novelraw Chapter 151 : Chapter 151
Chapter 151 : Chapter 151
Chapter 151 Counterattack (4)
─ RUMBLE
When Jaun's Demonic Energy struck the walls of the Forbidden City, the men in black martial robes standing atop them all staggered. The fact that they had lost control of their bodies, even for a moment, made them look at each other with bewildered faces.
‘If they are at this level, I can neutralize them easily enough. Now that I have the help of the Murim Alliance, the Sado Alliance, and even the Imperial Court…… there should be no problem in properly aiming my sword at the Demonic Cult bastards.’
Having grasped the level of the Blood Demons occupying the walls, Jaun turned his head to look at the Commander.
“I will go first. We will take care of the men in black martial robes, so I leave the Eastern Depot to you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jaun, the Ice Rakshasa, the bearded man, and his subordinates turned and rushed toward the gates of the Forbidden City all at once.
Watching Jaun shoot forward while emitting a tremendous aura, the Commander's sword extended straight ahead.
“Embroidered Uniform Guard, advance!”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had already finished their preparations, immediately followed Jaun's party.
Toward the walls of the Forbidden City, guarded by over a thousand men, a group of just over three hundred was charging.
It was a reckless act by any measure, and the defenders on the wall felt the same way.
Some of the Blood Demons on the gate, who had felt their Demonic Energy greatly shaken by the black mist that had enveloped them moments ago, wore somewhat puzzled expressions, but that was all.
They still did not properly know what kind of power Jaun, who had created that black mist, possessed.
As the gate of the Forbidden City drew closer, a dense Demonic Energy began to rise from Jaun's body once more.
─ GRIND
Jaun's emitted Demonic Energy became an ink-colored mist and spread in all directions.
Having already surpassed the Eighth Star of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Jaun had reached a level where he could freely control any Demonic Energy within his range of sight.
Before long, the ink-colored mist reached the wall, far ahead of Jaun's party.
“What is this foul smoke!”
“What are you all doing! Quickly release your energy and push back the smoke. The enemies' movements are not clearly visi—...!”
The martial artists of the Eastern Depot were shouting in all directions when they stopped speaking due to a strange feeling and looked around.
The condition of the Blood Demons who had been touched by the ink-colored mist was strange.
“Gurgle.”
“Gasp.”
The Blood Demons, who had been gasping for breath since being enveloped by the mist, were staggering and collapsing to the ground.
“What are you all doing now!”
The expression of Squad Leader Pyo, who was leading the Eastern Depot martial artists, contorted.
“The enemy is right before us. This is no time to be—...!”
In that moment, Squad Leader Pyo's expression hardened. It was because the pupils of the Blood Demons, who were sitting and panting heavily, were all unfocused.
Meanwhile, Jaun sprinted toward the gate at high speed.
The number of Blood Demons was greater than expected, but fortunately, the level of Demonic Arts of the Blood Demons stationed on the wall was not very high.
As they were dispatched by the Blood Cult to seize control of the Imperial Court, they possessed a minimum level of martial prowess, but it was still far inferior to that of the martial artists who guarded the main headquarters.
‘At this rate, I can control at least a hundred of them.’
Jaun raised his energy to its peak and lifted his head toward the sky. After taking a deep breath, a shout burst from Jaun's lips.
“The Supreme Ruler of Ten Thousand Demons has drawn his sword.”
Jaun's voice became a great echo that shot toward the walls.
“All demons shall bow their heads.”
As Jaun’s cry was completed, the ink-colored mist began to expand explosively.
Jaun’s shout reached the ears of the Blood Demons on the wall, who were clutching their heads and groaning.
Those who had been trembling upon hearing Jaun's cry slowly began to rise to their feet.
The risen Blood Demons looked around with vacant eyes before drawing their swords in unison. Then, imbuing their swords with energy, they began to swing them at their surroundings.
─ CLANG!
─ SLASH
“Aargh!”
“What, what are you do—...! Keok!”
The Blood Demons with unfocused pupils began to swing their swords indiscriminately in all directions. Having lost their reason, they could not distinguish friend from foe and simply swung their swords at the martial artists in front of them.
Their targets were not limited to the Eastern Depot.
Not only the Imperial Army that had been won over by Prince Yeomseong, but even their fellow Blood Demons could not escape their blades.
─ CLANG, CLANG CLANG
─ THWACK, SPLASH
In an instant, immense chaos swept over the wall. Because of the Blood Demons swinging their swords wildly in all directions, the Eastern Depot could not maintain their formation at all.
“What in the… what is this madness!”
Squad Leader Pyo looked around at the scene of pandemonium with a look of disbelief.
Over a thousand men had been standing densely on the wall to defend it perfectly. In this situation, when nearly two hundred Blood Demons began to run amok, the damage began to grow uncontrollably.
Moreover, because the ink-colored mist was thickly blanketing the wall, it was even more difficult to distinguish who was an enemy and who was an ally.
Among the Blood Demons, there were some who were not intoxicated by Jaun's energy, but there was no way to single them out.
─ CLANG
─ SWISH
“Eeeek!”
Eventually, the martial artists of the Eastern Depot began to unleash attacks on the Blood Demons to survive. And the Blood Demons, who were attacked by the Eastern Depot, swung their swords with even greater ferocity.
─ CLANG, CLANG
“These… these martial artists have all gone mad! Eastern Depot, protect yourselves at all costs! You may kill those who attack our allies!”
As Squad Leader Pyo's shout erupted, the Eastern Depot's fierce counterattack began. The two forces, which had been moving with the same purpose just moments before, began to attack each other, and soon the sound of weaponry filled the walls of the Forbidden City.
Taking advantage of the gap, Jaun's party, who had leaped over the wall without any harm, landed between the Eastern Depot and the Blood Demons.
─ RUMBLE
“Kill them all! Dammit!”
At the bearded man’s shout, hand axes flew in all directions. Simultaneously, the Ice Rakshasa's palm energy swept out, and Jaun's Mangru Blood Sword cut through the gaps.
─ THWACK. CRASH!
─ SLASH. SPLASH!
Jaun's party, having jumped into the chaos, was like a pack of wolves that had charged into a flock of sheep.
Even under normal circumstances, these martial artists would have found it difficult to withstand the party's attacks. Thus, the forces on the wall who received the attacks from Jaun's party were rapidly dwindling.
“W-What is happening!”
Those who were guarding the outer side of the gate felt something was amiss and ran closer to the gate, but the moment they came into contact with Jaun's energy, the same scene of pandemonium unfolded there as well.
It was a scene from hell.
Since no one could be trusted, there was no proper control.
Whenever the martial artists of the Eastern Depot struggled to gather in one place to somehow overcome the situation, Jaun's sword and the Ice Rakshasa's palm energy would invariably be directed there.
“Aaaargh!”
“Kill!”
“Kraaaargh!”
Blood flowed like a river down the walls. On all sides, those who had learned Blood Arts tried to raise their Blood Qi, but the Blood Qi that touched Jaun's energy scattered futilely into the air.
The Eastern Depot, which had painstakingly cultivated the Red Blood Art until the very end, and the Blood Demons, armed with Demonic and Blood Qi, were naturally stripped of all their weapons the moment they stood before Jaun.
[Heavenly Killing Demon Sword, Eighth Form. Dark Fragrance Extinction Cut]
Jaun's sword drew a large semicircle, and the heads of a hundred men standing on one side of the wall flew into the air.
“Hiiiik!”
“H-Help me!”
The martial artists of the Eastern Depot, who had only walked a flower path under the protection of power until now, were shaken all too easily in a battlefield where blood splattered from all directions.
─ KABOOOOM
Then, with a massive explosion, the gate of the Forbidden City was blown apart.
The aura raised by the Embroidered Uniform Guard who broke through the gate brightly illuminated the surroundings in a golden light.
“Do not leave a single one alive! They are all accomplices to treason.”
“Sir!”
As the Commander's order fell, the Embroidered Uniform Guard spread out in all directions.
***
Half a Sijin.
The seemingly sturdy exterior of the Forbidden City crumbled in that short time.
The moment the Eastern Depot, realizing there was no chance of victory here, retreated, the tide became irreversible.
Eighty percent of the personnel guarding the walls had fallen as corpses, and the blood that flowed from their bodies had stained the walls of the Forbidden City completely red.
“Casualties?”
“There are some with minor injuries, but e-everyone is safe!”
At the Commander's question, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, unable to hide his excitement, answered in a loud voice.
“Not a single casualty.”
The Commander let out a hollow laugh and looked back at Jaun. Having used too much power in a short period, Jaun was panting with a pale face, but a tremendous wave of Qi was pouring into his body.
‘…Is he able to recover his energy at such a speed without even practicing Luck-Regulating Breathing?’
The Commander realized that he had to raise his assessment of Jaun's martial prowess by at least two levels.
‘For someone so young… he is truly a frightening person.’
In truth, the Commander had been prepared to risk his life to break through these walls. He had thought that at least half of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be sacrificed in the process, but despite breaking through the gate, not a single death had occurred.
This was a result that was beyond imagination.
‘Dense Demonic Energy capable of making those who possess Demonic Arts go berserk. Just who is that child….’
The Commander, who had been looking at Jaun, soon shook his head from side to side.
‘What’s important now is not that child’s identity. As long as His Majesty can be kept safe, it doesn't matter what kind of weapon he is.’
Stopping his thoughts, the Commander slowly walked toward Jaun.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I overexerted myself a bit, but if you give me about one tea time, I can move again.”
“……I understand. We have broken through the walls, but we are still a long way from our destination. None of the Eastern Depot executives have fallen, and among the martial artists from the place called the Blood Cult, the key figures will surely be with Prince Yeomseong.”
“Hoo. I know that well. That this is just a preliminary skirmish.”
Jaun slowly took a breath.
“How is His Majesty the Emperor’s condition?”
“Fortunately, he seems to be stabilizing.”
As the Commander answered, the Emperor's complexion was noticeably better than before.
Jaun nodded and raised himself up.
“Let’s move for now. I think I can recover the rest while we are on the move.”
“Thanks to you, there was almost no expenditure of strength on our side, so recover in the rear for the time being. We will take the lead now.”
When the Commander raised his hand, the Embroidered Uniform Guard instantly formed ranks and stood in line. The Commander began to run towards the Inner Court of the Forbidden City.
─ THUDUDUDU
Just like within the Beijing city walls, the inside of the Forbidden City was also empty.
The Commander, who had passed through the Outer Court of the Forbidden City at high speed, continued to run towards the gate of the Inner Court. Moving swiftly, he confirmed the wide-open gate of the Inner Court in the distance and slightly narrowed his eyes.
“……Are they all gathered at Qianqing Palace?”
Perhaps due to Jaun’s ability that neutralized the gate, not even an ant could be seen in the Inner Court. There were only traces that someone had been staying there until a little while ago.
The Commander, who had expanded his senses to check the situation, stopped in his tracks and turned around. The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had confirmed the Commander’s halt, stopped in place without the slightest error.
“General So Hui-bin.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“It is confirmed that all the traitors are gathered in front of Qianqing Palace. From now on, you will be responsible for leading the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I will now focus on protecting His Majesty.”
“I understand. Commander, please leave it to me.”
As the Commander entered the center of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, So Hui-bin, known as the strongest sword of the Guard, came forward and stood at the very front.
Taking a deep breath, So Hui-bin opened his mouth to address the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
“All members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
As So Hui-bin’s mouth opened, the Embroidered Uniform Guard raised their spears to the sky in unison.
“Charge Stance.”
The moment So Hui-bin's words ended, the Embroidered Uniform Guard simultaneously aimed their spears forward and tucked them under their arms.
“We will retake Qianqing Palace as we are and set the fallen Imperial Court right. Show them a display worthy of the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Let’s go!”
A shout, short but filled with resolute will, filled the area before the Inner Court of the Forbidden City.