Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 455

Gang Ryang’s sprint was incredibly fast. Even while gripping the collar of a giant who was at least ten levels above him, his footwork showed no signs of slowing down. Rather, it seemed to gain momentum, becoming even faster, like a gust of wind.

Murdurous intent flared in Jeon Hong’s eyes.

‘This bastard.’

Not only had he dared to grab his collar, but he was also now bursting through walls and charging forward.

He had no internal or external injuries, but his pride was deeply wounded. The moment his collar was grabbed and he was pushed back, the force was so immense that he couldn’t even resist.

It was only after breaking through a wall and passing through a building that Jeon Hong was able to move his hands.

Thwack!

Jeon Hong’s hands grabbed Gang Ryang’s forearms, which were holding his collar.

He was as large and thick-handed as his build suggested. His hands covered most of Gang Ryang’s well-trained forearms.

Crack!

Jeon Hong’s grip was beyond imagination. A terrifying force, as if it would break the grabbed forearms, was transmitted.

At that moment, Gang Ryang did something unimaginable.

Snap!

“Cough!”

Jeon Hong’s head snapped back.

His nose bone was broken clean. The headbutt, delivered with all his might, almost made him lose consciousness for a moment.

Taking advantage of the gap, Gang Ryang, who had released his grip on Jeon Hong’s collar, forcefully kicked his chest with both feet.

Thud! Crash!

Jeon Hong, sent flying at a terrifying speed, crashed into the ground.

Swoosh!

Unlike Jeon Hong, Gang Ryang landed lightly and looked down at him.

“…Damn it.”

Jeon Hong’s eyes, looking up at the sky while lying down, were surprisingly deep.

Despite the pain of his broken nose, he didn’t show any immediate anger. This situation was a real fight where his life could be at stake, as Gang Ryang’s surprise attack had shown him.

Therefore, Gang Ryang couldn’t bring his sword down on the lying Jeon Hong.

‘His openings have disappeared.’

Even though he was lying down comfortably, there were no openings to be seen. There was a flexibility that suggested he could react to any attack.

Thwack!

He flipped his body, doing a handstand, and stood up.

The series of movements was very smooth and quick. It was a light movement that didn’t match his size at all.

Fwoosh!

The alcohol fumes were expelled from Jeon Hong’s body.

His eyes were clear, and the coldness reflected in his sharp gaze was like the ice and snow of the North Sea.

“As expected of a descendant of a traitorous clan. You’re as cowardly as a jackal.”

The word ‘traitor’ was truly painful to hear.

However, Gang Ryang ignored the word. Now was not the time to compete over who was angrier, but to judge whose skills were superior.

Gang Ryang instead scoffed at Jeon Hong’s words.

“A true martial artist should be able to react even while drinking or sleeping. Didn’t they teach you that in the Mukryong Clan?”

“It seems your main skill is to provoke with such ridiculous remarks and then launch a surprise attack. Is that the secret to how you’ve survived until now?”

“It’s just a waste of energy to argue with a kid. I had some expectations since you were Yang Cheon’s disciple, but in the end, you’re just a half-baked fighter who relies on your master’s reputation.”

“… !”

“Get ready. I’ll finish you quickly.”

Jeon Hong’s cheek twitched slightly.

He tried not to fall for the opponent’s provocation, but he couldn’t bear it when his master was mentioned and he was called half-baked.

Swoosh.

Jeon Hong lowered his stance and extended both hands.

It looked like he was trying to push something, or perhaps tear it apart. His slightly curled hands looked as dangerous as a precious sword or blade.

Jeon Hong growled like an animal.

“I heard your parents died quite horribly.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll send you off nicely.”

“Great minds think alike. I’ll send you to your parents as well. Oh? But surely your parents aren’t still alive, are they?”

“…”

“Sorry. I misunderstood.”

Jeon Hong’s face twisted hideously.

At least in terms of provocation, Gang Ryang seemed to be one step ahead.

“Die!”

Whoosh!

Gang Ryang’s pupils widened.

‘Fast.’

Jeon Hong’s charge, determined to win, was terrifyingly fast.

A leopard doesn’t have the stamina or bite force of a wolf. But its instantaneous charge and ferocity are greater than a wolf’s.

Jeon Hong’s momentum was like that. The footwork that instantly closed the short distance was similar to that of a wild animal, a tiger in particular.

Jeon Hong’s hand swung, aiming for Gang Ryang’s neck.

Swoosh!

The gesture of slashing through the air was like the forepaw of a feline predator.

‘Claw technique, huh?’

A form that was neither a fist nor an open hand.

A claw technique, which could grab or scratch an opponent, and if filled with internal energy, could tear off flesh or bone, was a cruel method.

Jeon Hong’s eyes gleamed.

He noticed that Gang Ryang had dodged the first blow and moved to his right.

His foot swung towards Gang Ryang’s face.

Wham!

The sound of the thick, long leg cutting through the air was chilling.

Even though it was an awkward stance to use a leg technique, at the moment of impact, it had transformed into a perfect stance.

‘His body balance is amazing. Excellent strength, high-level flexibility, and a beast-like keen sense.’

Thwack!

Jeon Hong charged towards Gang Ryang, who had already evaded to the rear.

This time, the leg technique was unusually large. Yet, he quickly changed his stance and followed, his speed dazzling.

Gang Ryang was purely impressed by Jeon Hong’s skill.

‘He’s like a beast. His mastery of martial arts is probably not much less than that of Brother Yeon.’

Gang Ryang had seen Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts countless times.

At least in his view, Yeon Ho-jeong’s close-quarters combat was not something that could be learned just by being taught. That practical combat style could not be even approached without thorough experience, ruthless determination, and complete control over one’s body.

On the other hand, Jeon Hong’s martial arts were a divine skill built upon high-level martial principles. Anyone could start learning it, but only a handful of people would be able to reach Jeon Hong’s level.

‘It’s a masterpiece. In terms of close-quarters combat, he’s worthy of being called the best in the Black Path [a term for the dark or underworld martial arts]. Is this truly Yang Cheon’s martial art?’

Admiration was just admiration.

Whether he was angry at Gang Ryang for quickly evading, Jeon Hong’s attacks became even more ferocious.

Fwoosh!

He thought he had dodged by a hair’s breadth, but before he knew it, the sleeve of his uniform was torn long by Jeon Hong’s hand.

It was a chilling moment. If he had been a little slower, his forearm would have been grabbed, and the moment his forearm was grabbed, one of his arms would have been broken.

Gang Ryang’s body moved like lightning.

In an instant, Jeon Hong’s eyes flashed a bright red light. It seemed that Gang Ryang was finally going to attack.

Whoosh!

Jeon Hong’s prediction was wrong.

With a ghost-like movement, Gang Ryang had leaped over Jeon Hong’s shoulder and was now facing his back with his sword drawn.

Jeon Hong turned his head to look at Gang Ryang.

Even though he was showing his back, Gang Ryang didn’t attack him.

“What are you doing?”

Gang Ryang didn’t answer. His consciousness, with his left hand holding the scabbard and his right hand holding the sword hilt, was focused on Jeon Hong’s movements.

Jeon Hong’s lips curled up.

“You have quite the momentum, but you don’t know how to fight?”

Again, Gang Ryang didn’t answer.

To be precise, he couldn’t hear Jeon Hong’s words. With a few movements, he had grasped Jeon Hong’s general movements.

A different light shone in Jeon Hong’s eyes.

‘He read me?’

Gang Ryang’s eyes were constantly scanning his shoulders, breathing, and foot positions.

‘He’s focused. On me.’

Jeon Hong turned his body.

Thud!

Jeon Hong’s stance, having forcefully stepped on the ground, was lower than before.

“I hate gloomy guys.”

“…”

“I’ll make sure to pluck those eyes out.”

Again, there was still no answer from Gang Ryang. He was just constantly watching Jeon Hong’s movements.

Whoosh.

A cold wind blew.

Despite the hot weather, the wind was cold. The intense energy of the two had stolen the warmth of the area.

‘…’

After a silence that felt like half a day, it was Gang Ryang who moved first.

Swoosh.

His foot moved half a step forward.

In an instant, Jeon Hong’s murderous intent exploded.

Thud!

Jeon Hong, having kicked off the ground, had already entered Gang Ryang’s range.

It was a truly terrifying speed. It was a completely different movement from what he had shown before.

Even the claw technique aimed at the carotid artery was much faster and sharper. It was a distance where it was difficult for Gang Ryang to even draw his sword and swing it.

‘I’ve won.’

Jeon Hong was certain of victory.

‘At this distance, he can’t draw his sword.’

At that moment, Gang Ryang’s eyes flashed.

Whoosh! Crash!

Jeon Hong’s hand, having slashed through the air, released a burst of energy that created a long, deep mark on the ground.

Jeon Hong’s eyes wavered.

Slash!

At the same time, a diagonal sword wound was etched onto his upper body.

It was Gang Ryang’s slash. From a close range where it was impossible to draw a sword, he had ghost-like drawn his sword and delivered a slash, then disappeared from the spot.

“It didn’t go in properly.”

Thwack!

Gang Ryang, who had moved to the left immediately after slashing Jeon Hong’s upper body, closed the distance again and swung his sword.

If Jeon Hong’s movements were faster than before, Gang Ryang’s movements were half a beat faster than that.

Lightning-fast and ghost-like. It was the Black Iron Sword Clan’s best footwork, the Ghost Shadow Step.

Not only that.

Swish!

As if to show his true skills, Gang Ryang’s swordsmanship, which created countless sword shadows in the air and pressured Jeon Hong, was beautiful.

Soon, that beauty intensified, becoming so eerie that it sent shivers down the spine.

The highest level of the Ghost Sword, the Ghost Shadow Sword, which had reached its peak, was creating illusions in the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Slice!

Jeon Hong’s two hands were as hard as steel. He was blocking all the sword strikes that showed a god-like speed and sharpness, and the flexibility of his shoulders and upper body was unbelievable.

Nevertheless, a rather deep sword wound was etched on Jeon Hong’s shoulder.

Thwack!

Gang Ryang, having avoided Jeon Hong’s hand and created distance, clicked his tongue.

‘His body is too tough.’

The slash he had delivered at close range, and the Ghost Shadow Sword that had just landed, were sharp enough to cut through rock.

It was a sword force that could have split his upper body and blown off an arm, but it had only managed to leave deep sword wounds on Jeon Hong’s upper body and shoulder.

‘Too bad.’

Gang Ryang expressed his disappointment, but Jeon Hong was different.

“You… you trash!”

Whoosh!

A crimson aura erupted from Jeon Hong’s body.

It was Yang Cheon’s divine skill, the Blood Lion Aura. It wasn’t as deep as the Bu Seon who had broken through the wall of martial arts [a metaphor for reaching a new level of mastery], but its ferocity was overwhelming.

“How dare a descendant of a destroyed trash clan cut my body with a sword?!”

Even if their skills were similar, he could overwhelm him. Jeon Hong didn’t even acknowledge Gang Ryang as his opponent.

Because he was Yang Cheon’s disciple.

Because he knew his talent, and he knew that the martial arts he had learned were enough to discuss the world.

Yet, he had been injured by a swordsmanship that was only recognized in the Black Path martial world. That was tearing apart Jeon Hong’s pride once again.

“I’ll kill you in three moves!”

Wham!

The pressure of Jeon Hong, who charged forward while exploding his Blood Lion Aura, was something that even Gang Ryang found difficult to handle.

Nevertheless, Gang Ryang didn’t lose his smile.

‘If the only thing you can show off is the martial arts you’ve learned, you won’t be able to beat me even if you die and come back to life.’

Zing!

Gang Ryang’s sword cried out.

That chilling sword cry meant that the Ghost Shadow Sword had already taken on the power of the Ghost Killing Sword.