Childhood Friend of the Zenith

From the sky to the ground.

A beam of light descends.

A single line carved across the vermilion sky. Following this line, the man's body was severed.

His vision spun.

One side was upwards. The other, downwards.

In the moment his torso was split in half, a sharp clank echoed.

His body suddenly returned to its original form, and his vision reverted to normal.

“Cough...!”

A gasp escaped him. The man grabbed his chest, his eyes trembling.

“Huff... huff...”

He focused on his breath, recalling the sensation from moments ago.

It was clear. Just moments ago, he had been on the brink of death.@@novelbin@@

“Wha...?”

What was this sensation? To almost experience death.

“I’ve ascended in rank…!”

His body had ascended to an exalted level. Yet, what had just happened?

Grinding his teeth, the man stared ahead.

Then, the one who had split him in a single strike came into view. An old man with wild white hair, reaching his waist. His unkempt beard was thick and unruly.

The old man, with vermilion eyes and a weary expression, looked down on him.

He was someone the man knew well.

Their connection wasn’t deep, but he was someone unforgettable.

“…Long time no see.”

Just as the man was about to mention the name of the old man, the old man spoke first.

“Shin Сheol.”

Before the man could speak, the old man interrupted.

“My name is Shin Сheol.”