Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1850

“That…”\n\nIt was a truly remarkable sight.\n\nDemon and demon clashing.\n\nThe sight of crimson claws, like a demon’s talons, and blazing black flames intertwining and raging was like a scene from hell itself, brought to this very place.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nThe aftershocks of the collision repeatedly battered the surroundings.\n\n”Agh!”\n\nLee Myung-han, struck directly by the shockwave, screamed and tumbled across the ground.\n\nThud!\n\nThe moment he felt someone supporting his back, Lee Myung-han’s head reflexively snapped back.\n\n”Chief!”\n\n”What’s the situation?”\n\nLee Hyun-soo, who had rushed over and caught the flying Lee Myung-han, stared ahead with a hardened expression.\n\n”Elder… Elder Jang Min has fallen into demonic possession.”\n\n”…And the Sect Leader?”\n\nLee Myung-han’s face hardened at the words, as if no further explanation was needed.\n\n”He’s trying to stop the Elder.”\n\n”Chief, is the Elder alright?”\n\n”…This isn’t the time to be worrying about the Elder.”\n\n”Huh?”\n\nLee Myung-han looked puzzled, but Lee Hyun-soo only stared intently at the situation ahead with a stiff face.\n\n’This isn’t good.’\n\nKang Jin-ho is strong. Normally, his strength is beyond comparison to Jang Min.\n\nBut the situation was not good in many ways.\n\nThe demonic energy that Jang Min was emitting was, at a glance, no less than Kang Jin-ho’s. Whether all demons who fell into demonic possession emitted such energy, or if Jang Min was unique, it was certainly threatening.\n\n’Is he going to be alright without his sword?’\n\nKang Jin-ho is fundamentally a swordsman.\n\nOf course, Kang Jin-ho had already surpassed the limitations of weapons. But even so, when Kang Jin-ho faced a truly strong opponent, he always had Red Dew and Blue Dew in his hands [referring to his swords].\n\nThe stronger the opponent, the greater the subtle difference would be. That’s why Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t watch the situation unfolding before his eyes with any peace of mind.\n\n”I hope nothing serious happens.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo’s anxious voice faded away, sounding somewhat hollow.\n\nGaaaaaaaang!\n\nThe soaring crimson claws tore through the sky.\n\nThe energy that Jang Min, completely consumed by demonic energy, was emitting was beyond comparison to his usual energy.\n\nDemonic Possession.\n\nUsually, demonic possession is a crisis that one must overcome to break through the walls of martial arts, but Jang Min’s state was clearly different.\n\nHe was literally possessed by a demon.\n\nJang Min’s appearance, his entire body blackened and emitting a blood-red glow, could only be described as demonic.\n\nThe demon let out a bizarre shriek and charged at Kang Jin-ho.\n\nThe dark demonic energy that erupted from Kang Jin-ho’s hand collided head-on with Jang Min’s flying claws.\n\nClang! Clang! Clang! Clang!\n\nWith a harsh noise, as if metal was scraping against metal, Jang Min’s claws pierced through Kang Jin-ho’s demonic energy and dug in.\n\nKang Jin-ho’s eyes narrowed.\n\nIt wasn’t just his appearance that had changed. Jang Min’s claws were also targeting him with a density that was on a different level from what he had shown in the past. It wouldn’t be strange if his body was pierced through in an instant.\n\n’This is dangerous.’\n\nJust because someone is consumed by demonic energy, does that mean they suddenly become stronger?\n\nThat’s impossible.\n\nThere’s no way their understanding of martial arts would temporarily increase, nor would their inner energy suddenly swell more than usual.\n\nIn other words, it’s like excessively increasing the output of an engine with the same fuel. The more it runs, the more the engine is damaged, and the fuel is consumed extremely quickly.\n\nFirst, it would drain his inner energy, and then it would burn up every last bit of energy that was keeping him alive.\n\nThud, thud, thud.\n\nKang Jin-ho clenched his fist tightly and stared at Jang Min’s blood-red eyes.\n\nNow is not the time for mercy. First, he had to knock him out with all his might and cut off his consciousness. That was the only way to prevent Jang Min from dying from exhaustion.\n\n”This is going to be rough!”\n\nBang!\n\nKang Jin-ho’s body, kicking off the ground, shot forward like a thunderbolt. Jang Min, who was emitting a blood-red glow, didn’t panic at all and swung his claws at the charging Kang Jin-ho.\n\nClang! Clang! Clang! Clang!\n\nKang Jin-ho took the flying claws on his back. No matter how much demonic energy he was surrounded by, Jang Min’s claws, which were several times stronger, couldn’t be blocked like that.\n\nFlesh was torn away, and blood spurted out.\n\nBut Kang Jin-ho didn’t even flinch and charged straight at Jang Min.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nKang Jin-ho’s fist landed squarely on Jang Min’s jaw.\n\nJang Min’s blackened body was flung away like it had been hit by a train and slammed into the ground.\n\nBang! Bang! Bang!\n\nEach time his body bounced off the ground, a loud explosion erupted. Even though he was a martial artist, it was such a powerful blow that one couldn’t help but wonder if he could even survive such an attack.\n\nCrack.\n\nJang Min, who had been bouncing backward, grabbed the ground. As if the ground was a cliff, his body leaned back before barely regaining his balance.\n\n”Krr…”\n\nHis head lifted, his jaw twisted. But Jang Min, letting out a sound like a beast growling, charged at Kang Jin-ho even faster than he had been thrown back.\n\nKWA-AAAAA-AAAAA!\n\nThe demonic energy that erupted tore through the air, and the claws that had grown from his fingertips left long scars on the ground.\n\nThe hard floor of the training ground split as easily as if it were tofu being cut with a knife the moment the claws touched it.\n\nThe sight of Jang Min, with ten streams of red energy growing from both hands like wings, looked like a demon soaring through the sky of hell.\n\nOverwhelming power.\n\nAnd with even more momentum than that power, Jang Min flew in, crossing his claws and slashing at Kang Jin-ho.\n\nClang! Clang! Clang! Clang!\n\nThe demonic energy that flared up like a huge flame blocked the claws, but Jang Min’s claws still managed to cut through that demonic energy and dig into Kang Jin-ho’s shoulders.\n\nIt was more like ‘crushing’ than ‘cutting’.\n\nThe domineering claws crushed and shattered everything they touched. Even though the flesh of his shoulders was being torn away, Kang Jin-ho didn’t let out even a small groan.\n\nRather, the corners of his mouth curled up even more, revealing his pure white teeth.\n\n”Jang Min!”\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nHe pulled up his demonic energy and released it in an instant. The rebound force shattered the claws that had dug into his shoulders in an instant.\n\nAnd then…\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nKang Jin-ho rushed right in front of Jang Min and uppercutted his jaw with his elbow. Jang Min’s crushed jaw became limp, and red blood poured out of his mouth like a waterfall.\n\nRed blood covered his blackened face. It was a gruesome sight that he never wanted to see again, even in a dream.\n\nBut Kang Jin-ho’s attack didn’t end there.\n\nCrack, crack, crack!\n\nA fist that dug into his side broke all of his ribs.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nA kick that shattered his shin caused Jang Min’s leg to bend in a strange direction, and his body staggered.\n\n”Kaaaaaaak!”\n\nDespite the rough treatment, Jang Min, not losing any of his momentum, spread his hands and charged at Kang Jin-ho. Then, he crossed the claws that had grown and stabbed into Kang Jin-ho as if embracing him.\n\nThud!\n\nJang Min’s claws pierced through Kang Jin-ho’s back and dug in.\n\n”Kaaaaaaak!”\n\nAt the same time, Jang Min opened his mouth wide and bit into the area above Kang Jin-ho’s collarbone.\n\nCrunch! Crack! Crunch!\n\nThe sound of teeth digging into flesh echoed eerily. It was a horrific sound that made one want to cover their ears just from hearing it.\n\nIt was no longer a human fight.\n\nBeasts, having seen their fill of blood, were hitting, biting, and tearing at each other.\n\nDemon and demon.\n\nIt was a battle full of malice, no longer what could be called martial arts.\n\nBang!\n\nKang Jin-ho’s fist struck Jang Min’s side once again.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nAnd again.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nJang Min, who was convulsing, shook his head violently from side to side. The torn flesh ripped, and finally, a large chunk of flesh was torn out of his mouth.\n\nCrack, crack.\n\nThe sight of Jang Min, with a piece of human flesh in his mouth and emitting a blood-red glow, was so gruesome that even Asura [a demon in Buddhist mythology] would turn away.\n\nBut!\n\n”That hurt a bit.”\n\nKang Jin-ho leaned his waist back, then bounced back like rubber and headbutted Jang Min’s face with his forehead.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nA loud explosion erupted from his face.\n\nJang Min’s broken teeth and Kang Jin-ho’s flesh flew out together.\n\n”Krr…”\n\n”Not yet.”\n\nKang Jin-ho stepped down on Jang Min’s still intact shin.\n\nCrack!\n\nJang Min, whose legs were both broken, lost his balance and fell to the ground. Then, Kang Jin-ho didn’t miss the opportunity and climbed on top of Jang Min.\n\nBang!\n\nA fist fell on Jang Min’s face. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!\n\nThe fists that fell in succession took away the human form from Jang Min’s face.\n\n”Kaaaaaaak!”\n\nCrack!\n\nBut Jang Min, as if he wouldn’t just take it, dug the claws that had grown into Kang Jin-ho’s side.\n\nCrack! Crack!\n\nThe long claws tore through the flesh, overcoming the resistance of the demonic energy.\n\nBang!\n\nBut Kang Jin-ho, as if he didn’t care about the claws that were stuck in his body, kept hitting Jang Min’s face.\n\nBang!\n\nHis face heaved.\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nHis body heaved.\n\nEach time an attack continued, the floor was broken and compressed, and it went down and down.\n\nJang Min’s body trembled.\n\nSeeing that, Kang Jin-ho bared his teeth and smiled.\n\n”Not yet!”\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nWith another punch, Jang Min’s neck twisted as if it would break.\n\n”Kk… Kkoee…”\n\nJang Min’s blood-red eyes looked at Kang Jin-ho.\n\nThe eyes, which had been flickering a few times, gradually began to find their focus.\n\n”Ma…”\n\nA voice like a sob leaked from Jang Min’s mouth.\n\n”Demon Lord…”\n\n”Have you come to your senses?”\n\n”Demon Lord…”\n\nKWA-AAAAAANG!\n\nBut Kang Jin-ho didn’t even listen to Jang Min’s last words and punched his face with his fist.\n\nJang Min’s upper body broke through the floor and was buried below. Jang Min’s legs, which were left above the ground, trembled before finally drooping.\n\n”Tch.”\n\nKang Jin-ho, spitting out the saliva that had gathered in his mouth, quietly looked down at Jang Min before getting up.\n\n”Hoo.”\n\n”Sect Leaaaaaader!”\n\nLee Hyun-soo shouted and ran towards Kang Jin-ho. He looked back and forth between the disheveled Kang Jin-ho and Jang Min, whose appearance was beyond description, not knowing what to do.\n\n”That was a bit rough.”\n\nKang Jin-ho, who had gotten up, pointed at Jang Min with his chin.\n\n”His life isn’t in danger… Treat him. He won’t go berserk when he wakes up.”\n\n”…His life isn’t in danger?” He looked like he had died ten times over!\n\n”Demons don’t die from that much.”\n\n”Sect, Sect Leader, you need to get treated too.”\n\n”I’m not the priority right now.”\n\nKang Jin-ho pointed at Jang Min again with his chin.\n\n”Move him quickly. Before he really dies.”\n\n”Yes!”\n\nLee Hyun-soo somehow pulled Jang Min out of the floor and carried him over his shoulder.\n\nThen, he started running as fast as his legs could carry him to take Jang Min to the main building. Kang Jin-ho, who had been silently watching the scene, put his hand in his pocket and took out a cigarette case.\n\n”Ha…”\n\nKang Jin-ho, seeing the cigarettes that were all broken and crushed, gave a bitter smile. He put the least damaged cigarette in his mouth and snapped his fingers to light it.\n\n”How are you?”\n\n”…Yes?”\n\nLee Myung-han, who had been staring blankly at Kang Jin-ho, flinched at Kang Jin-ho’s words.\n\n”Is your body alright? You look badly hurt?”\n\nLee Myung-han thought that this person was probably not in his right mind.