Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 159

Chapter 159: S-rank Outbreak （3）

How could one even begin to describe the sight before their eyes?

The lush green trees swayed, their colors instantly shifting to black as if infected. It was a visual illusion. In reality, they weren’t changing color; a dense wave of black monsters was simply filling the entire field of vision.

The Black Sea.

An overwhelming number of 1,088 monsters surged towards Kang San like a black tide.

Kyaak!

Kraaaaaak!

The undead launched themselves forward.

The moment Kang San raised his shield to block the attack, sharp claws tore through the air, aiming for any exposed area.

Thud.

Flash!

He struck back, severing heads and limbs.

The swarming undead captivated his attention, and Kang San gritted his teeth, decapitating and dismembering every monster that came within reach. Crack, crack. The sensation of his sword meeting their bodies wasn’t pleasant. The undead varied in rank from B to F, possessing diverse physical abilities, but thanks to his divine power, they couldn’t withstand his attacks for long.

But there were simply too many.

For every one he killed, two more appeared.

For every two, three more emerged.

After dispatching five, ten more would charge in.

Slash━

His forearm was cut.

He had reacted to their killing intent, but with so many simultaneous attacks, he couldn’t dodge them all. Fortunately, the direct damage was minimal. Guardian’s Will had boosted his defense by 500%, and he could still hear the constant notifications in his ears, announcing that Guardian’s Will had been renewed.

Thud.

Thud, thud.

Some undead brushed past him.

With the space overcrowded, they sought other human targets beyond Kang San.

Kang San yelled urgently.

“Trial’s Shield━!”

Krrrrrrr!

Kyaak!

Kwaang, bang! Bang! Bang!

Attacks exploded from all directions.

Drawn by the aggro, the undead squeezed through any gap, driven by the killing intent to destroy Kang San.

His head spun.

He had anticipated this to some extent.

He knew the Dark Lord wouldn’t appear alone and that he might have to face a horde single-handedly. But he hadn’t expected this many from the very start. The Dark Lord’s swift massacre of Pohang’s citizens and the creation of this army were possible because he commanded an army of undead far beyond the capabilities of local forces.

If even a tenth of them escaped…

It would be a massacre.

Innocent citizens wouldn’t even have a chance to flee before being torn apart, becoming undead under the Dark Lord’s control.

‘That would be the end.’

The beginning was crucial.

A dam with a single hole would unleash an unstoppable torrent, but if that initial breach could be prevented, it could be held. The estimated arrival time for reinforcements from Seoul was roughly four hours. That was the minimum time, considering the time needed to assess the situation, assemble troops, utilize the Busan warp gate, and travel on foot.

Realistically, how long could he hold out?

Maybe not even an hour.

Kang San had to pray that Pohang would recognize the threat and gather their local forces within that time.

‘That’s the absolute minimum. I need to hold out for at least an hour to give them time to prepare for this disaster.’

Crack.

Crack, crack.

He saw teeth gnashing right in front of him.

Kang San dodged and sliced off their heads, but with more undead constantly filling the space, he couldn’t afford to stop moving. Trial’s Shield’s effect wasn’t infinite. The initial monsters targeted by the skill wouldn’t bypass him due to the aggro, but the newly arriving ones were different.

It was ironic, when he thought about it.

The Barrier of Light scroll.

Was it coincidence or fate that it had fallen into his hands?

The moment he used it, he would be plunged into the hell of the Abyss alone, but Kang San had no other choice.

Hook.

Crack━!

He slashed an undead.

He retreated immediately and quickly pulled out the scroll.

And then…

“Join me, you sons of bitches.”

Rip━!

He tore the scroll apart.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

At that moment.

Pohang’s Mayor, Park Mun-do, was meeting with Priest Oh Man-seok.

“Mayor. Didn’t I tell you? Kang San, that man, should be avoided.”

“…This is quite a dilemma. He’s not making any difficult requests. He’s offering a large sum of money and asking us to look after Pohang’s safety. Who could refuse such an offer? I’ll make sure to maintain a proper distance, so please don’t worry too much.”

It was a difficult situation.

With the East Coast earthquake causing chaos, Priest Oh Man-seok’s visit had caught Park Mun-do off guard.

Under normal circumstances, he would have declined the meeting.

Their relationship had been amicable and free of conflict, but this time, Oh Man-seok seemed determined to express his discomfort.

“Kang San has no ties to Pohang, yet he suddenly appeared, claiming it as his hometown. He even visited the Sun God Church and had the audacity to label us a cult. Do you truly believe he has no ulterior motives? Do you honestly think that Kang San, a man suspected of being a Japanese collaborator, made a donation out of pure intentions? Absolutely not. That’s impossible. Historically, Pohang has been neglected by the South Korean government. We’ve had to protect ourselves, and there’s never been a hero who prioritized Pohang over Seoul. If it’s about the donation, the Sun God Church will match the amount. So, sever ties with Kang San.”

“But I’ve already made a promise…”

“Mayor. Over 50,000 of Pohang’s 300,000 citizens follow the Sun God Church or hold favorable views towards us. That’s the result of our dedicated efforts, and if the Sun God Church labels someone as an undesirable element, everyone will unite to ostracize them. I’m just curious, but do you have no desire for re-election? With the Sun God Church’s influence growing, I urge you to make a wise decision.”

“Ugh.”

It was his weakness.

The Sun God Church had achieved significant results in Pohang through its extensive missionary work.

It was inevitable.

In a region neglected by the government, who could refuse the warmth and support offered by those who prioritized the safety of the people? The vulnerable were particularly quick to embrace their faith. Many were drawn in when the elders in their families urged them to believe in the Sun God Church.

Oh Man-seok was right.

If Mayor Park Mun-do desired re-election, it would be foolish to alienate the Sun God Church.

‘I’m sorry, but…’

His promise to Kang San?

It couldn’t be helped.

Politics was like that.

Just as he was about to accept Oh Man-seok’s proposal…

Burst━

“Mayor! Emergency! An outbreak has occurred near Gokumsan!”

“What!?”

Mayor Park Mun-do shot up from his seat.

The shock on his face reflected the urgency of the situation.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

They moved to a different location.

It was a control room with dozens of CCTV screens, and a staff member explained rapidly.

“It seems the East Coast earthquake has opened a previously hidden ‘dungeon entrance.’ The problem is the outbreak’s rank. Based on the mana fluctuations, it’s at least A-rank or higher. The Abyss has opened, Mayor.”

“Oh…”

He felt his legs weaken.

An A-rank outbreak?

It was the worst-case scenario.

Pohang’s forces couldn’t possibly withstand it. Park Mun-do’s face paled as he asked,

“Reinforcements? When will the reinforcements arrive?”

“…That’s where the problem lies. Simultaneous ‘Link incidents’ have occurred throughout Seoul. The government believes it could be a large-scale Link event like the one in Kitakyushu, Japan, and has issued Jindogae Hana, entering a state of war. Given the circumstances, it’s expected to take some time.”

“Oh dear.”

The situation was dire.

In South Korea, the government always prioritized Seoul’s safety.

This meant that until the situation in Seoul was somewhat resolved, Pohang’s problem would be pushed to the back burner.

It was a secret of the impending disaster that Kang San was unaware of.

Based on fragmented memories, Kang San had assumed that the initial response had failed simply due to the distance between Seoul and Pohang. In reality, it was the issues erupting in Seoul that further delayed support, despite the already existing distance problem.

They were in a desperate situation.

Amidst all this, there was one silver lining.

“Fortunately, thanks to the crisis response training we conducted a few days ago, we’re evacuating citizens quickly.”

“Really? That’s right, we did that! Evacuate the citizens quickly. As fast as possible, as far away from Gokumsan as possible!”

“Understood.”

It was a blessing in disguise.

A chill ran down his spine.

If Kang San hadn’t requested the training with his donation, the citizens would have been in even greater chaos, unable to respond effectively to the evacuation order. Had Kang San foreseen this? Whether he had or not, it wasn’t a pressing concern for Park Mun-do. He needed to gather troops and buy as much time as possible.

Just then…

“Ah…”

A familiar voice came from behind.

He turned around and saw Priest Oh Man-seok, who had followed him.

“Priest. This area is restricted to authorized personnel…”

“The time has finally come.”

He cut himself off.

Priest Oh Man-seok’s face was filled with fanaticism as he laughed.

“The time to prove our worth!”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The divine revelation hadn’t been wrong.

Disaster had truly struck.

Priest Oh Man-seok immediately left the control room and summoned the followers of the Sun God Church.

“The time has come. The Sun Priest has spoken. The reason we practice his teachings here in Pohang is for this very day. When a ‘great disaster’ like this occurs, it’s to prove our noble spirit of sacrifice. We will all die today. Our lives in this world will end, but by abandoning our insignificant physical bodies, we will be guaranteed a life after the Rapture. Think of the afterlife. Our loved ones, everything we truly desire. The afterlife, where we can be with them, will be happier and more fulfilling than ever before.”

“We believe!”

“We believe!”

They were all consumed by fanaticism.

Seeing his followers cry out with fervor, Oh Man-seok’s eyes gleamed with madness.

“Follow me! We will set ourselves ablaze and prove the Sun God Church’s worth to the entire world!”

“We believe!”

“We believe!”

Oh Man-seok started walking.

Thousands followed him.

Tens of thousands believed in the Sun God Church in Pohang, but the true fanatics willing to sacrifice their lives were all gathered here. As they moved, he saw a familiar face. Oh Min-yeong, drenched in sweat and still in her school uniform, rushed over from school and blocked his path.

“Dad!”

“Move aside.”

“Dad, please! This is wrong. Mom would never want this!”

“Silence, you wretch!”

Thud!

He shoved his daughter away.

Seeing her fall and look up at him with tears in her eyes, Oh Man-seok shouted angrily.

“You’re too young to understand. You don’t know how your mother looked at me in that hellish moment. Begging me to save her, her lips barely moving. Why are you so disrespectful? Believe. Believe. Please believe. We will be saved through this, and we’ll all live the lives we desire in the afterlife. I’m doing this for our family. So, don’t show such disrespect and make my sacrifice meaningless.”

He averted his gaze.

He refused to look at his daughter any longer.

“Everyone, let’s go! The thorny path of trials awaits us!”

He continued walking.

He ignored his daughter’s desperate cries.

His heart pounded.

Oh Man-seok was afraid too.

But who could possibly stop the onslaught of monsters?

If the Sun God Church could buy some time like this, people would remember their sacrifice in the future.

On the path to hell…

He repeated the word “afterlife” in his mind.

It was the only thing that gave him the strength to walk this thorny path.

Finally, they arrived at the scene.

The sight Oh Man-seok had imagined was a horrific scene, like the maw of hell, where no human could possibly survive.

But…

“…What is this?”

It was different from what he had expected.

A single human.

In this place where there should be no one, a familiar face stood alone amidst the hellish landscape.