Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 720

Clang!

The two men’s fists collided, producing a dull thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes narrowed.

‘That hurt.’

His five senses were honed to the extreme, and his entire body was protected by the Guangmyeong Divine Art [Bright Light Divine Art] and the Four Divine Weapons, the pinnacle of the Yeon family’s divine skill.

The overflowing true energy filled every inch of his limbs. That was why he could shatter rocks with his bare fists without even needing to activate his inner energy.

Yet, pain was radiating from that mighty fist. It was proof that Yang Cheon’s fist was fundamentally different from his own.

‘Fist fighting is still…’

Yang Cheon’s twin fists moved like lightning.

Pow pow pow pow!

It was an incredible barrage of attacks.

It was an extreme close-quarters battle where they rushed at each other. In such cases, the initial clash was bound to be a battle of strength. They had to break the opponent’s spirit with a single blow.

Yang Cheon was different.

After the initial exchange, he immediately launched a rapid assault, like an impenetrable fortress charging forward.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Parts of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s clothing were torn away.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts, which dealt with the rare and severe illness known as the Mad Dragon Disease, might seem focused on destructive power. It meant he was skilled at overwhelming opponents with force.

However, in battle, it was difficult to defeat an enemy with just one technique or trait.

Yeon Ho-Jeong also possessed footwork and agility to react to any rapid attack, as well as extreme reflexes developed through countless battles.

“As expected.”

Seeing Yeon Ho-Jeong evade all those punches and retreat, a smile spread across Yang Cheon’s face.

“I knew you could dodge, but I didn’t expect you to be this skilled.”

Thwack! Whoosh!

Immediately after firing three fist projectiles, a low, upward kick arced towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

‘Hard to avoid.’

After a rapid attack that was almost overwhelming, he unleashed a kick at a slightly slower speed.

It was a simple yet effective technique. In terms of combinations, it was only two moves, but in those two moves, Yang Cheon made Yeon Ho-Jeong familiar with ‘rapid attacks.’

The slow kick that penetrated his accustomed reflexes disrupted Yeon Ho-Jeong’s rhythm.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was pushed back three yards to the right.

‘Heavy.’

It wasn’t a blow that pushed in from the point of impact, but a solid attack that caused damage from within the point of impact.

Without using the mysteries of penetration, he clearly adjusted the intensity of his strikes to shake his opponent.

It was a subtle martial art that he had never seen in his previous matches with Yang Cheon.

‘But this isn’t that man’s enlightenment.’

Speed, types of strikes, techniques that toy with rhythm.

He must have already possessed this level of ability. It would be an insult to his title of the Fist King to think that he had only just realized this now.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body instantly plunged into Yang Cheon’s lower right side.

Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.

‘He’s fast, as expected.’

It wasn’t a deliberate strike, but it wouldn’t have been an impact that could be easily dismissed.

Yet, he had already closed the distance. It meant that his physical endurance and ability to absorb impact were both top-notch.

‘However.’

Yang Cheon’s left fist swung diagonally.

‘Close combat was a mistake.’

Thud! Thwack thwack!

With a series of intense impacts, Yang Cheon’s body retreated a couple of steps to the left.

On the other hand, Yeon Ho-Jeong rolled once on the ground and moved away.

Sizzle!

White smoke rose from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s right upper arm. It was the area that had blocked Yang Cheon’s left fist strike.

“…”

Yang Cheon looked down at his right sleeve.

If he had pushed Yeon Ho-Jeong back with a single punch, Yeon Ho-Jeong had aimed for his side with a triple strike in that brief moment. He had deflected all the attacks with his right arm, but his clothes were damaged by the unexpectedly rapid assault.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his right arm.

“It’s like a cannonball. I thought my upper arm bone would break.”

“…Is that so?”

A smile spread across Yang Cheon’s face.

“Your rapid strikes were also impressive. To land three blows while being pushed back. Even with your stance broken.”

“Is that so?”

“With your abilities, you could have unleashed a strike as powerful as mine, so why did you use a series of attacks?”

“Three quick and light strikes were better than one heavy and powerful blow.”

“Why?”

“If I had shown a strong strike, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. We would have immediately engaged in a battle of strength.”

“…Huh.”

“If the damage accumulates equally, it’s me who will be at a disadvantage.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong rotated his shoulders.

“It’s perfect for taking a breath and recovering in the lull. That’s why Vice Leader isn’t rushing in either, isn’t it?”

‘He was reading me.’

Yang Cheon asked in a somewhat subdued voice.

“When did you realize that?”

“Of course, when Vice Leader swung his left fist.”

“…”

He didn’t realize it when he was attacking, but the moment he tried to attack, he read the subsequent follow-up.

Of course, he wouldn’t have figured it out with his mind. It was impossible for any expert in Seongcheon to read that split-second gap, calculate it, and devise a tactic.

‘Is it a feeling?’

That’s right. In the end, it’s a feeling.

A strong martial artist isn’t someone who has mastered advanced martial arts to their limits.

In a fight where spears and swords, fists and feet collide, the body must react before the mind. That was a truth that wouldn’t change no matter how high one’s level was.

‘He finally acquired it.’

The battlefield where blood and flesh flew.

Those who achieved more victories than anyone else in the midst of that fierce life-and-death struggle gained abilities that ordinary martial artists did not possess.

That was the feeling that Yeon Ho-Jeong was showing now. And that feeling was not something that would easily crumble or cause abnormalities just because one’s level had increased.

Anytime, at any moment.

Even if a strange enlightenment caused a loss in overall martial power, that incredible sense would still be with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘At such a young age, he has gained a keen sense that he can have for the rest of his life. Even if he gets older and moves away from real combat, with just a little more encouragement, his sense will burn as brightly as it does now.’

Swoosh.

A different light emanated from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes. Yang Cheon’s stance had changed.

His left foot and left shoulder were facing forward. His stance was actually higher, and only the tip of his right foot was touching the ground.

‘Strange.’

It was a stance that made it difficult to gain power from the ground. It was a stance suitable for increasing mobility and reaction in the fights of ordinary people who had not gained inner energy and various martial principles.

“No need for long words.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s stance lowered even further.

Yang Cheon smiled.

“Now, here I come.”

Whoosh!

A speed that instantly turned a three-yard distance into nothing.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Swish!

Yang Cheon’s left arm moved like a whip, grazing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s cheek.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

‘Incredible speed!’

Yang Cheon’s left fist emitted light.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Over a dozen left fist strikes, as fast as lightning, aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face and upper body.

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t collect his thoughts.

‘What’s with this speed?!’

Pow pow! Thud!

Following the left fist barrage, Yang Cheon’s right fist, which had plunged into his chest, aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abdomen.

Bang!

He blocked it with his arms crossed, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body was sent flying into the air.

‘Crazy!’

It was an incredible blow.

The left fist’s rapid strikes, and the right fist’s heavy blow.

It was a simple martial art, but the speed and power of the final blow were enough to disrupt his concentration.

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, rotating his body in mid-air to slow his descent, aimed his foot at Yang Cheon’s crown.

Slash!

It passed through.

The crescent kick, descending like an axe, cut through the air. His evasion speed was as fast as lightning.

Not only that, but Yang Cheon’s fist, which had evaded the kick, twisted like a snake and aimed for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s thigh.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body, struck in the thigh, rotated even faster.

He exploded his inner energy to add power to the rotation in order to offset the impact. Yet, the sensation in his right leg disappeared.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left knee aimed for Yang Cheon’s face.

Bang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having landed a knee strike, quickly spun his body and landed on the ground.

Yeon Ho-Jeong saw Yang Cheon. He had extended his left arm and supported it with his right hand to offset the knee strike, and his head had not suffered any impact.

It didn’t end there.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

Yang Cheon’s body, plunging to the left, had turned, exposing his back, with his left side facing forward.

‘A blow…!’

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a sharp pain in his right leg.

Since the distance was ambiguous, he naturally had to use a kick. However, the pain in his right leg, caused by Yang Cheon’s punch, was considerable. As a result, the timing of his attack was slower than expected.

‘Damn it!’

Yang Cheon’s fist moved like a ray of light.

Thud!

It was heavy.

His left fist had been used to deliver rapid strikes, but this time, it had the power of a right fist’s heavy blow.

Either fist could deliver the desired power. The left fist was relatively light due to the stance, but the movement of plunging into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side also put power into his right foot.

That was why a blow that was on par with a ground-based strike was unleashed even though it wasn’t a ground-based stance. It was a subtle technique that drew power from the left and right movement of the body.

A technique that inspired admiration and even emotion. It was closer to martial arts than martial skill, yet it showed agility and power that was no less than any martial art.

‘Not bad.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong staggered.

If his opponent had not been Yeon Ho-Jeong, this blow would have decided the match. Yet, Yeon Ho-Jeong was still standing.

‘But this is the end.’

Yang Cheon charged forward to deliver the decisive blow.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s left foot struck the ground.

Boom!

With an incredible ground-based strike, his body shot towards Yang Cheon.

Yang Cheon’s eyes wavered. He had lost his balance, so a counterattack was impossible. He naturally thought the match was over.

But that guy was using his lost balance as a springboard to unleash an even stronger ground-based strike, charging like an arrow from a drawn bow.

The two men’s fists tore through the air.

Whoosh!

A chilling sound erupted from the fist that ripped through the earth.

“…”

The two men stared at each other at close range.

Yang Cheon’s fist stopped half an inch from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, and Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist stopped two inches from Yang Cheon’s side.

A difference of one and a half inches. Moreover, Yang Cheon’s was at his side, while Yeon Ho-Jeong’s was at his face.

“I lost.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed and straightened his posture.

“The distance and position were both inferior. I admit my defeat.”

“…It’s true that you lost, but…”

Yang Cheon, who had also released his stance, said with a disgruntled expression.

“Even if my fist had blown your head off, your fist wouldn’t have stopped either.”

“Probably?”

“Your ribs and internal organs would have been shattered.”

“Well, I wouldn’t know unless I actually got hit.”

“That’s also true… That last charge, were you aiming for a mutual destruction?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“In a situation where the difference in power is clear, if I had switched to a defensive position, I wouldn’t have been able to respond and would have collapsed. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to give a bone and take a bone?”

“If I don’t retreat, you’ll die too.”

“But the probability of you retreating is high. You have more to lose than I do, don’t you?”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You’re really interesting. Fighting isn’t just about using your hands and feet, but about understanding and exploiting the enemy’s characteristics.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Yang Cheon raised both hands.

“I lost.”

“What kind of mockery is that now?”

“I won with strength and experience, but if I think about the cost-benefit ratio, it’s my loss. You would never have stopped your fist.”

“That’s a strange way of calculating things.”

“I have a strong pride, you see.”

“By the way, is that the new martial art?”

“It doesn’t have a name. It’s just fist fighting. It’s not enough to be my main skill, but it’s perfect for teaching my incompetent disciple.”

Yang Cheon turned around.

“Let’s go inside and have another drink. There’s a lot to talk about.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed as he watched Yang Cheon walk away.

“It’s still tough.”