Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 170

Chapter 170: S-rank Outbreak （14）

It was truly a fleeting moment.

In the less than a second that Kang San made eye contact with Kim Chun-sik, ‘Baek Hyun’s’ memories flooded into his mind.

‘…Kim Chun-sik, is that boy?’

It was shocking.

The Memory Playback skill didn’t show the life of Kim Chun-sik that he was familiar with, but rather, like Im Chan-yeong, it showed a past life that existed beyond. It was a name that Kang San clearly remembered. Seo Mun-ho, revealing an emotional side for the first time, risked danger for the boy’s revenge even while being chased.

He didn’t know then.

Why Seo Mun-ho reacted so impulsively, he only learned through his recent experience of his past life.

The massacre of a village.

The destruction of a family.

The Peng family of Hebei behind it all.

Wudang behind it all.

It was the same context.

In the righteous Murim, which advocated justice, innocent people were indiscriminately slaughtered for personal gain. Seo Mun-ho had ample reason to risk danger. In the image of Baek Hyun, whose will wasn’t broken even while being chased by assassins, he must have projected his own image of helplessly watching his wife die.

The memories of his past life, which unfolded in sequence, allowed him to understand the context of Seo Mun-ho’s actions, even if it defined him as a villain.

The problem was.

Could the fact that Kim Chun-sik’s past life was Baek Hyun be dismissed as mere coincidence?

‘Repeated coincidences must be inevitable.’

The day he met Kim Chun-sik.

At that time, which Kang San considered a coincidence, the two people who were deeply intertwined in their past lives finally reunited in the afterlife. Maybe it was from then. Kang San, who hadn’t recognized his past life, started to turn the wheel of fate through his encounter with Kim Chun-sik. And he repeated the same actions as in his past life. Like Seo Mun-ho who saved Baek Hyun, Kang San couldn’t abandon Kim Chun-sik and drew his sword.

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

With the puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly, he couldn’t figure out how to accept this situation.

『The memories of your past life enhance your physical abilities.』

Level Up.

His health, which had fallen to the floor, felt like it could breathe a little.

Stats increasing even from another person’s memories.

Questions piled up one after another, but Kang San didn’t have time to dwell on them any longer.

Rumble.

Papapapapapak!

Dark magic poured in from all directions.

The Dark Lord was making his presence known.

In the face of a powerful blow that seemed determined to finally end Kang San, he put his thoughts aside and shouted.

“Absolutely do not come any further than that!”

Kim Chun-sik’s abilities were insufficient.

There was nothing he could do against the Dark Lord, but it wasn’t entirely hopeless.

The fact that Kim Chun-sik had arrived meant that other reinforcements would arrive soon.

“I will hold the line here.”

Kwang━!

Kwaarrrrrrung.

Gritting his teeth, he blocked the Dark Lord once again.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The encounter of two fates.

It wasn’t just Kang San who underwent a special change.

『You have met the special conditions.』

『Your physical abilities are enhanced due to Awakening.』

“…!”

Once more.

Kim Chun-sik’s abilities improved.

Checking his stat window, it wasn’t a one-level increase like before, but it was still a figure that could be considered above average among A-ranks. Not only that, but Kim Chun-sik had never had any skills before. Now, in the skill window that had been empty except for Awakening, there were skills he had never seen before.

『Deadly Poison』

『Hidden Weapon Techniques』

『Concealment』

.

.

They were unfamiliar skills.

Kim Chun-sik, who didn’t know his past life, couldn’t understand why he had been given these skills.

However.

One thing became certain.

‘The condition for Awakening is definitely Kang San-nim.’

It wasn’t a coincidence that he Awakened every time he heard news of Kang San, and the new abilities he gained as soon as he encountered him gave him certainty. Abilities gained through another human being. He had never heard of such a case anywhere in the world. But what was important to Kim Chun-sik now was that he had gained abilities that could help him fight against the monster known as the Dark Lord.

Pat.

He kicked off the ground.

His body was light.

He jumped into the space flickering with darkness and drew his military dagger, activating a skill.

“Deadly Poison, Throwing.”

Passsssss.

The dagger turned green.

The dagger, poisoned by the Deadly Poison skill, flew fiercely towards the ‘Dark Lord’ as Kim Chun-sik intended.

Pak━

It was blocked effortlessly.

Checking the opponent’s condition, it seemed unaffected.

‘For now, poison doesn’t work. I guess it’s because it’s not a living creature.’

He registered the information.

He took his machete.

He was also determined to face the Dark Lord in close combat.

“It’s dangerous, Mr. Kim Chun-sik!”

“I know. I know, but…”

Papapat.

He charged.

Some of the dark magic that had been directed at Kang San attacked him, attempting to stop Kim Chun-sik’s movement.

Kwang, Kwang Kwang Kwang!

“I didn’t come all the way here to just watch.”

He dodged the attacks.

Barely avoiding the attacks that grazed past him, he gritted his teeth and quickly closed the distance to the Dark Lord. He didn’t think he could do much. Even with his increased stats, he was still at the level of an A-rank, so even if he reached close range, he couldn’t inflict significant damage.

But it was okay.

Even just diverting a small portion of the Dark Lord’s power was enough reason to risk danger.

The series of events.

Kang San grimaced.

Kim Chun-sik, who wouldn’t listen to him, seemed like he would burn to death like a moth to a flame.

Then, he had to change his strategy.

Kang San shouted.

“Mr. Kim Chun-sik! Then don’t attack recklessly, and look for an opening. You can use me as bait. So…”

A way to calm Kim Chun-sik down.

Kang San knew from his experiences.

“Let’s survive together.”

It worked.

Kim Chun-sik also stopped being reckless and stepped back, as if to follow Kang San’s words.

Their eyes met.

That was enough.

Kang San would hold the front, and Kim Chun-sik would look for an opening.

A clear picture formed in both of their minds.

That’s when it happened.

A bolt of lightning flashed from the sky and struck the Dark Lord directly.

Kwang!

Kwaarrrrrrrrrrrrung.

“Let me join you.”

Saito Shusuke.

The S-rank Hunter who had followed Kim Chun-sik finally arrived at the scene.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a situation Kang San hadn’t anticipated.

Since Kim Chun-sik had appeared, he knew reinforcements would arrive soon.

But he didn’t expect it to be Saito Shusuke.

Not Cheonsang, not Daeyang, not any place related to South Korea, but Saito Shusuke from across the sea arrived at the disaster site where Kang San was, following Kim Chun-sik. There was no time to comprehend this situation. The feeling that followed his bewilderment was a feeling of relief, that it was truly fortunate.

The arrival of an S-rank.

The situation had turned.

A situation that would have been hopeless alone now had a chance for a counterattack.

“I will hold the front line. I entrust the rear to you.”

Tadaak.

He charged.

Dark magic rose from the Dark Lord once again, and dozens of strands of magic struck down simultaneously.

Kwang━!

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

He dodged.

He evaded the pouring magic with strange movements, and blocked the attacks he deemed unavoidable with his shield. He didn’t let his guard down just because reinforcements had arrived. He still held a strong will to defeat the Dark Lord even on his own and believed that Kim Chun-sik and Saito Shusuke were skilled enough to exploit the openings he created. Among countless people, there must be a reason why they arrived first.

As expected.

Taking advantage of the moment the Dark Lord attacked, Kim Chun-sik dug into the side and threw his military daggers.

He only had two spare daggers, but he had to get on the opponent’s nerves.

『How dare you!』

Kwaarrrrrrung.

The Dark Lord’s gaze turned to Kim Chun-sik.

The moment it tried to explode some of its magic towards him, Saito Shusuke dug into the space.

“Thunderbolt!”

Flash.

Kwaarrrrrrung.

From the sky to the ground.

It struck directly.

It was a powerful shock that engulfed the Dark Lord, and when the Dark Lord retrieved its magic to protect itself, Kang San had already reached close range.

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

Kwang!

Kwakwakwakwang.

The Dark Lord was pushed back.

He finally showed signs of faltering.

As Kang San pressed on without giving him a break, Saito Shusuke also seized the opportunity and attacked simultaneously. Not only that, but Kim Chun-sik knew his place. Instead of confronting him head-on like the two of them, he quickly dug into the blind spots and swung his machete with all his might.

The Dark Lord’s counterattacks were ineffective.

Kang San blocked them every time, and the magic it exploded indiscriminately was controlled.

“Trial’s Shield.”

Kwakwakwakwang!

Hope was in sight.

The battle, which had been a constant struggle, began to show meaningful results as the three of them worked together.

And in this situation.

Kang San realized something strange.

‘The Dark Lord isn’t in his complete state right now.’

The future he had experienced.

The Dark Lord was so powerful that even when South Korea fought with all its might, White Knight Lee Han-seong couldn’t avoid death. But no matter how many S-rank Hunters there were, it didn’t make sense that they were dominating like this.

That meant.

The current Dark Lord was not whole.

Since the Dark Lord had the power to command the undead, his own abilities increased proportionally to the number of undead. In his experience of the future, the Dark Lord commanded millions of undead. The explosive magic power at that time was strong enough to wipe out even S-rank Hunters in an instant, but in the reality that had come, Kang San had completely blocked the initial response. The Dark Lord couldn’t unleash his original destructive power, as the number of undead, which would amplify his abilities, was decreasing in real time, let alone increasing.

It was the best-case scenario.

Kang San’s sacrifice had created the most ideal situation to bring down the great disaster known as the Dark Lord.

“There!”

“Help Kang San-nim and attack the Dark Lord!”

Just in time.

He could see people rushing in from afar.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Cheonsang, Daeyang, Rangers, Japanese forces, and so on.

Especially the arrival of Misaki Akemi was a definite force that would put an end to this situation.

『You underestimate me.』

The Dark Lord was cornered.

A critical situation.

Perhaps it realized that it was in danger, as the red eyes in the darkness spat out murderous intent.

『I admit it. A single insignificant human has given you humans hope. But even so, the outcome won’t change. I cannot fall like this. Even if my world is saved, I won’t exist in that future. But it doesn’t matter.』

Kwaarrrrrrung.

It was dangerous.

The dark magic erupted explosively.

『I will become immortal.』

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a situation that didn’t exist in the future.

To be precise, in the previous records of fighting the Dark Lord, it had never used a skill like this.

Immortality?

Before he could even fully grasp it, he saw the erupting dark magic being sucked into the Dark Lord.

Kwaarrrrrrung.

Its body swelled.

4m, 5m, 6m.

It grew larger and larger, and then its presence suddenly blurred.

Hook.

Kwang━!

“Ugh.”

Kang San was thrown back.

The Dark Lord, who had been manipulating dark magic just a moment ago, had chosen to engage in direct combat, completely enveloped in darkness. The others didn’t just watch. Attacks were attempted from all directions, but the Dark Lord didn’t dodge.

Kwang!

Kwaarrrrrrung.

“…!”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

It was unharmed.

Even though its body was torn and exploded, it showed itself regenerating as dark magic surged.

『Let me tell you something interesting. For the next hour, I will not die from any attack. And if I kill more than ten thousand living beings during that time, I will become a monster that has lost its reason without bearing the risk of immortality. Humans, try to stop me even knowing the truth. Prove to me that you truly deserve to survive!』

Kwaarrrrrrung.

It took a step.

The moment they recognized the Dark Lord’s movement.

“Kyaack!”

“Aaaahhhhh!”

The reinforcements that had just arrived were swept away.

They attacked the Dark Lord from all directions.

Even though magic exploded and weapons struck, it ignored defense and began to indiscriminately slaughter people. The reinforcements had become poison instead. If the Dark Lord’s words were true, the death of ten thousand people was the condition to turn him into a monster. But there was no way to stop it. To begin with, it was a monster that could only be defeated by risking one’s life, and now that it was rampaging in an immortal state, its ruthlessness was beyond control.

‘Was this the meaning of the trial?’

He finally understood.

The meaning of the trial, which was to prevent the deaths of more than ten thousand people.

He gritted his teeth.

But he couldn’t give up.

He had made it this far, and it was clear that the opponent was cornered.

He would stop it.

As always, there was no option to give up.

That’s when it happened.

The moment the Dark Lord was about to sweep away more people, a bright light descended from the sky like a divine intervention.

Flash.

Kwaarrrrrrrrrrrrung.

It was a familiar sight.

Like when he had faced the A-rank Werewolf Lord.

Like back then, when it had been hopeless.

“Is everyone alright?”

White Knight Lee Han-seong appeared before the people, enveloped in pure white light.