Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Conclusion （4）

Right after the meeting.

Kang San immediately headed to San Diego.

The media reported the official announcement, and Kang San intended to welcome the volunteers and reorganize the ranks. To be honest, he thought there might be fewer volunteers than expected. The situation in each country hadn’t stabilized yet, and the news of Baal killing three S-rank Hunters was shocking. Even if sufficient forces couldn’t be gathered, Kang San was mentally prepared to handle the situation.

But then.

“What’s this?”

“Hyeong, you finally arrived?”

Jo Han-byeol’s group.

And the members of the Guardian Guild.

They had arrived first.

Kang San thought he had moved quickly, but it seemed they had finished their preparations even before the announcement.

“Thank you all for coming. Thank you all.”

He greeted each of them.

Then, his eyes met with Yeon Woo-bin’s.

Yeon Woo-bin’s expression showed complex emotions.

“…I had no idea. That Hyeong had such a past. Thinking about how you took care of us without showing it makes me feel really complicated. So, there was something I really wanted to tell you when I saw you. Really, thank you. If it weren’t for Hyeong, we would never have made it this far.”

He was the first.

Jo Han-byeol, Jeong Chan-woo.

Jessica, Eileen, Nakamura Genji, Saito Shusuke.

Each connection approached in turn, expressing their gratitude to Kang San.

In their eyes, Kang San was a hero.

The Blood Demon’s past life wasn’t a factor that diminished Kang San; instead, it made them truly respect Kang San’s unwavering actions despite such a past. If they were to put themselves in his shoes… They wouldn’t have been able to show the same steadfastness as Kang San. They would have wavered hundreds of times, and like some who had sold out their current lives, they might have also been on that list.

From then on, people arrived one after another.

Daeyang, Cheonsang, Flare.

Those who had formed alliances with the Guardian Guild also joined, and among them, an unexpected figure was the blacksmith, Yu Jeong-yeong.

“I have brought the blacksmiths to lend our strength to Kang San-nim. There might be those whose blades are chipped or whose equipment needs repair, right? We will take responsibility and repair them.”

The forces from Korea alone were bustling.

Yet, the light from the gate showed no signs of fading.

People continued to arrive, and at some point, the national flags of various countries began to flutter.

The European Union.

They, too, had squeezed out their forces.

Walter Reimann’s message was as follows:

“Europe overcame the crisis in Cuxhaven thanks to Kang San-nim’s help. He judged that it wouldn’t make sense for us, who received help under the cause of humanity, to shy away just because we solved our problem. We ask for your help once again. Our lives depend on Kang San-nim.”

From then on, it exceeded expectations.

It was more than enough for an extermination force.

It took a considerable amount of time just to organize and deploy the people, and just like with Yu Jeong-yeong, Kang San found an unexpected face.

“Councilman?”

“Kang San-nim━!”

The man who came running.

It was Councilman Ito Kentaro.

He appeared, leading the Japanese forces.

“How did the Councilman get here…?”

“How could we in Japan stand idly by when Kang San-nim is personally leading the extermination force? We have received great help, starting from Kitakyushu, so it’s only natural that we should help you. That’s why I brought the troops myself. Ah, for your information, all these people volunteered. Japan actively supports Kang San-nim.”

Over hundreds of Hunters.

Considering they were all A-rank or higher, it was as if Japan had brought its entire national power.

Kang San’s heart swelled with emotion.

He had clearly announced that he was accepting volunteers.

He had sufficiently warned them of how dangerous it was, yet the people who came running all expressed their sincere gratitude to Kang San. In truth, Kang San might have had some worries in his heart. Wouldn’t people be disappointed if they found out that his good deeds were a lie? But the series of scenes unfolding now proved that such things didn’t matter to them at all.

That was when it happened.

Thump, thump, thump.

Soldiers suddenly appeared.

At their forefront.

“Kang San-nim. You can’t leave us behind.”

Kim Chun-sik, the Colonel, was there, grinning.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kim Chun-sik’s dispatch.

It wasn’t an easy matter.

However, Kim Chun-sik’s will was firm, and with President Lee Cheol-woo’s support, the dispatch was finally decided.

The forces were perfect.

After reorganizing once, Kang San explained the situation to the extermination force.

“The place we’re heading to now is near Blackmountain Open Space Park. We’ve received reports that Baal, after winning several battles, went there and is preparing something like a summoning circle. Baal is a Demon King from the Demon Realm. If he’s trying to summon monsters from the Demon Realm, we could face the worst possible situation. Every second counts from now on. Let’s hurry, but do our best.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Finally.

The dispatch was decided.

The mages in San Diego had secured a passage beforehand, and they were able to reach the operation area in an instant.

Beyond the open view.

A space shimmering with dark magic could be seen.

The situation they had worried about had already become reality.

The passage to the Demon Realm had opened, and monsters responding to Baal’s call were appearing one after another.

“Mages, prepare your magic━!”

Thump, thump, thump.

The mages stepped forward.

Yeon Woo-bin, Shin Kang-cheol, the Master of Flare, and A-rank or higher mages from each country.

All of them, skilled individuals, simultaneously raised their magical power.

Fwoosh.

“Salamander, Phoenix.”

Flames erupted.

And then.

“Double Breath.”

“Hell Fire.”

“Thunder Storm.”

“Earth Quake.”

Rumble.

Boom!

Magic manifested.

The Salamander and Phoenix, soaring high in the sky, breathed fire, and the ground crumbled, with hellfire and lightning-filled storms sweeping the surroundings. It was a tremendous attack. The mages unleashed memorized spells consecutively, showing their determination to annihilate all visible life forms.

『Insect-like humans have appeared again!』

Whee.

Boom!

Far away.

Dark magic exploded.

Kang San blocked the powerful blow that aimed to wipe out the mages and shouted.

“All forces, attack━!”

“Attack━!”

“Attack━!”

The warm-up was over.

From now on, it was a head-on fight.

People rushed forward all at once.

At the forefront were Saito Shusuke and Kim Chun-sik.

Saito Shusuke’s movements were particularly aggressive and fast, but Kim Chun-sik, who had entered S-rank through Awakening, didn’t back down.

Whoosh━

He soared into the sky.

And then.

“Vortex.”

“Full Sky Flower Rain.”

Boom!

Rumble.

Clang━!

He swept the surroundings.

He indiscriminately cut down the demons that were rushing in and quickly opened a path towards Baal, who was visible in the distance. Baal was a gigantic monster. About 5 meters tall, it had two arms and two legs like a human, but its head had two massive horns that seemed to pierce the sky.

Crackle.

The distance closed in an instant.

Saito Shusuke pierced through the space and finally reached Baal.

“You demon bas…… Cough!”

Swish.

Thud━!

Boom!

Saito Shusuke was slammed to the ground by the sudden explosion of dark magic.

It was no different for Kim Chun-sik.

Dark magic exploded from the sky, forcing him to retreat, unable to approach any further.

『The prophecy was true. This time, humans have united and will resist until the end. You insignificant humans. But the outcome won’t change. I am the one who decides the future. I knew from the beginning that you would reach this place, that you would appear before me. So.』

Rumble.

He drew up his magical power.

People were wrong.

Opening the passage to the Demon Realm wasn’t to summon insignificant monsters, but to use this current strike with its full destructive power.

Crack━

He spread his arms.

The magical power emanating from his two horns summoned massive dark clouds.

『Die, all of you, Dark Punishment.』

Boom!

It was a terrifying sight.

The people who were charging forward.

The people who were preparing magic.

All of them stared blankly at the dark magic that was engulfing the world.

They knew instinctively.

That everyone in front of them would be annihilated.

That was when it happened.

Clatter.

“Everyone, retreat━!”

Kang San.

He quickly rushed towards the dark magic.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

His current judgment.

It wasn’t calculated.

His body reacted, and Kang San quickly blocked the front.

『You have met the special condition of Mindset.』

『Guardian’s Mindset increases your stats by 300%.』

『You have met the special condition of Transcendence.』

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

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

Messages rang out consecutively.

If he couldn’t block this, humanity would be destroyed.

Kang San pushed forward, holding his shield.

“Trial’s Shield, Glory Aura, Sanctuary.”

He focused the attack.

And maximized the buffs.

“Impregnable, Undying Will, Metamorphosis ━Defensive Type.”

Finally, he erected the Iron Wall.

He was alone.

Even though countless people were there to help, in the end, Kang San had to block this attack alone.

In a split second.

Staring at the dark magic surging in like a tidal wave, Kang San gritted his teeth.

Boom!

Boom!

A tremendous shock exploded.

Crack.

He heard the sound of his shield cracking.

Undying Will was a limited-use cheat skill that reduced damage by a whopping 90%, yet the impact was so great that even Kang San couldn’t withstand it. He seemed to understand now. Why the three S-rank Hunters were defeated. Why Luca Bellino, after rejecting Azmoon’s offer, eventually couldn’t hold on and was defeated.

There was a final gateway.

Even if humans joined forces, the final calamity chosen by Azmoon cornered them.

Crack.

‘I have to endure, I have to endure this somehow!’

His teeth clenched.

His two feet, planted on the ground, were relentlessly pushed back, and his nose started bleeding.

Barely 30 seconds?

No, not even 20 seconds.

『Guardian’s Will has been activated.』

『Your health is fully restored, and your defense is temporarily increased by 5 times.』

His body staggered.

The fact that his health was fully restored wasn’t a positive signal at all.

It meant that even after pouring all his skills into defense, he couldn’t withstand it and had taken enough damage to activate Guardian’s Will.

Goosebumps ran down his whole body.

Annihilation.

It was clear that he couldn’t hold on any longer.

Even after Guardian’s Will was activated, he couldn’t block that destructive force.

That was when it happened.

“Kang San-nim, don’t give up!”

『The Power of Prayer grants you a blessing.』

『Stats are increased by 300%.』

Eileen’s voice could be heard.

Thump.

He planted his feet on the ground once more.

He pushed his head forward, determined not to be pushed back any further.

『Due to the effect of Resonance, prayers create a miracle.』

『Stats are increased by 400%.』

『Stats are increased by 500%.』

『Stats are increased by 600%.』

All of humanity.

They clasped their hands together.

The situation was being broadcast live in the rear, and their prayers empowered Eileen.

Finally.

Pop━

The magic vanished.

Kang San had managed to block it, and his legs gave out, causing him to collapse.

Thud.

Why?

The moment he collapsed, his eyes met with Kim Chun-sik, who was nearby.

Kim Chun-sik smiled.

“…Kang San-nim. With you doing this much, how could we not follow you?”

There’s a rule in battles.

If you block the opponent’s attack, what follows is a chance to counterattack.

Kim Chun-sik shouted.

“All forces, attack━! We cannot let this opportunity that Kang San-nim created go to waste━!”

Countless people.

They passed by Kang San and charged towards Baal.