Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 690

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes widened.

‘What is this?’

In the distance, he saw children running, pursued by a pack of hungry wolves.

He was running with all his might to crush those wolves when he witnessed an enormous attack that shook the very earth.

‘Cannons?!’

No.

Those weren’t cannons, but arrows. Not just one, but nine, each carrying an overwhelming power that devastated the land.

Startled, Ga Deuk-Sang turned his head in the direction the arrows had come from.

But there was no one there.

Flash!

It was as if the god of speed had descended. Free as the wind and swift as lightning. The moment he perceived something moving, it was already gone.

Pa-pa-pa-pang!!

In the air, a powerful sonic boom erupted as something invisible was launched like an arrow.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Kwang!

The moment a red glow flashed, the formless energy burst in the air.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s mind sharpened.

Faster movements, stronger elasticity, and more powerful archery than before.

He knew instinctively who it was.

“Increase your speed, Jang Seon-Dan and Sib Bo-Dan! The enemy is targeting the children!”

Pa-a-a-a-ang!

Ga Deuk-Sang’s body, which had been moving in a straight line, suddenly swayed left and right.

Even though it wasn’t a straight line, it was fast. The Beggar Clan’s secret technique, Drunken Eight Immortals Steps [a movement technique that mimics the swaying of a drunkard], unfolded, allowing him to instantly assess the number of enemies.

And the one who would reach the children first.

‘There!’

Teo-eo-eong!

Ga Deuk-Sang’s movements as he flew through the air were a thing of beauty.

In an instant, he descended in an arc, a subtle jade-colored staff appearing in his hand. The seemingly solid staff was the Jade Dragon Staff, a weapon of Hwa Jin-Cheon modeled after the Jade Staff.

Ga Deuk-Sang swung the Jade Dragon Staff.

Peok!

The head of one of the Blood Wolves leading the charge was crushed.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes blazed.

No matter how urgent the situation, killing was still a distasteful act. The sensation of a life disappearing through the solid and elastic Jade Dragon Staff was directly transmitted to him.

“You bastards!”

With a light step, Ga Deuk-Sang charged forward.

“How dare you target the children!”

Ga Deuk-Sang, weaving through the enemies with the Drunken Eight Immortals Steps, swung the Jade Dragon Staff as if possessed.

Peo-beo-beo-beok!

Six Blood Wolf members fell to the ground, spitting blood.

It was the Beggar Clan’s representative staff technique, the Thirty-Six Road Dog Beating Staff Method [a staff technique that uses unpredictable movements to strike the enemy]. A marvelous martial art that exploited the enemy’s openings with offbeat rhythms, rendering them incapable of fighting.

However, the number of enemies was too great. But since they were coming down a narrow path, the situation was very advantageous for Ga Deuk-Sang.

Ga Deuk-Sang forcefully extended his left palm.

Kwang!

The magnificent power of the Jade Dragon Palm shattered the chest of one of the Blood Wolf members.

It didn’t end with just breaking it. The instantly killed member flew backward, causing the Blood Wolves following closely behind to hesitate in confusion.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s right staff and left fist unleashed a storm.

Peo-beo-beo-beok! Ppa-gak!

The Blood Wolves hit by the Dog Beating Staff Method coughed up blood, while those hit by the Hundred Flaws Divine Fist and the Jade Breaking Fist had their bones broken and were sent sprawling.

The Beggar Clan’s ultimate martial arts displayed their splendor. He effortlessly executed the Beggar Clan’s secret techniques, each of which was enough to earn one the title of master.

This was the current Ga Deuk-Sang. In line with the chaotic times, his martial arts had grown to a level that rivaled others, and now it was no exaggeration to call him a representative warrior of the Beggar Clan.

But the number of enemies was still large. Moreover, their skill level was not to be underestimated.

Pa-pa-pa-pang!

From an unseen place, hidden weapons flew in arcs.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes wavered.

‘These guys.’

He thought they were targeting him, but that wasn’t the case. Their hidden weapons were aimed at the children running behind him.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s hands moved urgently.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!

All the hidden weapons were blocked and deflected by the fist wind and staff shadows that Ga Deuk-Sang unleashed.

It was defense, not offense. The Beggar Clan’s martial arts were mostly focused on evasion and counterattacks rather than direct attacks, so they also showed great power in similar defensive stances.

Ti-ri-ri-ri-ring!

However, the Blood Wolves were not ordinary either. Their venom was something that even Ga Deuk-Sang couldn’t match.

The endless stream of daggers and hand arrows eventually passed behind Ga Deuk-Sang. It was nearly impossible to kill the Blood Wolves pressing in front of him while deflecting all those hidden weapons.

Ga Deuk-Sang shouted without realizing it.

“Block them!”

Peok!

Three disciples of the academy fell. Several hand arrows were embedded in their backs.

It was fortunate that the children weren’t hurt?

It was certainly fortunate, but there was no distinction in the value of human lives. Moreover, they were all ordinary people who had not learned even a bit of martial arts. Although they belonged to the Jongnam Sect, they were innocent people caught up in the fight between martial artists.

Pa-a-a-ak!

Only then did the Sib Bo-Dan arrive behind Ga Deuk-Sang, deflecting the hidden weapons with their fists.

The Jang Seon-Dan led the children and disciples, while Ga Deuk-Sang and Sib Bo-Dan blocked the rear.

‘Damn it!’

Having been swept up in the war, it was impossible to avoid bloodshed.

Still, it was regrettable. If only he had arrived a little, just a little bit faster, the three disciples wouldn’t have died.

Hwa-a-ak!

From Ga Deuk-Sang’s body, a brilliant jade-colored inner energy blazed. The blazing inner energy soon merged into one, forming the shape of a giant dragon.

“You bastards!”

Kwang!

With a stronger step than ever before, his left palm split into eighteen.

Kwa-reu-reung!

It was overwhelming.

The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, empowered by the Beggar Clan’s strongest secret technique, the Subduing Dragon Divine Art [a technique that focuses on overwhelming power], unfolded.

As the Beggar Clan’s strongest secret technique, the power of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was known to be superior to even the Shaolin’s Great Strength Vajra Palm [a powerful palm technique from the Shaolin Temple].

As if a storm had struck, a dozen Blood Wolves were sent flying, spitting blood. Their bodies were dented and crushed in various places. Their bones were broken, and their internal organs were ruptured.

“Hoo-wook!”

Ga Deuk-Sang breathed lightly.

The number of Blood Wolves rushing in had noticeably decreased.

Still, they kept coming. It was as if the more skilled ones were only now stepping forward, abandoning the narrow path and climbing the numerous trees on either side, spreading out their formation as they charged.

Ga Deuk-Sang shouted.

“I’ll block the front alone! Sib Bo-Dan and Jang Seon-Dan, switch your tasks!”

Pa-a-a-ak!

Ga Deuk-Sang’s command was absolute.

The Jang Seon-Dan, who had been leading the disciples, and the Sib Bo-Dan, who had been assisting Ga Deuk-Sang, instantly switched positions.

The Sib Bo-Dan were skilled in palm strikes and kicks, while the Jang Seon-Dan were skilled in the Dog Beating Staff and Heavenly Flower Staff techniques, which they wielded with six-foot-long staffs.

They immediately switched to the forces that were best suited to counter the enemy’s attacks. Making such a decision in this urgent situation was not easy at all.

This was proof that Ga Deuk-Sang’s tactical skills were also exceptional. He had the ability to be the next leader of the hundred thousand Beggar Clan members.

‘But.’

Ga Deuk-Sang’s face was serious.

The staff techniques he wielded with the Jade Dragon Staff and the palm strikes he unleashed with his left hand were converted into martial arts that could defeat enemies with minimal inner energy. Because if he lost his strength, he wouldn’t be able to stop the enemy’s momentum.

However, he sometimes had to use the inner energy-consuming Subduing Dragon Palm, and when he did, his stamina was clearly affected as much as the enemy’s attacks decreased.

‘Damn it! I can’t last long like this!’

It was then.

Sa-ra-ra-rak!

In the midst of the urgent battle, Ga Deuk-Sang sensed the presence of someone who had landed behind him.

He felt a sharp killing intent and a huge flow of power.

He was startled, thinking it was an enemy, but soon a smile spread across Ga Deuk-Sang’s face. He realized that the person who had landed between him and the Jang Seon-Dan was not an enemy, but rather a more reliable ally than anyone else.

Ga Deuk-Sang shouted.

“Give them a good hit!”

Pa-ak!

At the same time as the shout, Ga Deuk-Sang lowered his upper body as if he had been waiting for it.

And beyond him.

Muk Bi, drawing the string of a large red bow, revealed himself.

The faces of the Blood Wolves turned pale.

Muk Bi released the string.

Bu-a-a-a-a-a-ang!

A huge vortex swirled around the fired iron arrow.

It was the first time in a long time that the Nine Dragons Breaking Heaven Bow’s technique, Dragon Fang Cannon, had been unleashed.

Kwa-reu-reu-reung!!

With a thunderous roar, dozens of Blood Wolf members were sent flying, spitting blood.

Not only that, but some of the Blood Wolf members who were running along the trees on either side were sucked into the reverse field created by the Dragon Fang Cannon and met a gruesome death as their bodies were crushed.

‘Woah…’

Ga Deuk-Sang clicked his tongue without realizing it.

It was truly an incredible power. Muk Bi’s Dragon Fang Cannon, which was much more powerful than in the past, had now transformed into an invincible killing technique with more destructive power than a cannon and more penetrating power than a Tang Clan hidden weapon [a reference to the Tang Clan, known for their use of hidden weapons].

Moreover, since it was a narrow path, the Dragon Fang Cannon’s unique attack power was even more effective. It was an attack that could change the flow of the battle in an instant, a terrifying attack that surprised not only the warriors here but also the Blood Wolves, Habok, Yongguk Jin-in, and the Plum Blossom Sword Masters who were rushing in from afar.

Ga Deuk-Sang looked back.

“Muk…!”

He tried to look at Muk Bi’s face, but Muk Bi had already disappeared from that spot.

It was a movement that made one click their tongue. Now was not the time for conversation. Muk Bi, using the Dragon Flight Instant Movement technique, kicked the Blood Wolves coming from the right trees and charged towards Habok again.

It was not the time to discuss the joy of reunion. Muk Bi knew that exactly.

Ga Deuk-Sang, scratching his cheek, rotated his shoulders.

“Alright! Let’s save the drinking for after this damn war is over!”

“You bastards!”

Enraged, Habok swung his greatsword at the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.

Pu-hwa-ak!

Five Plum Blossom Sword Masters fell, spitting blood. All of them had their chests deeply cut and were unable to avoid instant death.

Woo-woo-woo-woong!

Red inner energy turned into madness, intensifying Habok’s killing intent.

“How dare you interfere with us!”

The greatsword swung with a roar.

The Blood Wolf Clan’s ultimate martial art, the Blood Wolf Evil Path, unfolded, aiming for the lives of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Peok!

The sword formation shattered eight-tenths of the Blood Wolf Evil Path’s power, but the remaining force tore apart the bodies of two sword masters.

The eyes of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters were bloodshot.

Even though it was war, they didn’t expect their comrades to die so meaninglessly.

This was also something that rarely happened in ordinary wars. It was a clear demonstration of how devastating a single supreme master could be in a war between martial artists.

“You!”

Yongguk Jin-in, who had cut down three Blood Wolf members, targeted Habok’s back again.

Whee-ee-ee-eeng!

The pure white sword energy created in that short moment turned into dozens of flower petals, targeting Habok’s limbs.

The sword was aimed at his back, and the sword energy was trying to seal his limbs. It was the Hwasan’s pride, the Twenty-Four Hand Plum Blossom Sword Technique [a sword technique known for its elegant and precise movements].

Habok’s body rotated on the spot.

Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!

The many sword energies were destroyed by the swirling sword strikes, and Yongguk Jin-in’s sword was deflected.

Habok quickly charged towards Yongguk Jin-in. His sword was aimed at the center, intending to stab him in the chest and kill him instantly.

At that moment, a stream of formless arrows flew in.

Peo-eong!

Muk Bi’s formless bullet exploded with the power of the Palm of the Raging Waves.

But that wasn’t the end.

Peo-peo-peong! Ppa-gak!

Habok’s face contorted.

One of the formless arrows, which had been fired in unpredictable curves, finally struck his thigh.

His bones were not damaged, but it was a powerful blow that tore his muscles. The last of the five consecutive formless bullets had finally hit Habok’s body.

“You damn bitch!”

Yongguk Jin-in, not missing the opportunity, swung his sword at Habok. It was amazing that he still had the strength to swing his sword after being hit like that.

Jjeo-jeong! Kung!

Habok, unable to maintain his balance, retreated madly.

Yongguk Jin-in, who had pushed Habok back for the first time, shouted at Muk Bi.

“You’ve been a great help! Go to your own battlefield!”

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered as he was about to draw his bow again.

Yongguk Jin-in continued.

“That axe! If my memory serves me right, isn’t there someone you need to give it to?!”

Muk Bi, who had been silently looking at Yongguk Jin-in, quickly drew his bow.

Peo-beo-beo-beok!

Muk Bi, who had killed a dozen Blood Wolf members who were pressuring the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, disappeared from that spot.

Yongguk Jin-in grinned.

“Now it’s worth a try!”

Habok’s face contorted.