Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2049

Clack.

Wiggins took a deep breath, confirming that his prosthetic arm was moving smoothly.

‘The preparations are perfect.’

Since arriving here, he had checked it more than ten times, to the point where it could be called obsessive.

Yet, he still felt like something was missing.

However, Wiggins knew that the feeling he was experiencing was not wrong.

This was only natural. Perfect preparation does not exist, especially when fighting against an opponent stronger than oneself.

In life or in a match.

Everyone just does their best within that imperfection.

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm?”

Wiggins looked at Kang Jin-ho with a strange expression.

“I wonder if the Lord truly wishes for my victory.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“Do you really wish for it?”

Wiggins smiled, as if amused.

“To end a long relationship with the Lord’s own hands, it might be better for me to lose.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“I’m not that stupid.”

“I understand that sometimes you need to grasp victory in some form. And…”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked towards the Black King.

“It’s not that simple.”

“We fought with all our strength, and one side won.”

Wiggins’ eyebrows twitched. Kang Jin-ho’s words carried more weight than he had expected.

“It’s not a problem that can be solved so easily. My relationship with that guy, I mean.”

“Hmm.”

Wiggins slowly nodded.

“It’s hard to fully understand, but anyway, it seems the Lord wishes for my victory.”

“Of course.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Wiggins bowed his head towards Kang Jin-ho. It was an oddly out-of-place Eastern-style greeting for him.

Wiggins slowly raised his head and gave a faint smile.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded at Wiggins’ words, as if he were just going out for a while.

Just as Wiggins was about to turn around.

“Be careful.”

Bang Jin-hoon said gruffly.

“I don’t know about the other guys, but that bastard is really ruthless. If you don’t keep your wits about you, you’ll get your head chopped off and have no one to blame but yourself.”

Wiggins looked at Bang Jin-hoon with a glint in his eyes.

His tone was brusque, but his voice was sincere.

“Master, it’s okay to lose. If it seems dangerous, just surrender.”

Wiggins made a dumbfounded expression at Lee Hyun-soo’s words.

“…Is that what you should be saying?”

“Well, it’s not wrong, is it? We have another coin. Even if Master loses, it’s not like we’ll lose because of it. It’s the Guild Leader’s fault for not winning after we’ve set the stage.”

“Me?”

Kang Jin-ho looked bewildered, and Bator chuckled.

“It’s not wrong. Usually, the one who steps up last takes the blame.”

Bator, having teased Kang Jin-ho once, looked at Wiggins with a deeply furrowed brow.

“Still… win, Wiggins.”

“Losing to the same opponent again is really frustrating.”

Wiggins nodded silently.

Lee Myung-hwan, who had barely regained his senses, also clenched his fist towards Wiggins, and the Blood Demon, who had been lying like a corpse, lightly waved his hand at him.

“Even if it’s Baek Yeonhong, he’s lost an arm, so he won’t be as good as before. You can take advantage of that gap.”

“I will keep that in mind, Elder.”

Wiggins, having accepted each and every word, looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Win and come back.”

“…Yes.”

Wiggins’ gaze finally turned to where the Master’s body lay. After silently staring at his form, Wiggins resolutely turned his body and walked forward.

A confident stride.

A walk full of self-assurance that anyone could see. But Wiggins’ inner thoughts were a little different from what was visible on the surface.

‘It feels like the temperature is off.’

It wasn’t difficult to nod and respond to their passion. But to be honest… it wasn’t easy for Wiggins to empathize with their feelings.

‘Was it really necessary to go this far?’

No one was unscathed.

Whether they had lost or won, everyone had paid a heavy price. Some had lost their lives, and others would never be able to use martial arts again.

Even those who hadn’t lost any potential would have to suffer for months to recover from the injuries they had sustained today. And perhaps they might never reach the level they had achieved now.

Why did they have to go that far?

‘I know.’

Who could understand how much this match would affect the world more clearly than Wiggins? At least within the General Assembly, he could confidently say that no one could.

Yet, Wiggins couldn’t empathize with their passion at all.

‘It seems I’m an outsider after all.’

At this moment, even the sense of belonging he had felt within the General Assembly felt futile.

‘What’s the point?’

Even if you make the world right, if you lose your own value, it’s just doing good for others.

Why?

Those whose lives could be changed by the outcome of this match are now just watching a life-or-death battle on TV and clapping.

Why should they shed blood and risk their lives for the future of those who don’t lift a finger to change their own lives?

He couldn’t understand.

Not at all.

Wiggins lightly shook his head.

Now was not the time to have such idle thoughts.

Not being able to empathize with the purpose of the match was different from losing the will to fight when facing an enemy.

He could already see Baek Yeonhong standing in the center, waiting for him.

Step, step.

Wiggins walked to the center and stood facing Baek Yeonhong at a suitable distance.

“We meet again.”

Unlike him, who had complicated feelings, Baek Yeonhong looked even more carefree than before, although his appearance with one arm missing didn’t look good at all.

“Do you have any thoughts of joining the General Assembly?”

“Huh?”

Baek Yeonhong frowned at Wiggins’ sudden question.

“I could make you a decent prosthetic arm, you know.”

Wiggins tapped his mechanical arm, and Baek Yeonhong burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahaha! Now that you mention it, that’s right. One-armed versus one-armed. This is a battle of destiny.”

He couldn’t understand what was so enjoyable about it.

“But I’ll decline. To be honest, your side looks quite interesting, but… I think I still find this side more fun.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“I don’t like wasting time. You guys talk too much.”

“It’ll be quick.”

“Go ahead.”

Wiggins stared at Baek Yeonhong before opening his mouth.

“From what I see, you don’t seem like a very loyal person. The reason we first met was because you unilaterally ignored the Black King’s orders, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

Baek Yeonhong nodded as if acknowledging it.

“And even the Black King cut off your arm as punishment.”

“It did hurt a bit.”

“…Then why are you still following the Black King?”

“Huh?”

Wiggins asked as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“There are only crazy people here. There isn’t a single sane person. When I look at them, I feel like my own head is going crazy.”

“Ah, I can relate to that.”

“But among them, you’re the one whose actions I understand the least.”

“Why is that?”

Baek Yeonhong asked with interest.

“Do you have a passion to change the future of martial artists?”

“No. Isn’t it up to each person to take care of their own business? Why should I bother cleaning up after a bunch of ignorant fools?”

“Then? Do you have the loyalty to risk your life for the Black King?”

“Hmm, that’s something I’d have to think about.”

Baek Yeonhong turned his head and looked behind him. He could see the Black King’s chair and the other Twelve Fiends [a group of powerful warriors] lying around it.

Baek Yeonhong turned his gaze back, grabbed his mouth with his hand, and lightly shook his head.

“I can’t say I don’t have loyalty… but at least not as much as those morons.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Wiggins nodded.

“Then why are you standing here?”

“Huh?”

“Is there any value in risking your life here?”

Upon hearing those words, Baek Yeonhong burst into laughter. Wiggins frowned as he watched Baek Yeonhong laugh for a long time.

“What’s so funny?”

“No. It’s just…”

Baek Yeonhong wiped his face and looked at Wiggins, twisting his lips.

“Risk my life?”

“You seem to be mistaken, but you’re the only one who’s serious. Not me. Do you think I need to risk my life just to deal with the likes of you?”

Baek Yeonhong bared his teeth.

To him, it was all the same anyway.

Unless the opponent was the Demon Lord, it was just a game to him. Even if he had lost an arm and couldn’t perform as well as before, nothing would change.

“And… you need to understand one thing, you fool.”

“I know guys like you well. The type who thinks the world revolves only in their heads. You talk big all the time, but when it comes to the crucial moment, you can’t do anything and just act like an idiot.”

Wiggins bit his lip without realizing it.

Those words, which were nothing more than insults, clearly touched something within Wiggins.

“Let me show you.”

Swoosh!

Baek Yeonhong slowly drew his sword. At the same time, white sword energy erupted from his sword like a fierce torrent.

“Not everyone needs a grand reason to fight like you.”

“For some, it’s enough to just have an opponent to fight in front of them. They just need to be able to swing their swords freely.”

Baek Yeonhong slowly licked his lips.

“But… unfortunately, it seems like that will be difficult with your skills. There’s no way a fool who doesn’t even know why he’s fighting can withstand my sword.”

Wiggins’ eyes turned cold.

‘It’s meaningless.’

Even if there was meaning in this question, it was meaningless if the opponent was Baek Yeonhong.

Wiggins slowly nodded.

“I lost last time. I admit it.”

“Hmm?”

“But… if you think it’s the same as then, you’ll be in for a rough time.”

“Hahahaha!”

Madness bloomed in Baek Yeonhong’s eyes.

A completely different atmosphere from those who had fought here so far. An exploding wildness swept over Wiggins.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day!”

Whoosh!

Baek Yeonhong dashed forward like lightning. Unlike his rough voice, his footwork was as natural and smooth as flowing water.

Whirr!

At the same time, Wiggins’ body retreated backward, tearing through space. The movement was incredibly natural, but the phenomenon he created twisted the laws of the world itself.

Following the natural order and defying it.

Madness and reason.

Two warriors with completely different natures had now begun to clash with different wills.