Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 293

“Dual swords?”

Only now did it register that Kang Jin-ho was carrying two swords.

Partly because he was flustered and hadn’t noticed, and partly because in Japan, carrying two swords usually meant one was a spare.

Having gone through endless periods of turmoil and warring states, Japanese warriors, accustomed to constant battles, considered it normal to draw a new sword or seize another’s if their own broke.

But dual swords?

Since Kang Jin-ho was wielding swords, not katanas, it should be called dual-sword style or twin-sword style, not dual-sword style. [Katanas are curved, single-edged swords traditionally used by samurai, while the term ‘sword’ here refers to a straight, double-edged blade.]

In any case, dual-wielding was not a martial art that an ordinary person could use. Historically, there were hardly any figures who achieved fame wielding weapons in both hands.

Miyamoto Musashi, Japan’s most celebrated swordsman, is said to have perfected dual-sword style, but in actual history, Miyamoto Musashi rarely used it. [Miyamoto Musashi is a legendary swordsman known for his unique two-sword fighting style.]

He is said to have grasped the true essence of dual-sword style late in life, but the original form of that swordplay was now almost lost.

That’s how difficult it was to use twin swords.

In the midst of a chaotic melee, moving the right and left hands separately was difficult, and the power exerted on each sword was reduced by half.

And yet, he was using dual swords?

“Are you looking down on me?”

Takahira Shingo growled.

But Kang Jin-ho only let out a low sigh.

“You can say whatever you want, but…”

Kang Jin-ho tapped the floor with his sword and shook his head.

“I wish you’d at least consider that I can’t understand you? Japanese guys tend to talk too much on their own.”

Well, he could roughly understand what he was saying.

“You Joseon…”

Bang!

A tearing sound, as if the air itself was exploding, echoed as Kang Jin-ho’s sword flew past Takahira Shingo’s face.

Thud.

Then, a burning pain surged as if his ear had been scorched.

“I can understand that much,” Kang Jin-ho said, looking at Shingo.

“Did you bring him from the past? It’s been ages since Joseon became South Korea, and you’re still going on about Joseon people?” [Joseon is the old name for Korea, used before the modern era.]

“If you wanted to stop me, you should have brought someone who lives in the present.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Takahira Shingo with a pathetic gaze.

Just by looking at their outdated kimonos and topknots, one could tell how stuck in the past they were.

“Japanese guys have a weird sense of aesthetics.”

Whether it was even aesthetics was questionable.

If they didn’t understand reality, he would have to show them, with his own body.

Takahira Shingo didn’t understand Kang Jin-ho’s sarcasm. But he understood one thing.

‘If I’m not careful, I’ll die.’

The sword that had just grazed his ear, if it had aimed for his neck, he would have died without being able to resist. Even though he was blinded by excitement and was a little careless, that sword was not something anyone could wield.

Even though he acknowledged that his enemy was strong, Kang Jin-ho’s strength far exceeded his expectations.

“Th-this…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Enough talking.”

That’s enough talk.

At the same time, Kang Jin-ho’s swords began to move.

‘Huh?’

And at that moment, Takahira Shingo began to feel something strange.

The world was slowing down.

At first, he thought Kang Jin-ho’s swords were slower than expected. He realized the anomaly a little later. Even if the swords were moving slowly, they should have sped up as they approached him. But Kang Jin-ho’s swords were getting slower and slower as they flew.

Because they were weak?

That couldn’t be.

Just a moment ago, Kang Jin-ho had taken his ear with a single sword. Considering that speed, it was impossible unless he was toying with him.

‘This is?’

He felt a sense of crisis when he realized that his own body was also slowing down. He thought he could easily dodge, but his body wasn’t moving as fast as he thought it would.

The world had slowed down.

Realizing that his neck would be cut by the slow-moving sword if he stayed like this, Takahira Shingo tensed his entire body and twisted.

Swoosh.

Kang Jin-ho’s sword barely grazed his neck.

Even though the sword only slightly touched him, his skin split open, and the muscles inside were shredded.

The formless sword aura alone was showing such cutting power.

Understanding the phenomenon came later.

‘I’ve won.’

Takahira Shingo sensed victory.

It was something that every martial artist experienced at least once. At the moment of enlightenment or when concentration was completely heightened, humans entered another world. Time slowed down, colors disappeared. The brain overclocked, processing only what was necessary.

It was the moment that ancient martial artists called being in a state of ‘mua’ [a state of selflessness and heightened awareness].

Although the aftereffects and side effects could not be ignored, at this moment, he could exert several times his usual strength.

Since the world had slowed down and only his thoughts had sped up, how could it not be so?

Takahira Shingo could even accept the pain felt from his cut neck as pleasure.

Look.

Isn’t Kang Jin-ho’s sword, being swung again, slow enough for a fly to land on it?

Now, all he had to do was dodge that sword and bury his katana into that arrogant, smiling face. Then he could comfort the vengeful spirits of his subordinates.

Now, if he dodged this sword…

At that moment, another of Kang Jin-ho’s swords began to fly from the opposite side.

‘Hmm…’

The position of the flying sword was too perfect.

He could dodge or block it, but a counterattack was impossible.

‘This, if I’m not careful, I might lose?’

No, he had to admit what he had to admit.

This guy was stronger than him.

If he hadn’t entered a state of ‘mua’, he wouldn’t have noticed the second sword flying at him and would have had his neck cut off without a chance. The sword was flying precisely at the blind spot of the stance he had to take to avoid the first sword.

A killing sword (殺劍) that could never be used without having killed countless people. [殺劍 (Satsuken) literally means ‘killing sword’, referring to a technique honed through numerous battles.]

Let’s put aside for now where such a guy came from.

It was surprising that such a strong person had suddenly appeared, but now he had to focus on dodging the swords. Time was fair to him too.

Even though his consciousness had sped up, his body hadn’t. Being able to react a moment earlier was a huge advantage that could make up for several times the difference in power, but if he wasn’t careful, he could be cut even knowing it was coming.

He bent his back to dodge the second sword. Takahira gritted his teeth as he watched the sword pass right in front of his nose.

Now, a counterattack!

But it was impossible this time too.

The moment he tried to counterattack, Kang Jin-ho’s retrieved sword was piercing his exposed Adam’s apple, which was revealed as he bent backward.

No…

It was incomprehensible.

He was in a state of ‘mua’ right now.

Kang Jin-ho’s swords were as slow as if a fly could land on them.

But why! Why was he so busy just dodging?

In a situation where he should be able to toy with him based on his advanced thinking, this…

“Hmm?”

The sound coming from his neck sounded strange, like a stretched-out tape being played.

In an instant, Takahira’s eyes widened.

A fly could land on it?

On that sword?

Takahira had to feel a sense of unease as he watched the sword flying towards his neck.

Fast.

No, slow.

No! Fast!

The sword was incredibly slow for something a martial artist had wielded, but it wasn’t as slow as a fly could land on it, as he had felt a moment ago.

To make an analogy… yes, like a child.

It was as slow as a child swinging a stick.

Was his ‘mua’ broken?

The speed at which his body was moving hadn’t changed.

Then?

‘Is it getting faster?’

Only Kang Jin-ho’s swords?

In this world where everything had slowed down, only Kang Jin-ho’s swords were slowly regaining their speed.

That was impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Unless Kang Jin-ho was living in a different world, that was impossible.

Then there was only one conclusion.

‘It’s getting faster.’

He was swinging his swords several times faster than when he first swung them. As if only that sword was regaining its speed in a world that had slowed down endlessly.

Then, what if he had seen that sword without falling into ‘mua’?

Could he even have followed it with his eyes?

Goosebumps began to rise all over Takahira’s body. Now was not the time to think about this. He had to do everything he could to dodge that sword. How…

And at that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s sword completely regained its original speed.

Swoosh!

Takahira’s eyes widened.

It was impossible to dodge a sword that was moving at its own speed in a world where everything had slowed down. He could clearly see the sword coming and tried to dodge it, but his body couldn’t keep up with the speed of his consciousness.

Kang Jin-ho’s sword pierced through his shoulder and turned.

Again, one sword.

The second sword split his leg.

The third sword cut off his arm, and the fourth sword pierced his abdomen.

He could feel it.

The sword that had pierced his abdomen was tearing through his intestines, and the blood that had flowed back from his intestines was surging up his throat… He could feel it slowly and vividly.

‘Hehehehe.’

Takahira laughed.

A chance?

This was torture.

As everything had slowed down, everything was felt vividly. The sensation of the sword tearing through his body, the terrible pain felt from it.

Most of all, what tormented him was the fact that he couldn’t dodge the sword that was so clearly visible. The pain and sensations that would have passed in the blink of an eye if he hadn’t entered ‘mua’ were tormenting him slowly and persistently.

‘Hehehehe.’

And he could see it vividly.

That smile.

Amidst the blood that was spurting as his body was cut and his limbs were torn apart… Kang Jin-ho’s face, smiling like a demon who had seen blood, was too vivid.

‘I won’t be resentful.’

He could intuitively tell. This man would change the world.

The gang that learned of his death would dispatch members to Korea, and that would probably spread into a conflict between Korea and Japan.

In any case, it would end with a lot of blood and death.

So he wasn’t resentful.

Looking at the sword slowly flying towards his neck, he let out a hollow laugh.

Unlike the way it had been cutting through his body at lightning speed, this last sword, which would be his end, was flying very slowly, returning to its original state.

‘A demon.’

They exist in the world.

Demons.

Not feigned evil, but true evil exists in the world. Takahira Shingo’s mistake was realizing that too late.

Feeling Kang Jin-ho’s sword slowly cutting through his skin, severing his muscles, and slicing his carotid artery, Takahira closed his eyes quietly.

“Great Japan…”

“Shut up!”

He couldn’t even leave a last will. Takahira’s head soared into the air.

His severed head couldn’t even close its eyes completely until it hit the ground.

“…Anyway.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had shaken the blood off his sword onto the floor, opened his mouth as if he was annoyed.

“They talk too much.”