeing it up close, it’s really something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he earned that absurd nickname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was undeniably spectacular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames rose higher and higher, occupying the sky, their center focused on his outstretched hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he trying to do? I already knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooooom—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All those flames were being drawn into his hand, steadily forming into a shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive, black orb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched the shape form and solidify, my brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Flame Orb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just looking at it, the sheer density of energy sent a chill down my spine.But that wasn’t the reason for my reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s such an idiot for using it like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the compression be so poor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with all that energy gathered, that’s the best he could manage? And the rotational force? Laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I saw in that orb held no meaning whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A proper Flame Orb required compression, and rotational energy to maintain it.But his Flame Orb? It was just a crude shape—empty of intent, devoid of technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Embarrassing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt an overwhelming sense of shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And he’s using that as a martial technique?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words of Paejon—and even before that, of Noya—came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A martial art without conviction is nothing but empty showmanship. What conviction lies in your techniques, child?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, what had I answered? I couldn’t recall.Whatever it was, it must have been pitiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was the same back then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories I’d rather forget surfaced. At the end of those recollections stood that bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fist tightly.Even if I couldn’t use fire techniques, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because unlike back then, I had more tools at my disposal now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enormous black Flame Orb roared to life.As it finished forming, he moved his hand slowly, clearly planning to drop it on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, I made a quick twist of my waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subtle motion rippled through my shoulders.It wasn’t a large movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d learned something recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t have to be big, as long as it gets the job done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The efficient use of one’s body—this was something I’d been coming to understand lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short punch struck the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"...!!\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His chest caved in, bones shattering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Strike had landed cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood spurted from his mouth.Was it a direct hit? As I narrowed my eyes, I saw his body falling from midair toward the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally hit the ground, rolling to a stop.I quickly approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Cough.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I drew near, he was coughing up blood, staring at me with vacant eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was surreal seeing my own face in such a state, sprawled on the ground.Was he dying? His vision seemed to blur, and his breathing was unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, this is exhausting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I, too, was out of breath, having used a significant amount of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grabbing him by the collar, I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who the hell are you, really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s your deal, bastard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he so obsessed with taking me down? I couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you keep coming at me like this…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Did you bring the answer?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at his cryptic words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"The answer from back then. Did you bring it?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing my eyes, I recalled the question he always asked me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you continue to live?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That question, repeated every time he saw me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hollow laugh escaped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you so damn curious about that? What does it matter whether I live or not? Are you saying I should just die?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Yes.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You son of a—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"You don’t deserve to live.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve got a lot of nerve for a lunatic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to tell him he had no right to decide that. But the words wouldn’t come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing me falter, he spoke with his fading, hazy voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Still haven’t found your answer, have you? Then I’ll ask something else.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you never answer me, do you? Why the hell do you keep—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Why didn’t you kill me?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eye twitched involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Just now, you could’ve killed me. But why didn’t you?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right. The Heart Strike earlier—if I’d aimed for his heart or head instead of his chest, it would’ve been over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why hadn’t I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s because… I had questions to ask—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Your excuses are pathetic.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, he laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"When you were desperately clawing to get out of here, what stopped you now? What shook you?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every laugh, blood dripped from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"You’re afraid.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice wormed its way into my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"You’re afraid to erase the current me. That’s why you ultimately lost this fight.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should’ve denied it. I should’ve shouted that he was wrong. But once again, my lips wouldn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"You say you want to forget me, yet here you are, where I remain.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tightened my grip on his collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Isn’t that true?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You sure talk a lot, bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"You’ve grown dull. Far too dull.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held back my irritation and retorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah? So what? You’re going to die soon anyway, so—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-sentence, my eyes widened. Something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lifeless eyes that had been losing their light regained focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ragged breathing returned to normal, and the blood dripping from his lips had stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I realized it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh---!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up at the heat I felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"That is your downfall.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Flame Orb he’d created earlier hadn’t disappeared. It was falling toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too late to dodge. I quickly surrounded myself with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explosion consumed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shockwave hurled me through the air.I tumbled across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kuh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aftermath of the explosion was no joke. My energy had barely kept me intact, but I still suffered significant recoil.This time, it was my turn to cough up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow. What a dirty bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enduring the pain, I looked back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When had he planned this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have distracted me with his fall, only to use the Flame Orb in the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did that mean he’d planned this from the moment he started forming the Flame Orb?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it was a cunning tactic.One that I often used myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I staggered to my feet. The damage was significant, but it wasn’t catastrophic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack hadn’t landed cleanly, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t because I dodged well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This bastard… he’s still holding back, isn’t he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear he had deliberately avoided a direct hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floating in midair again, he looked down at me from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Let me be clear—don’t misunderstand.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black flames radiated from his body, spreading outward. For a moment, they resembled wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"If this ends like last time, you will die. And—\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wings tore through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"I will take your place.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countless fragments that scattered transformed into Flame Orbs.\u003C\u002Fp>",2414,"2026-06-05T15:10:20.656Z",1,"novelbin.me","5d656bfd8d6616b3412a7a98249efcf6c47c50a17a6a270db3a48b0fad39defe","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-861","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-859",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]