Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 699

“Who is that?”

Jin Yang was flustered.

Even amidst the chaos, his heart strangely fluttered.

Whoosh!

The figure of the man standing against the darkness was nothing short of monstrous.

His clothes were stained with blood, and the torn, worn edges fluttered in the wind, creating an eerie atmosphere.

The scattered hair looked like countless snakes writhing on the monster’s head. Above his dark face, red eyes, like embedded jewels, were filled with an intimidating majesty.

And that axe.

His right hand and the axe handle were tightly bound with black iron chains. Whether it was to prevent him from dropping it, or if it was originally a weapon used that way, was unknown.

Even the axe itself was a dark color. The outer edge of the axe blade was bluish, but even that looked dark due to the man’s imposing presence and murderous intent.

Darkness, and more darkness.

His appearance was so otherworldly that one might mistake him for a being from another realm. His presence was unlike anyone from this world.

‘This person…’

Jin Yang was unable to come to his senses, overwhelmed by the dominant presence looking down at him.

He was second to none when it came to survival instincts. That instinct was screaming. He had to get away from this terrifying being.

But he couldn’t run.

Was it because of the oppressive feeling? No, it wasn’t.

Something that even his survival instinct couldn’t ignore was holding his feet in place. It wasn’t because of the opponent. Something within his heart was preventing him from retreating, even in the face of an opponent he wanted to flee from.

‘That thing’ that Jin Yang himself didn’t know.

People called it fate.

“Do you… know me?”

“…”

Know him? Of course, he knew him.

The monster, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes trembled.

‘Is that really Jin Yang?’

A towering figure of seven feet, with a face that was both mischievous and serious.

From his ruggedly trained muscles to the magnificent Green Dragon Crescent Blade [a type of polearm] in his hand.

It was definitely Jin Yang. The young Jin Yang was right before his eyes.

‘How?!’

It was a moment that even the great Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but be taken aback by.

At that moment, Ga Deuk-Sang opened his mouth.

“Lord Yeon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head towards Ga Deuk-Sang.

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled.

“It’s been a while.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Ga Deuk-Sang, lowered his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

“It was necessary, but I did a terrible thing to Master Hugae. I apologize.”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes wavered.

It was a fact he had momentarily forgotten due to the overwhelming joy of seeing him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, lifting his head, spoke calmly.

“I will definitely make time for a fistfight. But not now.”

“…”

“Please understand.”

Ga Deuk-Sang thought. He was such a difficult man.

Just by looking at him, just by hearing his voice, he could tell.

Although he didn’t show it, Yeon Ho-Jeong must have been thinking about that matter all the time. That’s why he apologized as soon as he saw his face.

‘…Seriously.’

The sincerity was deeply felt. Ga Deuk-Sang sighed.

“Let’s talk about that later. Are you badly hurt?”

“I killed the enemy commander. I can still fight.”

“It seems so.”

Ga Deuk-Sang turned his body.

“I’ll take the disciples and the scholars to a safe place.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, and that man next to you is an ally.”

Whoosh!

Although they had swept away so many soldiers, there were still dozens of Blood Wolves here.

But Ga Deuk-Sang flew away without any hesitation.

Because he knew. Because he had seen it.

What level Yeon Ho-Jeong had reached.

‘It was real.’

Surprise flickered across Ga Deuk-Sang’s face.

‘He really opened the Limitless [a state of immense power]!’

His master had said that the thirteen seats of the Saintly Heavens would soon change to fourteen.

The vague sense of wonder had turned into shock the moment he met Yeon Ho-Jeong. Despite not being in his best condition, he possessed an aura so imposing that it was hard to even look up at him.

Ga Deuk-Sang felt a strange distance.

It was as if his comrade, whom he had known so easily and closely, had now flown away to a distant place beyond reach. It was a strength that didn’t even inspire jealousy.

‘It’s okay.’

A presence that seemed not of this world.

Ga Deuk-Sang changed his mind.

‘He’s a person. A person with bones and flesh like us. There’s no reason to treat him like a stranger just because he’s reached the same level.’

His heart, shaken by the overwhelming shock, calmed down for a moment.

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled.

‘Just wait until the fight is over. I’ll slap that handsome face with the sole of my foot.’

Whoooosh.

And with that, Ga Deuk-Sang disappeared.

“…”

A strange silence fell.

Jin Yang’s left hand twitched. It was awkward to just stand still.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Jin Yang, asked as if throwing a question.

“How did you get here?”

He spoke casually without realizing it.

Yet, it didn’t feel awkward at all. Jin Yang also felt that the other’s way of speaking was somehow natural.

“There was a request to help Jongnam.”

“Alone?”

“No. I am the leader of a sect called the Hwaung Clan [Fire Bear Clan].”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but feel a smile forming.

Hwaung Clan.

It meant the Fiery Bear, or simply the Bear. It was a famous nickname even during the Dark Emperor era. Even Muk Bi, who was usually quiet, called Jin Yang the Bear. Considering his size and unique martial arts, it was a fitting nickname.

Even if he had fallen into a different era, a different world.

Even as many things changed, there were things that remained unchanged. That was the case with Jin Yang.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked.

“Do you know of the Hoseon Grand Theater?”

“…?!”

“Do you want to go?”

Jin Yang’s face hardened.

The Hoseon Grand Theater. It was a place he had always wanted to go to, a place he had always talked about, even if it was in jest. It was one of his three wishes.

“How do you know that?”

Jin Yang had lived a rough life. There was no need to act like he knew him and make him wary.

Even knowing that, Yeon Ho-Jeong found it difficult to pretend he didn’t know him.

‘Were we connected?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky.

‘Was it a fate that we were destined to meet no matter what?’

He didn’t know.

Opening the Limitless didn’t mean he knew the will of the heavens. He didn’t believe in the heavens in the first place.

But at this moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt it. The thread of fate, woven by an unknown entity that could only be called the heavens, was real.

“If we can’t stop them, the Hoseon Grand Theater that you so desperately want to go to will also be burned to the ground.”

“Do you know me?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his body.

“Follow me. Show your skills on the battlefield.”

Jin Yang hurriedly asked.

“I’m asking if you know me!”

“Come.”

“Did you perhaps plant someone around me?”

“If I knew where you were, I wouldn’t have bothered planting someone. I would have gone to find you myself.”

“…?!”

“Let’s talk after this war is over. I’m busy.”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong kicked off the ground.

It wasn’t a fast speed, but the frozen Blood Wolf members couldn’t avoid it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong powerfully swung the Mad Dragon Axe.

Thwack! Thwack!

Blood and flesh flew everywhere.

The Blood Wolf members, who had momentarily regained their senses, belatedly swung their weapons, but it was clear that they were not in their right minds.

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen also regained their senses and attacked the Blood Wolves. Now that they realized that this unbelievable master was an ally, all that was left was annihilation.

Jin Yang, watching Yeon Ho-Jeong, quietly gritted his teeth.

“…Damn it!”

Whoosh!

Jin Yang, who had quickly caught up, powerfully swung his Green Dragon Blade.

Clang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

It couldn’t compare to when he was called a Divine General, but the powerful sword strike was enough to remind him of that time.

It was Jin Yang’s unique martial art, the Soaring Thunderfire Blade. He hadn’t yet grasped its ultimate form, but it was powerful enough to be effective on this battlefield.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had swept through the battlefield in an instant, shouted to the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

“Deal with the remaining stragglers and come to the main mountain! I’ll go ahead! The elder of Hwasan is not dead, so bring him with you!”

He said to Jin Yang.

“Let’s go!”

“Damn it! Don’t order me around when I don’t even know who you are!”

Whoosh!

The two men ran along the mountain path.

Whoooosh!

A faint aura began to emanate from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Was it thanks to Muk Bi’s energy? Or was it because he had seen a familiar face in an unexpected place?

The rotation speed of the Bright Light Divine Core seemed to be getting faster. The true energy spreading throughout his body was giving him a sense of overflowing power.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movement speed gradually increased.

Jin Yang, following behind him, also increased his speed. Despite his size, his movement technique was also at a considerable level.

In an instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“Did you bring your subordinates?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll go that way!”

He had read the military aura surging from the Cheongmok Cliff side. It was a fierce but also precise battlefield. It seemed that they were somehow coping well under Hwang Seok-Tae’s command.

On the other hand, the Sadoam side was different.

The power of the Jongnam swordsmen was disorganized. Moreover, unfamiliar auras were felt everywhere. They were probably Jin Yang’s subordinates.

Whoooosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s speed increased even more.

Jin Yang’s eyes wavered.

‘How is he so fast?!’

He had clearly suffered severe internal and external injuries.

Yet, he was getting faster as time went on. As if he possessed infinite power, the tips of his feet, kicking off the ground, were filled with a vibrant aura of life.

Jin Yang wouldn’t know. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feelings.

He wouldn’t know how much his heart was pounding now that he had met Jin Yang, even though he hadn’t gone to find him first.

Jin Yang shouted.

“Damn it! Slow down a bit! I’m hurt too!”

“Don’t whine. If you weren’t capable of keeping up, I wouldn’t have asked you to join me.”

“…!”

It was a strange remark.

If you just listened to it, it meant that he could handle this speed, but if you listened a little deeper, the meaning changed.

For Yeon Ho-Jeong, the Five Divine Generals were like that.

In those days when he overturned the world with his invincible combat skills, all five Divine Generals stood alongside him.

To him, the Five Divine Generals were his alter egos, his friends, and his brothers.

There was no way they couldn’t keep up.

If they weren’t capable of standing proudly next to the villain that the world feared, called the Dark One, he wouldn’t have asked them to join him in the first place.

A remark that made his heart strangely flutter.

Jin Yang, who had closed his mouth, followed behind Yeon Ho-Jeong with all his might.

Whoooosh!

How much time had passed?

Finally, the two men saw a battlefield filled with the stench of blood.

Jin Yang shouted.

“Seo Jeong-Gwang!”

In that instant, surprise flickered in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

‘Seo Jeong-Gwang?!’

The young man holding the halberd, Seo Jeong-Gwang, shouted.

“The Clan Leader has arrived! Everyone fall back… !”

Jin Yang interrupted Seo Jeong-Gwang’s words.

“Don’t fall back, you morons! Fight!”

“Huh?! Really?”

“You crazy bastard! Why retreat when there are so many eyes watching! Just destroy them all! It’s all or nothing!”

“You’re so fickle!”

Clang! Clang!

Following Seo Jeong-Gwang’s command, the Hwaung Clan’s forces pushed back the Blood Wolves.

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t believe it.

He didn’t believe in the existence of the heavens, but he could feel the threads of fate that were so exquisitely connected.

But to meet them so suddenly.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong recalled something Jin Yang had said a long time ago.

‘Talent? Hmm, a useful talent… I wonder if that guy remembers me? We were separated when we were too young. How about it, should we go look for him?’

For him, each of the Five Divine Generals was a perfect connection, like a ray of light.

He wasn’t interested in what kind of connection they had with each other in the first place. He simply knew them, and once they became his people, he treated them all the same.

But now that the world had changed, one event that was different from the past had changed the lives of everyone in the world.

What if Jin Yang hadn’t met him?

If that were the case, wouldn’t he have tried to build a big business with his good-natured friend from his hometown?

“Jin Yang!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice was incredibly loud.

Jin Yang flinched without realizing it.

“Why, why are you calling me?”

“Push from the rear! I’ll push from the middle!”

“Okay, just lower your voice! You startled me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

As he charged towards the battlefield near Paeyul, he gave thanks for the first time to the heavens that had given him two past connections.

“We will end this war today!”