Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 689

“Hah, hah!”

Her breathing grew ragged.

No matter how great her inner energy was, it wasn’t limitless.

Crucially, inner energy and physical stamina were different matters. While deep inner energy usually meant good stamina, without the physical ability to effectively distribute that energy, even the greatest reserves were inefficient.

She possessed inner energy at the highest level of the martial world, and her physical stamina was also exceptionally developed.

However, she had been running from Henan to Shanxi for days without proper rest. Even a master of her caliber couldn’t avoid exhaustion.

Moreover, she was carrying a divine weapon weighing over eighty pounds on her back, making it even more taxing.

‘I have no choice.’

She made a decision.

‘I need to recover my stamina from here on.’

She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent in the air.

‘It’s close now.’

She felt it instinctively. The battlefield was near.

Indeed, she felt strong tremors several times as she pushed off the ground. Whether it was due to the fierce battle between top masters or some kind of explosion, it was definitely not a natural shock.

‘It means the fight has already begun. There’s no time to delay, but it’s not wise to go in completely drained either. I don’t know what the situation is.’

She trusted ‘him.’ If anyone was prepared, it was him. No matter how unfavorable the situation, he would have prepared a plan to hold out for at least a night.

Considering the information from the Beggar Clan, the battle couldn’t have started long ago.

‘Let’s switch.’

Swoosh.

Her legs stretched out elastically.

The moment she was conscious of it, her movement technique changed on its own. It was a display of perfect unity between mind and body, something difficult to achieve without extreme training. Through innate talent, abundant inner energy, extreme training, and intense real combat, she had reached such a sublime state.

Tsutsutsutsu.

‘As expected.’

The movement technique she had been using was the Thousand-Layered Cloud Flight, a technique boasted by one of the most prestigious martial families. [A movement technique known for its speed and agility.]

As an archer, she had a sufficiently fast and stable movement technique, but for long-distance travel, the Thousand-Layered Cloud Flight was slightly more efficient. She had learned this incredible martial art on the spot from a great hero of the era.

If not for the Thousand-Layered Cloud Flight, she wouldn’t have reached this place.

However, now she needed to return to her original self.

‘My inner energy is filling up.’

The archer’s martial arts focused on dynamic movements. She constantly moved while training her inner energy, simultaneously seeking stability of mind and body.

Maximizing these characteristics, she reduced her speed but maximized her inner energy recovery.

Whoooosh!

A faint gray aura flickered from the woman’s body.

A vast amount of inner energy, seemingly overflowing. The arrogant divine art named ‘Flood Heaven,’ which was said to be so vast that it could swallow the world, was rapidly normalizing her cardiopulmonary functions.

“Hoo!”

Even while traversing the rough mountain path, her face regained its color.

The depleted inner energy was rapidly replenishing, and the replenished energy spread to her entire body, pumping in large amounts of air.

Her muscles regained vitality. As her cardiopulmonary functions normalized, her inner energy recovery gained even more momentum.

Whoooosh!

The inner energy that had been overflowing and visible to the naked eye returned into her body. The recovery process itself was completely normalized.

‘Let’s not rush.’

But she kept feeling impatient.

She trusted ‘him,’ but as the distance closed, the killing intent in the air became more distinct.

It wasn’t the killing intent of one or two people. The killing intent, imbued with the shouts of hundreds, was intertwined, making the air hot.

There was no battlefield in the world that was not dangerous.

Some people called ‘him’ the Fighting King or the God of War, but as a human, he could still die if struck by an unseen blade.

‘Trust him. He’ll be fine.’

Whoooosh!

‘He’s not the kind of irresponsible person who would break his promise to return and meet again.’

Whoooosh!

Her mind tried to remain calm, but the worry in her heart only deepened with time.

How much time had passed?

Uwaaaaaa!

A resounding roar.

Thud! Thud!

Beyond that, she saw bright red flames.

Large parts of the mountain were burning. And beyond the mountain where the flames were rising, one rather large peak was completely engulfed in fire.

The woman’s eyes blazed.

Sssip!

She took a short breath, and everything she had seen and felt became even clearer.

‘It’s there!’

Kugugung!

A powerful shockwave was transmitted from beyond the Jongnam main mountain. [Jongnam is a mountain range in China.]

Even though thousands of troops were clashing at the main mountain, an even more impressive shockwave was spreading from the burning peak.

She knew instinctively. ‘He’ was there.

‘Just wait a little longer!’

She was about to push off the ground again when.

Uwaaaaaa!

Her foot stopped.

‘A child?’

She looked down to her right.

Flash!

Her Dragon Eyes shone. [A technique that enhances vision.]

The aura of a ferocious beast and the aura of the familiar Orthodox Divine Art were colliding, creating a spectacular clash.

The eyes of an archer were much sharper than those of ordinary martial artists.

She noticed many children behind the clashing warriors.

‘…….’

After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth.

Paah!

Her movement technique as she descended the slope was like a gust of wind.

Much faster and more passionate than before. Her body, feeling the air of the battlefield, awakened her identity as the legendary female general feared by the annihilated Black Path sects. [Black Path sects are evil or unorthodox martial arts groups.]

Muk Bi, the Ghost Bow Goddess.

The highest-ranking officer of the Martial Alliance’s Righteous Army, and a genius archer unmatched in archery of the era.

Having mastered all the martial arts of Gwanil Valley, and even inheriting the dark divine art of transcending time and space, the Hongcheon Gi, there was no enemy who could block her path. [Hongcheon Gi is a powerful and rare martial art.]

Tuh-uh-uhng!

Five iron arrows were already nocked on the red bow in her hand.

Muk Bi’s hand, drawing the bowstring like lightning, was filled with explosive power.

Kwarurururung!

Jjeoeoeoeoeong!

Yongguk Jin-in barely suppressed a scream with superhuman endurance.

Pa-ba-bak!

He approached with the Five Elements Footwork, drawing a plum blossom pattern, and swung his sword powerfully. [Five Elements Footwork is a martial arts technique based on the five elements.]

Pa-a-a-ak!

Unlike a Hwasan sword, the sword strike was very fierce and violent, sweeping towards Habok. It was the Hwasan technique, the Hundred and Eight Forms of the Raging Wind Swift Sword. [Hwasan is a famous martial arts sect.]

Habok’s lips curled up.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!

It seemed like he had just swung his greatsword randomly, but the fierce sword strikes that were coming in were all deflected.

‘This!’

Instantly, the grip on his sword went numb. The impact of the colliding swords was too strong. Even with the deep and powerful inner energy of Hwasan, it was difficult to disperse the shock.

‘This kind of guy!’

Pa-a-ang!

Yongguk Jin-in did not know how to retreat.

Habok moved to kill the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, but he continued to strike at Habok.

The difference in their martial arts was clear. Even if they were both at the peak level, their depths were different. Even if three skilled fighters like Yongguk Jin-in attacked at the same time, it would be difficult to defeat Habok.

It was a difference of more than three times the power in simple calculations, but there was no fear. He was determined to cling on until his head was cut off.

Habok casually drew his greatsword diagonally.

Kwang!

Blood spurted from Yongguk Jin-in’s mouth.

It was just one strike. With one strike, the essence of the Hwasan Falling Blossom Sword was unraveled, and a scar was left on the chest of Yongguk Jin-in, the sword’s master. [Hwasan Falling Blossom Sword is a sword technique of the Hwasan sect.]

‘Incredible!’

Even though he was an enemy, he couldn’t help but admire the power contained in his opponent’s sword.

It wasn’t just raw strength, but a powerful principle that suppressed softness in an instant. The enlightenment embedded in simplicity, it was a sword technique that clearly showed that the martial arts of the outer regions were not inferior to those of the Central Plains. [Central Plains refers to the heartland of China, often considered the cradle of martial arts.]

Pu-hwa-a-ak!

Habok’s movements were relaxed.

Even though he was relaxed, he was fast and ruthless. He moved in front of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen in an instant and swung his sword three times, and with three slashes, three Plum Blossom Swordsmen lost their lives.

Thud! Thud!

The heads of the swordsmen fell, rolling on the dirt with their surprised expressions still on their faces. They probably didn’t even realize they were dying.

It was truly an incredible sight.

It wasn’t like he had gathered all his inner energy and unleashed it, but with one slash, the head of a peak master was severed.

It was a different dimension of martial arts. Beyond the greatness of martial arts, he instinctively grasped the enemy’s most vulnerable blind spot and thrust his sword in. The principle of killing, eliminating the enemy with minimal force, was dazzling.

But it was no time to discuss the principles of martial arts. The lives of the Hwasan disciples, whom they had cherished so much, had been taken too easily.

“You bastard!!”

Enraged, Yongguk Jin-in moved like lightning.

Habok frowned.

“What are you doing!”

Jjeo-jeong!

Yongguk Jin-in was knocked back again by the continuous sword strikes.

“I’ll take care of these brats! You guys go and take the heads of those kids!”

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

The Blood Wolves, who had been confronting the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, pushed off the ground at that moment.

It was a terrifying sight.

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen were not unskilled. They were all the pride of Hwasan, trained in a hundred battles. Even if the Blood Wolves jumped into the air, if they unleashed sword strikes into the air, they would all lose their lives.

Knowing this, they fearlessly threw themselves forward. It was absolute obedience to orders, a willingness to sacrifice their lives.

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen swung their swords at the Blood Wolves.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Pu-eok!

The bodies of four Blood Wolves were torn to shreds and fell to the ground.

But that was it.

Surprisingly, most of the sword strikes unleashed by dozens of swordsmen were shattered by a single, massive blade of light.

It was such an overwhelming sight that the fight stopped for a moment. The startled Plum Blossom Swordsmen turned their heads to where the blade of light had come from.

“Hoo-uk!”

Habok took a short breath.

Even though there was a big difference in skill, he had tried to block the sword strikes of dozens of peak masters with one blow. He had no choice but to endure the explosive consumption of inner energy.

But the effect was certain.

“The beggars from the Beggar Clan are following us! Don’t fight them, kill the kids first!”

It was a terrible order.

Yongguk Jin-in shouted.

“Plum Blossom Swordsmen, follow them from behind… !”

Pu-eo-eong!

“Keok!”

Yongguk Jin-in was knocked away again, spitting blood.

He was so powerless. He was clearly a famous master in Shanxi, but he couldn’t break through the wall of sword techniques and power that Habok was unleashing.

But Habok was also in a bad mood.

“You’re persistent, you Hwasan mule.”

He hadn’t used his full power, but he hadn’t died even after colliding with the martial arts of the Blood Wolf Death Blade. He hadn’t lost consciousness even after being hit by the Wolf Floating Palm just now. [Blood Wolf Death Blade and Wolf Floating Palm are martial arts techniques.]

He thought he could kill him in five moves, but he was a really tough one.

“This won’t do. I’ll have to kill you first.”

Whoooosh!

A sticky red aura swirled around Habok’s greatsword.

It was a clear aura and stance, indicating his intention to finish him off with one strike.

A look of despair appeared on Yongguk Jin-in’s face.

‘Am I going to be defeated so futilely?’

It was absurd.

Even with the great martial arts of Hwasan, he couldn’t suppress an outsider, let alone the commander of a combat unit.

Yongguk Jin-in shouted loudly.

“Everyone, protect the children with your lives! This is my last order!”

Habok sneered.

“You moron!”

Flash!

A streak of red light fell on Yongguk Jin-in’s crown.

Yongguk Jin-in also swung his sword, but before his sword could even be halfway through its arc, Habok’s sword had reached three inches in front of Yongguk Jin-in’s head.

‘So this is how I go.’

That was when it happened.

Pu-pu-pu-pu-pung!

Five explosions and a huge shockwave erupted right in front of him.

Yongguk Jin-in screamed and tumbled. He had surrounded his entire body with a barrier of inner energy, but the shockwave was so strong that he almost lost his mind.

“Cough!”

What was that? Am I not dead?

Yongguk Jin-in shook his head a few times and looked at Habok.

In that moment, he could see it.

Nine streaks of light, coloring the sky, were shooting towards Habok at an incredible speed.

The nine streaks of light were like nine dragons descending from the sky.

Alarm appeared on Habok’s face.

“What is this…!!”

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!!

*****************************************************

Distributed by Azit Novel (formerly Azitoon Novel).

Enjoy it conveniently in real-time on the web.

****************************************************