Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1235

The demons’ screams were beyond imagination. “Kuaaaaah!” “Break through! Just break through!” The commanders’ shouts were filled with extreme urgency. The Righteous Army skillfully maneuvered the demon forces. Blocking their escape routes, they formed defensive lines, forcing the demons to turn in other directions. They lured them while constantly attacking, steadily reducing their numbers. “Break through! Take out the cavalry first!” Flash! Now, even the power of swordsmanship was flying. It was a technique of firing explosive force from a distance. Among the demons, there were many skilled individuals who were adept at mid-to-long-range attacks, targeting the Righteous Army. It was as if they had finally regained their reason. Their unit operations, which were becoming increasingly organized and pushing back the Righteous Army, were considerable. It was puzzling why they had only been charging recklessly before, when they were capable of such movements. However, the Righteous Army was not flustered. In fact, the Righteous Army’s movements were becoming even more fluid. While it might seem easy to deal with troops charging haphazardly, if the difference in numbers was too great, some tactics had to be abandoned. But if the enemy acted ‘logically,’ things changed. The Righteous Army was a practical unit that had mastered numerous strategies and tactics through experience. They were even capable of switching leadership roles among themselves, a unit with extreme freedom and proactivity. For such a unit, the fact that the enemy was using strategies and tactics was actually welcome. It meant they could respond to any formation. The more organized the demon forces became, forming lines and targeting the Righteous Army, the closer the Righteous Army’s formation became to perfection. A solid defensive line that was unbelievable even when seen with one’s own eyes. Yet, they thoroughly lured the demons. It was the appearance of a complete cavalry unit, with only one seriously injured person so far, a sight rarely seen anywhere. And it didn’t end there. “Here!” “Form a line and sweep them away! The flanks are weak!” “We’ll target the rear! Stick to them relentlessly!” The Jongnam Sect [a major sect known for its strong swordsmanship] attacked the rear, and the Hwasan Sect [a major sect known for its elegant swordsmanship] attacked the flanks, shaking the entire movement of the demon forces. Although they had lost half or more of their main forces, the remaining members fought valiantly. It was also the right decision to bring only the secular forces [non-monastic members of the sects]. If they had brought all the sects from Shanxi for the sake of numerical superiority, it would have been delayed, and it would have been difficult to coordinate. It seemed that both sects had learned a lot from the one battle. They realized that while the size of the force was important, what was even more important was fighting with people who were in sync. “Kill!” “Don’t let a single one live!” “Avenge the blood of our deceased elders and fellow disciples!” These were words that one would never have imagined coming from martial arts sects that studied the Dao [the Way, a philosophical concept]. As they became desensitized to killing and blood, they lost the teachings of the serene mountains. Instead, they honed terrifying killing swords in the place they had lost, risking their lives to annihilate the enemy. This was the horror of war. War could turn even normal people into enraged, blood-crazed demons. Many say that one’s innate nature cannot be changed, but extreme environments could change people like this. However, such changes might have been an unavoidable fate to protect one’s land and homeland. Kwaang! Pow! Pow! Pow! The martial arts of the Hwasan Sect elders, who were tearing apart the rear, were astonishing. The Hwasan Jinins [elders of the Hwasan Sect], who had been brave, had refined the delicate and diverse swordsmanship of Hwasan into brutal killing swords that cut down enemies with reckless strikes. In just one major battle, the swordsmanship tendencies of all of them had changed. They killed the enemy more cruelly and efficiently. As they pushed the rear, the enemy’s casualties increased exponentially. The Jongnam Sect was no less formidable. Pow! Pow! Pow! Swordsmanship and palm techniques harmoniously swept through the demons. The Jongnam swordsmanship was a fast and powerful strong sword. Although not as extreme as Hwasan, it also had swordsmanship with drastic changes, but its characteristic was martial arts that targeted all parts of the opponent using powerful internal energy. The martial arts, which were already focused on strong swords, had become even stronger and more violent. They wielded their swords so fiercely that it was as if it didn’t matter if they cut down someone next to them. The palm techniques were the same. The martial arts, which had been focused on strong attacks but were balanced in offense and defense, were now showing forms solely for attack, choosing only to break the skulls and sternums of the demons. It was a killing martial art obtained by abandoning the spirit of the sacred mountain. It was not that their level had increased, but they were using martial arts that were much more powerful than before. It was the moment they surpassed the limits of the Nine Great Sects’ martial arts. They had abandoned their composure and gained power. Although they had forsaken the teachings of the mountain, they had become a force several times more burdensome to the enemy. ‘Impressive.’ The changes in the Jongnam and Hwasan martial arts were enough to surprise even Yeon Ho-Jeong. ‘Could the martial arts of the Nine Great Sects change this much?’ Even with the same martial arts, the interpretation was different, so the power was bound to be different. That was natural. However, there were also limits to the martial arts themselves. The martial arts of the Nine Great Sects were all mysterious and excellent, but it was difficult to interpret them solely as killing swords. That was the limit, if it could be called a limit, of the Nine Great Sects’ martial arts, but in reality, it was not something that could be called a limit. If they had the will to kill, they also knew how to use excellent killing techniques. Their changes were not at that level. ‘Extreme killing, destructive martial arts. Extreme martial arts that don’t even care about my own life…’ Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the demons. The martial arts of the demon fighting the young swordsman of Jongnam were clearly sinister and deadly. However, the Jongnam swordsman was not afraid at all. Rather, he even sneered as if it was not enough, wielding his ignorant strong sword. He was even punched in the chest by the demon’s fist. Even while spitting blood, he laughed wildly and advanced. He finally broke through the defense and plunged his sword into the demon’s neck, then slashed down. Fuhwak! The throat was split, and the sternum and abdomen were completely cut. Pink bundles of intestines were spilling out from the open belly. It was a gruesome sight. Yet, there was no fear or pity in the Jongnam swordsman’s eyes. As if it were natural, he kicked the corpse away and, while touching his chest, swung his sword in search of another prey. He looked more like a demon than the demons themselves. He was not using the secret techniques of the Jongnam Sect, but his swordsmanship was incredible. ‘It’s not demonic energy, but it’s already a martial art that deserves to be called demonic. If you use such martial arts… it can affect your mind.’ There are those who become murderers after one accidental killing. Since they have mastered the internal energy cultivation methods of the Nine Great Sects, it is better, but if they use such brutal martial arts, it would not be strange if they became demons at any time. ‘But… I can’t stop it.’ This is war. It is more serious to lose in war than for them to become demons. ‘We have chosen. They are also walking the path they have chosen, so I have no justification to stop them, nor do I want to.’ It was not an evasion of responsibility. Rather, doing something for them was hypocrisy. They were taking responsibility in their own way. They were fighting, putting their lives and even their souls on the line. Even if the result was cruel, Yeon Ho-Jeong could not help but evaluate it as noble. It was the harm of the war against the Three Teachings [a group of three powerful sects]. “They’ve been pushed back!” “Fire!” Tatatatatatang!! Perhaps because he had been taught by Muk Bi. He was now holding a horn bow that he had never used before, and the speed at which the arrows flew was truly remarkable. Pow pow pow! He knocked down the leading demons, creating distance. There were demons who deflected the arrows with their swords, but their necks were soon cut off by Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s greatsword, who was riding his horse diagonally. The archers fired their arrows once and then quickly reorganized, taking up swords and spears. They could have fired indiscriminately, but they were charging again as they were. They were worried about harming their allies in the midst of the chaos. Without anyone ordering them, everyone made the same decision, putting down their horn bows and charging with their main weapons. ‘Amazing.’ Yeon Ho-Jeong was genuinely impressed. ‘I didn’t think their tactical awareness would develop this much. Everyone is seeing the same thing without falling behind.’ At this rate, they could put up a good fight even against a great sect of the Nine Great Sects level. Although they could not make a do-or-die gamble due to being pushed back in the expert ranks, they could easily hold out for a few days. ‘If this is the case, there is a chance of victory.’ The Hwasan Sect’s reckless rear disruption, the Jongnam Sect’s terrifying flank breakthrough. There were countless casualties. The number of demons, which had been so large, had already decreased to eight thousand. ‘At this rate, we can annihilate them.’ It was then. “Huk!” “Kuaaaaak!!” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened. Starting with a few demons, screams spread throughout the entire army in an instant. Everyone was holding their heads and screaming, and surprisingly, a translucent smoke-like substance was flowing from their noses and mouths. ‘Demonic energy!’ The demonic energy within their bodies was surging. ‘It’s not an emission.’ The hand holding the Mad Dragon Blade tightened. ‘Evaporation!’ That’s right. Surprisingly, the demonic energy was evaporating from the demons’ bodies. There were still demons who had not experienced the symptoms, but their condition seemed even worse. They were extremely terrified, their faces pale. Some were standing blankly and dropping their swords, some were crying and wailing with tears of blood, and some were laughing wildly and making suicide charges towards the Jongnam swordsmen. “What, what is this?!” “Have these guys gone crazy?!” Even the fierce swordsmen of Jongnam and Hwasan were taken aback and took a few steps back. It was a complete mess. It was bizarre to see people dying indiscriminately, but it was definitely a unique spectacle that could not be seen anywhere else. Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted. “Total attack!” It was the voice of a dragon that awakened everyone’s spirits. “They are not normal! There is no need for tactics! Knock them all down!” “Uwaaaaaa!!” The Righteous Army, which had been dominating the demon forces with their incredible horsemanship, immediately charged recklessly and cut off the demons’ heads. The Jongnam and Hwasan Sects also attacked the demons. As if they were glad, they swung their swords with gusto, and the number of demons began to decrease exponentially in the face of their killing intent. An hour later. The number of demons had decreased to four thousand. Two hours later. The survivors of the demon forces were less than a hundred. It was a one-sided massacre, as if it were a slaughter. The surviving demons were still holding their heads and screaming, and most of them were collapsing on the ground, their skin shriveled. Even though they were the enemy, seeing them in this state made one feel pity. However, hatred was much greater than pity. Under the merciless sword strikes of the Jongnam and Hwasan swordsmen, all the demons lost their lives. “I can’t believe it. We really killed them all.” Yeo Guk’s trembling voice was the highlight. It seemed that he was shocked that they had killed an army of over ten thousand with a much smaller force. “The truly amazing thing hasn’t even started yet.” Yeon Ho-Jeong looked south. “If the situation is the same over there… this war with the Blood Demon Sect is as good as our overwhelming victory. One of the Three Teachings will be completely destroyed.”