Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1720

Koo-oong!

The earth trembles.

Koo-oo-oong!

The sky convulses.

With each collision, it felt as if the very energies that formed the world were screaming.

The directors of the General Assembly stared blankly at the spectacle.

None of them fully understood the contest unfolding before them. They could only grasp what their martial prowess allowed them to perceive.

It was like an amateur watching a professional match; they couldn’t see every move, nor could they understand the meaning behind each action.

But one thing was certain.

The scene unfolding before them was extraordinary.

“Ugh, you were here.”

A familiar voice came from behind, but no one turned their head. If they could take their eyes off the scene, they were not true martial artists.

They didn’t even want to answer.

Every bit of their focus was concentrated on what was happening before them.

Kwaaaaang!

Black flames engulfed the golden flash. It looked as if a black dragon was ascending a massive pillar of light.

Spectacular.

What other word could describe it?

It was simply awe-inspiring that two people could create such a scene.

“Who will win?”

At those words, everyone’s gaze turned to Lee Hyun-soo. They had been completely absorbed in the battle, not even blinking, but the question Lee Hyun-soo had just asked was one that no martial artist could ignore.

“Still, it seems like Hong Wang…”

As Bator made his move, Jang Min’s face contorted in displeasure.

“Are your eyes just for show? They must be useless since they’re so high up. Do you think the Demon Lord would lose to someone like him?”

“Old man, go preach your faith at church. Why are you bringing religion into a discussion about martial prowess?”

“It seems your eyes have turned into muscles. That’s why you’re still in that state.”

“This old man?”

Bator and Jang Min glared at each other.

“Now, now, calm down.”

Wiggins tried to mediate between the two.

“It’s just an opinion.”

“Then who do you think will win?”

Wiggins frowned at the sudden question.

“Still, it seems like Hong Wang…”

“You damn fools.”

Jang Min shouted, his eyes full of irritation.

“What do you weaklings know to be spouting nonsense?”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled at those words.

“Well, Elder, it’s true that we can’t properly see what’s going on, but you don’t really know how strong those two are either, do you?”

That was a rather painful point, and Jang Min flinched.

“Then who do you think will win?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve never seen our Guild Master get beaten up.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded quietly after hearing everyone’s opinions.

“So, it’s just a guess, and no one really knows.”

“The Demon Lord will win!”

“Still, it seems like Hong Wang!”

“I’m telling you, he’s not someone to be messed with.”

“Hahaha, we’re allies anyway, what does it matter if he loses?”

Lee Hyun-soo shook his head.

These people, who knew nothing, were just being stubborn and insisting they were right.

‘Well, that’s typical of martial artists.’

Having lived their entire lives in a world where victory and defeat, life and death, were constantly at stake, they were extremely sensitive to competition.

“What about you?”

“Yes?”

All four pairs of eyes simultaneously turned to Lee Hyun-soo.

“What do you think?”

“…Does my opinion even matter? A blind man groping an elephant would be more accurate.”

“We’re all the same here! This old man is just spouting nonsense without knowing anything.”

“Uh…”

In other words, the gap between those two and the others was as large as the gap between them and Lee Hyun-soo. Lee Hyun-soo could only guess their strength based on the information he had; he couldn’t perceive their martial prowess with his own eyes.

‘The difference is bigger than I thought.’

“So, who do you think will win?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Of course, it’s our Guild Master.”

“Tsk, it’s definitely obvious…”

“The Guild Master said he would win.”

“What does that mean?”

“Yes?”

“That guy always says he’ll win, no matter who he’s fighting.”

Wiggins nodded as if that was true.

“He doesn’t predict the outcome; he just says it and then forces the result.”

“It’s a unique kind of prophecy.”

“That’s right.”

The directors all spoke at once.

Lee Hyun-soo could only shut his mouth.

‘That seems right?’

Even he thought that was more plausible.

If that guy saw a mountain, he would say, ‘There’s no mountain here?’ and then erase the mountain.

Anyway, he would confidently declare he would win without any basis, and then just win, making his prediction come true.

But…

“But isn’t that even more amazing?”

It was then, when the directors couldn’t find anything to say, that a huge explosion erupted, and a massive shockwave engulfed their location.

“Kuh!”

The directors, who had instinctively reached out to protect Lee Hyun-soo, turned their heads sharply to look at the scene unfolding before them.

Kiiiiiiing!

Hong Wang’s right hand was dyed gold.

His right hand, imbued with unprecedented power, was unleashed towards the black flames of demonic energy.

Kwaaaaaaa!

With a huge roar like a waterfall, a golden flash tore through the demonic energy.

However, the black flames that touched the golden flash burned twice as fiercely as before, swallowing the golden light.

Like a bottomless abyss that absorbed everything.

Even light lost its power in that tar-like darkness.

“Kuh!”

Hong Wang gritted his teeth.

His attack couldn’t penetrate Kang Jin-ho’s demonic energy. Previously, Kang Jin-ho had been all about offense, but now, he had achieved a level of perfection unlike before.

‘If it won’t work, I’ll just smash it into his body!’

The golden energy surrounding Hong Wang condensed in an instant, and his hands were dyed gold.

“Oooooooo!”

Hong Wang’s foot slammed into the ground.

Kwaaaang!

It was just a simple stomp, but the ground caved in as if a meteor had fallen. The recoil propelled Hong Wang’s body forward like a bullet.

His afterimage stretched out as if his body had elongated.

The demonic energy that was facing Hong Wang shrank in size and was absorbed into Kang Jin-ho’s body.

“Hoo!”

Kang Jin-ho, his eyes dyed red, spread his hands to the left and right. Then, black demonic energy wrapped around the Blue and Red Blades like black snakes, blazing fiercely.

Kang Jin-ho, with his two swords crossed, blocked Hong Wang’s incoming fist.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!

The collision of energies.

The shockwaves alone shattered the ground and uprooted trees, sending them flying.

“Demon King!”

Hong Wang’s eyes glowed gold.

Bang! Kwaang! Bang! Kwaaaaaang!

In an instant, dozens of punches rained down on Kang Jin-ho. Each punch carried the power to crumble mountains and push back the sea.

However, Kang Jin-ho did not retreat an inch in the downpour of punches, meeting Hong Wang head-on with equal force.

Pa-a-a-a-ang!

The Red Blade struck Hong Wang’s incoming fist.

The shock traveled through his wrist.

His arm shook, and his shoulder felt like it would explode.

It was an interesting thing.

Primitive martial arts started like this. They aimed to crush each other with force, to overwhelm their opponent.

However, as one’s understanding of martial arts deepened, they would break away from the initial primitive direction.

But ironically, Kang Jin-ho and Hong Wang were now fighting as if they were beginners, simply using their strength and speed to try and overwhelm each other.

A long journey back to the starting point.

They shed the shell of martial arts, and their raw, primal instincts clashed.

“Ma-wa-a-a-a-a-a-ang!”

Hong Wang’s fist, imbued with golden energy, crushed into Kang Jin-ho’s chest.

Kang Jin-ho blocked the fist with his crossed swords.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!

With a deafening roar, Hong Wang’s fist was embedded in Kang Jin-ho’s sword. The fist, which had a golden texture like real gold, was cut, and a spray of blood erupted.

But it wasn’t a loss. In exchange for blocking Hong Wang’s full-force punch, Kang Jin-ho’s muscles were torn to shreds.

The muscles in his calves, waist, and arms ruptured, and a terrible pain washed over him.

However, Kang Jin-ho felt that pain and grinned wryly.

“You seem to be in a hurry.”

“There’s no need to rush, is there? Let’s enjoy it slowly. We have plenty of time.”

Kwaang!

Kang Jin-ho’s foot dug into Hong Wang’s abdomen.

Hong Wang’s body was sent flying at an incredible speed, as if he had been hit by a massive train.

“Ptooey!”

Kang Jin-ho spat out the blood that had risen in his throat.

The price for blocking that incredibly powerful fist was greater than he had imagined. His insides were a mess, and blood was flowing back up.

However, instead of being angry, Kang Jin-ho was thrilled by the tingling pleasure.

‘He’s strong.’

Even if he had come down a bit from his peak, Hong Wang was still Hong Wang.

There were only two people in the world who could give Kang Jin-ho this much satisfaction just by exchanging blows. Even considering the Black King, whom he had never fought, there were only three.

So how could he not enjoy it?

The pain surging from his muscles.

The adrenaline that was flooding his body, making him feel exhilarated.

And even the metallic taste of blood on his tongue.

Sensations that were both familiar and strange.

Kang Jin-ho took a step forward, enjoying the sensations that were coursing through his entire body.

“I don’t mind breaking you down bit by bit either.”

Thud!

Kang Jin-ho’s foot landed on the ground, creating a large footprint. The demonic energy, pushed to its limit, turned even a simple step into a martial art.

And…

“Hmm.”

Hong Wang, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly stood up. He didn’t seem to have taken much damage.

“I’ve been finding myself on the ground more often these days.”

“You’ve been living too comfortably.”

“Maybe so.”

Hong Wang smiled, just like Kang Jin-ho. For him, an opponent was something he desperately craved.

He had perhaps been searching for someone to fight even more than Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho was lonely because he couldn’t find someone to fight, but Hong Wang knew who his opponents were, yet he couldn’t fight them.

Because he had too much to bear on his shoulders.

But now, for the first time in his life, he had put down the burden on his shoulders and was facing Kang Jin-ho as just a martial artist.

‘I feel free.’

Hong Wang clenched his fist.

Of course, he had no intention of taking it. His strength came from bearing the weight. If he forgot what he had to do, if he let go of what he had inherited, if he abandoned those who relied on him, he might be able to wield a freer fist, but from that moment on, he would no longer be Hong Wang.

So…

“I can be free just for this moment.”

“Stop talking and come at me.”

“Alright!”

Hong Wang roared with laughter and charged at Kang Jin-ho.

In an era where the meaning of martial arts could no longer be found.

A true martial arts contest, transcending sects and powers, was now unfolding here.