Chapter 83 - Support for the Eakan Branch (3)
Iron Battle Camp.
A seat of the Eight Great Factions that wields influence over Jiangxi Province.
A great Unorthodox Faction sect that has cultivated battlefield martial arts as its mainstay, where power increases the greater the numbers.
Perhaps because they possessed a strong military disposition, they often flaunted terrifying power in large-scale pitched battles and sect wars.
Clank!
Every ti the martial artists of the Iron Battle Camp advancing in alignnt extended a step, a heavy tallic sound echoed low.
It was the sound coming from both arms of the Iron Battle Camp martial artists, more precisely, from their uniquely shaped gauntlets.
Attached to the gauntlets, which covered not only their fists but up to below their elbows, were long rectangular iron plates.
The edges of the iron plates were sharply honed so they could be used like blades in an ergency, and if the iron plates of both arms were brought together in the center, it was as good as holding a small shield.
It was the unique weapon of the Iron Battle Camp, the fist-shield.
"Troubleso bastards. Those fellows never move separately."
"No matter how few they are, don't they travel together in groups of at least ten?"
Heo Il smiled faintly as he watched the Iron Battle Camp martial artists pushing into the right side of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.
"The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp. We are in for so hardship."
Heo Il continued speaking as he cast a glance toward Namgung Jun and Man Ye-won, who were facing the Iron Battle Camp for the first ti.
"Unlike ordinary martial artists, those fellows always move in groups. It is because the martial arts and weapons they have learned presu collective combat. As such, they boast an excellent advantage in this type of battle."
Perhaps because the buzz from the alcohol was fading, Heo Il brought his gourd bottle to his mouth once again.
"In particular, if you counter them with a powerful offensive like the Heavy Sword, it is easy to suffer a counterattack, so it would be wise to be careful. Of course, Young Hero Namgung can just move as he sees fit."
"What? My achievent in the Great Wind Sword Style has also reached Great Mastery now. Over a re thin iron plate like that."
Man Ye-won grumbled in a small voice, but Heo Il did not even pretend to listen.
In the anti, the senior mbers of the Heavenly Sword Hall who were responsible for the central axis of the sword formation took in both the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp at the sa ti.
"Judging by the way they are moving, it is certain that they have secretly joined forces."
"Are we in a state of encirclent once again?"
"How shall we break out?"
The last senior mber's question was directed toward Lee Se-ha.
Lee Se-ha watched the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp gradually draw closer before suddenly shouting.
"Deploy the formation!"
Thump!
Beginning with Lee Se-ha's stomp, the Heavenly Sword Hall’s Greater Amplification Sword Formation began to move.
"The probability of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp executing a perfectly coordinated joint attack is extrely low. We will make a path through the subtle gap between the two forces."
Lee Se-ha's calm voice spread over the Greater Amplification Sword Formation. The Greater Amplification Sword Formation t the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp at the sa ti, without leaning toward either side.
"Press them down from both sides!"
"We hold an overwhelming nurical advantage. Pressure them slowly!"
The shouts of the Unorthodox and Demonic practitioners from both sides echoed. Despite this, the Greater Amplification Sword Formation never stopped.
On the left side, red and blue demonic energy squird as it tangled hideously, while on the right side, dozens of shields created using the fist-shields lined up like an iron wall.
Clang!
Clang!
Heavy tallic sounds erupted from all directions. They seed like the sa tallic sounds, but they were distinctly different.
The side of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, which had already lost a majority of its masters, was being swept away helplessly, whereas the side of the Iron Battle Camp was in perfect condition.
Furthermore, the exotic weapon called the fist-shield, born from mixing the advantages of a shield and a gauntlet, more easily blocked the successive sword strikes of the Greater Amplification Sword Formation.
Thump!
The Iron Battle Camp martial artists, who had blocked the rotation of the Greater Amplification Sword Formation once, stamped their feet and unleashed a unified aura.
Iron Horse Wall-Supporting Art.
A battlefield martial art said to be mastered by every martial artist of the Iron Battle Camp.
Although it had the restriction that its true majesty only manifested when at least ten people gathered, it possessed the advantage of exponentially increasing in power as the number of personnel grew.
There was even a rumor that the Iron Horse Wall-Supporting Art deployed simultaneously by two hundred martial artists could be compared to the savage charge of the Northern Jianghu.
"Press them down as they are. Advance three steps."
As the command fell from the Commander of Fifty leading the Iron Battle Camp martial artists, the Iron Battle Camp martial artists advanced in unison and thrust their fist-shields forward like a wall.
Clank!
The unified aura of the Iron Horse Wall-Supporting Art dwelling in the fist-shields stretched out long like an iron wall.
The Greater Amplification Sword Formation, which had been trying to leap forward, faltered.
The Iron Battle Camp did not miss the brief mont the Greater Amplification Sword Formation hesitated.
The pressure from the Iron Battle Camp martial artists thrusting their fist-shields forward from all directions surged in like a raging wave.
The Iron Battle Camp intended to use the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult as a wall to crush the Greater Amplification Sword Formation entirely.
'If we are pushed back in montum at the very beginning, we will be crushed to death.'
Reading the situation, Lee Se-ha imdiately made a decision.
"Heavy Montum!"
Namgung Jun had not stopped at simply supplenting the flaws of the Greater Amplification Sword Formation.
The Greater Amplification Sword Style was a sword style of high versatility, capable of embracing several branches of martial principles simultaneously.
It was far too a sha for it to end at rely raising its power in group battles by simply unifying its aura like an ordinary sword formation.
Letting it flow out in all directions to raise its efficiency, Namgung Jun had prepared several thods to better bring out the capabilities of the Greater Amplification Sword Style.
Heavy Montum was one of them.
At Lee Se-ha's command, the axis and direction of the sword formation changed all at once.
Newly filling Lee Se-ha's left and right were swordsn who had an expertise in the Heavy Sword, including Namgung Jun and Gong Jun-am.
The Heavy Sword forms of the Greater Amplification Sword Style deployed simultaneously with Lee Se-ha at the center.
The heavy sword strikes pouring down simultaneously in the exact sa direction flaunted a power even further amplified by the subtleties of the sword formation.
Crash!
The powerful martial artists of the Iron Battle Camp were pushed back by the Greater Amplification Sword Formation that ploughed through the front.
A large number of martial artists staggered at the unexpected power. The martial artists who barely managed to maintain their posture were equally surprised.
It was because they confird that their fist-shields were dented or crushed. For it was a rare occurrence to suffer such damage from barely a single collision.
"What!"
"There was no intelligence that the Heavenly Sword Hall possessed such a sword formation!"
"First row! Fall back!"
Even while the Iron Battle Camp faltered, changes to the Greater Amplification Sword Formation occurred in succession.
Swift Montum, Flexible Montum, Illusory Montum.
The Greater Amplification Sword Formation changed endlessly according to Lee Se-ha's battle cry.
Confusion filled the eyes of the enemies who faced the completely different sword montums as the sword formation changed.
It was because just as they tried to adapt to the offensive of the Greater Amplification Sword Formation, a completely different sword montum was deployed once again.
The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp could not even properly respond to the unpredictable deploynt of the sword formation.
In the anti, the Greater Amplification Sword Formation surged straight forward, tearing through the thick encirclent.
"Now is the ti!"
"Aim for this spot!"
Although there were occasionally those with good eyes on the side of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult or the Iron Battle Camp who tried to target a gap in the sword formation, it was no use.
The sword strikes pouring down from three directions ca out to greet those who approached while targeting a visible gap.
Every weakness visible in the Greater Amplification Sword Formation improved by Namgung Jun was a Dead Gate designed to draw the enemy in.
'No problem.'
Observing the battlefield, Namgung Jun was certain.
The arrival of the Iron Battle Camp following the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.
No matter how elite the Heavenly Sword Hall was, it was bound to be an arduous battle because the difference in head count was far too vast.
Geographically with Mount Okhwa at their backs, they were in a completely surrounded situation.
Originally, it was a battle where the Heavenly Sword Hall was at a great disadvantage.
However, the improved Greater Amplification Sword Formation changed the state of the battle.
A free transition between offensive and defensive.
And even a diverse variety of sword montums that could bring out the characteristics of the Greater Amplification Sword Style.
The Greater Amplification Sword Style showed an appearance completely different from before it was improved.
This was precisely the appearance Namgung Jun had desired.
Thump!
"Argh!"
"Swift Sword, no, it's the Heavy Sword! Damn it! Tilt the fist-shields to the side and set them up!"
The Iron Battle Camp, which had been like a reliable wall, could not help but shake precariously.
Lee Se-ha was perfectly commanding the Greater Amplification Sword Formation that Namgung Jun had improved.
The encirclent of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp, which had tried to pressure them with overwhelming numbers, began to be shaken.
However, Lee Se-ha was not satisfied.
At this rate, they would be able to break through the encirclent without difficulty.
But currently, the Heavenly Sword Hall was in the middle of protecting the Clouds of the Eakan Branch.
A more definitive wedge was needed.
"Jun."
"Yes, Master."
Lee Se-ha's low call.
Because her voice was not loud, it would not have been strange for it to be drowned out in the battlefield where screams and the sound of tal ran rampant.
However, even though Namgung Jun was far away, he did not miss his master's call.
"There must be a leader commanding the Iron Battle Camp right now. Go and sever his head."
Namgung Jun did not hesitate.
"It will not take long."
Namgung Jun naturally stepped out from the Greater Amplification Sword Formation.
Boom!
Cloaked in the sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style, Namgung Jun began to break through the Iron Battle Camp's camp alone.
……
The position of commanding fifty martial artists of the Iron Battle Camp.
For that reason, he was a Commander of Fifty.
The middle-aged man fiddled with the embroidery of 'Fifty' stitched onto his martial arts uniform.
Starting as a re martial artist, he went through the positions of Commander of Ten and Commander of Thirty before becoming a Commander of Fifty.
Leading the subordinates under his command, he had experienced several battlefields, but a sword formation that moved so vibrantly like this was a first.
Furthermore, the Greater Amplification Sword Formation of the Heavenly Sword Hall was a sword formation already recorded in the Iron Battle Camp's intelligence.
Was it because he was already well aware of that information?
The Greater Amplification Sword Formation, which showed a completely different appearance from the intelligence, felt even more unfamiliar and fierce.
"We are being held back instead."
The Commander of Fifty shifted his gaze and looked toward the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult's side.
It seed all the Radiant Vindicators who were supposed to lead the cult mbers were dead.
Since they were rely blocking with their bodies without a precise chain of command, they were instead only hindering the movent of the Iron Battle Camp.
It would have been easier instead if he had faced the Heavenly Sword Hall with only his own unit.
'The chances of victory are gradually lowering.'
According to the original plan, they intended to crush the ordinary hall mbers of the Heavenly Sword Hall based on nurical superiority, and kill the solitary Heavenly Sword Hall Master through a joint attack by himself and the Radiant Vindicators.
However, the basic frawork had been completely tangled.
Now the battle was aningless.
It was self-evident that there would be heavy damage even if they won.
Yet, if they handed over the information that the Eakan Branch had intercepted to the Azure Sky Society like this, they could not avoid a reprimand from the upper echelons.
No matter what choice he made, it was a predicant.
It was when the Commander of Fifty was contemplating for a split second.
The Greater Amplification Sword Formation transford once again.
Thump!
Every ti the shape of the sword formation changed, the Iron Battle Camp martial artists tried to strike at its gaps.
However, the visible flaws were instead a trap, and only the Iron Battle Camp martial artists who broke from the ranks as if sticking out lost their lives.
'If it were the original Greater Amplification Sword Formation, we would not have suffered like this. The sword formation has completely changed.'
Even while surrounded by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp, they are displaying these changes flawlessly.
The Heavenly Sword Hall's Greater Amplification Sword Formation was nothing more than a minimal formality for group battles.
Unlike the Gwangsi Hall and Seonghong Hall, the Heavenly Sword Hall was a hall where each mber specialized in individual combat.
Yet, it was completely different now.
A rapidly collapsing formation.
Crash!
It was the sound of the unified aura of the Iron Horse Wall-Supporting Art snapping.
This was as good as the Iron Battle Camp's formation collapsing.
It was then.
So of the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsn who were tearing open a path through the Greater Amplification Sword Formation sprang forward.
'At ?'
At the presence aiming straight for him, the Commander of Fifty imdiately tried to raise the fist-shields on both his arms.
"It's you."
A voice that had reached within close proximity before he knew it.
That voice was far too young.
As the Commander of Fifty raised his head, spotlessly clear eyes ca into view.
However, they were not simply clear.
Blue streaks of lightning extended and flowed in a circle along his pupils.
"You bastard!"
The mont the Commander of Fifty was about to swing his two fists.
Lightning struck from the waist of the young swordsman twisting his body in mid-air.
It was even bluer and fiercer than the lightning contained within his pupils.
Spurt!
It was a single mont.
The Commander of Fifty's head fell.
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