Childhood Friend of the Zenith

RUMMMMBLE—!!!

The sky roared, and the earth trembled violently.

"Urgh!"
"Grrr…!"

It wasn’t just an earthquake.

A pressure wave surged out, pressing down on the entire mountain.
The intensity was so overwhelming that those standing staggered under its weight.

This was an immense force.
And the source of the shockwave wasn’t the mountain itself.

‘It’s coming from the Magyeong Gate.’

That White Grand Magyeong Gate—
The energy radiating from it was causing the sky itself to shake, and that vibration was crashing down onto the earth.

"Kuh-huk…!"

Under the crushing pressure, martial artists fell to their knees.
Anyone below the Peak Realm—those at a First-Class martial level—were completely spent and collapsing.

Many were foaming at the mouth, some losing consciousness altogether.

Seeing this, Namgung Jeohwi clenched his jaw.

"What in the world…! Leader of the Azure Dragon Division!"

He shouted, calling out to my father.

"You said we still had time! What is the meaning of this?!"

I turned my gaze toward the Magyeong Gate.

The seals were still in place.
Of the two binding rings, one had nearly snapped and was disappearing.

According to Father’s prediction, the seal was supposed to break tomorrow, signaling the gate’s opening.

‘Then what’s with this sudden tremor?’

What was causing this abrupt shift?

First, the Red Magyeong Gate mutated.
And now, this shockwave?

Creak.

My toes sank into the ground.

The pressure was forcing my body downward, slowly pushing me into the soil.

Crunch.

The earth cracked beneath me as I felt myself sinking further.
I quickly yanked my foot out.

Crack.

As I freed myself, I noticed the pressure kept increasing—
But at least, for now, it was still manageable.

Just as I leaped away, bracing myself—

"Leader of the Azure Dragon Division…!"

"……."

Namgung Jeohwi’s roar filled the air, but Father simply frowned, staring at the Magyeong Gate.

Then—

KUUUUAAAAHHH—!!!

A blazing heatwave erupted from Father’s body.

The sheer volume of inner energy in the heat enveloped the entire hilltop.

The oppressive weight crushing everyone immediately subsided.

Father was forcing back the pressure using his qi.

‘Wow…’

That was an insane amount of inner energy.
He could actually release this much at once?

"It seems… there’s a problem."

Father’s voice was calm, unwavering.

That he could speak so casually while radiating such immense power was… unbelievable.

With Father’s energy counteracting the pressure, the others were finally able to breathe again.