Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1719

Kang Jin-ho quietly stared at the person facing him.

The distance was only about 10 meters.

It was a long distance if you considered it as such.

However, if the being standing just 10 meters away was the one called Hong Wang, that distance could not be considered far.

Hong Wang, dressed in simple Hanfu [traditional Chinese clothing] rather than flamboyant gold attire, had his gaze fixed on Kang Jin-ho, his lips tightly sealed.

What should one say?

Watching him, one could feel a gravity as heavy as a mountain.

Though not as massive as Bator, his body, which was large enough to be considered so, looked as solid and heavy as if made of rock.

There was no part of his body that did not hold immense power.

Feeling Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, Hong Wang spoke first.

“Should I thank you for humoring me?”

“It’s what I promised.”

“If you had refused appropriately, I wouldn’t have been able to force you either. Given the current situation. I am grateful that you have humored my stubbornness.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Hong Wang.”

Kang Jin-ho spoke softly, looking at Hong Wang.

“It’s not like I’m fighting against my will either. I thought it was about time to settle things.”

“Hmm.”

Hong Wang slightly clenched his fist.

The ease in Kang Jin-ho’s words had been irritating Hong Wang since a while ago. On the other hand, Hong Wang had been unable to shake off a subtle tension since a while ago.

Hong Wang’s eyes darkened.

So much had changed since the first time he encountered Kang Jin-ho. Back then, Kang Jin-ho barely survived Hong Wang’s hands.

If it were a martial arts match, Hong Wang would have won.

However, in a life-or-death battle, if neither side lost their lives, it was no different from a draw. That was why it was called a draw.

Both Hong Wang and Kang Jin-ho knew who the true victor of that match was.

But.

‘Has the situation changed this much in such a short time?’

Hong Wang was a martial artist who had already firmly established his own domain. In the past, he would have been considered a grandmaster.

There was no way such a person would not be able to gauge the difference between himself and his opponent. The current Kang Jin-ho was not the same person he had easily dealt with in the past. To face him properly, Hong Wang would have to risk his life as well.

“It’s a shame it’s not a death match,” Kang Jin-ho smiled.

Normally, Kang Jin-ho would have brushed it off with a remark like, ‘That’s why you survived,’ but such mockery was not appropriate for the current Hong Wang.

Hong Wang’s statement was not a provocation implying that he could have ended Kang Jin-ho’s life in a death match, but rather an expression of regret that they could not go all out without holding back.

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

“…Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho’s smile deepened.

“It means there’s no need to hold back. Come at me with the intent to kill. Nothing like that will happen anyway.”

Hong Wang’s eyes narrowed subtly.

The Kang Jin-ho he knew was someone who never doubted his victory in any situation.

It was the same when he and Kang Jin-ho fought to the death in the past. Even at that moment when Hong Wang’s superiority was absolute, Kang Jin-ho did not doubt his victory.

That was not mere bravado.

The outcome of a fight was not determined by the difference in skill. There were countless instances in the world where the weaker defeated the stronger.

Back then, Hong Wang could only laugh at Kang Jin-ho’s confidence. But now, that confidence was grating on his nerves.

If Kang Jin-ho hadn’t changed, then it was naturally Hong Wang who had changed.

‘I have lost something.’

The Hong Wang of the past was a man united by absolute confidence and an almost religious belief in himself. However, after losing to Chang Wang in their match, his self-assurance had diminished.

That was why Kang Jin-ho’s attitude kept irritating him. He was doubting himself that that confidence might become a reality.

Hong Wang’s eyes lowered.

If he were an ordinary martial artist, he would have denied this situation. He would have comforted himself that he had not changed at all and was still incredibly strong.

However, Hong Wang had too complete a mind to deceive himself.

‘Don’t look away.’

Deceiving oneself was the last thing one should do.

“Demon King.”

“Hmm?”

“Answer me. Have I become weaker?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Hong Wang with a strange expression.

There was no hint of wavering in Hong Wang’s face as he asked with a hardened expression.

‘Impressive.’

Overcoming something fundamentally begins with facing one’s weaknesses. If one does not accurately recognize one’s own state, the wound festers and eventually remains as a scar.

However, facing one’s own weakness is accompanied by great pain. Especially for someone like Hong Wang, who had such strong self-belief, the pain would be incomparable to that of ordinary people.

Nevertheless, Hong Wang chose to face that pain without avoiding it.

“It depends on what the standard is.”

“Does that mean I’m stronger than when we first met, but weaker than when we last saw each other?”

“…You know it well.”

Hong Wang nodded quietly.

“Then the reason I’ve become weaker is ultimately a mental issue.”

Kang Jin-ho did not answer.

Hong Wang was a martial artist who had achieved mastery. If he had the courage to face his own situation, diagnosing his own state was not difficult. It meant that Kang Jin-ho’s answer was not necessary.

“Defeat…”

Hong Wang laughed.

“I have lived with the pride that I have never been defeated by myself. But I never imagined that not experiencing defeat would hold me back. If I had been defeated at the right time, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Perhaps it was because you were undefeated that you were able to get this far.”

“…That’s not wrong either.”

Hong Wang nodded quietly.

“Demon King, do you know? I am very angry right now.”

Hong Wang glared at Kang Jin-ho with sharp eyes.

“That defeat has dulled me means that I was afraid of Chang Wang or the defeat he gave me. I cannot tolerate that.”

Crack.

Hong Wang clenched his fist.

“Can defeat be erased with victory?”

“Impossible.”

Kang Jin-ho answered indifferently.

“Even if you defeat someone stronger?”

“Even if you defeat me, nothing will change unless you overcome Chang Wang with your own hands. Or maybe if you gain perfect confidence that you will never lose to Chang Wang again.”

Hong Wang nodded as if Kang Jin-ho’s words were correct.

“Then there’s only one way.”

Hong Wang said in a majestic voice.

“I just need to defeat you.”

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“No. I understand perfectly. If I can defeat you, I feel like I won’t lose to Chang Wang.”

“…You did understand.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and spread his arms wide.

Whoosh!

Space distorted as his hands were pushed into the void. When he pulled them out again, he held Red Dew and Crimson Dew in his hands. Kang Jin-ho, with two long swords hanging down, stared at Hong Wang with lowered eyes.

“But you still don’t understand. Do you think you can defeat me when you’re not even at your best?”

“It will be difficult.”

Golden energy gathered around Hong Wang’s fists.

“But what does that matter? If you’re a martial artist, you’d know. If you’re at a crossroads of trying the impossible or giving up, there’s only one choice.”

“That’s true.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled, revealing his teeth.

Even if he were in Hong Wang’s position, he wouldn’t be able to give up. There was only one path to take. A martial artist ends the moment they settle in their place.

No matter how far and difficult the path may seem, one has no choice but to move forward. Because even a sliver of possibility can only be created by taking a chance.

“Don’t worry.”

Kang Jin-ho whispered softly.

“I’ll give you the confidence that you can beat Chang Wang anytime. But you’ll face an even bigger wall.”

“Arrogant fool. How dare you.”

Hong Wang’s eyes blazed with fiery light.

“You told me to go all out, so I’ll grant your wish!”

Hong Wang shouted in a booming voice.

Then Kang Jin-ho said mockingly.

“Stop yapping and come at me.”

“Oooooooo!”

Hong Wang’s body became a streak of golden light and shot towards Kang Jin-ho.

Black demonic energy exploded from Kang Jin-ho’s body.

A golden flash and black flames.

Two superhumans, transcending humanity, collided head-on.

KWA-A-A-A-A-ANG!

“Ouch!”

Bang Jin-hoon raised his arms to cover his face.

The collision of monsters.

The aftermath reached even those watching the battle from afar.

“…What’s flying this way?”

It was a distance where they could barely see.

If they were carelessly swept away, Bang Jin-hoon wouldn’t even be able to gather his bones. Knowing that fact well, he had moved to a place where he thought it would be safe even if a bombardment fell.

“Hup.”

Wiggins stretched out his hands, and a transparent barrier formed in front of them.

“Ah! Thank you, Director.”

“It’s fine. I want to watch with a bit more focus too.”

Wiggins watched the clash between the two with great interest.

“…I can’t even see properly.”

“Me neither.”

The meaning of Bang Jin-hoon’s words was that the distance was too far, and Wiggins’s statement meant that their speed was too fast.

No matter how much they strained their eyes, they couldn’t keep up with the speed at which they were colliding. The flashes of light made it feel more like watching a special effects show than a fight between people.

However, even if they couldn’t see it properly, the terrifying aftermath of the collision was clearly felt.

Just feeling that power made the hair on their bodies stand on end.

As proof…

“Hrr…”

Bator, with bloodshot eyes, couldn’t take his eyes off the collision between the two. He was almost being sucked in.

Wiggins, seeing Bator trembling, glanced at Jang Min.

Jang Min was showing a similar reaction to Bator.

His clenched fists were white, and his whole body was trembling slightly.

Wiggins realized once again that these two were much stronger than him.

You see as much as you know.

The higher the martial prowess, the higher the realm, the more one would be able to see. Wiggins wondered what exactly these two were seeing.

KWA-A-A-A-A-ANG!