Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1537

‘It’s still not enough.’

Kang Jin-ho spoke in a low voice.

‘Just defeating the Hong King won’t solve anything. Comparing the Hong King faction to the Assembly, the outcome is obvious. We’d probably be defeated without even putting up a fight.’

‘It’s not that bad anymore. If we consider the support from overseas, we have a good chance.’

‘That’s if we have time. If the Hong King faction attacks all-out right now, the battle will be decided before the reinforcements arrive.’

He was right.

Even if the Round Table provides support through portals, it would still take several days to gather troops. And as they experienced in the last war with Japan, a full-scale battle can be decided in less than a day.

The Round Table wouldn’t have time to intervene.

‘So, in the end, we have to rely on our own strength when it’s needed?’

‘That’s right.’

Bator grinned.

‘It’s always been that way from the start. There’s no need to be so serious about it now.’

‘Yeah, you’re right.’

‘Don’t be impatient, Master.’

‘Master is strong. And you’re getting stronger. Time is on our side. The more days pass, the higher our chances of victory will be.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Wiggins will buy us time. We just need to focus on training, right?’

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

‘It would be nice if things went that smoothly…’

Bator wasn’t saying these things because he was naive. He was trying to ease Kang Jin-ho’s anxiety.

Knowing his intentions, Kang Jin-ho could only nod.

‘More than that…’

Bator subtly clenched his fist.

‘When your head is complicated, it’s not bad to loosen up your body once more.’

Kang Jin-ho said indifferently.

‘I’ll pass. It wouldn’t even be a warm-up for me.’

Bator’s eyes flared with anger.

‘I’ll definitely loosen up that body of yours.’

‘Did you learn massage or something?’

Grinding his teeth, Bator made Kang Jin-ho grin.

‘Then come at me.’

Without a battle cry, Bator charged at Kang Jin-ho with all his might.

‘Hey, you should think about your body. You’ll die if you keep going like that.’

At Wiggins’ words, Bator groaned and turned over.

‘Damn it, did I pass out?’

‘You should be grateful that you didn’t break any bones after getting hit that much.’

‘Well, the Lord is amazing. I never thought Bator would get knocked out like that.’

‘Take out the part about getting hit.’

‘Then, got beaten?’

Bator’s body trembled.

He couldn’t argue because everything they said was true.

‘It’s truly an absurd level of strength.’

‘He’s a monster.’

Bator frowned.

He felt a sharp pain in his busted mouth. Even though he had attacked with more determination this time, he couldn’t land a proper blow on Kang Jin-ho.

‘I thought I could win someday…’

‘I highly appreciate your ambition, Bator. But you should also know the meaning of the word ‘reckless’.’

‘Ugh.’

Bator shook his head.

It was frustrating that he couldn’t refute those words.

‘It’s not like Bator is weak, so there’s no need to be disappointed. Bator has become strong enough. It’s just that the Lord’s growth rate is faster than Bator’s.’

‘That’s not comforting at all.’

‘I wasn’t exactly trying to comfort you?’

Bator narrowed his eyes.

Instead of always picking on Kang Jin-ho, he should give this sly guy a good beating sometime…

‘I will never spar with you, so don’t look at me like that.’

‘Tsk, what a shame.’

Wiggins smiled faintly.

‘And if Bator is so disappointed, how am I supposed to live? I can’t even keep up with Bator’s growth rate.’

‘That’s because you’re paying attention to everything.’

Bator sneered.

‘If you put aside all that miscellaneous work and focused on your magic or whatever, you would be on par with me by now.’

‘…It’s just not in my nature.’

‘I guess so. Then you’ll stay at that level for the rest of your life…’

Bator grabbed his head.

‘Ughhhhhh.’

‘What’s wrong?’

Bator made a face and sighed deeply.

‘When I asked earlier if there was a need to increase speed when I’ve been training my strength my whole life, this must have been how the Lord felt.’

‘How did you feel?’

‘Like I was looking at an idiot.’

Bator mumbled with a mix of frustration and blankness.

‘There’s a clear path to get stronger, but I said I’d just keep doing what I’ve been doing. How could I have said such stupid things? Just because you’re talking doesn’t mean it makes sense.’

‘…Are you dissing me right now?’

‘No, no. I’m dissing myself.’

‘…It feels like I’m getting hit along with you.’

Wiggins looked at Bator with a strange expression.

‘Anyway, think about your body and take it easy. Sparring is good, but what’s the point if you get hurt? It’s better to do it consistently at a moderate level.’

‘My body isn’t that weak.’

‘You should hear what your body has to say…’

‘Don’t talk nonsense.’

Bator waved his hand.

‘More importantly, what do you think?’

‘About what?’

‘This war.’

‘If one of the Three Kings factions survives, can we handle them?’

Knowing the power of the Hong King faction, Bator had to ask.

‘If it’s just one, we can handle them adequately.’

‘One?’

‘Yes. But if two of them join forces, we won’t stand a chance.’

Bator frowned.

‘That won’t happen.’

‘It’s possible.’

‘What?’

‘Think about it. When there are three of them, they can’t cooperate. Even if two of them cooperate, the other one benefits. But if only two remain, things change. They might agree to eliminate us first and then settle their own score.’

Bator’s face turned serious, as he hadn’t considered that situation at all.

‘Don’t worry too much. It’s a very low probability. It’s just a possibility.’

‘The worst-case scenario isn’t that.’

‘What is it?’

Bator’s eyes widened.

The worst?

‘The worst-case scenario is if one faction unifies the Central Plains [the heartland of China] and just stays there.’

‘Why is that the worst?’

‘Then all the advantages the Assembly has had so far will be transferred to them. Time will be on their side.’

Bator took a deep breath.

‘I see.’

China and Korea are incomparable in terms of land size. If the war ends and the time for training returns, the Three Kings faction that unified the Central Plains will control and train all the martial artists from that vast land.

Could the Assembly keep up with that?

Absolutely impossible.

Bator’s face became serious.

‘So, are you saying we have to invade China?’

‘It’s the worst-case scenario, but we can’t ignore it.’

Bator sighed, looking gloomy.

‘Invade China?’

Thinking about the vast land and the countless martial artists swarming there, he already felt suffocated.

Why was the Assembly able to accumulate power through consecutive victories?

It was because most of the important battles took place within Korean territory or in places where other countries’ public power didn’t reach.

Like the Round Table, which couldn’t be owned by any one country, or the high seas, where the power of the law didn’t reach.

But China is different.

The moment they invade China, just like the Korean government that was invaded by Japan, support for the martial arts world would pour in.

To fight the Three Kings faction while dealing with that power?

‘It’s hell.’

After considering all the situations, Bator looked at Wiggins and asked.

‘The situation we’re in is more difficult than I thought.’

‘You’ve lost your sense of crisis. You’ve only been winning. The enemy is incredibly powerful. Of course, it’s much better than losing morale and being sluggish.’

Bator nodded silently.

‘Then what should we do from now on?’

Wiggins shrugged.

‘Well, what else is there to do? Bator, you just need to keep training hard like you’re doing now.’

‘Is that enough?’

‘Didn’t I tell you? I’m not the type to focus on one thing. So, I’ll take care of this.’

Wiggins’ eyes shone coldly.

‘I know I can’t be a major force against the strong in China. Do you think I don’t know how big the gap is between Bator, Elder Jang Min, and me?’

‘So, I have to do it. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take on the burden alone. This might be a bigger role than what Bator has to do in the war.’

‘That’s definitely true.’

‘So, don’t worry too much. If I fail, I’ll just die, right?’

‘You’ve become more of a joker.’

‘…I’m not joking?’

Bator looked at Wiggins and chuckled.

‘That rat-like guy.’

Back when he first met Wiggins, he never thought he would be talking so openly with him. Back then, Bator thought Wiggins had other intentions.

‘I apologize.’

‘What for all of a sudden?’

‘I was wrong about you at first. I thought you approached the Assembly with the intention of using it.’

‘You don’t have to apologize. That was somewhat true.’

‘But after watching you, I realized you weren’t that kind of guy. You’re just twisted, have a black heart, and are obsessed with trying to get any advantage.’

‘…Apologize properly, respectfully.’

The two looked at each other and chuckled.

‘After all, neither Bator nor I came here to try and take over the Assembly. We just wandered in and somehow got charmed by the Lord.’

‘That’s right.’

‘I’ve bet my fate on that man.’

‘Me too.’

Bator nodded firmly.

He knew.

That he couldn’t become the best.

‘My limits are clear.’

He was still trying to overcome those limits, but his innate talent was different. Bator would never reach the pinnacle of the martial arts world until the moment he died.

But if that was the case, he would at least create the pinnacle with his own hands.

‘I will make the Master the ruler of the martial arts world.’

‘Same here.’

‘Then I can at least be the second-in-command.’

‘Uh… Do you think Elder Jang Min will allow that?’

‘How much can that old man, who could die any day, do?’

Kwaaaang!

At that moment, the door burst open.

Bator’s cheek twitched. He saw Jang Min’s ghostly figure entering through the door.

‘…Why?’

‘The Demonic Lord told me to come. He said you would ask about demonic arts.’

Ah!