Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Conclusion （5）

Kim Chun-sik vividly remembered the first time he met Kang San.

Fellow F-rank human shields.

At first, he felt nothing, but after receiving Kang San’s help, he started to contemplate what people live for. Simply to live well? Or to surpass others? He didn’t know. At least Kang San didn’t fit the general standards people talked about.

He admired him.

He wanted to follow in his footsteps, and that’s why he joined the military and readily accepted dangerous missions.

There was always a worry in the back of his mind.

What if he died like this?

How would his grandmother live alone?

But just because Kang San didn’t have a family, he didn’t want to think that he could handle such hardship.

Because there was something to protect.

Kim Chun-sik became stronger.

And now he learned the truth about Kang San.

The fact that it wasn’t intentional good deeds, but that he saved people as if he was being pushed from behind.

He wasn’t surprised.

Rather, he found it amazing.

Everything people thought was admirable and respectable wasn’t because he was born capable, but because he endured it despite being afraid and struggling. Only now did Kang San seem human. The being he had thought of as a historical figure from some point on, turned out to be just like him.

‘So I too…’

Kwaaarrrrrrr!

Magic flashed.

Avoiding the encroaching dark magic, he charged towards Baal.

‘Even if I’m afraid, I have to endure it.’

Hook.

Puck!

He blew the monster’s head off.

He skillfully wielded his machete, clearing a path, and intentionally lured Baal’s gaze, provoking an attack. Baal was weakened now. He hadn’t realized it at first, but using the powerful attack called Dark Punishment seemed to have had some effect.

‘Now’s the time.’

Papapapapak━!

He scattered hidden weapons.

Harassing Baal, he bought time for others to close the distance.

It went as planned.

“Blood Rain.”

“Rampage-”

Kwaaarrrrrrr!

Saito Shusuke.

Nakamura Genji.

And countless others.

They stormed in.

Baal swung his massive arms to block their attacks, and at some point, a pair of swords shimmering with darkness appeared in his hands.

『I am Baal━! Who dares to defy me!』

Kwaang!

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

People were swept away.

Bodies were torn apart by the twin swords, and casualties mounted.

But no one faltered.

Even as the bodies of those who were alive just moments ago were torn to shreds right beside them, they charged towards Baal, pushing their heads through the scattering blood. They knew instinctively. That Baal’s destructive power was momentarily weakened. That they had to seize this precious opportunity created by Kang San.

『Die━!』

Puck.

Papapapapak!

With a single blow.

Dozens of people died.

Before he could swing another blow, hundreds more charged in.

“Die!”

“Attack!”

It was a human wave tactic.

It didn’t matter if they died.

As long as they could inflict damage, even if it was just a little, to bring down Baal.

Those who voluntarily participated in this fight burned themselves.

They were prepared, and their strong will eventually produced meaningful results.

Puck━!

『?!!』

Saito Shusuke.

His attack landed.

As Saito Shusuke’s arm was blown off by Baal’s counterattack, Kim Chun-sik clung to Baal’s body, swinging his machete indiscriminately.

Puck!

Puckpuckpuckpuckpuck!

It didn’t matter if he died.

He believed.

That humanity would win.

As other humans attacked his legs and torso, a massive rage erupted from Baal’s eyes.

『You insignificant humans dare━!』

Kwaaarrrrrrr.

Countless repetitions of destruction.

Baal had never been defeated.

That’s why he was bewildered.

The fact that they blocked Dark Punishment, and the will of the humans who burned themselves to attack him like this.

Baal knew instinctively.

Kang San.

It was because of that human.

And that human was now charging towards him.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Right after blocking the attack.

Kang San couldn’t move.

His stamina wasn’t fully recovered, and he emptied his stomach, feeling nauseous.

“Ugh━!”

He lifted his head with difficulty.

He saw the people.

Those who had rushed past him were risking their lives to attack Baal.

‘…I can’t stay like this.’

They were moths.

Moths that foolishly jump into a blazing fire, knowing they will be burned.

It was foolish.

If only they had thought of themselves a little more.

They didn’t have to join the extermination squad.

Staying in a comfortable home, watching the situation here and simply praying would have been the best way to ensure their safety.

But they didn’t.

People threw themselves in.

A decision made not by the compulsion of a trial, but by their own judgment.

They were heroes.

Just as they didn’t let the opportunity Kang San created go to waste, Kang San couldn’t miss the opportunity they created.

Pak.

He took a step.

He got up and ran forward.

His body staggered.

He didn’t gain speed, but he knew he was needed in this final moment.

‘The final stage of the Blood Demon Sword Technique, God Kill.’

The past life Kang San experienced.

Surprisingly, Seo Mun-ho didn’t reach that level.

God Kill wasn’t an attack driven by extreme bloodlust, but a level that could only be reached by overcoming one’s inner demons and achieving complete self-control. It was a tremendous paradox. But even without reaching the final stage, Seo Mun-ho destroyed the Murim world with only the bloodlust that consumed him.

Tadatadatadak.

He ran.

He ran and ran.

Puck━!

He saw Saito Shusuke’s arm being blown off.

Despite losing an arm, Saito Shusuke didn’t even groan, but showed a strong will to thrust his spear forcefully.

Kim Chun-sik was the same.

He risked his life.

It was an opportunity created by everyone.

Kang San’s body gained speed.

He charged quickly and threw himself.

Pat━

『You are their pillar!』

For a moment.

His eyes met Baal’s.

A powerful magic surged from Baal’s horns, preparing an attack aimed solely at eliminating Kang San, ignoring the attacks of other humans. Baal knew instinctively. That Kang San was humanity’s hope. That if he eliminated him, it would be a fight he would eventually win.

『Die━Destroy━!』

Pababababak!

It was a destructive force.

He didn’t dodge.

Facing the dark magic surging towards him, Kang San raised his sword.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Sixth Style.”

This life.

It wasn’t over.

He wouldn’t give up, and he would definitely win.

And he would show Luca Bellino.

That her choice to reject Azmoon’s offer in the beginning wasn’t wrong.

“God Kill!”

Kwakwakwakwakwak!

Magic surged.

The boiling magic of the Blood Demon Art exploded, and the red magic that seemed to engulf the world clashed with the dark magic.

Kwaang!

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

A tremendous explosion erupted.

The collision of two magics.

The two fiercely battling magics began to turn red at some point.

『How can a mere human possess such power…!』

Baal’s eyes widened.

The magic that was gradually being consumed.

Meanwhile, the insignificant humans still didn’t avoid it.

They charged, thrusting their weapons into Baal’s body, expressing their will to somehow bring him down.

Everything was a first.

Humans fighting together until the very end.

They created a completely different ending from before.

『I admit it. You deserve to be saved.』

The dark magic was torn apart.

The red magic that had surged in destructively engulfed Baal.

Kwaang━!

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Wheeing━

Thud.

Kang San crashed to the ground.

The final blow.

He had poured everything into it.

As soon as he felt the complete sensation of cutting down Baal, his body, which had reached its limit, lost its strength.

“Kang San-nim━!”

“Quickly heal Kang San-nim!”

The surroundings were bustling.

People rushed over, raising their voices in concern for him.

It was funny.

Saito Shusuke, who had lost an arm, and Kim Chun-sik, whose face was covered in blood, didn’t prioritize their own bodies but looked at Kang San with worried eyes. They were foolish people. People who could have died if things had gone slightly wrong were taking care of him instead of themselves in this situation.

He was tired.

He looked up at the sky.

The sky, cleared of dark clouds, was bright, and it felt surreal for some reason.

‘Is it really over?’

The souls of the past life.

And even Baal.

He had overcome them all.

But he knew that if Azmoon announced the next trial, he would inevitably be dragged away.

That’s when it happened.

『You have passed the thirtieth tribulation.』

『The promised reward will be given.』

It was a familiar message.

The voices of the people faded.

The murmuring voices gradually died down, and a strange sight began to appear in Kang San’s vision.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a pure white space.

Someone was there.

Even though he couldn’t see anything resembling a human form, Kang San instinctively felt that someone ‘existed.’

『You have passed the test.』

Azmoon.

It was definitely him.

There were many things he wanted to ask.

But even though no voice came out, Azmoon spoke the truth as if he had read his mind.

『Every time the destruction of numerous dimensions was repeated, you humans despaired, resented, and always asked me the truth. Why do I go so far? I have created countless dimensions, and there is nothing I haven’t given meaning to. All the elements that make up the world. Things you don’t consider living beings, and even those you call microorganisms. They were all my precious children. But in the end, humans took over everything in all dimensions. They harmed the world and pursued their own benefits. Even in worlds where humans didn’t prevail, similar creatures repeated the same ending.』

Monsters.

They were the same.

They too had undergone trials, and because they failed, they were assigned the role of attacking this world.

『I was just curious. Why it had to be you. What is the reason you have to survive? I can’t say it’s cruel. The lives of ants that you carelessly step on and crush may be insignificant by human standards, but to me, they are equal to humans.』

Azmoon was neither good.

Nor evil.

That was just a human standard. In the world as seen by the creator, humans were like poison.

『Self-destructive, selfish souls who drag even their fellow humans into the abyss for their own benefit. They repeated atonement in an endless cycle, unaware that their choices were eating away at them. In that life where they receive the karma accumulated in their souls, the salvation they desire does not exist. But you are different. Kang San, you were different.』

There was only one path from the beginning.

To not give up, to endure until the end, and to prove it.

The countless temptations offered to reach that end were the whispers of the devil, leading humans to self-destruction.

『This is the first time. A world that has passed the test.』

Hwaak━

Light flooded in.

The bright wave enveloped Kang San’s soul.

『I, Azmoon, allow your world to continue.』