Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1190

There was no sign.

By the time he noticed, the sword was already almost touching his back.

There were two choices.

Evade.

Or confront.

But Kang Jin-ho’s choice was neither.

Thud!

Kang Jin-ho’s foot kicked off the ground. Then, he charged at lightning speed towards the Tsukihas rushing at him.

“Hah!”

A whooshing sound was heard.

What if a sword suddenly flew from behind?

People usually freeze. No matter how calmly they try to react, they can only manage to evade. A master like Kang Jin-ho might find another way.

But right now, aren’t the Tsukihas charging from the front?

From the front, warriors are charging with their lives on the line, and from behind, assassins’ blades are creeping in. It’s not easy to deal with this situation.

This simple yet effective pincer attack had taken the lives of countless masters. But Kang Jin-ho’s choice was different from anyone they had faced before.

If you charge faster than the incoming blade, the attack is as good as nonexistent. The shadows widened their eyes at the absurd response.

Just as the thought of chasing after him arose in their minds, Kang Jin-ho was already colliding with the Tsukihas. The fate of the Tsukihas, who did not receive support from the shadows, was all too obvious.

Kwaaaaaaa!

A tremendous roar erupted as if a dam had burst and a torrent was pouring out. The roar was created by the black demonic energy swirling around Kang Jin-ho’s sword.

Like black flames swirling, like black waves surging…

No one here could have imagined that the energy drawn from a human body could take on such a dense form.

And the price was enormous.

Those who blocked Kang Jin-ho’s path were swept away.

Swords, energy, bodies…

Nothing mattered.

The price for trying to stop what should not be stopped had to be paid by the Tsukihas with their bodies.

Those swept away by the massive torrent of demonic energy couldn’t even scream.

Perhaps it was a blessing.

Because their bodies were literally pulverized before they could even feel pain. To die without pain while facing Kang Jin-ho was a blessing.

But of course, not everyone received that blessing.

“Kuhhh!”

“Ugh!”

Those who were completely swept away by the demonic energy could die without pain, but those who were half-swept away had to endure the pain of their arms or legs being torn off.

And Kang Jin-ho did not even grant them the mercy of ending their lives.

Using the recoil from his slash, Kang Jin-ho turned his body and charged backward.

“Hah!”

The shadows widened their eyes.

At the same time, they instantly understood.

When they were hidden in the darkness, they could make even Kang Jin-ho flustered, but the shadows that revealed themselves under the moonlight were nothing more than easy prey.

That’s why they had always balanced attack and concealment, but they were distracted by Kang Jin-ho’s instantaneous response and missed the timing to hide again.

The price was ultimately only one thing.

Swish!

Two heads soared into the sky.

Having lost two, those who hid back in the darkness had to pray that the sound of their pounding hearts would not reach Kang Jin-ho.

In an instant, more than five people had died.

And several others were injured.

Just one exchange.

That alone caused this much damage.

If this situation were to repeat a couple more times, they would lose nearly half of their forces, and the encirclement would collapse. Then, all that would remain would be a one-sided massacre.

Their hearts stopped.

Their breathing stopped too.

Perfect concealment.

These were the shadows, who could even stop their hearts for that purpose.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked down, then raised his sword.

Then, he bared his teeth and smiled.

The shadow felt as if Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, his eyes stained red, were looking at him, and his expression hardened.

That couldn’t be.

No matter how strong Kang Jin-ho was, he couldn’t possibly find him when he had completely concealed his presence…

Thud!

A chilling sensation.

The shadow, realizing that the sword that had pierced through the ground had pierced his heart, looked at Kang Jin-ho with disbelief.

Kang Jin-ho, as if understanding his feelings, opened his mouth, though he couldn’t possibly see him.

“Body heat cannot be hidden.”

If he had known Korean, he would have understood why he died, but unfortunately, nothing was conveyed to the shadow. The last thought he had was that the sensation of the sword piercing his heart was hotter than he had heard.

Thud.

Kang Jin-ho pulled out his sword and lightly flicked it, scattering the blood on the tip.

Thud, thud.

Watching the scene, Tsukikage slowly approached Kang Jin-ho with cold eyes.

‘It’s impossible with normal methods.’

The people here were the best of Shin’ichi-kai’s forces [a fictional Japanese organization].

No, it wasn’t exactly wrong to say they were the best in Japan. Yet, they were completely unable to break through Kang Jin-ho’s defenses.

‘Even if their blades were to reach him, it would be the same.’

Kang Jin-ho had even blocked his attacks without taking any damage. There was no way Kang Jin-ho would be harmed by the shadows’ attacks. The purpose of this attack was not to defeat Kang Jin-ho.

‘Two things.’

By sacrificing six lives, Tsukikage was able to confirm two things.

One.

The Tsukihas can somehow withstand Kang Jin-ho’s attacks. It’s impossible to completely block or confront them, but they can somehow manage to block a single blow. It means they won’t fall in an instant.

And two.

Approach is possible.

This was the most important part.

The shadows that revealed themselves were nothing more than prey for Kang Jin-ho, but the timing of switching from concealment to offense was enough to deceive Kang Jin-ho’s attention and allow them to approach within his reach.

These two elements were confirmed.

Then?

Tsukikage spat out the words.

“Switch to Fire Formation.”

The Tsukihas’ gazes momentarily turned to Tsukikage before quickly returning to their positions. They had momentarily failed to uphold the basic and obvious truth of not taking their eyes off the enemy.

But Kang Jin-ho didn’t particularly exploit that gap. Fortunately for them.

“If something is lacking, you can fill it with willpower.”

Tsukikage’s eyes dripped with murderous intent. His determination to kill Kang Jin-ho here, no matter what, was clearly evident.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Tsukikage and opened his mouth.

“Lacking.”

They were lacking.

In skill, ability, and martial prowess.

Their resolute will was beyond that of an Elder Knight. It could be felt in their eyes and spirit. They were burning with a clear determination to stop Kang Jin-ho, even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

But was there anything that could be solved with will alone?

The Japanese warriors were overly praised.

‘Or maybe the Round Table was just that strong.’

The Elder Knights had driven Kang Jin-ho to the brink of death. Since returning to this world, the only one who had pushed him to that point was the Red King.

But these people didn’t have that kind of skill.

Willpower?

Of course, it’s important.

But no amount of willpower can make up for a lack of skill. Willpower is just an element that allows you to maximize what you have, it doesn’t increase your skill.

If they had nothing more hidden, this battle was as good as decided.

“You don’t have to worry.”

Kang Jin-ho let the Red Tear and Blue Tear in his hands hang down. The Red Tear and Blue Tear, touching the ground, created a grating noise with each step Kang Jin-ho took.

Dragging his swords on the ground, Kang Jin-ho slowly advanced.

“Just because my interest is piqued doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you.”

Tsukikage bared his teeth.

This much time was enough.

“Kill him!”

At that moment, the Tsukihas distorted their faces and charged at Kang Jin-ho. They raised their swords, held in both hands, to the side of their faces and charged in formation.

Kang Jin-ho looked at them with indifferent eyes.

The spirit to not avoid death even when knowing it, and to be able to rush towards that death with ferocity?

Foolish talk.

Nothing remains after death.

Commending the dead is just a consolation for the living. Death is just death. It cannot be packaged by how one dies.

If rushing towards death is courage, then running away from death is also courage.

There was something empty in their will.

They had nothing they wanted to achieve themselves. They were just not avoiding what was given to them.

That alone certainly had meaning, but Kang Jin-ho was feeling an inexplicable emptiness from them.

‘This is an unpleasant fight.’

It was the first time.

That he couldn’t focus on the battle itself in a fight of this scale.

The boiling excitement quickly cooled, then subtly began to boil again.

The cooled mind was causing a disharmony with the body.

‘I need to end this quickly.’

Kang Jin-ho spun the Red Tear and gripped it.

The feel of his beloved sword in his fingertips was unchanged. And as long as this feeling didn’t change, Kang Jin-ho’s fighting would not change either.

The Tsukihas rushed at Kang Jin-ho with bloodshot eyes.

Kang Jin-ho raised the Red Tear and met the charging warriors. His sword struck down the one charging furthest ahead.

Kwaaaang!

A sonic boom erupted as the sword split the person in half. The bisected corpse was flung left and right as if shot out.

“Hwaaaah!”

Even while watching their comrade being split in half and dying before their eyes, the Tsukihas rushed at Kang Jin-ho without retreating.

The venom and murderous intent in their eyes.

Kang Jin-ho crushed all those emotions and gave the same ending to those who rushed at him.

The ending of death.

Faaaaaaang!

The sword tore through space. The sonic boom only echoed after the sword had departed, torn through space, and then stopped. The tip of the sword, exceeding the speed of sound, tore through bone and flesh faster than sound.

And at the same time…

Kang Jin-ho felt a presence suddenly appearing from behind and slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

An unchanging pattern.

It might be a standardized and efficient hunting method, but it wouldn’t work on Kang Jin-ho. Their mistake was not knowing that…

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!

At that moment, a roar erupted.

Kang Jin-ho’s body was flung into the air and crashed to the ground.

Thud! Thud!

Kang Jin-ho, who bounced on the ground a couple of times, flipped his body and landed on the ground.

But he lost his balance and one knee hit the ground.

‘What is it?’

Kang Jin-ho reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

His left shoulder was a mess.

‘What the hell?’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes slightly wavered.

He understood that he had been hit. But he couldn’t figure out what had attacked him.

‘I didn’t feel any energy at all?’

A strong attack must be accompanied by strong internal energy. And masters react to an opponent’s attack by looking at the movement of their energy, not their movements.

But he hadn’t felt any energy from them at all. If it was an attack that could inflict this much damage on Kang Jin-ho, it would require immense internal energy…

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s eyes shook.

Thud, thud!

Something fell to the ground.

Kang Jin-ho, realizing that it was blood and flesh fragments that had been flung into the air, bared his teeth. The one who had attacked him was now falling to the ground in a state that could not even be called a corpse.

“Thi…

Suicide attack.”

As those words came to his mind, a cold chill settled in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes.

It had been a long time.

Since he had been this angry.

It had been a really long time.