Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1766

‘How chilling.’

Changwang slightly clenched and unclenched his fist.

He had already been terrified by Kang Jin-ho’s past self. Back then, Kang Jin-ho was utterly demonic and intensely powerful.

Changwang, who knew what kind of humans the other Three Kings were and had pride in being one of them himself, had felt fear at that sight.

However…

Kang Jin-ho’s current appearance was clearly different from that time.

More demonic?

No.

More frightening?

That wasn’t it either.

The instinctive fear that seemed to scratch at his primal nerves was incomparable to that time.

However, Changwang couldn’t take his eyes off Kang Jin-ho’s current form.

‘Why?’

Even Changwang couldn’t immediately find the answer.

It was just that something was different…

Changwang’s eyes narrowed.

‘A human is standing there.’

The Kang Jin-ho he had seen until now was a being who was human but transcended humanity.

Those who opposed him and those who worshipped him viewed Kang Jin-ho as something beyond the realm of humans. Even Changwang felt that it was impossible to deal with Kang Jin-ho with his own power alone.

A being who was human but not human.

That was Kang Jin-ho until now.

But what stood before Changwang now was a human. Yes, just a human.

Something he had felt in this battle must have turned Kang Jin-ho from a roaring demon into a groaning human.

But why?

Why didn’t he feel the base pleasure of dragging a divine being down to a mere human?

Why didn’t he feel the joy of throwing filth at someone who had stood so high?

Perhaps it was because of this unease.

There was a chilling feeling in Kang Jin-ho’s bloodshot eyes as he glared at Changwang, something that had never been there before.

Not a vague, intangible fear, but a raw, visceral fear, like a blade against his throat. A fear that only a human could inflict upon another human.

Changwang slowly rose from his seat.

“…I thought I could give you a little despair.”

That man would swallow even that despair and become stronger.

It was too late to think about it now, but perhaps he had made an enemy of the one person he should never have made an enemy of.

A small impulse arose.

The impulse to get out of this place right now.

It was more in the realm of instinct than reason.

Changwang had dulled his sense of fear through countless battles and fights, but the chilling feeling that the man gave him made him recall a forgotten sensation.

‘This won’t do.’

Changwang breathed deeply.

Everything he had prepared to face Kang Jin-ho was gathered here.

He would never have a better chance than this.

So why should he run away?

Changwang grabbed his own face. His fingertips pressed into his skin, making it flush red. The force was so strong that his skin would tear if he applied just a little more pressure.

“Hoo.”

Changwang took a short, deep breath and opened his mouth towards Kang Jin-ho.

“Well done…”

Changwang cleared his throat with a low cough and continued.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to say you’ve come this far. Demon King, you would have come here no matter what.”

“Did you like the gift I prepared?”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Changwang without answering.

“I hope you liked it. I specially…”

At that moment.

KWA-AAAAAANG!

With a roar that literally tore through the air, something chilling flew towards Changwang.

Changwang reflexively tilted his head back.

The long strands of his hair that had shot upwards were cut by the flying sword energy and scattered into pieces.

Changwang slowly straightened his back.

His eyes, looking at Kang Jin-ho again, trembled slightly.

“Not really…”

A rough voice, like scraping metal, pierced his ears.

“It’s not that I dislike conversation.”

“Conversation is for people.”

Changwang’s eyes twisted horribly.

“Isn’t that right?”

“You…”

Kang Jin-ho raised his hand, wiped the blood flowing down his face, and growled.

“Stop talking and start. Bring out everything you’ve prepared.”

“…Prepared? Are you sure I prepared something?”

At Changwang’s probing words, the corner of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth twisted slightly.

It was a clear sneer that anyone could see.

“You would have prepared something.”

“That’s overestimating a person too much…”

“Because that’s your nature.”

Changwang closed his mouth and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

Those seemingly insignificant words strangely bothered him.

“My nature?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think my nature is, Demon King?”

“A coward.”

“…What?”

Kang Jin-ho looked directly at Changwang and said.

“A coward.”

Changwang laughed as if dumbfounded.

“That’s too obvious of a provocation. Do you think I’d be agitated by such words…”

“Keep talking.”

Changwang closed his mouth at the short voice that cut him off. Seeing Changwang’s subtly distorted face, Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

“No, I’m a strategist and a smart person who knows how to avoid danger. Keep talking and deceive yourself.”

“Because your nature won’t change even if you do.”

“Such provocations won’t work on me, Demon King.”

“Then answer that you’re not.”

Changwang stared at Kang Jin-ho with emotionless eyes.

“Only fighting battles you can win means you have no confidence to lose or die. Your method is always the same. You make the enemy a minority, and you always hide behind the majority.”

“It was the same when you fought Hongwang and when you fought me. You’ve never won against anyone from a minority position.”

“That’s called being smart, Demon King.”

“Yes. Then you’re a smart coward.”

Changwang’s face twisted a little more.

“…You misunderstand the word provocation. Provocation isn’t about making the other person feel bad, but about agitating them to make a misjudgment. No matter how much you talk, I won’t make a misjudgment.”

“I don’t care about that, you idiot.”

Kang Jin-ho bared his teeth.

“The others who have faced you until now might have been defeated because they didn’t know your nature, but I’m not. You’re going to die here today. And the moment you die, you’ll know what I meant.”

“So bring out everything you’ve prepared. Don’t act like you can step forward right now. Because you’re the kind of guy who can’t.”

Changwang’s eyes flickered with killing intent.

A blatant killing intent that he had never shown before was directed at Kang Jin-ho. But Kang Jin-ho, even as he received that killing intent, smiled with pleasure.

“Why? Does it hurt your pride?”

“…I can’t listen to this anymore.”

“Then try that boring bombardment again.”

“You do meaningless bombardments, push in meaningless troops to hold me back, try to poison me, and even after coming this far, you don’t step forward.”

“Because you’re scared.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes met Changwang’s directly.

“Isn’t that right?”

Changwang let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m sick and tired of that damn martial arts theory. So, you’re saying that a martial artist should stupidly charge at an opponent they can’t be sure of winning against and get crushed? Is that the kind of stupid thing you’re saying?”

At Changwang’s words, Kang Jin-ho laughed softly.

Changwang gritted his teeth at that twisted chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“…How can it not be funny when you’re spouting such stupid nonsense?”

“What?”

“I told you. Try to make excuses. Say you’re not. That you’re a strategist and a smart person who knows how to avoid danger. Keep talking and deceive yourself.”

“Knowing how to use strategy and being scared are different.”

“What the…”

“Shall I prove it?”

Kang Jin-ho raised Red Tear [a sword].

Thwack!

Changwang’s eyes widened.

Red Tear pierced straight through Kang Jin-ho’s thigh.

“Y-you crazy bastard…”

Changwang’s voice trembled.

It wasn’t some clumsy trick. Kang Jin-ho had really pierced his own body. The blood flowing down the sword was proof of that.

Swish.

Kang Jin-ho pulled out the sword as if nothing had happened. Blood gushed out like a fountain from the wound where the sword had been.

At this incomprehensible act, not only Changwang but also those watching were speechless, their mouths agape as they stared at Kang Jin-ho.

“Do you feel confident enough to attack now?”

Changwang couldn’t say anything.

He was just silent, his face showing an emotion of shock that was unlike him.

“I guess not?”

“Well then, tell me, Changwang. How much do I have to do for you to feel confident enough to fight me? Should I cut off both of my legs, or should I cut off another arm?”

“That won’t do.”

Kang Jin-ho bared his teeth and smiled.

“You can’t calculate it. You’re not rationally thinking about the difference in power between you and me, you’re just scared. You’re just hiding in the back, trembling because you’ll die if you fight.”

“Such bluster doesn’t work on me.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled coldly.

“Now, go back. And send out your subordinates. Hide and hide until the very last one dies, and when they’re all dead, run away, saying there’s nothing you can do.”

Changwang didn’t shift his gaze.

But he noticed that the gazes of those guarding his surroundings had begun to glance at him.

Suspicion.

Suspicion was growing in their eyes.

The reason why the Changwang faction was strong was because of the balance between their absolute certainty in his power, their absolute fear of him as a person, and their perfect faith in his intellect.

But at this moment, the fear of him had faded, and the certainty in his power had crumbled.

A being who feels fear cannot instill fear in others.

All the arrangements he had made until now began to collapse rapidly the moment Kang Jin-ho stabbed his own leg with his sword.

“Is it difficult?”

Thud.

Kang Jin-ho slowly began to move.

His eyes were fixed solely on Changwang. As if he didn’t even see the others.

“I’ll make the choice easy for you. I’m going to you now. If you’re not a coward, wait for me there.”

“But you can’t. Because you’re afraid of even me, who has a pierced leg and countless wounds.”

Thud, thud.

Changwang’s face turned pale.

This was a checkmate.

If he didn’t retreat, he would have to face Kang Jin-ho alone. But if he retreated, the Changwang faction’s trust in him would crumble beyond repair.

He had been forced into this impossible dilemma.

And…

The time he had to consider his choice was not long. Although Kang Jin-ho was walking slowly, the distance between them was not that far.

In the end…

“Ma…”

Changwang couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Stop him! Stop that damn bastard! Now!”

Those who had been trained almost to the point of brainwashing reacted without delay to that voice.

Those who had been guarding Changwang’s surroundings charged at Kang Jin-ho with bizarre screams. But Kang Jin-ho, upon seeing that sight, actually laughed.

The moment Changwang saw that perfectly satisfied smile, something inside him collapsed.

“See?”

Black demonic energy surged from Kang Jin-ho’s Red Tear and Blue Tear [another sword].

“That’s your nature. You can’t die as a king now.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled brightly and charged towards Changwang.