Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1280

With Yeon Ho-Jeong’s appearance, the morale of the Martial Alliance forces soared, and they repelled the cavalry with incredible breakthrough power.

Not only that, but even the Mythical Cultists attacking from the flanks were pushed back. This was because Yeon Ho-Jeong himself was wielding his axe against the Mythical Cultists.

The Martial Alliance forces’ northward advance was like a storm, relentlessly pushing back the enemies, and their morale continued to rise.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong, and even Namgoong Seung, knew.

‘The real threat is over there.’

Far ahead, someone was moving, emitting a fiery aura like a volcano.

The emitted internal energy was truly terrifying. Just in terms of internal energy alone, no expert here could match him.

And with him, the Mythical Cult’s unit, the Thousand Mythical Flames [神火令, a unit known for their mastery of fire-based martial arts], was advancing. They were the strongest unit the Mythical Cult possessed. Among them, the Fire Dragon Squad [火龍隊], consisting of only a hundred members but boasting a destructive military discipline, were the direct guards of the cult leader.

The appearance of the cult leader, the elite unit, and the cult leader’s direct guard unit.

It was literally the full force representing the Mythical Cult that had revealed itself.

Namgoong Seung shouted.

“Lord Yeon!”

There was no need to explain the situation. He had no doubt that Yeon Ho-Jeong understood the current situation better than anyone.

“Open a path! We must open the battlefield after disrupting the cavalry!”

“We’ll be pushed back! Their momentum is too strong!”

“Still, open it!”

It was a forceful demand that defied common sense.

However, Namgoong Seung followed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words. It wasn’t just because of this unbelievable morale.

The Yeon Ho-Jeong he knew was a genius of war. He sometimes used excessively aggressive military tactics, but when he told them to do something, there was always a reason.

Kwaaang!

Namgoong Seung, having blown away the cavalry with his Heavenly Wind Sword, widened the path with his Heavenly Thunder Palm and Heavenly Wind Palm.

Heeheeheeheeing!!

They were a force of ten thousand, but still, more than half of them were casualties.

They should know that there was no chance of winning if they fought like this. Yet, they did not retreat. They avoided Namgoong Seung and attacked the Martial Alliance forces, countless arrows flying through the sky, and the spears of the charging cavalry gleaming in the sunlight.

Flash!

The Five Old Gates, who had been driving back the Mythical Cultists, charged in from the flank and used their Soul-Reaping Swordsmanship.

The spear shafts shattered like reeds, and the horses buckled and fell under the storm-like sword techniques.

The divine horsemanship was admirable, but the horses were terrified in front of the Five Old Gates, who were creating a terrifying sword wind that seemed like a natural disaster.

Once one line of formation was disrupted, the fear spread at a terrifying speed.

There was a limit to how much the riders could soothe their horses. Horses trusted their riders, but when the formation was disrupted, they could only feel confusion and fear.

Kwaaaang!

In that gap, Ironwood Hou flew in, sending five cavalrymen flying and collapsing.

The power that burned the soul, the attack of Jongli Baek, who was properly showing the power of an old master, repeatedly defeated Ironwood Hou.

Heeheeheeing!!

“Kyaaaak!”

The disrupted formation in one place spread at a terrifying speed, causing cracks throughout the entire unit.

Whooong!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who thought he had pushed back the Mythical Cultists retreating from the flanks enough, also jumped towards the cavalry.

In a situation where the Five Old Gates alone were disrupting the formation and increasing the chaos, when Yeon Ho-Jeong also jumped in with a purpose, the unit’s formation was shattered in an instant.

“Retreat!”

Unable to watch any longer, the leader of the vanguard urged a retreat in the language of the grasslands.

They had already run out of most of their arrows, and it was difficult to fight with just charges.

Decisively, they felt fear.

The sudden surge in the enemy’s morale, and the experts who showed terrifying abilities as if ancient gods had descended, caused the cavalry’s morale to drop unbelievably.

If they could inflict even a scratch by sticking together, they would have charged, risking death. But no matter how they thought about it, this was nothing more than a dog’s death.

‘As expected.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s being peeled away by the Yellow Dragon.’

By now, the morale in the eyes of the cavalrymen and their horses had decreased significantly.

It was the power of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art [a martial art focused on overwhelming and dispelling negative energies]. By spreading his aura as much as possible and pushing back the cavalry, the Yellow Dragon Divine King Energy, full of exorcising power, was evaporating the morale that had penetrated their bodies.

That’s why they were retreating. If they were addicted to morale, they would have advanced more fiercely, not retreated.

Kwang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, stepping on his true stance, shouted.

“Uwaaaaaap!!”

His voice, filled with the Yellow Dragon Divine King Energy, spread throughout the battlefield.

Heeheeheeheeing!!

Thousands of horses raised their front legs and cried out.

It is said that Zhang Fei of Changbanpo [a famous general from the Three Kingdoms period known for his powerful roar] repelled a hundred thousand troops with just a shout.

Of course, it was an absurd story, but the current Yeon Ho-Jeong had the power to make that absurd thing a reality.

The power of the Yellow Dragon that washed away morale, and the combat ability that was worthy of being called a Martial God [武神, a title given to those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts].

That ferocious lion’s roar finally created a miracle.

Dudududududu!

Even the cavalrymen at the rear turned their horses one by one and began to retreat.

The Five Old Gates unconsciously opened their mouths.

“Re, retreating?!”

Frankly, their internal energy and stamina were so depleted that they might have died if they had fought any longer.

But in that situation, the enemy was retreating. The power contained in the lion’s roar was terrifying, but it was unbelievable to see the entire unit retreat at that single shout.

Namgoong Seung also quickly approached Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“They’re retreating.”

“Yes.”

“Amazing. How did you do that?”

In Namgoong Seung’s mind’s eye, he saw the scene of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lion’s roar blowing away their morale. However, even seeing it did not fully explain the phenomenon. If it was possible with a lion’s roar, Yeon Ho-Jeong would have tried it before he came.

“That’s not what’s important now.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes spat out a fiery red flame.

“The real enemy has appeared.”

It was then.

Kwaaang!!

With a roar, a corner of the retreating cavalry collapsed.

The flames that surged up in an instant quickly spread throughout the cavalry. As if the flames were overflowing like a river, the speed at which they swept through the unit was beyond imagination.

“Kuaaaak!”

“Aaaak!”

Screams followed screams.

The cavalry, which had been retreating while reorganizing their formation as much as possible, was shattered in an instant. They scattered everywhere to avoid the unpredictable flames.

Namgoong Seung’s mouth dropped open at the sight.

Even so, to burn their retreating allies? There were so-called ‘battle-urging units’ that would cut down retreating allies and force them to charge, but they had gone beyond that level.

“Wh, why?!”

“It doesn’t seem like it’s to straighten their discipline.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face slightly distorted.

“It’s as if they’re treating their allies like beasts. It seems they think they’re expendable.”

He was right.

The Mythical Flames and the two supreme experts were constantly using fiery martial arts to attack the cavalry.

But they didn’t chase after them to kill them all. They were killing the cavalry because they were blocking the path.

Those who blocked the path of the god, those who disturbed the seat of the god.

They were giving severe punishment to those people.

Hwaaaak!

The cavalry, scattered in all directions, had disappeared as if washed away. Only the sound of hooves echoing far to the northwest and northeast indicated their existence.

Kwaaang!

“Eek!”

Jongli Baek, who had been chasing Ironwood Hou, who was retreating with the cavalry, had no choice but to step back due to the opponent’s powerful palm strike.

“Jongli Musang! Step back!”

“I have to catch that bastard!”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted.

“The opportunity will come soon! Step back!”

He reacted to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice before Namgoong Seung’s.

Jongli Baek flinched, then gritted his teeth and stepped back.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘Not good.’

A reddish fire was flickering in Jongli Baek’s chest.

Whether it was due to his deep internal energy or his strong mental strength, the fire had not yet severed his heart meridian. But it was certain that Jongli Baek would die soon.

A fatal injury that even an expert like Yeon Ho-Jeong or a physician like Gi Woo-Hee could never cure.

‘Still, it can’t be helped. Please wait a little longer.’

It was clear that the place where Jongli Baek’s fate would end was here.

But they had to endure when they had to. It would be okay if he died fighting the opponent without regrets, but if they made a mistake, he could die suddenly in the midst of the chaos.

“Master!”

“Cough!”

The Five Old Gates hurriedly approached Jongli Baek, who was spitting blood. Only then did the Five Old Gates realize that his master’s condition was serious, and his face was hardened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong pulled the two of them back.

“Rest for a bit, even if it’s just a little. I will definitely create a separate battlefield for Musang.”

The Five Old Gates’ eyes were bloodshot.

“Lord Yeon! What are you saying! Please help my master… !”

“I can fight.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Jongli Baek.

“Isn’t that right?”

Jongli Baek grinned.

His complexion was pale, and his nose and mouth were covered in blood, but his face was full of life.

“Thank you, Lord. This old man will hold on a little longer, so don’t forget your promise.”

“Don’t worry.”

The Five Old Gates, having read his master’s mind, gritted his teeth.

Whoooooong.

The wind that blew was hot.

And finally, they appeared.

Sreuk.

Even though more than a thousand troops were lined up and approaching, there was almost no sound of footsteps.

It was as if fire was skimming across the ground, their gait was unbelievably light. It wasn’t just one or two people, but all of them were like that.

And in their center.

A huge palanquin appeared.

It was a huge palanquin with a height of almost three stories. There were even stairs on all sides of the palanquin, and the long, drawn-out curtains were red and bright like fire.

“It’s grand.”

“Indeed.”

Tension rose on Namgoong Seung’s face.

“But… they’re strong.”

They were unbelievably strong.

The force that naturally emanated before enlightenment was beyond imagination. The level of martial arts was not simply a difference in internal energy, but with such overwhelming power, it would be enough to close any gap in an instant.

Even Namgoong Seung himself did not feel confident that he could win against the expert inside that palanquin. That’s how powerful the aura was.

‘It’s dark.’

Fire energy was overflowing. It was an incredibly dense fire energy.

But that fire energy had a damp and dark quality, like mud. It was fire energy, but not ordinary fire energy.

Hwaaaaaak!

And a fire energy that was so opposite to that fire energy appeared between them.

An aura that was almost sacred, the density of the overflowing fire energy was equal to that of the expert inside the palanquin. It gave off a dangerous feeling like gunpowder about to explode, but at the same time, it showed the quality of a master who perfectly controlled their true energy.

It was the appearance of Gi Cheon-Woong.

Sreuk.

The Mythical Flames stopped advancing.

Gi Cheon-Woong stopped twenty feet in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong and Namgoong Seung, passing by the Mythical Flames.

“Have you come?”

Sreureuk.

The curtains of the palanquin were drawn back.

Inside, a man who had overturned the natural order was sitting loosely.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

It was the appearance of the current Mythical Cult leader, Gi Woo-Hwan.