Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 988

‘This is no joke!’ Lee Hyun-soo’s face was completely pale. This was a battle between absolutes. A fight between those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts! It was the first time Lee Hyun-soo had ever witnessed such a spectacle. And it was likely the same for the others. Kang Jin-ho had already fought Hong Wang before, but only a few had witnessed that battle. Only Bator had seen the entire process from beginning to end. The feeling of watching a battle between absolutes, something he had only imagined, was completely different from what Lee Hyun-soo had expected. ‘I’m going to die like this.’ What would happen if a mouse were to enter a cage where a tiger and a lion were fighting? Even if the tiger and lion had no interest in the mouse, the mouse would die just by being stepped on by their unconscious movements. Lee Hyun-soo was in exactly that situation. “Can this place even hold up?” “…I don’t know.” Lee Myung-hwan was just as clueless. He hadn’t been paying much attention, but the moment he heard Lee Hyun-soo’s words, he too began to feel uneasy. Of course, this was the Round Table. There was no way that those of the Round Table would have built a building carelessly. They would have built it as strongly as possible, considering the possibility of enemies attacking and battles breaking out. But… ‘Can this even withstand it?’ The blackened walls and the holes that had already been punched through them came into view. How could it not collapse when such a battle that was turning the surroundings into a wasteland was continuing? Maybe it would be better to run away now… “It will probably hold.” “Master!” Lee Hyun-soo turned his head, his face brightening. Wiggins and Master had approached at some point. The Garter Knights could also be seen coming from behind them. “It’s a more sturdy place than you think. It’s built to withstand bombings or bunker busters. Structurally, it’s impossible, but it’s been reinforced with magic.” “…That magic is like a panacea [a cure-all].” “In reality, it’s far from a panacea; it’s an incredibly inconvenient means.” Wiggins chuckled. “If magic were that simple and efficient, would science have dominated the world? The shock you’re feeling about magic now is nothing compared to the shock that past magicians felt about science.” “That may be so, but…” Lee Hyun-soo hesitated, glancing at Master. It seemed that Master was not comfortable with him entering the hall in the current situation. “…Elder Knights, are they?” Normally, Master would have noticed Lee Hyun-soo’s concern and smiled, but now, Lee Hyun-soo was not even in Master’s sight. His attention was solely focused on Kang Jin-ho and the Elder Knights in front of him. “Master, shouldn’t we do something?” “There’s nothing we can do.” Master shook his head at Wiggins’ words. “The Elder Knights are not beings that can be controlled. They are the guardians of the Round Table, but they are beings that are outside the laws of the Round Table. They are beings who would do anything for the Round Table. If they were to defeat your Lord, they would probably cut off the heads of all the knights under the pretext of reorganizing the Round Table.” “…What?” Wiggins’ eyes widened as if he was hearing it for the first time. “Why, when they are supposed to protect the Round Table?” “Because they are protecting it. It’s thanks to that rationality you were talking about. The fact that the Round Table system could become corrupt was something that our ancestors also knew. That’s why they put in a poison pill [a measure designed to prevent a hostile takeover]. So that if the corruption and irrationality become excessive and cause a crisis for the Round Table, they can start anew.” Wiggins closed his mouth. ‘What is this…’ That the Elder Knights protected the Round Table was something that all knights knew. But the reality of that protection was this. Protection is protection, I guess. From their perspective. It’s just that it’s not protection from our perspective. “A place where humans become parts… That’s definitely not wrong. If the parts are rusty, they can just be replaced.” Wiggins bit his lip slightly. “This is troublesome. I, who should wish for the victory of the Round Table, must wish for the defeat of the Elder Knights to survive. If the Elder Knights win, I and Knight Levo will definitely not survive, even if others do. We will be the main culprits who caused this crisis.” “…Did Knight Levo know this fact?” “He wouldn’t have known. If he had known, he wouldn’t have even tried. Now that he has opened the temple, there is no result left for him other than death. That’s why I told him to prepare.” Master looked at the Elder Knights and the clueless Knight Levo with slightly darkened eyes. “We can only hope that your Lord wins.” Lee Hyun-soo answered instead. “That’s a given.” “…It has to be.” Lee Hyun-soo turned his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho would not lose. It was unimaginable that he would be defeated by anyone. Even if the opponent was not just one person. But Lee Hyun-soo’s fist was clenched so tightly that his blood circulation was cut off, contrary to his thoughts. “If we defeat the Elder Knights, the Round Table will have no choice but to cooperate with your Lord. They won’t be able to resist such power and ability. However… they are really strong. Even I couldn’t fill the last seat of the Elder Knights. From the start, I didn’t even qualify for the test.” “I don’t know how strong the Elder Knights are either. I’ll find out now.” Everyone’s gaze turned to the center. A growling sound could be heard. A breathing sound. It sounded like rough breathing, but also like a beast growling. It was strange either way, and it fit either way. ‘I know my heart is beating well.’ Brunor swallowed hard. His heart, which was beating for the first time in three hundred years, was pumping fiercely. He was worried that it might burst. It was good news that his heart was beating well after waking up from a deep sleep, but it was bad news that his heart was beating excessively. Brunor looked at the one who was making his heart beat. Kang Jin-ho, who was slowly walking while wielding black flames. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. “Did it not have any effect?” “…It seems so.” “Even after pouring that much into it.” “Wasn’t that expected?” Gawain nodded. If he had easily blocked the vortex, he wouldn’t fall from that level of attack. That was something that could be expected. ‘What was unexpected was not that.’ He thought that he could at least give him a shock. Because he had poured an enormous amount of magic power. But there was no sign of the aftermath of the shock in Kang Jin-ho’s appearance. It was impossible to confirm whether there were any injuries on his body due to the black flames of unknown origin, but considering that the momentum he was emitting was still the same and his gait was not shaking at all, it could be said that there was no impact. Gawain turned his head slightly. Bedivere’s face was pale. Whether it was because he had temporarily used excessive mana, or because of the shock that the magic he had poured out had no effect on the opponent. “…It seems we can’t end this without sacrifice.” “Ah, yes.” Brunor nodded. They couldn’t end this without sacrifice. Brunor knew what that meant. He was the one who blocked the opponent’s attacks from the front. If someone was to be sacrificed, Brunor would be the first to die. But Brunor did not waver. Fear? Dread? They were undeniably pressing down on him. But his steel-like will and loyalty to the Round Table made it possible to ignore such fear. He engraved in his heart the will to protect the Round Table, even with his death. At that moment, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth. “Is that all?” “No, it can’t be.” Kang Jin-ho’s head slowly tilted. To the Elder Knights who were watching, it just looked like the flames were flickering. “It seems like there’s still something left? Show me a little more. I’m just starting to feel good.” Gawain bit his lip. That was not a bluff. Kang Jin-ho was really enjoying this battle itself. Although the word ‘enjoying’ was different from the usual enjoyment. “…He’s unbelievably strong.” “He’s to the point where he doesn’t seem human.” “Are there such monsters living in the East?” “No way. He must be an irregular. If not, the Round Table wouldn’t have been able to exist.” If such monsters had been pouring out in every era, the Round Table would have collapsed centuries ago. The fact that the Round Table exists now was proof that he was a special being even in the East. “Then we just have to defeat him. Should we call that hopeful?” “You’ve become talkative, Gawain.” “…I’ll admit that I’m scared, honestly.” Gawain nodded. They had to kill him. But facing him was an extremely frightening thing. Overcoming that fear was what a knight was. ‘It’s more fundamental.’ If there was a fear of death, they wouldn’t be able to fall into a sleep like death. The Elder Knights were beings who had abandoned their attachment to life. But even the Elder Knights could not help but feel fear from Kang Jin-ho. This was different from the fear that arose to protect oneself. “Gawain.” “Speak.” “Don’t miss the opportunity.” “I promise.” At that moment, Brunor let out a huge roar and charged towards Kang Jin-ho. He covered his head with his shield and flew towards Kang Jin-ho like a flash of light. It was a speed that did not match his huge size. Like a football player tackling with his body, but at a speed that was incomparable to that, Brunor charged towards Kang Jin-ho. And seeing that, Kang Jin-ho smiled brightly. “Not enough.” Kang Jin-ho threw the Red Dew into the air, and his fist flew towards Brunor’s shield, delivering a straight punch. A violent blow that caused the flames of his entire body to explode! Kwaaaaaaaang! Even though it was a collision between a metal shield and a fist made of flesh, an absurd explosion erupted. Brunor was thrown backward at the same speed he had charged. No, it was only his upper body that was thrown back. Poo-oo-oot! A fountain of blood erupted from Brunor’s mouth. But his lower body was firmly fixed to the floor. “Now!” At that moment, three shadows leaped up from behind Brunor. At the same time, a starting word like a scream erupted. “Lock!” White hands rose from the floor and grabbed Kang Jin-ho’s legs. White smoke billowed from the hands that came into contact with the black magic steel, but even as they melted and distorted, the hands wrapped around Kang Jin-ho’s legs even more tightly. “Dieeeeeee!” “Death to the enemy!” Three knights who had soared above Brunor’s head were hurled towards Kang Jin-ho, wielding swords, spears, and a huge iron mace. Kang Jin-ho, seeing that scene, burst into uncontrollable laughter. The flames surrounding Kang Jin-ho’s body soared to the ceiling, engulfing the knights who were flying in. It was a scene as if holy knights who had devoted themselves to God were fighting against a demon with their lives on the line.