Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The desire to kill is, after all, an emotion.

Simply put, it's the intent to end someone's life. When combined with a martial artist's energy, it manifests as killing intent.

The deeper the emotion, the stronger the energy. But because it's just energy, it can ultimately be controlled.

Thankfully.

If someone went around spewing killing intent just because they felt like murdering someone, that would cause no small amount of trouble.

Killing intent is the most distinct energy a martial artist can possess. The higher their cultivation, the more they must learn to restrain it.

If unleashed carelessly, it would be far too easy for others to notice.

Thus, the more skilled the martial artist, the better they are at handling their killing intent. Use it only when necessary. Suppress it when possible.

This means that killing intent, tied as it is to emotions, can be regulated at will.

At least, that's what I believed to be true.

"This is just bullshit."

I scowled as I assessed my condition.

Gripping my chest where my heart was, I clicked my tongue. Something felt terribly wrong with my body.

Thrum-thrum-thrum-thrum!

"Urgh..."

A vibration pulsed from deep within me.

From the inside of my heart, a massive killing intent was surging. It was so intense I had to pour my energy into suppressing it.

"Goddamn it, this is ridiculous."

Barely keeping it from leaking out of my body, I had no idea how long I could hold it back. Letting it burst out wasn't an option either.

"There's just too much."

The sheer volume of energy mixed with the killing intent was staggering.

It wasn't just enough to cover this place—it could easily engulf the entire branch.

Vast and overwhelming.

If this slipped from my grasp and exploded, it would sweep away most of the people around me. Given its density and intensity, the aftermath would be devastating.

I had only intended to stir up some chaos, but if it escalated to that point, it would be a real problem.

At least, not yet. Now wasn't the time for that.

"Hoooo..."

I forced myself to endure, suppressing and suppressing some more.

"Star Dragon Captain."

And then, as if summoned by fate, the worst possible person appeared before me.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The man questioning me had his sword pointed at me.

Ilcheon Sword, the leader of the Azure Dragon Division, stood before me, brimming with hostility.

"Explain yourself."

...Hah."

This was bad.

Looking at his face already annoyed me to no end, but to have his sword aimed at me on top of that?

"Couldn't he have chosen a better time?"

I was already sweating bullets trying to suppress my killing intent. Why now of all times?

I took a deep breath and glared at him. Ignoring his question wasn't an option, so I gathered my energy to suppress the backlash and opened my mouth.

...Can't you tell by looking?"

Ilcheon Sword glanced around. His subordinate, the deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Division, lay collapsed and bloodied on the ground. The Azure Dragon soldiers around us were visibly terrified of my every move.

And then there was the barrier of energy I had erected around us. None of it painted a good picture.

Ilcheon Sword pursed his lips and spoke.

...I see that much. But that's why I'm asking. You, for all your arrogance, don't strike me as someone who acts without thought."

"Well, thank you for the compliment. I'm overwhelmed."

I forced a smile.

Thankfully, the killing intent within me was slowly, albeit painfully, subsiding. The pace was excruciatingly slow, but progress was progress.

"In that case, since you seem so understanding, do you also know why things turned out like this?"

"I do not. So I'd appreciate an explanation."

Schiiing.

Ilcheon Sword's blade trembled. At the same time, I felt energy ripple along its edge.

"If you don't, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back this time."

"Haha..."

Under normal circumstances, I'd retort with "And what exactly will you do if you can't?" But right now, even that felt impossible.

More accurately, I didn't have the luxury. If I pushed it, the energy I had worked so hard to suppress might erupt again.

So instead of nitpicking his words, I decided it was best to address the situation directly.

"If you insist, I'll explain."

I paused, letting the silence fill the air to set the tone. Then, pointing ahead with a finger, I gestured to the man whose jaw I had shattered earlier.

"That bastard—or rather, the Azure Dragon deputy captain—claimed he had some business with our division."

...Business?"

Ilcheon Sword frowned. His expression made it obvious he didn't understand the issue.

But.

"I don't know what business exactly. He just said there was something."

"And why would that be a problem—?"

"Then why the hell didn't he come himself, but ordered us to come to him??"

...!"

Ilcheon Sword's eyes widened. He seemed to finally grasp the problem.

"If he had business with us, shouldn't he have come to us? Why the hell is he summoning us like some lord giving commands? And between captains of equal rank, no less? Hah, unbelievable."

I started walking toward him, speaking as I went.

"At this rate, anyone watching would think we're a subordinate branch of the Azure Dragon Division. Don't you agree?"

..."

His frown remained, but there was a noticeable shift in his expression.

This was about justification.

Do you know the biggest difference between the righteous and the unorthodox factions? There are many reasons one could argue, but to me, the most important is how they act.

The righteous faction doesn't recklessly display their strength based on emotions, while the unorthodox faction couldn't care less. In other words, it's a matter of justification.

And.

"The Azure Dragon Division came here as reinforcements, didn't they? So how am I supposed to interpret this bullshit situation?"

Right now, I was hammering home the concept of justification to Ilcheon Sword.

He frowned deeply, and I smiled as I asked him.

"Am I wrong?"

We're of equal rank. Not some grunts, but captains. Second only to the division leaders in our respective units.

And yet this deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Division dared pull such a stunt? It didn't make sense.

"Especially considering..."

I had overheard bits of their conversation. It was absurdly condescending.

I couldn't understand it.

"Does he not have a brain?"

Right now, the Alliance's focus was heavily on the Star Dragon Division. Even if it was mostly for appearances, that much was clear.

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Yet he openly showed such blatant disregard?

"You'd have to be insane."

No matter how I looked at it, it didn't add up. For someone who had climbed to the rank of deputy captain after years in the Alliance to act like this?

There had to be a reason behind it.

"Unless there's something I don't know, there's no way this would've happened."

Whether it was Ilcheon Sword's orders, an attempt to undermine us, or some personal grudge, there had to be something more to it.

And Ilcheon Sword surely knew that as well.

However.

"Even if that's the cause, do you think it's justified to not only brutalize a fellow comrade but also [N O V E L I G H T] threaten me like this?"

Ilcheon Sword wasn't without his own argument. His justification lay in the notion that I had overreacted to the situation.

"You're right."

Based on the situation, it didn't seem necessary to go this far. If I had simply used my authority as the Star Dragon Captain to suppress and pressure the deputy captain, it would have been resolved easily.

"Moreover, we're in foreign territory. We should be cooperating to move forward, not pulling this kind of nonsense."

At Ilcheon Sword's words, murmurs erupted among the onlookers, particularly from the Azure Dragon Division. Their reactions made it clear—Wasn't this a bit too much?

From a logical standpoint, his argument made sense.

But.

"Then maybe they shouldn't have acted like assholes."

I didn't care.

"...What?"

Ilcheon Sword's eyes widened at my response. He clearly hadn't expected it.

"If they didn't want this to happen, then they shouldn't have started messing around in the first place."

"Star Dragon Captain, what kind of nonsense is this?"

"Nonsense? Are you kidding me?" I shot back, my voice sharp, my energy rising.

As I spoke, I felt my killing intent threatening to erupt again, and I forcefully suppressed it.

"You call it logic or reason, but honestly, it's annoying. I don't have the patience to counter every single word you're saying."

Truthfully, I could refute everything he said, step by step. I could even steer the situation in my favor if I wanted.

But.

"I just beat them up because I felt like it. So what's the problem?"

I decided to cast all that aside and say what I wanted to say.

"...What? Are you even listening to yourself?"

"Of course. Isn't this a perfectly valid response, senior?" I replied with a slight smirk.

"Do you even understand what the title of captain means?" I asked, my tone sharp.

Being a division captain. Did Ilcheon Sword understand what that role entailed? Maybe, but probably not the way I saw it.

"Being the head of a group—it's not just a title. From where I stand, it means this."

I fixed my gaze on him, still suppressing my energy.

"If someone messes with your subordinates, you step up and crush them. That's what being a captain means."

If you sit in the position, you take responsibility. No matter what it entails.

That's why I despise titles—they come with too much pointless responsibility.

But what can I do? I'm already in the seat, so I have to act.

"And my subordinate was openly disrespected in front of me. What else was I supposed to do?"

I had to retaliate.

"So, you're telling me you did that to him—to the Azure Dragon deputy—because of that?"

"You catch on quickly," I replied.

"Hah..." Ilcheon Sword let out a laugh, utterly baffled. His irritation was evident in his narrowed eyes.

"For all your inexperience... you really don't understand the gravity of what you've done, do you?"

His previously raised gaze grew colder.

"What exactly don't I understand?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Do you not realize how inappropriate it is to act without fully grasping the situation?"

"Inappropriate? Hahaha." I couldn't help but laugh at the word.

"What does 'appropriate' even mean for someone like me?"

"Are you seriously asking?"

"Yes, I'm serious."

In both my previous life and this one, I've never adhered to the concept of propriety.

"You're a captain of the Martial Alliance and a martial artist titled as a king. That alone demands behavior befitting your status."

"Oh, I see... behavior befitting my status," I said, as if mulling it over.

"Then you understand—"

"But you see, senior, I don't need that kind of status."

"...What?"

Ilcheon Sword blinked, baffled by my response. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

"Think about it. What use is propriety to someone who can't even protect their own subordinates? Spare me the crap. If that's what propriety means, I don't need it. You can keep it for yourself."

"Star King—!" Ilcheon Sword roared, his voice vibrating with energy. His anger was palpable, and the air trembled.

"Why are you shouting? My ears hurt," I said, wincing at the volume.

The sound of his grinding teeth was audible. He was clearly holding himself back.

"As I said earlier, you acted without understanding the full context. Do you have any idea what kind of punishment awaits you once this reaches the main Alliance?"

He wasn't wrong. If this got reported, I'd face disciplinary action. I had reacted without fully assessing the situation, and my retaliation had been excessive. Once I returned to the Alliance, punishment would be inevitable.

And even if it weren't...

"Even outside the main Alliance, I have no intention of letting this slide."

Ilcheon Sword drew his sword. He clearly wasn't planning to let me off easily.

Of course not. If he let this go, his own position would be jeopardized.

How would it look if he simply backed down after his deputy was humiliated? For the sake of his own standing, he couldn't afford to let this go.

"Star King, unless you properly apologize for this, I'll have no choice but to draw my blade."

"Hmm... is that so?"

So, he wasn't planning to let this go. I see.

His resolve was clear. I took a step forward.

"...!"

Ilcheon Sword's eyes narrowed, his stance shifting into a defensive posture. The energy on his sword's edge flared more intensely.

"If you're not planning to let this slide, then what will you do? Fight me?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes."

"Good. That's bold of you. But if you're going to be so bold—"

Step. The distance between us closed further, and his killing intent thickened.

Any closer, and he'd undoubtedly strike.

"But you shouldn't have resorted to poison in the first place."

Ilcheon Sword froze. His eyes flickered, and even the energy enveloping his sword wavered.

His reaction was telling. I couldn't hold back a smirk.

"Or... maybe, at the very least," I said, wiping the grin from my face, "you shouldn't have been messing around with the Celestial Stream Sect. Don't you think?"

The moment those words left my mouth, the surroundings fell into a heavy silence.