Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 353

“You son of a bitch!”

A moment of imminent crisis.

“Gok-gang.”

Gok-gang, who had been poised to charge, hesitated.

Seok-gyeong spoke in a stern tone.

“Hold it.”

“Senior!”

“How can you call yourself a warrior if you fall for the provocation of a naive child? Be aware of your position.”

It was a different tone than usual. True to his nature, he was clear about public and private matters. His voice was full of dignity, and the aura he emitted was perfectly refined.

It was an atmosphere that would naturally make any subordinate bow their head, but Gok-gang was different.

“He made a provocation that wasn’t even a provocation, so shouldn’t he be punished?”

“Gok-gang.”

“Surely, Senior, you don’t think I can’t handle that little brat?”

If Seok-gyeong’s voice was full of dignity, Gok-gang’s voice was full of anger and killing intent.

Seok-gyeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘As expected, he’s still immature.’

A genius with a lot of experience is scary. But a genius who has returned from a chaotic battlefield can have a fatal flaw.

Carelessness and arrogance.

In terms of talent alone, Gok-gang was a genius who ranked in the top three among the Eighteen Martial Generals. His innate talent had led to a rapid rise in martial arts, but on the other hand, it had taken away some of the qualities a warrior should have.

Seok-gyeong said,

“Winning or losing is not important. Don’t mix personal feelings into the mission.”

“Look at the difference in forces. Our victory is a foregone conclusion.”

“Whatever it is, I forbid you from acting rashly.”

“Senior!”

“Or are you saying you won’t follow my orders, the leader of this group?”

Gok-gang flinched for a moment.

He was arrogant, but he wasn’t the type to act recklessly without any reason.

And Seok-gyeong was one of the most experienced and skilled people among the Eighteen Martial Generals. He was also strict with rewards and punishments, greatly praising his subordinates for their achievements, but unforgiving of insubordination.

‘Damn it.’

Gok-gang gritted his teeth and took two steps back.

Of course, he didn’t just back down.

“You little brat. Consider yourself lucky.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Dogs that retreat with their tails between their legs always try to save face with similar words. Does saying that make you feel better? It’s a strange thing.”

Seok-gyeong frowned. On the other hand, Gok-gang’s body was emitting an even stronger killing intent than before.

“You son of a bitch!”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“That’s enough. You’d better go back. This is a battlefield. It’s not a place for a fool like you to be running around.”

In an instant, Gok-gang’s eyes completely flipped.

Seok-gyeong shouted,

“Gok… !”

Thud!

It was too late to stop him. Gok-gang, who had charged with terrifying speed, swung his fist at Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s left hand also moved like lightning.

Clang!

Gok-gang’s fist and Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand collided, creating a terrifying shockwave.

If Seok-gyeong had mastered the Pure Circulation Art of the Azure Record [a martial arts technique], Gok-gang had mastered the Crimson Lotus Pure Circulation Art that Yo-roe had refined. The red fire energy swirling from his fist showed a dynamic, vortex-like movement.

Sizzle!

On the other hand, dark water energy was surging from Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand.

The collision of fire and water energy. A hazy steam rose above the intense shockwave.

Gok-gang growled.

“You’ve got some skill.”

Shudder.

The two people’s hands, which were touching, trembled faintly.

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

“You managed to muster some courage, little one.”

Seok-gyeong shouted.

“Gok-gang! Step back now!”

Gok-gang shouted like a beast.

“Don’t talk nonsense! The fight has already begun!”

He was filled with anger. Now, he couldn’t hear his superior’s orders or anything else.

Just as Seok-gyeong was about to speak again.

‘……?’

Mu-seong grabbed his sleeve and shook his head.

Seok-gyeong frowned. Unlike Gok-gang, Mu-seong was a cautious person. There was a reason why he stopped Seok-gyeong.

Seok-gyeong turned around.

The Divine Troops were emitting fierce killing intent, glaring at Gok-gang and Yeon Ho-jeong. They were already completely immersed in their fight.

‘I can’t help it.’

He wouldn’t have interfered if he hadn’t stepped forward, but now that he had, he couldn’t stop it. If he backed down here, the morale of the Divine Troops would be shaken.

Of course, it didn’t seem like Gok-gang would lose, but there was no need to suffer unnecessary losses.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s smile deepened.

“Your superior has allowed the fight.”

“Shut up! I’ll turn you into ashes within three moves!”

Boom!

With an explosion, the two people stepped back three or four steps.

“You!”

Bang!

He seemed to be in a terrible mood. Gok-gang’s movements as he kicked off the ground were very fast, and as fast as they were, they were rough.

Whoosh!

Red fire energy swirled again from Gok-gang’s fist.

It was the Divine Cult’s technique, the Eight Fists of the Underworld King.

‘Die!’

Bang!

He stepped forward right in front of him, gathering all his destructive power into his fist.

Gok-gang swung his fist powerfully. It was a powerful fist that could crush even a rock in one blow.

Yeon Ho-jeong was just watching the fist.

Gok-gang smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

‘You crazy bastard. You can’t even react.’

It was too late to dodge, and it would be too strong to block. That’s what Gok-gang thought.

That’s when it happened.

‘……?!’

Suddenly, time slowed down.

A moment felt like an eternity. He could see every single spark of the fist’s fire energy being pushed back by the air pressure.

‘What is this?’

Gok-gang was puzzled.

This sensation of time suddenly slowing down.

This was when the true energy forcibly amplified the brainpower when an unexpected threat approached. It was not the head but the body that felt the threat first, and the true energy reacted naturally.

‘Why…?’

In an instant, Gok-gang saw Yeon Ho-jeong’s right arm tilting forward from the upper position.

‘What?!’

Even in this slow world, it was a fast movement that was clearly visible. Such speed would not be possible unless it was planned and prepared from the beginning.

‘……!’

In an instant, his vision darkened. A huge object was casting a shadow, blocking the light.

Gok-gang’s eyes went up.

A ridiculously large axe blade was falling over his head.

‘Gasp!’

He felt an enormous killing intent from the axe blade.

It was the axe that Yeon Ho-jeong was swinging down. If Gok-gang didn’t stop his fist, Yeon Ho-jeong’s face would be crushed, but if he did, Gok-gang’s body would also be split diagonally.

‘This crazy bastard!’

Gok-gang quickly raised his fist and struck.

Clang!

With a tremendous explosion, the Mad Dragon Axe curved down and struck the ground. Gok-gang had recovered his fist and struck the side of the axe, changing its trajectory.

Whoosh!

The slow-flowing time suddenly sped up.

At the same time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s body moved like lightning.

Boom!

A footwork that completely erased the short distance.

It was the Blood Wing Soaring Heaven of the Vermilion Bird Art [a martial arts technique]. The wings of a phoenix imbued with flames pushed Yeon Ho-jeong’s speed to the limit.

Startled, Gok-gang frantically swung his fists.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Indeed, Gok-gang’s martial arts were impressive.

Even though he was caught off guard by a counterattack, his relentless fist strikes were unwavering.

It meant that although he was naturally arrogant, his skills were certain. He had bloomed his innate talent with blood and sweat, and had perfectly refined it to the point where he could realize a righteous martial path even unconsciously.

But it was no different for Yeon Ho-jeong.

He was inferior to Gok-gang in terms of innate martial talent, but he had countless experiences, the enlightenment of the Dark Emperor, and the ultimate combat sense.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Kuh!”

Gok-gang retreated madly.

Although it was a fist technique he had thrown out in a hurry, its power was certain. But even though he had struck with such a powerful fist, he felt a recoil that felt like his wrist would break.

Gok-gang glared forward.

Sizzle!

Beyond the hazy steam that covered his vision, a semi-transparent black wall was floating.

It was the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky of the Black Tortoise Art [a martial arts technique]. It was a secret technique of absolute defense formed with water energy, which was the opposite of fire energy.

And through the center of that black water wall, a huge axe appeared, cutting through it vertically.

Slash!

It was the mad dragon’s teeth, cutting through the water.

‘This!’

Clang!

Gok-gang quickly twisted his body and struck the axe blade with his palm.

Whoosh!

The axe, which had lost its way, disappeared faster than it had come out. He had recovered it as soon as its trajectory wavered.

The speed of the attack and recovery was as fast as lightning. At first glance, it was a heavy weapon weighing over dozens of pounds, but it was impossible to understand how he could handle it so freely.

Flash!

That wasn’t all.

He had charged to attack Yeon Ho-jeong, who was hidden in the steam, but Yeon Ho-jeong was already behind him.

Alarm spread across Gok-gang’s face.

‘How is he so fast?!’

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

He gripped the Mad Dragon Axe’s shaft with both hands and unleashed a mad attack.

Clang! Thud! Bang!

A three-hit combo as fast as lightning.

He managed to deflect the first blow, but he couldn’t completely deflect the second, and a chunk of flesh was torn from his shoulder. And with the final third blow, Gok-gang’s body shook violently.

Gok-gang spat out blood and retreated. He had blocked it with his energy shield, but the power and sharpness of the Mad Dragon Axe were beyond imagination.

Splat!

A large amount of blood spurted from his left forearm. The muscles were severed by the Mad Dragon Axe’s blade, and even part of his arm bone was broken.

‘This can’t be.’

Even as he retreated, Gok-gang couldn’t believe it.

‘I lost?!’

It was a match where he hadn’t even considered defeat. Was that why? He was shocked that he had been pushed back this far in less than twenty moves.

Gok-gang gritted his teeth.

“No way!”

Gok-gang shouted and exploded with the Crimson Lotus Pure Circulation Art.

Rumble!

The crimson fire energy that surged from his entire body writhed like a snake.

“This guy is using some kind of sorcery…!!”

That’s when it happened.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had quickly approached, struck Gok-gang’s chest.

It wasn’t a powerful blow, but it was enough to send his body flying. Gok-gang’s figure was buried in the mist created by the collision of fire and water energy.

‘……!’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sharpened.

‘As expected.’

A powerful palm strike was flying from behind. Seok-gyeong, seeing the tide of the battle rapidly turning, had joined the fight.

‘It’s going to be difficult.’

A one-on-one frontal fight?

In war, such things are meaningless. In the face of victory, honor and shame are worthless.

Seok-gyeong knew that and joined in.

Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Mad Dragon Axe in the Tiger King’s Wall and Tiger King’s Kill stances [martial arts stances].

Clang!

The density of power was different.

Yeon Ho-jeong slid back. The palm strike was so strong that he felt a tingling pain in the hand holding the Mad Dragon Axe.

But that was all.

Bang!

Yeon Ho-jeong slammed the Mad Dragon Axe into the ground and stood up. Then, Seok-gyeong and Mu-seong, who were running towards him, hesitated.

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

“Why are you rushing like a foal with its tail on fire?”

“…You.”

Seok-gyeong growled softly.

“What did you do to Gok-gang?”

At that moment, a cold voice flowed out from beyond the steam.

“Are you talking about this little brat?”

Whoosh!

The steam soared high into the sky due to a powerful gust of wind.

And in that place, Tang Gwan appeared, gripping the neck of a bloodied Gok-gang. Gok-gang was limp, bleeding from all seven orifices.

Bloodshot eyes appeared in Seok-gyeong and Mu-seong’s eyes.

“These bastards…!!”

“Didn’t you guys break the rules first? Coming at us in a group to catch the two of us, that was too cowardly.”

Tang Gwan tightened his grip on Gok-gang’s neck.

Crack!

Gok-gang’s neck was bent at a strange angle.

His internal organs were melted, and his neck bones were crushed, so survival was no longer possible.

Tang Gwan threw Gok-gang away carelessly and approached Yeon Ho-jeong’s side.

Yeon Ho-jeong said coldly,

“The preliminary battle is over. Let’s fight properly now.”

Seok-gyeong shouted,

“Kill them all!”

Swoosh!

The two camps charged at each other.