Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 29

Shin Mo’s eyes widened.

‘Incredible!’

He couldn’t believe the sight before him. He almost wanted to pinch his thigh to make sure it was real.

‘Such spirit…?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attacks came in three waves.

Each attack was imbued with an immense, invisible spirit.

It was pure spirit. Not the killing intent that seeks to destroy an opponent, nor the fighting spirit that ignites the will to battle.

It was like the immense military might felt in the charge of tens of thousands of troops across a desolate plain.

Each of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s strikes carried an overwhelming presence. The same attack felt different, heavier.

“What’s with him? They said he was a genius?”

“Why is he so flustered?”

“He was so cocky, but Chu Seong isn’t that impressive, is he?”

Some of the late-stage disciples murmured.

‘Is it natural?’

To them, Chu Seong’s reaction must have seemed ridiculous. They probably thought he could have easily dodged but chose to block, or that he was clumsily avoiding attacks he could have handled.

But Shin Mo knew better.

‘He’s been overwhelmed.’

If you felt that kind of spirit, especially up close, you’d feel a suffocating fear. That’s why he couldn’t respond properly or show his true skills.

‘If Chu Seong were me…?’

Just then.

“Oh, amazing!”

Shin Mo turned his head to the side.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, as if entranced.

“My goodness… how can he have such energy?!”

Shin Mo’s eyes flashed.

Yang Heum tilted his head.

“Energy? What do you mean?”

“Huh?! D-Didn’t you feel it?”

“…Feel what?”

“The energy that the Young Master just released! Well, I don’t know if it’s right to call it energy… but anyway, you didn’t feel it?”

Yang Heum looked bewildered. Not only him, but everyone in the Chang-eung group looked just as clueless.

Shin Mo was astonished.

“You felt it?”

“Yes? Ah, yes! Of course! How could I not feel such an incredible… unbelievably immense energy?”

It was normal not to feel it.

Shin Mo was as surprised by Yeon Ji-Pyeong as he was by Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘He felt that? With the Young Master’s inner strength?’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s talent was said to be among the best in the Yeon family’s history.

Yet, he was still a fifteen-year-old boy. He hadn’t even begun to truly blossom, let alone taste the true essence of martial arts.

How could such a boy feel the Great Young Master’s spirit from this distance?

‘Incredible…’

Just how terrifying were the senses he was born with, to be able to perceive the military spirit that even a master like himself could barely sense?

Shin Mo looked back and forth between Yeon Ji-Pyeong and Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Both brothers are monsters.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong. A martial artist who emanated a spirit that could instill fear even in Shin Mo, the master swordsman of the Gale Sword.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong. A fifteen-year-old genius who could effortlessly sense a spirit that even a master would struggle to perceive.

Shin Mo let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

“…The Yeon family’s future is truly bright.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Shin Mo, having cleared his mind, turned his gaze back to the training grounds.

The fight was beginning in earnest.

* * *

Clang! Clang!

The long spear and long sword clashed, creating a harsh metallic sound.

‘What?!’

The arm that swung the sword felt numb. Normally, he would have immediately followed up with another attack, but that brief gap prevented him from using his technique.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t miss that opening.

Whoosh! Clatter!

Chu Seong blocked sixteen spear strikes with a flurry of wild sword swings.

It was the same this time. The weight flowing through the sword’s blade was so immense that it shook his arm from his elbow to his shoulder.

‘What kind of strength is this?!’

Clang!

The powerful sword strike was repelled. He had deflected the spear shaft with his wrist, but the recoil was so strong that the sword was thrown back.

This wasn’t about the amount or quality of inner energy. He was clearly born with an innately strong physique. It was unbelievable how such power could come from such a slender body.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attacks continued.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The spear strikes, piercing the air with deadly intent, were as vicious as a viper.

It was an attack that made evasion and counterattacks impossible. Chu Seong instinctively unleashed his sword techniques.

Clang! Clang! Ting! Clang!

The spear blade, spear shaft, and sword blade intertwined, creating a chilling sound.

The sound spoke volumes. One hit would mean certain death.

The clash of spear and sword made it clear. This duel was not a friendly spar.

The atmosphere on the training grounds instantly turned deadly.

Thwack! Thwack! Clang!

Each of them stepped on the ground and swung their weapons, not showing even the slightest opening.

The faces of the late-stage disciples, who had been doubtful of Chu Seong’s skills, were now filled with dread.

‘This is too brutal?!’

‘Isn’t someone going to get seriously hurt?’

‘Getting hurt isn’t the problem… we might die here?’

But no one tried to stop them.

No, they couldn’t. The sound of the clashing spear and sword, and the deadly intent that permeated it, had taken over the entire outer grounds.

A one-on-one fight that no one could interfere with. Like the ancient generals of the Three Kingdoms engaging in a duel, the scent of a fierce battle filled the air.

Crack!

The spear blade was embedded in the training ground floor.

It was a strike aimed at severing his opponent’s ankle. If Chu Seong hadn’t dodged, the fight would have been over in three moves.

‘Damn it!’

Chu Seong dodged to the left.

Finally, a murderous intent appeared in his eyes.

‘This brat is getting too cocky!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed. He had sensed the murderous intent that had briefly emanated from Chu Seong.

Whoosh.

The Azure Dragon’s energy surged.

A blue light flickered in his eyes, and thick veins pulsed on the back of his hand holding the spear shaft.

Just as Chu Seong was about to charge forward.

Thwack!

He took the initiative, advancing one step and attacking with a spear strike. It was a fluid, natural movement, but the murderous intent in the spear blade was merciless.

The rhythm was so unpredictable that it was impossible to block or dodge. There was only one way to avoid this fierce spear technique.

“Ugh!”

Thud! Thud!

Chu Seong’s body rolled across the training ground floor.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Crack! Crack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong was relentless. He relentlessly pursued Chu Seong, who had rolled to dodge, and thrust his spear repeatedly, making the training ground floor shake with each strike.

He was persistent and brutal. He attacked fiercely, like a predator hunting its prey.

Chu Seong felt like he was going crazy.

He was already furious at having to roll on the ground to dodge, a humiliating technique known as the ‘Lazy Donkey Roll,’ but he wasn’t even given a chance to get up.

He was angry. His rage reached the top of his head.

“Ugh! You bastard!”

Thud!

Chu Seong charged forward, his movements lacking any form. He moved like a beast, unable to contain his anger.

Thwack!

Was it an unexpected movement? The spear blade tore through his shoulder. But it wasn’t a fatal wound.

‘This is it! My turn!’

Chu Seong’s face was flushed red with shame and anger.

‘Die!’

Flash!

Chu Seong’s sword was thrust towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s throat.

“Gasp! Young Master?!”

“D-Dangerous!”

In that critical moment.

Boom!

With a burst of explosive sound, Chu Seong’s body was sent flying towards the center of the training ground.

Chu Seong coughed up blood. He had suffered internal injuries from the immense recoil.

‘W-What was that?!’

Even Chu Seong, who had been hit, couldn’t see what kind of martial art it was.

He quickly pushed himself up from the ground, and finally, he saw Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Whoosh!

It was truly fantastical.

He couldn’t tell if it was an illusion or if the energy was actually forming such a shape.

It wasn’t just Chu Seong. Everyone there was watching.

Two translucent hexagonal patterns were slowly swirling around Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

It was a large tortoise shell that covered his upper body. Above his shoulders, something long, like a snake or a dragon, was writhing.

It was a mystical sight.

The form itself was bizarre, but no one who saw it felt it was strange or grotesque.

“Hoo.”

The Black Tortoise writhed with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s breath.

Chu Seong’s face contorted.

“What kind of sorcery is that!”

Thwack!

Chu Seong, his eyes bloodshot, unleashed his sword, a clear green light blazing from it.

It was the True Essence of the Sword, the Three Swords of Pursuit, which he had practiced with all his heart. He had never failed to take an enemy’s life after using this sword technique.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes emitted a cold light.

Thud!

He took one step, but that step was different from his previous strides.

It was much slower and heavier. At the same time, it was smooth and natural.

‘……?!’

Chu Seong’s eyes widened.

The sword, which had been flying like lightning, seemed to slow down for a moment.

No, it wasn’t just seeming to slow down, it had slowed down. Even the sword strike aimed at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s heart was twisted and about to miss completely.

‘What is this!!’

Whoosh! Ting!

It felt like a cold wind, sharp enough to cut flesh, was blowing from all directions.

It was an illusion of the Black Tortoise’s energy, welcoming the appearance of the dark wind of the north, the guardian spirit of the Guihai [a mythical sea].

That illusionary wind settled on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s spear, beginning to engrave the absolute defense technique of the Four Divine Beasts [mythical creatures in East Asian mythology].

The Black Tortoise’s footwork, the Immovable Strange Pillar.

Following the Immovable Strange Pillar, the steel secret art, the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky, revealed itself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Ugh!”

Chu Seong felt a shock that seemed to break his wrist.

The Three Swords of Pursuit were a series of attacks, targeting three vital points of the enemy with three sword strikes. All three strikes of that series had been repelled.

Whoosh!

White smoke rose from the tip of the long spear, cutting through the heavy, dark wind.

Chiiik!

The rising smoke flickered, whipping the Black Tortoise’s energy.

It was the Triple Tortoise Wall, the third of the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky’s three consecutive moves. Whether executed with bare hands or weapons, there was no difference in power, making it a supreme technique.

It wasn’t just the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky.

All of the Four Divine Beasts’ martial arts were like that. The Four Divine Beasts’ martial arts were invincible and timeless, not distinguishing between bare hands and weapons.

And that wasn’t all.

The Black Tortoise’s martial arts were the ultimate in defense, but like all martial arts, they could also be used for offense, depending on the user.

Whoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s footwork was peculiar.

The movements were small and slow. Yet, he had already reached Chu Seong’s face. It was the Immovable Strange Pillar.

“You!”

Thwack!

Chu Seong was persistent. He wildly swung the sword he was still holding, as if to hack his opponent to pieces.

Tap!

His left hand, which had not been holding the spear shaft, now gripped the lower part of the spear.

And the attack began.

Crack!

“Kuh-ack!”

Chu Seong’s wrist was broken.

No one saw how it broke. No one could see if it was hit by the spear shaft or struck by the flat side of the spear blade.

And that wasn’t the end. No, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attack had only just begun.

Whoosh!

From the long spear, over six feet in length, the fangs of a beast began to sprout from the spear blade, which held the weight of the deep sea.

It was the Beast Spear Technique, the martial art that had driven Chu Seong before he unleashed the Black Tortoise.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, wielding the savage Beast Spear imbued with the Black Tortoise’s energy. His spear blade held many things, but at least it held no mercy.

The terrifying iron spear began to slash at Chu Seong’s body.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

“Kuh-aaack!”