Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 924

Thwack!

Three gashes ripped open Makwon’s chest.

The wounds looked gouged, as if torn by a beast’s claw.

Bang!

A terrifying burst of power erupted from the iron rod embedded in his abdomen. Ya Hyuk coughed up blood and was thrown backward.

Makwon calmly pressed on the pressure points on his chest to staunch the bleeding. The pain made his spine tingle, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it now.

“You bastard!”

Ya Hyuk, wiping blood from his mouth, charged again.

Ya Hyuk never attempted deceptive attacks. He evaded or countered Makwon’s attacks with his instinctive martial arts, like a wild animal, but he never used tricks or wasted feints.

‘It’s like fighting a real beast.’

Whoosh!

The sound of tearing paper came from his swinging fingertips.

The menacingly sharp, black fingernails seemed harder than steel. Imbued with powerful demonic energy, they were like masterfully crafted divine weapons, far more intense than any beast’s claws.

Clang!

The iron rod bent as if it would break, then snapped back to its original shape.

Bang!

He struck Ya Hyuk’s abdomen with an Iron Stamp Kick, but a sharp pain shot up his toes.

It was like kicking a thick iron door, not a person’s body. Unless he unleashed an attack imbued with extreme true energy [internal energy], he couldn’t even inflict a decent impact.

Ya Hyuk grinned and wildly swung his arms.

Clatter! Clatter!

Fast.

Not just his movements, but the speed at which he swung his claws was as fast as a master swordsman.

Makwon, who had been calmly blocking Ya Hyuk’s attacks, retreated.

Ya Hyuk roared.

“Can’t you fight properly!”

That one sentence spoke volumes about Ya Hyuk’s personality and martial arts.

Ya Hyuk didn’t use tricks. He simply overwhelmed his opponent with an attack-oriented martial art. He had evaded attacks, but he had never used a proper defensive move.

However, it wasn’t that he was just attacking, relying on his tough body; his movements were too linear. Moreover, if he truly trusted his body’s durability, there would be no need to evade.

‘He’s a real beast.’

When beasts fight, they don’t use feints or lure their opponents like martial artists.

They try to avoid fighting as much as possible, but once a fight starts, they attack with the intent to kill. They instinctively avoid attacks that seem dangerous, and otherwise, they only bare their teeth to cut off their opponent’s breath.

‘Unique.’

It was puzzling how he had broken through to the Limitless Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery] with such simplicity. Perhaps he had solidified this tendency after breaking through to the Limitless Realm and discovering his true self.

Or perhaps there was a unique method of advancement in demonic arts.

‘Anyway.’

Makwon’s eyes flashed.

‘A beast, you say.’

Whoosh!

Ya Hyuk crouched down.

Swoosh!

The iron rod, shot out with a gust of wind, grazed his shoulder and flew away.

The iron rod, launched in an instant, was like a flying sword technique. The iron rod, a condensed form of the powerful reverse field of the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon [a powerful weapon], was imbued with a terrifying power that left Ya Hyuk’s shoulder bloodied, even though it hadn’t directly hit him.

“You bastard!”

Whoosh!

Although his shoulder was injured, it didn’t hinder his swings at all. Ya Hyuk unleashed the unique attack method of the Beast Demonic Art, the Hundred and Eight Beast Techniques.

Thud! Slash!

Basically, there were no fist techniques in the Beast Demonic Art.

It pierced, tore, and dismantled everything it touched. The essence of the Beast Demonic Art was to crush the enemy with powerful force.

Therefore, it was simple but strong. In terms of pure brute strength, it wouldn’t be strange to call it the strongest in the entire martial world. The moment one mastered the Beast Demonic Art, even the bone density and muscle structure would change to resemble that of a beast.

Thwack! Rip!

He concentrated the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon on both arms to block the claw techniques, but the force was so strong that he was pushed back over ten yards.

The inner energy shield he had focused on was shattered. His sleeves were torn, and there were small wounds on his forearms.

However, Makwon was not flustered.

Roar!!

Now, he charged forward, roaring like a true beast. The sound was like a real tiger’s roar. The fangs visible in his gaping mouth also seemed particularly prominent.

‘Good.’

Makwon pulled a dagger from his chest.

When Yeon Ho-jeong ascended to the Yellow Dragon [a high level of martial arts mastery], he had fought him with a dagger.

A dagger was also an excellent weapon. Especially when the opponent’s brute strength overwhelmed him, there was no reason to use a heavy weapon.

And Makwon was a master. He was the greatest master of weaponry in the current martial world, capable of wielding weapons as if they were his own limbs.

Whoosh!

Makwon, throwing away the cumbersome long weapon and holding the dagger in reverse grip, soared into the sky.

Bang!

Ya Hyuk also kicked off the ground and leaped. His momentum was so great that his figure instantly moved near Makwon.

At that moment, Makwon swung the dagger at a terrifying speed.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Ya Hyuk’s eyes widened as he blocked Makwon’s attacks with both arms.

Dozens of sword marks appeared on his arms, which were harder than rock. They weren’t enough to sever his muscles, but it was shocking how easily he was wounded.

Thud! Thud!

Makwon’s movements, kicking off the air, were reminiscent of a bird.

In an instant, Makwon disappeared from Ya Hyuk’s front and smoothly moved behind him.

Ya Hyuk was startled.

He was also capable of the Sky Walk [a movement technique], but he couldn’t freely roam the air like Makwon. Only the Wudang’s Cloud Soaring Steps or the Kunlun’s Cloud Dragon Eight Styles could achieve such movements.

Grab!

Makwon, grabbing Ya Hyuk’s bent back and neck, instantly wrapped his left arm around his neck.

“Kuaaa!”

Ya Hyuk wildly flailed his arms and legs.

Surprisingly, Ya Hyuk’s hands couldn’t reach Makwon, who was hanging behind him.

The Beast Demonic Art transformed the body into that of a beast as its mastery deepened. Muscle bundles became more detailed and numerous, and the skeleton became thicker and stronger instead of bending.

Thanks to this, he could gain explosive power and stamina, but because the structure had changed, it became difficult to rotate his shoulders like a normal person.

Naturally, since he wasn’t a real four-legged beast, Ya Hyuk’s thick, long arms gradually began to scratch Makwon’s back.

Scratch! Scratch!

Two scratches. The power wasn’t great. It was due to the structural problem.

An iridescent white light emanated from Makwon’s dagger.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

A rapid dagger technique that pierced and entered the ribs from the side.

“Uaaaagh!”

Ya Hyuk struggled wildly. His strength was so great that even Makwon, who had reached the Limitless Realm, felt his arm around his neck almost slip.

Whoosh!

Makwon, having stabbed about ten times, released his arm and tried to fall off Ya Hyuk’s back.

At that moment, Ya Hyuk’s thick hand grabbed his forearm.

As if he had been waiting for it, Makwon reversed the dagger and struck Ya Hyuk’s wrist.

Thud!

The dagger accurately pierced between the bones.

“Kuh!”

He had to pour more than thirty percent of his power into that one attack to succeed. Ya Hyuk struggled and fell to the ground.

Thud!

Makwon landed on the ground, flying through the air.

Crash!

Ya Hyuk, who had fallen awkwardly, staggered.

Whoosh!

Makwon, kicking off the ground with terrifying force, swung the dagger he was now holding correctly at an incredible speed.

The dagger was literally a short sword. There was no need to create a martial art specifically for the dagger; he could simply use the Soul Severing Sword Technique he already knew.

The power was reduced compared to when using a normal long sword, but it was twice as fast and three times more skillful.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Net-like sword marks were etched all over Ya Hyuk’s body.

The wounds weren’t deep because it wasn’t a powerful sword strike. However, the pain Ya Hyuk was experiencing was considerable because he was being struck in the same areas with the same moves at a much faster speed.

“Kuaaa!”

Crash!

Terrifying demonic energy was swirling in his wildly swinging hands. It seemed he was able to swing them somehow, even though his wrist had been stabbed by the dagger.

The experience of the Soul Severing Sword Technique was completely shattered, and even Makwon’s body was thrown back.

The moment Ya Hyuk, as if it was his turn, charged with killing intent.

Flash!

A tremendous light erupted from Makwon’s body.

The light was so bright and intense that Ya Hyuk had to retreat, feeling a burning pain in his eyes for a moment.

Whoosh!

Ya Hyuk, who had frantically slowed down with both arms and legs, was once again shocked.

Rumble!

Makwon’s aura, clad in an iridescent white light, amplified in an instant.

Ya Hyuk’s mouth dropped open.

‘What is this!?’

Makwon’s momentarily amplified aura was exerting more than twice the power of before.

‘Power amplification?!’

The Blood Demon Sect also had a similar amplifier.

However, a momentary and smooth explosion of true energy like Makwon’s was impossible. It didn’t double the power of the martial art, but judging by this aura, it seemed he was ready to execute a faster and more powerful martial art than before.

‘It’s been a while.’

It was the activation of the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon’s secret technique, the Heavenly Martial Weapon General Technique. It was a secret art that exploded all available inner energy to momentarily enhance the body, inner energy, and nerves.

However, even if it was a secret technique, it would only be a slightly stronger finishing move to a Saint-level expert who had mastered the principles of martial arts. Their fight was one where they couldn’t be sure of victory even if they enhanced their body, inner energy, and nerves to double their power.

But it worked on Ya Hyuk.

Makwon was certain, and his certainty was immediately revealed in reality.

Whoosh!

Makwon, approaching at a faster speed, used the Soul Severing Sword Technique that was faster than before.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

“Kuh!”

Ya Hyuk retreated madly.

His whole body was as hard as a rock, but he couldn’t withstand the amplified inner energy.

In the first place, the Beast Demonic Art itself, which raised the hardness of the body to this extent and even changed the structure of the body, was abnormal. Even if one reached the ultimate realm with an abnormal martial art, Ya Hyuk’s limitations were clear unless he gained the enlightenment to abandon that martial art.

He was stronger than anyone in a head-on collision with strong force, but in the end, what was hard was bound to break in front of something harder. For Ya Hyuk, who had given up many things for extreme attack power, Makwon, who had a secret technique that guaranteed twice the output momentarily, was literally a natural enemy.

Clatter! Clatter!

Black claws and a dagger collided, sending out brilliant sparks.

Before, he was pushed back by force, but now he wasn’t. By confronting him with amplified inner energy, he could stand against Ya Hyuk’s absurd power.

The power was similar, and the speed was much faster. Ya Hyuk’s body was gradually stained with blood.

Clatter! Thud! Clatter! Thud!

Amidst countless collisions, a dagger, aiming for an opening, pierced Ya Hyuk’s abdomen, creating a huge wound.

If it weren’t for the recovery power of the Beast Demonic Art, he would have coughed up blood and died long ago. It was amazing that Ya Hyuk’s skills didn’t decline even after being stabbed several times.

But now, it was the limit.

Clatter! Thud!

Makwon, who had only been using the Soul Severing Sword Technique, grabbed Ya Hyuk’s wrist and twisted it.

Whoosh! Bang!

Ya Hyuk’s body, spinning in the air, was slammed into the ground. It was a grappling technique close to a divine skill.

Makwon, who had instantly knocked Ya Hyuk to the ground, stabbed his armpit with the dagger he was holding in reverse and then slashed it.

Slash!

“Kuh!”

Ya Hyuk, gritting his teeth, struck Makwon’s upper body with his knee.

Bang!

Makwon groaned in frustration and was pushed back. He could have avoided it, but he had endured and attacked to inflict a fatal wound.

The Heavenly Martial Weapon General Technique faltered, and the aura that had been emanating sharply decreased.

Trickle.

Ya Hyuk staggered backward.

The armpit was a vital point. It was an awkward area to stop the bleeding by pressing on pressure points. He had tightened his skin and muscles with true energy, but because many blood vessels had been cut, it was impossible to continue fighting.

“Hoo. Hoo.”

Just as Makwon, who had taken a breath, was about to kick off the ground again.

“Huh!”

Ya Hyuk looked in the direction of the Shinma Forest’s main camp with surprised eyes.

“…Old man?!”

Whoosh!

Makwon, taking advantage of the opening, approached and swung his dagger towards his chest.