Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Presence or Absence of Just One Person （5）

A little while ago.

Aside from the basic strategy, Kang San also explained Plan B.

“…I don’t want it to come to this, but just in case. If I determine that simply enduring the offensive isn’t the answer, I’ll open a path. We won’t focus on handling the sheer number of enemies, but rather prioritize eliminating the Hobgoblin and then cleaning up the situation afterward. That’s Plan B.”

Now was that situation.

Swarming Goblins, Trolls with their vital points protected by armor, and even stone projectiles flying from afar.

The Hobgoblin was cleverly pushing the humans back, and their seemingly endless numbers would undoubtedly create a crack in the defensive formation eventually. That’s why they changed the plan. Plan B. Before their stamina was depleted, before unforeseen variables arose, they chose a bold strategy to swiftly break through the battlefield.

Hook.

He kicked off the ground.

In an instant, all directions were teeming with monsters, and Kang San gritted his teeth against the surging murderous intent.

Clang━!

He blocked the attack.

And immediately after.

‘Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style: Blade Kill ‘

Flash.

Thwack━!

He took off the opponent’s head.

The Troll narrowly dodged, but the power amplified by the Blood Demon Art tore through the armor, slicing through the chest within. It was an opportunity. He didn’t miss the momentary opening. He fiercely blocked the incoming attacks with Iron Man, climbed atop the collapsing Troll, and brutally thrust his sword into its neck.

Stab.

Stab, stab!

Gurgle.

The Troll foamed at the mouth.

『The effect of Blood Demon Art has been activated.』

『Attack power temporarily increases by 11%.』

One by one.

He decisively eliminated the monsters in sight.

And as much as possible, he aimed to trigger the Blood Demon Art’s enhancement effect by prioritizing Goblin kills over Troll kills.

Meanwhile.

“Salamander’s Breath.”

Whoosh.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Yeon Woo-bin’s magic exploded.

Kang San secured a position as he advanced, allowing the rear Dealers to follow up and unleash their firepower.

Then, Kang San would advance again to secure a new position, and the rear Dealers would follow, repeating the process to move forward.

It was the most stable method.

Recklessly advancing would inevitably create gaps in the defensive formation, so Kang San chose to take the risk and charge ahead. His head spun from the attacks pouring in from all sides. If he blocked above, they aimed for his flanks; if he twisted to evade, they thrust sharp teeth at him from the front. The Goblins’ daggers, flung through momentary openings, revealed a deep-seated murderous intent to kill a human.

Pat.

He blocked most attacks.

But if it seemed unblockable.

Crunch.

He simply allowed it.

As a Goblin bit into his shoulder, Kang San didn’t even flinch, instead thrusting his sword into the Goblin’s head.

Stab.

Splatter.

It was a chaotic battle.

There was no time to rest.

If the opportunity arose, he would prioritize eliminating Trolls, but his primary focus remained on the Goblins.

『The Blood Scent stimulates your brain.』

『The Primal Instinct of the Blood Demon Art partially awakens.』

The effect of the Blood Demon Art.

His body surged with power.

This was what he aimed for.

Kang San displayed explosive strength and swift movements, instinctively deflecting attacks without needing to actively block them. The Primal Instinct of the Blood Demon Art activated after he killed over 20 Goblins. Although it activated later than before, he didn’t feel his mind collapsing. Perhaps due to his Concentration stat, his senses felt even sharper.

He opened a path.

He gradually advanced.

Some monsters were inevitably left behind due to his bold movements, but he trusted Jeong Chan-woo completely.

If he couldn’t even trust him to that extent, he wouldn’t have invited Jeong Chan-woo to the party in the first place.

At this moment.

His role was clear.

‘To open a path while enduring all attacks.’

Kang San’s presence swelled.

His appearance.

It was somewhat unconventional for a typical Tanker.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Suddenly.

Yeon Gyu-seong abruptly stood up.

His eyes trembled as he stared at the screen.

“…Didn’t you say he was E-rank?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“Then how can you explain what we’re seeing? That can’t be called E-rank skill, can it?”

It was baffling.

He had anticipated something.

He saw trust in Yeon Woo-bin’s eyes when he looked at Kang San, and he predicted that if there was a reversal, it wouldn’t be Jeong Chan-woo or Jo Han-byeol, but Kang San who would make it happen. But this exceeded his expectations. He was initially impressed by Kang San’s stable tanking, but then he suddenly started to delve into the enemy lines alone.

He was speechless.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.

『Clatter.』

A Goblin squeezed through a gap.

It was an unavoidable attack.

Just as he thought Kang San might finally falter, Kang San simply offered his shoulder.

『Crunch.』

He didn’t even frown.

He didn’t even let out a groan.

Kang San grabbed the Goblin biting his shoulder and, as if it were nothing, thrust his sword straight into its head. It was a horrifying sight. Yeon Gyu-seong watched Kang San toss the limp Goblin aside and continue his advance, unable to believe that such a person was merely ‘E-rank.’

This party.

On the surface, they were clearly at a disadvantage compared to the previous one.

There was a difference in rank from the beginning, and they were also one member short.

That’s why he thought there was no chance his son would pass this test, but Kang San was single-handedly handling the defense, creating a balance. It was a one-sided situation. Since Kang San was blocking everything in the front, even if a few monsters slipped through, it didn’t cause any significant problems.

The other party members were also skilled.

Jo Han-byeol displayed unexpected composure, and the young man named Jeong Chan-woo was doing his part well.

‘…So this is why Woo-bin was so insistent. He was confident that he could pass the test I designed if he was with these people. You really… are you determined to surpass your father?’

He felt frustrated.

Complex emotions surged within him.

And at that moment.

Thanks to his comrades’ performance, Yeon Woo-bin’s presence began to explode.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a tense situation.

They followed behind Kang San, regrouped, unleashed magic, and regrouped again, repeating the process.

He was out of breath.

He was already feeling his physical limits, but Yeon Woo-bin saw Jeong Chan-woo’s face in his field of vision.

“Die!”

Clang!

Stab.

He blocked the incoming Goblin.

Jeong Chan-woo fiercely thrust his sword, then looked up, his sharp eyes scanning for other threats. Beads of bloody sweat flew from his forehead. Jeong Chan-woo was drenched in sweat, determined to protect him and Jo Han-byeol. And Kang San at the front was beyond words.

Comrades.

The grateful people who protected him.

He forcefully swallowed the rising nausea.

Strangely enough, he didn’t revert to the cowardly Yeon Woo-bin when he was with these people.

‘Let’s do it, I have to do it.’

He widened his eyes.

Magic Eye activated, and magical power swirled around Yeon Woo-bin.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

He surveyed the surroundings.

Instead of using magic recklessly, he carefully assessed the situation and accurately cast spells where they were needed.

Whoosh.

Boom━!

Flames erupted.

As the surging flames engulfed the monsters, a space opened up for Kang San, who was surrounded by enemies. No special communication was necessary. Kang San immediately utilized that space. He swiftly advanced, disrupting the enemies’ coordinated attacks and skillfully herding them to create openings for magic.

The intention was conveyed.

What Kang San wanted.

What he needed to do.

Yeon Woo-bin’s mind raced, unleashing magical power whenever Kang San secured a space.

“Chain Lightning.”

Crackle.

Crackle!

Kreeek.

People say.

A Mage under protection is explosive.

Especially if the Mage is skilled, their power can easily match a hundred men.

Yeon Woo-bin proved his talent.

Trapped by trauma, he now fully unleashed the brilliance of his innate D-rank talent against the enemies.

The situation reversed.

The enemies were strong.

But they trusted each other.

Kang San, who endured at the front, and Yeon Woo-bin, who unleashed firepower from behind.

Jo Han-byeol and Jeong Chan-woo also stepped up their game.

Thwack.

Thwack, thwack━!

Arrows struck their targets precisely.

When Jeong Chan-woo blocked the incoming monsters, Jo Han-byeol calmly aimed for the vital points of the monsters Jeong Chan-woo was facing. He didn’t even glance at Kang San. Kang San had told them that once the melee began, he would leave the front to them and focus solely on Jeong Chan-woo and the situation behind them. They adhered to their roles. The arrows flew in sharp trajectories, piercing through the armor-protected vital points and ending the enemies’ lives.

And.

“Above.”

“Damn it.”

Boom━!

As Jo Han-byeol indicated the location of the rock, Jeong Chan-woo threw himself forward to block the falling boulder.

He felt sick.

His stomach churned, but seeing Kang San holding on, Jeong Chan-woo couldn’t afford to collapse.

They coordinated their attacks.

Their connection from the Ant Nest.

Their trust in each other shone brightly.

Bit by bit.

Slowly, they opened a path.

The summit was closer than expected.

Soon, Kang San discovered a space teeming with Goblins.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A wide open space.

It was swarming with Goblins.

Their target, the Hobgoblin, was at the rear, and judging by the nearby Trolls and large rocks, it seemed this was where they had launched their stone projectile attacks with brute force. They had finally found their target. The plan from here on was simple. Kang San told the two Dealers to ignore the other enemies and focus on the Hobgoblin first.

“Woo-bin!”

“Yes!”

The signal was given.

As Jo Han-byeol nocked an arrow, Yeon Woo-bin also unleashed the memorized magic he had prepared.

‘Focused Shot.’

“Lightning Spear.”

Crackle.

Simultaneously.

They chose their strongest single-target attacks.

The arrow imbued with red energy tore through the air, and a powerful bolt of electricity also targeted the Hobgoblin.

A surprise attack.

The other monsters couldn’t intercept it.

However.

『Bone Shield』

Boom!

Crackle.

The attacks were blocked in vain.

As the Hobgoblin raised its staff, bones sprouted from the ground, completely encasing its body. The attacks were ineffective. The arrow couldn’t penetrate the intertwined bones, and the electricity only sparked harmlessly, failing to reach the Hobgoblin. It was a frustrating situation. This proved that the Hobgoblin possessed more than just the ability to control the undead; it wielded considerable magical power.

Clatter.

The staff rattled.

The Hobgoblin’s eyes turned a deep black.

『…Humans… We will survive.』

Thud!

It slammed its staff on the ground.

A wave of magical power surged.

Immense magical power emanated from the Hobgoblin, forming something that was dyed in darkness.

『Dark Spear』

3rd Circle Black Magic.

Its implications were shocking.

Black Magic possessed destructive power unlike ordinary magic, and it could be considered a level higher in terms of human standards.

In other words.

『The eighth Trial and Tribulation has been bestowed upon you.』

『Due to the karma of the wicked, the Hobgoblin has transcended its rank. From now on, the Hobgoblin will be classified as C-rank and will exhibit intense murderous intent towards humans. You must now escape the Other World without a single casualty. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of all previous rewards.』

『Reward: All Stats +5, two 2-star （★★） Skills』

Kang San’s expression contorted.

“…As expected, it never lets me off easy.”

It was as he had anticipated.

Azmoon’s variable, without fail.

At the worst possible moment, it pushed Kang San into a corner.