Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1674

“……We’ve lost their trail,” Chen Weiting reported, biting his tongue several times.

The cold emanating from Chang Wang was so intense that even his tongue felt stiff, making it difficult to move properly.

Tiny beads of sweat formed on Chen Weiting’s forehead.

He had served under Chang Wang for a long time, but this was the first time he had seen Chang Wang so enraged.

Come to think of it.

Had he ever seen Chang Wang fail so miserably?

Even Chang Wang, not being a god, couldn’t handle everything perfectly. There had always been minor failures. But this was clearly the first time Chang Wang had invested so much effort and resources only to end up with nothing.

‘It’s not just that they didn’t get anything.’ The damage they suffered in Zhangjiakou was immense.

The visible damage to their forces was not the whole story. To not miss this opportunity, they had poured out every card they had. And all those cards had become useless.

All that remained was the burden of cleaning up.

However, it was only natural for Chang Wang to be so furious.

“Lost their trail?”

“Yes.”

“They wouldn’t have sunk into the ground, would they?”

“……We haven’t found any such traces.”

“I see.”

Chang Wang’s eyes twitched.

The question about sinking into the ground wasn’t just a joke. Chang Wang was even considering the possibility that they had dug into the ground and moved underground.

The opponents were masters of martial arts.

If they thought and reacted based on common sense, they would inevitably misjudge. They had to think of them as monsters, not humans, and consider all possibilities.

“What’s the observation method?”

“The military is using satellites. The area is so vast that it’s almost impossible to observe with manpower.”

“Satellites…”

Chang Wang nodded.

“Since they’re burdened by the fact that we’re chasing them, they won’t be able to give up speed. They must be using some method to evade our eyes and move at high speed towards the border.”

Chang Wang stood up from his seat.

“Don’t be fooled.”

“Yes!”

“They will definitely go to the border. They must be planning to cross into Mongolia. We just need to properly seal off the border.”

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu.

At that moment, the ground shook, and a sandstorm began to rise.

A helicopter slowly descended from the sky next to Chang Wang.

“Gather all forces to the border immediately!”

“Yes! Chang Wang!”

Chang Wang soared into the air and boarded the helicopter.

‘It’ll be a futile effort.’

He never underestimated his opponents. He had never underestimated them in the first place, but after being thoroughly outmaneuvered, his evaluation of them had only increased.

‘Giving them this distance was my mistake. There’s no way to overcome this.’

That’s why he had to be even more cautious.

He had to perfectly predict their movements and set a trap for them.

‘I’ll allow them to run away.’

However…

“At least they’ll have to leave a leg behind.”

Chang Wang gritted his teeth.

“Connect me to the military.”

“Yes!”

Chang Wang sat in his seat and accepted the headset his subordinate offered.

The helicopter carrying him began to fly north, and further north.

* * *

‘It’s quite fascinating.’

While running, Kang Jin-ho raised his head and glanced at the transparent barrier above him. He could feel the flow of energy within the barrier, but he couldn’t understand how it could prevent cameras from seeing them.

He had overheard Lee Hyun-soo and Wiggins discussing the principle behind it, but it was all gibberish to Kang Jin-ho anyway.

‘It’s strange.’

Kang Jin-ho was a well-educated person, having entered a good university with good grades. So why couldn’t he understand what they were saying?

Learning is only useful if it has a purpose.

The knowledge Kang Jin-ho had acquired to get into university had all evaporated the moment that goal was achieved.

Kang Jin-ho was proving that the saying that martial artists have good memories was a complete lie.

Anyway, that wasn’t important right now.

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“How far are we?”

“We’re almost at the border. About 10km ahead.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

“How’s your physical condition?”

“It’s much better. Master has been healing me from time to time.”

Kang Jin-ho and the others were almost fully healed naturally. The injuries they had sustained during the battle were only superficially healed, but the poison had almost completely dissipated.

However, Lee Hyun-soo, whose martial power was insufficient and natural healing ability was low, had barely recovered on his own.

He was probably still only half-conscious.

‘But he’s following along without complaint.’

It was worrying, but there was no time to leisurely heal Lee Hyun-soo right now. Even if his condition worsened somewhat, they could heal him anytime once they moved to a safe place.

“Have you contacted the Mongolian side?”

“We have the means to contact them, but we don’t know what the consequences might be, so we’re prioritizing moving to the pre-designated rendezvous point.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

That meant that once they crossed the border, the primary problem would be solved.

However…

“One thing.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho gently pushed Lee Hyun-soo’s panting back and said,

“What happens if they don’t stop chasing us even after we enter Mongolia?”

“……Then we’ll have to join forces with the martial artists in Mongolia and fight the enemy.”

“What about the army?”

“The army won’t be able to advance beyond the border.”

“……Are you sure?”

Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth.

Logically, that could never happen. No matter how powerful China was, they couldn’t advance their army into Mongolian territory without a declaration of war.

If they did, they would face international condemnation. They wouldn’t be able to justify invading another country’s border to chase after Kang Jin-ho and the others. They would be unilaterally attacked without even being able to make excuses.

So, that was out of the question.

However, one thing bothered him…

‘When has that madman ever acted logically?’

Never.

Chang Wang was not someone who could be measured by common sense. He had never once acted within Lee Hyun-soo’s expectations.

No.

Rather, Chang Wang would likely cross the border and attack the moment they felt safe. He was the kind of person who would do anything to achieve his goals.

“……I’ll correct myself.

If it’s Chang Wang, it’s possible.”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“And even if the army doesn’t move, it’s the same. I don’t mean to disregard the Mongolian martial artists, but I don’t think they can stop Chang Wang’s forces.”

“……I agree with that.”

Bator had confidently thumped his chest, but they couldn’t take his words at face value. This was a matter of everyone’s lives and the fate of the entire Assembly [a group of martial artists].

“I wonder if we’re just causing more trouble for Mongolia.”

“I understand what you’re worried about, Lord. But the goal remains the same. We must move to the designated location.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. The second plan is also prepared there.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He didn’t bother asking what the second plan Lee Hyun-soo had prepared was. It was Kang Jin-ho’s way of showing his trust in Lee Hyun-soo.

“……China is truly terrible every time I come here.”

“I completely agree.”

Kang Jin-ho gave a bitter smile.

There was a time when he felt closer to China than to Korea. There was a time when he had pondered his own identity for quite a long time after returning to this world.

But now, the thought of China made him shudder.

“Lord!”

At that moment, Wiggins shouted.

“What is it?”

“There’s an army with a formation ahead. We’re almost at the border.”

Kang Jin-ho raised his head.

He couldn’t see it yet.

Wiggins’ senses couldn’t be better than his, so he must have used magic to check the distance.

“How many?”

“……I can’t pinpoint the exact number, but it’s not a small force. And unlike the tank unit we encountered earlier, they have a perfect formation. It won’t be easy to break through.”

“We’ll force our way through.”

“Yes!”

No further words were needed.

“If we don’t break through, we’ll all die. We’ll risk our lives to break through and cross the border…”

“Demon Lord, wait a moment.”

“This isn’t the time for other matters.”

“That’s not it, Demon Lord.”

“…Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at Jang Min.

“What is it?”

“This is…”

“Huh?”

Jang Min was holding something small in his hand.

It looked like a toy airplane, or a small helicopter…

“What is that?”

“……It seems to be a drone.”

“A drone?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

A drone. Why a drone here all of a sudden…

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes widened.

“A drone?”

“Yes. I caught it when I felt something in my sight… There are probably drones all around this area.”

“So, there’s no way to just block the sky. Does that mean we have to be careful of our surroundings as we move forward?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“……Then?”

“I’ve been seeing similar things since a while ago. There have been military drones all around this area. Probably from at least 5km back.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face hardened.

That meant…

“Our location has been pinpointed. The enemy probably knows our route now.”

“That means the defense line will be thicker.”

Kang Jin-ho let out a low sigh.

“It can’t be helped. We’ll still force our way through. Or should we change direction now and go around a bit…”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho stopped talking.

His head suddenly snapped to one side.

“……Lord?”

Startled by his unusual reaction, Lee Hyun-soo called out urgently, but Kang Jin-ho remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the sky, his mouth shut.

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Earlier… what did you say would happen if our location was pinpointed?”

“I said they would launch a missile or something.”

“……What’s the blast radius of a missile?”

Wiggins’ face slowly hardened.

“It depends on the type, but if it’s equipped with a high-explosive warhead, the danger zone can be up to 1km. It would be different if it carried a nuclear warhead, but even if the Chinese are crazy, they wouldn’t drop a nuke on their own territory.”

“So… if we’re attacked here, the army 10km away won’t be affected.”

“……Could it be?”

Kang Jin-ho reached out and grabbed Lee Hyun-soo. Then, he threw Chaikechang [Kang Jin-ho’s weapon] to Zha Hongwang.

Hongwang reflexively caught Chaikechang.

“Run.”

“……Yes?”

“Run! Damn it, now! Evacuate at high speed!”

Wiggins released the illusion magic.

He had sensed what was happening. The executives, exchanging glances, began to sprint north at full speed. They were running several times faster than the speed they had been maintaining to conserve their stamina.

“You damn bastards!”

“You crazy sons of bitches! You should have known your limits!”

“That’s why you should have kept your mouths shut! Don’t you know that words can become reality!”

Screams and shouts erupted spontaneously.

Involuntarily turning his head, Wiggins saw a small dot in the distant sky.

“Faster! Faster! Damn it! Run, run, run, run!”

The executives shot forward like rays of light.

Kang Jin-ho, with Lee Hyun-soo tucked under his arm, reached out and grabbed Wiggins and Bang Jin-hoon, and began to sprint.

“You slow, bear-like fool!”

Jang Min shouted frantically, then lifted Bator’s massive body as if he were wearing it on his head.

“W-wait! Old man! Put me down!”

“Shut up and stay still!”

Kang Jin-ho, Jang Min, and Hongwang ran as if their legs would fall off. Long clouds of dust rose from the ground they kicked up.

Right after that…

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

As if not wanting to let them escape, a huge sonic boom echoed from the sky, and something slammed into the ground.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!

The earth was overturned, and the sound stopped.

But only for a moment.

Soon, crimson flames exploded, covering the earth, and a tremendous shockwave began to spread in all directions.

The executives of the Assembly flinched at the shockwave coming from behind and looked back.

And at that moment, they saw an unbelievable sight.

The sky.

The sky, half-blurred, was filled with long missiles.

Despair poured down from the sky.