Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2002

[We’ll now bring you the weekend weather forecast. Tomorrow, the weekend, will see spring rain across the entire country. Starting from the West Sea around 10 AM, the rain will spread nationwide in the afternoon, with heavy rain expected throughout the weekend…] Zzzzt, zzzzzzt. The person watching TV tilted their head, rising from the sofa. “Why is it doing this?” Thinking something might be wrong, they got up to head towards the TV, but then the screen switched, showing a scene they’d never seen before. “Huh?” The TV watcher frowned. It’s one thing for a regular program to switch to the news, but even for the weather, it’s unusual for the news to switch to a different screen. “Is this a broadcast accident…” Feeling puzzled, they changed the channel, only to frown even more. “What is this?” It wasn’t just one channel. Several channels, though not all, were showing the same screen. If they changed the channel five times, they’d see the same screen they’d just seen twice. Realizing something was amiss, they fixed their gaze on the screen, resting their chin on their hand. “Are they doing something again?” “How’s the broadcast?” “We’re transmitting. The cable feed started immediately, and the regular broadcast will connect after an announcement screen. We’ve secured about 20 channels, and we’re adding more.” “…What’s the reaction?” “It’s pouring in on social media. It’s not too intense yet since there hasn’t been anything particularly dramatic shown…” The speaker trailed off. But Go Han-bong could guess the rest without hearing it. Once they start fighting for real, it’ll be chaos. The talk about special effects and such was over. They’d gone too far for that. Warriors. Those who are human, yet not human. ‘If we’re talking about a sense of unease, aliens would be better.’ They’re beings with fundamentally different principles. If a UFO suddenly appeared in the middle of the Seoul sky, and tentacled aliens flew around? People’s surprise would focus on the fact that aliens ‘exist,’ not that they ‘fly around.’ But warriors are different. The reaction of ordinary people to warriors is naturally more focused on what they can do, rather than their mere existence. Because they’re the same as humans. Those who have recognized the existence of warriors are already on edge about what they can do. This broadcast will undoubtedly draw in everyone with that curiosity. “Any complaints against the government?” “It seems they’re somewhat aware that the same thing is happening worldwide. Actually, this isn’t the first time this has happened, so…” Go Han-bong slowly nodded. He hated that he had to say these things even in this situation, but once you’re in politics, it’s unavoidable. “Understood. Please report immediately if any problems arise.” “Yes, Prime Minister.” The reporter bowed deeply and left. Go Han-bong stared at the screen with a heavy gaze. It was sudden. The request to broadcast what was happening inside the nuclear missile base came out of nowhere. But Go Han-bong didn’t have the authority to refuse the proposal in the first place. He wasn’t the one making the decision. The video on the monitor weighed heavily on Go Han-bong’s mind. A vast space. It was clearly underground, but it looked larger than any plaza, with groups of people facing each other. They were too far away to clearly see their faces, but Go Han-bong knew exactly who was on one side. “Lord…” At the very least, he couldn’t fail to recognize Kang Jin-ho. ‘Are you really going to be okay?’ He wanted to respect Kang Jin-ho’s opinion as much as possible. They hadn’t met on good terms initially. Kang Jin-ho was the one who had dragged Kim Myung-guk, whom he respected, to the depths of hell. But after meeting Kang Jin-ho, Go Han-bong had come to understand his struggles. He also genuinely believed that it would be hard to find anyone better to negotiate with the warrior world. That’s why he was genuinely worried about Kang Jin-ho now. ‘Your life will become irreversible, Lord.’ He had already revealed his appearance to the world. It was unavoidable to draw him out of that impregnable fortress, but that alone was already too much of a risk. But… ‘This is incomparable, Lord.’ Showing himself on screen and introducing himself as a warrior is completely different from showing himself fighting in front of everyone. Go Han-bong remembered how shocked he was when he first saw Kang Jin-ho fighting on a grainy, recorded video. Perhaps… This choice might leave only Kang Jin-ho the warrior, destroying the life of Kang Jin-ho the human. Go Han-bong knew. If Kang Jin-ho had to choose between his life as a warrior and his life as a human, he would choose the latter without hesitation. Even if it meant giving up all his martial arts. So why was he standing there? For what? “Hoo.” A deep sigh escaped Go Han-bong’s lips. There was nothing he could do now anyway. All he could do was watch. That’s why… Go Han-bong clenched his fist tightly. He could only cheer him on. For Kang Jin-ho to achieve what he desired. And to win, no matter what. Just that. The two groups stood facing each other. It was an interesting sight. None of those facing each other were unaware of their situation. And none of them failed to understand how much was at stake in this match. At the smallest level, their own lives. At a larger level, the future of the warrior world. And even larger, perhaps the fate of the world. In this deep underground, cut off from the world, a match with so much at stake was about to begin. But… The expressions of those facing each other seemed completely unrelated to all of that. The pressure of the match? The burden of knowing the fate of the world might be at stake? The fear of not even surviving? No. None of that existed. The expressions of those facing each other seemed to prove that no one bound by such things could ever stand in this place. Their thoughts might have been different before they stood here. But the moment they faced their opponents, they simply returned to being warriors, the most primal warriors. All that was in their eyes was the desire to compete. Someone who could unleash their full power without hesitation. And someone who could take those unrestrained punches. What might be too common and obvious for some can be too desperate for others. For those who have reached the highest point, an opponent they can clash with using their full power is too desperate. An opponent they can kill and be killed by with all their might. In the minds of the warriors facing such opponents, other reasons were trivial. A murderous aura slowly rose. The two groups, baring their teeth, grinned at each other. Baek Yeon-hong chuckled and said, “It’s been quite a while since something like this.” “Ah, how classic.” “…It’s really classic.” The Twelve Flying Blades had rather nostalgic expressions. Having experienced countless martial arts matches in the Central Plains [a region in ancient China] in the past, they were quite familiar with this setup. Something they thought they would never experience again after returning to this world. Those who faced a fragment of the past bared their teeth. “You seem to be amused.” Bator sneered at the sight. “I wonder if you’ll still be laughing after your mouths are smashed in?” “Hahaha!” Baek Yeon-hong’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. Then, everyone began to emit murderous intent towards each other. A murderous aura so intense that it would be enough to stop the heart of any ordinary person nearby. “Well, there’s no need to get so worked up, right?” It was Black King’s relaxed voice that broke the rising tension. “There’s no way to run away now, even if you get impatient. And…” Black King gestured with his chin towards the camera filming them. “Be happy. Throughout history, there hasn’t been anyone who could fight in front of more spectators than you. It’s more fun with a big audience, isn’t it?” Black King’s gaze reached Kang Jin-ho. “Any last words?” “That…” “Yes?” “I wish you’d shut your trap a little.” “If you’re done talking, let’s start. I’m tired of all the stalling.” “I can’t beat you.” Hok Wang stared at Kang Jin-ho silently, baring his teeth. “Keep your neck safe. I’ll be taking it soon.” “Try it, if you can.” The two men smiled at each other. Then, as if by agreement, they turned and began to move away from each other. Kang Jin-ho, returning to his seat, pulled out a cigarette. Click. Kang Jin-ho lit the cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke. There were quite a few things he wanted to say. There were quite a few things he wanted to tell them. But as he had said earlier, words no longer held any meaning. All that remained was who was stronger. “Lord.” Wiggins asked quietly. “Who do you plan to send out as the vanguard?” “Tsk.” Kang Jin-ho turned his head with a displeased look. Lee Hyun-soo, who met Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, contorted his face. “No! How can you joke around even in this situation?” “I didn’t joke.” “That’s even worse!” “…Tsk.” Kang Jin-ho, still clicking his tongue in disappointment, turned his head to look at Lee Hyun-soo’s replacement. “That damn bastard.” Wiggins muttered a curse. That damn bastard had rolled around on the floor, refusing to go, forcing him to go all the way to Korea. Just to bring that person here. “Can you do it?” “…Are you asking if I can win?” “No.” Kang Jin-ho shook his head. “I asked if you can face them.” “That’s a strange question.” The man, meeting Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, smiled with an expression similar to Kang Jin-ho’s. “You’ve only left those who can, and now you ask that?” “I can’t promise that I’ll win. But… facing anyone is nothing.” Kang Jin-ho smiled, as if pleased with the answer. “Go.” “Yes.” The man. Lee Myung-hwan walked towards the center. Watching him, Bang Jin-hoon frowned. “…Honestly, winning is impossible, so why bother bringing that guy? It would be better to just send Lee Hyun-soo…” “Are you still holding grudges even here, seriously?” Lee Hyun-soo was exasperated, but Kang Jin-ho ignored him and opened his mouth. “It has meaning.” Kang Jin-ho’s gaze followed Lee Myung-hwan’s back. “It definitely has meaning that someone who will carry on is here with us. We’re here to carry on, after all.” That’s why they couldn’t lose. That’s why they wouldn’t lose. Kang Jin-ho clearly saw a person slowly walking out from the opposite side of Lee Myung-hwan. ‘It’s starting.’ Kang Jin-ho quietly clenched his fist.