Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1115

The swirling pillar of fire, the moment it materialized, instantly turned all the weeds covering the mountain range into ash.

Cheol Heum-Gi’s eyes widened.

‘The Blazing Fire Palm!!’

A technique known to anyone in the leadership of the Divine Flame Church. [A powerful martial art using fire energy]

However, the Blazing Fire Palm that erupted from Gi Cheon-Woong’s hand was a martial art completely different from the Blazing Fire Palm that Cheol Heum-Gi knew.

Whoosh!

The massive pillar of fire, erupting in an instant, flew like a gale. The distance was considerable, yet the moment he saw the flames, he felt a searing pain as if his skin was burning.

In that instant, Cheol Heum-Gi was moved by the dreamlike martial art he had witnessed. Could it be that when the Blazing Fire Palm reached its peak, it could unleash such firepower with a simple gesture? Or was the previous leader’s mastery so great that the martial art itself had changed?

Whatever the reason, it was clear that Gi Cheon-Woong’s martial art was a tremendous shock and threat to Cheol Heum-Gi.

‘Danger!’

Though it was dangerous, Cheol Heum-Gi knew that this was not where he would die.

The pillar of fire swept over Cheol Heum-Gi and the fifty or so experts.

Kwaaang!

The sound was like stuffing several bags of gunpowder into a cannon the size of a city gate and detonating it.

A massive flame soared across the entire mountain range. The size of the flame was so enormous that it could start a forest fire with a single strike.

However.

Whoooooosh!

The flames that seemed ready to engulf the mountain range instantly diminished and soon died down.

“…….”

Cold wind poured into the area where the air had disappeared.

Chiiiiiiiiik!

White smoke billowed from Cheol Heum-Gi’s body.

Surprisingly, his skin had turned bright red. It wasn’t a burn or a rush of blood. It was as if a translucent red light was coursing through his entire body, like bright red flames flickering beneath a thin layer of skin.

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes narrowed.

“……Hoo.”

A groan-like sigh escaped from Cheol Heum-Gi’s lips.

“That’s tremendous firepower. If I hadn’t prepared in advance, or if my ‘absorption power’ had been just a little weaker, I would have lost an arm.”

“Absorption power?”

Gi Cheon-Woong, who had tilted his head slightly, widened his eyes at a sudden thought.

“You don’t mean?!!”

Cheol Heum-Gi smiled.

“Those of us who are obsessed with experiments also like to verify the results on our own bodies.”

“……!”

“It’s still incomplete, but it’s enough to keep me from losing my life to your martial arts, Elder.”

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes wavered.

After staring at Cheol Heum-Gi in silence, he spoke as if throwing a question.

“What about Woo-Hwan?”

“Surely not. Didn’t I say it was incomplete? There’s no way we could conduct such an experiment on the Church Leader’s sacred body.”

At that moment, Gi Cheon-Woong was swept by the desire to fully open his upper dantian. [An energy center in the body]

However, he couldn’t do that. Even now, he was carefully controlling it, only to the extent that his lifespan wouldn’t be reduced. If he opened his upper dantian any further, he could be detected by Cheol Heum-Gi, as well as another Fire King beyond the mountain range.

Those who had mastered the Fire Essence to its peak would easily be able to sense it.

“I am rather surprised by you, Elder. To use your martial arts, even at the cost of shortening your lifespan, just to take this insignificant life of mine, it doesn’t seem like you’re in your right mind.”

“To win in battle, if I can kill you with a single attack, I am fully prepared to shorten my lifespan, even if it’s only by a little.”

“Should I thank you for thinking so highly of me?”

The smile on Cheol Heum-Gi’s face turned cold again.

“However, your existence, Elder, which denies the Fire God, makes it impossible for me to respect you any longer. If I could, I would kill you right here.”

Gi Cheon-Woong chuckled.

“You’re a funny fellow. You talk about the Fire God, but you’re forgetting what’s truly important.”

“……?”

“Before we were called the Three Sects, we were called the Three Gong Families.”

“……!!”

“We all had only one god. It’s truly comical that now that the main sect has disappeared, everyone is claiming to be a god.”

Cheol Heum-Gi’s cheek twitched.

After glaring at Gi Cheon-Woong for a moment, Cheol Heum-Gi raised his chin.

“Please return now.”

“…….”

“Since you were once someone I respected, I will let you go peacefully for now. Go and die with those mainlanders you love so much.”

“That’s an interesting thing to say. The one who will end this here is not you, but me.”

“Do you want to risk your life? Then do so. I, too, would be satisfied enough if I were to die fighting someone who was once higher than anyone else, but has now become more pathetic than anyone.”

That wouldn’t do.

Gi Cheon-Woong did not make the mistake of speaking his thoughts aloud.

Right now, Cheol Heum-Gi completely misunderstood his condition.

Showing everything he had in this state would be a disadvantage. The moment he realized the nature of that ‘absorption power,’ Gi Cheon-Woong abandoned the idea of eliminating Cheol Heum-Gi here.

Of course, it wasn’t because he couldn’t handle Cheol Heum-Gi. No matter how much ‘that ability’ he had, he was confident that he could win if he gave it his all.

‘The question is whether it’s really incomplete, as that guy said.’

If he opened his upper dantian, he would be able to grasp the truth.

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes deepened.

‘Could he come to the battlefield in an incomplete state? No, he wouldn’t. He completed it. He’s just deceiving me for the sake of a contingency.’

Of course, it could be a misjudgment. But in war, one must always assume the worst.

“Alright.”

Gi Cheon-Woong smiled.

“As you said, I can’t afford to take a loss just to kill you.”

“You’ve made a wise choice.”

“However, I need to see the troops you’ve brought with my own eyes.”

The corners of Cheol Heum-Gi’s mouth curled up.

“If you cross the mountain range and scout our army, I and my subordinates will immediately attack the troops you brought.”

It was then.

Paah! Paah!

With a tremendous sound of air tearing, Gi Cheon-Woong disappeared from his spot.

Cheol Heum-Gi, momentarily flustered, turned around. Gi Cheon-Woong had already become a streak of flame, running across the mountain range.

‘Incredible speed!’

It was truly an amazing speed. No matter how great the difference in martial arts was, he was also someone who had one foot in the Heavenly Realm, yet he hadn’t felt when Gi Cheon-Woong had reached that far.

In an instant, he gritted his teeth.

He had said he would attack the troops, but he also knew that stopping Gi Cheon-Woong was a priority over attacking the troops he had brought.

Gi Cheon-Woong had grasped that in an instant and moved. It was a decision as swift as lightning.

Cheol Heum-Gi shouted.

“Attack the heretics! Kill as many as you can!”

Pa-ba-bak!

After giving orders to his subordinates, Cheol Heum-Gi hurriedly ran up the mountain range.

Among the martial arts he had trained, the one he was most confident in was his movement technique. He was more of a scholar and engineer than a martial artist. Rather than wielding swords and fists, he had invested a lot in movement techniques to gather materials.

That was why he thought he could run at a speed that wouldn’t fall behind Gi Cheon-Woong.

His thought was, literally, just a thought.

Whoosh!

Gi Cheon-Woong’s movements were like flashes of light.

A weightless flame shot towards the top of the mountain range faster than a gale. It seemed twice as fast as Cheol Heum-Gi’s amazing movement technique.

And before he knew it, Gi Cheon-Woong had reached near the top of the mountain range.

Cheol Heum-Gi gritted his teeth and shouted.

“No!”

It was then.

Kwaaang!

Gi Cheon-Woong’s body, which had been running, staggered and was pushed back.

Cheol Heum-Gi, surprised, quickly changed direction. If he continued running with that momentum, he would surely collide with Gi Cheon-Woong.

‘Damn it!’

Only after changing direction did Cheol Heum-Gi realize that he hadn’t completely eliminated his respect for Gi Cheon-Woong.

He still didn’t want to kill Gi Cheon-Woong. Or rather, he didn’t want to see him die today. That was why he had instinctively changed direction.

Pa-pang!

After kicking off the ground several times, Cheol Heum-Gi climbed onto the mountain range.

At the top of the mountain range, a man stood with his hands behind his back, five measures away from Gi Cheon-Woong.

“…….”

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes wavered.

“It’s been a while, Elder.”

“……First King.”

The Fire Kings under the Divine Flame Church each had a number in front of their names to distinguish their ranks.

Among them, the First Fire King was the one who had stayed in the Heavenly Realm the longest, excluding the Church Leader, and his martial prowess was also among the top three absolute masters in the Divine Flame Church.

Therefore, people called him the First King, meaning he was a different class from the other Fire Kings.

First King, Chal Geuk-Pyeong.

Unlike Cheol Heum-Gi, he was the first Fire King who possessed pure Western Region blood, like Gi Cheon-Woong.

He was much more robust than Gi Cheon-Woong. If Yeon Ho-Jeong had seen him, she would have been amazed that there was another guy like Jin Yang, with his large frame and long limbs.

Chal Geuk-Pyeong, who looked like a middle-aged man in his forties despite being over seventy, looked like a divine general descended from the heavens.

“So, it wasn’t just Cheol Heum-Gi who came.”

“Of course. The Fifth Fire King is an irreplaceable talent for our church, but everyone knows that his talents do not extend to martial arts and strategy.”

Chal Geuk-Pyeong’s voice was calm and low, making it pleasant to listen to.

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes deepened.

“Are you the commander of this unit?”

“I cannot tell you that, Elder, as you have become our enemy.”

Although he didn’t answer clearly, it was unlikely that anyone other than this guy would lead the large army.

“Alright, I understand if it’s you. Woo-Hwan has put his full force into this attack on the Imperial Palace.”

Chal Geuk-Pyeong sighed.

“I would like to share one last drink with you before we fight, but the situation does not allow it.”

“Indeed. I, too, would have liked to have a drink with you.”

It was completely different from when he was dealing with Cheol Heum-Gi. For Gi Cheon-Woong, Chal Geuk-Pyeong was one of his most trusted and loyal subordinates.

His sense of betrayal was just as great, but when he actually met him like this, he felt more regret than anger.

Perhaps sensing Gi Cheon-Woong’s feelings.

Chal Geuk-Pyeong’s voice clearly lowered.

“You cannot imagine how surprised I was just now, Elder.”

He had unleashed a strike filled with killing intent to stop Gi Cheon-Woong, who was suddenly charging.

That was a very surprising moment for Chal Geuk-Pyeong. He had expected to fight Gi Cheon-Woong, who had become an enemy, to the death, but he was shaken by the sudden encounter.

“Fire King Cheol.”

“Speak.”

“Withdraw the subordinates attacking the heretics. They are all elites of our church. No matter how great your subordinates are, they will not achieve any results other than harassing them.”

“Understood.”

Although they were both Fire Kings, Cheol Heum-Gi was very respectful to Chal Geuk-Pyeong.

Peeeeeep!

At Cheol Heum-Gi’s whistle, his subordinates who had been attacking the thousand troops quickly returned to the mountain range.

Chal Geuk-Pyeong spoke calmly.

“A thousand is too many for a separate unit.”

“I think so too.”

“Did you have a close-quarters battle in mind?”

“Yes.”

“Then, would you lead that separate unit and engage us in the first battle?”

“Of course, I had that in mind.”

Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes deepened.

“It would be much more meaningful to confirm the troops beyond this mountain range. But if you two are going to stop me, it will be difficult.”

It wasn’t difficult at all. At least, if he fully opened his upper dantian, Gi Cheon-Woong had the power to overwhelm the two of them.

But the battle had just begun.

The past was the past, and the bonds that had already been buried were meaningless.

Gi Cheon-Woong had to live longer to defeat the subordinates who had become his enemies. For revenge, he had no choice but to live longer.

‘I’ve obtained some information, including the enemy commander, so the separate unit’s advance has sufficiently achieved its purpose.’

Chal Geuk-Pyeong bowed his head.

“I will see you later.”

“You won’t tell me the date, will you?”

“Of course not.”

After staring at Chal Geuk-Pyeong silently, Gi Cheon-Woong turned his body.

At that moment, Chal Geuk-Pyeong spoke.

“Elder.”

“What is it?”

“……You may not believe it, but I am glad to see you like this, even if it is for the last time.”

Gi Cheon-Woong closed his eyes.

“I believe you. At least those words.”