Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 640: Thunder God (Thunder Fang) (1)

Flames erupted from the ground and surged into the sky.

In the pitch-black darkness of the icy night, the fire consumed the heavens as if devouring the very void. Slowly but steadily, it illuminated the world.

The night receded.

And thus, a white night arrived.

The scene was utterly mesmerizing, impossible to look away from.

A white night alone would have been a miraculous event, but the knowledge that a single human had caused such a phenomenon filled Gu Yangcheon with a profound sense of awe.

His breath caught.

No, he forgot to breathe entirely, mesmerized by what unfolded before him.

The heavens opened, and the cold world was set ablaze with warmth.

The snow covering the ground melted, replaced by an inexplicable heat that brushed against the tip of his nose.

The flames devoured the chill, spreading their rampant warmth throughout the world.

Fwoooosh--!!

The pillar of fire reaching the heavens stood like a mighty column.

Though it roared with ferocious intensity, there wasn’t a hint of instability in its form.

It was not merely a flame—it was a ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) pillar of light.

"That..."

What was it?

What was it about this sight that made it so utterly captivating?

[Do not take your eyes off me, not even for a second.]

Even without Gu Cheolwoon’s warning, Gu Yangcheon knew he wouldn’t have been able to look away. Not from this.

He was certain of it.

Vrrrr---!!

"...!"

The vibrations startled Gu Yangcheon, his hand clutching his chest.

The energy within his body—the rings of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique—reacted to the pillar, spinning uncontrollably.

It was a resonance of energies.

That meant the pillar was also born of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique.

But for Gu Yangcheon, it was a power he had never seen before—not even in the scope of his imagination.

Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded merely from watching it.

He didn’t know the mechanics or the nature of the power, but instinctually, he recognized its significance. Something extraordinary was unfolding before him.

At that moment—

Grrrr---...

The monster reappeared, emerging from the shadows where it had been hurled.

It seemed ready to charge again, and Gu Yangcheon instinctively prepared to intercept. But then—

"...What?"

Gu Yangcheon froze in confusion.

The monster didn’t charge as expected.

"What’s it doing?"

It wasn’t retreating either, but its behavior was peculiar.

Instead of attacking, it hesitated.

Its hostile intent and murderous aura remained, yet its body language was hesitant, cautious.

"Could it be...?"

Gu Yangcheon’s thoughts raced.

"Is it scared?"

The idea seemed absurd, yet the monster’s trembling form was undeniable.

Fear.

The monster—once a mindless beast charging to kill—was now trembling in terror as it gazed at the fiery pillar.

How could such a thing happen?

But before Gu Yangcheon could ponder further—

Grrrraaah!!

The monster rallied itself, gathering strength. Its hesitation faded, replaced by renewed aggression.

At the same time—

Fwoosh!

The fiery pillar began to descend.

Ssssshh--!

The flames retreated, sinking back to the ground. The pervasive heat shifted direction, drawn toward the center of the phenomenon.

Whoooosh--!!

The pressure was immense, enough that Gu Yangcheon had to steady himself with all his strength.

The source of it all was clear—the spot where Gu Cheolwoon stood.

Screech--!

Gu Yangcheon’s feet scraped against the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance.

Meanwhile, the monster seemed to welcome the shift, using the flow to accelerate.

Its muscles swelled as it surged forward, radiating unrelenting force. The fear it had displayed moments ago was now gone, replaced by a reckless charge.

Screeeeech--!!

It bared its jaws wide, as if intent on devouring the flames and everything in its path.

Just as the monster closed in—

Snap.

The flames ceased.

Whoosh.

The surrounding fire disappeared, revealing Gu Cheolwoon.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened at the sight of his father.

His hair, previously tinged red, now shimmered with a radiant golden glow. The crimson robe symbolizing the Gu family flickered as though it were ablaze.

And yet, paradoxically, there was no visible flame.

The Gu family’s techniques revolved around fire—blazing, rotating, and consuming. But Gu Cheolwoon displayed none of these.

Yet—

"I can feel it."

Though there was no flame, the fiery presence was unmistakable.

Gu Yangcheon stared at his father’s back, unblinking.

Gu Cheolwoon hadn’t summoned flames because he didn’t need to.

"Father is the fire itself."

There was no need to ignite what he already embodied.

Sweat dripped down Gu Yangcheon’s face as he stared, trembling.

He instinctively understood: missing even a second of this would be unforgivable.

Because before him stood—

"The place I need to reach."

The destination he had to reach no matter the cost was right there, before his eyes.

Gu Cheolwoon moved his hand slowly.

Ssshhhhh---!!!

A sharp gust of wind accompanied the motion, though there was no discernible heat.

His hand glowed with a vibrant red hue, yet not a trace of warmth radiated from it.

Boom!

Screeeeech--!!!

The monster lunged, its fangs poised to strike.

Yet Gu Cheolwoon only shifted slightly, calmly preparing his stance.

Ssshh.

He clenched his fist, lowering his posture.

A simple, classic stance for a straight punch. There was no elaborate flourish—only the precision and stability of a perfectly balanced foundation.

But—

[Secret Art.]

From that seemingly basic stance emanated power far beyond the ordinary.

[Nine Flames, Absolute Mountain Form.]

Gu Cheolwoon’s fist extended slowly toward the monster.

Whoosh.

[Ultimate Form: Nine Flames Fanged Wolf.]

Woom--!

A low hum accompanied the vibration emanating from his fist.

Flash.

And then, the world blinked out of existence.

****************

Crunch—!!

The sound of something collapsing echoed through the air.

It hurt to keep his eyes open.

Even with his eyes shut to avoid the blinding light, the world still seemed consumed by its radiance.

Suffocating heat pressed down from all sides. It had been over ten seconds since the light erupted, yet Gu Yangcheon hadn’t dared to breathe.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded furiously in his chest, and he had to focus all his will to calm the raging energy within him.

After several more seconds, the intensity began to subside.

Crackle...

Peace returned behind his closed eyelids, and he could feel the overwhelming sound fading into silence. Only then did he cautiously open his eyes.

"...?"

The first thing he saw was the back of a figure standing with their hands clasped behind them.

Dressed in black martial robes, the person was not particularly large, but their presence was commanding.

With the figure’s back to him, Gu Yangcheon recognized the stance and spoke hesitantly.

"Elder?"

The man before him was Paejon.

"Hahaha—!"

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At Gu Yangcheon’s call, Paejon let out his signature laugh. However, something about it was different. Unlike the usual dry tone, his voice carried an uncharacteristic sense of elation.

“What’s gotten into him?” Gu Yangcheon wondered, just as Paejon spoke.

"Do you know something?"

The elder’s voice was laced with excitement.

"I have never once regretted a single decision I’ve made in my life."

Paejon’s laughter brimmed with both joy and unease. A strange chill ran down Gu Yangcheon’s spine as he listened.

"When I abandoned my clan’s martial arts for the path I had to take, I felt no regret. Nor when I discarded my youth for the sake of time and took on a broken body. Not once."

What was he rambling about?

Gu Yangcheon watched with a puzzled expression as Paejon unclasped his hands and continued.

"But for the first time... I feel regret."

"...What are you talking about?"

"Before abandoning my martial prowess, I should have fought your father at least once. That is what I regret, more than anything."

At this, Gu Yangcheon frowned.

Fighting his father? What nonsense was he spouting in front of someone’s child?

"I, Paejon, the self-proclaimed greatest of martial artists, acknowledge this."

Paejon’s voice was filled with a strange, almost maddening glee as he declared:

"Your father is a monster. An incomprehensible monster."

Saying this, Paejon stepped aside with a dramatic gesture, revealing the aftermath of the blazing pillar.

"...!"

The pristine white snow-covered world had been obliterated.

Everything ahead of them was reduced to blackened ash.

“How many li had been consumed?” Gu Yangcheon couldn’t even estimate. The distance was too vast to comprehend.

Within the sea of flames, what remained of the White-Rank monster was crumbling.

Fssss...

The charred remains of its body collapsed, disintegrating into ash.

It was unrecognizable, its distinctive white hue now replaced by scorched black.

Thud!

Its half-kneeling body crumbled into nothing, the destruction absolute. The once-mighty monster had been reduced to a pitiful shadow of its former self.

And standing before it—

Gu Cheolwoon.

His posture was impeccable as always, unfazed by the destruction around him.

The flames that had once adorned his hair had faded, leaving behind their usual dark hue. His crimson robe, unscorched and unblemished, swayed slightly in the wind.

As the monster’s upper body collapsed behind him, Gu Cheolwoon turned without hesitation.

Though the ground ahead was a scorched wasteland, the area where Gu Yangcheon stood remained covered in partially melted snow. The stark contrast resembled a boundary between the living world and the depths of hell.

Crunch.

Gu Cheolwoon walked toward them, his gait steady and unaffected.

Watching him approach, Gu Yangcheon couldn’t help but think:

"...He looks bigger."

His father already had an imposing figure, but now he seemed colossal.

Whoosh.

The still air stirred as a cold wind began to blow.

Gu Cheolwoon stopped beside Paejon, looking directly at Gu Yangcheon.

Still dazed, Gu Yangcheon could only stare back.

The vivid memory of what he had just witnessed lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

The display of martial prowess, the heat, the resonance—it filled his head completely.

As his trembling gaze remained fixed on his father, Gu Cheolwoon finally spoke.

"Yangcheon."

His deep voice snapped Gu Yangcheon out of his trance.

"What did I tell you?"

Though the words were heavy, Gu Yangcheon remained seated, stunned.

"I warned you, did I not?"

"...!"

The cold tone brought him back to his senses.

Gu Cheolwoon’s earlier words echoed in his mind: Do not become fixated.

Struggling to collect himself, Gu Yangcheon shook his head to clear the lingering awe.

Even so, the memory of what he had seen refused to disappear. The scene had been far too vivid, far too overwhelming.

As he steadied his breathing, Gu Cheolwoon called him again.

"Yangcheon."

"...Yes."

"What did you see?"

"..."

Gu Yangcheon didn’t need to ask for clarification. He understood what his father meant.

But he couldn’t answer immediately. He understood the question, but he didn’t know the answer.

He had tried to take in everything, but the only thing that remained in his mind was the image of his father, a man who had become one with fire itself.

"...I don’t know."

And so, he answered honestly. Despite having witnessed so much, he understood nothing.

He felt disappointed in himself.

"Hm."

Gu Cheolwoon made a brief sound of acknowledgment, nodding slightly as though satisfied—or perhaps indifferent.

Then—

Thud.

"...!"

A rough hand rested on Gu Yangcheon’s head.

It was his father’s.

Scritch, scritch.

The touch was far from delicate, more akin to an awkward pat. It was clear that Gu Cheolwoon had little experience with such gestures.

Yet Gu Yangcheon said nothing.

"..."

"..."

Neither did Gu Cheolwoon.

The silence between them was strange, almost stifling.

After a few seconds, Gu Cheolwoon finally broke the silence.

"Well done."

The awkward praise felt out of place, but Gu Yangcheon couldn’t bring himself to respond.

All he could do was nod slightly.

"...Thank you."

"Good."

"..."

"..."

The tension lingered, almost unbearable. Yet Gu Cheolwoon’s hand remained on his son’s head.

Gu Yangcheon, unsure of what to do, hesitated. Should he step back? Say something? In the end, he chose to stay still, glancing up at his father.

"Uh, Father..."

As he mustered the courage to ask why his father had come here, Gu Cheolwoon suddenly spoke.

"That reminds me."

Gu Yangcheon froze as his father continued.

"There’s something I need to tell you about your mother."

"...!"

The unexpected words widened Gu Yangcheon’s eyes.

"About... Mother?"

He had been told he would find answers about his mother when he reached the peak of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique. But he wasn’t there yet.

So what was this about?

Fixing his full attention on Gu Cheolwoon, Gu Yangcheon waited for him to continue.

"Yes, about your mother..."

Gu Cheolwoon began, but his expression shifted.

His face tightened as if he had suddenly realized something.

"What’s wrong?" Gu Yangcheon asked.

"I see."

With a decisive nod, Gu Cheolwoon turned back to his son.

"Time is up."

"What?"

"I’ll be going now. Return soon."

"What are you talking abo—"

Fwoosh.

And just like that, Gu Cheolwoon disappeared, engulfed in flames.

"...Huh?"

Whoosh.

Left alone in the cold wind, Gu Yangcheon could only think:

"What in the world just happened?"