Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1289

‘Not good.’

At the moment when Chalgukpyeong and the Thousand Divine Followers appeared, Goma Han intuitively knew that this battle had become extremely difficult.

No, it wasn’t just difficult; defeat was certain. His sensitive senses had detected the life force of the new cult leader, Gi Uhwan, who was fighting far away, disappearing.

‘So, was this inevitable?’

Unlike his friend, he had joined the new cult leader because he was exhausted from his monotonous life.

Even if the end was death, it was fine. If he could fight a worthy opponent and feel the passionate fervor of his youth again, he was willing to do anything.

Therefore, he had no great regrets. It would have been better if he could have fought these mainlanders to his heart’s content with the new cult leader, but even now, it wasn’t bad. The opponent was also a formidable force that could not be taken lightly.

Kwaarrrr!

He couldn’t understand how such harmony could be created with a single thin sword.

Namgoong Seung, the Sword Saint of the Central Plains, the energy emanating from his sword as it burned through the air was the culmination of the sword techniques accumulated by the Namgoong Clan over hundreds of years.

Sometimes, he tried to overwhelm with the Emperor Sword Style, and sometimes he aimed for vital points with the Heavenly Wind Sword and Heavenly Thunder Sword. At times, he seemed to unleash an absurdly fast sword with the Lightning Thirteen Sword Thunder, and then, in another moment, he mercilessly slashed with the killing intent of the Solitary Sword.

Each one was a top-tier martial art that could not be taken lightly, but what was truly frightening was the experience of the old warrior who deployed these martial arts at the right time and place.

Kwaaaang!

The explosive power of the Red Dragon Ten Hands, based on the Yama King’s Eight Powers [a martial arts technique], shook the powerful sword energy from its roots.

Rather than forms, it cut through the meridians of energy. Despite possessing a highly destructive fiery yang energy, the delicacy of his hand techniques was reminiscent of the Mount Hua Sect’s sword techniques.

Namgoong Seung’s eyebrows twitched.

‘Truly an amazing powerhouse.’

How vast was the world that it continued to produce such masters?

Whether it was power or delicacy, there was nothing lacking in his martial arts. Moreover, a terrifying fire energy was emanating, making it difficult to even approach.

‘Perfect. It’s truly perfect martial arts.’

There were people stronger than him. However, Namgoong Seung saw in Goma Han’s martial arts a certain point that his own martial arts needed to reach.

It wasn’t about who was superior, but about who had perfected their martial arts more completely.

Namgoong Seung was a step below Goma Han in that aspect. His sword was always looking up towards the highest point, but it lacked the solidity to embrace everything.

‘Perhaps I, too, like the ordinary people of the world, have been obsessed with strength, fixated only on the new and the stronger?’

Kwakwang!

The Emperor Sword was repelled by the force of the Red Dragon Ten Hands.

The form was the same, but the sword was pushed back. It meant he was overpowered.

Chiik!

The fire energy that had clung to the tip of the sword instantly traveled up the blade and tried to melt the hilt before disappearing.

‘Amazing fiery yang energy!’

If only looking at the density of the fire energy, it wouldn’t compare to that of the cult leader Gi Cheonung.

However, his ability to manipulate fire energy seemed to be comparable to him. The martial art of breaking the opponent’s explosive power and implanting his own energy to weaken the enemy’s combat power was an enlightenment that inspired admiration.

‘If only I had met a master like you sooner.’

If that were the case, they could have fought countless times, shared drinks, and elevated each other’s martial arts to a higher level.

However, the heavens did not grant him such an opponent. Moreover, it was a battlefield now.

He had to put aside his regrets and do his best to kill his opponent.

Pshhh!

Goma Han’s eyes wavered.

He had broken through the fire barrier with a heavy sword and inflicted a wound on his cheek with a lightning-fast sword strike.

The wound itself was not a big deal. However, the strike that had just broken through his protective energy and aimed for his head was definitely impressive.

If he hadn’t turned his head the moment his protective energy was broken, he would have surely died.

‘Good. A magnificent powerhouse.’

Intense heat emanated from Goma Han’s parched eyes.

‘Yes, this is the kind of match I wanted!’

Hwaaaak!

The Red Dragon Flame Fire Art was released to its limit, pulling his body into the realm of the Red Dragon Incarnation [a powerful martial arts state].

The Red Dragon Incarnation was a secret technique of the Red Dragon Flame Fire Art that awakened all of one’s energy and released the limits of fire energy output.

Surprise flickered in Namgoong Seung’s eyes.

Flash! Whoooosh!

Closing the distance like lightning, he unleashed a palm strike, and several Divine Followers who were caught in the fiery force instantly lost their lives.

The Divine Followers immediately tightened their formation. It was to avoid further damage from the two masters’ attacks.

And Goma Han did not pay any attention to such measures by the Divine Followers.

“If this battle is the last!”

Hwaruruk!

A crimson pillar of fire soared from behind Goma Han.

The pillar of fire looked heavy and dull. It didn’t even take a proper shape.

However, in the eyes of Namgoong Seung, who had opened his mind’s eye, the pillar of fire looked like a huge fire dragon.

“I must pour out everything so that there are no regrets!”

Thud!

With a ground-shaking stomp, Goma Han extended a palm strike.

Was another powerful force about to be unleashed?

No.

Hwaaaaaak!

With tremendous pulling force, Namgoong Seung felt his body being sucked towards his opponent.

‘Danger!’

Approaching an opponent filled with such terrifying fire energy was no different from willingly becoming a roasted corpse.

Namgoong Seung used the essence of the heavy sword to stop his movement.

And at that moment, the pulling force disappeared, and the Red Dragon Ten Hands exploded.

Kwaaaang!

Namgoong Seung coughed up blood and was pushed back.

It was a feint that any warrior with real combat experience could use. However, the fact that he used that feint so skillfully and naturally meant that even the Sword Saint of the world could not avoid it.

But.

‘I see it.’

Even while coughing up blood, Namgoong Seung’s eyes followed Goma Han’s movements.

Goma Han was already approaching from the side. His hand, swinging towards his left flank, was clenched like a hawk’s talon.

‘How unfortunate.’

Namgoong Seung’s eyes closed.

Flash! Hwarururuk!

Goma Han’s eyes wavered.

He would somehow be able to block it. But he was sure he couldn’t avoid it. That was the strike he had swung with that belief.

But the opponent had disappeared.

‘Where to?!’

At that moment, he felt a sharp energy from the right.

Swish!

Goma Han gritted his teeth.

The sword energy that had cut through him in a straight line from his shoulder to his forearm, the penetrating sword energy was destroying his muscles and even damaging his bones.

Hwarururuk!

In an instant, the fire essence was released, healing the wound.

“Good!”

Thud!

He stepped again and aimed for Namgoong Seung with his other hand.

The momentum and movement were truly overwhelming. It was a movement that was difficult for the current Namgoong Seung to react to.

However, Namgoong Seung showed another miracle.

Hwaruruk! Kwaaaang!

The Red Dragon Ten Hands missed again, exploding the ground in vain.

Swish!

“Kuh!”

A groan involuntarily escaped from Goma Han’s mouth.

Namgoong Seung, who had passed through him like a ghost, cut through his abdomen with a straightforward and honest sword strike.

Hwaaaaaak!

The fire essence once again healed Goma Han’s abdominal wound. However, because it was a strike that had swept through his internal organs, rapid healing was impossible.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

This wound, this pain.

It kept Goma Han alive. The pleasure he had gained from fighting fiercely in his youth led him to joy.

“Have you finally decided to fight properly!”

Goma Han’s face, as he shouted while spitting out blood, was full of laughter.

Hwaaaaaak!

A huge pillar of fire flowed down his arm and poured towards Namgoong Seung.

It was then.

Thwack!

Goma Han’s body, pierced through the chest by a flying sword, flew ten feet away and crashed into a rock.

‘Huh?’

Whoosh!

In a single strike, his heart meridian was severed.

The energy of the Red Dragon Flame Spit, the strongest strike of the Red Dragon Ten Hands that had been enveloping his entire arm, disappeared. It was natural since his heart meridian was severed.

Rather, it was more surprising that Goma Han’s life force had not killed him instantly even though his heart meridian was severed.

Of course, it was a serious injury from which recovery was impossible.

“Cough!”

From Goma Han’s body, which was spitting out blood, a hazy smoke was emitted. The Red Dragon Flame Fire Art had been broken.

“The match is over.”

Namgoong Seung, who had approached, grabbed the hilt of his sword.

Goma Han let out a bitter smile.

“You used your head quite well. Were you saving your strength for this one move?”

“Not at all. It’s that you’ve become weaker.”

“What?”

A shadow fell over Namgoong Seung’s face.

“If it had been before you used that explosive martial art, perhaps I might have lost. I didn’t know how to deal with your perfect martial arts.”

“……?!”

“But the moment you became faster and stronger, that perfection was also broken. Since the harmony of strength and flexibility was broken, it became easier to read your killing intent and movements.”

“……Was that so.”

“The moment you gain enlightenment, even a master becomes weaker. Because the balance that has been built up is broken. Your power is the same. It wasn’t a perfect amplification of energy in the first place.”

“…….”

“Even if you become faster and stronger, it won’t work against us who can read one move ahead. Don’t you know that?”

“I know.”

Goma Han smiled.

“I seem to have been too excited. Meeting a powerhouse like you.”

“And you gave up. On your own life.”

“…….”

“Do you have any last words?”

Goma Han, who had been smiling, burst into laughter.

“My fight with you, that is my last will in this world. I have no more regrets.”

“It’s not something to say during a war… but it was a good learning experience.”

“Hahaha!”

“Farewell.”

Namgoong Seung drew his sword powerfully.

Hwarurururuk!

At that moment, Goma Han’s body was completely burned and disappeared.

It was the death of Goma Han, a former master of the Divine Cult, who had come out into the world because he hated his fading life.

Namgoong Seung turned his body without any regrets.

The conversation was over. He had put aside his regrets.

It was wartime now.

Paang!

He immediately flew into the thick of the battle.

Krrrrrr!

By now, the Divine Followers had formed a triangular formation and were charging towards the newly appeared thousand troops.

‘Are they the ones who came with Cult Leader Gi?!’

Namgoong Seung’s eyes wavered.

‘Dangerous.’

Even though there were so many casualties, there still seemed to be at least seven hundred left.

The force of those seven hundred charging as one was tremendous. The energy was so overwhelming that it seemed like they could barely be stopped even if the entire Namgoong Clan poured out their full power.

There was no more to see.

‘Aim for the rear!’

It was the moment he was about to charge towards the rear of the Divine Followers.

Kwakwakwakwang!!

With a roar, a huge flame erupted from the right side of the Divine Followers.

The golden energy that spread with the flame spread around like a mist.

“Lord Yeon?!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, wielding an axe alone and fighting against a hundred masters.

Namgoong Seung was shocked.

‘Masters?!’

Masters who were all emitting unusual energy, they were the Fire Dragon Guard, the direct bodyguards of the Divine Cult Leader.

‘How could I not have read such masters?’

He had charged only to deal with the Divine Followers. But when he saw the faces of the Fire Dragon Guard, their individual skills were beyond those of the Divine Followers.

It was because they were the cult leader’s bodyguards. They, too, possessed top-tier stealth techniques like the Black Emperor Castle’s Honor Guard.

‘Dangerous. No matter how strong Lord Yeon is, fighting against such a unit is…!’

Kwakwakwang!!

It was truly a chaotic battle.

By now, the Divine Followers and the thousand Divine Cult troops had collided, causing a huge bloodbath. Even the existing Divine Cult troops who had been waiting on the side had joined in, causing a melee.

It was a situation where it was not easy to intervene anywhere, but still, Namgoong Seung tried to go to Yeon Ho-Jeong. That was the right thing to do.

It was then.

“Everyone, stop!!”

The voice of the returned Fire God echoed across the battlefield.