Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 684

Boom!

Myeong Geuk retreated, his twin palms swinging in a defensive arc.

Wham! Wham!

The Tongcheon Axe, propelled by terrifying momentum, shattered Myeong Geuk’s palm strikes as it relentlessly advanced.

Flash!

At the tip of the Tongcheon Axe’s blade, a thick, sharp spearhead was affixed, adding to its lethality.

Moreover, Yeon Ho-Jeong was a master of all weapons, employing techniques perfectly suited to each. His movements, a blend of swings and cuts, were combined with a monstrous piercing power—a charge capable of piercing even solid rock. Golden true energy flickered around Myeong Geuk’s hands.

Clang!

A short, powerful series of two-fisted strikes met the axe.

The Tongcheon Axe, which had been pushing forward with brute force, was suddenly deflected. As the axe lost its direction, the momentum shifted, placing a heavy burden on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s upper body.

Myeong Geuk seized the opportunity.

Whack!

Myeong Geuk, using the Tongcheon Axe as a stepping stone with terrifying footwork, launched a kick aimed at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

Whoosh! Bang!

Three shallow scars appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s right cheek. They were wounds caused by the sheer force of the wind, the air pressure alone. He had barely evaded Myeong Geuk’s kick, which possessed an attack power greater than a fired cannon.

“Hoo.”

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly retreated. His hands were now empty; he had released the Tongcheon Axe and backed away.

Myeong Geuk, watching Yeon Ho-Jeong calmly, placed his hands behind his back. His figure, standing on the spear shaft of the Tongcheon Axe that was embedded in the ground, angled towards the sky, exuded an air of ease.

“Impressive judgment. If you had held onto the axe until the end, your head would have been crushed.”

When the Tongcheon Axe was deflected, Myeong Geuk’s true energy had already begun to penetrate the spear shaft. In that fleeting moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong had grasped this, releasing the axe and evading the kick. Had he not, as Myeong Geuk said, the kick would have reversed and crushed the back of his head.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong exhaled.

Fssst.

From his palm, a translucent yellow smoke rose. He had vaporized the true energy that had penetrated him.

Myeong Geuk’s eyes narrowed.

‘Fast.’

He himself was like a ghost, having penetrated with his true energy, but the opponent’s sensitivity in immediately recognizing the true energy that had seeped in without a trace and instantly vaporizing it was beyond admiration; it was astonishing.

‘His judgment is incredibly fast. That judgment must be based on his acute senses.’

He had felt it when they first met, but that guy’s senses were truly unparalleled. Although this realm was so diverse and each had its own characteristics, the senses he had were not something that could be obtained at that level. It wasn’t just the five senses, but especially in terms of his energy sense, he was almost on par with the Sect Leader.

‘He’s truly an extraordinary talent.’

While Myeong Geuk was impressed by Yeon Ho-Jeong, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s thoughts about Myeong Geuk were a little different.

‘I have to admit it.’

The opponent was at ease.

It was a fight where victory or defeat could be decided in an instant, but he was slightly disadvantaged. It was slight, but there was definitely a difference in power. Furthermore, the opponent also had time to spare.

That was how much he trusted his forces. Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong also trusted his allies, but considering the difference between the invading side and the defending side, it was inevitable.

‘This guy is strong. He uses the martial arts of the Demonic Cult, but it’s completely different from the Demonic Cult’s martial arts. I’ve never experienced such unique martial arts before.’

Myeong Geuk’s power was not something that could be simply acknowledged as an unknown, unfamiliar force. He possessed a powerful divine art [a martial art technique that is considered to be of the highest level] that could block the axe blade swung with ultimate power. And he used that divine art to attack with his bare hands, and despite being bare-handed, it boasted a strength greater than a divine weapon.

It wasn’t a fight that simply created openings or overwhelmed with power.

‘Too slow.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flickered slightly.

‘I’m clearly using all my power, but at the crucial moment, I’m half a beat late.’

In fact, that was the most concerning part of the fight with Myeong Geuk. He had often been at a disadvantage due to his achieved realm, but he had never been at a disadvantage in terms of combat skills since becoming the legend of the Black Abyss.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was a martial artist extremely specialized in the realm of combat and fighting. His sharpness, experience, and fighting spirit, which allowed him to respond immediately to any unconventional methods used by his opponent, were always with him.

But this time?

‘I’m not missing any forms or tactics, but I can’t land a decisive blow.’

There would also be a difference in power. It was slight, but it was a difference that could not be ignored. However, it was too much of a miss to simply attribute it to a difference in power.

‘What should I do?’

While glaring at Myeong Geuk, Yeon Ho-Jeong could hear the screams and roars coming from the Jongnam main mountain.

Uwaaaaa! Boom! Boom!

It seemed like a mess. The sound of swords and spears clashing, the mad shouts that were hard to tell if they were screams or battle cries, the sound of something exploding, the sound of something burning…

‘Are they okay? Are they holding up well?’

There was nothing more dangerous than thinking about other things during a battle. He knew it, but he couldn’t help it. That was how important the Jongnam battle was. At least as much as the Sichuan incident, or even more so, the outcome was crucial.

A troubled face, heavy eyes. Undeniable worry was evident.

Myeong Geuk’s lips curled up.

“Are you worried?”

“……”

“You possess monstrous talent and amazing combat abilities, but at times like this, you show a childish side.”

“……”

“You shouldn’t think about other things during a fight. Especially if you’re a step below your opponent.”

“It’s thanks to you.”

“What?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“It’s thanks to you thinking you have time to spare.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seeing you just waiting calmly now, it seems you have plenty of time. You don’t seem to have any reason to attack first. You must think it’s a success just to keep me tied up until the end of the battle.”

“……”

“Thanks to your ease, I can also worry. Well, I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

Myeong Geuk chuckled.

“You’re unnecessarily sharp, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re clumsy.”

“So what? Isn’t that good for you? If the enemy is clumsy, you should be triumphant, why are you even pointing it out?”

“……Hmm.”

“Everyone has the same desire to mock their enemies. I understand.”

He was a strange one. He admitted that he was clumsy, but that statement was strangely unpleasant.

Myeong Geuk spoke calmly.

“I’m fine, but I also have this thought. Isn’t it also tempting to quickly deal with a clumsy enemy without wasting time?”

“So it was true.”

“What?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“I was just guessing, but it was true. Even if there’s a difference in power, I’m clearly a formidable opponent, but you really think time is on your side.”

Myeong Geuk’s face hardened slightly.

“You got me there.”

“You got hit twice.”

“……?”

“No matter how confident you are in this war, you don’t seem like a fool who can’t consider variables. But you’re not actively attacking me…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong gave a faint smile.

“Do you not want to get hurt?”

“……”

“Am I that scary?”

Wham!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body slid backward.

Myeong Geuk, who had come down from the Tongcheon Axe, slowly turned his neck.

“You’re definitely the best at provocation.”

“Ugh.”

“I’ve changed my mind. As you said, there’s no need to wait for the battle to end.”

Kugugugung!

The ground around Myeong Geuk shook as if there was an earthquake.

Whoosh!

The firestorm that had been rushing down had already fled far away. The firestorm, which kept straying to the side due to the shockwaves of the two supreme masters, was gradually losing its power due to the fierce air pressure at this moment.

Fssst!

From Myeong Geuk’s hands, golden blade-shaped true energy was drawn out.

Whoosh!

The two blades that extended from the center of his palms exuded a terrifying killing intent. It was the Flesh Palm Sword, the Guiding Calamity Heavenly God Blade. It was a divine art that only Myeong Geuk had mastered in the Demonic Cult, a blade of true energy that possessed the elasticity and strength of the Guiding Calamity Heavenly God Armor.

Flash!

A firm killing intent settled in Myeong Geuk’s eyes.

“Die.”

It was then.

Click!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s middle finger and thumb, which had been touching, flicked, making a clear sound. In that instant, Myeong Geuk flinched. It was such an abrupt action that he missed his attack rhythm.

At the same time, an astonishing thing happened.

Fssst.

The area near Myeong Geuk’s side of his clothing turned to dust and scattered.

“…So that’s what it was.”

A flustered Myeong Geuk looked down at his side, then turned his gaze to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, wiping the blood from his mouth, gently loosened his shoulders.

“Now I understand. Why I keep missing the decisive blow, why I keep having other thoughts.”

Myeong Geuk’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tapped his head with his finger.

“You’re using your upper dantian [an energy center in the body] in that way, aren’t you?”

Bang!

Myeong Geuk, closing the distance at an incredible speed, struck Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left collarbone.

Clang! Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet dug into the ground.

Myeong Geuk was startled. The Guiding Calamity Heavenly God Blade’s strike had not cut through Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

‘This is?’

To block such a strike with his bare body?

‘Could it be the Guiding Calamity Heavenly God Armor?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left hand swept across his back.

Flash!

Myeong Geuk, who had quickly retreated, lowered his stance.

In Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left hand, the White Dragon Axe was now held.

Swoosh.

The clothing on Myeong Geuk’s chest was cut short horizontally. He had not completely evaded the White Dragon Axe’s strike.

“How is it?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

“Even if I don’t master a divine art as amazing as yours, it’s not hard to block it with my bare body, is it?”

“…You!”

“You thought I would dodge, didn’t you? Furthermore, you didn’t expect me to use a hand axe.”

Whoosh!

A white wind rose from the White Dragon Axe. It was the true energy of the Tiger King, the White Tiger Energy.

“What are you doing? You said you were going to kill me?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong beckoned with his right hand.

“I’ll take you on. Come.”

“You!”

Whack!

Myeong Geuk, who was charging again, was momentarily shocked.

Swish!

Something that was emitted from inside Yeon Ho-Jeong’s right sleeve targeted his throat with lightning speed.

‘A hidden weapon?!’

It wasn’t a hidden weapon. But it was an attack filled with a sinister nature no less than a hidden weapon.

Myeong Geuk quickly changed direction. As a result, Myeong Geuk’s body, unable to overcome the forward momentum, stopped three yards away from Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Swish! Clang!

The fired Dragon Binding Chain was firmly wrapped around the spear shaft of the Tongcheon Axe.

In an instant, a strong force was applied to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abdomen.

“Uwaaa!”

Bang! Whoosh!

The Tongcheon Axe, pulled out by the Dragon Binding Chain, was swung in a huge crescent, heading towards Myeong Geuk’s head.

Myeong Geuk’s eyes shook as if there was an earthquake. He knew that he was hiding something inside his body, but he didn’t know it was an iron chain. It must have been thanks to that iron chain that he blocked the Guiding Calamity Heavenly God Blade.

What was even more surprising was that the length of the iron chain had noticeably shortened in an instant.

‘A tool!!’

Myeong Geuk’s right palm was swung towards the falling Tongcheon Axe.

Clang!

Half of the Tongcheon Axe’s blade flew off.

Myeong Geuk predicted Yeon Ho-Jeong’s charge. And his prediction was accurate. Yeon Ho-Jeong had already entered within a yard.

‘Not good.’

At that moment, a seven-colored aura flashed like lightning in Myeong Geuk’s eyes and disappeared. In an instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s White Dragon Axe was swung half a beat late. It was the very ‘trick’ that Yeon Ho-Jeong had been wondering about that was being used.

‘Good, I’ll counterattack immediately…’

Thud!

Myeong Geuk staggered and retreated.

Swish.

A deep wound appeared on his right shoulder. It was a wound caused by the axe.

A surprised Myeong Geuk looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Swish.

At the end of the White Dragon Axe, which was still stuck in the ground, the Dragon Binding Chain was tied.

“So it wasn’t that I missed the beat.”

“… !”

“You made me slow down. That’s how your upper dantian ability was used. But in the face of a trick that surpasses your predictions, it’s useless.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“Now, go ahead and try. I’m a specialist in unpredictable variable fights. Let’s see how many moves you can withstand while maintaining that trick.”