Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 125

Chapter 125: People Who Have Lost Hope （4）

After the tenth trial.

Whenever Kang San had free time, he would fall into imagination.

If he were to meet the Werewolf Lord, who had shown overwhelming power, again, how could he survive?

The results of his imagination were always the same.

His limbs were torn apart by sharp claws, and he would escape from his imagination drenched in cold sweat from the rough breath biting his neck. It was truly a disaster. While dealing with hundreds, thousands of Werewolves, Kang San always trained with the worst-case scenario in mind, recalling the nightmarish moments. He pushed himself, imagining a hypothetical existence, saying that the destructive power and speed of the monster he had to deal with were not just this level.

Perhaps that was why.

Whoosh━

The wind blew.

Kang San accurately raised his shield to block the speed that even most B-rank Hunters would not be able to react to.

Kwaang━

Clang━

He was pushed back.

There was no time to catch his breath.

The being that sharply stimulated his senses dug into space and attempted to attack again.

“Iron Armor.”

Kwaang.

Bang, Bang━!

They clashed violently.

In terms of stats alone, there was an average difference of more than four times, but Kang San had skills that could make up for the difference. Increased defense and health regeneration by the number of heads with Guardian’s Will, 10% increase in defense with Glory Aura, 10% increase in basic defense with Physical Enhancement, 10% damage reduction with Iron Armor, and 10% damage reduction with Thorn Armor. Furthermore, as he upgraded the quality of his items, he was able to reduce the impact to a manageable level, unlike when he faced it before.

Thud.

Tap.

He was pushed back.

While keeping an eye on the relentlessly attacking force, Kang San not only blocked the attacks but also attempted to counterattack.

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

Flash.

Thwack.

Blood splattered.

In the midst of the entanglement, the Werewolf Lord’s expression distorted fiercely.

‘It’s working.’

His heart pounded.

The monster in his imagination.

A nightmare that he could never defeat, a being he could not handle.

His growth so far proved that he was not the same as before.

In this situation, Kang San did not need to exert his full power.

‘If the situation is not favorable, I can use Glory Aura and Sanctuary, but if the flow is like this, it’s a different story. I have to handle it. Not by revealing my bottom line, but by defeating A-rank monsters in normal situations.’

Something that is possible if he is not alone.

There was no need to shout that thought out loud.

From the moment the Werewolf Lord appeared, the thoughts of Kang San and his party went back to ‘a month ago’.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A month ago.

After arriving in Kitakyushu, Kang San and his party roamed the Green Zone every day, eliminating as many monsters as possible. As rumored, this place was really good for growth. Since the Japanese government separately paid for the number of monsters they eliminated, they invested the rewards they earned every day equally into their development.

That wasn’t the only thing on their daily schedule.

Although they could be tired from hunting all day, Kang San gathered his younger siblings and conducted special training.

“From the moment we enter the Yellow Zone, we might encounter an A-rank monster if we’re really unlucky. From now on, we’re going to train for such a contingency.”

Contingency.

In the dictionary, it is expressed as an unexpected case that might happen, but Kang San thought that he would definitely encounter an A-rank monster. Azmoon’s trials, which always impose the worst-case scenario anytime, anywhere. In a situation where he could never be optimistic, preparing for contingencies was a very natural measure.

Kang San asked.

“Let’s assume a situation. While we’re dealing with monsters, an A-rank monster suddenly appears. If we can’t retreat easily and have to deal with the A-rank monster, how should we deal with that monster?”

“First of all, shouldn’t I help Hyung block it? You can’t block an A-rank monster alone, can you?”

It was Jeong Chan-woo.

It was reasonable, but not the answer Kang San wanted.

“No.”

“Then shouldn’t I or Woo-bin interfere with the A-rank monster’s intentions? It would be difficult to withstand the destructive power of an A-rank, so I think we need to reduce that destructive power with ranged attacks. Securing the minimum defense. That would be the first requirement to defeat the monster, right?”

This time, it was Jo Han-byeol.

Yeon Woo-bin also nodded as if he had the same thought.

But.

“That’s not it either.”

“You’re saying it’s not?”

“Yes. The situation we’re assuming is that we’re being attacked by monsters. If we focus everyone’s abilities to deal with a single A-rank monster, there will definitely be variables during the chaotic battle. Therefore, in the worst-case scenario, we have to establish one premise. That I, somehow, block the A-rank monster’s attack with my own strength. Even if it seems impossible, if you trust me, we can execute our strategy differently.”

It was an unconventional premise.

It was not easy for Kang San, who had just been promoted to B-rank, to block an A-rank alone.

But there were no dissenting opinions.

As always.

“Leaving it as a one-on-one fight, but intervening only when the opportunity arises to chip away at the A-rank monster’s health. That’s the approach we should pursue.”

His younger siblings believed in Kang San.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Killing intent flashed.

At the signal that sharp claws were aiming for his neck, Kang San took exactly half a step back and raised his shield.

Kwaang━!

An impact occurred.

Without time to care about it, Kang San’s sharp gaze moved busily.

‘It’s coming.’

Boom.

Bang, Bang, Bang!

Attacks exploded consecutively.

As soon as the Werewolf Lord failed to attack his neck, it dug in with a low stance and swept his lower body. There was no hesitation even when the attack was blocked again. The Werewolf Lord’s disgusting breath tickled his nose. He thought that he would never be able to block the frantically connected attacks without his killing intent.

‘It’s strong.’

A-rank.

It was a world of a different dimension.

His body swayed from the powerfully swung claws, and all Kang San could do was endure.

Whoosh━

The attack grazed past.

Kang San deliberately dodged to the left.

He had to.

So that.

“Focused Shot.”

Thwack━!

The Werewolf Lord, who had been following him, would not be able to spot the arrow digging into his blind spot on the opposite side.

Kyaaaak!

The arrow did not penetrate deep into the outer skin.

It was simply a level of inflicting a wound, and the Werewolf Lord narrowed the distance frantically with its red eyes shining. Kang San focused solely on defense. It was a breathtaking situation where his limbs could be torn apart if he let his guard down for even a moment, and the time when Kang San took risks was when his party had ‘room’ to breathe.

That was the case just now.

Jeong Chan-woo finished off a Werewolf he was blocking, and momentarily ran to Kang San’s rear.

Crack.

Kang San blocked the Werewolf Lord.

To be precise, in a situation where they were entangled as if holding on to each other, Jeong Chan-woo’s sword swept its ankle.

Thwack.

Kyaaaak!

Little by little.

They chipped away little by little.

Kang San focused on defense as much as possible, and at the timing when he estimated the bleeding effect would have ended, he struck the opponent even if it meant pushing himself. He didn’t think he could overwhelmingly defeat the Werewolf Lord from the beginning. By any means necessary. As long as he achieved his goal, it was fine.

The wounds on the Werewolf Lord’s body increased.

Jo Han-byeol’s arrows, Jeong Chan-woo’s sword, and Yeon Woo-bin’s magic.

They dug into the momentary timings.

The opportunity Kang San created by blocking with his whole body was a shock that had to be accepted without any chance of counterattack.

Kwaang!

Whoosh━

Flames exploded.

With its skin burning brightly, the Werewolf Lord showed a fierce momentum.

Kyaaaak━!

It charged.

Even though Jo Han-byeol’s arrows, who had regained his composure, struck consecutively, it didn’t stop charging as if only Kang San was in its sight. The Werewolf Lord instinctively knew that it might die if it didn’t take down Kang San. It expressed its killing intent to kill Kang San relentlessly, even if it meant sacrificing some of its body parts.

The situation before his eyes.

Kang San waited for the right moment.

The Blood Demon Sword Technique, which he had not yet actually obtained.

Thinking of the principle of Lure Kill, he accepted the Werewolf Lord’s killing intent that had rushed in front of him.

Whoosh━

They entangled.

The moment the Werewolf Lord’s claws were about to blow Kang San’s head off.

Flash.

Thwack.

He dodged.

To be precise, it was a close crossing just enough to graze past, and Kang San’s sharp gaze headed towards the Werewolf Lord’s wide-open mouth.

Stab.

Grrr━

He thrust his sword into its chin.

The Werewolf Lord pounced on Kang San.

They tumbled over as they entangled, and seeing that it was still alive and showing a fierce momentum, Kang San shouted.

“Now!”

“Fire Cannon.”

Yeon Woo-bin activated his magic.

The 5th Circle magic erupted explosively, sweeping both Kang San and the Werewolf Lord.

Kwaang━!

Whoosh━

It was a blinding sight.

At this rate, Kang San would inevitably be engulfed in flames as well.

But even so.

Crack.

Crack━

In the flames.

Kang San pushed his sword in further.

Yeon Woo-bin’s use of magic was not a mistake, but an intentional plan.

Fire Immunity.

Using the cheat skill that reduces damage by 50%, he used a desperate move that mimicked mutual destruction. It was a shock that even the powerful Werewolf Lord could not withstand. With the sword relentlessly being pushed in even amidst the blazing flames, the monster, screaming, finally collapsed.

Thud━

Kang San also fell backward.

Even as he gasped for breath, Kang San’s face was bright.

He had defeated an A-rank monster without using his full power.

‘I succeeded.’

It was a truly overwhelming achievement.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

900 days in the Stat Training Center.

And the past month.

His efforts were not in vain.

Kang San struggled to his feet and immediately drank a Healing Aura potion.

“Hyung!”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Everyone rushed over with worried faces.

Even though they knew Kang San had the Fire Immunity skill, the strategy of completely sacrificing Kang San was bound to be worrisome. In fact, it was a strategy they wouldn’t be able to execute if it weren’t for that one thing. Kang San was able to endure thanks to the health regeneration secured by Guardian’s Will and Healing Aura.

Two things were proven in this battle.

Kang San could now withstand an A-rank monster, and Kang San’s party had the firepower to defeat that monster. It was a tremendous achievement. He felt that the S-rank Outbreak, which had only been despairing, might not mean the end after all.

“Let’s move right away.”

The break was short.

There was less than an hour left now.

Even if it was tough, there was no time to relax, and Kang San once again led the way at the front.

‘It’s definitely a difficult environment to find the way without the system’s help. That’s probably why the Japanese government gave up.’

In the fog.

The surrounding scenery changed every moment.

If they were to simply find their way visually, they would become lost in less than a minute.

The Japanese government’s decision was not simply irresponsible.

No matter how powerful the monsters lurking were, such problems could be solved by deploying even greater power. However, it was not only unclear what level of danger lurked in Kitakyushu’s Red Zone, but the lack of communication and the interference of the fog caused even a ‘military’-scale force to disintegrate. Moreover, since such Red Zones accounted for more than 90% of the area, there was no way to solve problems such as the Monster Wave.

It was a difficult problem.

Unable to solve the headache, Japan had left it to rot for three years.

Battles continued to take place after that as well.

After continuing to hurry, Kang San finally arrived at what was presumed to be their destination.

But around that time.

Rustle.

The fog gradually cleared.

Their vision opened up, and they could see the place indicated by the system in the distance.

“Kyaaaak━!”

“Run away!”

“Aaak, Aaaaaak!”

The situation before their eyes.

It was different from what they had expected.

Instead of the village they had imagined, formed by people hiding from monsters, an indiscriminate massacre was taking place due to monsters that had suddenly barged in. Ogres, Werewolves, Trolls. They snatched humans and chewed them up. It was a one-sided slaughter, sparing neither the elderly nor children.

And among them.

“Eileen!?”

Jessica rushed forward.

Among the people fleeing in chaos, a familiar face was seen.

The system was certain.

Since it had accurately guided them to their destination, what Kang San had to do from now on was clear.

“…Damn it. Trial’s Shield.”

Whoosh.

Growl━

Killing intent focused from all directions.

In this unbelievable situation, he had to save Eileen and the others.