Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 338

Rumbling.

The vibration was large and immense, but that was all.

The great tremor stopped as if it were a lie.

Kang Jin-ho, who had slightly raised his head with a puzzled look, lowered it with an understanding expression.

‘It’s a signal.’

From Kang Jin-ho’s perspective, he naturally expected Jo Gyu-min to do something. He trusted his abilities and his sincerity.

However, from Jo Gyu-min’s perspective, he couldn’t help but worry that Kang Jin-ho might not know he was coming to help.

So, he sent a signal as a first step.

Even if Kang Jin-ho didn’t realize that this was a signal from Jo Gyu-min, he would feel that this place was collapsing, and then he would take some measures.

Kang Jin-ho took a low, deep breath.

‘It’s reckless.’

He couldn’t help but smile.

It was true that he had hoped for something to be done. It wouldn’t be easy for Kang Jin-ho to get out of here with Choi Yeon-ha, let alone alone.

But the meaning of this vibration was so absurd that he laughed.

‘He’s going to blow it up.’

Thinking about it, it was the most reasonable method.

It would momentarily loosen the bonds of soil and rocks. There would be an impact, but Kang Jin-ho would be able to handle it.

In game terms, his defense was sufficient, but his attack power, especially his strength, was lacking, preventing him from overcoming the obstacle. It was like a situation where a ranged attack was coordinated with Kang Jin-ho to clear the path.

“It’s clever, but….”

It was undeniable that it was a recklessly extreme method. It was a method that Jo Gyu-min wouldn’t normally use. That meant Jo Gyu-min was either in a hurry or someone else had intervened.

It didn’t matter.

Kang Jin-ho quietly waited for the opportunity that Jo Gyu-min would send. Seizing that opportunity was the most important thing for Kang Jin-ho right now.

“Hmm…”

But the signal came from below first.

Choi Yeon-ha, who had woken up from the vibration, opened her eyes and looked around.

She was so weak that only her pupils were shaking with difficulty, not her head.

“There’s nothing to be surprised about.”

As the voice reached her, Choi Yeon-ha’s pupils turned towards Kang Jin-ho. She squinted several times as if she couldn’t see well.

“Just stay still.”

“…Just now.”

As soon as she opened her mouth, her lips cracked and bled. Kang Jin-ho gently pressed on Choi Yeon-ha’s cracked lips to stop the bleeding.

“Don’t talk.”

Choi Yeon-ha shook her head.

“I just… don’t want it like this.”

It was hard to understand what she was saying. But Kang Jin-ho could fully understand what Choi Yeon-ha meant.

“I won’t die, so you don’t have to worry.”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled faintly. But that smile was utterly desolate.

Looking at that expression, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but reflect on whether he had been too indifferent to Choi Yeon-ha.

Logically, the best thing Kang Jin-ho should do was to gather his strength before Choi Yeon-ha died and create an opportunity to escape from this place.

But what must have been Choi Yeon-ha’s feelings, being left in a place without a single ray of light for almost three days?

Not everyone can think only of solutions like Kang Jin-ho.

He hadn’t properly addressed her anxiety.

‘She thinks she’s going to die.’

She seemed to think that what he was saying was just to reassure her. From Kang Jin-ho’s point of view, he was only telling the truth, but she couldn’t accept it that way.

What she meant was that she didn’t want to die without saying anything, just closing her eyes and mouth.

“I said I’m not going to die.”

Kang Jin-ho felt a little frustrated.

His mouth, which had worked so well when threatening and instilling fear in people, became awkward like a foreigner who had just learned Korean when it came to comforting and embracing someone.

What words should he use to comfort someone else?

Choi Yeon-ha’s gaze was blurry.

“…Kang Jin…ho.”

“Yes.”

“Hold… my hand.”

“Huh?”

“I’m a little scared…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Kang Jin-ho grabbed Choi Yeon-ha’s hand tightly. Not only that, but he also pulled Choi Yeon-ha’s body close. Choi Yeon-ha flinched slightly as if surprised, but she didn’t try to push him away.

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t say useless things.”

“I have to say this… I think I’ll feel a little better…”

Her voice was small.

It wasn’t that she was trying to lower her voice, but that she no longer had the strength to make a sound.

‘It’s dangerous.’

Kang Jin-ho quietly placed his hand on her lower abdomen.

Her body trembled slightly.

Kang Jin-ho began to push his energy into her body. He thought it was more important to gather even a bit more energy than to let her recover, but at this rate, there was a possibility that Choi Yeon-ha could go into shock from the impact of the escape.

“Ah…”

Choi Yeon-ha groaned at the feeling of something hot pushing into her stomach. It was a strange sensation she had never felt before in her life.

“What… did you do?”

Her voice grew a little louder. Kang Jin-ho quietly opened his mouth.

“There’s no time to explain. Listen carefully.”

“…Yes?”

“We’re going to get out now.”

Choi Yeon-ha stared straight at Kang Jin-ho as if asking what he was talking about. Even though she couldn’t see his face in the dark.

“There are people preparing outside. They will momentarily blow this place up to secure an escape route.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes shook.

Get out of here? By blowing it up?

There was no need to explain how foolish that sounded. Choi Yeon-ha wondered what he was talking about and reached out to feel Kang Jin-ho’s face.

She wondered if Kang Jin-ho had gone into a delusion after enduring the darkness.

“Kang Jin-ho, calm… down.”

“I’m in my right mind.”

Kang Jin-ho said calmly.

“It may sound absurd, but we’re going to get out now.”

“No, wait a minute…”

“There’s no time to explain.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes glowed red in the dark.

Seeing that gaze, Choi Yeon-ha felt her heart drop.

“Kang Jin-ho…”

Kang Jin-ho continued with a stern face.

“We might die trying to get out.”

“But if we stay here, we’ll definitely die. You know that, right?”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded slightly. Her physical strength had also reached its limit. She didn’t show it, and she didn’t say it, but she was slowly preparing for the end.

She was so overwhelmed with a mixture of guilt and fear that she couldn’t control her emotions.

“It’s okay.”

Choi Yeon-ha said with a determined look.

“It’s better than staying here.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled quietly.

She was a strong woman.

It wouldn’t be easy for an ordinary person to choose a path where they might die sooner to avoid a certain death. Usually, they would think that someone might miraculously come to rescue them.

Whether she was decisive or she trusted Kang Jin-ho that much, Choi Yeon-ha was looking at him with eyes that showed no fear.

But perhaps she couldn’t completely hide her emotions, as a tremor could be felt in her clasped hand. She was scared, tired, and frightened, but she was desperately holding back to avoid burdening Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

‘Get out of here.’

He had to focus only on getting Choi Yeon-ha out of here safely. Everything else came after that.

Kang Jin-ho’s senses became sharper and sharper. As if carefully sharpening a fine sword, Kang Jin-ho heightened his senses. The opportunity was only once. Even a slight misstep in timing could lead to an unpredictable outcome.

Wasn’t this a situation where even with the best efforts, there was no guarantee of a successful escape?

Kang Jin-ho slowly calmed his breathing to leave no regrets.

Clear mirror, still water.

His mind slowly calmed, and his senses sharpened as if all his cells were wide open.

Kang Jin-ho’s mind was so clear that he wondered if he had ever concentrated this much even when he was stronger.

‘Get her out alive.’

That was all he thought about.

And….

Before he could even finish his last resolve with Choi Yeon-ha, it began to happen.

‘It’s coming.’

There was no sign.

It wasn’t like he could feel the fuse of a dynamite burning. So, until the moment of the explosion, Kang Jin-ho shouldn’t have known anything.

But Kang Jin-ho could tell.

It was a premonition close to certainty. Just as a martial artist who had reached the extreme level of martial arts could predict an opponent’s attack without seeing it, his senses, which had reached their peak, were clearly warning him of the imminent massive explosion.

Woo-oong.

Kang Jin-ho released his hand from Choi Yeon-ha and began to unleash his energy, spreading his arms as wide as possible. His distorted face spoke of the urgency of the situation.

‘It’s going to come hard once.’

Based on what he had seen before entering the tunnel, what was above Kang Jin-ho now was no different from a small mountain collapsing. Although it was a level that was embarrassing to call a mountain, how massive would the explosion have to be to shake such a pile of dirt?

The pressure at the moment of the explosion was bound to be extraordinary. Kang Jin-ho drew out all the energy he could muster. The nameless technique combined with the Asura energy began to emanate from his fingertips, following his will.

Then, it wrapped around Choi Yeon-ha’s body like a living snake.

“Ah…?”

Choi Yeon-ha let out a surprised sound, as if she could feel something wrapping around her body even in the unseen situation.

That was only for a moment.

Choi Yeon-ha, who had sensed that something was happening, tightly hugged Kang Jin-ho’s neck.

That was enough.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t say anything. With the certainty that she would know even without words, Kang Jin-ho focused his mind on one point.

Soon….

Kuuuuuuuuung!

In an instant, an impact that felt like his body was shattering struck him.

His mind went blank.

It was such a massive impact that it was natural to lose consciousness if he hadn’t prepared for it. Blood gushed out of his mouth and nose like a fountain.

“Kuh…”

It was the price he paid for not protecting his body with energy to maximize his senses. And at that moment, the world began to shake.

‘Where is it?’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, like a snake, nimbly sought an escape route.

But that was all.

No matter how much of an explosion there was, it wasn’t enough to clearly reveal an escape route.

There was no light coming in, and he couldn’t pinpoint a clear spot with his eyes.

Then there was only one place to go!

His eyes, which had turned red and were dripping with killing intent, turned upwards. One of Kang Jin-ho’s arms wrapped around Choi Yeon-ha, and the other arm pointed upwards.

Kang Jin-ho’s body, letting out a roar like a beast, soared towards the rocks that covered his head.