[{"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-938":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},1240688,1667,"Chapter 937","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-938",938,"\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my first impression as I opened my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, not entirely unfamiliar—it was a ceiling I must’ve seen before, but it didn’t feel familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most likely, it belonged to the quarters I’d been given behind Shin Noya’s space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place I rarely visited and thus knew little about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, I’ve never actually come here to sleep.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since arriving at the volcanic sect Shin Noya had created, I’d never spent the night here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just this place—sleep itself had become a rare thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always busy doing something or organizing matters, I simply had no time to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this body of mine wasn’t the type to break down just because I skipped rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I hadn’t bothered sleeping, much less inspecting my quarters. That’s why the ceiling felt unfamiliar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But enough about the ceiling. Time to get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I braced myself against the floor with my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unbearable pain shot through me, and I almost let out a scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I managed to stifle it, exhaling sharply instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was too intense to ignore completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stayed frozen for a moment, my body trembling uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, the shaking subsided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a long breath, drenched in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was absurd, almost comical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every part of my body hurt, but especially my left arm—it felt like it was on fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this happening all of a sudden?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Ah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories of what had happened before I passed out came rushing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That must be it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last thing I did—forcing my inner energy to bind together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had used the friction and pressure created within to unleash power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely, I had managed to release a single strike. And then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did I collapse?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment my strength gave out, I must’ve blacked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘From just one strike?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t even a proper strike—just a single, incomplete punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stance hadn’t been right, and the punch itself was sloppy at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even that was enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result of that clumsy punch had exceeded my imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might very well be the most destructive technique I could wield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Because I combined everything.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firepower of Nine Flames Firewheel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The compression and explosive force of Tua Pacheonmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mental imagery I had cultivated through training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, the thread of sorcery that tied it all together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result of pouring in everything I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine Flames Firewheel alone couldn’t produce such destructive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tua Pacheonmu couldn’t unleash such widespread firepower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by merging them, I had created something entirely new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrgh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard, forcing myself to reassess my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure how long I’d been unconscious, but judging by my condition, it must’ve been quite a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My qi had somewhat recovered—though barely halfway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My blood vessels were swollen and inflamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for my joints—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not broken, but nearly shattered.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long had it been since I’d been this wrecked in a fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This body could regenerate from being pierced through the stomach in no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, a single punch—a move that wasn’t even a real fight—had left me in this state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I concluded that this technique was unusable in actual combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The casting time was impractical, and the execution was far from complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Shin Noya hadn’t waited for me to finish, I’d have been decapitated long before I could use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer pain of concentrating my energy in one place, combined with the aftermath of releasing it, meant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a technique I could only use with the mindset of sacrificing myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not feasible in a real battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Haha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t suppress a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? I was right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with my body destroyed and my qi depleted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I pulled it off.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, I had done it. And that success filled me with an overwhelming sense of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had proven my theory correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the result of that theory…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I call this good?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure if it was right to call it “good,” but I decided it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power it unleashed was immense, proportional to the energy and physical toll it demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even more than I expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I’d imagined what success might look like, I’d pictured something remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This far exceeded those expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s something I can’t even use, then it’s meaningless… but still.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing two inner energies to collide and generate power wasn’t something anyone else would attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A normal body couldn’t even contain two distinct energies, let alone handle their simultaneous use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had known this from the very beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A typical body wouldn’t survive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My reinforced body could endure it, but my past self would’ve exploded in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the friction generated was the source of its power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial arts, after all, were about harnessing the friction and pressure created by a moving body filled with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This insight had been inspired by Paejon, who could create massive ripples with simple, precise movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial arts were ultimately about power—efficiently channeling energy into the body and unleashing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Martial arts are friction, pressure, rotation, and release.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could amplify those elements, the result would be a technique of unparalleled destructive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the key to amplifying it further?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Collision.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By colliding energies within the body, I could generate incredible friction and pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could withstand and release that energy, the result would be immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a feat only I could accomplish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now that I had succeeded, the thrill of it surpassed all expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though it’s laughable to call this a success.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I couldn’t use it in battle, it was effectively a failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, I found satisfaction in the mere fact that I had used it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it left my body in ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hnn…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing a groan, I forced myself upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hurt, but it was bearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to get up and head outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I moved to rise from the bed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand touched something unexpectedly soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t fabric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this strange softness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering my gaze—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, my gaze met the eyes of someone lying beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was lying next to my bed, staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I… was touching her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds passed as we locked eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello,” she greeted me calmly, her tone utterly nonchalant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wha—holy shit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I screamed and scrambled off the bed, practically falling over myself in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***********\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After screaming at the top of my lungs—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s with that face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the first thing Shin Noya said when he saw me step outside. I frowned and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What kind of face am I making?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You look like you just bit into bug dung.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without answering, I frowned even more, and Shin Noya’s expression turned oddly curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something must’ve happened during the long night, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old man…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing happened,” I said with a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could’ve possibly happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Technically, I’m not lying.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, nothing happened at night. Something incredibly annoying happened during the day, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the truth, so please stop giving me that strange look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya chuckled at my response, clearly amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with that reaction…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at him and, reluctantly, asked the question I didn’t want to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why was she lying next to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, Shin Noya’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Did you two sleep together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded genuinely surprised, but the exaggerated look on his face made my brows knit together like crumpled paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop joking around…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was so deliberately artificial that it was obvious he already knew everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Click.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya clicked his tongue, seemingly annoyed that I caught on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No fun at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this really the time for jokes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I joke a little? Didn’t you say nothing happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even know where to begin. My head was starting to ache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory of what had happened earlier refused to leave my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she was lying next to me. The way Cheonma’s eyes had met mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation still lingering on my palm gnawed at my thoughts. I had to actively suppress the urge to focus on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching me, Shin Noya spoke with an almost pitying look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moment you collapsed, that girl supported you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered. How could I not? The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Cheonma’s eyes—and the sensation of her touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then, she carried you off somewhere. Turns out it was to your room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, and you didn’t stop her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya’s response left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was busy cleaning up the mess you made. How could I possibly stop her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured vaguely with his hand as though exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have any idea how much effort it took to fix that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed the direction of his gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An empty field stretched before me, pristine and untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the very spot that had been in utter ruins yesterday. The sheer power I unleashed had devastated an enormous area, yet now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a single trace left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What… how?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had that disaster been cleaned up in just one day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or had more time passed than I thought?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was grappling with these questions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kkurung put in some work,” Shin Noya explained casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Kkurung?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That black beast, known as the ruler of the Abyssal Gorge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, it had been the one to restore the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while since I saw it struggle. Quite amusing, honestly,” Shin Noya added with a chuckle, his smug expression irritating me slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…By the way, Noya.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to turn the tables and teased him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ended up drawing your sword, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you wouldn’t draw your sword no matter what, but in the end, you did. I saw it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had stubbornly refused to draw his sword, yet at the last moment, he had done just that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I meant to tease him further, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right,” he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reaction caught me off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did draw it. That kid managed to make me unsheathe my sword. It’s truly fascinating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya’s tone turned contemplative, and I paused, unsure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint amusement in his voice faded, replaced by something heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So let me ask you, kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly did you create?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had I created?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya’s gaze was filled with curiosity, a hint of disbelief, and something I couldn’t quite place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why? Did it seem strange to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange? What kind of lunatic would come up with something like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression practically screamed, What else did you expect me to say? It seemed he had fully grasped the absurdity of what I had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re out of your damn mind. I thought you were reckless, but this… this is on another level. Do you even think before you act?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scolding tone made me scratch the back of my head awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Well, it turned out fine, didn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, you’re lucky it did. What if it hadn’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I would’ve figured it out then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His exasperation was almost palpable as he let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you even hear yourself…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he was about to launch into another lecture, but then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now? I looked at him in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a deep, weary sigh and shook his head, as if giving up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You made something, didn’t you? So, what’s its name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His question caught me completely off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t named it yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally understood what he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I wasn’t really thinking about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. Then come up with one now. If you’re going to create something like that, you might as well name it properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I realized what he was trying to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his way of acknowledging my efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A name, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But naming it out of the blue felt strange, especially for something I couldn’t even use in real combat yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t plan to use this in open combat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique was something I intended to use only as part of my guise as Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After mulling it over, one name came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Cheonma Divine Art?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I said it, Shin Noya’s face twisted into an expression of utter disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought it sounded cool…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>",2131,"2026-06-05T15:10:21.117Z",1,"novelbin.me","14f3d9bb2a5119b83ed7ec56c90d2a6ace1bfb368af2d596f2a4c64afaef2801","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-939","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-937",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]