Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Controversy （4）

50% of stats.

It was a tremendous increase.

Even Kang San had expectations for the 5-star skill, but he never imagined it would have this much of an effect.

“This bastard.”

Ryu Seung-ryeol gritted his teeth.

With the Priest healing him immediately, he disregarded defense and swung his sword indiscriminately.

“Consecutive Strikes.”

.

Papapapapak!

A barrage of attacks.

Kang San’s pupils dilated.

Until just a moment ago, Ryu Seung-ryeol’s attacks were so fast that it was difficult to follow, but now the numerous attacks felt slow, as if each one was being attempted with a certain interval. Based on basic stats, Glory Aura was at 30%, Mindset at 50%. A whopping 80% of his stats were enhanced. Although it was only a fleeting moment in reality, Kang San showed the ability to block or deflect all of Ryu Seung-ryeol’s attacks.

“……!”

Ryu Seung-ryeol’s face was stained with bewilderment.

Despite the attacks fueled by the Priest’s buff, he hadn’t expected Kang San to react so easily.

That was when it happened.

『The Power of Prayer blesses you.』

『Stats increase by 10%.』

『Additional stats are granted by the effect of Worship.』

『Stats increase by 31%.』

‘Eileen?’

Blessings permeated his entire body.

Eileen’s Power of Prayer was a truly cheat-like skill that could not be classified by rank, granting blessings regardless of distance. Eileen, who was watching from beyond the camera, had used Power of Prayer. In fact, external intervention is not allowed in a normal test. However, with the malice displayed by Im Chan-yeong and others, Eileen decided she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

This brought the total increase to 121%.

Power surged.

Not only did he block Ryu Seung-ryeol’s attacks, but he also counterattacked the enemies that followed up.

Hook━

Kwaang!

The attack landed.

Just like Ryu Seung-ryeol, the A-rank Hunter’s eyes widened, and Kang San continued to step forward with penetrating footwork, swinging his sword. Whenever he fought like this, ‘Seo Mun-ho’s memories’ came to mind. How he reacted against countless enemies. Ordinary Hunters simply used skills within the realm of skills, but the Blood Demon Sword Technique ingrained in Kang San’s instincts was not limited to skills determined by cooldown.

Passssssss.

Killing intent surged from all directions.

He deflected the killing intent shooting towards the right.

Just like how Seo Mun-ho would react in a situation like this, he stepped forward, aiming for the exposed chest of his opponent.

Flash.

“Huh!?”

He imitated it.

His enhanced stats allowed him to mimic Seo Mun-ho’s movements, and his opponent, retreating in a hurry, couldn’t escape in time, resulting in his forearm being torn off. He didn’t stop. He tenaciously pursued, blocking the attacks pouring in from all sides as if trying to save his comrade. Then he slashed the torso, cut the leg, and the moment he was about to completely incapacitate at least one person…

“Protector’s Shield.”

Kung━!

Kwarururung.

The attack was blocked.

It was the Priest’s defense.

The Priest’s quick reaction caused the attack to fail, and ranged attacks followed.

The world turned red.

Suddenly.

He wondered if this was the world Seo Mun-ho saw.

A blood-soaked world, stained with killing intent, devoid of life or death.

Those instigated by the Drake Guild looked at him with the same young eyes of the enemies who looked at Seo Mun-ho.

‘This is disadvantageous.’

Even buffs had their limits.

If he didn’t reduce their numbers, the situation would be unfavorable.

He raised his shield.

He kicked off the ground and threw himself into the pouring attacks.

“Undying Will.”

Kwaang!

Papapapapapapak!

The attacks landed.

An explosion occurred, and a tremendous shockwave was transmitted, but he endured the impact with Undying Will, which temporarily reduced damage by 90%. He wasn’t aiming for victory anyway. The picture Kang San had in mind was one where he wasn’t powerless even against ten A-rank Hunters. A clear achievement to prove himself to people, even if he failed the S-rank test. For that, he charged in like a raging bull.

“Oh my.”

“Block him━!”

He could hear voices shouting from all directions.

They couldn’t allow their rear to be attacked.

They were already wounded in their pride by the current situation, a stalemate when they should have been overwhelmingly defeated.

“This bastard, really!”

Jo Dong-jae.

He blocked the front.

From his raised sword, a fierce energy swirled.

“You can’t go any further. Thunder Strike.”

Flash.

Kwarururururururung.

After joining the Drake Guild.

A 4-star skill specially bestowed by the Master.

Its destructive power struck down.

Thunder Strike was a destructive skill where hundreds of attacks were launched simultaneously.

The energy that erupted split into hundreds of strands, striking down directly on Kang San’s head.

At that moment.

Jo Dong-jae saw it.

“……This crazy.”

All of the hundreds of attacks.

They all struck Kang San.

It was an unavoidable disaster, but Kang San, who had used Undying Will, didn’t stop charging, even though his body was glowing white from the lightning bolts piercing him. This was not common sense. In fact, just enduring like this against A-rank Hunters was unbelievable for a B-rank.

Doubts arose.

Maybe, just maybe.

The incident in Japan might be true.

Before that thought could be fully processed.

Flash.

Puhak━!

Kang San’s sword struck down Jo Dong-jae.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed down the sword.

Jo Dong-jae’s condition looked serious at first glance.

In a state that couldn’t be immediately recovered even with the Priest’s healing, Kang San looked indifferently at the opponents who had fallen silent.

“Let’s continue.”

He still had strength left.

Until he completely collapsed.

Kang San intended to keep pushing.

As he kicked off the ground again, Ryu Seung-ryeol and the others blocked his path.

Kaang!

Kakakakakakang.

It was a close battle.

It was completely different from the picture he had expected.

Im Chan-yeong, despite needing to concentrate on using magic, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression and feelings of confusion.

‘……How on earth?’

This didn’t make sense.

He had experienced Kang San three times.

During his time as an F-rank human shield, during the B-rank test, and now.

Clearly, in Im Chan-yeong’s memory, he was nothing more than a talentless human shield, but every time they met again, he had improved unbelievably. In fact, the results of the B-rank test were hard to accept. Still, if he forced himself to fit the puzzle pieces together, he could think that such a result was miraculously possible after years of time.

But this wasn’t it.

Only a few months had passed.

It was impossible for a guy who had just passed the B-rank test to face multiple A-rank Hunters.

‘Perhaps.’

An ominous feeling crept up.

Just like Jo Dong-jae.

The thought that maybe Kang San had defeated the S-rank evil spirit.

“No. That’s absolutely impossible.”

He shook his head.

His eyes were filled with venom.

He couldn’t let this place, meant to break Kang San, become a stepping stone for him.

“No more. Fire Field.”

Hwaruk.

Hwarurururuk.

5th Circle Magic.

He ignited intense flames.

It was the skill that had allowed Im Chan-yeong to pass the B-rank test, and the flames surged according to the movement of his raised finger. In an instant, Kang San was engulfed in flames. It was an attack that precisely targeted the gap while he was exchanging blows with the front line, and as if he judged that it wouldn’t be enough to defeat him, he immediately activated Memorize.

“Memorize, Fire Cannon.”

Kwaang!

Kwarururururung.

The flames erupted fiercely.

He wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

The combination of 5th Circle Magic was an attack that even most A-rank Hunters couldn’t endure.

That’s what he thought, but.

Hook.

“Why won’t he go down!”

“Block him━!”

He couldn’t believe it.

Kang San charged through the flames.

Rather, the flames burning around him became an obstacle that prevented other colleagues from quickly approaching Kang San. Im Chan-yeong didn’t know Kang San’s abilities. For Kang San, who reduced 90% of the damage with Undying Will and 50% with Fire Resistance, even a 5th Circle Magic combination of fire attributes wasn’t threatening.

Crackle.

Crackle, crackle.

His body was on fire.

Even though the armor, Iron Fortress, which he had crafted himself, was scorched black, Kang San’s eyes were fixed on Im Chan-yeong.

Im Chan-yeong reacted urgently.

“Damn it, Chain Lightning.”

Pazizizik.

He hurriedly borrowed the power of the artifact.

He drastically reduced the casting time and unleashed hundreds of strands of electricity.

Kwaang!

Kwang, kwang, kwang!

He dodged all the attacks.

The exploding killing intent informed him of the attack locations, and Kang San didn’t just blindly charge in; he deflected the attacks if he could avoid them. That sight terrified Im Chan-yeong. During the B-rank test, he hadn’t accepted reality, but now Kang San felt like an insurmountable wall.

Hook━

Right in front of him.

He finally reached him.

Im Chan-yeong tried to block him by unleashing magic, but Kang San’s sword had already slashed his chest.

Stagger.

Thud!

He fell.

He tripped over his own feet while retreating, which actually prevented his chest from being cut deeper.

But that was it.

There was no way to escape anymore.

Neither the rear support nor Ryu Seung-ryeol and the others rushing towards him.

It seemed they wouldn’t be able to stop Kang San.

“Two down.”

He raised his sword.

At the sight of Kang San about to strike down, Im Chan-yeong closed his eyes tightly.

But at that moment.

『Special conditions for Memory Playback have been met.』

『Playing back the memories of target ‘Im Chan-yeong’.』

Suddenly, Kang San’s pupils dilated.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

13 years old.

“The results of the Congenital Awakening Test are C-rank. Congratulations.”

Whether that day should be called a blessing.

Or a disaster.

Im Chan-yeong didn’t know.

Born into an ordinary family, he received tremendous offers from various guilds and management companies the moment he received the C-rank test results. 1 billion won, 2 billion won. In a situation where money became trivial, Im Chan-yeong’s arrogance soared.

Even when he hurled insults.

Even when he acted arrogantly.

No one stopped him.

Not only the people who had to recruit him, but even his parents who received wealth from him.

“No, we have to send Chan-yeong to Cheonsang!”

“What are you talking about! Daeyang is offering more!”

Every night.

His parents would argue loudly.

To receive even a single penny more, for a better future.

They said it was for Im Chan-yeong’s brilliant future, but his parents, who spent the money they received on their own luxuries, started asking him difficult questions at some point.

“Chan-yeong-ah. Do you like Dad or Mom more?”

“Chan-yeong-ah. Dad is a bad person. Let’s go with Mom.”

That’s when it started.

His parents were no longer his parents.

A man and a woman, divided as father and mother.

They soon divorced, and from the time Im Chan-yeong could understand things to some extent, he felt disgusted by his parents who only judged him by money. So he cut ties with them. Interestingly enough, even though he was a minor, Hunters were granted the status of ‘adults’. It was because it was a world that couldn’t be judged by the decisions of ordinary parents, and as Im Chan-yeong became independent, he became even more self-centered.

He had even abandoned his parents.

He had to be special.

He had to live better.

Perhaps that’s why.

When he failed to pass the B-rank test, he felt anxious about his stagnant progress.

When he was only 13 years old and received a C-rank rating, many people said he was the greatest talent in Korea, but as the years passed, people started whispering behind his back. They said he might be a bubble. Im Chan-yeong’s personality became even sharper. People’s gazes seemed negative, and he treated those he met for the first time with hostility.

Then one day.

He met Kang San again.

And from that day on, Im Chan-yeong’s life went down the drain.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“Ugh.”

Memories flooded in.

Im Chan-yeong’s life.

A selfish life he couldn’t empathize with at all.

He wondered why he was being shown this when he heard the voice again.

『Special conditions for Memory Playback have been met.』

『Playing back the memories of target ‘Im Chan-yeong’.』

Spin.

The world turned upside down.

The surroundings changed again.

A man with his face buried in the ground.

And a familiar face watching it from the front.

He was certain.

“You don’t need to apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong to us.”

He was Peng Mujeong.

And Im Chan-yeong’s memory.

He existed as one of the Hebei Peng Family’s martial artists, watching that scene.