Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1139

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield,

The First Army Commander, Bugok, felt a sense of despair.

‘How can this be?’

It was a mistake.

He wasn’t as skilled at seeing the big picture as the Cavalry Commander, Galyo. However, as a field commander, he was a man with more than enough ability.

When they pressured the Imperial Palace’s cavalry, he, like Galyo, anticipated a trap. Although they hadn’t spoken, the reason they broke through the cavalry wall and then charged the rear was because of that.

Yet, they had fallen into the trap.

‘It’s because of that man.’

Whoosh!

Even from a considerable distance, he could feel an inhuman energy.

He was the strongest warrior of the Western Front, charging with a devastating killing intent. How he had tamed the masterless Black Blood Divine Demon, and the sight of him charging on a rare demonic beast, said to be one of the best in the Evil Sound Sect, was like an evil god from legends.

‘It’s because of that man.’

Bugok had no choice but to admit it. He, and the Silver Demon Cavalry, had been completely captivated by that man’s killing intent and pressure.

‘His presence made it impossible to think of anything else. In the end, we had no choice but to move as he led us.’

Even though he realized the truth, the reality didn’t improve.

No, the reality they faced was the worst of the worst.

‘He’s a monster. I heard that the Overlord of Byeoksan reached the Heavenly Sage Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery] at a young age, but is he not just a strongman of the Four Kings level, but a force that rivals the strongest in the Central Plains?’

His momentum, his martial arts, everything was monstrous. But more than anything, it was his presence that was amazing.

An overwhelming presence that led the flow of the battlefield, taking away any room for the enemy to think.

The words ‘defeat’ and ‘annihilation’ raced through Bugok’s mind, clouding his thoughts.

‘Can we escape?’

The answer that immediately popped into his mind.

‘It’s impossible.’

It was doubtful they would be let go, but given the nature of the Silver Demon Cavalry, retreating here was out of the question.

‘Even if we retreat, we’ll die.’

The Silver Demon Cavalry were originally those who could not be reorganized into an elite force.

Of course, they had trained for a long time. They had charged beyond the borders to the Western Regions, annihilating several small countries and numerous tribes of foreign races, engaging in life-or-death battles.

But they were troublemakers. From the leader to the squad leaders, not a single one was from the Evil Sound Sect’s main headquarters.

‘No, there is one, though.’

Bugok looked at the Second Army Commander, Myo Sa-ha.

Myo Sa-ha was encouraging the cavalrymen. His ability to command the cavalrymen, who were bleeding tears from poisoning, and to reorganize their ranks was outstanding.

‘Your life isn’t easy either.’

The Silver Demon Cavalry had only trained for a long time and had not been officially reorganized.

Surprisingly, they were selected as an elite organization because of the continent.

Originally, if the Imperial Palace had fallen into the hands of the Divine Clan as planned by the Three Sects, and the martial world had been devastated, and even the Sichuan region had fallen into the hands of Gwanghyeol, the ten thousand Silver Demon Cavalry would not have been born.

There, Bugok found something interesting.

‘These are the ones who brought us into existence.’

From some point on, the martial world of the continent had crushed the spies of the Three Sects and killed the dispatched experts. In just a few years, most of the plans they had made for decades had been ruined.

In the end, the Evil Sound Sect had no choice but to make the Silver Demon Cavalry an official organization. Originally, the funds, techniques, and demonic beasts that were to go to them were being saved for future generations, but the enemy’s counterattack was much fiercer than expected.

In other words, because the continent had revived, the Silver Demon Cavalry could also become an official unit and advance. The Silver Demon Cavalry was a group that should have been at the forefront of the continent’s downfall, but they couldn’t help but feel grateful to them.

But what was the situation now?

‘There’s no turning back. Either way, the Evil God won’t spare us.’

Even if the Evil God showed mercy, the Four Kings and elders under him would despise the defeated Silver Demon Cavalry and treat them as mere pawns.

They would rather die than be seen in such a state.

But.

‘At least, we need someone to tell them that the Silver Demon’s achievements were not small.’

The unit that became the predecessor of the Silver Demon Cavalry was the strongest unit in the Evil Sound Sect. And the commander of that unit was Myo Sa-ha’s half-brother.

Even if no one else knew, the one who led that strongest unit would be able to take charge of the remaining cavalrymen.

“Second Commander!”

“Speak!”

Bugok smiled and shouted at him, who was frantically encouraging the cavalrymen.

“You take this army and retreat!”

Myo Sa-ha’s eyes widened.

“What nonsense are you spouting! The Silver Demon Cavalry does not retreat!”

At that moment, the Fourth Army Commander, Mangcho, approached, leading his horse.

“The enemies will be our opponents, so you go, Second Commander.”

“Fourth Commander!”

“The commander and the cavalry commander are all dead. There are less than two thousand soldiers left.”

“That’s why we should… !”

“We have been defeated.”

The word ‘defeat’ finally came out of Mangcho’s mouth.

It was not an easy thing to say, but it came out easily. He had accepted reality.

“Even though it’s a defeated battle, we can’t retreat like this. This place is our grave.”

“That’s why I… !”

“The spirit of the Silver Demon is different from the spirit of the Evil Sound.”

“…!!”

“Even if it’s humiliating, survive. Survive and take responsibility for them until the end.”

“That’s absurd! It doesn’t have to be me!”

“No, it has to be Commander Myo. Commander Myo must take the cavalrymen so that we are not treated as mere pawns.”

Myo Sa-ha’s face contorted.

Mangcho grinned.

“We need someone to tell them how great our achievements were, how we were martyred. We need someone to remember us.”

“Fourth Commander!”

At that moment, Bugok shouted.

“As the senior commander, I order you! Second Commander Myo Sa-ha, take the remaining army and leave the battlefield!”

The cavalrymen of the Second Army turned to look at Myo Sa-ha.

In a brief moment, Myo Sa-ha’s expression changed several times.

Bugok shouted again.

“Are you going to disobey orders?!”

In the end, Myo Sa-ha had no choice but to make a decision.

“All soldiers of the Second Army, follow me!”

As Myo Sa-ha turned his horse and passed the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Armies, tears of blood flowed from his eyes.

He had lived his life with the mindset that he could die at any time. He had vowed to dedicate that life to the Silver Demon.

It would be a life more painful than death. Myo Sa-ha accepted the commanders’ sincerity.

Thud! Thud!

As soon as the Second Army left, dozens of cavalrymen were torn to pieces and martyred in an explosion.

It was Yeon Ho-jeong, the monster with an axe, breaking through the vanguard.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t take more with me.”

Looking at Yeon Ho-jeong, who was massacring the enemy in the distance, Mangcho’s face was filled with fighting spirit.

“If it’s an opponent like that, wouldn’t he be enough for our last opponent?”

Bugok chuckled.

“Yes, he’s enough.”

He was more than enough. Whatever it was, at least it would be a better death than dying at the hands of some random person.

Bugok raised his demonic energy to the maximum and shouted.

“This is our last battle! Take as many of them to the underworld with you as possible!”

“Kaaaaaak!!”

With a strange cry, the cavalrymen, less than two thousand, charged towards Yeon Ho-jeong and the shield cavalry.

The cavalrymen, who were charging, accepting the death of the Silver Demon Cavalry as a group, not as individuals.

Even though they were all poisoned and bleeding from their entire bodies, their relentless charge seemed noble, unlike those who had dedicated their lives to the demonic.

Two hours later.

The Silver Demon Cavalry, who had sacrificed a thousand shield cavalrymen of the Golden Sky Cavalry, were annihilated.

* * *

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had blown off the head of the last soldier, took a breath.

“Huff! Huff!”

He had fought with the determination to kill them all by himself. He was exhausted, with considerable internal injuries and extreme internal energy consumption.

Yeon Ho-jeong took a deep breath with his mouth closed.

Whoooosh!!

The air of blood, death, poison, and victory mixed together.

The incoming air released the turbid natural energy throughout his body. The poor-quality energy was all burned away by the Yellow Dragon’s Seed, and the remaining pure energy was converted into golden true energy.

“Hoo, hoo.”

His breathing stabilized in an instant.

Flap, flap.

The Black Blood Divine Demon snorted. It seemed confused because Yeon Ho-jeong had stopped using the Divine King’s energy intermittently during the breathing control process.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Lee Gwang.

Lee Gwang had also returned after defeating all the Earth Demon Spirits trying to climb the fortress walls.

Lee Gwang’s face was stained with deep fatigue, but his eyes were as bright as starlight.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded slightly.

Lee Gwang shouted.

“We have annihilated the enemy! It is our victory!”

“Waaaaaah!” Shouts of ‘Long live the Emperor!’ could be heard from everywhere.

Faith was not unique to the Three Sects. They too had risked their lives for the Emperor, the son of heaven.

The ground around the western fortress wall, filled with cheers, vibrated like an earthquake.

But the excitement was short-lived.

“You’ve done well, Clan Leader.”

“You’ve worked very hard, Commander.”

“About three hundred enemies have escaped. They probably won’t come back, but organize a pursuit team to chase them.”

Lee Gwang’s eyes sparkled.

“I understand.”

“And the remaining forces will head to the northern front after half an hour of rest.”

It was something that had already been discussed in advance. Lee Gwang nodded vigorously.

Yeon Ho-jeong took another breath and looked north.

He had been so focused on the battle that he hadn’t paid attention to what was happening there. As he quickly recovered his internal energy and expanded his senses, he could feel the military spirit was full, but there was no killing intent.

‘So, they were planning to retreat and draw our attention here.’

If Yeon-wi had led his forces here, the Divine Clan’s forces that had retreated would have rushed towards the northern fortress wall at full speed.

‘Father. You kept your promise.’

If this feeling had been conveyed, Yeon-wi would have responded as well.

‘You kept your promise too.’

Now that the western front was cleared, all that remained was one northern surprise attack force. Although their numbers were large, they were now ready to face them in an all-out battle.

Half an hour later.

“Everyone, go to the northern front! Sweep away all the remaining enemies with the northern army!”

* * *

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s eyes wavered.

‘Something’s wrong.’

Having retreated thirty miles away, the western fortress wall of the Imperial Palace could be seen faintly in the distance.

‘Why?’

By now, the Evil Sound and Gwanghyeol armies should have broken down the fortress walls and infiltrated the interior.

Even if the Imperial Palace’s counterattack was not easy, there should have been military spirit carried by the wind. But there was nothing like that at all.

‘Why?!’

At that moment, Oh Hwa-wang, Cheol Heum-gi, spoke.

“Could it be that they failed?”

“That’s nonsense.”

The Silver Demon Cavalry was an army that had ‘a certain unit’ as its predecessor. If ‘that unit’ was its predecessor, it was obvious how great its power was without even looking.

Moreover, there was also a witch who had received the title of ‘Demon Queen’.

It was a battle that could never fail. Even if the resistance was not easy, the Demon Queen should have quickly broken down the fortress gates and infiltrated the interior, turning the entire Imperial Palace into a wasteland.

‘Could it be, really?’

Could something have happened that we don’t know about?

Could that operation have really failed, as Cheol Heum-gi said?

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Cheol Heum-gi’s eyes deepened.

“What is that…?”

Chal Geuk-pyeong, who had come out of his thoughts, turned his gaze to where Cheol Heum-gi was looking.

“Cavalry?”

“Is it the Silver Demon Cavalry?”

Chal Geuk-pyeong even drew on the energy of Hwajeong [a type of energy] to enhance his eyesight.

After a while.

“Divide the army into two wings! We will advance immediately!”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s face contorted.

The cavalry that was captured by Hwajeong’s divine eyes was not the Silver Demon Cavalry. That cavalry was wearing golden, brilliant heavy armor.

And at the head of the golden cavalry was a certain warrior with a huge black axe.