Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1170

Kwarurung!

The Great Dragon Axe struck the earth, and it felt as if the heavens and earth were turning upside down.

The forest began to catch fire. The spread of the Yellow Dragon Fire was unimaginably fast, and before long, the area around the two masters was filled with brilliant colors.

Kwarung! Kwarurung!

With the continuous shockwaves, large and small flames scattered in all directions.

‘Is there any way out?’

Ji So-hyeon’s face, watching the duel between the two masters from a distance, was somewhat pale.

In fire accidents, far more people die from suffocation than from burns.

Of course, this was not an enclosed space. Furthermore, Ji So-hyeon was a master who had surpassed the Martial Ancestor level [a high level of martial arts mastery], and her body was ideally developed, allowing her to maintain her condition for a long time with far less breathing than ordinary people.

However, the fire was spreading too quickly. Moreover, this fire was not ordinary; it was a high-temperature fire emitted by a supreme master who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

The speed at which it burned the air was beyond imagination. Ji So-hyeon even momentarily thought, ‘Are they really trying to take my life?’

‘That can’t be.’

Even if that were the case, Ji So-hyeon did not hate Yeon Ho-jeong. She was moved just by the fact that he had come to find her in person.

Moreover, he was someone who had a close relationship with her teacher. If she tried her best and it still didn’t work out, it would be better for her to die.

‘I’ll try, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll die. Besides, Lord Yeon will try to save me and take me away no matter what. That means…’

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes flashed.

‘This fire is a means to pressure the opponent and also ensure my safety.’

Although she had little experience in the martial world, Ji So-hyeon’s innate courage and composure returned as she surpassed the Martial Ancestor level.

While a slight sense of unease was unavoidable, Ji So-hyeon was still confident. She was sure that she would be safe. At least, she would be thoroughly protected until Yeon Ho-jeong was killed by the kidnapper.

‘Even so, I can’t just sit still. Lord Yeon won’t be able to use his full strength because he’ll be worried about me.’

She had to be the one leading the situation, not being swept away by it.

‘External energy…!’

Ji So-hyeon gritted her teeth and drew in external energy.

A tiny amount of external energy entered her palm.

At that moment, she felt a pain as if both her hands were burning. The most intense energy from the outside was fire, and because it didn’t match her internal energy cultivation method, she felt pain from the very entrance.

‘But I’ll do it. I can do it.’

Ji So-hyeon closed her eyes.

‘The Yin-Fire Control is a divine art of enlightenment. It’s a power that cannot be explained by any single attribute, so depending on how I use it, I should be able to contain both fire and water energy in my body.’

While Ji So-hyeon was struggling to find her own freedom.

The fight between the two masters was reaching its climax.

Kwakwang! Puh-uh-uh-ung!

The Bungsan Palm [a powerful palm strike technique], shot while spinning with flames, aimed for Yeon Ho-jeong’s head.

It was already a powerful palm strike, and now it was imbued with fire energy. Although Yeon Ho-jeong was the one who set the fire, if the opponent could also use the uncontrolled flames, he could also suffer damage.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong was not worried about the fire itself.

Puh-uh-uh-ung!

The force of the Bungsan Palm was shattered by a single strike of the Black Dragon Axe, which was brought down vertically.

At that moment, Sa Woo, who had approached stealthily like a snake swimming just below the surface, unleashed the Six Serpent Shadow of the Fiery Phoenix [a complex sword technique].

Pa-ba-ba-ba-bak!

The Twin Serpent Blades moved wildly, aiming for Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body.

It was a chaotic attack that mercilessly tore apart the opponent. At first glance, it seemed like a random flurry, but it was a powerful technique with delicate movements and fierce gusts of wind.

Jjeo-jeo-jeong! Tee-ing! Seogeok!

He slightly moved the Great Dragon Axe, holding the shaft short, to block the Twin Serpent Blades, but the swirling gusts of wind were so sharp that he was slightly cut on the shoulder.

At that moment, Sa Woo’s eyes blazed.

‘Did he get cut by this attack?’

In an instant, instinct and reason clashed madly.

The winner of that battle was reason.

‘I’ll retreat.’

At that moment, the Yellow Dragon Wood Energy, which had been transmitted beneath Yeon Ho-jeong’s feet, exploded behind Sa Woo.

Puh-uh-uh-uh-ung! Hwareureureuk!

“Kuh!”

Sa Woo quickly leaped to the side, startled by the sudden explosion of fire energy.

‘Qi energy! How?!’

It was such a tense moment that he missed the flow of wood energy that had surged up through the ground.

This was the Qi energy technique of the Four Evil Gods [a group of powerful martial artists]. Sending wood energy to a desired location and exploding it in a place filled with flames was similar to the technique of striking a cow across a mountain [a metaphor for indirect action], but it required much more delicate internal energy control.

It was an explosive force triggered by the principle of wood generating fire. Its power was so immense that Sa Woo was shocked.

Flash!

Sa Woo violently swung his left hand.

Three streaks of light, much more intense than the flames, flew towards Yeon Ho-jeong in a slanted arc. It was the Dragon Illusion Slash of the Fiery Phoenix [another sword technique].

Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Black Dragon Axe three times in a row. It was much faster than the Great Dragon Axe, truly like lightning.

Jjeo-jeo-jeong! Kwaaang!

Yeon Ho-jeong unleashed the Tiger Claw Chaos three times in a row, instantly shattering the Dragon Illusion Slash, and then swung the Great Dragon Axe again. It was a powerful strike of the Tiger King’s Wall Breaking Stance, Tiger’s Tail Sweeping the Mountain [a powerful axe technique].

Jjeo-uh-uh-uh-ung!!

Sa Woo’s feet were pushed back, tearing up the ground.

For the first time, he blocked the attack of the Great Dragon Axe without dodging. He blocked it by crossing the blades of the Twin Serpent Blades, and his body was pushed back endlessly.

‘It’s monstrous strength!’

This was not just because of the weight of the weapon. Nor was it a matter of praising the opponent’s superhuman strength that defied common sense.

This was a matter of thorough internal energy utilization. The power of a single strike was beyond imagination, as if the technique of a thousand-pound weight had been mixed into the axe blade.

For the first time, a battle cry erupted from Sa Woo’s mouth.

“Euaaaap!!”

The Shattering Yin True Energy, which had risen to its limit with a thunderous sound, created a strong rebound.

Tuh-uh-uh-ung!

The heavy Great Dragon Axe was flung backward.

It was tremendous power, an amazing rebound. Sa Woo’s body, which had begun to charge, taking advantage of the moment when Yeon Ho-jeong’s posture was disrupted, also boasted incredible durability.

Thud!

A familiar stomp.

Without engaging in close combat, he gathered all the force of his charge and used a stomp.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed as he was thrown back. Although he couldn’t see Sa Woo’s attack because his body was twisted, he immediately realized what technique the opponent had used.

‘Formless Illusion Fist.’

Woo-woo-woo-woong!!

The fist wind flew with a tremendous resonance.

In that instant, Sa Woo’s eyes wavered.

‘This can’t be!’

The fist wind that was shot was advancing towards the opponent, covered in blazing flames.

A Qi energy technique that was invisible and suppressed its presence. Although the opponent had dodged it all with his terrifying reflexes, it would be difficult to avoid even the fist wind that was unleashed in this situation.

However, the fist wind was imbued with fire energy, making it visible to the naked eye and even expanding its presence.

A huge wall rose behind Yeon Ho-jeong.

It was the golden water energy wall, the Water God Great Fortress of the Twelve Walls of the Northern Heavens [a defensive technique].

Kwaaang! Chi-i-i-ik!

The fist wind, stained with fire energy, was blocked by the Water God Great Fortress and easily extinguished.

Only then did Sa Woo realize why the opponent had set the entire forest on fire.

‘The Formless Illusion Fist is blocked!’

It was a dangerous fist technique because it was invisible and could not be felt, but its Qi energy had gained color and presence.

Moreover, because it was stained with fire energy, it was rendered useless in front of that unidentified water energy technique. Even if he gathered all his strength and unleashed it, he had no confidence in breaking through that shield of water energy.

‘He has completely sealed one of my techniques.’

This would have been absolutely impossible without the lightness and transferability unique to fire energy. The opponent had taken that into account when he did this.

Sa Woo couldn’t help but admire the opponent’s ingenuity. His ability to apply his knowledge in practice was also clearly outstanding.

‘This is really exciting.’

The Spirit Tortoises were those who had broken through hellish training and countless life-or-death situations. The Spirit Tortoises who were trained in this way all became hunters who never knew how to give up.

And he was the commander-in-chief of the Spirit Tortoises. He was the most tenacious and strongest hunter among those possessed by the Evil Cult.

‘Has there ever been such a difficult prey?’

A beast that made him wonder if he could catch it even if he poured out everything he had.

It was a dangerous beast that could even take the hunter’s life, but for a hunter addicted to the hunt itself, even that became an element of excitement.

‘I’ll really catch you, you bastard.’

The opponent he had to kill had turned into an opponent he had to hunt.

The result was the same, but Sa Woo’s mindset had changed. He had transformed from a warrior who killed his opponent with pure skill into a technician who would use any means to catch his prey.

Pa-ba-ba-ba-bak!

The power of the Fiery Phoenix poured out in all directions.

Surprisingly, the target was not Yeon Ho-jeong but the burning trees.

Urrung! Kwarururung!!

Numerous trees were cut down and broken. The burning flames repeatedly split and merged, and then whoosh! They soared high into the sky.

In an instant, Sa Woo’s presence disappeared, hidden within the flames.

And at that moment.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s pupils, which had been burning red, turned pitch black.

Hwaaaaaak!

The Yellow Dragon Water Energy that filled his entire body began to quickly suppress the surrounding fire energy.

Pa-a-a-ang!

Yeon Ho-jeong dashed through the sea of fire in an instant.

No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t be unscathed in such a hot fire. If he were to use the Yellow Dragon Fire, he would be fine, but that would only turn the forest into more of a hell.

After reducing the fire energy and increasing the humidity with the Yellow Dragon Water Energy, and protecting his body with the absolute defense of the Twelve Walls of the Northern Heavens, he quickly reached Ji So-hyeon.

Sa Woo, who had been hiding his presence like an assassin or a hunter in the flames, felt a sudden jolt.

‘Oh no!’

The moment a warrior turned into a hunter.

The opponent had also turned from a warrior into a rescue team.

‘This bastard!’

Sa Woo realized again. The opponent had prepared for multiple scenarios.

If he had fought to the end as a warrior, he would have cut off his limbs in this favorable environment and pressured him to the point of collapse.

However, if he turned into a hunter, then the life-or-death struggle would be secondary.

The guy knew him unusually well. He not only knew his martial arts but also saw through his psychology. It was as if he knew everything about him.

He knew that he was the kind of person who could even abandon his superiors’ orders to catch a beast, just like now.

Sa Woo’s composure crumbled.

“You bastard!!”

Kwaaang!

Sa Woo pushed away the trees and flames with the Bungsan Palm and chased after Yeon Ho-jeong.

But it was too late.

No matter how fast Sa Woo was, he could not catch up with Yeon Ho-jeong now that this much distance had opened up.

And Yeon Ho-jeong had already reached Ji So-hyeon.

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes widened.

“Yeon…!”

Pa-a-a-ak!

Yeon Ho-jeong snatched Ji So-hyeon in an instant and threw the Black Dragon Axe without looking back.

It was the Great Dragon Flash of the Great Dragon Art [a powerful axe technique], which was difficult to use twice, gathering all the divine energy from his unstable upper dantian [an energy center in the body].

Flash! Kwaaang!

The Black Dragon Axe, which had flown with the secret technique of sword control, collided with the Twin Serpent Blades and flew away somewhere.

Ulk!

Yeon Ho-jeong vomited blood. His pale complexion and bloodshot eyes looked unusually serious.

‘It’s okay.’

Whether he resolved the past grievances in a one-on-one fight or rescued Ji So-hyeon by taking advantage of the opponent’s carelessness.

There was nothing bad for him in any choice. Thinking that way, this much hardship was nothing.

Having freed Ji So-hyeon from the pressure of the fire with the Yellow Dragon Water Energy, Yeon Ho-jeong quickly escaped the forest.

Yeon Ho-jeong saw a river as he left the forest.

‘This is where the next battle will be!’

Pung!

Yeon Ho-jeong overturned the river with his power and jumped into it with Ji So-hyeon.