Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 696

Thwack! Thwack!

Paeyul’s martial prowess was unbelievable. He had single-handedly killed nearly twenty Blood Wolf members.

However.

‘He’s not coming down.’

Normally, he would have pressed his attack relentlessly. With his fierce and stubborn assault, both the Falling Sword Formation and the Thunderclap Sword Formation would have been overwhelmed.

That was because Pyeongso had created his own battlefield. It was a one-on-one duel between leaders, but the energy field generated by the two was so intense that it shook the sword formations.

Of course, one of the four sword formations could lend its strength. The problem was that Chosuk would also die in the process.

The Jongnam’s battle sword formation was an excellent defensive formation, but its attack range was also wide. Even a supreme master would not escape unscathed if caught in that attack.

‘This is incredible.’

He must have read the energy of the formation and grasped its nature at a glance.

But even knowing that, Pyeongso’s boldness in sticking to the enemy commander and fighting with his life on the line deserved praise.

‘The problem is.’

Clang!

Even as the Blood Wolves charged towards the Sadoam, they attacked Paeyul.

They weren’t deliberately attacking, but rather swinging their spears and swords as they passed. However, their momentum was so fierce that Paeyul’s attacks, which had been successful in the initial surprise attack, were no longer as effective.

‘There’s no point in staying here.’

The short spear he had thrown towards the Sadoam main camp was not in his hand. Even if it were, it would be awkward to use Gwanil Gong [a martial art technique].

Gwanil Gong was a martial art that consumed a lot of internal energy, and it was a burden to overuse it in a battle that might become a long-term engagement.

Whoosh!

Deciding on a course of action, Paeyul moved over the heads of the Blood Wolves and headed towards the Sadoam faster than them.

Clatter! Bang! Crash!

The two leading formations, the Thunderclap Sword Formation and the Falling Sword Formation, were excellent defensive lines.

They were thoroughly blocking the vanguard of the fierce Blood Wolf Clan. Even without Chosuk’s orders, there was a swordsman leading the formation, and they were responding well to the enemy’s attacks moment by moment.

‘Good, if it’s like this.’

Thwack! Thwack!

The Blood Wolves could not stop Paeyul as he moved by stepping on their shoulders.

If it were a head-on fight, they could have formed a formation and pushed with numbers, but with this kind of movement, there was no way to catch a master several levels above them. Moreover, Paeyul’s footwork was exceptionally outstanding compared to his achieved level.

Whoosh!

Paeyul was approaching the Sadoam at a terrifying speed.

In his eyes, he could see the Jongnam swordsmen who were the axes of the formation.

‘Good. If I can read their intentions and block their frontal attacks…’

It was then.

In a fleeting moment, Paeyul realized something that sent a chill down his spine.

‘That guy?!’

Pyeongso was the one leading this unit.

Yet, he had gone to face Chosuk, the person in charge of the Sadoam main camp.

Then what about the Blood Wolf Clan? Looking at their movements, it seemed they didn’t need a leader, but in this brutal war, was it reasonable for a leader to move alone to kill the enemy commander?!

‘Could it be!!’

Whoosh!

The sense of danger was amplifying fiercely.

His movements had slowed, but his senses had become much more acute.

‘…!!’

Paeyul’s prediction was correct.

At the forefront of the Blood Wolf Clan, shaking the Sadoam main camp, someone wearing the same uniform as the members was raising a hand. In that hand were five throwing knives gleaming in the moonlight.

Paeyul shouted without realizing it.

“No!”

Swish! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three swordsmen of the Falling Sword Formation screamed and collapsed on the spot.

It was not the martial art of a top-tier master. The speed, sharpness, and formidable power to penetrate the formless true energy were clearly those of a supreme master.

Whoosh!

Paeyul, who had broken through the air at an incredible speed, swung his sword at the hidden master.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Surprisingly, the Blood Wolves around the master swung their long spears to deflect Paeyul’s attack.

Each blow was a strike made with their lives on the line. An attack that did not worry about their own safety. In fact, one of the members who had dispersed Paeyul’s sword force collapsed on the spot.

Thud!

Paeyul’s eyes wavered.

They were charging forward, stepping on their fallen comrades without hesitation. Between the rapidly moving legs, he could see the enemy covered in blood.

‘Crazy!’

Thump!

The Blood Wolves’ ferocity was great, but Paeyul’s movements were no less impressive.

It was as if he was freely swimming in the air. His airtime was incredible.

Paeyul’s eyes once again looked at the hidden master.

‘…?!’

He was gone.

Just a moment ago, the master had been moving with the members. He had momentarily reduced his senses for free movement. He had disappeared in that short time.

‘Where?!’

In an instant, Paeyul felt a tingling sensation on the back of his neck.

Clang!

He spun his body in the air and swung his sword, deflecting two throwing knives that had struck his small sword.

‘Strong.’

There was a vibration left in the hand holding the sword.

If he could put this much power into a light throwing knife, he was truly a master. It was also amazing that he could hide such power so stealthily.

‘I won’t miss him this time.’

Paeyul, who had climbed onto a tree, accurately spotted the master.

He was now moving with the formation in the center of the ranks. His movements were as admirable as his stealth.

‘There’s no other way.’

Paeyul made another decision.

‘There’s no choice. In this situation.’

His mind became calm.

Paeyul shouted loudly and raised his sword.

“Know this!”

Whoosh! Crash!

Paeyul plunged into the middle of the moving formation using the Thousand-Pound Drop technique [a powerful downward strike].

His boldness was so simple that it was rather spectacular. It was an overwhelming advance that cut off the middle of the Blood Wolf Clan’s formation charging towards the Sadoam.

“A fight is!”

Flash! Flash!

The Whirlwind Sword became the Returning Light Sword. The swirling wind moved like rays of light, tearing apart the bodies of three Blood Wolf members running near him.

One of them was holding a six-foot spear. Paeyul’s sword cut through the air again.

Slice!

The spear, now halved, became a three-foot short spear in Paeyul’s right hand.

“You must risk your life to make it exciting!”

Whoosh!

The Blood Wolf members split to the left and right, avoiding Paeyul and charging forward.

They were completely ignoring the enemy in front of them and moving only as ordered. A spirit that didn’t care if they died on the way. Their blind movement made those who saw it feel a strong sense of dread.

But Paeyul was no longer shaken.

This was his first large-scale battle. That was why he was late in realizing it, and three Jongnam swordsmen who didn’t have to die had lost their lives.

It couldn’t be like that anymore.

Whoooosh!

Paeyul, who had been conserving his internal energy for a long-term battle, lowered his stance and released all his internal energy. In an instant, a terrifying fighting spirit spread out.

Whoosh!

Even the Blood Wolves who had split to the left and right flinched at the overwhelming force.

Paeyul shouted fiercely.

“If you don’t want to see everyone die, come out!”

Bang!

He swung his spear with a powerful advance.

The spear, swung like a ray of light, and the released energy rotated, instantly heating the air.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Five Blood Wolf members, struck by the invisible spear attack, had fist-sized holes in their chests.

It didn’t end there. He rotated his body in the same stance as he had thrown the spear and swung his sword, putting all the released internal energy into the sword strike.

Slash! Slash!

In an instant, about ten Blood Wolf members lost their lives.

No matter how important the charge was, if they showed such an overwhelming presence, the situation would change.

Whoosh.

White smoke rose from Paeyul’s mouth.

His eyes shone with murderous intent, and the fighting spirit flowing from his whole body overwhelmed everyone.

He was truly a demon, a fighting demon.

He had to think about the safety of his allies and the flow of the war, but at the same time, Paeyul had always wanted this kind of fight.

Who had better patience, who fought more efficiently.

Who dealt with the situation more wisely, who clung on more tenaciously.

And who was stronger.

Flash!

The movement of the throwing knife, curving down towards Paeyul’s head as he attacked the Blood Wolves, was truly an art.

Paeyul’s body rotated.

Clang!

He skillfully dodged the throwing knife and swung his sword to deflect it.

Thud!

A Blood Wolf member collapsed on the spot. The throwing knife had pierced his forehead, killing him instantly.

And when he died, Paeyul’s spear had already pierced another Blood Wolf member’s chest.

‘Come.’

Splash!

Paeyul was covered in the enemy’s blood.

He didn’t bother to avoid it. Whether blood splattered or flesh flew, his eyes, looking for another prey, were those of a predator.

‘I can’t hold back any longer! Come quickly!’

Thud!

He struck the top of a Blood Wolf member’s head with the end of his sword hilt. The member with a pierced skull collapsed on the spot.

And behind him.

Finally, ‘someone’ who had revealed himself swung a long sword at Paeyul.

Clang!

The swords collided, creating a chilling sound of impact.

“It’s you!”

Paeyul, who had deflected the long sword with his small sword, immediately swung his short spear.

It was then.

The enemy commander drew a sword from his right waist.

Paeyul’s eyes lit up.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Gwanil Spear [a spear technique], and a sword draw.

A shockwave twice as powerful as before erupted. Paeyul and the enemy commander were pushed back madly.

Paeyul scanned the enemy commander’s weapon.

‘A sword and a saber?!’

It was strange.

There were those who used twin swords, and those who used twin sabers.

But it was hard to find someone who used a single-edged saber and a double-edged sword at the same time, even if you searched the entire Central Plains. Paeyul could have done it if he wanted to, but there was no point in wielding a sword and a saber at the same time.

However, it seemed different for the enemy commander.

Just as Paeyul used a spear and a sword at the same time, it seemed that the enemy commander was more powerful when using a saber and a sword at the same time.

The enemy commander with the sword and saber, the Blood Wolf Clan’s reserve squad leader, Hopae, shouted with a voice full of murderous intent.

“Kill him.”

The Blood Wolves, who had been scattered to the left and right, stopped at that moment and glared at Paeyul. They were going to kill Paeyul first according to the order.

It was a chilling sight, but Paeyul rather wore a pale smile.

A single master can block the movement of an entire combat unit from the middle. That was the existence of a master in the fights of martial artists. Although he was not quite at the pinnacle of the world, Paeyul was also a supreme master aiming for the top of Mount Tai. Paeyul’s existence, when he was determined to unleash his power, was a sufficient target of caution for the enemy.

“Come as much as you want!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Blood Wolves rushed at Paeyul in a circle.

In an instant, Paeyul’s body soared like lightning.

Clang!

Paeyul deflected Hopae, who was trying to sneak ahead, with a single short spear.

In a space where there was nowhere to step, Paeyul was not flustered.

Whoosh!

It was an amazing movement.

Paeyul, who had been rushing as if he was about to kill his opponent, suddenly changed direction towards the Sadoam.

Hopae’s eyes turned red.

“Kill him!”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The Blood Wolves threw daggers and hidden weapons.

Thwack!

Paeyul’s body, which had kicked off the ground and stood up, rotated skillfully.

In an instant, Hopae’s eyes wavered.

‘He aimed for this?!’

The daggers and hidden weapons flying at a terrifying speed drew a circle following the movement of the short spear and sword. It was as if he was watching a shaman’s Tai Chi sword.

The Whirlwind Sword of the spear, combined with the principles of Tai Chi that he had learned with Yeon Ho-Jeong. The enlightenment of Master Seung-Hyeon had been passed on to Yeon Ho-Jeong, but all the masters who had been with Yeon Ho-Jeong had taken a fragment of that enlightenment.

He was a genius.

The skill of a genius master, who was always studying martial arts and constantly pondering how to reach higher places, was shining.

Paeyul’s spear and sword were aimed directly at Hopae and the Blood Wolves.

Even the daggers and hidden weapons that had been rotating along with the spear and sword.

Hopae shouted.

“Dodge!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Behind the gruesome sound of flesh tearing, Paeyul rushed towards Hopae in an instant.

Paeyul, who had created a battlefield of blood, and Hopae, who could no longer ignore his existence.

Now, the two supreme masters had begun a head-on fight.