novelraw Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149 Counterattack (2)
"There comes another group. Get ready!"
The bearded man, having retrieved his blood-soaked hand axe, narrowed his eyes as he confirmed the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushing toward them.
"Everyone, stay alert. You can do well this time, right?"
"Please believe in us, Fortress Master!"
As the bandits of Yongho Fortress standing behind the bearded man shouted loudly, the bearded man nodded and turned to face the front.
"Young lady. I'm counting on you."
At the bearded man's words, the Ice Rakshasa raised her energy, and in an instant, a huge cold energy began to spread out.
CRAAAAAASH!
The Ice Rakshasa's palm strike, filled with her intense yin energy, shot toward the charging Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Embroidered Uniform Guard raised their energy with surprised eyes, but there were not many who could block the Ice Rakshasa's yin energy.
CRACKLE
As ice formed on the bodies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the bearded man raised his hand axe high.
WHOOSH
CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK.
Dozens of hand axes were instantly embedded in the bodies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, whose movements were restricted after being hit by the Ice Rakshasa's palm strike. Soon, thick blood seeped out and stained the ice red.
The bearded man, who was carefully checking the trajectory of the thrown hand axes, turned his head toward the bandits standing behind him with a displeased expression.
"Is this... really your best?"
"I-I'm sorry, Fortress Master."
"You bastards. Still, you came all this way under the name of Yongho Fortress, so you shouldn't do anything embarrassing, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
The bearded man let out a deep sigh, looked around the outside of the shrine, and then scratched his head. The bearded man, who had vented his anxiety on his subordinates, turned his head toward the Ice Rakshasa with a heavy expression.
"Really, the young brother... are you sure he's safe?"
The Ice Rakshasa nodded as she looked at the bearded man's anxious face.
"I'm sure he is. I clearly saw with my own two eyes that Young Hero Jaun's signal flare went up shortly after the explosion. Besides, I also felt Young Hero Jaun's huge demonic energy a little while ago, so it's certain that he's still safe, but..."
The Ice Rakshasa looked around with a frustrated expression.
The Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man, who had felt an explosion large enough to shake the earth, had rushed toward the shrine without a second thought. However, the outside of the shrine was filled with Embroidered Uniform Guard, so the two could not find an opportunity to get closer to the epicenter.
Shortly after the explosion, a fierce battle broke out on the outside of the shrine between the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were emitting a thick blood energy and the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were emitting a golden presence.
Just standing in formation was enough to densely fill the outside of the shrine, but when they started to swing their spears at each other, there was no gap to break through.
'I really want to, but... if I force my way through, I might become a burden to Young Hero Jaun.'
Since the Ice Rakshasa still thought that Jaun was pretending to be Thousand Households Commander Ma, she could not move rashly even in a situation like this.
'Yesterday, he clearly said he would send a telepathic message if a situation arose where we were needed. So... for now, I have no choice but to trust and wait for Young Hero Jaun.'
The Ice Rakshasa soothed her frustrated heart and looked around again.
She could not just stand there, so she was chasing down the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were deserting their ranks and taking them out one by one, but that was not enough to relieve her pent-up frustration.
'Young Hero Jaun... he's not hurt or in a dangerous situation, is he?'
The Ice Rakshasa's gaze once again turned to the place where the explosion had occurred. Then, she bit her lip and let out a small sigh.
The bearded man, who was correcting the bandits' posture next to the Ice Rakshasa, glanced at the Ice Rakshasa's serious expression and opened his mouth slightly.
"Aish. You fools. Look over there. Like that, in one go, thwack. Whack. Huh? How nice would it be if you guys could follow even a fraction of what that guy is doing over there. Then we would have been able to break through this place long ago."
SPLASH
To the right of the Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man, the heads of dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guard with blood energy rose into the air at the same time once again.
The Ice Rakshasa raised her head and turned her gaze toward the man who was crisscrossing the battlefield.
'A fearsome... master.'
When the two forces first clashed, the number of Embroidered Uniform Guard emitting golden energy was not even one-fifth of those with blood energy. Moreover, those with blood energy were instantly healing their bodies even if they were injured, so in reality, the military strength was completely tilted toward Prince Yeomseong's side.
But that man who appeared out of nowhere.
The moment that man with short stature and dark skin joined, the side with blood energy began to be pushed back helplessly.
The man was holding a golden spear in his right hand and a golden sword in his left hand, and he was overwhelming the battlefield by performing different martial arts with each hand as if two people were performing a combined attack.
"Tsk. If I could join forces with that guy, I would have broken through here long ago."
"He doesn't listen to anything, and he prepares to attack if we try to approach, so there's nothing we can do. For now, we have no choice but to wait for him to quickly clear a path."
The Ice Rakshasa looked at the outside of the shrine with anxious eyes. It was true that that man possessed an unparalleled skill, but the number of Embroidered Uniform Guard gathered in the rear was too large.
The number of people the man could deal with alone was at most a few dozen at a time. Therefore, it would take time to break through thousands of troops.
"Oh? There's another group deserting over there, let's go."
The moment the Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man were about to move to catch the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were deserting their ranks again,
WHOOSH
A huge energy emanating from the direction of the shrine began to shoot toward where they were.
"This energy... Young Hero Jaun?!"
The Ice Rakshasa raised her head with delighted eyes. A thick demonic energy was spreading like a cloud and approaching with the speed of lightning. And behind it, a brilliant golden energy that was dazzling to the eyes was following.
At the appearance of the two people with incredible martial prowess, the sound of weapons that had been filling the outside of the shrine stopped at once. And both forces simultaneously turned their heads toward the approaching energy.
'The remaining number is about two thousand?'
Jaun, who was clearing the way at the very front, looked around once and then raised his energy.
RUMBLE
As Jaun raised his energy, a rough wind began to blow on the outside of the shrine.
WHOOSH
'I'll cut off their will to resist with this single move.'
Jaun pulled back the golden spear in the vortex of the swirling demonic energy. A huge amount of energy was gathered in the spear, and soon the dust on the ground formed a whirlwind and rose into the air.
The essence of the Mad Demon's Rotation Scripture was imbued in the energy that Jaun had gathered with all his might, and on top of that, the energy of the wind descended.
Jaun, who had held his breath for a moment, then thrust the spear forward as it was.
CRAAAAAAAAAASH!
Jaun's energy, which was shot out like a cannon, passed right through the midst of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with blood energy.
POP POP POP POP POP POP POP POP!
With a single stroke of Jaun's spear, more than a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard were turned into a handful of blood.
"Ugh..."
A wide path made of blood was blown through the center of the battlefield. A groan erupted from the mouths of the warriors who saw the scene.
"Wh-what is that..."
"Where did such a monster..."
Some who had lost their strength at the overwhelming scene were seen collapsing to the ground.
'Whew.'
Jaun, who had gathered the boiling energy, began to continue his stopped steps. As Jaun walked, emitting a thick demonic energy, those with blood energy flinched and retreated.
The black demonic energy that bloomed from Jaun's body looked like the wings of a grim reaper. The ranks of the traitors, who were slowly backing away, pushed by the momentum, began to slowly collapse.
"Th-this is too different from the plan. The fact that those masters survived until the end... could it be, a failure?"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard with blood energy, filled with confusion, began to collapse from the outskirts. One group, then two groups, chose to flee, and that choice soon spread in all directions.
As the ranks of those emitting blood energy wavered and deserters appeared, a roar erupted from within the Embroidered Uniform Guard emitting golden energy.
"All troops! Now is the chance! Charge with all your might!"
The man who was holding a spear and a sword together, not missing the opportunity, shouted in a loud voice. The Embroidered Uniform Guard who heard the shout began to shoot forward with their energy raised to the extreme.
"Uwaaaaaaaah!"
The side that had regained its morale and the side that had lost its will to fight.
The contrast was too clearly revealed. In the eyes of the traitors who were looking at the tightly packed Embroiled Uniform Guard who were charging, only a deep fear remained.
"Oh? Over there! It's the Commander's energy!"
Someone who was running forward confirmed the golden energy rising from behind Jaun and shouted in a loud voice.
"Uwaaaaah!"
"The Commander is safe!"
Cheers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard erupted from all sides.
"All troops! There is no need to forcefully pursue the fleeing bastards. Break through the center and move to the Commander's side as it is!"
The traitors who heard the small man's shout completely lost their will to fight. Since they were told that they would not be pursued even if they fled, fleeing was the only way to survive here.
Without anyone having to say it first, the traitors began to flee in all directions.
Before the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, no one with blood energy could be found inside the shrine.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had broken through the center without any particular resistance, all ran forward and stopped in front of Jaun and the Commander. The Commander, who was watching him, slowly walked forward.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who were watching the Commander's movements, all lined up in their positions and knelt down on the spot.
"...We greet the Commander!"
A light of relief and emotion spread in the eyes of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The man who had jumped out from the center of the hundreds of kneeling Embroidered Uniform Guard and came to the very front prostrated himself before the Commander.
"I apologize for being late, Commander. I am... glad to see you safely."
"General So Hui-bin."
"Yes, Commander."
The Commander looked down at the Emperor in his arms once and then opened his mouth again.
"His Majesty has not yet regained consciousness. There is no major threat to his life, but it is too dangerous to spend time in this state. Tidy this place up immediately and return to the Imperial Palace."
So Hui-bin, who raised his head and confirmed the safety of the Emperor in the Commander's arms once more, gripped his spear tightly.
"I will obey your command! I will risk my life to safely escort His Majesty to the Imperial Palace."
So Hui-bin stood up from his seat with a determined expression.
"Young Hero Jaun!"
The Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man's party, who had arrived a step late, ran toward Jaun. So Hui-bin, who had confirmed Jaun's party approaching, turned his body with a firm expression.
RUMBLE
As So Hui-bin stomped his foot hard for a moment, a huge energy extended forward from his body. Soon, the energy gathered into one and created a huge wall.
The Ice Rakshasa frowned and stopped in her tracks.
"Please move aside."
Even at the Ice Rakshasa's words, So Hui-bin did not withdraw his energy. Seeing So Hui-bin narrowing his eyes and scanning the Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man's party, Jaun turned his head toward the Commander.
The Commander, who had felt Jaun's gaze, opened his mouth.
"...Are those the people you mentioned?"
"Yes, that's right. They are the ones who will add their strength to our side."
The Commander turned his eyes and stared at the Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man's party.
The Commander, who was examining the faces of the Ice Rakshasa, the bearded man, and his party, let out a small sigh.
"...It's really the Green Forest."
The Commander, who had been lost in thought, finally raised his eyes again with a firm expression.
"Alright. For today only, I will trust you and accept those guys. I will permit them to accompany us, but I cannot allow them to come near His Majesty. So, if you want to join, clear the way to the Imperial Palace from the very front."
At the Commander's words, Jaun nodded without any particular objection.
"That was my intention from the beginning, so I will do so."
The Commander, who nodded to Jaun, turned his body toward So Hui-bin again.
"So Hui-bin."
"Yes, Commander."
"You will be in charge of the rear, as you always have. They say the Eastern Depot has occupied the Imperial Palace, so you must conserve your strength as much as possible until then. Your strength is needed to safely escort His Majesty until the end."
"The Eastern Depot...?"
"Yes. Save your strength until then and lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"I will obey your command."
So Hui-bin's eyes widened when he first heard that the Eastern Depot had occupied the Imperial Palace, but he soon regained his composure and straightened his posture.
And a blade-like presence began to emanate from his body.