Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1914

Crack.

Kang Jin-ho lightly clenches his fist.

A lingering sensation remains at his fingertips.

‘Is this all there is?’

From the moment he acknowledged the existence of the Azure Demon, his sole goal was to become stronger.

If merely wanting it could grant strength, there wouldn’t be any weaklings in the world. But Kang Jin-ho was one of those who could temper his own body according to his will and relentlessly strive for higher grounds.

‘Still not enough.’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes narrow slightly.

Even among the Twelve Flying Blades, not everyone is on the same level. There are clear differences even within their ranks.

Pakwon’s level was incomparable to that of Baek Yeon-hong, and he didn’t even measure up to Nangon, who was now before him.

There’s nothing to be happy about just for subduing someone like that.

However…

‘I’ve definitely gotten stronger.’

Of course, his victory over Pakwon wasn’t entirely due to a difference in skill. In his view, Pakwon hadn’t properly utilized his martial arts. He must have been confident, thinking he had trained relentlessly, but that was just arrogance.

A martial artist who doesn’t experience real combat is nothing more than a dead martial artist.

He had spent decades training under the protection of the Black King without ever risking his life in battle?

It was just a naive attempt to think that regaining his past level would solve everything.

Level isn’t just about martial prowess.

It’s about the sensations etched into the body, the mental fortitude displayed in extreme crises, and the practical sense of combat honed on the edge of victory.

These things don’t come from simply swinging fists in a training hall.

Sensation is not eternal.

Even the most absolute combatant, when they age and tire from the days of battle, eventually lose their razor-sharp edge and become dull.

‘Just because you were strong in the past doesn’t mean you’re strong now.’

Pakwon’s mistake was not knowing that.

Well, of course…

He wouldn’t have needed such sensory awareness against the opponents he had fought since his rebirth, so it’s not like he couldn’t understand it. Anyway, that’s what combat is. Excuses are meaningless. Only the skill at the moment of facing an opponent determines everything.

Crack.

Kang Jin-ho clenches his fist lightly again.

‘Right now, three, no, maybe two?’

The skills of the Twelve Flying Blades aren’t all the same, so it’s hard to simplify, but if the opponent is Pakwon, he could probably handle about three at the same time.

If they’re stronger than Pakwon, two would be the limit.

But…

‘This isn’t enough.’

The power of the Azure Demon sitting across from him was far beyond this. And no matter how many of the Twelve Flying Blades he defeats, it’s meaningless if he can’t defeat the Azure Demon.

The power of the Black King’s faction comes from the Azure Demon himself, not from the Twelve Flying Blades.

Anyway…

It’s best to minimize any variables.

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turns forward. Now that he’s dealt with Pakwon, it’s Nangon’s turn.

As Kang Jin-ho looks on, he sees Nangon, injured, being pushed back by Jang Min’s attacks.

‘Damn it!’

Nangon’s face contorts horribly.

Clack, clack, clack!

A huge, crimson claw-like demonic energy grazes right past his face. A long wound forms from his jaw to his eye, and blood drips down.

‘Damn it!’

It’s bizarre and unpredictable.

He, too, is someone who has honed his martial arts on the battlefield. He’s used to improvisation and adapting to the situation.

But the one swinging at him now is launching attacks so bizarre that even Nangon can’t imagine them.

It’s like fighting a beast, not a person.

‘This is a demon!’

He never disregards demonic arts.

Rather, he treats those who subtly disregard demonic arts as mentally ill.

Does it make sense?

The Demon Lord, called the greatest of all time, was from the demonic path, and the Black King, whom they worship like a god, is from the demonic path. So how dare they disregard demonic arts?

That’s why he was sufficiently wary.

But Jang Min’s martial prowess was higher than Nangon had anticipated.

“Ha!”

The staff in his hand bends and strikes the incoming demonic energy.

The staff is a weapon originally specialized for swinging.

All weapons originated from this staff.

That’s why the staff doesn’t deviate from the body, no matter what trajectory it draws. It’s a weapon that naturally draws a natural trajectory without needing to seek it out.

That’s why there’s no waste.

You just swing it as your hand goes. That simplicity creates speed, and speed creates destructive power.

KWA-AAAAANG!

The staff, having pushed away the demonic energy, rotates again and slams forward.

The idea is to seize the initiative in one go with a series of continuous attacks, without giving the opponent time to recover.

But…

Clack, clack, clack, clack!

The long, grown fingernails interlock and grab the staff.

“Kuh!”

Nangon, unable to pull out the staff that was stuck as if caught between pieces of metal, grits his teeth and strikes the demonic energy with the staff in his other hand.

KWA-AAAAANG!

Successive explosions.

A look of dismay crosses Nangon’s face as he creates distance and regains his stance.

Originally, he wasn’t the type to put strong power into each individual attack. He’s the type who naturally overwhelms his opponent with a flowing series of attacks, not giving them a chance to counter.

In that sense, he’s similar to Pakwon. That’s why he and Pakwon could move together among the Twelve Flying Blades.

But in front of these bizarre and unpredictable attacks, it was difficult to display his strengths.

This isn’t happening because Nangon is weaker than Jang Min. It’s just that this martial art is too specialized in exploiting human weaknesses and leading the battle at its own pace.

‘It’s like I’m cursed.’

Nangon, having rotated his aching wrist a few times, stares at Jang Min with his lips tightly shut.

Jang Min, his eyes dyed red, walks towards him, letting the demonic energy of his hands hang long.

The oppressive feeling of the long, black fingernails, almost touching the ground, makes even the mighty Nangon frown.

‘He’s strong.’

In a different way than that Bator.

Bator has very clear strengths, but his weaknesses are also very clear. So, if you had the skill to properly exploit those weaknesses, he was someone you could deal with without much trouble.

But Jang Min is different.

Jang Min doesn’t have strengths like Bator, but he also doesn’t have weaknesses like Bator. It’s natural that standard types like this are more difficult to deal with than those with clear strengths and weaknesses.

But…

What’s really making Nangon impatient isn’t Jang Min in front of him.

His gaze trembles as he looks behind Jang Min.

Step.

Step.

As if taking a stroll, a person is leisurely walking this way.

Nangon’s gaze wavers.

‘Already?’

His teeth grind together hard enough to break.

‘That useless bastard!’

Even if the opponent was the Demon Lord, he thought he could at least hold out for ten minutes, but he couldn’t even last five minutes?

And seeing the Demon Lord’s state, not even slightly out of breath, it seems he wasn’t even using his full power. It means he was just toying around and still managed to defeat Pakwon in just five minutes.

His back begins to get soaked with cold sweat.

Even the most foolish person can’t help but grasp the situation. Even if he defeats Jang Min, he’ll have to face that Demon Lord next.

To face an opponent who would be difficult to escape even in perfect condition, while injured and exhausted?

‘This isn’t a situation to hope for luck.’

That’s absolutely impossible.

At this moment, Nangon sensed his fate.

The god of the battlefield had always smiled upon him, but today, he doesn’t see the face of a god smiling at him.

That means there’s someone with even worse luck right here.

Nangon unknowingly slowly lowers his staff.

“Hmm?”

Jang Min stops walking at that action.

But it doesn’t mean he likes the action, as his face is contorted.

“What is it?”

“Do you think you can live by doing that?”

“No. Just a moment, Elder.”

Wiggins lightly raises his hand to stop Jang Min.

“I understand that you’re annoyed at stopping in the middle of a fight… but if we can subdue him, it’s not a bad thing. Would you give me a little say?”

Jang Min glares at Wiggins with sharp eyes.

But his anger is soon dulled by the presence of the person who walks up and stands beside him.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho lights a cigarette.

That means he won’t fight now. Jang Min, understanding Kang Jin-ho’s intention, immediately releases his power and puts his hands together.

“As you wish.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been quietly inhaling the cigarette smoke, slowly exhales. There’s no sign of the aftermath of the life-or-death battle he had just been in.

He looks more indifferent than relaxed.

That appearance puts even more pressure on Nangon.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Wiggins smiles and takes a step forward.

“Actually… if you think about it, we don’t really have any grudges against you. You understand this part, right?”

“You just killed my comrade and you dare say that?”

“Comrade… do you really think of him that way?”

Nangon couldn’t answer.

It was certainly true that he didn’t particularly think of Pakwon as a comrade. No, he might be a comrade, but it’s clear that his death doesn’t mean anything to him.

“That’s why I’m saying this… there’s no need to throw away a precious life. If you can hand over information related to the Black King’s faction, we’ll keep you restrained for a while and then release you.”

“The Red King would never allow that.”

“It’s not difficult. The Red King values the greater good more than grudges. Isn’t that right?”

Wiggins turns his head to look at the Red King.

The Red King, who had been watching the situation from a distance, nods quietly. As if to say he would allow it.

Nangon’s face hardens even more.

“What do you think? It seems like a good offer? As you know, there’s no way out of here. That’s the only way to live.”

“Hah…”

Nangon laughs lowly.

Everything Wiggins said was true.

He would never be able to escape from here, and if he resisted, all that would be left was death.

Realistically, surrendering here is the right thing to do.

But…

U 丄=_ W O O…

Nangon just laughs.

“You’re talking like a dog.”

“…Is it a rejection? It seems foolish.”

“You’re the foolish ones. You dared to bare your teeth against the Black King!”

Nangon’s eyes turn to Kang Jin-ho.

“Demon Lord, you who are intoxicated by the past. You too will come to know. What it means to oppose the Black King! That it’s more terrifying than death!”

“I will never betray the Black King! Never!”

Nangon grits his teeth and raises his staff. Kang Jin-ho, seeing the fighting spirit emanating from his body, can’t help but chuckle.

“You just stirred up trouble for no reason.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Kang Jin-ho throws the cigarette he was holding onto the ground.

“Jang Min.”

“Yes!”

“Finish it!”

“Understood!”

Jang Min unleashes demonic energy from his entire body and rushes towards Nangon. Kang Jin-ho turns his body without even checking the result of the battle.

‘The meaning of opposing the Azure Demon…’ Kang Jin-ho laughs lowly.

I know.

I know it too well, that’s the problem.

That’s why my blood is boiling like this.

A desperate scream echoes from behind him.

Desperately, more than desperately.