Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2003

Negotiation (5)

“Hmm?”

The Black King made a strange expression as he watched the person walking out.

“……It seems they’re really short on people.”

“It’s not surprising. Eight is a small number, but in the current situation, it’s too many.”

The number of the Twelve Flying Blades remaining on the Black King’s side was eight.

Under any circumstances, eight is never a large number. However, if the word ‘transcendent’ is placed before that number eight, it would be enough to completely change the evaluation of that number.

A force that was excessive even by their own standards.

It wouldn’t be easy to gather a force capable of facing them.

‘The world alliance?’

Of course, there would be advantages.

However, this side is a force that has been gathered over a hundred years. It cannot be matched by a force gathered in a short period, especially not with the same numbers.

“A disposable card, huh.”

The Twelve Flying Blades looked rather displeased.

Victory is a good thing. However, a meaningless victory was, at least for them, more worthless than a defeat after a fierce battle.

“A disposable card, you say….”

Upon hearing those words, the Black King looked at Lee Myung-hwan with a strange smile.

“Well, I’m not so sure.”

He could feel a familiar energy from the person walking out.

‘Such bad taste.’

For the Black King, the past was just the past.

If Kang Jin-ho had not returned to this world, even Kang Jin-ho would not have held more value than a memory for him. The past is just an element that makes up the present self, nothing more and nothing less.

That’s why the Black King didn’t bother to rebuild the Demonic Cult.

For him, the Demonic Cult was just a tool to achieve his ideals. Back then, it was the Demonic Cult, and now it’s the Black King’s faction and the Twelve Flying Blades. The most appropriate tool for the situation.

Even after seeing the completely fallen Demonic Cult, he didn’t feel much. Those he had formed bonds with had all died in the past.

However….

The Black King’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho.

‘That was unexpected.’

Kang Jin-ho was the one who had even less attachment to the Demonic Cult than he did. If the Demonic Cult was a tool for the Black King, for Kang Jin-ho, it was merely an environment.

Yet, Kang Jin-ho had gone out of his way to bring the remnants of the Demonic Cult left in China to Korea and rebuild the Demonic Cult.

He was someone who was easier to understand than anyone else, yet sometimes harder to understand than anyone else. Those who had never even given humans a second thought were going out of their way to reconnect broken ties.

It would be one thing if the Demonic Cult was helpful to Kang Jin-ho.

Jang Min aside, the Demonic Cult itself wouldn’t have been of any help to Kang Jin-ho.

The Black King looked at Lee Myung-hwan with a renewed gaze.

A familiar energy.

Lee Myung-hwan was emitting the energy that Kang Jin-ho’s personal guards used to wield in the past.

Those who followed Kang Jin-ho completely. Even ignoring his orders and blindly chasing after only Kang Jin-ho.

“Hmm.”

The Black King slowly shook his head.

“Such bad taste.”

There is nothing more futile than clinging to something that is already over. Humans should not live in the past but create the future.

The existence of that man was clearly showing the difference between Kang Jin-ho and the Black King.

“Gui Pyeon.”

“Yes.”

“You go and deal with him.”

The eyebrows of Dancheon Gui Pyeon, Ak Joong-san, twitched.

However, he soon lowered his head deeply.

“As you command.”

“Sorry about this.”

“It is nothing, Black King.”

A man dressed in black turned and headed towards the center. He was a man with no particularly special appearance. What made him special was none other than the black whip that was wrapped around his left arm like a snake.

Thud, thud.

Gui Pyeon, who had walked to the center, stood facing Lee Myung-hwan.

His eyes quietly stared at Lee Myung-hwan.

To be honest, he didn’t feel very good. It was clear that this man was a disposable card. He had been looking forward to a battle where he could give it his all, but now he was ordered to deal with someone who was not even a match for him and return, so it was understandable that he felt drained.

However, Gui Pyeon couldn’t help but make a strange expression.

‘Is he just a simple fool? Or….’

There was no way that man didn’t know that his power was not at a level to stand here.

It was just that the level here was excessively high.

That man, considering his age, possessed a tremendous level of martial prowess.

‘Perhaps….’

After their world ends, the next generation might be ruled by this young martial artist. If this young martial artist was brought all the way here by the Demon Lord, there must be something special about him.

But that was a matter for the future.

Right now, in this place, this man was just a praying mantis raising its forelegs under the feet of beasts fighting for their lives.

Yes. He must know that fact himself.

And yet….

Why was that man looking at him with such calm eyes?

“Ak Joong-san. In the past, I was called Dancheon Gui Pyeon. I’m commonly called Gui Pyeon.”

“State your affiliation and name. That is the courtesy for those who face each other.”

“……Lee Myung-hwan of the General Assembly.”

Old-fashioned courtesy.

He had no intention of criticizing the other party for not knowing that courtesy. He knew that he was the one who was old-fashioned.

“I have one question.”

“Ask away.”

“Is it okay if you die?”

That was what Gui Pyeon couldn’t understand.

It was not appropriate.

There was no way this man had a sense of duty for the future of the martial world. There was no reason for him to stand here of his own will. He must have just walked out here risking his life because the Demon Lord ordered him to.

And yet, there was not a hint of fear of death in this man.

Even when facing him, one of the Twelve Flying Blades.

Lee Myung-hwan looked at Gui Pyeon with an expression that was both knowing and unknowing.

“You’ve probably lived for so long that you might not have any attachment to life… but if you think about it normally, would there be anyone who is okay with dying?”

“Then admit defeat now and go back. I am not someone who spares enemies. If it’s before we exchange blows, I will let you go.”

“Just by walking out here, you have proven your courage.

No one will criticize you for being a coward.”

Gui Pyeon said coldly.

“So, if you want to live, go back.”

Upon hearing those words, Lee Myung-hwan laughed softly.

Gui Pyeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly at the sight of Lee Myung-hwan’s smile.

“What’s so funny?”

“No… I’m not laughing at you. It’s just… I’m realizing how different things can be.”

“Different?”

“Yes.”

Lee Myung-hwan put on a deep smile.

“I was thinking that someone who has never been weak must be like this.”

“……I don’t understand.”

“You probably wouldn’t.”

Lee Myung-hwan stared intently at Gui Pyeon.

There was no need to know what this man had done in the past. He could feel it from just one gesture, one expression. This man was a natural-born strongman. Someone who seemed to have been born to become strong.

“You’ve probably never thought that you could be inferior to someone.”

“Even if there is someone you can’t beat right now, it’s just a matter of time, and you know that your talent is superior to anyone else. Whether consciously or unconsciously.”

“……What are you trying to say?”

Lee Myung-hwan laughed softly.

“That’s why you can say those words. For you, standing in this place is something that is so natural. Even if you go back now, you can say those words because you know you can stand here again someday.”

Gui Pyeon frowned as if he couldn’t understand. Lee Myung-hwan’s way of thinking was completely different from his.

“For you, getting stronger is as natural as breathing. So, you can make strength itself your goal. But….”

Lee Myung-hwan’s smile deepened.

“For me, strength is not something that is so natural. What you can learn in one go, I have to repeat a thousand times, and ponder ten thousand times. When someone flies in the sky, there are those who crawl on the ground to follow.”

“I’ve crawled all the way here. And I was lucky enough to get the chance to stand in this place. A chance that is too much for me… so excessive that my body is trembling.”

He wanted to become stronger.

Who wouldn’t want to be the best? Everyone dreams of being the best when they start. But the moment they are blocked by the wall of talent and reality, people start to deceive themselves.

They say that they never aimed for the top spot in the first place, that they are realists.

Lee Myung-hwan, and the Flame Demons….

They are the ones who have given up on deceiving themselves.

The ones who have endured until now with the single-minded desire to become stronger, even if they have to crawl, bite, or endure any humiliation.

“You asked if I was afraid of dying?”

Lee Myung-hwan smiled, baring his teeth.

“I’m terrified. But… retreating from here is a hundred times more terrifying. So… please stop with the consideration. The real consideration you can give me is to fight me without looking down on me.”

“……Is the Demon Lord such a being to you?”

“You don’t understand. Even if I surrender and go down from here, the Guild Leader wouldn’t be disappointed in the slightest. He would rather pat me on the shoulder.”

“The reason I’m standing here is because I’m a martial artist. You must have had such times too, right?”

A low breath escaped from Gui Pyeon’s lips.

He didn’t know.

It was hard to understand what this man was saying.

But….

‘I understand one thing.’

He could understand why Kang Jin-ho had specifically called this man instead of others.

“Then remember, the name Ak Joong-san.”

“If you tell the King of the Underworld my name when you go to the afterlife, at least you’ll be able to hear that you didn’t die unjustly.”

“That’s… quite an honor.”

Whirr.

The whip that was wrapped around Gui Pyeon’s arm was released in an instant.

A long whip with a black sheen.

The long whip, which seemed to be 5 meters long, raised its head and writhed like a living snake.

Seeing that sight, Lee Myung-hwan pulled up his demonic energy as much as he could.

His two eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and black demonic energy billowed out from his entire body.

He also abandoned the thought of controlling himself.

The reason he left a sliver of reason was not for precision. It was to remember this moment of the match.

‘Watch me.’

It was fortunate that it was being broadcasted.

By now, the other colleagues of the General Assembly would be watching him. Some would be worried, and some would be concerned.

He knew.

He was not the strongest among the Flame Demons. So, he had to prove that he was qualified to stand here. At least, he had to make sure that he wouldn’t be ashamed that he was standing here representing the others.

So….

‘I won’t leave any regrets.’

Lee Myung-hwan, who was emitting streaks of blood from his eyes, became a streak of black meteor and flew towards Gui Pyeon.

The beast-like roar that burst from his mouth echoed loudly throughout the large hangar.