Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 191

Chapter 191: The Foretold Great Disaster （6）

It started with an SNS post uploaded by one person.

Even as people were dying and the world was collapsing, someone living in modern society held onto their phone until the very moment of their death.

『My stats increased after believing in Kang San. This is a touching true story.』

━ Is that even possible?

━ Kang San is not a god, how can he increase stats?

━ It seems the world is about to end. Such nonsense.

People’s reactions were negative.

To be precise, they were reasonable.

Within the transcendental system known as the System, there was no naive person who would readily accept the claim that stats could be increased simply by believing in Kang San, a mere human. However, that SNS post was soon flooded with pilgrimage comments. At first, one person, then another, added their voices to the comments, and then, before anyone knew it, people began to appear, claiming that they had also awakened their abilities.

Especially among them.

There was Priest Oh Man-seok, who leads the Sun God Church.

『I am Priest Oh Man-seok, who led the Sun God Church in the past and now serves Kang San-nim. It may be hard for you to believe, but it is true that faith in Kang San-nim grants power. Currently, a thousand followers of the Kang San Religion have simultaneously awakened their abilities, and we will officially prove this to you once this situation is over. The reason why I, who am not familiar with SNS, am posting this message through the help of a young follower is simple.』

The world was in an uproar.

People living in Pohang uploaded videos.

A video showing a thousand priests, led by Priest Oh Man-seok, appearing and lending their strength.

People were divided on whether it was true or false, but it was enough to entice those who were unsure.

『If your home is under attack, if your family and yourself are in danger, do not ignore what I am saying. Faith does not require payment. With a sincere heart, accept Kang San-nim and wish for him to save you. Then, a miracle will find you.』

Some ignored it.

Some scoffed.

And, one or two out of ten believed in Kang San as Priest Oh Man-seok said.

That was enough.

The faith, increasing one by one, eventually began to cover the entire Republic of Korea.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kang San showed a bewildered expression.

“…Priest Oh Man-seok, you said he spread this fact?”

“Yes. At first, I didn’t believe it either. If stats could rise just by believing in another human, wouldn’t it negate common sense? But right before a monster bit my neck, I truly accepted the existence of Kang San-nim with a desperate heart, and I heard a voice saying my stats had increased. Kang San-nim, I truly believed. Kang San-nim is the one who will save Korea, which has fallen into despair.”

He was devout.

Readily bowing their heads, with the man in front as the lead, people expressed their gratitude to Kang San like dominoes collapsing.

This series of events.

His head became complicated.

This didn’t make sense logically.

‘How is this even possible?’

Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time a situation like this had occurred.

Eileen.

She, who had been rescued by him, gained a special skill called Power of Prayer, and showed an illogical aspect where her stats increased depending on the number of believers who had faith in Kang San. At first, he thought it was a coincidence created by a special situation. But stats increasing just by simple faith made Kang San’s head spin.

‘It’s certain. I’m not normal at all, even considering my innate talent and Third Awakening.’

Kang San had met countless talents so far.

Im Chan-yeong, Kim Mu-hyeok, Yeon Woo-bin.

Eileen, Kim Chun-sik, and so on.

People who gained innate talent generally had past lives, and they gained infinite abilities the moment they recognized their past life’s existence. It was different from Kang San. Despite having a past life, Kang San underwent Acquired Awakening instead of Congenital Awakening, and in that case, he had to be compared with Eileen and Kim Chun-sik, who corresponded to Third Awakening.

Eileen after receiving Kang San’s help.

Kim Chun-sik also after receiving Kang San’s help.

Gained abilities.

It was an Awakening caused by another person, not themselves, and this couldn’t be considered a case similar to Kang San.

Luca Bellino.

At least, besides Kang San, there was no one else who had met a transcendental being who called herself the Messenger of God.

It was definitely different.

Kang San couldn’t accept the situation that people called a miracle as a simple miracle.

‘Luca Bellino is just a messenger, Azmoon clearly wants something from me. The existence of Trials proves that. Im Chan-yeong, Kim Mu-hyeok, and even Peng Mujeong’s past life. Although the degree of evil deeds cannot be compared, they could be classified as clear villains, yet they didn’t receive Trials. I’m not in this situation simply because I’m the Blood Demon. Beyond that, Azmoon, and the System’s purpose must exist.’

The truth being revealed one layer at a time.

It felt like he was getting closer to something shrouded in a veil.

He took a breath.

He calmed his thoughts.

The disaster situation that had struck Korea was currently ongoing, and now was the time for choice and focus.

It was then.

Wooong━

His cell phone vibrated.

As he received the call, Jeong Min-jun of Flare’s urgent voice was heard.

『Kang San-nim! An S-rank monster has appeared in Incheon! We need Kang San-nim’s help!』

The third S-rank.

In the never-ending disaster, Kang San wasn’t even allowed the time to catch his breath.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Flare’s Master.

Flame Shin Kang-cheol was strong.

The moment he judged that the problem in Incheon had been resolved to some extent, something huge suddenly appeared from the sky.

Kreeeeeek━!

A giant body.

Nine heads.

It was the Hydra, known as an S-rank monster.

The problem wasn’t just that; countless Gargoyles poured out from beyond the Hydra.

Crack!

“Ugh!”

“Kyaaaaaaaaak!”

Screams were heard from all directions.

Hunters below B-rank couldn’t even react properly and had their limbs torn apart by the sharp claws of the Gargoyles swooping down like hawks. And around the Hydra, they were helplessly swept away by its tail whipping like a lash. Some boldly rushed towards the Hydra, but they were bitten by the eight heads surrounding the central one or turned to stone and crashed to the ground.

Shin Kang-cheol raised his magical power.

His performance was crucial to stop this overwhelming sight.

“Volcano.”

Rumble.

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosions erupted from the ground.

The earth cracked, and lava and thorny rocks shot up, trying to block the approaching monsters somehow.

But there were just too many of them.

Beyond the Gargoyles crashing down with thudding impacts, even more Gargoyles quickly filled their places. The heat didn’t even reach the Hydra in the first place. When the boiling lava attacked the Hydra, its skin, which hardened like stone, blocked the heat. It was a natural enemy. On the contrary, the Hydra’s massive heads swooped down and tore apart the limbs of those trying to protect Shin Kang-cheol.

“Aagh━!”

Here in Incheon.

They had poured in all of Flare’s forces to raid the S-rank.

Logically, they should have been able to handle at least one Hydra, but things in the world didn’t always go as expected.

An S-rank Link.

And A-rank Links.

They were outnumbered from the start.

As the odds of defeat grew thicker, Jeong Min-jun said he would try contacting Kang San, but that alone wasn’t the answer.

‘If this continues, everyone will die.’

He clenched his teeth.

They needed a way.

Suddenly, Shin Kang-cheol remembered what Jeong Min-jun had said jokingly.

“SNS is going crazy right now. They say you get special abilities if you believe in Kang San-nim. Really, how can people believe such things?”

Even Jeong Min-jun, who had a connection with Kang San.

He couldn’t readily accept the rumors circulating.

Why?

In this situation, Shin Kang-cheol wanted to believe those rumors.

‘Kang San-nim, I will believe in you. If those rumors are true, I will follow you and support what you are trying to do. So, please show me that miracle. So that I can save these people!’

At that moment.

『Your unwavering faith awakens a new ability.』

Whoosh━

He was engulfed in a bright light.

Shin Kang-cheol was just as bewildered as Jeong Min-jun, who looked back with a surprised face.

It was real.

The rumors weren’t false.

He could see new Links opening one after another before his eyes, but Shin Kang-cheol raised his magical power and said.

“Hold on somehow.”

Whoosh.

He was engulfed in flames.

He, who was already S-rank, had taken a step forward.

“Until Kang San-nim arrives.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The distance between Incheon and Bucheon was short.

Even though he moved immediately after receiving the call, the sight Kang San witnessed upon arrival was a ruin that could only be seen in an apocalypse.

Crackle.

Crackle, crackle.

Flames remained among the collapsed debris.

Traces of a fierce battle.

And the still-resonating rumbling sound meant that the struggle for survival hadn’t ended.

“We can’t let them through.”

“Fire Rain!”

Whoosh.

Boom━!

Flare’s guild members.

They held on desperately.

Even though Shin Kang-cheol had gained awakened abilities, they couldn’t block all the monsters pouring out from the distorted dimension.

Kang San kicked off the ground.

He was about to use Trial’s Shield, but he heard consecutive voices.

『You have met the special conditions for Mindset.』

『The TenacityMindset increases your stats by 100%.』

『You have met the special conditions for Transcendence.』

『In the presence of those who believe in you, your stats are temporarily increased by 100%.』

『Due to the effect of Resonance, the will of the people is revived.』

A 200% increase.

It was a sudden buff.

Transcendence and Resonance were skills related to faith.

In the presence of those who believed in Kang San, an unknown world that hadn’t been activated before opened up.

“Trial’s Shield━!”

“Kang San-nim!”

Creak.

He drew the attention of the monsters.

The expressions of the Flare guild members brightened at Kang San’s appearance, and Kang San blocked the attacks at the forefront and shouted.

“I’ll block them from the front, so please focus on attacking!”

“Salamander’s Breath.”

Whoosh━!

Boom!

Yeon Woo-bin reacted immediately.

As soon as he arrived at the scene, he summoned Salamander and breathed out flames, and with this series of events, the hope that they could finally survive was revived in people’s hearts. Kang San was literally like an unbreakable iron fortress. Not only did he block the attacks of the Hydra and Gargoyles with his whole body, but he also actively rushed in and cut off the Hydra’s heads.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style: Blade Kill.”

Flash.

Thud!

He cut off a head.

As another head grew from the severed head, he cut it off repeatedly, pressuring the Hydra.

It was overwhelming.

Kang San, who had already reached S-rank, now had his stats increased by the effects of two skills, and he displayed a prominent presence. It was the moment when the situation completely reversed. Flare wasn’t a group that would show an efficiency of 2 just by adding 1 unit of power to 1 unit of power. They poured everything into explosive firepower. If the added 1 unit of power guaranteed their safety, their destructive power, ignoring defense, could be 3, 4, 5, or even more than that.

Shin Kang-cheol was engulfed in flames.

His signature skill was activated.

“Flare.”

Whoosh.

Boom━!

The Hydra was engulfed in flames.

Yeon Woo-bin and Shin Kang-cheol didn’t miss the opportunity and pushed forward, and even though the Hydra was highly resistant to flames, its durability was gradually eroded by Kang San’s attacks and the explosive firepower. The Hydra’s counterattacks were blocked without fail. They couldn’t get past Kang San’s line, and finally, the Hydra couldn’t withstand the attacks and let out a roar.

Bang━!

Kieeeeek.

Thud!

It collapsed forward.

The Red Dragon, the Blue Dragon, and now the Hydra.

Three S-rank monsters appeared simultaneously, but this time too, they were stopped by Kang San.

Kang San felt the strength drain from his body.

He had rushed here in a hurry, but as the buff effects wore off, he suddenly felt weaker.

“We’re, we’re alive!”

“We survived!”

“Thank you, Kang San-nim!”

Within the ruined building.

People who had been hiding began to appear one after another.

They had witnessed it with their own eyes.

How Kang San appeared and resolved the entire situation.

Shin Kang-cheol also approached with his disheveled appearance and offered a handshake first.

“Thanks to you, we survived. I’m Shin Kang-cheol.”

“I’m Kang San.”

They shook hands.

That’s when it happened.

“But it was really true, the rumors. That if you believe in Kang San-nim, you can survive even the most desperate situations.”

『A religion is created.』

『Flare’s Master, ‘Shin Kang-cheol’, becomes your follower.』

A sudden message.

Kang San’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.