Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 355

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

‘Impressive.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been rushing towards Seok-Gyeong, abruptly changed direction and attacked Mu-Seong.

It was an unconventional attack, to say the least. Yet, Mu-Seong seemed to have been waiting for it, blocking the Gwangryongbu [Great Dragon Axe] with ease. The shock of the internal energy transmitted through the axe blade was truly immense.

‘He’s unharmed.’

It was a strike infused with the full power of the White Tiger Qi [one of the Four Divine Beasts]. Yet, he had deflected it with a bare hand strike, and his hand was unscathed.

Crack!

Still, due to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s unique strength and the weight of the Gwangryongbu, Mu-Seong was pushed back two steps. At least in terms of raw power, Yeon Ho-Jeong had the upper hand.

“You fiend!”

Seok-Gyeong immediately lunged at Yeon Ho-Jeong with his Fiery Divine Palm.

Whoosh!

The left side of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face grew hot. A tremendous heat was radiating from the attack.

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong soared into the sky.

Boom!

The Fiery Divine Palm smashed into the cliff. It wasn’t just hot; it possessed enough power to crush rock.

Seok-Gyeong looked up at Yeon Ho-Jeong. As if he had anticipated the aerial escape, he was already preparing another palm strike with his left hand.

That’s when it happened.

Whoosh!

A sinister fist wind shot towards Seok-Gyeong’s torso.

It was an internal energy that flowed along the air currents. Its power wasn’t strong, but if it hit, it would temporarily reduce his combat power. The venomous energy was particularly fierce.

‘The Tang Clan?!’

Seok-Gyeong lashed out with his left hand towards Tang Gwan’s energy.

Clang!

Flames erupted in all directions with a loud explosion. A sweet smell wafted through the air with the flames. It was the scent of a venomous palm being shattered.

Tang Gwan gave a cold smile.

“Arrogant fool!”

Seok-Gyeong’s face contorted with murderous intent.

“Tang Clan vermin.”

Swoosh!

Seok-Gyeong charged at Tang Gwan.

He was even faster than Gok-Gang’s movements, yet he seemed relaxed. He was keeping his footwork and movement fluid, ready to react at any moment.

Tang Gwan calmly stood with his hands behind his back, facing Seok-Gyeong.

Seok-Gyeong’s eyes narrowed.

‘Is he planning something?’

At that moment, a tremendous killing intent swirled behind him.

‘…!’

Seok-Gyeong quickly dodged to the side.

Boom!

The Gwangryongbu, spinning like a wheel, slammed into the spot where Seok-Gyeong had been standing.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had somehow climbed onto the axe’s shaft, thrust a palm towards Seok-Gyeong.

Thud!

Seok-Gyeong was pushed back.

The impact wasn’t severe. It was a pushing force, not an explosive one.

As Seok-Gyeong retreated, Mu-Seong immediately charged in.

Blue light swirled in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils.

Crack!

The Gwangryongbu was drawn in an instant.

Flash!

The speed of the Gwangryongbu’s horizontal sweep was faster than any quick sword.

Mu-Seong blocked it with three layers of Fiery Divine Palm, but the destructive power of the Gwangryongbu’s single strike was so immense that it shattered the three-layered defense.

Boom!

Mu-Seong was pushed back again. His usually expressionless face was slightly distorted.

Thud!

There was a giant divine general blocking the narrow path between the cliffs.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, wielding a massive axe, was exuding an aura that didn’t match his slender physique.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Yeon Family’s Inner Core was spinning at high speed. From the center of the rotating core, the Byukra True Qi [a type of internal energy] maintained its balance, while the Dragon Robe Qi [another type of internal energy] radiated like the heat of the sun.

Whirr! Whirr!

White light emanated from the Gwangryongbu. The translucent white light split into several strands, constantly swirling around the axe blade and shaft of the Gwangryongbu.

Whoosh!

The red killing intent rising from behind contained the fury of an ascending phoenix. The killing intent of the sun god was amplifying over time.

Buzz.

A subtle, greenish-blue wind swirled around his legs, creating a sense of calm, and a translucent hexagonal black armor floated in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong, establishing an absolute defense.

The Yeon Family’s Inner Core, a fusion of Byukra True Qi and Dragon Robe Divine Art, was fully activated. The Four Divine Beasts’ Qi coursed through his body, completely unleashing his combat power.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had unleashed all his power. He glared at his enemies, now a heavenly invincible general, and even Seok-Gyeong and Mu-Seong flinched at his fierce gaze.

Yeon Ho-Jeong lightly sliced through the air with the Gwangryongbu.

Whoosh!

The pure white wind amplified, giving the Gwangryongbu the teeth of a beast.

“Come.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong extended his left hand to the middle.

Whoosh.

Red flames and white wind mixed wildly at his fingertips, creating a menacing atmosphere.

“Now, come at me.”

It was a provocative challenge.

Seok-Gyeong’s face twisted.

Flash!

Surprisingly, Mu-Seong moved before Seok-Gyeong.

Was he humiliated by being pushed back in the previous exchange? Mu-Seong’s aura, blazing with blue flames, was truly terrifying as he charged forward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two men’s martial arts collided, unleashing a terrifying shockwave.

Crack! Crack! Boom!

The shockwave cracked the ground and the cliffs. The clash of two supreme masters, giving their all, had damaged the stone walls that nature had painstakingly created over thousands of years.

Mu-Seong’s Hell King Fist aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chest.

Yeon Ho-Jeong simply raised the shaft of his axe to meet it.

Clang!

It was a spectacular collision.

The flames from the Hell King Fist scattered in all directions, and the white wind that had been swirling around the Gwangryongbu spread out like smoke.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

He had stood against his enemies with his spirit, but he wouldn’t just keep taking it. A hundred Divine Soldiers were rushing along the cliffs on both sides.

They intended to encircle and attack from the rear. It was a simple yet effective tactic.

Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong wasn’t going to just stand by and watch.

Yeon Ho-Jeong powerfully stomped his foot.

Boom!

Gathering the explosive force, he unleashed the Tiger King’s Wall Breaking Stance, Tiger Claw Mayhem.

Boom! Boom! Crash!

It was a chaotic attack that slashed and struck not only the front but also the left and right.

It was like a madman’s axe rampage. Wielding a heavy weapon of over eighty pounds in a chaotic attack, the sheer pressure was indescribable, regardless of one’s level of mastery.

Thud! Splatter!

The bodies of three Divine Soldiers were torn to shreds by the claws of the great tiger, creating a whirlwind. It was a chaotic attack that covered an unimaginable range, and they were caught off guard.

Mu-Seong’s eyes gleamed.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a couple of steps back. While the chaotic attack had blocked the advance from the left and right, it had weakened his attack against Mu-Seong in front.

Whoosh!

Mu-Seong moved with momentum.

Mu-Seong charged in a straight line, his Fire Dragon Demon Blade, a hand strike, aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lower body.

‘…?!’

In that instant, Mu-Seong couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

‘Why?’

With his skills, he could have dodged, defended, or counterattacked. The attack on his lower body was meant to be a follow-up to push Yeon Ho-Jeong back.

Yet, Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t seem to care about the attack. Instead, he was about to unleash another chaotic attack to the left and right, as if he didn’t mind having his legs cut off.

‘Why?’

That’s when it happened.

“Mu-Seong!”

Flash! Boom!

Seok-Gyeong, who had closed the distance in an instant, blocked the attack above Mu-Seong’s head.

“Ugh!”

Mu-Seong and Seok-Gyeong staggered back.

Sizzle!

Dark gray smoke rose from their hands. It was poison.

Mu-Seong was startled and looked ahead.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong was unleashing a chaotic attack that covered all directions.

And behind Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder, Tang Gwan was emitting a blue light.

Tang Gwan flicked his fingers.

Whizz!

Two daggers flew in a curve, slicing through the air.

It was incredible. They weren’t flying in a straight line, but in a curve, and their speed doubled as they rotated.

Thud! Clang!

The daggers that Mu-Seong dodged pierced the abdomen of a Divine Soldier. Seok-Gyeong shattered the daggers with his fist.

It didn’t end there.

“To charge at a Tang Clan member with bare hands.”

Swish!

Tang Gwan’s hands were filled with countless hidden weapons.

It was impossible to tell where he had hidden so many weapons. Moreover, they were all different, making it impossible to know what each one did.

“You will learn the meaning of your arrogance with death.”

Tang Gwan swung both hands.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dozens of hidden weapons poured towards the two men, avoiding Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Seok-Gyeong gritted his teeth.

“You fiend!”

Boom!

With a powerful stomp, he unleashed palm strikes in all directions.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Clang! Thud!

Seventy percent of the hidden weapons were blocked by Seok-Gyeong’s palm energy shield.

Seok-Gyeong’s eyes wavered.

‘Dodged?!’

It was unbelievable.

He had poured all his internal energy to block the entire front. Yet, thirty percent of the hidden weapons curved through the air and struck the Divine Soldiers behind him.

The surprise didn’t end there.

“Aaaargh!”

“Ugh!”

The Divine Soldiers who were hit by the hidden weapons screamed and fell backward.

‘Screaming?!’

Not only Seok-Gyeong but also Mu-Seong was surprised.

Like the other cult members, the Divine Soldiers were well-trained in mind and spirit for loyalty and faith. They were individuals with the mental fortitude to not even flinch at severe torture.

Yet, these Divine Soldiers were screaming. Just from being hit by hidden weapons!

Soon, they understood why.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The fallen Divine Soldiers were vomiting blood from all their orifices. Their bodies were twitching.

It was the hidden weapons.

The hidden weapons that had penetrated their bodies were traveling through their blood vessels, tearing through their veins and severing their nerves.

It was a truly cruel attack. Seok-Gyeong shuddered at Tang Gwan’s brutal hidden weapon techniques.

“You madman!”

Tang Gwan flicked his fingers.

Whizz! Thud!

There was no time to curse.

His wrists ached from deflecting the hidden weapons that were flying at him, exploiting any opening. Even those small hidden weapons contained a considerable amount of internal energy.

Crash! Boom!

The cliffs on the left and right were now completely destroyed.

The already narrow path had become even narrower. The pieces of rock that had been dislodged from the walls by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Tiger Claw Mayhem were inflicting gruesome wounds on the Divine Soldiers.

Whoosh! Thud! Whoosh! Thud!

The Divine Soldiers were falling helplessly to Tang Gwan’s internal energy attacks that were being unleashed in the gaps.

Sizzle!

The fallen Divine Soldiers vomited dark red blood along with a hazy smoke. The Divine Soldiers who vomited blood did not rise again.

It was the Tang Clan’s Thousand Poisons Hand. The ruthless internal energy technique that had killed Yo-Roe was instantly taking the lives of the Divine Soldiers.

“…This!”

Mu-Seong involuntarily sighed.

In front, a madman wielding a giant axe was holding the line with an ironclad defense, and behind, a demon of poisonous hidden weapons was launching brutal attacks, making it impossible to approach.

As if they had been working together for their entire lives, the two masters were perfectly fulfilling their roles. Their plan to sweep them away with overwhelming force had failed, at least against these two.

‘This won’t do.’

Seok-Gyeong made a cold assessment.

He had ordered a full-scale attack in a moment of anger, but if they continued like this, they would only lose more troops.

“All troops, cease the attack! Retreat to the rear!”

The orders of a superior were absolute. Mu-Seong and all the Divine Soldiers immediately retreated.

That’s when it happened.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Tang Gwan closed the distance again.

They were trying to maintain the momentum of the battle where they had gained the upper hand. The two, who were unmatched in practical combat, worked together seamlessly without a single word.

It didn’t end there.

“Uwaaaah!”

Boom!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been focusing on defense, suddenly charged forward in a straight line and swung the Gwangryongbu at Seok-Gyeong.

Seok-Gyeong’s eyes flashed.

Clang!

With a powerful shockwave, Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly retreated.

Whizz!

At the same time, seven of Tang Gwan’s daggers were launched at Seok-Gyeong.

In an instant, Mu-Seong moved like a shadow.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Mu-Seong’s Hell King Eight Fists deflected all seven daggers.

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

His neck turned red, as if he was starting to heat up.

“So, you’re not just going to take it, huh?”