Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Revolution （2）

A few hours ago.

President Lee Cheol-woo called Kang San.

It was a direct line, not through the Chief Secretary, and he intended to discuss the affairs of South Korea with Kang San. In truth, Kang San was just an individual. However, given the achievements he had made so far, there would be few, at least in South Korea, who would object to discussing matters with him.

But he didn’t answer the call.

It was a common occurrence, but a primal sense of foreboding arose as the awaited reply failed to arrive.

“Chief Secretary. Contact everyone related to Kang San-nim immediately and inquire about his whereabouts. See if he’s reachable, if anything has happened. Hurry!”

“Understood.”

The newly appointed Chief Secretary quickly left the presidential office.

The targets were clear.

People like reporter Kim Min-yeong, Jo Han-byeol, and Yeon Woo-bin from the Guardian Guild. Thinking they might know something, he even contacted Cheonsang, Daeyang, and Flare, asking if they could reach Kang San. But the responses he received were voices filled with agitation. Even they didn’t know Kang San’s whereabouts, and their voices grew increasingly frantic as they demanded to know what was going on.

He sent people to check Kang San’s residence.

After countless rings of the doorbell went unanswered, they forced their way in, only then realizing the gravity of the situation.

‘Kang San has disappeared!’

This was a major problem.

People supported and accepted Lee Cheol-woo’s second term, but the one truly holding South Korea together was Kang San. The figure revered by the Kang San Religion and the one who actually possessed such power. If Kang San disappeared and didn’t return, even if the large-scale Link was resolved, immense chaos would ensue.

President Lee Cheol-woo trembled with anxiety.

Knowing that Kang San was not someone who would disappear irresponsibly, he waited anxiously for Kang San to contact him.

That’s when it happened.

“Mr. President. We’ve confirmed through international channels that Kang San-nim is currently in Cuxhaven!”

“Cuxhaven? Isn’t that where the nuclear weapons facility is located?”

“Yes. The exact circumstances are unclear, but the European revolutionary group, Revolution, is currently attacking the Cuxhaven Wall to seize the nuclear weapons facility. And we’ve received information that Kang San-nim is there, fighting against them.”

His expression hardened.

The situation painted itself in his mind.

South Korea’s successful resolution of the first large-scale Link had sent shockwaves across the globe.

Among the news, Kang San’s contributions were particularly impressive, making it highly likely that someone from the European Union had requested his help. Bypassing the government was a highly selfish decision. South Korea would never hand over Kang San, so they must have contacted him personally. It seemed Kang San, after careful consideration upon hearing that people were in danger, had chosen to shoulder the risk alone.

He was a fool.

He felt frustrated by Kang San’s actions, heading to Cuxhaven when his fatigue hadn’t even subsided.

They had to save him.

They couldn’t leave the hope of South Korea in such danger.

And just then.

“Mr. President. Chancellor Walther Reimann of the European Union has contacted us through official channels.”

The culprit who took Kang San had reached out directly.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

On the screen.

Walther Reimann looked surprised.

『……Are you saying you can actually send reinforcements?』

“Yes. Frankly, I’m displeased that you put Kang San-nim in danger without even informing the South Korean government, but what matters most to us is his safety. Mr. Chancellor, do you understand what Kang San-nim means to South Korea?”

『I understand to some extent.』

“No. You don’t understand. If you did, you wouldn’t have treated him like an ordinary individual. From the S-rank Outbreak to this large-scale Link, during the era of the irresponsible former president, when the country was on the brink of collapse, Kang San-nim was the one who dedicated himself to South Korea despite facing all sorts of speculation and doubt. He is everything to us. We will provide assistance as you requested, but I want you to clearly understand what takes precedence in our relationship.”

A firm stance.

Walther Reimann looked impressed.

He hadn’t expected such sincerity from the president of a nation, even if Kang San was incredibly important.

『……I will certainly apologize for that later.』

“Understood. Let’s move past the emotional issues. If we send reinforcements, what are your plans? Given the current limitations on teleporting directly to Cuxhaven, we can’t just send a large number of personnel all at once, can we?”

『We’ve found a solution for that. There’s a teleport gate in Hamburg that can accommodate a large number of people. If they come through there, we’re preparing to transport them to Cuxhaven as quickly as possible using teleport magic circles deployed throughout the region. It will take a few hours at best, but we believe it’s the best option. But…… roughly how much support can you provide?』

He shamelessly inquired about the scale of the support.

It was a crucial question.

President Lee Cheol-woo responded to the cautious question.

“South Korea’s support this time will be comprised entirely of volunteers. Even so.”

He had already received countless calls.

They had expressed their strong determination.

“It will be enough to turn the tide of the battle. That’s how many people in South Korea truly follow Kang San-nim.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kang San had faced countless dangers.

Back when he was F-rank, he couldn’t even handle Nols, let alone Werewolves, but as time passed, he had faced many situations that transcended ordinary limits. The S-rank Dark Lord and the surging undead, the S-rank Hunters led by Kim Mu-hyeok, and the monsters that filled the world during the large-scale Link.

He had always overcome them.

Though Kang San had always survived, even his past experiences hadn’t threatened his life like this.

Whirr━

Crack!

He swung his hand axe down.

The moment the shield blocked it, Troy Baker’s magic exploited the opening.

“Blood Teeth.”

Crunch.

Crunch, crunch.

It was unavoidable.

Beastly teeth formed from magic swarmed in as if hundreds were attacking at once, biting all over Kang San’s body. He had to deflect some and endure others. Meanwhile, Samuel Pahlsson, with a crazed laugh, didn’t stop his attacks, and even when Kang San counterattacked, an unexpected presence blocked his strikes.

Thud━

An S-rank undead.

The being, once part of the European Union, blocked Kang San’s attack with its body.

His sword wouldn’t budge.

Kang San, grimacing, pulled his sword out with force, and in that instant, Samuel Pahlsson’s hand axe came crashing down on his head again.

“Why? Is it getting a bit too much for you now?

Boom━

Clatter.

He slid back.

His face was etched with bewilderment.

According to his calculations, if he could hold back even one person like Samuel Pahlsson, Roland Gross and the other S-ranks at the wall, along with the support troops, should have been able to handle the rest. But Revolution’s forces were concentrated on him. Roland Gross, still alive, had his feet entangled by one of his former S-rank undead comrades.

Before his eyes.

There were three S-ranks.

And two of them were among the top-tier S-ranks.

He caught his breath.

With the soldiers of Cuxhaven turning into undead through black magic upon death, it was only a matter of time before the wall fell.

‘I can’t expect any help. In the end.’

“Metamorphosis, Attack Type.”

Rumble.

‘I have to take care of this myself.’

Thump━

He kicked off the ground.

Kang San, enveloped in black magic, instantly pierced through space, and Samuel Pahlsson, seemingly intrigued, didn’t dodge.

“Where do you think you’re━!”

Boom━

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

A powerful shockwave erupted.

Kang San, pushing through the pouring murderous intent, didn’t retreat a single step and targeted his opponent’s vital points with lightning-fast precision. Under the onslaught of attacks fueled by murderous intent, a red aura flared up from Samuel Pahlsson’s body. It was a skill called Dispersion. From now on, if he didn’t kill any living beings, his life force would dwindle in real-time, but the immense power gained at the cost of his life blocked Kang San’s movements.

Simultaneously.

“Darkness, come to me. Dark Wave.”

Rumble.

Darkness surged in from all directions.

Every time he was caught by the darkness, Kang San felt his movements slowing down.

But.

Snap━

He shook it off.

With eyes blazing with murderous intent, he kept pace with Samuel Pahlsson’s movements and finally slashed his chest.

Slash━!

“Amazing!”

Samuel Pahlsson grinned.

Pain couldn’t break him.

The gushing blood was immediately absorbed back into his skin, and as Samuel Pahlsson counterattacked, the S-rank undead also lunged forward, throwing itself at Kang San. It was an undead who had been a warrior in life. As the powerful blow created a deafening roar, Kang San, instead of retreating, delved into the warping space.

Whoosh.

Flash━!

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Fifth Style: Annihilation.”

Rumble.

A storm erupted.

The attack, aimed at both of them simultaneously, tore apart only the undead’s body by a hair’s breadth.

But.

Thud, thud, thud.

The body regenerated.

Their opponent was a Black Mage.

As long as Troy Baker was alive, the undead would receive a constant supply of magic power.

‘……This is dangerous.’

A chilling sensation washed over him.

It was the first time he had encountered opponents who resisted so fiercely even when pushed this far.

Samuel Pahlsson spoke.

“I really don’t understand. You must have a past life too, but why are you trying to save this world with such influence? You know it too, don’t you? That this current life ultimately has no meaning.”

“Ptui━.”

He spat out blood.

Bits of what looked like internal organs were mixed in.

Kang San was the same.

He didn’t understand his opponents.

His past life.

The life of Seo Mun-ho.

There was no reason for him to want to return to those times.

The life he had to gain by abandoning his current life wasn’t as desperately desired by Kang San as it was by them.

“Alright, let’s see this through to the end.”

He knew instinctively.

In this situation.

To defeat them, he had to cross a line.

After experiencing that unknown realm once, Kang San’s instincts were imprinted with the knowledge of how to recreate it.

‘……I abandon myself.’

His consciousness drifted somewhere.

The state of Possession.

And then.

『You have fallen into Qi Deviation.』

『Entering the realm of Immersion.』

The Blood Demon, Seo Mun-ho.

He surrendered his body to the sensations of his past life.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Tap.

He took a step.

And like a released arrow, he suddenly pierced through space.

Bang━

Rumble.

He was fast.

Samuel Pahlsson, faced with the reckless charge, tried to counter it just like before.

But.

Whack━

Whack, whack, whack, whack━

Blood splattered from Kang San’s body.

Even as Troy Baker’s attacks tore his entire body apart, he didn’t slow down, only allowing superficial wounds to his skin. Something was strange. The eyes he met were stained an inhumanly crimson, and Samuel Pahlsson swung his hand axe at Kang San with all his might.

Boom━

His expression contorted.

He felt a strong resistance.

As he endured the feeling of his hand being ripped apart and tried to swing the hand axe in his other hand, Kang San’s attack came into view.

Swish.

Rumble.

He barely dodged it.

That was only the beginning.

As he looked ahead, Kang San’s sword was thrust right in front of him.

Clang━!

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

He was pushed back helplessly.

Troy Baker, sensing something was amiss, hurriedly shouted.

“Samuel. Something’s wrong. Be care━.”

That’s when it happened.

A dozen exchanges in an instant.

The two figures intertwined.

Samuel Pahlsson seized the opportunity.

Trusting his regenerative abilities, he jumped into the fray, deciding it was the perfect chance to take Kang San’s head in exchange for some injuries.

But at that moment.

His eyes met Kang San’s.

The crimson gaze hadn’t missed a single one of Samuel Pahlsson’s movements from the very beginning.

“You don’t mean…….”

Flash.

Thud━

His head flew off.

Samuel Pahlsson’s regenerative abilities tried to reattach his head, but amidst the rising spray of blood, his head floated up and fell to the ground.

And then.

Crunch.

It was stomped on.

Kang San, seething with murderous intent, looked at Troy Baker.

“You asked why I save this world?”

Inside his head.

Murderous intent spread.

Despite having experienced the realm of Immersion once before, he was sinking into it even faster now.

“I’m the one who doesn’t understand you. Past life and afterlife. No matter how valuable they are, they don’t hold the same value as the present life we exist in now. That’s all.”

Thump, thump.

He took a step.

Dripping blood, he walked towards Troy Baker.

“And that is why you will die here.”