Descent of the Demon Master

“What a terrible hobby that is.”

Vator chuckled helplessly while watching Kang Jin-Ho from behind.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't seem interested in fixing that weird hobby of his. An expert of his caliber didn't have to get soaked by the gushing and falling blood. He didn't even have to physically dodge anything either; simply unleashing his considerable aura should be enough to deflect the blood droplets.

However, Kang Jin-Ho never did that. As if he was doing it deliberately, he always let the blood completely drench him from top to bottom.

‘This is why the demonic cultivators can be so…’

Vator wasn’t quite sure why Kang Jin-Ho insisted on doing this.

Maybe Kang Jin-Ho's thirst for bloodshed remained unaffected even after he reached the True Demon realm and overcame the demonic cultivation's violent tendencies.

Or, it could be that Kang Jin-Ho deliberately tried to look like a boogieman to stoke the flames of terror in his enemies' hearts.

Vator wasn't sure about the former explanation. However, if the latter explanation was correct, one could say Kang Jin-Ho was getting what he wanted right this moment.

“Urgh… Aaaaah…!”

They were… retreating.

The elites of Japan, rigorously handpicked for the purpose of invading South Korea, were retreating with frightened looks on their faces. They acted as if a terrifying specter had come for them!

‘What a spectacle this is.’

Vator tutted to himself.

Despite how relatively cramped this deck was, there had to be at least several hundred enemies here. Obviously, this number meant the place was packed like a can of sardines, yet all these people were still trying desperately to escape.

...All because they were frightened by one person!

Vator cackled at this spectacle.

‘I’ve got to hand it to my master. He sure knows how to provoke people.’

The Japanese weren't the only ones affected by Kang Jin-Ho's antics. While the display of Kang Jin-Ho's godly might had freaked out the Japanese warriors to the point of losing their rational minds, the same display stimulated Vator's competitive streak even more.

This outcome shouldn't come as a surprise, however.

What Kang Jin-Ho had done here was something every person walking on the journey of cultivation would have dreamed of achieving one day. And that would be to become an expert possessing the absolute and overwhelming godly strength who could easily overcome the difference in numbers and push a large army back on their own!

If a martial artist said they had never once dreamed of reaching that state, they would be a liar.

Anyone seeking strength would've imagined being a hero capable of pulling off this feat at least once. And a spectacle only existing in Vator's imagination was taking place right before his eyes. In that case, how could he stay calm and not be affected by it?

‘In any case…!’

What an unstoppable force of nature Kang Jin-Ho was.

Vator could rightfully claim to be an unparalleled martial artist. One could search the heavens and earth and still have trouble finding Vator's equal.

Even so, Kang Jin-Ho's demonstration of power was not something Vator or anyone claiming to be strong could even hope to imitate. One first had to possess boldness, cruelty, and a cold heart on top of overwhelming power!

The ideal every martial artist dreamed of achieving was now unfolding right before Vator’s eyes!

Before Vator could continue admiring this demonstration, he heard an impressed-sounding whistle coming from his side. When Vator glanced at the source, Wiggins could be seen ruefully shaking his head.

“My lord can be… rather frightening, wouldn’t you agree?”

“...Yeah, he is.”

“I have to say, I can never get used to this side of my lord. Don’t you agree he’s far too different from his usual self during battles?”

‘What a fool.’

Vator sneered subtly at Wiggins. Kang Jin-Ho’s usual self? Such a thing obviously didn’t exist.

The “Kang Jin-Ho” that everyone freely nagged every day and this “Kang Jin-Ho” were not two separate individuals. The so-called everyday Kang Jin-Ho only looked like a pushover because he had been desperately suppressing the demonic savagery bubbling deep within himself.

He wasn't flipping some switch inside him to become someone else whenever it was time to fight. The everyday Kang Jin-Ho was simply the result of him thinking of the most optimum way to live an ordinary life and be more like a human being. And he entered this demonic mode because he must've thought that to be the most efficient method during the battles.

All of these facets belonged to Kang Jin-Ho. They were all him.

Joining Kang Jin-Ho's side after a fierce battle meant Vator had gained insights into these things. Kang Jin-Ho being vicious and cruel was probably far closer to his true nature.

Vator actually found Kang Jin-Ho's usual dazed demeanor several times more out of place. However, the story was different with Wiggins as the Englishman didn't fight Kang Jin-Ho before joining the group. And it seemed Wiggins believed Kang Jin-Ho's behavior outside of fights was closer to his true nature.

‘Hah. What a joke!’

It seemed Wiggins had no idea what a true demonic cultivator was… And what kind of an existence Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor was!

The legend of the Heavenly Beginning, the Crimson End! The demonic cultivation “began” with Heavenly Demon but ended with Crimson Demon.

A demonic cultivator at the True Demon realm was basically the same as the living symbol of Apocalypse.

Such a legend wouldn't have come about if Crimson Demon had been only moderately strong. And all the top experts ruling Gangho back then wouldn't have united to take Kang Jin-Ho down despite the grave risks.

The current Kang Jin-Ho Vator and Wiggins were witnessing was that Kang Jin-Ho from ancient times.

So, the question was… Was Vator scared? Of course not!

“My blood is boiling!” Vator growled like an excited beast as the popping and cracking noises resounded out from various parts of his body.

Watching Kang Jin-Ho go wild also made Vator want to cut loose and destroy everything in his path as soon as possible.

Vator needed to prove himself just as much as Wiggins did. He needed to prove that he had the qualifications to stand next to Kang Jin-Ho. He needed to show the world that he had the right to serve an unstoppable force of nature as his master!

Even if the process of proving himself would be indescribably cruel and despair-inducing to the people on the receiving end, Vator simply had to do it, no matter what!

Vator took a large step forward. “At this rate, my master will steal all my prey right before my nose. I’m off!”

Wiggins smirked. “I, too, shouldn’t stay back and do nothing in this situation. A foreign migrant worker like myself will get the boot if I don’t pull my weight, you see?”

“Hmph!” Vator snorted, then the muscles all over his body began expanding. “Heuh-euuuh…!”

Something scorching-hot was welling up from deep within Vator’s gut.

‘It should be fine, right?’

Vator would have to stop himself in most other circumstances. After all, his demonic cultivation couldn’t be called stable. Even now, utilizing his demonic cultivation past a certain level would awaken the desire to kill and destroy everything, and he always had a torrid time trying to contain himself.

However, none of that should be a problem inside this ship.

There were no allies Vator had to protect. Almost everyone here was an enemy he must kill, and his comrades were strong and savvy enough to protect themselves from Vator rampaging around blindly like an angry bull.

In that case, this ship might be the best-possible place to test his newly acquired strength.

Jet-black demonic qi began enveloping Vator’s considerable physique. That wasn’t all, however; almost at the same time, his forged steel-like flesh began dyeing in a crimson hue.[1]

“Goodness me. That's not good,” Wiggins muttered while speedily distancing himself away from Vator. However, he had to stop when…

“What’s gotten into Sir Vator?” Bang Jin-Hun asked in alarm.

Wiggins quickly returned and yanked Bang Jin-Hun away. “Director Bang? It’s time for us to retreat. Right now.”

“...Ah!”

Bang Jin-Hun might be somewhat lacking in the quick-wits department, but that didn't mean he was a moron. He immediately figured out what Wiggins meant and hurriedly dashed back far, far away from Vator.

“Oooooohhh!"

A red giant covered in black demonic qi pounced forward.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The solid steel deck dented and cracked every time Vator took a step forward. This sight sent chills down the spines of the two men watching from behind. In that case, how much worse would it be for those unfortunate enough to witness the red giant making a beeline toward them?

“H-heeeeeeeiiik?!”

“W-what the f*ck is that?! What the fuuu*k?!”

The interior of the cruise ship was instantly dyed in the hues of despair.

Vator roared. His thunderous roar no longer belonged to the realm of humans but that of the legendary predators.

A roar that must’ve come from a legendary monster was more than enough to rip apart the enemy’s fighting spirit. Of course, their spirits weren’t the only things getting ripped apart in this situation.

KA-BOOOOM!

A human fist slammed into another person’s torso, yet the end result was an explosion. At the same time, rather unusual fireworks went off.

The power contained in Vator's punch was too much for the frail body of a person to withstand. The fate of those receiving something they couldn't endure was tragic, to say the least.

The victim’s body exploded like fireworks going off. His flesh blew apart, and the shattered bone shards flew away and pelted everything behind him.

“Aaaaaahk?!”

“Aaahk!”

The other victims screamed and fell at the sudden sensation of sharp shrapnel piercing their bodies. Even as they fell, these warriors had no idea what just happened. However, maybe that was a blessing in disguise.

After all, no one would be pleased to hear that the shrapnel piercing them happened to be bone fragments shooting out from their now torn-apart comrade!

Crunch!

Everything Vator's hands grabbed was either ripped apart or got crushed to mush. Everything his fists landed exploded into bits and pieces.

It was like witnessing a crimson tornado. Anyone unfortunate enough to enter Vator's attack range couldn't maintain their shapes and got ripped apart into bloody chunks and pieces. Fountains of blood gushed into the air.

“...Huh. Isn’t this, you know, a bit too gory?” Bang Jin-Hun muttered with a deep scowl. He was getting an upset stomach merely by watching this gruesome massacre.

Obviously, Bang Jin-Hun had gone through life-or-death struggles before. Ditto for many bloody dogfights. Even then, this sight was still difficult to stomach.

Wiggins quietly muttered, “Isn’t it like having a front-row seat to the rampage of two wild predators?”

Bang Jin-Hun tutted. “Sorry, but my English isn’t good enough to understand that.”

“...My apologies, then.” Wiggins briefly shook his head. He decided to give up on conversing with Bang Jin-Hun just then.

Bang Jin-Hun watched as Wiggins pulled out his sword from subspace. “Huh? Are you going to join the fight?”

“Of course,” Wiggins nodded coolly, “...Otherwise, my lord will bite my head off for lazing around in the background. Doing one's share is my lord's pet theory, after all.”

“But, uh… You want to join that?” Bang Jin-Hun pointed to the carnage up ahead, his jaw falling slightly.

Indeed, it was a carnage. A pure pandemonium!

Kang Jin-Ho got the proceedings going by attacking first. Then, Vator brought up the rear. When two monsters no one on this ship could hope to fight back began their rampage, the only choice the Japanese warriors had was to freak out and flee.

However, where could they run off to in this relatively cramped ship?

The warriors at the front of the crowd struggled with all their might to retreat. Meanwhile, the ones behind kicked and yelled at the people in front to avoid getting crushed.

Everyone got into a messy tangle. And they screamed and howled in despair.

It had been less than a minute since Kang Jin-Ho started wielding his sword, yet the cruise ship had already turned into a Hell on Earth.

So, for Wiggins to join that madness?

‘Yup, this old gent is a monster, too!’

Bang Jin-Hun had to admit that Wiggins was also not exactly normal in his head either. Especially when the Englishman was staring at the carnage with an amused smirk on his face!

Bang Jin-Hun suddenly wondered what madness had emboldened him into joining this particular trip out to sea.

Compared to this trio of madmen, Bang Jin-Hun was relatively sane and level-headed. No, maybe not sane, but… Ordinary? An ordinary martial artist?

Bang Jin-Hun admitted that he didn’t have the right mindset to join this demonstration of madness. Even then, he had to grit his teeth.

He couldn’t afford to back away from here. After all, wasn’t he here to represent the Korean Martial Assembly? So, for him to leave the battle for South Korea’s future to a Brit, a Mongol, and a man who inherited the Chinese demonic arts and spectate from afar?

That basically meant Koreans would be pushed out from the core of the Korean Martial Assembly! Bang Jin-Hun could never accept that outcome. Especially when…!

“...When we’re fighting the goddamn Jap bastards! I ain’t gonna let this chance go by!”

As a hot-blooded Korean man, Bang Jin-Hun could never miss out on a chance to fight the Japanese. Leaving the battle to the warriors of other countries and spectating the proceedings from a safe distance would be an indescribable humiliation!

“I’m joining, too!” Bang Jin-Hun roared before dashing forward.

“Hold on, Director… Bang…” Wiggins hurriedly reached out to stop Bang Jin-Hun, but it was too late by then.

‘Huh. But it might be too dangerous for him, though…?’

Bang Jin-Hun wasn’t strong enough to maintain his rational mind inside that storm of madness. And that would make things very dangerous for him.

However, Wiggins didn’t try to stop Bang Jin-Hun. He knew what the former Assembly Master was feeling deep inside, after all. Besides, he had a hunch that no words would discourage Bang Jin-Hun in this situation, anyway.

‘It’s easy enough to see why, isn’t it?’

Nothing could be more stimulating for martial artists than the bloody spectacle unfolding before their eyes. Anyone with even a hint of cultivation would want to join in and fight to their heart's content!

‘In that case, I shouldn’t dally, as well.’

Wiggins licked his lips without even realizing it. His new prosthetic arm creaked and clacked ominously as if to remind its new owner that the time had come to test it out.

For the first time in a long while, Wiggins let go of his inhibitions. And then… he jumped right into the whirlpool of madness Kang Jin-Ho had set off. With his eyes flickering dangerously, Wiggins rushed into the crowd up ahead.

KA-BOOOOOOM!

Soon, explosions, screams, and chilling noises of human flesh being sliced apart echoed in the air. A banquet of death got underway on this empty, vast ocean. And no one was here to witness the carnage.

1. Holy cow, I hope Marvel doesn’t sue this author and the novel for copying Red Hulk... ☜