Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1849

“Gaaaaaaaang!”\n\n’……What the hell is that?’\n\nLee Myung-han, who had rushed out upon hearing the roar, stopped dead in his tracks.\n\nFive streams of powerful energy soared into the sky.\n\nThe bizarre sight, unlike anything he had ever seen, sent a chilling sense of unease through Lee Myung-han, freezing him in place.\n\n’Aura.’\n\nAnd it was an ominous aura at that.\n\nWhat bewildered Lee Myung-han was that the claws of this ominous aura were all too familiar to him.\n\nOf course, their form and the power they held were different from what he knew…\n\n’Elder Jang!’\n\nLee Myung-han’s body trembled.\n\nGaaaaaaaang!\n\nThe soaring claws lashed out, stirring up the surrounding dust. The dust, rising like a yellow dragon, soon scattered in all directions, revealing Jang Min hidden within the dust cloud.\n\nLee Myung-han’s eyes shook violently.\n\n’That is…’\n\nIt was Jang Min.\n\nBut it wasn’t the Jang Min he knew.\n\nIt wasn’t the Jang Min who always looked neat and tidy, making one forget his age. The clothes he wore were tattered, and the flesh visible through the gaps was stained black.\n\nAnd…\n\n’Bloodshot eyes.’\n\nThe two eyes visible through his blackened face were emitting a terrifying crimson glow.\n\nHe was overwhelmed.\n\nJust looking at him made his soul feel like it was freezing over.\n\n’A demon…’\n\nHe understood.\n\nWhy demons were so feared.\n\nEven if a million demons were benevolent, if one like this appeared, anyone would be filled with terror.\n\nEven Lee Myung-han, who had mastered demonic arts, felt a fear that made his heart stop. How would this sight appear to those who were not accustomed to demonic energy?\n\nIt was like witnessing an Asura [a powerful, wrathful demigod in Buddhist and Hindu mythology] descending into the mortal realm.\n\n”W, what is that?”\n\n”Damn it!”\n\nThose who had rushed over upon hearing the roar were terrified by Jang Min’s appearance and took a step back.\n\nAnd at that moment.\n\nJang Min’s head slowly turned towards the newcomers.\n\n’No!’\n\n”Kaaaaaaaak!”\n\nJang Min let out a piercing shriek and began to charge. Understanding the meaning of that charge, Lee Myung-han ran with all his might and stood in front of Jang Min.\n\nKwaaaaaang!\n\nOne blow.\n\nHe had only blocked one blow, but it felt like all his internal organs were bursting. Unable to even scream, Lee Myung-han was thrown back, spitting out blood as he desperately shouted.\n\n”Fall back!”\n\n”L, Lee Myung…”\n\n”Don’t let anyone approach! No one! Go and bring the Clan Leader! Hurry!”\n\n”A, alright!”\n\nLee Myung-han, gripping the ground, struggled to his feet.\n\n’It feels like my body is being crushed.’\n\nHe had already exchanged blows with Jang Min countless times. Jang Min had personally trained him to become a successor of the Demonic Cult.\n\nBut…\n\n’It’s completely different.’\n\nIt was not the time to talk about giving his all or anything like that. The energy he felt was different from the usual Jang Min.\n\nAbove all…\n\n’I’m really going to die.’\n\nThe blow Jang Min had just unleashed was filled with nothing but the intent to kill him.\n\n”Cough!”\n\nLee Myung-han spat out blood again and clenched his fist.\n\n’Is this all it takes with just one blow?’\n\nEven though Kang Jin-ho had been training relentlessly, he had almost lost consciousness with just one blow. No, it would be more accurate to say that he had almost lost his life.\n\nBut he had to endure.\n\nIt was clear at a glance that Jang Min had lost his reason. Whether it was the price of a demonic heart or some other effect, he didn’t know, but if Jang Min was left unchecked, hundreds might lose their lives in the blink of an eye.\n\nHe could never allow that to happen.\n\nCrack.\n\nFrom Lee Myung-han’s tightly clenched fist, a black, smoke-like demonic energy rose.\n\nAs if sensing that hostility, Jang Min glared fiercely at Lee Myung-han with his bloodshot eyes.\n\nAt the same time…\n\nKwaaaang!\n\nWith an explosive sound as the ground shattered, Jang Min charged towards Lee Myung-han at lightning speed. The wind tore, and dust shot up in a straight line, like when a fighter jet takes off.\n\nGaaaaaaaang!\n\nThe energy blade emanating from Jang Min’s fingertips swept over Lee Myung-han’s entire body.\n\n”Hup!”\n\nLee Myung-han’s fist was imbued with a dark power.\n\nThe dark aura collided head-on with the crimson claws.\n\nKwaaaaaaaang!\n\nLee Myung-han’s body flew through the air like a kite with a broken string and crashed to the ground.\n\nKoo-oong!\n\nLee Myung-han, who had smashed into the ground, twitched violently.\n\n’……Is it still there?’\n\nHis eyes checked his right hand. It was tattered, but it still maintained its shape.\n\nLee Myung-han felt a sense of relief. The moment he collided with that aura, he felt like his hand would be torn to shreds all the way up to his elbow, but thankfully, it seemed it hadn’t been severed.\n\nWhizzzzzz!\n\nLee Myung-han, hearing the ear-splitting sound of air, rolled over without a second thought.\n\nCrack!\n\nThe spot where he had been just a moment ago was deeply gouged in five lines. He shuddered to imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t escaped that spot.\n\n”Kuh!”\n\nLee Myung-han, getting to his feet, clenched his fist again. He felt a terrible pain in his tattered fist, but any pain was better than death.\n\n’Just hold him back.’\n\nHe didn’t dare dream of winning. His job was to prevent Jang Min from leaving this place. That was enough.\n\nOf course, that was a difficult task in itself.\n\n”Hoo…”\n\nWhen he drew upon demonic energy, it usually turned aggressive. But the overwhelming presence of Jang Min in front of him had chilled even his demonically charged mind.\n\n’Don’t make the first move.’\n\nHe would wait as long as he could. He needed to buy even just one more second…\n\nWhoosh!\n\nAt that moment, Jang Min’s body disappeared as if it had been extinguished, and then appeared in front of Lee Myung-han, crossing the space. His eyes couldn’t keep up with the speed.\n\n”Uwaaaaaaah!”\n\nBut Lee Myung-han was no pushover.\n\nHis experience of facing Kang Jin-ho was not in vain, as he reacted to Jang Min’s attack in an instant.\n\nCrack!\n\nJang Min’s energy claws scraped across Lee Myung-han’s body, from his shoulder to his thigh. It was as if a giant eagle had raked him with its talons.\n\nBlood gushed from the torn flesh.\n\nIt was a gruesome wound. But if he hadn’t reacted instantly and released his demonic energy, his body would have been torn into six pieces by now.\n\n”Kuh…”\n\nHe was incredibly strong.\n\nIt was almost futile to stand against him. All he could do was desperately cling to his life and endure for even a moment longer.\n\nThis was the power of one who had earned the right to overcome the wall [a metaphor for achieving a higher level of power or understanding].\n\nBut Lee Myung-han did not despair at the vast difference. He did not flinch even as he faced a strength he could not match.\n\n”It’s not enough!”\n\nLee Myung-han gripped his twitching toes.\n\nHe must not rush in.\n\nTo give in to the wildness boiling within and rush in was not courage. It was just a mindless rampage.\n\nTrue courage was enduring.\n\nLee Myung-han gritted his teeth and drew upon his demonic energy.\n\nAnd as if responding to that demonic energy, a dark red demonic energy began to surge from Jang Min’s body. The sight of the enormous demonic energy swirling around Jang Min made him feel like his will would break.\n\nBut even if he wavered, he would never break.\n\nThis was something he had learned from Jang Min himself.\n\nSo!\n\n”If you come to your senses, I’ll make you praise me for learning well!”\n\nLee Myung-han crossed his hands, which were charged with demonic energy, and blocked the way.\n\nBut at that moment!\n\nKwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!\n\nThe enormous demonic energy emanating from Jang Min’s body, like demons rising from hell, intertwined and flew towards Lee Myung-han.\n\nSeeing that sight, Lee Myung-han’s eyes widened in an instant.\n\nEach strand of the demonic energy flying towards him was vivid, as if he could grasp it. But strangely, the speed at which the demonic energy was flying was slower than he expected.\n\nNo, it wasn’t just that.\n\nIt was as slow as if it was crawling. Slow enough to make him yawn.\n\nBut Lee Myung-han knew. It wasn’t that the demonic energy was approaching slowly.\n\nHe desperately tried to move his body,\n\nbut his body was as slow as the demonic energy flying towards him. No, even that slow demonic energy was terrifyingly fast compared to his body.\n\n’This is the end.’\n\nJust as Lee Myung-han, sensing that he was at the last moment of his life, was about to make his final struggle.\n\nSwoosh.\n\nSomething popped out right next to Lee Myung-han’s face.\n\nNormal speed.\n\nBut considering that everything was slowed down in this world, it was faster than lightning.\n\n’A hand?’\n\nWhat brushed past his face and stretched forward was none other than a human hand.\n\nAnd it was a familiar one.\n\nThe hand, clenched into a fist, stretched forward and then opened wide.\n\nAnd at that moment.\n\nBooooooooooooooooooom!\n\nFrom the fingertips, a black, so black that it seemed to suck everything in, demonic energy exploded out.\n\nIt was a violent and terrifying sight.\n\nThe demonic energy that had made Lee Myung-han lose his will to resist was swallowed by the demonic energy emanating from the outstretched hand.\n\nCrack!\n\nIt was a bizarre sight.\n\nIf Lee Myung-han’s time hadn’t slowed down so drastically, he wouldn’t have been able to comprehend the sight that unfolded in such a short time, even if he had widened his eyes.\n\nDemonic energy devoured demonic energy.\n\nAs if a gluttonous monster was tearing apart, swallowing, and chewing another monster whole, the demonic energy tore, chewed, and absorbed the other demonic energy.\n\nCrack.\n\nThen, as if the scene that had unfolded before his eyes was all a lie, the demonic energy disappeared without a trace.\n\nThud.\n\nAt that moment, the outstretched hand rested on Lee Myung-han’s shoulder.\n\n”You did well.”\n\nLee Myung-han did not turn his head. He knew who it was without turning his head.\n\n”Elder…”\n\n”It’s alright.”\n\nThump.\n\nKang Jin-ho, after pressing down on Lee Myung-han’s shoulder once, cracked his neck from side to side and stepped forward.\n\n”He’s been consumed by a demonic heart.”\n\n”Then…”\n\n”Usually, the only option is to kill him… well, this is like an everyday occurrence in the cult…”\n\nKang Jin-ho watched Jang Min, who was emitting a blood-red glow, and curled up the corners of his mouth. His white teeth were revealed in a cruel smile.\n\n”I just need to bring him back to his senses.”\n\nJust as Lee Myung-han was about to let out a sigh of relief, Kang Jin-ho’s chilling voice pierced his ears.\n\n”It’s a rather violent method, so he might die if I mess up.”\n\n”……Excuse me?”\n\nBefore he could even express his question, ‘What’s the difference?!’, Kang Jin-ho began to walk towards Jang Min.\n\n”Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!”\n\nA scream that sounded like it was not of this world burst from Jang Min’s throat. It was not a scream of fear, but a scream filled with utter hostility.\n\nHearing that scream, Kang Jin-ho bared his teeth and charged towards Jang Min.