Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 62

“Huk!”\n\n”W-what, what is that? A tiger?!”\n\nThe people were startled by the sudden, terrifying roar.\n\nThey couldn’t tell where it came from, but it was definitely a tiger’s roar.\n\nHowever, the roar was far too loud. It spread out in all directions like thunder, and just hearing it made their legs tremble.\n\nHalf of the people walking through the center of Gaebong collapsed on the spot. Their legs had given way.\n\n”A tiger, it’s a tiger!”\n\n”R-run away!”\n\n”Aaaah! Get out of the way!”\n\nThe commotion grew rapidly. In any era, the threat of tigers was considered as terrifying a disaster as smallpox.\n\nIn an instant, the streets became a mess. Merchants hurriedly closed their doors, and people walking down the street ran away without looking back.\n\nEven though they were quite a distance from the bamboo forest, such a commotion arose. That’s how overwhelming the roar was.\n\n’No.’\n\nHowever, a young man drinking tea on the top floor of a luxurious tavern in Gaebong was certain that this roar was not from a tiger.\n\n’This is not something a tiger would make.’\n\nSurprise flickered across the young man’s face.\n\n’Such energy?!’\n\nThe sound that erupted was filled with tremendous energy.\n\nHe had never felt such energy before. An infinite madness that shook the heavens and earth coexisted with a mysterious majesty.\n\nA sound resembling a tiger’s roar. However, a presence that could not even be compared to a tiger’s roar.\n\n’Uncle?!’\n\nIt was certain. The source of this energy was spreading from the bamboo forest where his uncle, who led the Homyeongjeon [a martial arts group], had gone.\n\nHowever, neither his uncle nor the warriors of the Homyeongjeon exuded such energy.\n\nThwack!\n\nThe young man jumped out of the window.\n\n* * *\n\nBang!\n\nMyeong Chi-san’s body was pushed back, sliding from the impact of the fierce blow.\n\n’This is bad!’\n\nMyeong Chi-san’s face was pale.\n\nThe faces of the fallen Homyeongjeon warriors were even worse. Their faces were not just pale, but blue with terror.\n\nSome of them were even foaming at the mouth. They had suffered mental damage from the tremendous roar that had erupted right in front of them.\n\nSwishhhhh!\n\nThe wind grew stronger.\n\nA strong wind blew through the bamboo forest, where a gentle breeze had been blowing. Dozens of upright bamboo trees swayed back and forth as if they were about to break.\n\nSlide.\n\nMyeong Chi-san looked down at the hand holding the sword hilt with trembling eyes.\n\nThe hilt was torn, and blood was flowing. His hand, protected by the Myeong family’s Dongcheon Gong [a martial arts technique], had not been able to completely absorb the shock of this blow.\n\n’It’s terrifying.’\n\nA suddenly amplified power.\n\nMyeong Chi-san looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.\n\nWhoooosh!\n\nA whirlwind blew around Yeon Ho-jeong, who was standing with his head bowed.\n\nIt was a whirlwind and a gale. The bamboo leaves on the ground swirled around Yeon Ho-jeong and soared high into the sky.\n\nAnd that wind.\n\nThat wind, which should not be visible to the naked eye, seemed to be tinged with a pure white light.\n\n”Hup!”\n\nThick veins bulged and then receded all over Yeon Ho-jeong’s body as he took a deep breath.\n\nJoy filled Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.\n\n’It worked.’\n\nThe breath he had taken was filled with far more abundant energy than before.\n\nThe capacity of his lungs rapidly became more active. His cardiopulmonary capacity, which had been improved through rigorous training, was changing ideally.\n\nIt was as if only his lungs had undergone a complete transformation. His lungs, which had become incomparably stronger than before, made him feel confident that he could run ten miles with just a single breath.\n\nWhoooosh!\n\nHis lungs were filled with white true energy.\n\n’White Tiger Energy!’\n\nWhite Tiger.\n\nThe White Tiger of the Four Symbols [mythological creatures representing cardinal directions] is the metal god of Gyeongin, symbolizing autumn. It is in charge of the lungs among the five viscera and six entrails, and maintains the body’s robustness.\n\nIt was different from the Black Tortoise. While the Black Tortoise excretes turbid energy, the White Tiger maximizes the energy taken in by the lungs and spreads it throughout the body.\n\nCrack! Crack!\n\nIt felt as if his bones and muscles were changing.\n\nIf you don’t breathe properly, your bones and flesh will be damaged. Conversely, if your breathing becomes active, the quality of your bones and flesh will improve.\n\nThat was the White Tiger. It pursued attack and advance with extreme physical strength and vigorous breathing.\n\nThat was why Yeon Ho-jeong had trained his body so rigorously. The White Tiger Energy was difficult to summon if the body’s foundation was not solid.\n\nThe guardian deity of the Western Heaven. The ruler of the wind.\n\nIt was the manifestation of the Western Great Emperor, the White Tiger.\n\n”You!”\n\nMyeong Chi-san shouted.\n\n”What kind of evil sorcery is that!”\n\nThud!\n\nMyeong Chi-san kicked off the ground and rushed towards Yeon Ho-jeong. He had seen an opening in the way he was standing still.\n\nBang!\n\nMyeong Chi-san’s eyes widened.\n\nThe moment he kicked off the ground and took his next step, Yeon Ho-jeong was already rushing towards him.\n\n’This!’\n\nHe was too fast. And he was strong. The power of the true awakening transmitted through the earth was so immense that it seemed to shake even a mountain.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s axe was swung diagonally.\n\nClang!\n\n”Kuh!”\n\nIt was monstrous strength.\n\nIt was a completely different power than before. The density of the power was beyond imagination.\n\nPushed back by the strong pressure, Myeong Chi-san hurriedly prepared to attack.\n\nBut this time, he was too late as well.\n\nBang! Bang!\n\nIt was a terrifying advance.\n\nHe advanced by stomping on the ground with his feet. It was an explosive physical strength and an overwhelming momentum. It was as if a great tiger was leaping, exuding a perilous killing intent.\n\nThis was the true martial art of Yeon Ho-jeong. It was the martial art of the Black Demon Emperor, who had been infamous for his destructive attack power and relentless fighting ability during his time as the Black Demon Emperor.\n\nThe white White Tiger Energy had seeped into his axe, which had been dyed with blue energy.\n\nClang! Clang!\n\nEach strike generated a tremendous shockwave. Myeong Chi-san’s broadsword repeatedly bent as if it would break.\n\n’He’s too strong!’\n\nThe energy emanating from the iron axe was as fierce as a wave.\n\nThis was something he couldn’t handle. The power of the storm that the axe was creating seemed to sweep away the heavens and the earth.\n\nBang! Thud!\n\nMoreover, that footwork.\n\nIt seemed like he wasn’t even considering evasion or counterattacks. It was only advance, and more advance. Moreover, he was maximizing the power of his true awakening, amplifying the power of the axe two or three times.\n\nLife returned to Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.\n\n’Good.’\n\nThe White Tiger’s footwork, the White Tiger’s Imperial Step.\n\nIt was different from the Black Tortoise’s Immovable Strange Pillar. There was no retreat or defense in the White Tiger’s martial arts.\n\nAnd even the weapon techniques.\n\nClang! Clang! Clang! Bang!\n\n”Cough!”\n\nFinally, a scream mixed with a groan burst from Myeong Chi-san’s mouth.\n\n’What kind of martial art is this?!’\n\nIt was neither swordsmanship nor saber technique.\n\nYet, it was strong. It was much stronger, much more precise, and much more ferocious than the martial art he had used before summoning that strange wind.\n\nIt was the Tiger King’s Nine Thunderous Strikes, which received power from the White Tiger’s Imperial Step. It was the foundation of the Beast Spear Technique, but it was a high-dimensional offensive martial art that could not even be compared to the Beast Spear Technique.\n\nCrack! Crunch! Thud!\n\nMyeong Chi-san retreated repeatedly.\n\nHe couldn’t escape even if he tried. The gale blowing from all directions suppressed the freedom of his body. In the midst of it, he had no choice but to keep being pushed back as the opponent advanced like an unstoppable bull.\n\nBut he couldn’t keep being pushed back forever. If he continued like this, his neck would be cut off by the axe without even being able to counterattack once.\n\nMyeong Chi-san roared.\n\n”Aaaah!”\n\nKwaang!\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s axe faltered.\n\nIt was a secret technique of the Thousand Observation Divine Blade, which was unfolded with the Dongcheon Gong. In a short moment, he had managed to use the secret technique to escape from danger.\n\n”You!”\n\nHe had escaped the attack, so now it was his turn. Myeong Chi-san’s sword seemed to be saying that.\n\nFwoooosh!\n\nThe fast and fierce Thousand Observation Divine Blade rushed towards Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body.\n\nIt was such a fast and violent sword technique. He had succeeded in drawing it out, but the White Tiger Energy had not completely settled in. It seemed difficult to block it easily.\n\nAt that moment, the Black Tortoise Energy burst out.\n\nWhoosh! Clang! Clang! Clang!\n\n”Kuh!”\n\nMyeong Chi-san received a shock that felt like his wrist would break.\n\n’W-what is this?!’\n\nFrom Yeon Ho-jeong’s body, which had been summoning a blue-white wind, a dark black-blue haze rose.\n\nIt was the invincible defense, the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky. It was an absolute defense following an explosive attack.\n\nThe White Tiger is in charge of advancing and attacking during battle.\n\nThe Black Tortoise repels threats with an ironclad defense.\n\nAttack and defense, offense and defense as one. He had obtained a shield of steel, but he had not held a decent weapon. Now, he had finally grasped a divine weapon that was as good as a shield.\n\nThwoom!\n\nDefense was followed by attack. He took another step towards Myeong Chi-san, who had been repelled, and swung his iron axe.\n\nBang!\n\nBlood gushed from Myeong Chi-san’s nose and mouth.\n\nIt was an internal injury. He had blocked the attack, but the shock shook his entire body.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong did not stop.\n\nHe stepped forward with the White Tiger’s Imperial Step, unleashing the divine attacks of the Tiger King’s Nine Thunderous Strikes.\n\nBang! Clang! Bang!\n\nThe bamboo trees fell one after another. The blood that Myeong Chi-san was spitting out was increasing.\n\n’I’m losing…….’\n\nA match that had been reversed in an instant.\n\n’How can there be someone like this?’\n\nHe had been blocking the attacks with instinctive responses, but his strength was gradually waning.\n\nOn the contrary, his opponent’s martial arts were becoming stronger and stronger. It was as if he was slowly adjusting to ill-fitting clothes, and his attacks were becoming more precise at a terrifying speed.\n\n’……?!’\n\nAt some point, Myeong Chi-san had a hallucination.\n\nIt was as if a pure white tiger god was rising like a haze from behind his opponent’s back.\n\n’A monster?!’\n\nThere was a monstrous beast with four legs larger than palace pillars, a tail thicker than rafters, a long neck, and the face of a beast.\n\nThe black stripes that crossed the snow-white fur were like mountain ranges drawn by a painter. The blue eyes were phosphorescent, and the gently curved fangs were like steel swords.\n\nIt resembled a tiger, but it was strangely different, a much more mysterious and majestic ruler of the Western Heaven was looking down at him.\n\nIt was the divine beast, the White Tiger.\n\n”Aaaah!”\n\nMyeong Chi-san spat out blood and brought his sword down towards Yeon Ho-jeong’s crown.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s axe rose from the lower to the upper position.\n\nFwoosh! Kaang!\n\nHis right thigh to his left shoulder was torn open. The broadsword he had been holding snapped in half.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong, who had raised his axe to the upper position, brought the axe down as it was.\n\nMyeong Chi-san’s eyes became empty.\n\nThe huge axe that was falling was the claw that the divine beast was wielding.\n\nThud!\n\nThe axe that had shattered his skull pierced through Myeong Chi-san’s chest.\n\nIt was the end.\n\nFssssssss.\n\n”Hoo.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong, who had taken a breath and pulled the axe out of Myeong Chi-san’s body, looked down at him with cold eyes.\n\n’He was strong.’\n\nMyeong Chi-san was a similar type to his father. He was a martial artist who had perfectly mastered attack and defense, regardless of his level of martial arts.\n\nBecause he was such a person, he was able to summon the White Tiger more easily than he had expected. He was a thankful enemy, if he could be called that.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong turned around.\n\nNearly a hundred bamboo trees had fallen. It was the trace of him having pushed Myeong Chi-san in a straight line.\n\nAnd beyond that, there was one Homyeongjeon warrior who had not fallen.\n\n”T-this can’t be happening.”\n\nMyeong Chi-san, a master representing the Blue-White Martial Arts.\n\nSuch a master had been pushed back and killed by a junior who had not even reached adulthood. It was an absurd thing that had happened.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong, who had walked slowly, stood three lengths away from the warrior.\n\nHe pointed his axe at the warrior.\n\n”Are you a Myeong?”\n\nThe warrior shook his head without realizing it. It was as if he had to do that to survive.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong nodded, then swung his axe in an instant.\n\nBang!\n\nA loud explosion erupted from a place where the bamboo trees were particularly dense.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong said coldly.\n\n”Come out.”\n\n”……My bones are aching.”\n\nThe one who appeared from behind the shattered bamboo trees was a young man who looked to be in his late twenties.\n\nThe young man, Myeong Gang-rim, asked with a stiff face.\n\n”Who the hell are you?”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong smiled brightly.\n\n”You are a Myeong.”