Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 771

“Are you all assembled?!”

“Y-yes, we are!”

“Launch a full-scale attack! Kill the Emperor, no matter what it takes!”

The forces of the Divine Flame Church, numbering a thousand, along with a hundred from the Shadow Sound Sect, and fifty from the Blood Madness Cult, who had been scattered around the west, east, and south of the outer castle, began to move towards the inner castle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

They moved efficiently, conserving their strength.

Instead of heading directly for the palace gates, they used cannons to break through the outer castle walls, deploying their experts.

Even though they were mounted on wheels, the cannons were incredibly heavy.

However, the members of the three sects were all masters of internal energy [a type of martial arts power]. They moved the cannons at great speed, smashing everything that stood in their way as they advanced.

Boom! Thump!

Stone walls shattered and flew in all directions.

In an instant, the outer palace was turned into a chaotic mess. Never in its hundreds of years of history had the imperial palace been so devastated.

“Aim carefully! We don’t have many fire bombs!”

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Behind the forces of the three sects, another group began to move.

It was the Eastern Depot [a secret police agency] and the Embroidered Uniform Guard [an imperial military unit]. Most of the Eastern Depot was with the three sects, and about half of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had joined them.

With the forces of the three sects, combined with the Depot and Guard who knew the palace’s layout and geography well, the outer castle area quickly became a living hell.

Bang! Crash!

The terrified officials, servants, and maids were either hit by fire bombs or crushed under falling stone walls.

The three sects ignored those they saw. They didn’t care if they died from fire bombs or were crushed by collapsing buildings. Nor did they bother to hunt them down one by one.

They simply advanced.

Their primary goal was to take the Emperor’s life and destroy the imperial court. If they had more time, they would have eliminated everyone in the palace, but the situation was not favorable.

Boom! Boom! Thump!

It was a scene straight out of hell.

Moreover, the fire bombs fired from the cannons were not all the same. There were ordinary iron balls, and there were also explosive bombs filled with gunpowder that detonated on impact.

They were weapons of destruction born from the remarkable advancements in gunpowder technology.

The development of cannons to this level was entirely due to the efforts of the Divine Flame Church. They had poured the imperial palace’s funds into constantly improving the fire bombs.

“Don’t use the explosive bombs yet! Use only the regular fire bombs!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

They fired and fired, and the walls crumbled and crumbled again.

The cultists moving the cannons followed orders strictly. Even when the regular fire bombs ran out, they did not use the explosive bombs.

Bang! Bang!

The cultists began to advance, breaking through the palace walls.

They had a considerable amount of fire bombs, but it was not enough to break through every wall. They were using the cannons excessively, even though they could potentially become a source of power for the imperial palace.

“Chief!”

“What is it?!”

“The cannon barrels are overheating! If this continues, the barrels might deform…!”

“That’s why we’re not using the explosive bombs!”

“Can they hold up?”

“They can hold up well enough!”

As the power of gunpowder weapons increased, so did the need for cannon barrels that could withstand the heat and force. They would not have failed to improve that. If they fired indiscriminately without end, even that would become useless, but it would be enough at least until they entered the inner castle.

“Those bastards are insane.”

Peng Mu-gang’s face turned cold as he watched the advancing enemies from the inner castle watchtower.

The imperial palace had hundreds of cannons. Seventy percent of them were in the hands of those bastards.

They had cannons here too, but there were only fifteen. And those were the ones they had barely managed to secure. In the first place, such dangerous objects should not be kept near the imperial court.

‘We have more hand cannons. And since this is a defensive battle, if we do it right, we can break their spirit early on, but…’

Peng Mu-gang felt anxious.

Fire bombs were flying, and the outer castle gates and buildings were collapsing one after another. He had no idea how the battles in the north and south were going.

Whoosh!

Peng Mu-gang quickly returned to the imperial court and reported the enemy’s situation.

A terrifying murderous intent flashed in Hwangbo-jeok’s eyes.

“I knew they were wicked, but they are truly beyond redemption.”

Peng Mu-gang said,

“This isn’t just simple destruction. They’re collapsing the outer castle while also putting psychological pressure on us.”

Peng Mu-gang was right.

The sound of cannons from all over the outer castle was getting closer with each passing moment.

The faces of the Imperial Guard soldiers stationed at the third palace gate were visibly tense. They were too pale to be simply facing a battle.

Loud noises and destruction.

As time passed, it became a psychological threat to the defending forces. It would lead to a drop in morale, and a drop in morale would be a more fatal blow than any attack, breaking their fighting power.

“We need a move. A decisive move to break their momentum.”

“Can we do it?”

A look of determination appeared on Peng Mu-gang’s face.

“We have to, even if it’s just us.”

At that moment, Jeagal Ayeon appeared.

“The formation is complete. Even if the cannon’s explosive bombs hit this place directly, it can block about ten or so.”

“R-really?”

He had no idea what kind of formation she had set up to make that possible.

But Peng Mu-gang didn’t ask. Now was the time to trust Jeagal Ayeon and prepare for the next move.

“How far have the enemies advanced?”

“They’re at the second gate of the outer castle.”

“The inner castle will be breached soon.”

“Probably.”

“Once the inner castle is breached, it won’t take them even a quarter of an hour to reach here. Or, if they bring the cannons all the way, it might take longer.”

Jeagal Ayeon said to Hwangbo-jeok,

“Please move our cannons onto the walls.”

The inner castle of the imperial palace was fortified with several huge watchtowers.

“When the enemies come within range, fire the explosive bombs immediately.”

“I will.”

“And before that.”

Jeagal Ayeon looked at Peng Mu-gang.

Peng Mu-gang grinned.

“I’ll go stir things up.”

“You must be as careful as possible. They’re pushing in recklessly. Even if our allies are hit, they’ll sweep them away along with the enemies.”

“Don’t worry. Even if I can’t get them all, I can blow away a few cannons.”

Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, Peng Mu-gang flew into the sky.

In his hand was a large greatsword he had found in the imperial palace’s armory. It wasn’t his usual weapon, but it was more than enough to unleash his full power.

Whoosh!

Using the Divine Wind Steps [a martial arts movement technique], Peng Mu-gang reached the border between the inner and outer castles in an instant and stuck to the side of the gate.

Bang! Boom!

The sound of cannons was no longer heard.

‘It seems they’ve run out of iron balls.’

Also, they would need time to cool the cannon barrels to prevent them from deforming.

‘They’ll start firing explosive bombs when they enter the inner castle.’

Thump!

Peng Mu-gang felt the earth tremble.

‘Thirty yards.’

Crash! Thump!

‘Twenty yards.’

Thud! Thud! Thud! Rumble!

‘…Ten yards.’

And then.

Whoosh!

Feeling the powerful energy of the Scorching Yang Art [a martial arts technique], Peng Mu-gang exploded the power of the Universe Void Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique] all at once.

Boom!

Peng Mu-gang, who had broken through the palace gate, swung his Chaos Thunderbolt Blade [a powerful sword technique] in one swift motion.

Crash!

“Aaaagh!”

“Kuaaagh!”

The Chaos Thunderbolt Blade was the most direct and powerful destructive technique among the Peng family’s swordsmanship.

He swung his blade three times in an instant, and seven experts swept away by his blade perished.

“It’s an enemy!”

Thump! Thump!

The Divine Flame Church members unleashed their energy as if they had been waiting for it.

But Peng Mu-gang had already disappeared from that spot. He was moving so fast that it was hard to believe he was carrying such a large sword with his large frame.

Thwack! Thwack!

With each swing of his brutal blade, the bodies of the experts were torn apart, and each kick and punch he threw blew off the heads of his enemies.

In an instant, Peng Mu-gang, who had decimated the area, saw the cannons.

Flash!

The Divine Wind Steps were activated again.

Peng Mu-gang, who had charged forward at an incredible speed, swung his greatsword with the force of a single, decisive cut.

Clangggggg!!

With a tremendous resonating sound, the cannon barrel was sliced in half.

The faces of the Divine Flame Church members froze.

This cannon was not one of the cannons distributed to the main departments, but an imperial palace cannon. It was a product of extreme forging technology, with incredible strength and heat resistance.

And yet, it had been cut in half with a single strike. The opponent did not seem human.

‘It’s tough, as expected.’

A slight shock remained in his hand. It meant that even with the power of the Universe Void Divine Art, he could not completely eliminate the recoil.

‘But it’s not a problem.’

Flash! Thump! Thump! Thump!

A massive storm of blood swept through the area where Peng Mu-gang had passed horizontally.

No expert could launch a proper attack on Peng Mu-gang. His movements were too fast.

Swish!

Of course, not everyone missed him.

Yo Gong, the vice-chief of the Fiery Cloud Flying Pavilion [a martial arts group], who had grazed Peng Mu-gang’s shoulder with a dagger, revealed himself.

“You bastard!”

Yo Gong’s palms were engulfed in a massive blaze.

At that moment, Peng Mu-gang’s foot stomped on the ground.

Boom!

Pulling up his power with a powerful stomp, Peng Mu-gang opened his mouth on the spot.

“Go!”

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A roar that defied imagination.

It was the Lion’s Roar unleashed by the tiger of the Peng family, the head of the Central Plains Sword Sect [a martial arts sect].

About twenty experts nearby covered their ears and collapsed on the spot. Blood was gushing from their ears.

Even Yo Gong flinched. The fire energy gathered in his hands faltered for a moment.

Whoosh!

Peng Mu-gang, who had closed the distance in an instant, unleashed a fierce blade strike.

Bang!

It was an incredible display of brute force.

Yo Gong’s body was launched into the air by the upward diagonal strike. He had blocked the blade with the power of the Fiery Palm, but he had suffered internal injuries from the impact. The blade strike was as powerful as a cannon shot.

Whoosh!

Yo Gong’s eyes wavered.

Peng Mu-gang, who had blown him away, was already running towards the place where the cannons were gathered.

“Be careful! He’s targeting the cannons!”

“Too late.”

Peng Mu-gang’s fierce eyes turned into tiger eyes for a moment.

Kuh-huh-huh-huh!

It was as if the roar of a tiger could be heard from somewhere.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The greatsword, which had pierced straight through, shattered the wheels of the cannons and pierced holes in the barrels.

Eight cannons lay scattered on the ground. The fierce blade wind tore apart about twenty Divine Flame Church members who were standing nearby.

“Hoo!”

Peng Mu-gang, who had unleashed a massive amount of power in an instant, took a breath on the spot.

Ts-ts-ts-ts-ts.

The energy emanating from his entire body was not the fierce aura of the Chaos Thunderbolt Blade.

It was a dignified yet ferocious aura. The overwhelming pressure of a ferocious beast, as if it would bite the neck of its prey in an instant, was spreading out.

Peng Mu-gang raised his greatsword.

Woo-woo-woo-woo!

The magnificent sound of the blade echoed, resembling the roar of a tiger.

“Uwaaaah!”

Bang!

The blade strike, which was unleashed again with a stomp, emitted five massive streams of blade energy.

The five streams of blade energy, like a giant tiger, tore through the ground and swept away the cannons and the Divine Flame Church members.

Crash!

Flesh and blood flew into the air. One cannon, split in half, rolled on the ground.

Yo Gong’s face turned pale.

Peng Mu-gang, who had been exuding a strong and masculine aura until now, had become a giant tiger at this moment.

And Yo Gong was able to recall the most famous martial art of the Habuk Peng family.

“Five Tiger Severing Gate Blade…?!”

Whoosh!

Peng Mu-gang turned to look at Yo Gong. His heightened senses had not missed Yo Gong’s mutter.

Yo Gong swallowed involuntarily. The face of Peng Mu-gang looking at him was not that of a human.

It was then.

Thump!

Peng Mu-gang’s body, which had swung his greatsword while spinning, was pushed back three steps to the side.

“You bear-like bastard!”

Gi Cheon-hyung, who had ambushed Peng Mu-gang, was emitting a tremendous murderous aura.

“What are you doing! Continue the attack! I’ll take care of this bear!”

At that moment, Peng Mu-gang grinned.

“Who said I’d fight you?”

Whoosh!

Peng Mu-gang’s movements, as he returned the way he had come, were faster than before.

And Gi Cheon-hyung’s movements, as he chased after him, were no less impressive than Peng Mu-gang’s.

Yo Gong shouted,

“Advance again! Just leave the broken cannons!”

It was then.

From the north, far away in the direction of the imperial court, a huge cloud of gray-black color was approaching.

Yo Gong’s eyes wavered. It was a cloud that was clearly ominous at a glance.

“……What is that?!”