Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 613

“Kuh!”

The White Masked Man staggered back, his eyes wavering as he stared ahead.

‘This bastard!’

Thwack!

Despite unleashing an extreme attack with a cross-cut of his twin axes, powerful enough to throw him off balance, he had somehow steadied his swaying upper body.

His sense of balance was remarkable, but more than that, his lower body strength was at an incredible level.

That wasn’t something achievable with inner energy alone. There was a limit to how much inner energy could enhance physical strength, meaning that all the muscles and flexibility from his hip joint to his ankles were trained beyond human limits.

‘To cut through this spear-staff!’

Bang!

No sooner had he regained his stance than Yeon Ho-Jeong charged again.

He was like a beast. Just like before, he used his two axes as front paws, slamming them into the ground as he charged in a low stance, his movements far surpassing human capabilities.

The White Masked Man struck the spear-staff, which had been cut and was floating in the air, with the blade of his sword.

Clang!

The spear-staff, struck by the blade of the trident sword, flew like an arrow towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s head.

Thud!

The launched spear-staff embedded itself into the ground.

A human is not a four-legged beast. Naturally, even if one used their two arms and axes to generate explosive power, they couldn’t gain the flexibility and directional change ability unique to beasts.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong seemed capable of it. Even if a crossbow were fired right in front of him, it wouldn’t be faster than this. He perfectly evaded the diagonal, linear attack that came at him with such speed.

Swish! Swish!

Approaching in a zigzag pattern, Yeon Ho-Jeong completely lowered his stance and then kicked up with his right leg.

Clang!

The White Masked Man gritted his teeth.

There wasn’t even a moment to slash with his trident sword. He lifted his left arm and leaned his upper body to disperse the impact, but it still felt like his spine was about to break.

Swoosh!

The White Masked Man swung his trident sword in his tilted stance. The end of the spear-staff was gone, but it was still longer than most longswords.

Clang!

The blade of the trident sword, flying in an arc from below, was blocked by the Black Dragon Axe.

He managed to block the attack even in his broken stance. His reaction speed was truly like lightning.

Chiriring!

The Black Dragon Axe and the trident sword clashed, entering a power struggle.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chest swelled greatly.

“Hoo!”

Clang!

The blade of the trident sword, pressed down by force, was driven into the ground.

‘Hah!’

He had been surprised before, but not as much as he was at this moment.

Even though it was an attack received in a broken stance, coming down from above, he had used a moment’s breath to put his weight into it, driving the trident sword into the ground.

‘What unbelievable brute strength!’

He tried to pull out the trident sword with force, but the White Dragon Axe joined the Black Dragon Axe in pressing it down.

Clang!

A much sharper metallic sound than before.

It was the sound of the White Dragon Axe, adding its power to the Black Dragon Axe, slicing through the blade of the trident sword.

Further weapon techniques were meaningless. The White Masked Man, having dropped the spear-staff of his trident sword, quickly retreated and lowered his stance.

Flash!

The White Dragon Axe, having lent its power to the Black Dragon Axe, slashed through the air as if it had been waiting.

If he were to relax just because the distance had increased, he would not escape death. An invisible, formless axe blade was shot through the air. It was a sword energy technique [a technique that uses inner energy to project a blade of energy].

The White Masked Man’s hand blade was swung diagonally.

Clang!

The explosive slash and the magic-filled slash collided, creating a tremendous resonance.

Swish!

The shockwave was so intense that a streak of white light spread across the dark sky. The shockwave alone had cracked a part of the formation.

‘Really.’

Swish! Swish!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to charge in immediately, slowed down by stomping his feet on the ground.

Swish!

A strange energy flowed from the White Masked Man’s body.

If he had recklessly charged in, an unexpected blow would have come. His heightened senses were telling him so. That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong had stopped his charge.

The White Masked Man couldn’t help but be impressed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s senses.

“…Impressive.”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Even though it wasn’t the Scorching Yang Art [a powerful martial art technique], the rising crimson demonic energy seemed to flicker like flames.

It was a hot and sticky energy. A subtle madness was mixed into the energy wave, and a chilling murderous intent was swirling around.

“It was a sudden encounter, but I was definitely pushed back. I knew your skills were great, but this much…”

Wham!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist wind was shot out like lightning.

There was no need for conversation. He threw the White Dragon Axe aside as if discarding it and immediately threw a punch, its speed incredibly fast.

The White Masked Man didn’t panic and extended his hand.

Clang!

The sharp fist wind vanished without a trace.

It wasn’t a fist wind thrown to inflict damage. It was a feint to distract and suppress the maximum output of inner energy.

“So, there’s no need for conversation.”

Before the White Dragon Axe, which he had released from his hand, even hit the ground, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left foot moved elastically.

Thwack!

The White Dragon Axe, flying in an arc, aimed for the White Masked Man’s collarbone.

In that moment, splitting a moment into fractions.

It was a luxury to feel such emotions during a battle, but the White Masked Man was moved beyond admiration by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s skill.

‘He’s completely in his element.’

Kicking a dropped weapon to aim for the opponent’s life.

It was a sensory move that no one could use, no matter how high their level. This wasn’t something that could be achieved through practice.

It was something that could only be imitated by a veteran who had fought hundreds, no, thousands of battles in life-or-death situations.

‘Should I evade?’

The rotating White Dragon Axe was already right in front of him.

The White Masked Man kept his eyes on Yeon Ho-Jeong until the end. Yeon Ho-Jeong was already preparing to run, holding up the Black Dragon Axe.

He was anticipating the follow-up attack. He had already read several of the opponent’s evasion directions.

Flash!

The White Masked Man’s eyes flashed.

In his eyes, and in the eyes of the corpses scattered around, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s next move was captured.

‘I’ll block it!’

The White Masked Man’s fist tore through the air.

Clang!

No matter how sharp the White Dragon Axe’s attack was, it was difficult to exert its full power unless it was directly grabbed and swung or thrown.

The White Dragon Axe flying through the air, the White Masked Man’s fist was not even scratched. The Iron Horse Binding of the Mad Demon Divine Art [a martial art technique focused on hardening the body] had made his fist harder than steel.

It was then.

With his stance still forward, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s upper body suddenly lowered.

Flash! Swish!

The White Masked Man’s eyes wavered.

‘This…!’

A rather deep wound had appeared on his left shoulder. It was a wound created by the Black Dragon Axe, which had flown three times faster than the White Dragon Axe.

It was fortunate that he had instinctively tilted his body diagonally. Otherwise, the axe blade would have pierced the center of his sternum.

Evasion was not the answer. Yeon Ho-Jeong had never thought he would evade in the first place.

Evasion, defense, even counterattacks.

He had anticipated all movements in response to his attack. Otherwise, such a fast and unconventional attack could not have come out.

The White Masked Man shouted without realizing it.

“You madman!!”

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left foot slammed into the ground.

Bang!

The instinct of a beast that had seized the decisive moment.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body faithfully followed the timing of the attack that his instinct had told him.

Whoooosh!

The white vortex that was created as soon as he threw his fist charged straight towards the White Masked Man’s upper body.

Even the White Masked Man couldn’t properly defend against this attack.

Clang!

With an explosion, the White Masked Man’s body was thrown backward.

It was a blow that landed properly, a definite hit.

Chiririring! Thud!

The Black and White Dragon Axes were in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hands. He had pulled them in using the technique of manipulating objects in the air.

“…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stared at the fallen White Masked Man with eyes that seemed to burn with fire.

It was an excellent opportunity. If he rushed in and struck him a few times with his axes, he would die.

But he didn’t follow up.

‘It’s strange.’

The reason he hesitated at the crucial moment.

The White Masked Man still had a hidden move. It was the law of life-and-death to kill him before he revealed that move, but for some reason, he hesitated at such moments.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t ignore his intuition. He followed the warning of his intuition that attacking the White Masked Man now would be a disadvantage to him.

“…Cough!”

Red blood flowed out from under the white mask.

“Impressive. Truly impressive.”

Swoosh.

The White Masked Man’s body straightened up.

He didn’t get up by placing his hand on the ground and bending his knees. He straightened his body as if a stiff tree was rising using the principle of leverage, while still lying down.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

He could see the blood flowing down the neck under the mask. He had clearly vomited blood due to internal injuries.

But what was going on? The look in his eyes was even more sinister than before.

“If it weren’t for the Iron Horse Divine Art, this attack would have decided the outcome. The reputation of the Green Wall Tiger is indeed not in vain. No, it’s more than the rumors.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“You’re learning a boring martial art.”

“From your perspective, that might be the case.”

The White Masked Man shook his head.

“We’re at a similar level, or perhaps I’m slightly above you. Yet, I almost died without even being able to use my hands properly.”

“…”

“Your combat power is indescribable. You’re a master of fighting. Even a warrior who is used to killing people wouldn’t be able to fight like this.”

It was impressive how he could disrupt the opponent’s perception with murderous intent, but that could be attributed to being born with an excessive amount of murderous intent.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s combat skills were in the realm of experience, not just talent. He couldn’t understand how he could have developed such combat power at such a young age, having gone through so many hellish situations.

“I’ve been reminded that the superiority in a fight isn’t absolutely determined by one’s level.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching the White Masked Man, tilted his head.

“Putting aside the fact that you’re talking more, your tone and voice have also changed from before?”

“…”

“It’s like you’re a different person.”

The White Masked Man’s eyes flashed.

“You have a good sense.”

“Whatever the case, I don’t like guys who hide secret weapons or ultimate moves.”

Crack. Crack.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, slowly turning his neck while keeping his eyes on the White Masked Man, looked like a street thug.

The White Masked Man couldn’t understand.

Judging by his appearance and position, he was clearly a rising star of the righteous martial world, but his fighting style, tone, and current gestures made him seem no different from a street ruffian.

Yeon Ho-Jeong flicked the Black Dragon Axe.

“I don’t have time. After I catch you, I have to chop you up and make you into salted seafood, and considering that time, I’m even more pressed.”

“…”

“Come at me properly.”

Flash! Clang!

With an explosion, a white smoke rose.

Crack!

If Yeon Ho-Jeong had made the first surprise attack of the fight, this surprise attack was the White Masked Man’s turn.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet created furrows in the ground. It was almost the same distance that the White Masked Man had retreated when he had made his surprise attack.

Sizzle.

White smoke rose from the Black and White Dragon Axes, which were crossed to block the attack.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

The White Masked Man growled softly.

“There was also a report that said you were exceptionally good at provoking your opponents. It seems that report was accurate.”

“I didn’t even provoke you, and you’re getting all worked up by yourself. Isn’t your self-esteem a bit too high?”

“…You bastard!”

Whoosh!

The White Masked Man had appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left side.

It was a divine technique of movement speed, so fast that even Yeon Ho-Jeong had lost sight of him for a moment.

The White Masked Man’s fist aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side.

Wham!

In that instant, the White Masked Man’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

The fist he had swung, a white axe was embedded in that fist, and red blood gushed out.

“I didn’t tell you one thing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and looked down at the White Masked Man.

His face, stained with reddish-black murderous intent, looked much more demonic than the White Masked Man.

“If you only chase after what you can see, you’ll end up like this. That’s why I didn’t even provoke you. There was no need to.”

“…!!”

“You’re not going to pull out any childish ultimate moves, are you? Then, farewell.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung down the Black Dragon Axe.

Crack!

The White Masked Man’s mask shattered.