Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 941

Thud.

A finger fell.

Ya Hyeok, whose entire body had been shredded by hundreds of hidden weapons, vanished on the spot. Only his index finger remained.

Even that index finger slowly turned to dust and scattered, finally making the death of Ya Hyeok, who possessed such tenacious vitality, feel real.

“Cough!”

Dang Gwan spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.

Thud.

His legs gave way. Dang Gwan, who had unknowingly fallen to his knees, felt his head spinning.

However, he felt good. Beyond simply feeling good, he felt a clear sense of accomplishment and reward.

‘This is…….’

Dang Gwan looked down at his hands.

His hands were trembling. They were so clean that he wondered if they were really his own.

The fingers, which had always had a faint green aura even without using internal energy, were now tinged with the pink color of a healthy person. It was as if he had returned to before he learned poison techniques.

‘This is the Limitless Realm.’

Though he was looking at his hands, his five senses were clearly perceiving his own mind and body.

Everything was different.

Before ascending, he had been at a loss as to what kind of world it was and how to get there, but now that he had ascended…….

‘It’s a stroke of luck.’

He didn’t know how he had reached this realm. He remembered the method he used, but the fact that he had gained enlightenment at that particular moment was truly a stroke of luck.

It was said that reaching the Limitless Realm required not only individual talent and effort but also a divine revelation to have even a sliver of a chance.

He understood those words.

‘I was fully prepared to reach the Limitless Realm, but it wasn’t the right time.’

Dang Gwan clenched his fist.

It was said to be a realm that required a call from the heavens, but it was his own will that had summoned that stroke of luck.

He knew what aspect of his will had summoned that luck.

It was the desire to protect.

Without any other thoughts, he had summoned the stroke of luck with a pure and simple will. He never imagined he would possess such a heart.

“Are you alright?”

Dang Gwan weakly turned his head.

Mok Bi was there, supporting Mak Won, who had come over.

Mak Won smiled.

“Congratulations. Who would have thought you would ascend to the Limitless Realm in this situation, at this moment?”

Dang Gwan asked in a weak voice,

“How is your body?”

“It’s hard to move. That guy’s demonic energy is too vicious. But I don’t think I’ll die.”

“That’s a relief.”

As long as he didn’t die, that was enough.

Mok Bi, who had carefully helped Mak Won sit comfortably, bowed his head.

“Congratulations, Clan Leader.”

Dang Gwan smiled bitterly.

“What congratulations?”

He had reached the Limitless Realm, but that didn’t mean his innate nature had changed.

He had simply discovered his true self. Dang Gwan was just Dang Gwan; he hadn’t become some new being.

Whoosh.

The dark red energy that had been semi-transparently surrounding Dang Gwan’s body slowly disappeared.

‘It’s exhausting.’

The method of reaching the Limitless Realm varied from person to person, but when anyone entered that realm, their body and internal energy were completely transformed. Naturally, the internal energy that had been depleted would return completely.

However, Dang Gwan was different.

‘I overdid it.’

He had used the extreme upper divine energy of the Myriad Return Divine Art [a powerful martial art] to obliterate Ya Hyeok.

It was his first time, so he couldn’t control his power. As he tried to fill the Myriad Return True Energy with the naturally rising internal energy, his body felt as heavy as a water-soaked cotton ball.

“I need to… rest for a while.”

It wasn’t a state that could be overcome with willpower. If he moved recklessly, the Myriad Return Divine Art he had painstakingly created would go berserk.

Mak Won, who had been smiling at Dang Gwan, suddenly frowned at a thought that came to mind.

“By the way, what about Yeon Je?”

“Ah!”

Mok Bi looked towards the distance.

It was then.

“He’ll be fine.”

It was a small, weak voice, but everyone there heard Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s words.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi continued calmly,

“All the malice that seemed to pierce the sky has completely disappeared. It means the enemy’s leader is dead.”

“Ah…….”

Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

Mak Won, who had been sitting, struggled to his feet and staggered towards Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s eyes were completely clear. He couldn’t see.

Mak Won looked down at him for a moment and then bowed his head.

“I meet a senior of the martial world like this. I am Mak Won, a martial artist.”

“Mak Won, the White Army God.”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed, you are impressive. Even with my dulled senses, I can feel your vibrant energy. At your age, to have reached such a realm, you might even surpass emperors in a few years.”

“You flatter me.”

Ok Cheong spoke up.

“Lord Hyeok Ryeon, please rest for a while. I will bring Young Master Cheon.”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Mak Won turned his head to look behind him.

In the distance, three hundred cavalry and several masters were rushing towards them at a terrifying speed.

“The fight is over.”

Shortly after.

Hwang Seok-Tae, who had grasped the state of the battle just by looking around once, let out a sigh of relief.

“Everyone, you’ve all worked hard.”

“You too.”

“And…….”

Hwang Seok-Tae smiled and looked at Dang Gwan.

“Congratulations.”

Dang Gwan waved his hand.

That was enough of a response. He didn’t have the strength to open his mouth.

It was the moment when another absolute master was born into this world. It was a moment that everyone had to be surprised by and admire, but the respect and congratulations for Dang Gwan were done solemnly.

It was because the fight had been too difficult to shout for him.

The Iron Cavalry, under Hwang Seok-Tae’s command, searched the surroundings and spread out to provide protection. It was to prepare for any possible danger.

And then.

“Lord.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa Hyang approached Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi.

Cheon Hyo-Rak, who had fallen to his knees, was filled with grief. His father had always been strict, but seeing him collapsed in such a miserable state must have been a great shock.

However, there was no significant change in Cheon Hyo-Rak’s expression. He showed a free and flexible change like wearing a mask when dealing with others, but he was always stiff when revealing his true feelings.

And Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi could tell, even without seeing, what kind of expression his son was making.

The reason Cheon Hyo-Rak had become a faceless person was entirely due to his life in the Shinma Forest [a hidden and dangerous place]. It was because of Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s teachings.

“…….”

The two were silent for a moment.

After a long silence, it was Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi who spoke first.

“It was a cold winter day.”

“……?”

“The day was so cold, but your body was radiating with a vibrant heat full of life. It wasn’t just a simple body temperature. The sun was breathing in your body, which was still attached to the umbilical cord.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes trembled greatly.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s calm voice felt stronger than before.

“It was at dawn when the sun was rising. White smoke was coming from your body. You were crying as you felt a new world with your whole body, but I felt a joy and immense happiness that I had never felt in my life.”

“…….”

“The moment you were born, I knew that there was truly a sun in this world.”

“Lord.”

“I have lived my whole life crying out. I lived only to not fall behind, to become stronger, and to not ruin the history of this Shinma Forest.”

“…….”

“The moment you were born, I wanted to throw away the burden of destiny that I had carried myself. I wanted to take Sam-Saeng, who I had never called my wife, and you, and go down to the warm south and live peacefully for the rest of my life.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s breathing became rough.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi had never said such things before. He was the one who had taught that the moment one’s emotions were seen by others, one would lose the qualifications as a ruler. Because of that, he had no choice but to be even stricter with himself.

“But I couldn’t. In the first place, safety wasn’t guaranteed, but the Shinma Forest, built by the five ancestors, cast a shadow larger than a mountain. I couldn’t escape that shadow.”

“…….”

“But at least, for a few years after you and your younger sibling were born, my gloomy and dreary life couldn’t have been better. You were treasures that allowed me to bear the weight of the name Shinma Lord.”

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s breathing became rough for a moment. He was barely holding his body in this world with minimal demonic energy, but he was gradually reaching his limit.

Cheon Hyo-Rak said urgently,

“Lord, please stop talking. No more…….”

“I am a sinner.”

“Lord.”

“The more I thought about the happy life with you, the deeper my anguish grew. The peak of it was when your mother died. When she was dying from a serious illness that could not be cured even with my martial power that reached the heavens or my mountain of wealth, I knew that something inside me had completely broken.”

“…….”

“I thought it was the curse of the Cheon family. I believed that there was no other explanation. In the end, if there was no way to escape this curse, I wanted at least my children to live happily.”

“…….”

“But I, who had reached the Saintly Demon [a high level of martial arts], could tell. I could sense that the inherent power of the demon was growing somewhere. It was close to an intuition that could not be understood by the common sense of martial arts, but I couldn’t ignore it.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak took Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s hand.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s hand had no strength. Eventually, tears flowed from Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes.

“But there were too many lives resting on my shoulders to raise you and use the Shinma, so I had no choice but to take you as disciples. In the end, I tried to catch two rabbits and ended up failing to catch even one.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak, who was shedding tears, opened his mouth.

“Fath…….”

“Don’t.”

“……!”

“Don’t call me father. I am not qualified to be called your father.”

It wasn’t for himself. He said that for Cheon Hyo-Rak’s sake.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s voice grew softer.

“It was hard, but I lived a life that was true to myself. It was a life full of regrets, but I felt alive thanks to you. That alone is enough for me. It’s even too much as a gift for my journey to the afterlife.”

“…….”

“Your younger sibling… is going to the Blood Madness [a state of berserk rage]. Somewhere, he is moving with the warriors of the main clan. You probably won’t be able to catch him right now.”

“……!”

“Do your best to save your younger sibling. When the Central King Demonic Art reaches the tenth level, all the restrictions placed on your body will be lifted. Right then, you can learn the Heaven-Breaking Art.”

Sss.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s legs slowly turned to dust and scattered.

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s tears fell onto Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi’s arm. The arm that was touched by the tears crumbled like wet sand.

“Once everything is settled, don’t be attached to the name of Shinma anymore, and live your own…….”

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi couldn’t finish his words.

Fuss.

Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi, whose entire body had turned to dust and scattered, disappeared into the air with the blowing wind.

Cheon Hyo-Rak sobbed silently.

The words not to call him father were not meant to mean that he was not qualified. It was a way of saying that he hoped he would no longer be dominated by the name of Shinma and live a life that was truly his own.

Even at the last moment, his father was worried about his future. Just like he had always been.

Cheon Hyo-Rak looked up at the sky.

The dust that had been scattering in the air circled around the dark sky of Cheonghae and finally flew towards the moonlight.