Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 930

Hwang Seok-tae analyzed the situation calmly.

‘Something unusual is happening.’

The booming sounds echoing from the distant Shinma Forest headquarters were reaching even this place. It was enough to break his concentration even in the midst of a life-or-death battle. Something unimaginable was clearly unfolding.

‘Young Master.’

Hwang Seok-tae was worried about Yeon Ho-jeong.

However, his concern didn’t mean he could abandon the ongoing fight. It was partly due to Yeon Ho-jeong’s orders, and also because the Iron Cavalry was not a unit that would do so in the first place.

‘Finish this as quickly as possible and charge forward.’

Fortunately, the battle was turning in favor of the Iron Cavalry.

Hwang Seok-tae shouted,

“Iron Cavalry, prepare the Gyoro Formation!” [Gyoro Formation: A battle formation where soldiers move in a coordinated manner to penetrate enemy lines.]

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The air became thick with the sparks flying from the clashing swords and spears.

The Iron Cavalry members, who had been exchanging blows while observing the battle formation, roughly spurred their horses while holding their long spears with both hands.

Clang! Clang! Thwack!

The Blood Demon Swordsmen’s momentum faltered as spears thrust in from all directions in a tight, coordinated assault.

Boom!

Hwang Seok-tae’s Red Dragon Spear, imbued with the power of the Giant Dragon Spear Technique, tore apart two swordsmen in front of him.

That was the signal. The Iron Cavalry members, who had been surrounding and pressuring the Blood Demon Formation, instantly split into groups of five and began to penetrate the formation’s interior.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Nearly three hundred Iron Cavalry members split into sixty groups, piercing through various parts of the Blood Demon Formation.

The change from a formation that had been applying strong pressure without a single gap to a formation that infiltrated in small groups was as natural and swift as flowing water.

The Blood Demon Swordsmen were taken aback. Their swordsmanship and demonic arts were comparable to those of any elite of a great sect, but they had never experienced such a flexible formation change as the Iron Cavalry’s.

Thud! Thwack! Crack!

The power of the Gyoro Formation, which had changed in an instant, was truly remarkable. It was not a stronger force, but a ‘different’ force that attacked the Blood Demon Corps, and in the confusion, as many as a dozen swordsmen lost their lives.

The individual martial prowess of the Blood Demon Swordsmen was undoubtedly strong. Each one was worthy of being called a master, and their combined power was enough to contend with a major sect.

The Iron Cavalry was also considered a moving major sect, but the force present here was only thirty percent of the Iron Cavalry’s original strength.

The fact that they were pushing back the Blood Demon Corps with just thirty percent of their force was due to their well-organized formation, flexible changes, powerful pressure, and the efficient commands of their leader.

‘Even so.’

Hwang Seok-tae looked at Pae-yul and Bu-seon.

The moment the Iron Cavalry began to disrupt the Blood Demon Formation, the two of them had moved back to find another opening.

Pae-yul was one thing, but Bu-seon’s martial arts and insight were also remarkable. While she lacked experience compared to Pae-yul, she was making up for it with her superior talent and learning ability.

If it weren’t for these two, the Iron Cavalry wouldn’t have been able to rampage against the Blood Demon Corps like this. The two were clearly demonstrating how much influence a transcendent master could have in a war.

‘If it weren’t for those two, the Iron Cavalry would have suffered at least fifty casualties.’

And.

Thud! Thwack! Thwack!

In a realm completely separate from those fighting fiercely on the ground.

A single genius swordsman was wildly distracting the Blood Demon Swordsmen.

Hwang Seok-tae clicked his tongue.

‘I knew he wouldn’t have ordinary talent, being the Young Master’s kin, but…’

He looked up at the sky.

There was Yeon Ji-pyeong.

In the air. Literally, in the empty air, he was piercing through various parts of the Blood Demon Corps with insane movements.

The sword techniques he unleashed were simple, but the sword’s aura subtly distracted the Blood Demon Swordsmen. If they focused their power, they could easily shatter it, but if they ignored it, they would suffer considerable damage. He was unleashing sword energies of considerable power dozens of times.

His inner energy was impressive, but his delicate control of power was even more so. It was a supreme sword technique that was impossible to display at such a young age.

‘Now I understand why the Young Master called his younger brother a once-in-a-lifetime genius.’

He didn’t think Yeon Ji-pyeong’s talent was superior to Yeon Ho-jeong’s. That was impossible in the first place.

However, excluding Yeon Ho-jeong, he would undoubtedly be the best in the current martial world.

To display such divine power immediately after breaking through the Martial Ancestor realm in his early twenties, who else in the world could show such ability?

‘What is that movement…?!’

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s movements were not dynamic.

He stepped on the air, burst through the air, and moved here and there, avoiding the attacks of the few Blood Demon Swordsmen. His movements were like watching a straight bamboo.

He was swinging both arms simultaneously to maintain his balance, but it looked as if he was holding his left hand behind his back. The sword in his hand didn’t seem like a weapon, but like a brush he was wielding.

It felt like a scholar with a straight spine and a kind face was wielding a brush with a single stroke. Some of the Blood Demon Swordsmen shot sword energies to threaten Yeon Ji-pyeong, but he evaded them with movements that were not hurried, making even that look stylish and elegant.

‘He called it the Heavenly Soaring Flight, didn’t he?’

The Yeon family’s best movement technique, maximizing efficiency with minimal inner energy.

Yeon Ho-jeong had also shown a similar movement technique. However, even though it was the same technique, the way they used it was completely different.

If Yeon Ho-jeong focused on speed and endurance, Yeon Ji-pyeong seemed to pursue ultimate freedom.

Even with the same martial art, the interpretation was so different. The different interpretations were due to their individual personalities, and Yeon Ji-pyeong’s movement technique, which pursued freedom, was so beautiful that it was breathtaking to watch.

‘But now it’s probably the limit.’

Unless one had entered the Limitless realm, no matter how high one’s understanding of movement techniques was, it was impossible to float in the air for a long time.

In fact, the energy emanating from Yeon Ji-pyeong’s body was noticeably decreasing. Every time he kicked off the air, a tremendous amount of inner energy was consumed.

Hwang Seok-tae looked at the Blood King Sword in front and beyond, at the Blood Sky Sword, who was shouting and commanding the Blood Demon Swordsmen.

‘It’s a bit early, but…’

It was time to decide the outcome.

Neigh!

The horse, raising its front hooves and letting out a dragon’s cry, charged forward at a terrifying speed.

Hwang Seok-tae gripped the Red Dragon Divine Spear with both hands.

Boom! Boom!

The powerful spear strikes pushed back three Blood Demon Swordsmen and the Blood King Sword.

Hwang Seok-tae shouted,

“Round Formation!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Iron Cavalry, having disrupted the Blood Demon Corps with the Gyoro Formation, once again formed a strong wall around them.

The formation had been broken in an instant, and they were just huddled together, unable to display any decent momentum, and were confused.

Hwang Seok-tae had charged in, aiming for that.

Whoooom!

The Red Dragon Divine Spear began to tremble wildly.

A divine weapon that amplified its power in an instant, the Blood King Sword’s eyes widened.

“Evade it!”

Flash!

The Red Dragon Spear, shot like lightning, was imbued with immense power. It was the Giant Dragon Spear Technique, Giant Dragon Cannon.

Crack!

Five Blood Demon Swordsmen were sent flying, spewing blood. Their limbs were broken, or their sides were torn open, leaving them in a state that was clearly incapable of fighting.

Clang!

The Blood King Sword, flying in with tremendous momentum, attacked Hwang Seok-tae.

He blocked it with the shaft of the Red Dragon Spear, but the sword pressure of the Blood King Sword was indeed formidable. Even though Hwang Seok-tae was at a higher level, he momentarily faltered due to the power of the sword.

Boom! Boom!

There were about forty remaining Blood Demon Swordsmen.

When Hwang Seok-tae was blocked, Pae-yul and Bu-seon charged in strongly. The Iron Cavalry was watching their backs, and thanks to that, the Blood Demon Swordsmen, who had suddenly faced a completely different environment, had no choice but to be confused once again.

“Get out of the way!”

Hwang Seok-tae, having deflected the Blood King Sword’s sword force with a quick and light spear technique, found an opening and immediately thrust his spear.

Bang!

The Blood King Sword was pushed back about six steps.

‘This is…!’

Even though he had achieved a demonic body, he felt as if the joints in his entire body were dislocated.

The weight of the martial arts was different. Even though he had charged with the power of his horse, he felt a pressure that made it difficult to hold his sword for a moment.

‘I have to evade…!’

Thud! Thud!

Hwang Seok-tae ignored the Blood King Sword and continued to push back the Blood Demon Swordsmen.

The Blood King Sword’s face turned crimson.

“How dare you ignore me?!”

It was then.

Clang!

A single downward strike carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

The Blood King Sword, instinctively raising his sword to block, felt his knees buckle. It was because he had received a tremendous sword strike while still not having recovered from the shock of Hwang Seok-tae’s spear attack.

“Who are you?”

The one who had pushed the Blood King Sword away.

It was Yeon Ji-pyeong.

“Hoo!”

Yeon Ji-pyeong breathed lightly. It was because he had exerted all his strength to unleash the destructive sword strike.

Murderous intent filled the Blood King Sword’s face.

“You greenhorn! You’ve walked right into my trap!”

Flash!

The Blood King Sword’s demonic sword grazed Yeon Ji-pyeong’s chest.

His eyes widened. He had thought that even if he dodged the sword strike that had come in disregarding the rhythm, he would still suffer a considerable blow.

He was wrong.

At least as long as he was wielding a sword, Yeon Ji-pyeong was a more difficult opponent for the Blood King Sword than Hwang Seok-tae.

Before breaking through the Martial Ancestor realm, it might have been different, but now that he had broken through, Yeon Ji-pyeong had the ability to realize all the sword techniques he had achieved so far.

Furthermore, his insight was so great that he could grasp any opponent’s sword path in an instant, unless they were a Limitless realm master.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Blood King Sword’s eyes wavered.

After dodging the demonic sword strike, the light upward and downward strikes, and the quick slashes to the left and right diagonals.

It seemed like he was swinging randomly, but the pressure was immense. Even though the power of the sword itself was lower than his, he couldn’t even think of breaking through.

Yeon Ji-pyeong said, panting,

“Until this fight is over, you can only play with me.”

“You little brat, how dare you!”

“But don’t let your guard down.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s eyes turned deep blue with sword energy.

“To survive, I will kill you.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The magnificent clash of the two swordsmen.

Leaving them behind, Hwang Seok-tae, who was riding his horse like a storm, swung the Red Dragon Spear with all his might.

Clang! Clang! Boom! Boom!

The Red Dragon Spear, moving freely as if possessed, was like a dragon, as its name suggested.

He instantly judged when to strike with force, when to simply threaten, when to push back with energy, and when to mix in feints, achieving everything he wanted.

Hwang Seok-tae’s central breakthrough tore the Blood Demon Swordsmen apart to the left and right, and the torn Blood Demon Swordsmen were slowly but surely killed by the attacks of Pae-yul and Bu-seon, and the Iron Cavalry members who had become a huge wall.

“You bastard!”

Clang!

The power of the Blood Sky Sword, the best master of the Blood Demon Corps, was like a raging wave. Even Hwang Seok-tae, who had charged in with the weight of his horse, faltered.

Whoosh!

He was not a master to be dealt with while riding a horse. Hwang Seok-tae, who had kicked off his saddle and soared into the air, swung the spear shaft at the Blood Sky Sword.

Clang!

It was clearly a demonic weapon no less than the Red Dragon Spear. He had struck with the thick spear shaft, but there was not a single scratch on the thin blade.

Murderous intent filled Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes.

“I’m busy. Die quickly!”

“Shut your mouth!”

The two masters’ spears and swords clashed wildly, creating powerful shockwaves.

Whoosh!

Pae-yul and Bu-seon, who had picked off and killed the leaders of the Blood Demon Corps, quickly broke through the Blood Demon Swordsmen and caught up to the Blood Sky Sword from behind.

The Blood Sky Sword’s eyes wavered.

A smile appeared on Hwang Seok-tae’s face.

“You weren’t expecting a one-on-one, were you?”

Clang! Thud! Whoosh!

The Red Dragon Spear and short spears pierced the Blood Sky Sword’s body.