Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1193

Yoshinobu’s eyes trembled.

He doubted his eyes.

And he doubted the ground he was standing on.

‘What am I looking at?’

He had pride.

Pride in himself.

Pride in the martial world he belonged to.

And even pride in Shin’nichikai [a fictional organization, likely a martial arts school or clan].

But at this moment, the pride he had was all being shattered and collapsing.

The battle between Kang Jin-ho and them completely defied the common sense of martial arts he knew.

What bewildered Yoshinobu even more was that their fighting style was not so different from the hunting method Yoshinobu had used against Kang Jin-ho.

But the level was different.

Incomparable power.

And filled with incomparable malice.

That one shadow alone could easily kill hundreds of people here. Someone whose presence couldn’t even be detected would suddenly appear from the darkness, stab with a sword, and disappear.

Who could stop that?

Thinking about how much money and effort it would take to raise just one such ninja was dizzying.

But…….

That tremendous force was being treated like a box delivering bombs to Kang Jin-ho. One life was lost with each attack. They were using the power of a considerable number of Gumi [likely a reference to a Yakuza group or similar organization] as expendables.

‘……Crazy.’

No matter how much he tried to understand, he couldn’t. If sacrificing their lives could take Kang Jin-ho’s head, it might be worth trying. But they were sacrificing their lives just to inflict a wound.

‘Risking one’s life’ and ‘throwing away one’s life’ are different things. ‘Risking one’s life’ is when there’s a possibility of defeating the opponent and surviving, but this was not it.

Whether the opponent fell or not, they were definitely going to die. There was even a clear possibility of dying without even leaving a scratch.

Yet, they were throwing away their lives and rushing in?

It was chilling.

In the past, this was the kind of spirit that the Great Japanese Empire emphasized. The spirit they called Yamato spirit [a term referring to the traditional Japanese spirit of courage and loyalty], glorifying the past.

Seeing its true nature before his eyes was not as moving as he had imagined.

Its barbarity and extremism only left him speechless.

“Chief.”

“Shouldn’t we prepare?”

“For what?”

“Kang Jin-ho is definitely taking damage.”

At the adjutant’s words, Yoshinobu looked at Kang Jin-ho.

Torn clothes.

Fallen pieces of flesh.

The hair burned by the explosion and the body stained black.

Yoshinobu bit his lip.

It was clear that Kang Jin-ho was taking damage. The monster who hadn’t even been scratched despite the onslaught of Shin’nichikai’s elite thousand was now struggling with wounds.

Then?

‘Should I accept that method?’

Its efficiency was proven.

But is it okay to sacrifice everything just for that efficiency?

Is it right for humans to use human lives as tools?

If it were Yoshinobu before he stood on this battlefield, he would have said yes without hesitation. Because sacrificing for a greater goal was a very natural thing.

But after witnessing the ‘sacrifice for the greater good’ with his own eyes, he couldn’t readily say yes.

‘No, that’s not even a sacrifice for the greater good.’

A sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice.

That was all it was.

“Kang Jin-ho is still strong.”

“The situation is fifty-fifty. We don’t know how it will end. So……”

“Shut your trap.”

Yoshinobu unknowingly spat out harsh words. He knew well that the adjutant giving advice was not at fault. But he couldn’t control this feeling of his insides turning upside down.

After taking a couple of breaths to calm himself, Yoshinobu opened his mouth.

“Move slowly and surround the perimeter without being noticed. A wounded tiger is the most terrifying disaster in the world. Make sure he can’t escape from here.”

“Yes!”

Yoshinobu, who had taken his eyes off the adjutant moving to deliver his orders, turned his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

The sight of Kang Jin-ho surrounded by Tsukihas [likely a reference to a group of assassins or warriors] was like a tiger surrounded by dozens of hunters.

A tiger is stronger than a human.

If humans were barehanded, even a thousand people couldn’t catch a single tiger. But humans with guns are different.

It was unsettling to witness the scene of science breaking down wildness.

‘Get a grip.’

There’s no need to empathize with the enemy for no reason. Pity can wait until after killing the enemy.

Yoshinobu gritted his teeth.

Kang Jin-ho let out Red Dew and Blue Dew [likely the names of his swords].

‘It’s chilly.’

He suddenly had that thought.

The air passing by his body was cold. Winter was fast approaching. Time was something even Kang Jin-ho couldn’t avoid.

Time changes many things.

Time and age develop humans. The Central Plains [a reference to ancient China] he experienced in the past and modern life were incomparable. Perhaps an ordinary person in modern times might be living a better life than an emperor of the past.

Humans are such beings.

They overcome and develop.

Even martial arts, which were once the absolute value of strength, would one day become meaningless in the name of science.

No.

It was already halfway there.

And today, he was certain here. Someday, martial arts will disappear. The martial artists who once shook the world will one day become worthless beings, naturally becoming obsolete and disappearing.

Or maybe they’ll just remain as a health method.

But…….

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes glowed red.

This was not a matter of pride or value.

If it were the Kang Jin-ho of the past, he might not have felt any emotion even after seeing their methods. But the current Kang Jin-ho was feeling uncontrollable anger at their methods.

Because there was none.

If the purpose of their methods was ultimately for people, he might be able to accept it somehow. But

there were no people in their methods.

All that remained was a faded glory that no one knew who it would be dedicated to.

‘Who was that hand extended towards?’

It was the first time.

To feel disgust at a method.

He couldn’t completely sort it out himself, but he needed to release this boiling anger for now.

“Tch!”

It seemed his insides were shaken up.

Blood kept rising up his throat. The external wounds were not a big deal. What was important was that his insides were hurt.

Every time he felt the excruciating pain engulfing his whole body, Kang Jin-ho bit his lip.

‘I didn’t expect to experience it like this.’

Any martial artist would be curious.

What would be the result if modern weapons and a skilled martial artist were to clash?

One thing was clear with this.

He didn’t know if modern weapons could touch a martial artist’s body, but once they did, even the strongest martial artist couldn’t be unharmed. Someone who could survive taking such an impact to the body?

The only ones he could think of right now were Hong Wang and Bator.

Although they were dead now, the Elder Knights wouldn’t die either.

But that also meant that no one except them could withstand the impact of a bomb exploding at close range.

They must have confirmed that too.

That’s why they had such smug faces.

‘They’ve regained their composure.’

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

For the opponent to regain their composure meant they were looking down on Kang Jin-ho. Of course, Kang Jin-ho had no intention of tolerating such a situation.

This was a battlefield.

On the battlefield, no one dared to look at Kang Jin-ho with such eyes.

Now, Kang Jin-ho would teach them that.

The demonic energy that had been slowly leaking out seeped into Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho, who had completely suppressed the demonic energy inside, held Red Dew and Blue Dew crossed.

Tsukikage stared at Kang Jin-ho like that and opened his mouth.

“What are you thinking? You’ve already experienced the power, haven’t you?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly without answering.

“Not enough beating……”

“You.”

Kang Jin-ho cut off Tsukikage’s words with a short sentence.

“Unlike your image, you talk a lot.”

“……You!”

No, talking a lot wasn’t bad.

Because soon, the time for that mouth to talk would disappear.

Kang Jin-ho became a ray of light and charged forward.

The Tsukihas widened their eyes. It was a speed that couldn’t be compared to Kang Jin-ho’s speed until now.

Until now, Kang Jin-ho’s method was closer to overpowering with force. But Kang Jin-ho’s fighting style had changed completely.

Japanese swords were reflexively raised towards Kang Jin-ho, who charged with terrifying speed.

Swish.

Kang Jin-ho cleanly evaded the incoming stab. Twisting his body, Kang Jin-ho’s twin swords, which had brushed past the flying sword, were swung at a speed different from before.

Fwoooooosh!

Only after the sword had torn through the air dozens of times did a deafening roar erupt. The air torn by the sword screamed and shook.

But by the time the roar erupted, Kang Jin-ho was already gone. The shockwave that burst out momentarily struck the space that had stopped.

“Kkyaaaak!”

“Aaaack!”

Severed arms and legs fell to the floor.

It was different.

Until now, Kang Jin-ho had definitely killed those he targeted. There might have been cases where those caught in the crossfire survived, but there was never a case where the target survived.

But the current Kang Jin-ho was different.

He didn’t bother to try to take the opponent’s life. If there was an opening, he didn’t care if it was the neck or the wrist.

He approached at the fastest speed, swung his sword at the fastest speed, and retreated at the fastest speed.

Then, a collapse occurred.

The shadows that had emerged from the darkness to chase Kang Jin-ho struggled, unable to keep up.

Kang Jin-ho ignored the emerging shadows and charged forward.

Coordination was only meaningful when the two sides were in sync. It was impossible for those hiding in the darkness to chase Kang Jin-ho.

It was because the Tsukihas sacrificed their lives to stop Kang Jin-ho’s movements for even a moment that the shadows were able to grab Kang Jin-ho. But if that coordination was broken, it became a pipe dream for the shadows to catch Kang Jin-ho with their speed.

A foreign substance interfered with the precisely working coordination.

Fwoooooosh!

It wasn’t the sound of a sword being swung.

A sound like a jet engine, a roar, swept through the place where the sword had passed.

“Block him! Just once is enough! If we can stop him just once!”

They knew.

The Tsukihas knew that too.

But how?

How could they face someone who moved at a speed invisible to the eye, swung his sword like a demon, and disappeared like a ghost?

They couldn’t even see the person or the sword! How!

“Uwaaaack!”

The Japanese swords they were additionally carrying were drawn.

Those with heads on their shoulders held multiple swords to defend their bodies. They might not be able to stop him with their bodies, but if they could catch him with a sword, they might be able to stop that ridiculous movement somehow.

And that prediction was correct.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The swung Red Dew collided with the swords, emitting metallic sounds. The eyes of those who confirmed that the sword had stopped for a moment were filled with joy.

And as if not to miss that opportunity, a couple of shadows rose from the floor.

At the same time, the Tsukihas saw it.

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s expression changed.

That expressionless face was changing.

Into a smile that made their hearts shudder just by looking at it.

Kang Jin-ho, who had let go of Red Dew and Blue Dew, reached out and grabbed the collars of those rising up. Then, without delay, he threw them forward, grabbed the swords hovering in the air, and flew backward.

“Ah••••••”

Those who realized what the shadows flying towards them meant let out despairing groans.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Flesh fragments scattered in all directions.