Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1748

“They’re not moving.”

“Hmm.”

Reynolds’ face subtly contorted.

“Tell them not to take their eyes off them for even a second!”

“Yes, sir!”

‘What are they thinking?’

His mind began to grow complicated.

Just as they were using every means at their disposal, it was clear that the enemy would also use every available method to eliminate the Assembly.

This was something Lee Hyun-soo and he had anticipated.

‘This is strange.’

In the wars of the Murim world [a martial arts society], the mobilization of the military and modern firepower was taboo. This was an unwritten rule that everyone involved in the Murim world had to follow as a matter of course.

But this was China.

When had they ever properly followed such unwritten rules?

Even if they were restrained in the seas and skies due to international scrutiny, China was a country that could do whatever it wanted within its own territory.

‘No, it’s not just about China.’

If their own country was in crisis, how many countries would actually abide by such agreements or unwritten rules?

The fact that these unwritten rules had been followed until now meant that, conversely, there had never been a large-scale war or invasion that would make each country feel like it was in a crisis.

But they weren’t moving?

In this situation where the Assembly was grabbing the Azure King by the throat?

“They must! They must move! Don’t miss even the slightest movement and report everything!”

“Yes, sir!”

Reynolds’ fingers nervously tapped on his thigh.

‘This shouldn’t be happening?’

The countermeasures were already in place. There was no way to stop the military of another country from moving within its own borders, but there were plenty of ways to interfere. However, if the military didn’t move like this, they wouldn’t be able to intervene either.

“There’s no movement!”

Reynolds’ head snapped around.

“…Damn it.”

Clearly, this was good news. If the People’s Liberation Army didn’t move, the odds of victory would increase. But what was bothering Reynolds wasn’t the visible odds, but an invisible unease.

“…For now, report the fact that they’re not moving, and have them look more closely! Those bastards are definitely plotting something.”

“Yes, sir!”

Reynolds’ hand roughly stroked the stubble on his chin.

“Is there a problem?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Reynolds waved his hand.

How should he put it?

It was like the feeling of a worn-out gear subtly slowing down within a clock that was still running accurately.

It was so subtle that it was hard to perceive with human senses, so he couldn’t be sure, but he definitely felt it…

‘A sense of unease.’

Reynolds’ eyes anxiously followed the situation on the monitor.

“To Lee Hyun-soo… no, never mind.”

Reynolds shook his head vigorously.

There was no way Lee Hyun-soo wouldn’t feel the same unease he was feeling. His role was to deliver information, and the interpretation was Lee Hyun-soo’s job, not his.

He shouldn’t needlessly step forward and potentially disrupt the overall flow. In times like this, he had to stay put.

“My blood is running cold.”

A weak voice escaped Reynolds’ lips.

* * *

Whoosh!

They kicked off the ground and charged forward.

The Flame Demons, emitting a demonic aura from their eyes, charged forward like wild beasts.

“E-enemy!”

Swish!

There were those who occasionally tried to block them, but the Flame Demons proved just how much they had trained with their skills.

“Approaching from the left.”

“I’ll take that side.”

An immediate response came to Lee Myung-hwan’s voice.

The Flame Demons, who had trained and fought together, sometimes like enemies and sometimes like brothers, perfectly understood each other’s intentions without much conversation.

“Block them!”

“Don’t let them get close!”

The Azure King’s warriors were also elites.

They knew where the most dangerous side was. Just from the aura they emitted and the eerie feeling, they instinctively understood that they absolutely could not let them advance.

But understanding and execution were clearly different.

“Kuaaaak!”

The arm of the one who tried to block them was torn off completely. The sharp claws of the Flame Demons, emitting a rough demonic energy, did not allow Kang Jin-ho’s feet to stop.

The one who was torn to shreds in an instant sprayed a fountain of blood and died.

Lee Myung-hwan didn’t even give an order, but instead, he was the first to charge in and pierce the enemy’s neck.

‘Where is he?’

His eyes looked past the enemy in front of him, towards the back.

Even at this moment, something was surging up from within. The exploded ferocity tempted him like the whispers of a demon.

It told him to let go of his reason and give in to this feeling.

A temptation like a drug.

But Lee Myung-hwan desperately pushed away the temptation.

Not now.

Their role now was not to crush the enemy, but to advance and bite at the Azure King’s legs. If they lost their reason and accepted the demonic energy, they might actually become a hindrance.

“Don’t lose your minds! Absolutely not! Bite your tongue to maintain your sanity!”

“Understood!”

Lee Myung-hwan glared ahead with bloodshot eyes.

‘Where is he?’

There didn’t seem to be any place for a person to hide here. All that could be seen was a dense and lush forest. It was too crude for a refined person like the Azure King to hide.

‘Is he really here?’

A small doubt arose, but Lee Myung-hwan quickly dismissed it.

Thinking wasn’t his job.

Lee Myung-hwan’s head reflexively turned back.

The figures of Kang Jin-ho, who was leisurely following behind them, and Lee Hyun-soo, who was running beside him, came clearly into view.

“Kill them all and clear the path! Don’t let the Lord stop!”

With beast-like roars, the Flame Demons began to charge.

Watching the scene, Lee Hyun-soo, who was following behind, shuddered.

“Those vicious bastards.”

Splash!

The blood that had pooled on the ground splashed up as he stepped on it.

‘Can’t they kill them a little cleaner?’

Seeing the limbs that were scattered everywhere, torn apart so brutally, and the heads rolling on the ground, he couldn’t help but frown.

However…

‘They’re really strong.’

He had been surprised by the Flame Demons’ skills several times, but now his impression was different. The way the Flame Demons were opening the path with all their might was terrifying even from an ally’s perspective.

“Those guys have gotten really strong, haven’t they?”

At those words, Kang Jin-ho frowned. Lee Hyun-soo, understanding Kang Jin-ho’s thoughts just from his expression, chuckled lightly.

“Of course, they wouldn’t be up to your standards, Lord.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho relaxed his furrowed brow.

‘There’s no need to say that.’

The current Flame Demons were not that far behind the Flame Demons he had in the past. The Flame Demons of that time were under the name of the Heavenly Demon Lord’s personal guard, but they hadn’t received any martial arts training from Kang Jin-ho.

They had simply acted as Kang Jin-ho’s hands and feet.

‘I thought I had raised them back then.’

In any case, the current Flame Demons might be a little lacking in martial prowess compared to them, but they had a clear sense of purpose and reason compared to the Flame Demons of the past.

And they had a much stronger sense of camaraderie than the Flame Demons of the past.

Even if they were not as strong individually, the current Flame Demons might be able to exert more power when they moved as a group.

However, there was one thing…

‘They lack practical experience.’

Unlike the Flame Demons of the past, who had honed their skills through countless battles and wars, the current Flame Demons still lacked practical experience.

Even now!

Whoosh.

Kang Jin-ho lightly swung his hand.

The head of the Azure King’s warrior, who was about to cut the leg of a Flame Demon that was still running even with its waist cut in half, was crushed.

A move that neither the Flame Demons nor Lee Hyun-soo had noticed.

Kang Jin-ho followed behind the Flame Demons with indifferent eyes.

‘Nothing can be perfect.’

If something was lacking, they could complement each other. And if that didn’t work, Kang Jin-ho could help.

That was the core of the Assembly.

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes.”

“What’s the probability of artillery fire or missiles raining down on us like last time?”

“It’s unlikely to happen.”

“Why?”

“It’s simple. There are two reasons why we were unilaterally bombarded last time. First, the area was completely flat.”

“Hmm.”

“And the other reason is that we were a small group at the time. Bombardment is the most efficient means in war, but the outcome of a war is rarely decided by bombardment. That’s because targeting isn’t precise. Especially when dealing with Murim warriors.”

Lee Hyun-soo lightly kicked the ground.

“In this kind of mountain, our speed of digging into the ground will be faster than the speed of the enemy’s artillery fire. No matter how much they bombard, it’s only happening above ground. Unless they use bunker busters, we can definitely reduce the damage.”

“So, you’re saying there won’t be artillery fire or missiles?”

“They might use them. But they won’t be the decisive blow.”

“Hmm.”

As Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard and continued.

“There must be something else. But the problem is that this isn’t a place where they could prepare for something like that.”

As if this wasn’t enough, Lee Hyun-soo added.

“And we’re currently monitoring the military’s movements by mobilizing everything we can. If they used the same tactic as before, we wouldn’t have been hit so unilaterally.”

“I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and looked ahead.

‘I don’t know.’

The ones doing the surrounding were the ones who were more anxious.

Was it really because the situation was becoming strange, or were they too swayed by the name of the Azure King?

“What about the enemies on the outside?”

“It will take at least another hour for them to arrive.”

“An hour, huh…”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brow.

“It’s long if it’s long, and short if it’s short.”

In a typical war of occupation, an hour was too short, but for Murim warriors, who were incomparable to ordinary soldiers in terms of mobility, an hour was too long.

“Then, if we can take the Azure King’s head within an hour, we’ll achieve a great victory.”

“That’s correct.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and pointed ahead.

“Then let’s ask him.”

“Yes?”

As Lee Hyun-soo asked with a puzzled look, Kang Jin-ho muttered in a low voice.

“What the hell were you thinking, just watching until now.”

Lee Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes.

The dense forest seemed to be coming to an end, and a gray building revealed itself between the trees.

“Is that it?”

“Yes. It’s as the satellite confirmed.”

There was strength in Lee Hyun-soo’s voice.

“Escape routes?”

“As I confirmed in advance, there were none. Of course, I can’t be 100% sure about that information, but…”

Lee Hyun-soo shook his head.

“The Azure King will be extremely wary of situations where he could be killed. He must have felt that it would be difficult to face you one-on-one, Lord. There’s no way a guy like that would use a place with a route where you could infiltrate alone as a hideout.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

There were a few more reasons, but it would only make the conversation longer to talk about them now.

“Then.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly slowed his pace.

“That means the Azure King is in there right now.”

“Yes!”

It looked like the size of a matchbox now, but it would be a huge building when they got right in front of it.

But…

“It’s just poison anyway.”

And the Azure King inside was no different from a rat.

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth began to twist.