Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1293

“Not bad.”

The eyes of Dan Gong, the One Evil King [一邪王, a title denoting a powerful leader within the Evil Cult], who had arrived as the supreme commander of the Evil Lust Sea Army [邪淫海軍, a military force known for its ruthlessness and depravity], gleamed with interest.

“You knew we were coming here. Indeed, I was half-doubtful of the Law Protector’s words, but the strategies of the mainlanders are not to be ignored.”

That wasn’t all.

Although a proper initial battle hadn’t even begun, the fighting had already started.

The start of that battle was initiated not by the soldiers, but by the super experts at the commander level. Two experts, in no way inferior to the Evil Kings, and an archer with divine archery skills, had rushed in, dismantling the vanguard of the navy.

This wasn’t just a matter of having excellent strategies or brilliant tactics.

“They understand their own power well. Otherwise, they couldn’t have used such an unconventional move.”

Dan Gong wore a strange smile.

“Perhaps placing the Evil Lust Sea soldiers at the front was the right decision after all.”

He had the Empire’s marines in mind. The Evil Lust Sea soldiers were skilled enough to approach and defeat those marines with fast ships.

Moreover, the soldiers were also extremely skilled in water techniques [水功, martial arts techniques focused on manipulating water], making their underwater speed much faster than most sea creatures. Their role was also to infiltrate the coast at that speed and open the battlefield.

“A mere archer won’t be able to do anything. Even if it’s an archer who has reached the extreme, they can’t handle that many numbers.”

That was true.

There was a limit to human ability. Even if one could shoot arrows infinitely, how could they handle that many soldiers?

“But we can’t just sit back and watch them run rampant. Tell the Five Evil Kings [五邪王, a group of five powerful leaders within the Evil Cult] and their legions to capture those two experts first.”

“Yes!”

A moment later.

Flash!

A person who had soared from the left flagship cut through the air like a ray of light.

Their movement speed was truly remarkable. Even if it wasn’t as fast as the Blood Demon’s spy, the Flying King [飛王, a title given to someone with exceptional speed] who had made a name for himself in the Heavenly Realm with his movement speed alone, it was a speed that was not far behind.

Pa-pa-pa-pang!

Following behind, hundreds of cultists leaped from several warships. Each of them had a speed and freedom that was worthy of being called a master of movement techniques.

They were the five hundred Lightning Shadow Troops [雷影軍, an elite unit known for their speed and agility] personally trained by Dan Hyang, the Five Evil King and Dan Gong’s younger sibling.

Dan Gong shouted.

“Don’t panic! The battle has only just begun!”

His voice, which spread out thunderously, was so powerful that it vibrated the entire sea.

Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

‘He’s strong.’

The internal energy imbued in his voice was enough to cause shivers. Judging by the quality of his internal energy, it seemed to surpass even Gok Gyeong or the previous Yang Cheon.

‘If such a master had directly joined the fight, it would have become much more difficult. But if he’s encouraging the soldiers from the flagship, he must be the actual supreme commander.’

In fact, that was normal.

A supreme master could exert absolute power in any battle. To do so, they needed to conserve their strength and step in at the crucial moment to change the course of the war.

In other words, Yeon-wi and Gok Gyeong stepping forward from the beginning was a strategic move, but it couldn’t be seen as a rational military tactic. If they could achieve maximum effect with minimal sacrifice, that would be good, but during the initial battle, neither side could know how the battle would progress.

‘There are many people who are better at mind games than us. We’ll just do what we can do.’

Pa-pa-pang!

The sound of kicking off the sea surface was chillingly intense.

There was one more enemy. The man who had made Yeon-wi give up his straight charge and immediately change direction, the Sixth Evil King [六邪王, another powerful leader within the Evil Cult], Beon Yo-gyeong.

‘The sea is their territory. Even if we fought equally, we would be at a disadvantage.’

Was this enough? Should they retreat?

“Clan Leader Yeon!”

Gok Gyeong’s voice shook Yeon-wi’s head. It was a suggestion to retreat now, though it was a bit early.

‘Not yet.’

The cry of the Imperial Sword was heard.

It was the first time in a long time that the seal had been released, and the sword was crying out that it could fight more against the enemy.

“Retreat first!”

Pang! Kwaang!

Yeon-wi, who had kicked off the sea surface as if fleeing, killed three battleships and about twenty cultists.

Pa-aang!

Beon Yo-gyeong, who had turned around with incredible movements, charged towards Yeon-wi.

Behind him, the Five Evil King Dan Hyang was rushing with the Lightning Shadow Troops at tremendous speed. If they stayed like this, they would be fighting enemies from both the front and the back.

Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

Per-pung!

Beon Yo-gyeong and Dan Hyang’s eyes shook.

It was a shocking choice. Yeon-wi immediately jumped into the sea and went deep underwater.

The head of a family, the head of the Yeon family, famous for its orthodox martial arts and flawless family laws, had jumped into the sea without even fighting the enemy.

Apart from being the head of the Yeon family, it wasn’t a tactic that a master of that level would show. It was a method they would choose after at least a few exchanges, but he had chosen it before even properly clashing.

“Clan Leader Yeon!!”

It was then.

Per-eo-eo-eo-pung!!

With a tremendous splash of water, dozens of sword energies soared up like blooming lotus flowers, spraying in all directions.

The clusters of sword energy were so huge and sharp that Dan Hyang and Beon Yo-gyeong had to step back momentarily.

It was then.

Hook!

Even though it was underwater, a sound like a fire being extinguished caused waves on the surface.

Something, emitting a sharp blue glow, was shooting straight from under the sea surface. And its speed was truly fast. It was rushing towards the flagship at a speed as fast as an arrow shot by a master.

Dan Hyang’s face showed urgency.

“Evade it!”

Kwa-deuk! Kwa-deuk! Per-pung! Kwaang!

Yeon-wi’s sword control [馭劍, the ability to manipulate a sword with one’s mind], which was shot through the water’s surface, mercilessly shattered the hulls of about ten battleships and warships, finally reaching the bottom of the flagship.

At that moment, Dan Gong’s fist was swung.

Kwa-reureung!

The fist wind that poured out with a roar struck the sea surface faster than the sword control.

Kwaang!

A huge splash of water soaked dozens of warships.

Koo-oong!

Dan Gong’s face contorted.

It was a timely strike. He had accurately aimed for the moment before the sword control pierced the bottom of the flagship.

Yet, the bottom of the ship had been pierced.

This meant one thing.

‘He’s strong!’

The speed was as expected. But the destructive power of the sword exceeded expectations.

Even though he had taken into account that the water surface would offset the impact, his fist wind could not stop the sword control. As a result, a hole had been made in the bottom of the flagship.

It didn’t end there.

Kwa-deuk! Kwa-deu-deuk!

Even though it had lost its power, it was still piercing through the hull. Yeon-wi was controlling the sword control from underwater.

“One Evil King!”

“Commander! It’s dangerous!”

Dan Gong’s face contorted.

It was truly a direct hit. He never imagined that such a master would jump underwater like a soldier, nor that he would target the flagship with sword control.

Even if he didn’t know, he thought he could have blocked it, but he failed to do so.

He had made a big mistake from the start of the battle. With this, he had no choice but to abandon the flagship equipped with dozens of cannons.

Per-eo-pung!

The sword control, which had pierced through the bottom, soared high into the sky and then instantly curved towards the sea.

“The guy is where the sword control is heading! Capture him now!”

Per-eo-pung!

Dan Hyang and Beon Yo-gyeong also immediately jumped into the sea. There was no other way.

But that was a mistake.

Koo-reureung!

There was something heading towards the front battleship with a heavy sound, as if a sea dragon was moving.

Cheol-sseok!

What had leaped out of the sea surface was Yeon-wi. He had taken advantage of the fact that it was difficult to read the energy of a person in the water during the chaotic battle, and had used the Imperial Sword to shake off the experts and jump out from another place.

There was another anomaly.

Per-per-per-pung!

Gok Gyeong, who was about to retreat, flew back to save Yeon-wi and saw two experts jumping into the sea.

Immediately after that, Gok Gyeong, who had skillfully avoided the encirclement of arrows and harpoons, saw the Lightning Shadow Troops.

“Good!”

Kwa-reureureung!

The strange power that poured out from his twin palms swept away about ten Lightning Shadow Troops in an instant.

Kwang!

Yeon-wi, who had seized a battleship with ruthless hand-to-hand combat, closed his eyes tightly and controlled the sword control.

Shuk!

The Imperial Sword, which had emerged from the sea, pierced through the torsos of about twenty Lightning Shadow Troops and then flew straight to Yeon-wi.

“Shoot! Kill him!”

“Stop him!”

Pi-pi-pi-pi-ping!

Hundreds of arrows flew into the sky.

Gok Gyeong’s body became lightning.

Pa-pa-pang!

He flew with the Equal Sky Step [a movement technique focused on speed and agility] and became a shield for Yeon-wi, who was controlling the sword control.

Kwa-reureung! Kwa-deu-deuk!

The power of the Black Serpent Divine Palm, which swept through the air, disrupted the path of hundreds of arrows.

Pook! Pook!

But it wasn’t perfect. Two arrows pierced Yeon-wi’s left shoulder and upper arm.

“Clan Leader Yeon! We must retreat!”

“I understand!”

Per-pung!

The two Evil Kings, who had realized they had been tricked, revealed a destructive killing intent that seemed to overturn the entire sea.

Chi-ri-ri-ring!

Yeon-wi, who had sheathed the returned Imperial Sword, charged towards the coast with Gok Gyeong.

“Give me a heads-up before you do something like that!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Of course, you should be sorry. But…”

Gok Gyeong, glancing back, had a look of pleasure on his face.

“We stirred things up pretty well.”

Although there were many soldiers who had submerged into the sea, dozens of battleships had been destroyed. Several warships, larger than ordinary battleships, had also been dismantled.

The biggest gain was the enemy’s flagship. Although it wasn’t immediately destroyed because of its size, it was only a matter of time before it sank since the bottom had been pierced.

“There must be many cannons and provisions on the flagship. Even if they move them, there will be a limit, so we have greatly reduced the enemy’s power.”

“It’s just the beginning.”

At that moment, Yeon-wi saw Muk Bi.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pang!

His hands were invisible.

His dynamic vision was unbelievably sharp. Muk Bi’s archery, which captured enemies in a state of selflessness and shot formless bullets, was so fast and accurate that even Yeon-wi and Gok Gyeong, the best in the world, couldn’t help but admire it.

“Bi!”

“Yes!”

They understood each other without needing to speak. Muk Bi ran straight to the coast without even looking back.

Many soldiers had already reached the coast. It was only a matter of time before the coast became a battlefield.

It was then.

Yeon-wi and Gok Gyeong could hear an unusual sound from the place where the navy’s special cannons were located.

Chi-i-i-ik!

The sound of a fuse burning.

The artillerymen and commanders had already gone up.

Yeon-wi’s face showed surprise.

‘They’re giving up the cannons?!’

At that moment, hundreds of soldiers climbed onto the coast.

The commander’s voice was heard.

“The timing is off! Throw them!”

About ten black fire bombs flew towards the place where the cannons were located.

A moment later.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!!

The cannons on the coast and all the gunpowder stored inside exploded, tearing apart the soldiers’ bodies.

The explosion was so fierce that even the Central Plains martial arts forces, as well as some of the Evil Cult forces rushing to the coast, covered their ears.

Hwa-reureureuk!

A huge fire ran horizontally across the coast.

The fire would soon die down due to the humid sea breeze. But the important thing was the decision of the navy commander, who had gathered gunpowder and detonated it, even at the cost of abandoning the new cannons, and its impact.

About a third of the soldiers who would have had to fight the Central Plains forces lost their lives in the gunpowder explosion.

This was the terror of gunpowder. They had poured all the remaining gunpowder, except for the gunpowder supplied to the naval fleets, and detonated the initial salvo.

There was no gunpowder left, so now the real fight would begin. But the damage they had inflicted on the enemy with that one explosion was enormous.

“Indeed.”

Admiration appeared on Yeon-wi’s face.

“Is this the difference between a martial artist and a soldier?”

They used all the means available. If necessary, they would destroy the cannons to annihilate the enemy. They naturally used tactics that martial arts sects or prestigious families would not easily think of.

“I’ll stop those water ghosts first! Clan Leader Yeon, go in, pull out the arrows, and circulate your energy! You need to prepare for the battles ahead!”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

Pa-pa-pang!

The three experts reached the coast in an instant.

The initial victory was leaning towards the martial arts forces.