Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Showcase （6）

100 days in the stat training center.

From then on, there were no more stat increases.

Kang San accepted a new challenge, the mastery of experience, and delved deeper into the fundamental aspects of the repeating situations. Reacting quickly, responding intelligently, counterattacking efficiently. While repeatedly training the basics of combat was important, Kang San’s greatest weapon was the Blood Demon Art.

A complexly intertwined thread.

He analyzed it.

He excluded attacks and faced the killing intent.

Facing the onslaught of the werewolves, Kang San focused solely on dodging.

He saw the pattern of killing intent.

Even in the chaotic surge of killing intent, there was always a sequence, and he judged which attack to evade first while distinguishing them. Attacks narrowly missed him. After over 100 days of repetitive training, Kang San, as he became accustomed to the killing intent, raised a new question.

‘If my past self and my current self are using the same martial art. Wouldn’t there be something I could learn from my past life?’

He sought practicality.

He didn’t think about what kind of martial art the Blood Demon Art was, but rather if there was anything to learn from the martial art his past self used.

My past self.

The Blood Demon’s Blood Demon Art was completely different.

It was destructive and showed the power to slaughter enemies.

A new day begins.

Kang San, sensing the approaching werewolves, closed his eyes and recalled a moment from his past life.

‘The moment when the Blood Demon Art manifested most powerfully.’

He searched his memories.

When was that?

Most of his past life’s memories were focused on training, but there was a moment when he intensely exploded with his presence.

The Baek Family incident.

When he was caught by the assassination squad sent by the Namgung Family, the Blood Demon’s stamina was completely depleted, but he didn’t avoid their killing intent. Killing intent swelled. The world was completely dyed red in the Blood Demon’s vision, and the fast and powerful swordsmanship used by the Namgung Family swallowed him whole.

At that moment.

The Blood Demon moved forward.

He dug into the space filled with killing intent and showed what the Blood Demon Art was.

He recalled the memory of that time.

A boring, repetitive day in the training center.

When Kang San opened his eyes again.

“You wicked devil! You can’t run anymore!”

“Die━!”

In front of Kang San.

Instead of werewolves, he saw the Namgung Family’s martial artists attacking the Blood Demon.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Whoosh━

Fast.

In a split second, the vampire closed the distance and swung a sword overflowing with killing intent.

Familiar.

There was no one slower than a vampire among the Namgung Family’s martial artists, and they used fast and surprise attacks to push the Blood Demon. The Blood Demon of that moment was bold. After accurately grasping the direction of the killing intent he saw, he countered the opponent’s movement and cut off the Namgung Family martial artist’s head in one swift motion.

Clang━

Kang San did the same.

He followed the Blood Demon’s movements.

Instead of retreating and blocking, he thrust his head in the direction of the descending killing intent.

He preemptively occupied the space so that the opponent couldn’t exert enough force, and deflected the vampire’s attack.

Simultaneously.

“Berserker.”

HP consumption: 90%.

Attack power and speed increased dramatically.

And his HP, which had dropped below 10%, triggered a new effect.

『Guardian’s Will has been activated.』

『HP is fully restored, and defense is temporarily tripled.』

He transcended the limits of his rank.

Kang San’s stats were clearly at the C-rank level, but through the Berserker and Guardian’s Will combo, he displayed stats comparable to a B-rank. That was enough. The vampire’s attempt to attack again appeared slower to Kang San’s eyes than before.

Clang━!

Clang, clang, clang!

They exchanged fierce attacks and defenses.

Caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, the vampire’s eyes turned fierce.

『You’re struggling in vain.』

Flash.

Bang━!

Kang San was thrown backward.

The moment the black mana exploded, Kang San predicted the direction of the killing intent and blocked it with his shield.

Even that was enough to shake his insides, but Kang San planted his feet on the ground, minimized his backward momentum, and immediately kicked off the ground. From the moment their stats became similar, there was no reason to avoid close combat with the opponent. Being able to detect the killing intent pouring in from all directions was actually an advantage in a chaotic battle.

Swish, swish, swish.

Attacks rained down from all sides.

Kang San either dodged or blocked them, and then seized the gap between attacks.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Second Style.”

Swish.

Clang.

The sword bent like a snake.

It was different from before.

Unlike when he simply used the skill, Kang San recalled the Pursuit Kill that the Blood Demon used.

“Pursuit Kill━!”

Thud!

The sword pierced flesh.

Dark red blood spurted from the vampire’s chest, and Kang San didn’t miss the staggering vampire’s opening.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Third Style: Explosive Kill.”

Bang.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion erupted.

The vampire was swept away by the intense impact.

It was a combo attack that could handle most B-rank monsters, but even after pouring out his strength, Kang San didn’t let his guard down. In the thick cloud of dust, he saw killing intent surging. A living being was still expressing a deep desire to kill him.

Whoosh━

The vampire charged.

His face was covered in dark red blood, but his eyes, gleaming with madness, revealed his rage towards Kang San.

『How dare you━!』

Bang━!

Clang, clang, clang!

He frantically blocked the attacks.

Every time the vampire’s attack landed, it churned his stomach. The destructive power the vampire unleashed overwhelmed Kang San. If he hadn’t increased his defense with Guardian’s Will, he would have vomited everything in his stomach after just a few exchanges. But Kang San felt that he could handle it now. The opponent was clearly a high-level B-rank monster, but he could see the attacks, and the destructive power was within his expected range.

The corners of his mouth twitched.

He was happy.

He had improved.

The upcoming trials were desperate, but his efforts so far had not been in vain, as he was proving now.

『Die, human.』

Rumble.

The vampire exploded with magical power.

The moment the sword, shimmering with black killing intent, plunged down, Kang San looked directly at the attack.

A moment from his past life.

The Blood Demon had also faced this situation.

At that moment when his life seemed to be in immediate danger, the Blood Demon, who strangely seemed calm, reversed the situation in an instant.

At that time.

The Blood Demon definitely.

‘Was it called the Fourth Style: Lure Kill?’

He followed the flow.

Not within the realm of skills, but in the realm of body and experience.

He absorbed the attack.

He found the only path to life in the surging killing intent and boldly dug into that space.

And just like the Blood Demon did.

Thud━

In a momentary cross, he sliced off the opponent’s head.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a gamble.

Imitating the outward form didn’t produce a perfect effect, but Kang San’s bold gamble produced a meaningful result.

Thump.

Roll.

The head rolled on the ground.

A thrill ran through his body.

He had defeated a high-level B-rank monster.

With about six months remaining until the S-rank Outbreak, Kang San had proven the possibility of further development.

‘It’s not over yet.’

He didn’t give up on life.

He would overcome the trials, just as he had done so far.

It was then.

Im Chan-yeong’s urgent voice was heard.

“Th-there!”

Im Chan-yeong’s eyes widened.

The place he pointed to.

The vampire’s head was looking this way.

Even though the body and head were separated, the clear eyes meant that the creature was still alive.

『Even if I perish, we will not die.』

The voice cracked.

Rapidly losing its vitality, the face was stained with black energy.

『Even if I perish, we will surely be resurrected. My children. Please keep the flame of hope alive.』

Crack.

It opened its mouth.

Killing intent exploded.

Kang San instinctively knew.

That the vampire was trying to do something by sacrificing its own life force.

As expected.

Bang━

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Dark magical power exploded.

The explosive magical power that erupted from the vampire’s mouth tore through space and aimed precisely at Im Chan-yeong. This was not an attack that could be blocked. Even though Kang San reacted quickly, the magical power scattered and reached its intended target.

Swish.

Fizzle.

“Ugh.”

Im Chan-yeong groaned.

Dark magical power enveloped him.

But then.

『You have been designated as the target for Shared Pain.』

『From now on, all damage you receive will be taken by ‘Kang San’.』

At the unknown voice, Im Chan-yeong looked at Kang San with a surprised face.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“Ugh.”

Kang San slammed his head on the ground.

His face flushed red, revealing the rising pain.

『You have been exposed to the vampire’s vengeful spirit. If you cannot overcome the vengeful spirit, your life force will be completely depleted.』

Grit.

He clenched his teeth.

Strange memories flooded his mind.

At first, it was a lush meadow.

There was a family looking at a flock of sheep in that place where fresh plants caught the eye.

They happily ate snacks on the meadow, and a Border Collie diligently ran around, guiding the sheep’s movements. It was a peaceful sight. Kang San felt emotionally happy.

A new scene appeared.

The grass withered.

The man, who no longer had his family, sheep, or Border Collie by his side, collapsed on the ground and sobbed pathetically.

Another memory flooded in.

The man stood under a tree.

And then.

Thud.

He kicked away the chair supporting his feet and struggled against the rope tightening around his neck.

Even as his face turned white and his breath choked, the man’s gaze was fixed on Kang San, who existed ‘beyond the memory’. As if to say, let’s die together. As if to say, choose death with me.

It forced emotions.

It plunged Kang San’s emotions into the abyss.

It was a deep vengeful spirit.

If Im Chan-yeong had been directly exposed to this attack, he would have activated his magic and blown his own head off.

However.

“…Ugh. Don’t try to play tricks.”

Kang San was different.

Mental attacks required a priest’s blessing, but Kang San had experienced countless mental problems through the Blood Demon Art. The experiences of falling into Qi Deviation. The memories of that time came flooding back. Even after witnessing his parents dying right in front of him, Kang San eventually regained his composure and returned to reality.

For him to.

Collapse at this level was impossible.

And the divine power Kang San possessed not only gave the vampire greater destructive power, but also protected his mind.

Flare━

『The vampire’s vengeful spirit has been extinguished.』

His head cleared.

His mind, which had felt full of something, pushed out the vivid memories and returned to its original state.

Kang San staggered.

It was tough.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

The test wasn’t over yet, and the trials hadn’t ended.

Crunch.

He crushed the vampire’s head under his foot.

Then, looking at the still-swarming monsters, he lowered his sword with a tired face.

“…Let’s finish this quickly.”

He moved forward, step by step.

The monsters in front of him no longer felt threatening at all.