Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 588

“Seize him! Seize… Kugh!”

Thwack!

The leader of the Cheon Yang Clan was sent flying by a powerful kick.

He wasn’t dead, but he had clearly suffered significant internal injuries. The blood he coughed up was stained black.

Even though the blow wasn’t fatal, his blood was black. A person who had trained in poison arts, his inner energy was shaken, and his blood points were disrupted. He wouldn’t be able to move for a while.

‘Yes, that’s about right.’

Shreeeeek! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Paeyul’s swordsmanship, deflecting dozens of hidden weapons, was dazzling to behold.

‘In a state of combat incapacity, that’s just right.’

The appearance of a formidable master meant that the Dang Clan’s leadership had joined the rebellion.

They couldn’t carelessly take the lives of those who were not of that caliber. It wasn’t something anyone had said out loud, but it was a rule that everyone in the group had tacitly accepted.

That’s what made it more difficult.

Amidst those who were unleashing poison and hidden weapons like a storm, they had to neutralize the enemy without killing them. Paeyul was once again realizing how dangerous this operation was, as Yeon Ho-Jeong had said.

‘It’s about time to move.’

Clang! Clang!

The hidden weapons were sucked into the vortex of his sword, which was drawing a circle.

The intense gravitational pull created by the sword wind was drawing in the hidden weapons. The sucked-in weapons collided with each other, breaking and losing their power.

A brilliant move. The Jeomchang’s ‘Whirling Wind Willow Dance’ [a sword technique] was deployed perfectly, becoming an absolute barrier protecting its master.

‘Is it not time yet? I could charge in further, but…’

It was then.

Whoosh!

Paeyul’s eyes flashed.

A sharp, piercing killing intent. That killing intent was aimed at his neck.

He quickly raised his spear to block it.

Claaang!

The impact was immense.

For a moment, his back was bent backward. If his lower body hadn’t been as hard as steel from extreme training, he might have fallen backward from the sheer force of the impact.

“Impressive.”

Swoosh.

The man who had rushed in like the wind and delivered a fatal blow straightened his posture.

“Amazing reaction speed. They said you were a transcendent master, and it seems it wasn’t an empty boast.”

Paeyul’s eyes gleamed.

He just stared at his opponent without saying a word. There was no need to engage in conversation.

The attacker, Dang Mok-Jin, the leader of the Yin Soul Unit, raised his short staff.

“I am Dang Mok-Jin, the leader of the Yin Soul Unit of the great Dang Clan. Reveal your identity.”

A strong dignity emanated from him.

He was a master of a different caliber than the warriors he had faced so far. He hadn’t broken through the Wall of Martial Arts [a metaphor for reaching a higher level of mastery], but in terms of pure martial arts, he had built up a formidable power that wouldn’t be inferior to Gang Ryang.

‘His weight is considerable.’

The difference between having crossed the Wall of Martial Arts and not is significant.

However, no matter how big the difference, anyone would stagger if they received an ambush of this magnitude. His assassination-level stealth, extreme speed, and power-based martial arts using his heavy build combined to deliver a powerful blow.

Paeyul spat on the ground.

It was an action like a third-rate street thug. But Dang Mok-Jin didn’t underestimate him.

‘Amazing.’

Whoooosh!

It was as if crimson flames were raging around the attacker’s body.

It was a wild aura. It was like standing in front of a volcano about to erupt.

And what about his martial arts?

Even though he was wielding two completely mismatched weapons, a short spear and a bizarre sword, the martial arts he displayed were harmonious and elegant. Apart from the power and killing intent, he knew how to perfectly control two different martial arts.

Not just anyone could do that. Even if one was a transcendent master, they wouldn’t be able to display such harmonious martial arts unless they had grasped their own martial principles.

‘That’s why.’

Whoooom.

Reddish smoke billowed from Dang Mok-Jin’s short staff.

It was the true energy of the Poison Dragon Divine Art [a powerful poison-based martial art]. The ultimate poison art, one of the best in the Dang Clan, was being unleashed to its maximum.

‘I can’t let him live even more.’

The Clan Head had ordered them to capture the attacker alive.

But Dang Mok-Jin was certain. That guy wasn’t someone they could capture alive.

Apart from his martial arts level, his temperament was like that. He was the type who would bite his tongue the moment he was captured. He could tell just by looking at his eyes.

And it didn’t seem like he was someone they could target pressure points on.

‘I’ll try if I see an opportunity… but not until then.’

Dang Mok-Jin said,

“Everyone, deploy the Yin Soul Killing Formation…”

In that instant, Paeyul’s eyes changed.

“…Deploy!”

Thwack!

It was a terrifying blow.

A sonic boom erupted simultaneously with a ground-shaking kick. The time between the kick that drew up power and the exploding force was close to zero.

‘Tch!’

Dang Mok-Jin, who had been pushed back by five yards, gritted his teeth.

‘Crazy!’

It was a martial art of monstrous strength.

He had only blocked one attack, but his whole body was tingling. If he hadn’t thrown himself back to dissipate the impact, a hole would have definitely been punched through his body.

But there was no next time.

Whoooosh!

In an instant, black-clad warriors surrounded Paeyul, raising their short staffs and emitting a red aura.

It was the Yin Soul Killing Formation of the Yin Soul Unit. The Poison Dragon Energy wasn’t fatal in itself, but in terms of its persistence in gradually draining stamina, it was the best in the Dang Clan.

The formation of warriors who had mastered the Poison Dragon Art was therefore terrifying. They lacked the power to kill with a single blow, but once caught, they would slowly but surely break you down.

Paeyul’s face hardened.

‘Not good.’

His immunity to Dang Clan poison was still increasing at this moment. He could feel it.

But the rate of increase was gradually slowing down. It meant that the goal was not far off.

‘Damn it.’

If he didn’t break this formation, he would be helpless.

Paeyul’s short spear spat fire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seven warriors were thrown back as if they were bouncing off from the three consecutive strikes of the Penetrating Spear [a spear technique].

‘An opening!’

Whoosh!

Paeyul, who had tried to break through the gap in the formation, realized that the warriors of the Cheon Yang Clan were blocking his path.

Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud!

He deflected them with his spear and sword. No matter how great the formation was, it was not enough to stop Paeyul’s monstrous strength.

It was then.

Dang Mok-Jin, who had approached like a ghost again, struck down with his short staff towards Paeyul’s crown.

Claaaaaang!

It was still heavy.

It wasn’t as heavy as before, but it was enough to make him falter for a moment.

Swoosh!

The Yin Soul Killing Formation was activated again.

Paeyul’s spear and sword were swung in all directions.

Wham! Wham! Clang! Clang!

Sharp and strong. Fast and erratic.

The martial arts created by the two weapons were truly artistic.

But the Yin Soul Unit did not collapse. The formation power of the Yin Soul Killing Formation was slowly, little by little, binding Paeyul’s limbs like an invisible fog.

‘Damn it.’

Paeyul kicked off the ground. He was planning to escape from the formation even if it meant taking some damage.

Whoosh!

The moment he tried to tear through with force, Paeyul was back in his original position.

Trickle.

A drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead.

“Just as I thought.”

Dang Mok-Jin stroked his wrist. A tremendous shock had been transmitted from the short staff that had collided with Paeyul’s bizarre sword.

“Your martial arts are impressive, but your senses are also outstanding.”

The moment one tried to break out of the Yin Soul Killing Formation with force, the Poison Dragon Energy of all the formation members would pour like a waterfall towards the gap in the formation.

Even if it wasn’t a fatal poison, anyone would be ruined if they inhaled a large amount of Poison Dragon Energy in an instant. Dang Mok-Jin’s attack, aimed at that moment, would have been impossible for Paeyul to block.

If he broke out, he would die. If he didn’t break out, he would die eventually.

A death formation with one of the greatest utilities in high-level battles. There was a reason why Dang Ho had sent the Yin Soul Unit.

‘Is there no way?’

Paeyul was conflicted.

He had felt a moment of crisis and returned, but he had taken the antidote that Dang Gwan had prepared. He thought that would be enough to hold out.

‘It’s a formation concentrated internally. It’s extremely vulnerable to external attacks. If so, then after escaping… no.’

Paeyul gripped his spear and sword again.

‘I can hold out, but it will be difficult to block the follow-up attacks that come in succession.’

Although not as much as Yeon Ho-Jeong or Gang Ryang, Paeyul also had a natural talent for sensing the atmosphere of a fight.

He was someone who could read the line between life and death. As of now, there was no way to escape from the Yin Soul Killing Formation.

‘I’ll have to hold out somehow. After all, I’m the bait. I just need to be faithful to my role.’

He hoped he wouldn’t die if possible.

‘Well, if I die, I die.’

To die fighting gloriously against an enemy on a heart-pounding battlefield. That was Paeyul’s wish.

But not everyone achieves their dreams. If one could achieve their dreams just by trying, the world wouldn’t be so harsh.

‘Even if I die.’

Thump!

Paeyul’s eyes changed again as he powerfully stamped his foot.

‘I will fulfill my role.’

Dang Mok-Jin’s eyes gleamed.

‘He’s changed?!’

The opponent’s eyes and temperament had changed.

The eyes that had been watching all directions were now filled with focus for battle, and the endlessly rough aura had instantly become calm.

‘He’s made up his mind.’

Crrrrrr!

It was as if he was drawing out all the power in his body.

Thump!

In an instant, the formation power of the Yin Soul Killing Formation rippled wildly like the surface of water in a typhoon. Even the formation power was affected by Paeyul’s aura that had exploded in an instant.

Dang Mok-Jin’s face hardened.

“The prey has risked his life. Prepare to open the limits of the Poison Dragon Art.”

Swoooosh!

In the face of Paeyul’s overwhelming aura, the energy of the members forming the Yin Soul Killing Formation also began to rise slowly.

Paeyul grinned.

After the Yin Soul Unit had been deployed, it was the first time he had opened his mouth.

“I didn’t intend to meet my end fighting against poison… but if this is my fate, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”

It was a statement close to a soliloquy.

‘……’

But the eyes of Dang Mok-Jin and all the members of the Yin Soul Unit, who heard those words, became extremely ferocious for a moment. They felt anger at Paeyul’s words, which seemed to disregard poison.

Dang Mok-Jin shouted angrily.

“Turn him into a puddle of blood!”

Thwack!

Paeyul, who had stamped his foot again, powerfully thrust his spear.

“Shut up, you bastard!”

The Penetrating Spear exploded in Paeyul’s hand.

It was at that moment.

Crack.

Time slowed down.

In a world where every single floating speck of dust was visible.

The power of a thunder god wielding a bright yellow lightning bolt shook the heavens and the earth.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Zzzzzzzzz!

It was as if dozens of lightning bolts had fallen from the clear sky.

Bang! Rumble! Thud!

All sorts of booming and explosive sounds were rampant.

The earth crumbled, and a nearby building collapsed. Lightning bolts that stretched out like rays of light burned trees and smashed through building walls, creating a terrifying sense of oppression.

‘……?!’

Paeyul’s eyes widened.

In the same posture as when he had thrust the Penetrating Spear, he looked towards the eastern sky.

Flash!

There was someone moving forward, scattering a lightning bolt. Their movement was so fast that the moment he caught sight of them, they had already disappeared from that spot.

“…Huh.”

Paeyul looked around.

“Cough!”

“Kuh-ugh!”

With strange groans, most of the thirty or so warriors who had formed the Yin Soul Killing Formation were lying on the ground.

Half of them were covered in blood, and the other half were trembling with stiff bodies even though they had no wounds. They had been struck by lightning energy.

“Uwaaaak!”

Dang Mok-Jin, who had managed to survive, spat out a mouthful of blood and looked at Paeyul with trembling eyes.

“Th-this… monster?!”

Paeyul, who had been staring blankly at Dang Mok-Jin, shrugged his shoulders for a moment.

“You thought I was going easy on you. I’m actually pretty good.”

“Uwaaaak!”

“You’ve had a hard time. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Thwack!

Paeyul, who had run up and smacked Dang Mok-Jin on the head, knocking him unconscious, left the scene.

He had escaped from the crisis with the help of Moyong Gun, who had infiltrated late, a transcendent master with the power of thunder.