Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 352

“Can we go this way?”

“That’s what they said.”

“Damn it, why is it always like this? They could at least tell us something in the middle!”

“When have you ever seen them operate normally? Shut up! Just run!”

“Just one! Just one more thing!”

“What!”

“Are they coming too?”

“They’re not coming our way.”

“Then where are they going? Well, looking at the map, it’s not a place where they can use their strength.”

“Your words have the answer. They went to a place where they can use their strength.”

“Hoo.”

“Shut up! I’m out of breath! I can’t make the time! Just run!”

“Ah, let’s do that!”

* * *

Seok-gyeong’s eyes deepened.

“It’s over there.”

“Indeed.”

“The presence is ambiguous. It seems like one, maybe two. Or maybe even three.”

“Do you think they knew we were coming?”

“I don’t know. However, I heard their martial arts are at the level of a sect leader. With that level of skill, they would have read our military strength.”

“They might not have known beforehand, but they would have at least sensed the killing intent and prepared.”

“Isn’t that always the case? You know that too.”

“Indeed.”

Unlike Seok-gyeong, Gok-gang’s face was filled with subtle arrogance.

He was the last of the current Eighteen Martial Generals to be appointed. Naturally, his rank was also the last of the eighteen.

He had survived countless battles, but he had never been deployed in an operation as a Martial General. Naturally, he had a great desire to achieve merit to rise to a higher rank.

At the same time, his pride as a Martial General was immense. Moreover, the caliber of the troops he had brought was also impressive, so his expectations and arrogance were bound to be high.

Seok-gyeong clicked his tongue at Gok-gang.

“Don’t be careless. Yo-roe and Gyu-jeok died at their hands. If they were incompetent fools, would we have brought this many troops?”

“I know. That’s why I brought the troops. That’s why I’m relieved.”

Seok-gyeong inwardly shook his head.

Regardless of age, to show such a reaction despite having enough life-and-death experience could only be described as his nature.

In other words, he must have exceptional talent to have reached this position despite his arrogant nature.

Perhaps he would not change unless he met an opponent capable of breaking his talent.

“Let’s stop with the useless talk and finish this quickly.”

“As you wish. Ah! Come to think of it, we were supposed to capture them alive, weren’t we?”

“It’s better to capture them alive if possible, but it doesn’t matter if we kill them.”

“That’s good.”

Gok-gang’s face was filled with a dark killing intent.

From the start, he had no intention of letting those designated as enemies live. If he was ordered to capture them alive, he would have to, but otherwise, he would push forward with the intent to kill.

“Let’s go.”

Thus, Seok-gyeong, Gok-gang, and the silent Musung, the thirteenth Martial General, led one hundred and fifty masters of the Shinwha Cult in their advance.

‘Hmm.’

Seok-gyeong looked around.

‘The terrain is strange.’

The entrance was narrow and long. The cliffs on the left and right were quite high, making it difficult to climb even with the best movement techniques.

Certainly, this land was different from his homeland. The terrain was much more dynamic and complex.

He now understood why the people here were so adept at strategy and tactics. Having fought countless battles in various places across the vast Central Plains, they had no choice but to constantly develop methods to deal with different terrains and weather conditions.

“Is it a trap?”

Seok-gyeong shook his head at Gok-gang’s question.

“The most effective thing in a place like this is a rockfall trap. They might also throw oil barrels and shoot fire arrows.”

“I see.”

“But I don’t sense any presence or killing intent, and considering their numbers, it’s unlikely they would have prepared such a thing. Besides, they were constantly moving. Aside from manpower, they wouldn’t have had enough time to create such a trap.”

“You are right.”

At that moment, Musung opened his mouth.

“What if all of that was part of the trap?”

Musung was a man of few words, as his name suggested. If no one spoke to him, he could go a month or two without uttering a single word.

Seok-gyeong shook his head.

“If that were the case, it wouldn’t make sense. It would mean that the Commander-in-Chief colluded with them to prepare a trap, which would mean we were doomed from the start.”

Musung nodded without replying.

“Anyway.”

A starlight-like glow emanated from Seok-gyeong’s eyes.

“This is amazing.”

Whoosh!

A chilling aura could be felt from afar.

The density of that aura was truly remarkable. A sky-piercing vigor and the aura of an unfathomable abyss were felt simultaneously, and neither could be taken lightly.

‘Amazing.’

Regardless of who was stronger, it was strangely harmonious despite emitting such different qualities. Although their martial arts were different, it felt like they were complementing each other well with their energy.

‘So, they’re a team?’

It was then.

Thwack!

Two streams of storm-like energy rapidly approached.

It was a sudden charge. Seok-gyeong, Gok-gang, and Musung all instantly prepared for battle.

Whoong.

However, the two unknown masters did not intend to engage in battle immediately.

“Hmm.”

A middle-aged man, Tang Gwan, who had stopped at a distance, stroked his chin and looked around at the Shinwha Cult masters.

“You brought a whole bunch because two of you died. The lineup is quite impressive. Especially…”

Tang Gwan looked at Seok-gyeong.

Seok-gyeong also stared at Tang Gwan with unwavering eyes.

‘He’s strong.’

He was definitely different from that big guy.

The level of martial arts felt similar. Seok-gyeong seemed slightly stronger, but it was negligible.

That wasn’t the important thing.

‘His mindset is different.’

Yo-roe was a master who deserved full marks in most categories a martial artist should have, such as strength, internal energy, and stamina. However, he also had an attitude that a martial artist should be wary of.

Carelessness, arrogance.

Perhaps that was the weakness of most strong people.

But this guy was different. He was the strongest among the masters leading this group, yet he maintained a proper level of tension. At the same time, he exuded a spirit that he would never lose.

‘Now, proper opponents have come.’

It was then.

“How interesting.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stepped forward.

Whoooong.

The Gwangryong Axe [a fictional axe] on his shoulder emitted a terrifying hum.

Like a predator facing its natural enemy, the boiling anger from his core unleashed a fierce killing intent. And that killing intent was carried by the Gwangryong Axe, causing it to emit a sharp cry.

In the past, the organization Yeon Ho-jeong fought to the death was the Saeum Cult. He had never properly fought against the Shinwha Cult.

But to him, the Shinwha Cult and the Gwanghyeol Cult were no different from the Saeum Cult.

In the end, they were all part of the Three Cults. Because of the Three Cults, the things he had to protect were destroyed, and the precious people he had shared camaraderie with lost their lives.

And now, in this changed history, they had become a threat to the lives of his surviving family.

Past, present, and future.

In all those realms, Yeon Ho-jeong could find no reason not to be angry at the Three Cults.

“You three, are you the Eighteen Martial Generals?”

A deep killing intent was hidden in his playful voice.

Seok-gyeong’s eyes deepened.

“Did you know our identities?”

“Those lackeys you brought are Shinwha soldiers.”

Surprise and tension were revealed on the faces of Gok-gang, who was full of arrogance, and Musung, who had been expressionless.

Seok-gyeong’s face slightly contorted.

“How do you know so much about us?”

“Your side told me.”

“Our side?”

“The Twelve Martial Generals. I tortured them a bit, and they spilled everything.”

That was nonsense.

The Eighteen Martial Generals were not a position that could be attained simply by being strong in martial arts.

MArtial arts were a given, and they had to prove their absolute loyalty to the cult to be promoted. Once they reached the level of a Martial General, the probability of them betraying the cult, even in their dreams, was low.

In other words, no matter how terribly they were tortured, they would not reveal information about the cult. With that level of mental fortitude, they could not have become Martial Generals in the first place.

Even Gok-gang, who was so arrogant, would rather throw away his life than reveal even a single piece of information about the cult.

Seok-gyeong, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-jeong, continued.

“Let’s stop with the useless talk since time is precious. So, it was you who killed our cult’s Martial Generals.”

There were many things he wanted to ask and many things he wanted to know.

But this was a battlefield. There was no need to waste energy on pointless arguments.

Kill or capture. That was all that mattered.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded at Seok-gyeong’s words.

“That’s right.”

“Looking at your faces, it doesn’t seem like it will mean much, but I’ll give you a first and last warning.”

Whoosh.

Seok-gyeong’s pupils turned bright blue.

He had also mastered the Cheongro Sunhwa Gong [a fictional martial art] that Gyu-jeok had learned. But his aura had reached a different level than Gyu-jeok’s.

It was deeper, hotter, and more ferocious.

A tremendous energy wave that seemed capable of turning this entire area into a sea of fire was transmitted.

“Surrender. You will not lose your lives immediately, and even if you die later, I will grant you a painless death.”

It was a statement filled with terrifying confidence.

And his confidence was justified. With this much of a difference in troop strength, even the most timid person in the world would have the courage.

The difference in troop strength between the two groups was that great.

“No.”

However, there was not a trace of wavering in Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice.

Seok-gyeong nodded.

“Very well.”

That was the end of his words.

“Everyone, prepare for battle.”

Whoosh!

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong and Tang Gwan frowned without realizing it.

Whoosh!

It was as if lava was flowing throughout this narrow path. The air itself tried to flee in surprise at the tremendous fire energy emitted by over a hundred masters.

Yeon Ho-jeong and Tang Gwan were both well aware of how to attack masters who had mastered the Yeol Yang Gong [a fictional martial art].

But there was a limit to that. In the face of this tremendous fire energy that was being unleashed by a united force, even the two of them, who were among the best masters in the world, would find it difficult to approach.

‘It won’t be easy after all.’

Killing intent was killing intent, but reality was reality.

Yeon Ho-jeong scanned the masters with a cold gaze.

‘They’re all strong. Moreover, they’re all without any carelessness… Huh?’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s gaze stopped at Gok-gang.

He was not even forty years old. To have broken through the wall of the Martial Grandmaster at that age was truly a testament to his amazing talent.

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

It was because he sensed a subtle arrogance in Gok-gang’s expression.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong slammed the Gwangryong Axe on his shoulder into the ground and then raised the axe again, aiming it at Gok-gang.

“You, what’s your name?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s insight was accurate.

“…You little brat.”

Gok-gang’s face twisted.

He was a young man who looked at least ten years younger than him. For such a guy to be aiming an axe at him, Gok-gang’s mood was thoroughly soured.

Before Gok-gang could speak again, Yeon Ho-jeong said,

“I’m Yeon Ho-jeong.”

“…?”

“Do you know me?”

Seok-gyeong and Musung’s eyes flashed with a different light.

‘The greatest rising star of the younger generation.’

They could not possibly be unaware of the reputation of Byeoksan Hojang [a title]. He was the hottest name in the current martial world.

‘Indeed.’

Byeoksan Hojang Yeon Ho-jeong. The eldest son of the Gangdong Byeoksan Yeon family.

From the Yeon family, known for their swordsmanship, he was the greatest genius of this era, who had gained immense fame by using a giant axe as his main weapon.

Gok-gang’s lips curled up.

“So that’s why you were carrying an axe. You crazy bastard. Just because you have a fancy weapon doesn’t mean the world is yours…”

“Come in.”

“…What?”

“Let’s have the weakest fight first.”

“…?!”

“Or were you not? You’re the weakest one there, right? You’re perfect as the vanguard?”

In an instant, killing intent exploded from Gok-gang’s body.