Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1905

Kwaaaang!

Bones are crushed.

Kwaddeudeuk!

Flesh is torn away.

Even Hong King’s body, protected by his immense inner energy, is bound to break when struck with greater force.

Hong King, whose energy flow is disrupted by the wounds inflicted by Shin Chang, could not possibly withstand the attacks of Pakwon and Nangon with his body alone.

The overwhelming impact causes his knees to buckle momentarily, and his vision blurs.

But!

‘Oooooooo!’

The moment their attacks land on his body, Hong King’s fists instinctively strike back at them.

Kuuuung!

Hong King’s left fist collides with Nangon’s staff, and his right fist clashes with Pakwon’s elbow.

Thud! Thwack!

Nangon’s staff twists grotesquely, then strikes Hong King’s head after hitting his left hand a dozen times in an instant.

On the other side, Pakwon spins like a top, deflecting Hong King’s fist with his elbow, then lunges like a swallow, stomping on Hong King’s knee.

Kwaang!

Kwaddeudeuk!

Two different sounds of impact echo simultaneously.

At the same time, Hong King’s body is sent flying backward as if hit by a truck.

Thud!

Without a moment’s rest, Hong King slams into the ground and propels himself forward.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Almost simultaneously, the ground where he crashed explodes, sending chunks of earth soaring into the sky.

Hong King’s eyes gleam like a beast as he regains his stance.

But unlike his fierce gaze, his appearance has become wretched in an instant.

His arm, struck by Nangon’s staff, is swollen, his hair is disheveled, making him look like a ghost. And his knee, stomped on by Pakwon, is trembling slightly.

‘…Strong.’

‘Incredible inner energy.’

Pakwon approaches, rubbing his elbow.

Nangon is also shaking his wrist, as if his wrist hurts from holding the staff.

‘I didn’t think there would be anyone who could surpass us in inner energy. Is this what they call unbelievable talent?’

‘I can understand why that bug was defeated.’

Pakwon sneers.

‘A martial artist like this in this era… It’s laughable.’

‘No. It’s the opposite.’

‘Hmm?’

Nangon smiles faintly.

‘Stars shine brightest in the dark. The more bleak the era, the more heroes emerge to shine.’

‘You sure talk a lot of crap.’

Pakwon exhales briefly.

‘You’re going to die anyway!’

Then, as if he couldn’t waste any more time, he charged straight at Hong King.

‘Hoo!’

Seeing Pakwon rushing at him, Hong King takes a deep breath.

‘Haaap!’

Thud!

His foot slams into the ground. At the same time, his fist, filled with formidable power, flies towards Pakwon’s face.

Pakwon grabs his right upper arm with his left hand.

Simultaneously!

Thwoooong!

Like swinging a stick, he swings his right arm, deflecting Hong King’s fist right before it reaches his face.

The force of the extension is incredibly powerful. But that also means it’s vulnerable to attacks from the left and right. He doesn’t resist the opponent’s power, but changes its direction with minimal force.

Hong King’s fist cuts through the air, and Pakwon ducks into Hong King’s embrace, like a boxer doing a ducking motion.

Low, and lower.

At that moment, as if waiting for it, Hong King thrusts his left hand, aiming for Pakwon’s upper body, not his face, as if determined not to let him dodge this time.

Pakwon, as if there’s no way to avoid it this time, lets his body be hit by the incoming fist.

The moment Hong King’s fist is about to bury itself into Pakwon’s chest.

Whoosh!

Pakwon’s body spins like a top.

The energy surrounding his body spins fiercely, twisting and deflecting Hong King’s incoming fist.

Kwagagak! Gagak!

With a sound like metal scraping against metal, Hong King’s fist scrapes against Pakwon’s body, barely missing him. At the same time, Pakwon’s body completely dives into Hong King’s embrace.

‘Kuh!’

The moment Hong King grits his teeth and tries to step back, Pakwon’s spinning body shoots down like a meteor.

Kwaddeudeuk!

Pakwon’s foot, filled with all his power, stomps on Hong King’s instep.

The bones in his instep are completely crushed, blood vessels burst, and the skin on his foot turns black and dies. Even while feeling a dizzying pain, Hong King instantly unleashes a repelling force to blow Pakwon away.

No, he tried to blow him away.

But Pakwon’s speed was twice as fast as the repelling force he unleashed.

Thud!

Pakwon’s foot slams into Hong King’s knee. Pakwon, using Hong King’s knee as a springboard, spins his body and slams his knee into Hong King’s head.

Kwaaaang!

Wooddeudeuk!

Hong King’s face contorts horribly as he crosses his arms to block the knee right above his head.

He managed to avoid a direct hit to the head, but the power in that knee made even Hong King shudder.

But!

‘Are you underestimating me!’

Hong King’s eyes are filled with murderous intent.

An attack that spins in the air and strikes down is incredibly powerful, but in return, it exposes one’s upper body to Hong King. Even if they are masters who can kick off the air and move their bodies with energy alone, Hong King wouldn’t miss such an opening.

‘Ooh!’

The moment Hong King’s fist is about to bury itself into Pakwon’s body like a rocket.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!

A thunderous sound erupts from his back. Nangon’s staff, flying in, mercilessly strikes his broad back.

Hong King’s body flies away like a kicked ball. After bouncing off the ground several times like a skipping stone, his body finally collapses on the ground.

Hong King’s back, lying like a corpse, twitches.

His hand grips the ground. As the soil crumbles, he struggles to push his upper body off the ground.

Shuuuuu.

Blood pours from his mouth like a waterfall, soaking the ground.

One eye is swollen shut, and his back is so battered that his bones are about to be exposed. His knees, stomped on twice, are difficult to straighten, and his arm, struck by the staff and stomped on the knee, is difficult to lift.

Yet, Hong King stood up.

It is not his role to lie on the ground. Even if he dies,

he will not lie with his back on the ground.

‘…He’s getting up.’

‘Hmm.’

Pakwon kicks the ground lightly, as if annoyed.

‘You fool. With that talent, you’re learning such a useless martial art. I, in the past, already proved that a fist that overpowers the opponent with inner energy is meaningless.’

The Heavenly King Fist of the Hwangbo Clan is a martial art that can be called the epitome of the martial arts of the Jianghu [a term referring to the martial arts world].

A firm stance, an unwavering body.

Based on that body, they overpower the opponent with immense inner energy.

The Arhat Fist of Shaolin is not much different from this concept, and even the Six Harmony Fist, which is the most basic of all fist techniques, is based on this concept.

But Pakwon’s fist was completely different.

It was hard to believe that he was the direct descendant of the Hwangbo Clan, the center of the fist techniques. Pakwon’s fist was incredibly practical. Unlike Hong King’s fist, which was launched like a cannon, his fist was small and fast, like wielding a short dagger.

Nangon smiles wryly.

‘It’s not something you can just know. That’s why your fist didn’t connect, isn’t it?’

Pakwon narrows his brow, as if he doesn’t particularly deny it.

The martial arts of the Jianghu develop by someone destroying a firmly built tower and then rebuilding it. But Pakwon was someone who could destroy the highest tower, but could not build a new tower in its place.

‘And those aren’t words you should say when we’re fighting together. You should have some shame. Don’t you think?’

Pakwon’s sharp gaze pierces Nangon.

Then Nangon subtly turns his gaze away, avoiding Pakwon’s gaze. Even if he doesn’t know, it seems that Pakwon also doesn’t like this situation where they are fighting Hong King together.

‘Don’t forget the greater cause.’

‘…Damn it.’

Pakwon clenches his fist and takes a step forward.

He sees Hong King, who is a mess, but still glaring at them with a fierce light in his eyes.

‘I’ll end it now, you brat. Dragging this out any longer would be an insult to you.’

‘…An insult?’

Hong King’s mouth opens.

He couldn’t even hear the sound properly, but Pakwon could tell that the open mouth meant a big laugh.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘Isn’t it funny? That dragging this out is an insult.’

Hong King continues, panting.

‘A man who was ostracized by his family and could never return, a wanderer who roamed the world alone.’

The two men’s eyes sharpen.

‘That’s why you don’t know. That’s why you can’t understand.’

‘…What the hell are you talking about?’

Hong King bares his teeth.

‘What it’s like for someone who has something to be responsible for.’

Hong King clenches his fist.

‘There’s one thing I learned from the Demon King.’

‘Are you talking about the Demon Sovereign?’

Hong King doesn’t particularly answer and continues his words.

‘That it’s not pride to be stubborn and die against someone you can’t defeat. That’s just a tantrum put forth by someone who doesn’t know what true pride is.’

‘Hmm?’

Hong King’s eyes emit a golden light.

‘Hwaaaaaaaap!’

His hands spread wide, and a dazzling golden light bursts out in all directions.

With that formidable inner energy, Nangon and Pakwon immediately fly backward.

Incredible inner energy and formidable range.

It’s a force that would naturally elicit admiration, but for Hong King, who is like a burnt-out candle, it’s just a reckless act that only shortens the time before the fire goes out.

Moreover, it’s too slow and will never reach them.

‘What foolish thing is he doing?’

But Hong King’s intention is quickly revealed.

Where the dazzling light had been, Hong King is no longer visible.

‘This…’

Pakwon grinds his teeth.

‘He talked big, but in the end, he’s running away? What a coward.’

‘I don’t think that’s something we should say when we’re fighting together, do you?’

Pakwon glares at Nangon again, but this time Nangon doesn’t avoid Pakwon’s gaze.

‘Why? Isn’t it true?’

‘…I’ll kill you with my own hands someday.’

‘I’ll look forward to it. But now is not the time, so let’s chase after him. He won’t get far in that condition.’