Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 772

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s forehead slammed into Gwak Jun’s nose again.

Gwak Jun’s vision blurred, the terrible pain from his broken nose an added torment.

But he wasn’t just taking it.

Thwack!

A smoothly raised knee struck Yeon Ho-jeong’s jaw. Yeon Ho-jeong spat out blood but continued to rotate his body.

Gwak Jun, with one foot off the ground, was lifted into the air by Yeon Ho-jeong’s grip on his hand.

Wham!

Yeon Ho-jeong slammed Gwak Jun into the ground and staggered back.

Ugh!

Blood flowed from Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth again.

His side had caved in for a moment before returning to its original state. It was from the close-range blow Gwak Jun had landed before being slammed into the ground.

Of course, Gwak Jun wasn’t in good shape either. He had been so focused on attacking Yeon Ho-jeong that his demonic energy hadn’t properly protected his body.

Crack!

A gruesome sound echoed from Gwak Jun’s shoulder.

The dislocated shoulder wouldn’t set properly. The shock throughout his body was preventing the Reverse Heaven Demonic Energy from displaying its unique healing power.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong charged again, launching his right foot like a cannonball.

Thwack!

“Cough!”

With a stifled groan, Gwak Jun flew about twenty yards and crashed into the forest.

“Hah! Hah!”

Yeon Ho-jeong gasped for breath.

Whirr.

The Radiant Divine Core spun at top speed. Powerful energy flowed into his entire body.

But it was unstable.

A master of the Supreme Realm could quickly heal internal and external injuries. It was due to the true energy’s instinct to always return the body to its best state.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong was diverting a portion of that healing power and converting it into attack power.

He was already inferior to Gwak Jun in terms of recovery. Naturally, he was bound to be at a disadvantage in terms of stamina.

But Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t reconsider his fighting style, nor did he regret it.

Gwak Jun was clearly a level above him. He couldn’t afford to fight such a master while also healing every moment. Even if it meant death, he had to pour all his strength into attacking and inflict damage on his opponent.

Whoosh!

Red flames flickered all over Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.

He controlled his breathing with his own will, converting all the internal energy produced by the Radiant Divine Core into Vermilion Bird Fire [a powerful fire-based energy].

Sizzle!

The ground where Yeon Ho-jeong’s feet touched began to turn black.

It wasn’t burning from the fire. It was the earth’s energy dying because of the murderous intent, which was more potent than the fire.

He had shown such intense murderous intent a few times before.

However, murderous intent was also a facet of mental strength, and unlike back then when only his upper dantian [energy center in the body] was overly developed, now all three dantians were in perfect harmony.

Thump! Thump!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s body, filled with burning murderous intent, gradually darkened.

It was a body trained enough to withstand that destructive murderous intent. He wouldn’t be able to hold out for long, but it would be enough to rampage against Gwak Jun.

“Say it again.”

Whoosh!

Smoke rose from Yeon Ho-jeong’s nose and mouth once more.

It wasn’t smoke from the heat of the Vermilion Bird Fire. It was the murderous intent that had taken over his entire body, escaping into the world through his nose and mouth.

“Say it again! In front of me!”

It wasn’t a lion’s roar, but the cry of a demon. The shout that burst from Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth awakened Gwak Jun’s demonic nature.

Boom!

Gwak Jun, who had risen from the collapsed pile of dirt, glared at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“…Magnificent.”

Whirr.

Blood Demonic Energy surged from Gwak Jun’s body.

Crack!

The dislocated shoulder began to set little by little.

But the speed was noticeably slower than before. Of course, even that was very fast, but compared to his previous recovery speed, it showed how much Gwak Jun’s internal energy was being consumed.

“I didn’t expect it to be this fun. Thanks to you, I was able to fully recover my demonic power.”

It wasn’t a boast, but a fact.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s murderous intent was comparable to a demon in itself. Faced with that dark energy, the Blood Demonic Art had filled the remaining one percent of its deficiency and completely recovered.

That was why he was in this state.

If he hadn’t been able to achieve that one percent recovery, he wouldn’t have been able to recover his broken shoulder and nose, and he would still be gasping for breath from the severe internal injuries.

Gwak Jun walked out with a smile.

“You’re truly amazing. Your combat skills, understanding of internal energy, psychological warfare, and even your creative fighting style that utilizes variables. You’ve reached a level I’ve never seen before.”

“……”

“I can’t help but be impressed. I didn’t think I’d see someone more ruthless than me.”

“Shut up.”

“I didn’t think that even with ‘created’ murderous intent, you could bring me to this state.”

Created murderous intent.

It was a meaningful statement. Yeon Ho-jeong remained silent, glaring at Gwak Jun.

The smile on Gwak Jun’s face also disappeared. There was no more respect or pleasure for an opponent who possessed the same kind of demonic energy as himself.

“I realized it when we were face to face. You didn’t draw out the real murderous intent hidden inside you. You got close to its source, but your reason is too cold and clear.”

“……”

“Am I wrong?”

Whirr.

The murderous intent that had been filling Yeon Ho-jeong’s body suddenly extinguished like a fire hit by a downpour.

Whoosh!

What filled the place of the vanished Vermilion Bird Fire was the powerful White Tiger Energy [metal-based energy], the flexible Azure Dragon Energy [wood-based energy], and the solid yet soft Black Tortoise Energy [water-based energy].

“Hoo.”

The rough breathing returned to normal in an instant. It was the power of the White Tiger Metal Energy, which was in charge of the lungs.

Sizzle!

The internal injuries in his mouth began to heal little by little. The Azure Dragon Wood Energy, which was in charge of the liver, began to wash away the demonic energy that had penetrated deep into his body.

Plop. Plop.

Black droplets fell from Yeon Ho-jeong’s fingertips. The Black Tortoise Water Energy, which was in charge of the kidneys, filtered out impurities and expelled them from his body.

The rhythm of the Three Divine Energies matched perfectly, instantly returning Yeon Ho-jeong’s condition to normal. If Gwak Jun hadn’t been standing still and watching, he wouldn’t have been able to enter this state.

And the Vermilion Bird Energy.

Thump! Thump!

The Vermilion Bird Fire Energy, which was in charge of the heart, returned to its original place, making Yeon Ho-jeong’s body complete.

Yeon Ho-jeong stretched his hand to the side.

Whoosh!

The Moon Blade spun and flew into his hand.

“I was wondering.”

Gwak Jun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Wondering what?”

“Whether I should stall for time, or push you to the end in this state.”

It was an incredibly arrogant statement.

He was saying that he was wondering whether to stall or push the Blood Jade Demon Lord to the end. He had done his best, but he had enough mental leeway to wonder.

Gwak Jun’s face twisted.

“Why? Why didn’t you take ‘that’ out?”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“It’s a foolish question. Murderous intent isn’t something you can just take out or inflate.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! There’s no way you don’t know that! A terrible murderous intent that can’t be extinguished even by ten thousand years of snow is sleeping in your heart! It’s not something you can control! If you get used to murderous intent, even a monk can’t stop you!”

Although he didn’t have any information about Gwak Jun, Yeon Ho-jeong could somehow sense that the monk he was talking about was Mu Heo.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“I don’t know what you saw inside me, but I don’t know. However, if there really is such a thing, you’re not the one to unleash it on.”

“…What?”

“My resentment and murderous intent are not for a demonic lackey like you, who I don’t even know where you crawled out from.”

“…!”

“I’m overwhelmed by how much you love me. To be honest, I was really angry, but thanks to that, I was able to keep you here until now, so I guess I’ve done my part.”

Whoosh!

Gwak Jun’s murderous intent resonated with his demonic energy, surging in all directions.

The momentum of Gwak Jun, who was truly angry, was indescribable. The area touched by his energy wave was dyed black and lost its power.

But even in the face of such terrible momentum, Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression remained unchanged.

“You were wondering whether to keep me here or defeat me?”

“……”

“It seems you succeeded in keeping me here, but did you think it would be possible to defeat me just because you decided to?”

“It wouldn’t work.”

“…What?”

“It wouldn’t work, not yet. It’s possible to fight like crazy, but I’m not sure if I can kill you.”

Yeon Ho-jeong said with a disgruntled face.

“Even after being hit by the arrogant killing technique, you recover in an instant, and even if I try to shake you with psychological warfare, you just laugh like a madman. It’s not like you show any clear openings either.”

“……”

“If luck doesn’t favor me, I don’t have the ability to kill you right now. It’s an unfortunate fact.”

Gwak Jun gave a bitter smile.

It was the form of an enraged demon, showing no joy at all.

“So you gave up?”

“Who gave up?”

“…?”

“It’s not that I don’t have the power to kill you, it’s that I haven’t withdrawn my intention to kill you today.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

Whoosh!

Gwak Jun’s expression changed in an instant.

Behind Yeon Ho-jeong, from the direction of the imperial palace, a huge cloud of gray-black color was approaching.

Its momentum was very similar to demonic energy, yet it possessed a completely different nature.

It was evil and vicious. Sharp and deadly.

Unlike the ferocious and imposing demonic energy, it was a force with a similar origin, but it was approaching at an incredible speed.

Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled.

“You’re going to grumble and curse me a lot.”

At that moment, as if waiting for it, a thunderous voice echoed.

“You pathetic bastard! I told you to come help, but you’re waiting for help instead?! You can give that title of Overlord or whatever to a dog!”

“See?”

Boom!

He flew in with the speed of lightning, yet he poured his force into the ground several times.

With that overwhelming power, the Shin Hwa followers and some of the Saeum followers screamed and died. It was truly a sight to behold, the divine force that he poured out continuously, even after fighting an equal master, and the bizarre, ghostly cries that destroyed people’s minds.

Whoosh!

And finally, there was one master descending with the dark sky as his backdrop.

It was the Mad Ghost Lord, Gok Gyeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked without turning around.

“Is your fight over?”

“Would I have come if it wasn’t?”

“I felt quite a fiery explosion.”

“You managed to hear that in the sound of cannons exploding? It was the sound of the guy I was fighting dying.”

“You don’t seem to be hurt much. That’s a relief.”

“There’s no one as annoying as you in the world.”

Gok Gyeong, who was brushing off his clothes, stood next to Yeon Ho-jeong and looked at Gwak Jun with a strange smile.

“I was wondering who it was, but it doesn’t seem like a Demonic Immortal.”

“……”

“Blood Jade Demon Lord Gwak Jun, this is probably the first time I’ve seen you like this, right?”

Gwak Jun’s cheek twitched slightly.

He had suffered the same humiliation as Yeon Ho-jeong, but now was not the time to worry about such things.

He shouted at Yeon Ho-jeong in a fit of rage.

“Take it out now! I can’t back down like this! I’m going to devour all of ‘that’ of yours!”

“Who said you could devour it, you moron.”

“If you don’t take it out right now…!”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed the Moon Blade at Gwak Jun.

Whoosh!

Without any one element taking precedence, the perfectly balanced Four Divine Energies surged, emitting an incredibly powerful aura.

“I swore to my bloodline that I would never be swayed by murderous intent again.”

Yeon Ho-jeong wore a clear smile.

“Stop talking nonsense and prepare to die.”

Flash!

Yeon Ho-jeong and Gok Gyeong flew towards Gwak Jun.