Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 528

Whooosh!

A fierce aura poured out from the red spear that was thrust forward.

It wasn’t fast, nor was it particularly powerful. It was just a simple strike, yet strangely difficult to approach.

It was killing intent.

The killing intent emanating from the spearhead, combined with Hwang Seok-tae’s inherent force, created an intangible wall that was impossible to breach.

Martial arts were not just about the forms. The eye to use those forms at the right time was also important, as was the experience and sense to adjust speed and power according to the opponent.

But even more important than that was the unwavering focus and spirit to push the power of one’s martial arts to its limits.

‘This isn’t it.’

Hwang Seok-tae retracted the red spear.

‘It’s not bad, but it’s not satisfactory either.’

Someone of Hwang Seok-tae’s caliber was already beyond the limits of mere forms.

Moreover, he had a lot of practical experience and was quick-witted in combat. He was a top-tier martial artist who could hold his own anywhere in the Jianghu [the martial arts world].

However, to aim for something beyond that, it was crucial to properly handle one’s qi [life force or energy].

‘Just like back then, with Vice Commander Yeon.’

Hwang Seok-tae recalled that humiliating moment.

Initially, it was humiliating, but later he didn’t even feel that humiliation.

The fierce battle of a super master against a thousand men had lasted for days. He was amazed at how thrilling the contest was.

Yeon Ho-jeong was strong.

He was perfect in every way.

He was fast when he needed to move quickly, and strong when he needed to push hard. He was like a mountain when he needed to step heavily, and like a feather when he needed to slip away lightly.

Even as the many veteran soldiers pressed him, he brilliantly exploited their weaknesses and disrupted their formations.

Hwang Seok-tae felt a deep sense of defeat.

At the same time, he harbored a feeling he didn’t want to admit, but couldn’t deny.

Yeon Ho-jeong was a god of battle. Whether it was one-on-one or one-against-a-thousand, he knew exactly which martial art to use and how to execute it when fighting an opponent.

At first, he couldn’t understand it. No matter how talented someone was, there were limits to experience. It wasn’t the kind of experience one could gain at that age.

But as time passed, Hwang Seok-tae realized.

Yeon Ho-jeong was not only experienced, but above all, he knew how to draw the flow of battle to his advantage.

And among the countless ways he drew that flow, the most impressive was his ‘killing intent.’

‘It was a completely different realm of combat. He would ensnare parts of the approaching enemy with his killing intent, slowing their reactions, and then break down the most vulnerable areas to disrupt the balance of the entire formation.’

It was astonishing.

Killing intent was a manifestation of mental strength. If one could handle qi at the level of a supreme master, one could freely control their killing intent, but even then, it was difficult to suppress when emotions ran high.

Yeon Ho-jeong had gone several steps further.

He could unleash his killing intent only on the opponent he wanted, the target he wanted. No one else could feel it except for that person.

It was a level of subtlety that defied imagination. Such delicate control of killing intent was unheard of.

‘I dare say that even within the main headquarters, no one except the Vice Chief would be capable of such skill. It would be difficult even to imitate.’

Killing intent control that had reached the extreme of subtlety.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s upper dantian [energy center in the body] must be vast and abundant, filled with a web-like, intricate divine qi. Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly wield such skill as naturally as breathing.

And that was why.

Hwang Seok-tae was out late at night, training alone.

‘Vice Commander Yeon freely controlled the battlefield with his killing intent, manipulating its target, density, and range.’

Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes gleamed.

‘Then what about me?’

With such an ability, he would never die in any chaotic battle.

But while Hwang Seok-tae envied Yeon Ho-jeong’s ability, he didn’t want to acquire the same ability.

The ability he wanted was to increase the destructive power of his martial arts itself.

‘To be able to control killing intent to that extent means that the size and density of the killing intent one can hold is enormous.’

Swoosh.

Hwang Seok-tae extended his spear.

The red spearhead, bathed in moonlight, emitted an eerie glow.

‘If I could channel that killing intent solely into a single spear.’

If he could do that, his opponent would either collapse from the immense mental strain or reveal an unexpected opening.

‘Perhaps Vice Commander Yeon also handles his killing intent in that way.’

He was so skilled at controlling his killing intent that he could manipulate the flow of battle. He would also be adept at wielding it in his weapon to break down his opponents.

‘How do I do it?’

Trickle.

Cold sweat ran down Hwang Seok-tae’s forehead.

‘How is such a thing possible?’

He deliberately flared his killing intent and then reduced it. He tried to concentrate it in one place and also tried to spread it in all directions.

But he couldn’t achieve the same delicate control as Yeon Ho-jeong. Rather, the excessive control of his killing intent caused such extreme mental strain that he even felt dizzy.

It wasn’t training that anyone could do. If he made a mistake, the rampaging killing intent could damage his upper dantian.

However.

‘Because it’s such a dangerous training, it’s worth the effort.’

If he wanted to stay at this level, he could just continue the training he had been doing.

But Hwang Seok-tae wanted more than that. If so, he had to pour in the effort to be able to roam in a higher realm.

That was his life. For supreme masters who had reached the pinnacle to open the next gate, they needed training that disregarded life and death.

‘Perhaps he was like that too.’

The confident face of Yeon Ho-jeong came to mind.

And that face suited him.

‘How many near-death experiences did he have to overcome to get that expression, that look in his eyes?’

He no longer looked down on him for being young. No, rather, he was even more impressive because he was young.

And he should be ashamed. While that young man was risking his life and working hard every day, he had wasted his last day under the excuse of leading the unit.

Whooosh!

The true qi emitted from the tip of Hwang Seok-tae’s spear created a powerful gust of wind.

Killing intent was imbued in the true qi. But the killing intent still hovered vaguely. When he tried to refine it delicately, it struggled to spread out in all directions against his will.

Hwang Seok-tae endured it. His head ached, and cold sweat covered his body, but he forgot even that.

‘Sharply.’

His legs trembled. He couldn’t feel his fingertips.

‘More sharply, towards one point.’

Boom!

In an instant, a shockwave erupted from the tip of the spear with a loud bang.

“Damn it.”

Hwang Seok-tae gasped for breath as he retrieved his spear.

“Another failure today.”

If the killing intent had been properly controlled, the true qi wouldn’t have exploded.

‘It doesn’t stop.’

Hwang Seok-tae didn’t give up.

He thrust his spear again, trying to control the killing intent surging from the tip.

It wasn’t easy. It was a series of failures.

As time passed, he seemed to improve, but at some point, he would return to square one. Sometimes, it was even more clumsy than before.

Time continued to pass, and dawn was approaching.

“Hah, hah!”

Hwang Seok-tae, on the verge of exhaustion, placed his hands on the ground and gasped for breath.

It was much harder than carrying a rock up a mountain. He could endure physical pain, but mental pain was hard to bear.

‘I want to sleep.’

The thought of giving up didn’t even cross his mind. He just wanted to rest.

‘…Damn it.’

Hwang Seok-tae gritted his teeth and got up.

He still had about half of his internal energy left, and his muscles were strong enough. Yet, it was a strange feeling of not being able to use his strength. It was because his mental strength was depleted.

“Let’s not whine like this.”

Hwang Seok-tae took a deep breath, then slung his spear over his shoulder and turned around. He had to eat breakfast and manage his subordinates.

It was then.

‘…?!’

Hwang Seok-tae’s ears perked up.

Even though he had trained until his mental strength was depleted, his senses became keenly alert as soon as he relaxed his focus.

Those keen senses were telling him that someone was fighting in the forest some distance away.

‘It’s not an enemy. The footsteps are familiar.’

It was probably Yeon Ho-jeong and Pae Yul.

‘No. It’s not just the two of them. There’s someone else.’

Hwang Seok-tae, who had been standing still, turned and headed towards the sound.

It was a step he wouldn’t normally take. He couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

Shortly after.

Boom!

There was a martial arts master wielding a short spear with incredibly smooth movements.

And there was another versatile master showing off amazing spear techniques against that master.

Hwang Seok-tae stared at the scene as if he were possessed.

Mok Won’s martial arts, which involved evading the long spear with fluid, natural movements and then closing the distance to thrust the short spear, had reached the realm of art.

It was as if he could pierce even the sun. The short spear in his hand seemed like a giant arrow.

Flash!

The short spear, transformed into a streak of light, was truly worthy of being described as a martial art that could pierce the sun.

On the other hand.

Chiriring! Keeing!

There was a personification of combat, wielding a long spear like a wild beast’s foreleg, disrupting the trajectory of the short spear, and then approaching with heavy steps to savagely thrust the spearhead.

It was a terrifying spear technique.

No, it was a spear technique, but it wasn’t just a spear technique. Whether he held a spear, a sword, or an axe, he would show the same power and ferocity with any weapon.

Hwang Seok-tae’s face lit up with ecstasy.

‘That’s it.’

His eyes were surprisingly not on the Three Armies, who were said to be the best in the world, but on a young man who was not even at their feet, yet was worthy of being called a monster of the century.

‘It’s a little different, but… I wanted to emulate that kind of martial art.’

The principles of martial arts? The way? Enlightenment?

None of that mattered.

He wanted to execute attacks like that, relentless attacks, fierce and high-level attacks.

His ideal was a martial art of unwavering advance, a martial art full of only forward momentum and overflowing with spirit.

Hwang Seok-tae unknowingly took one step, then another, into the world of competition.

“Huh!”

Pae Yul, who was watching Mok Won execute his forms from the side, was startled and stood up.

“It’s dangerous!”

Chiriring! Bang!

The long spear and the short spear collided, creating a powerful explosion.

Yeon Ho-jeong and Mok Won retreated, creating space. They had also noticed Hwang Seok-tae approaching and deliberately created distance.

Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled.

“Seriously, why is someone who should know better acting like this? If you carelessly interfere during a match…”

Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t finish his sentence. It was because Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes were glazed over as he looked at him.

“Hey, Ironclad Commander.”

“How can you become like that?”

“What?”

“I…”

Hwang Seok-tae reached out his hand.

From the hand that reached out as if to grasp something, a fierce desire arose.

“I want the same power as him.”

Hwang Seok-tae spoke boldly as if possessed.

At the same time, his eyes went blank.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had caught the collapsed Hwang Seok-tae, frowned.

“What kind of training did this guy do? He’s completely exhausted.”

At that moment, Mok Won smiled and said.

“It seems he was deeply impressed by your martial arts.”

“Then this guy is still far off. There’s a peerless martial artist right in front of him, what’s he going to do by trying to be like some mediocre person?”

“You underestimate yourself too much.”

“I’m serious.”

“Well, that’s that.”

Mok Won smiled and picked up Hwang Seok-tae’s spear.

“It seems like we have one more person to train with for a few days before returning to the Mukryong Unit, don’t you think?”

“We need to leave as soon as possible.”

“If we’re going to go on another mission anyway, it would be helpful for our allies to grow stronger, wouldn’t it?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled as if he couldn’t help it and looked down at Hwang Seok-tae.

His eyes deepened.