Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 626

Where the Yellow Masked Man’s body was shattered and Yeon Ho-Jeong disappeared like lightning.

“……”

Moyong Gun, who had been looking around at the scattered pieces of the corpse, turned his gaze to the Red Masked Men.

The remaining Red Masked Men were hesitant. It was unclear whether it was because their leader was gone or because they were overwhelmed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s overwhelming aura.

Moyong Gun, who had been looking at them with calm eyes, suddenly showed a murderous intent.

Flash! Swish!

They were not capable of blocking Moyong Gun’s single sword strike, even if they were fully prepared. With three deliberate strikes from Moyong Gun, most of the Red Masked Men’s bodies were torn apart and sent flying.

Thud!

The remaining Red Masked Men were Hwang Seok-Tae’s responsibility. The Red Masked Men were annihilated by the spear thrust he delivered as he rushed in like the wind.

Swoosh!

Hwang Seok-Tae, who had pulled out the spear that had pierced the last Red Masked Man’s neck, frowned slightly.

‘Brutal.’

The corpses of the Red Masked Men that Moyong Gun had killed were gruesome, as if they had been torn apart by beasts.

With his martial arts and brain power, there was no need for him to create such a state. It felt more like a vengeful killing rather than simply killing.

‘Although there is no difference in death.’

Moyong Gun said.

“Now that we have eliminated the demons, let’s go back inside.”

“Let’s do that.”

Gang Ryang approached the two of them.

“Are there no more of these guys?”

Moyong Gun said with a nonchalant expression.

“I don’t know. At least, there are none that my senses can detect right now.”

Gang Ryang nodded.

Hwang Seok-Tae frowned.

“There are no demons, but someone else is coming.”

“It seems to be the Tang family’s elite unit.”

The unit’s identity was the Black Wind Unit and the Green Robe Unit. They had been ordered by Tang Hyeong to participate in this battle, but due to the extreme difference in movement speed, they had only just arrived.

“They come after all the hard fighting is over, they’re so slow.”

It was a calm but somehow sharp voice.

Hwang Seok-Tae did not relax his guard.

“We might have to fight.”

The Tang family’s elite unit was under Tang Ho’s command. Hwang Seok-Tae, who was unaware of the events that had transpired, naturally thought so.

Moyong Gun also agreed.

“I don’t sense any killing intent, but it’s best to be prepared.”

“By the way.”

Gang Ryang interjected.

“Where did Senior Paeyul go…?”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I don’t know. I heard he had a place to go separately.”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Seok-Tae said.

“It wouldn’t be because of something within the Tang family.”

Gang Ryang nodded.

“I think so too. If they deliberately pulled out a strong force at such a crucial moment, it must be something external, not internal.”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Gun looked at the two of them with surprise.

‘Do they have good instincts?’

Hwang Seok-Tae was the leader of the strongest unit in the Mukryong Unit, so it wasn’t surprising that he had this level of insight.

However, Gang Ryang was a master with little experience. Surpassing the Wall of the Martial Ancestor [a significant milestone in martial arts cultivation] was a great feat, but he lacked experience in actually leading a unit or in battles where a moment’s judgment determined the success or failure of an operation.

Yet, he had such insight?

‘He knows it.’

Moyong Gun’s eyes sharpened.

‘He knows Yeon Ho-Jeong well. Regardless of his combat experience, he knows Yeon Ho-Jeong’s strengths, so he can naturally make that judgment.’

It was a fresh shock.

In a way, he thought that these two might know Yeon Ho-Jeong better than he did.

‘…….’

He felt strange.

The person who knows the enemy well is not the enemy’s family or friends. It is the enemy’s enemy.

It was natural for hunters who considered each other prey to try to understand their opponents better. In fact, Moyong Gun had tried to do so, and he thought he knew a lot about Yeon Ho-Jeong.

But seeing these two, he thought that his assumptions might be wrong.

‘Yeon Ho-Jeong.’

Moyong Gun’s eyes trembled slightly.

The figure of that guy, who had overwhelmed the crowd with his overwhelming presence, yet approached the Yellow Masked Man without even turning his head towards him.

Throb!

It wasn’t something to be offended by. Yet, strangely, he felt angry and offended.

Moyong Gun clearly recognized that fact.

He recognized it, but he couldn’t accept it.

He knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong was a genius, someone with more talent than him. He thought that even if he was angry because of that guy, he wouldn’t be offended.

‘Why the hell?!’

Moyong Gun internally exploded with frustration.

‘What kind of destiny did you give that guy, to give him such an absurd growth!’

If there was a god in the sky, he really wanted to question them. The emotions that surged up made his head spin for a moment.

It wasn’t just because of Yeon Ho-Jeong that he was angry and jealous.

Those who were with Yeon Ho-Jeong were also developing unusually fast. Their perspectives were changing, and even though they were stepping into the chaos of the world, they gave off a feeling of being detached from it.

That fact kept stimulating Moyong Gun’s emotions.

Those who were nothing special change when they are with Yeon Ho-Jeong? That meant one of two things.

Either there was a god who gave Yeon Ho-Jeong all the luck, or… Yeon Ho-Jeong had the absolute ability to change the very essence of people.

The former didn’t make sense no matter how much he thought about it. So, it had to be the latter.

‘Is he a born conqueror?’

Moyong Gun’s eyes became increasingly bloodshot.

‘Is he born with the qualities of a conqueror that cannot be overturned by experience or effort?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong had said before that he wasn’t particularly talented. That he was just lucky and was able to take a step ahead of others.

That was nonsense.

If he had stopped at that level, it would have been understandable, but now that he had opened the Limitless [a state of immense power], Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were nothing more than unconvincing deception.

‘……Damn it.’

Trickle.

Blood flowed from his bitten lip.

‘This is not like me.’

He had known all along that Yeon Ho-Jeong was a genius. That he had reached that position because he was a genius and worked harder than anyone else.

There was no reason to get angry over his qualities or to recall his words.

In the end, what made Moyong Gun angry was his own powerlessness.

He had been overtaken in the one area where he had prided himself on being one step ahead of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The sense of loss, the absurdity, was too great.

‘I won’t give up.’

In Moyong Gun’s bloodshot eyes, obsession and madness flickered.

‘No matter how high you stand and block my path, I will never give up. Even if it’s not just you, but the entire Seongcheon [a powerful organization or faction] that stands against me, I will ultimately achieve what I desire.’

Whoosh!

The brain power that had subsided due to anger and frustration was suddenly fueled again by a burning madness.

Crackling!

The brain power suddenly coursed through his entire body.

Moyong Gun, recognizing the two people looking at him, turned his body towards the main house.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

Tang Ho, who had been sent flying by the explosion, rolled on the ground several times before stopping.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Tang Yeo-Seon.

“Damn it.”

Tang Yeo-Seon was already dead.

It wasn’t because of the bleeding. Almost all of his life force had been drained in that short time, but that wasn’t what killed him either.

‘Demonic energy infiltration.’

The demonic energy that had infiltrated through the carotid artery had instantly destroyed the upper dantian [an energy center in the body], stopping the body’s functions. That was why he died.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Tang Ho.

Swoosh.

Tang Ho slowly rose to his feet.

Whoooooooom!

From his staggering body, a dark red demonic energy surged.

Despite being the energy of defying the heavens, it felt full of vivid vitality. Parts of his body were broken, but that dynamic demonic energy was concentrating fiercely, aiming for super-recovery.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“Death Absorption Technique.”

Death Absorption Technique.

It was a type of Absorption Great Art that Yeop Seong, Yang Cheon’s great disciple, had mastered, and that Tang Yang-Seon, Tang Gwan’s son, had also mastered.

As the main culprit of this situation, he had expected that Tang Ho would also have mastered it. But that guy was not Tang Ho. He was the Yellow Masked Man.

‘So, in the end, the Death Absorption Technique is also a martial art that came from the Three Teachings [a reference to a specific martial arts lineage].’

He had known that as well. However, he wasn’t completely sure.

Now he could be certain. Where the Death Absorption Technique had come from.

‘It’s completely different.’

Whoooooooom!

The broken legs, the fractured spine, the severed heart vessels were being restored at an incredible speed.

Not only was the broken cheekbone fixed, but even the eyeball that had been dangling out was back in place.

It was truly beyond human ability. No matter how great the Death Absorption Technique was, and no matter how excellent the demonic energy’s super-recovery was, such recovery was far beyond reason.

In the end, there was only one answer.

‘The original version of the Death Absorption Technique is far more sinister and poisonous than the Death Absorption Technique known in the Central Plains [a region in the story].’

Thud!

Tang Ho, who had taken a step forward, raised his head and looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

In that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

‘What? He’s not that guy?’

The red-hot eyes were not those of the Seventh Division Commander who had tried to abandon his body and use soul-stealing techniques.

“Tang Ho!!”

It was an outcry filled with an indescribable emotion.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Tang Gwan.

Tang Gwan didn’t even look at Yeon Ho-Jeong. His eyes, burning with murderous intent, were only fixed on Tang Ho.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“That guy is dangerous. I will……”

“I’m entrusting my father to you.”

“……?!”

“Hurry.”

Even while showing a rage close to madness, Tang Gwan’s voice was calm.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching him, nodded.

“Come back having resolved everything.”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong approached the fallen Tang Hyeong.

Tang Gwan did not turn his head until the end. His anger towards Tang Ho had exceeded its limit, but he trusted Yeon Ho-Jeong. He couldn’t do anything, but Yeon Ho-Jeong would be able to take some measures to ensure that his father wouldn’t die.

That was enough. For now.

Sparks flew from Tang Gwan’s eyes.

“To the very end.”

Whoooosh!

It felt as if every last drop of internal energy within his body was being released.

The Emperor’s Poisonous Energy flowing from Tang Gwan’s body created a dark gray mist that soared high into the sky. His hair and clothes fluttered wildly along with the swirling mist.

“Are you going to make a fuss to the very end!!”

It was like the roar of an angry lion.

Tang Ho’s face contorted at the cry filled with overwhelming emotion.

Tang Ho shouted.

“Shut up! I am the master of the Tang family! What right do you have to defy your master!”

The voice, cracking with demonic energy, was no longer Tang Ho’s.

The Seventh Division Commander had tried to seize his body, but he had failed. Rather, the Seventh Division Commander’s soul had scattered, and Tang Ho’s desire, which he had not forgotten even in death, had driven out the Seventh Division Commander and regained his body.

An unimaginable obsession and desire.

It was the manifestation of a true demon, perfectly suited to the explosive growth of demonic arts.

“This is my domain! I am the king! I am the master of Sichuan [a region in the story]!!”

Thud!

Tang Ho, who had approached with a speed that was completely different from before, aimed for Tang Gwan’s neck.

Clang!

Tang Ho was sent flying back with a loud explosion.

Even in his madness, Tang Ho was bewildered. He had gained more power than before, yet he was sent flying like this?

Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!

The sound of metal fragments colliding and spreading out made the listener’s skin crawl.

Tang Ho looked at Tang Gwan.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

Around Tang Gwan, who was emitting a dark gray aura, thousands of metal fragments, daggers, and hidden weapons were colliding and forming a huge circle.

Tang Gwan cried out.

“I will annihilate you completely, leaving not a single piece of flesh or a single point of your soul!”

Flash!

Thousands of metal fragments soared into the sky, creating a sea of starlight.

A flash of murderous intent that dyed the entire sky.

The strongest and worst secret technique possessed by the Sichuan Tang Clan had revealed its true form.