Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1224

Mok Won’s eyes wavered.

‘What is that?!’

What was rushing towards them at an incredible speed was a giant of a man.

But he wasn’t normal. First of all, his height was abnormal.

He was easily over seven feet tall, probably closer to eight. He was rushing forward in a hunched posture, and even though he was wearing dark heavy armor, it was clear that his entire body was muscular.

The giant, covered head to toe in black armor that looked like it had been dipped in ink, wasn’t alone.

Kukukukung!!

They had mastered incredible speed and footwork. Yet, the ground was still shaking. It was as if a group of giant elephants, rarely seen in the Central Plains [the heartland of China], were charging all at once.

‘They’re incredible!’

It was a mindless charge. As they ran, they swung the iron rods in their hands, and the bodies of the demons hit by those blows were exploding indiscriminately.

They were destroying everything in their path. Those monsters were rushing towards Mok Won.

‘Damn it.’

He was momentarily startled by their imposing appearance and momentum, but they were not enough to withstand the martial arts of the White Corps [Mok Won’s elite unit].

The problem was Cheon Hwa-Je, the supreme master who was descending and aiming for Mok Won’s weak points.

If it were a one-on-one life-or-death battle, not a battlefield, Mok Won couldn’t guarantee victory. And now, these unidentified armored figures were charging at him. It was a moment that would be difficult for even the most skilled warrior.

Flash!

Even in this difficult situation, Mok Won’s body seemed to have already made a decision and was moving.

His direction was towards the center army that was rushing forward. In other words, he was heading towards the direction where Yeon Ho-Jeong was fighting.

If Cheon Hwa-Je hadn’t been there, he could have attacked the front and rear of the center army with Yeon Ho-Jeong. It seemed like he was aiming for that, as Mok Won’s charge was relentless.

Paah-aah-aahng!

Cheon Hwa-Je’s movement against him was truly like lightning.

He instantly overtook Mok Won and landed at the rear of the center army.

His fist techniques were impressive, but his footwork was truly something to marvel at. It was as if he was moving by freely stepping on the air. He was using the Sky-Stepping Technique [a martial art that allows one to move quickly and seemingly float] as naturally as breathing.

“Don’t get in my way!”

Kwaang!

Cheon Hwa-Je’s attack was direct.

Because it was direct, it was even harder to block. It seemed like he could just dodge it, but the power that was being emitted had a strong pressure that blocked the enemy’s escape in all directions, forcing a head-on confrontation.

Flash!

The White Lightning Spear showed another transformation.

It wasn’t the ultimate technique of the Illusionary Spear, the Dragon Water Spear Technique. It was the secret technique of the Martial Sect [a school of martial arts], which made full use of the advantages of heavy weapons, the One Heart Red.

Puh-uh-uh-uhng!!

He had concentrated a lot of Heavenly Martial Divine Energy [a powerful form of internal energy] at the tip of the White Lightning Spear, but it was not enough to block Cheon Hwa-Je’s Nine Netherworld Demon Fist.

Mok Won’s feet were pushed back by about six steps. Thanks to the Heavenly Martial Divine Energy, he didn’t suffer any internal or external injuries, but it felt like his joints were creaking from the shockwave.

‘I’m being pushed back by his power.’

Even without using weapons, he was emitting overwhelming power.

It was a relaxed internal energy and a terrifyingly refined demonic power. At this moment, Mok Won clearly recognized that his martial arts were inferior to his opponent’s.

‘But I can’t stop!’

Kwang!

Mok Won, burning with fighting spirit, swung the White Lightning Spear again with a powerful step.

It was a transition from One Heart Red to Lion Spear. If One Heart Red was a heavy and powerful blow that pierced the enemy, Lion Spear was a majestic martial art that was also flexible in its power, making it specialized for continuous attacks.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!!

He blocked it again.

Cheon Hwa-Je also seemed surprised by Mok Won’s divine skill and swung his palms, but it was Mok Won who was in a hurry.

It was because the armored figures had already approached right behind him.

‘Here!’

That’s why this spear technique had meaning.

He extended the White Lightning Spear in his right hand and strongly struck the end of the spear shaft with his left hand, using the Flying Strike Red of One Heart Red.

Kwaang!

In reality, it was a martial art that shot out the spear itself using internal energy, but the White Lightning Spear did not fly away.

Instead, the pure white energy contained at the tip of the spear was shot out. It was several times more dangerous and powerful than actually shooting out the spear.

Puh-buh-buhk!

Cheon Hwa-Je’s body stopped only after knocking down about twenty demons in the center army.

It was a fierce battle in the midst of chaos. It wasn’t just Mok Won who was in a hurry, so Cheon Hwa-Je also ended up taking an attack that he would have easily avoided under normal circumstances.

Flash!

Mok Won’s spear technique shone.

As soon as he shot out the Flying Strike Red, he grabbed the tip of the spear and swung it backward, and before he knew it, the spear blade had multiplied into dozens.

From Dragon Water Spear to One Heart Red, from One Heart Red to Lion Spear.

From Lion Spear to One Heart Red, and from One Heart Red back to Dragon Water Spear.

He was freely using extremely high-level spear techniques, and the flow of his martial arts was as natural as flowing water.

The scattered spear blades struck the heads and chests of the armored figures.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!!

It was an amazing material.

The White Lightning Spear was one of the most outstanding divine weapons even in the Divine Demon Forest. And the White Corps had poured their true energy into it, but the armor worn by the armored figures only had a few cracks and was still intact.

‘It’s still okay.’

It was just one breath.

Mok Won had also pushed himself quite hard to stop the armored figures’ advance. It was a burden he could feel because he had just blown away Cheon Hwa-Je.

Mok Won even forgot about that burden.

He pulled his right hand, which was holding the end of the spear shaft, back and grabbed the middle of the spear shaft with his left hand.

Then, he powerfully advanced and deployed the Dragon Water Spear Technique, and his figure was like a single red flower of fighting spirit blooming on the battlefield.

Puh-buh-buh-buhk!

“Kuaaaak!”

“Uaaaah!!”

They screamed in low voices like beasts.

It was because the spear blades that scattered like illusions had swept through the armored figures’ eyes.

It was the pinnacle of delicacy. Even though the burden on his body must have been great, he was deploying spear techniques that only targeted the enemy’s weak points.

It was truly a martial art befitting the title of White Corps. Whether it was a spear or a sword in his hand, he displayed his upright skills.

But.

‘He’s coming!’

Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eong!!

“Kuek!”

He hurriedly turned his body and blocked with the White Lightning Spear, but Cheon Hwa-Je’s internal energy, which had penetrated the spear shaft, blew Mok Won’s body away.

Kwang!

Mok Won’s face, who was rolling on the ground with the armored figures, immediately turned pale.

Ulk!

He couldn’t block the invading energy due to the excessive use of internal energy. With that one move, Mok Won suffered an internal injury. Cheon Hwa-Je’s martial arts were so powerful that even the power of the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon couldn’t block it.

“What are you doing!”

What was surprising was that Cheon Hwa-Je didn’t launch a follow-up attack.

Cheon Hwa-Je, who was shouting with a demonic voice as if Mok Won was not even in his eyes, even looked somewhat urgent.

“Advance to where the spirit line is broken! Even one more must survive!”

Mok Won’s eyes flashed.

‘Even one more must survive?’

It was a strange thing to stick in his mind even in the midst of a fierce battle.

‘Come to think of it…’

Before the armored figures attacked, he had also said this.

‘Don’t engage them head-on, move quickly! Do you really want to die?!’

When he first heard those words, he didn’t think it was strange. He just thought it was a statement made out of anger at his subordinates’ slow actions, that there was a reason to advance, and that they weren’t hurrying.

But when he thought about it, this army had never not been in a hurry.

Even if it was an army, since it was a group, the eyes and emotions of each individual should be different, but the demons who were advancing only showed one emotion.

‘The desire to survive.’

Mok Won’s sharply honed senses instantly read the demons’ emotions.

‘These guys want to live. That’s why they’re advancing.’

It was incomprehensible.

If they wanted to live, they should scatter. Being caught and killed by their superiors? That didn’t make sense.

In other words, the demons, this army, could only live by advancing. Mok Won couldn’t think of any other reason.

‘What the hell are these guys…?!’

That’s when it happened.

Kwaang!

He instinctively threw himself out of the way and survived.

A crimson fist wind instantly slammed one of the armored figures into the ground.

It was an incredible power. Cheon Hwa-Je had begun to show his true skills.

“Let’s go to the side, you trash. I’ll give you a proper fight.”

Cheon Hwa-Je’s martial art was the Blood Dragon Demonic Fist. Cheon Hwa-Je was freely using the martial arts of Gyu Hong, who had come to Sichuan [a province in China] with Cheon Wi-Ryong.

Puh-uhk!

Mok Won, who had knocked away three demons with the White Lightning Spear, spoke calmly.

“I’m already fighting you properly.”

“Don’t you have any pride as a martial artist! If you want to fight me…!”

“I’m not trying to fight you. I’m trying to fight this army.”

Mok Won grinned.

“I’ve heard that none of the Three Teachings [referring to Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism] guys know about honor. But you’re still talking about pride. Why? Is there a reason why I shouldn’t be messing around here?”

“You bastard!!”

Paah-aah-aahng!

Cheon Hwa-Je charged as if he was angry.

‘Dangerous!’

That speed alone was truly dangerous.

Mok Won immediately deployed the White Gangbi [a technique to enhance movement] and soared high into the sky. It was because he felt that he shouldn’t engage him head-on.

That’s when it happened.

‘……!!’

The demons advanced like ants around Cheon Hwa-Je, who was just staring at Mok Won who had flown up.

A master of that level of footwork should have flown up with him and attacked Mok Won. He had used the Sky-Stepping Technique like a ghost, hadn’t he?

‘As I thought!’

Seeing that, Mok Won realized another thing.

‘Yeon-Je isn’t just stopping these guys because they’re dangerous.’

It was one of two things.

Either if these guys entered the heart of the Central Plains, the martial world would suffer great damage.

And the other was… that keeping these guys here was the easiest opportunity to annihilate the Blood Demon Cult forces.

‘These guys didn’t come to attack the Central Plains. They came to survive.’

Mok Won’s eyes blazed.

‘That’s it! If they don’t move to a specific place and do something, these guys will all die!’

He couldn’t even imagine what it was, but Mok Won was certain of his deduction.

He wouldn’t have reached such a far-fetched conclusion under normal circumstances. He was also growing rapidly as he experienced the battlefield.

‘Then I have to stop them even more!’

That’s when it happened.

Piyu-u-u-ung!!

Hundreds of arrows flew from the rear of the rear army.

They were saying to save even one more person, but they were shooting arrows from the rear. They knew that their own allies could die from those arrows, but they still shot them.

‘They’ve judged that it’s more dangerous if we delay them. It’s a bigger loss to be threatened in the advance itself than to have a few hundred allies die.’

A lightning-fast judgment.

Paah-aah-aahng!

Mok Won’s figure dodged the arrows and fell to the ground. He was planning to give the incoming arrows to the demons at the rear of the center army.

However, the monster who had been constantly aiming for Mok Won did not miss the opportunity.

Flash!

Cheon Hwa-Je, who had charged like lightning, swung his fist towards Mok Won’s chest.

Kwaaang!

‘I’m going to die.’

He could somehow fight back. But he couldn’t continue like this.

The difference in power was significant. In the meantime, he had suffered an internal injury, so the chances of winning in a head-on fight were not high.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Jjeo-eo-eong!

It was more about speed than destructive power.

He was relentlessly pursuing him as if he wouldn’t let him go, and even the great Mok Won couldn’t find an opportunity to counterattack.

‘Damn it, I’m really going to die like this.’

He needed a counterattack.

A single, absolute move that no one had thought of.

And at that moment, Mok Won could see with his own eyes that the connection that heaven had made could sometimes give him such great power that it could even change his destiny.

Puh-buh-buh-buhk!

A tremendous explosion was heard from behind.

A streak of white light that had pierced straight through the heads of the demons grazed Mok Won’s shoulder and flew towards Cheon Hwa-Je’s chest.

It was a small hand axe.