Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 279

“……?!”

Kiwuhee’s eyes, which had been darting around quickly, widened.

‘That person is……?’

A figure was rushing towards her at a terrifying speed from the front.

The speed was truly beyond human comprehension. Not even a bird in flight, a beast pouncing on its prey, or the fastest steed could match it.

With Kiwuhee’s skills, her reflexes couldn’t keep up with the movements of the person charging at her with a massive axe and chain.

But what was this?

The figure of the young man rushing at a speed that defied imagination was clearly visible.

It was as if she was alone in slowed-down time. Within that, Kiwuhee could see and feel everything—the young man’s gaze, his expression, and even the explosive presence he exuded.

‘Dangerous.’

That was her first impression of the young man.

Dangerous.

‘Extremely dangerous!’

Kiwuhee instinctively tried to turn her body.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong accelerated again.

Kwaaaang!

With a terrifying gust of wind, Yeon Ho-jeong soared into the air, instantly leaping past Kiwuhee and landing behind her.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

The scream that involuntarily burst forth echoed through the mountains and valleys.

Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.

“Muk Bi!”

Fwoooosh!

Muk Bi, who had instantly caught up to Yeon Ho-jeong, held the Crimson Lotus Bow in her hand.

Tatatatatang!

Merciless rapid-fire, formless bullets were shot at the assassins who had revealed themselves.

Thwack! Thwack! Ting!

Muk Bi’s eyes flashed.

Three formless bullets blew off the heads of three assassins, but the remaining two drew their swords and deflected the shots.

‘They’re fast.’

Their reaction speed was excellent. Moreover, their internal energy and swordsmanship were also top-notch. Although it was archery without the use of iron or wooden arrowheads, they managed to block the penetrating power that would be difficult to stop with ordinary martial arts.

‘But I won’t waste arrows.’

If she were alone, she would have started unleashing the techniques of the Nine Dragons Heavenly Bow. But now, there was no need for that.

Because beside her now was a reliable ally, the embodiment of practical martial arts.

Fwoooooooom! Thwack!

With a single strike of the Mad Dragon Axe, swung at an incredible speed, the bodies of the two assassins were torn apart and sent flying.

It was as if a gale with the weight of a thousand pounds had struck. The pieces of flesh and blood torn away by the overwhelming blow filled the air.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s feet blazed.

Kwaaang!

It was the sprint of a fire god, breaking through short distances at supersonic speed.

Yeon Ho-jeong, having entered the forest entrance in an instant with Blood Wing Soaring [a movement technique], grabbed the Coiling Dragon Chain bound to his upper body.

Charrrrrrrr!

In his right hand was the axe, and in his left, the Coiling Dragon Chain.

‘Two on the upper left, three on the lower left, two in the mid-right.’

He accurately pinpointed the locations of the assassins hidden in the bushes.

Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Coiling Dragon Chain.

Charrrr! Thwack thwack thwack!

From the upper left to the mid-right, the Coiling Dragon Chain, sharpened like a needle, pierced through the torsos of seven assassins in an instant.

It wasn’t the White Tiger Qi [a type of internal energy] or the Vermilion Bird Qi [another type of internal energy]. It was the Azure Dragon Qi [a third type of internal energy].

The Azure Dragon Art, which specialized in evasion and counterattacks. The Azure Dragon Qi, the foundation of that art, had the characteristic of freely changing the nature of weapons. If the intention was to pierce and pull, rather than a single fatal blow, the Azure Dragon Qi was better than the Vermilion Bird Qi.

Yeon Ho-jeong pulled the Coiling Dragon Chain.

Crack! Thud!

The seven assassins, their torsos pierced, flew through the air towards him.

All of their stances were completely broken. Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Mad Dragon Axe.

Fwoooooooosh!

The beast-like power of the Howling King Nine Wall Stance [a martial arts stance] instantly tore apart the torsos of the seven assassins.

It was a difficult combination technique for cavalry. One was a weapon weighing eighty pounds, and the other was an iron chain five yards long, yet his ability to wield them with one hand was at the peak of mastery.

“He’s insane.”

Gang Ryang, who had approached Kiwuhee, clicked his tongue.

“What kind of ridiculous martial art is that?!”

He had seen it several times, but he still couldn’t get used to it. At the same time, Gang Ryang was newly convinced. In their duel, Yeon Ho-jeong hadn’t shown even thirty percent of his true power.

Moyong Woo briefly clasped his hands towards Kiwuhee.

“I am Moyong Woo, the Martial Alliance’s Tangma Army Commander. Are you the Western Divine Maiden?”

“Y-yes, yes?! Ah! I’m not a Divine Maiden… well, that is….”

She stammered, flustered.

Moyong Woo nodded.

“The Western Divine Maiden, Kiwuhee, the divine physician. From now on, we will protect you.”

“T-thank you.”

Even in her confusion, she bowed deeply. Moyong Woo could sense Kiwuhee’s gentle nature.

It was then.

Kwaaaang! Fwoooosh!

Fierce explosions erupted.

It was the sound of trees breaking and the ground being overturned. The attacks were so destructive that it felt like the heavens and earth were shaking.

Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.

“Commander Moyong! Go to the place I told you about beforehand!”

Moyong Woo immediately picked up Kiwuhee.

“Excuse me.”

Faaaaaang!

Moyong Woo, carrying Kiwuhee, and Gang Ryang escaped the encirclement in an instant.

At the same time, the assassins who had been waiting in the forest quickly circled around. Even though it wasn’t an open field, their movements through the forest were terrifyingly fast and precise.

Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.

“Block them!”

Fwoooooom.

Muk Bi loaded an iron arrowhead onto the Crimson Lotus Bow.

‘Dragon Fang Cannon!’

The massive internal energy, amplified by the Crimson Heaven Qi [a type of internal energy], transformed the iron arrowhead on the bowstring into an invincible cannon.

Muk Bi released the string.

Fwoaaaaaaaaaang!

The Dragon Fang Cannon, shot out in a swirling motion, heated the air intensely.

Kwaaaaaang!

Six or seven large trees were shattered, and three house-sized rocks were destroyed, forming a massive wall. It had blocked the assassins’ path in one strike.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

Faaaaaak!

About twenty assassins climbed the blocked wall and soared high into the sky.

Surprisingly, the cloaks they wore formed a massive membrane, allowing them to move with the wind.

It was incredible. To be able to move through the air like that required clothing made of special fabric, extremely delicate internal energy control, and a high level of footwork and enlightenment.

‘They’re not just ordinary assassins.’

There were people like this back in the Black Emperor Fortress. Special forces that flew over cliffs would often escape or infiltrate operation areas in this way.

‘Their skills are one thing, but to acquire such equipment requires enormous financial resources.’

Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.

“Muk Bi!”

“I know!”

Muk Bi loaded five iron arrowheads onto the bowstring.

Pipipiping!

The speed at which they were shot was faster than formless bullets.

Five iron arrowheads, shot out in an instant, pierced through the clothing and torsos of five assassins, erasing the distance of several dozen yards.

It was archery with perfect accuracy. Indeed, as she had said, the presence of an archer in battle was a tremendous threat to the enemy.

Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong wasn’t just watching.

Clang!

He connected the Coiling Dragon Chain to the ring at the end of the Mad Dragon Axe’s shaft and once again activated Blood Wing Soaring.

Fabababak!

He moved like a weightless flame. Closing the distance in an instant, he climbed a tree and stepped onto the tip of a branch.

Fwoooosh!

Yeon Ho-jeong, soaring high into the sky with an explosive sound, swung the Coiling Dragon Chain. It was the Blood Wind Dance [a martial arts technique].

Fwoaaaaang! Kwajijijik!

A storm of blood erupted in the air. The elongated Coiling Dragon Chain, with the Mad Dragon Axe attached to its end, swept away about a dozen assassins.

‘This is bad.’

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

‘These guys are real professionals.’

Even though they had seen their comrades die right in front of them, there was no wavering in their eyes. The survivors continued to fly, determined to capture their target.

They even showed off incredible feats.

Tatatatatang!

Five formless bullets once again tore through the air.

At the same time, the remaining five assassins simultaneously twisted their bodies. Their formation scattered, and the formless bullets pierced through empty air.

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

‘They dodged?!’

It was truly difficult to show such agility in the air, where movement was severely restricted.

‘Their individual martial arts are nothing special. At best, they’re below Gang Ryang. But…….’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice was heard.

“Don’t react as if you’re dealing with ordinary martial artists! These guys are properly trained! Remember when we fought the Four Soul Squad of the Mukryong Unit!”

In an instant, Muk Bi’s wavering eyes shone brilliantly.

The Four Soul Squad was one of the special units of the Mukryong Unit, specializing in battles against high-level experts. It wasn’t for nothing that Yeon Ho-jeong had struggled against them.

However, the Myeolsa Army, which appeared on the battlefield under Muk Bi’s command, massacred the Four Soul Squad with their terrifying breakthrough power and divine formations.

Was that one-sided battle truly the result of a difference in actual power?

No. There was another reason why the Myeolsa Army was able to overwhelm the Four Soul Squad.

Faaaaaaaaak!

The Dragon Flight Movement technique boasted an incredible speed that was jaw-dropping every time she used it.

She instantly passed through the assassins who were now approaching their target with low-altitude flight. The place she reached was right behind Moyong Woo.

Gang Ryang’s eyes widened.

“Sister!”

“Lend me your shoulder!”

Faaak!

Muk Bi instantly climbed onto Gang Ryang’s shoulder.

It was amazing footwork and a fantastic sense of balance. She was pulling the bowstring while standing on Gang Ryang’s shoulder, who was running quite aggressively, but the movements of her knees and hip joints were so flexible that there was no shaking in her upper body and shoulders.

Even Gang Ryang couldn’t help but be surprised. Muk Bi, who had eliminated her weight with her extreme internal energy control, didn’t significantly reduce Gang Ryang’s footwork speed even with a person on his shoulder.

Muk Bi shouted.

“Run! I’ll take care of the rear!”

“Yes!”

Faaak!

Gang Ryang ran forward, and Muk Bi, standing on his shoulders, turned around and aimed her arrows at the assassins approaching with low-altitude flight.

‘The reason the Myeolsa Army was able to overwhelm the Four Soul Squad was one thing.’

Crrrrrrk!

The Crimson Lotus Bow’s string was pulled to its maximum.

‘It’s because they took advantage of the environment and rendered the opponent helpless!’

The Crimson Lotus Bow blazed.

Fwoof fwoof fwoof!

The bodies of the five assassins moved frantically as arrows were mercilessly fired.

Ting ting ting ting! Ting ting ting ting!

Muk Bi’s hand movements had truly reached a divine level.

She was firing iron arrowheads, wooden arrowheads, and formless bullets indiscriminately, and there was no way to know how the arrows were flying. Among the archers living in the Central Plains, there was no one who could achieve such high-speed rapid-fire as Muk Bi.

It was then.

Thud!

Muk Bi fired a formless bullet towards the ground.

Fwoooom! Thwack!

“Cough!”

With a groan, one of the assassins fell to the ground, spitting blood.

It was an incredible strike. It wasn’t an ordinary curved shot that was fired high into the sky to hit a target using gravity, but a formless bullet that had grazed the ground and curved upwards to pierce the assassin’s neck.

It was archery that defied imagination. Muk Bi was likely the only person in the entire Central Plains capable of such archery.

The assassins’ eyes wavered. They too realized that they could no longer approach in the face of Muk Bi’s terrifying archery.

‘No.’

Murderous intent filled Muk Bi’s eyes.

‘I have to catch them all here to make things easier later.’

Tatatatatang!

Formless bullets, flying in bizarre curves from above, below, left, and right, threatened the assassins’ lives.

Trickle.

Muk Bi’s complexion turned pale, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

Forcibly curving the internal energy that was shot out at a speed as fast as a formless bullet was a technique that consumed enormous mental and internal energy. Even the great Muk Bi couldn’t avoid internal injuries.

Thwack! Thwack!

Two more assassins fell. The sound of their bones shattering could be heard as their bodies rolled on the ground.

‘Only two left!’

It was then.

Kwaaaang!

A massive burst of flames erupted from the left side of the fleeing group.

Muk Bi’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

“A, a cannon?!”