Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1997

“They’re coming.”

The martial artists, standing their ground, glared with fierce hostility at those approaching.

Some recognized them, while others didn’t. But their reactions were all the same.

Like porcupines, they raised their quills at those encroaching on their territory.

However, those approaching didn’t seem to react much to such hostility.

They simply narrowed the distance slowly, their eyes indifferent.

As martial artists, they understood.

How difficult it was to advance while piercing through the killing intent and aura emitted by such individuals.

Absolute powerhouses.

Absolute powerhouses who disregarded the common sense of numerical superiority were walking towards them.

And…

“H-Hongwang, it’s Hongwang.”

The words someone uttered were the catalyst.

Most of the martial artists gathered here were from China. Those who had defected from the Hongwang faction froze the moment they saw Hongwang, and even the martial artists from the Changwang faction held their breath.

“H-Hongwang…”

And even those who didn’t know Hongwang’s face couldn’t have failed to hear his name.

The Three Kings who ruled China.

Where would there be a martial artist who didn’t know the names of the Three Kings?

Before Kang Jin-ho appeared, they were considered the strongest in the world. Even the Black King, who had caused this current situation, was originally a member of the Three Kings.

“M-Master.”

Those from Europe froze as they saw the Master approaching them.

No one had thought that the Master would appear here. No, wasn’t the Master’s downfall one of the reasons they came here?

The Master had fallen, and the General Assembly, led by Wiggins, had devoured the Round Table. Those who were dissatisfied with that fact had left the Round Table and gathered here.

But now, the Master, who was the reason for their resentment, was walking towards them from the opposite side.

“N-Knight Wiggins!”

He should now be called Master. [Referring to his new position of power]

But they were still more familiar with the name Knight Wiggins, and they couldn’t help but panic.

‘W-Why are those two here?’

What confused them even more was that the Master and Knight Wiggins were walking together. As far as they knew, Knight Wiggins was the one who had imprisoned the Master and usurped the leadership of the Round Table. So why were those two together?

“…Bator-nim.”

The Mongolian martial artists were the same.

They were the closest to come, aside from China. Therefore, the Mongolian martial artists, who made up a considerable number here, flinched and stepped back.

Hongwang was like a star, unreachable even for the Chinese martial artists. But Bator was someone who had roamed the land and covered the sky with them. [A reference to his nomadic lifestyle and influence]

For such a person to approach from the opposite side was an enormous pressure for the Mongolian martial artists.

“Ugh…”

Thud, thud, thud.

But no matter how they reacted, those heading this way didn’t seem to care at all. They just walked towards them with indifferent faces.

Thud, thud, thud.

And those who couldn’t withstand those indifferent footsteps unconsciously took a step back.

It started with a few.

Those who knew who was approaching from the other side were the first to lose their strength and step back. Then, the killing intent that had been pouring out like a single entity noticeably weakened.

Martial artists were more sensitive to momentum than anyone else.

The killing intent that had been raging around them decreased, and the presence of those hesitating and retreating came into view.

“Why, why are you retreating?”

“But over there…”

Those who knew couldn’t dare to block them.

Those who knew who Hongwang was. Those who knew who Bator was.

How could anyone who knew who the Master and Wiggins were block their path?

“Damn it, what does that matter!”

There were definitely those who resisted.

But their bodies were not as bold as their voices. Before their minds could understand, their bodies began to tremble, feeling the opponent’s strength first.

And…

‘Then…’

The existence of one person came to the minds of those who had confirmed the faces of those walking towards them.

Hongwang, Bator, Master, Wiggins.

A name that those who knew those four people couldn’t possibly not know.

‘Who is it?’

‘Surely among them…’

The martial artists bit their lips.

Center.

In the middle of those walking, there was someone who seemed a bit smaller in stature.

Compared to the large Bator, he looked even smaller, and compared to the spirited Hongwang, he was utterly ordinary. He didn’t look as experienced as the Master, nor as cold as Wiggins.

But…

From the moment they recognized his presence, no one could take their eyes off him.

‘That guy…’

It was the face they had seen on TV.

The one who had openly declared war on the Black King.

The one who had boldly declared that if they wanted to represent the martial artists, they should overcome him first.

“…Demon Lord.”

“Kang Jin…ho.”

“Demon King.”

The names they called him were different, but the person they referred to was only one.

Thud, thud.

The distance was getting closer and closer.

Kang Jin-ho walked in a straight line. Soon, Kang Jin-ho and his group reached the front of those who could no longer retreat.

They froze.

Kang Jin-ho had simply stood in front of them. Yes, that was all.

But they couldn’t help but freeze.

They were too weak and fragile to handle the existence of Kang Jin-ho.

“…Uh…”

Their legs trembled involuntarily, and their bodies wouldn’t listen.

It was as if a huge tiger was staring at them with yellow eyes. Even if they didn’t feel hostility in those eyes, who could remain calm?

Kang Jin-ho, standing in front of the frozen martial artists, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Then, he flicked his finger, and the end of the cigarette lit up.

Flick.

The sound of the cigarette burning echoed eerily in the silent space.

“Hoo.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled cigarette smoke and looked at those in front of him with calm eyes. Kang Jin-ho, who had given them an indifferent gaze, slowly opened his mouth.

“Move.”

It wasn’t a threat.

It was just a single word spoken in a calm tone.

But the effect of that word was immediate.

Those standing in front of Kang Jin-ho hesitated and stepped back. Then, with pale faces, they pushed people left and right as if they were terrified and retreated.

Lee Hyun-soo and Chaikechang, who were watching the scene from afar with tense eyes, opened their mouths involuntarily.

A human wall.

It was said to be thousands, but when that many people gathered in one place, nothing but people could be seen. Yes, it was an ocean made of people.

But now…

That ocean was splitting left and right.

“Th-that…”

Chaikechang looked at the scene with a bewildered face.

They were the ones who had come here on their own. If they thought they were not helpful to the Black King, they wouldn’t have come.

In other words, the people gathered there were not just any random people. They were all strong individuals who were confident in their own abilities.

That’s why they had tried to open the way even by deploying the Hongwang faction.

“…Just one word is enough…”

It felt like an electric current was running down his spine.

The path opened. The black sea split left and right, and it was as if light was pouring through the gap.

That scene.

Everything was contained in that scene.

Why do martial artists seek power? Why do they try to become stronger? Why do they cling so much to meaningless power?

He wanted to show this scene to those who had that question.

This was something only the strong could do.

“…I really can’t beat him.”

Chaikechang’s eyes, filled with awe, were fixed on Kang Jin-ho and Hongwang’s backs.

Thud, thud.

Kang Jin-ho and the others walked indifferently along the opened path.

The martial artists who had retreated swayed like waves with their steps.

“Hoo…”

Kang Jin-ho, exhaling cigarette smoke, walked with half-closed eyes. No one dared to make eye contact with him.

The martial artists knew.

No matter how powerful a ruler was, they couldn’t show the difference in status just by their existence. When they met face to face, they were just ordinary people. The same was true for the wealthy.

Even those who had gold that could cover the world were nothing by their mere existence.

But martial artists were different.

What they had built up remained in their bodies. Therefore, the difference in status was too deep and too high.

But…

There existed in the world humans who risked their lives even knowing the difference in status.

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes took on a different hue.

Amidst everyone retreating, there was someone who was desperately standing in front of him with trembling legs.

“Hmm?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at him with interest.

A trembling jaw.

A pale complexion.

Just by looking at that, one could tell how much pressure he was feeling. But he was still holding on without retreating.

“…Why?”

A pitifully trembling voice leaked from his mouth.

“Why… why are you blocking… us? Why! N-now… now it’s all done!”

“If we just go a little further! Now!”

Bator’s eyebrows twitched.

Just as he was about to step forward, as if he didn’t like it, Kang Jin-ho reached out his hand and stopped Bator.

“…Master?”

Then, he slowly walked to the front of the one who was holding on.

Trembling legs.

He looked like he was about to faint and fall, but he was somehow holding on. It was a pathetic sight, but Kang Jin-ho nodded at him.

Thump!

Kang Jin-ho’s hand patted the man’s shoulder.

“People have different answers.”

“If you want a different answer, become strong enough to enforce that answer. That’s the way of a martial artist.”

“This is it. Now, step back. Your fight is next. This is my battlefield.”

The man nodded his head.

He didn’t understand Kang Jin-ho’s words.

But that was enough. Kang Jin-ho had answered his words.

As the man staggered back, Kang Jin-ho began to move again.

Thud, thud.

Those who retreated.

Those who advanced.

Like the parting of the Red Sea, the entrance to the base appeared through the split human wall.

A small entrance leading underground. Kang Jin-ho’s lips curled up as he saw the entrance.

“Let me tell you…”

His voice was clearly heard by everyone.

“It would be better for you to leave here. It won’t be safe even if you’re above.”

After leaving those words, Kang Jin-ho opened the door without any hesitation.

Kiiiing!

The metal door opened as if it was breaking, and Kang Jin-ho walked into the door, leaving behind white cigarette smoke. Following him, Hongwang, Bator, Jang Min, Wiggins, and the Master headed into the door.

Soon, everyone disappeared into the base, but the path they had opened did not close again.

Below was a deep underground that no one could see and no one could enter.

It was a place that was more than suitable as the place to decide the fate of the martial artists.