Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 72

Chapter 72: The Tenth Trial （3）

The decision was swift.

Kim Myeong-min, slashing through the Werewolf before him in an instant, shouted powerfully to his team members.

“Retreat for now! Regroup and plan our next move!”

An A-rank monster.

The appearance of a monster that even Kim Myeong-min couldn’t guarantee victory against, coupled with a debuff that decreased their overall physical abilities by 30%. Moreover, on the night of a full moon, the Werewolves’ stats increase. This meant that even if they were of the same C-rank, a gap would widen to the extent that they wouldn’t be able to handle even a single Werewolf.

There was no time to hesitate.

Thinking of the situation that would unfold if the Werewolf Lord arrived, Kim Myeong-min boldly decided to retreat.

‘If we push forward recklessly, we might face an irreversible situation. Considering the rescue targets’ depleted stamina, it’s best to return to where they were isolated and request support.’

Fortunately, amidst the misfortune, the isolation spot had terrain suitable for facing multiple enemies.

An unexpected variable.

The team members’ reactions were immediate.

Ju Seok-hun pushed back the enemies while retreating, and Yoon Ji-tae cast a 4th Circle magic spell.

“Inferno.”

Whoosh.

Fwoosh!

Intensely burning flames swept across the front.

The Werewolves, who had been rushing in, were engulfed in flames, and the sub-dealers launched additional attacks, trying to quickly widen the distance. Dealing with one or two more Werewolves wasn’t important right now. The Lord, somewhere in the distance. They absolutely couldn’t be caught by that monster.

If they were…

It would be annihilation.

With a creeping sense of foreboding, Kim Myeong-min’s presence exploded.

Kyaak━!

He dodged the attack.

Kim Myeong-min dug into the Werewolf’s embrace, and in the fleeting moment they tangled, he decapitated it.

Flash.

Thud.

Blood splattered.

Bathed in the pouring blood, Kim Myeong-min’s eyes scanned the surroundings fiercely.

‘Three in front, two on the right.’

He took a step forward.

The Werewolves’ gray fur, shimmering in the moonlight, turned red the moment they clashed with Kim Myeong-min.

“Wild Dance.”

Papapapat!

Kreeek!

He didn’t check on the falling enemies.

As soon as he took down the three in front, he moved to the right and cut down the enemies there, then checked the surroundings and his team members’ conditions. Fortunately, there were no critical situations. Ju Seok-hun was doing a good job of blocking the incoming wave as the first line of defense, and Yoon Ji-tae was preventing them from approaching by unleashing explosive magical power.

Thud.

Grrrrk.

He plunged his sword into the Werewolf’s nape.

It was hopeful.

The possibility of escaping the immediate crisis had emerged.

But then.

Slide.

From beyond.

Something emerged from the darkness.

A body twice the size of a typical Werewolf, with silver fur that shone brilliantly instead of dull gray.

“………Damn it.”

It was certain.

In the end, they had been caught by the monster.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Recognizing the presence.

Warning of danger.

And when he confirmed the ‘monster’ again, Kim Myeong-min’s eyes caught sight of Ju Seok-hun crashing to the ground.

“Seok-hun━!”

Kwaang!

“Ugh.”

The Lord.

The monster surged through space.

Even amidst the chaos, Ju Seok-hun showed quick reflexes by raising his shield, but he couldn’t withstand the powerful force and was slammed down. People say that in the world of Hunters, B-rank and above are completely different beings, but even those B-ranks are no match for the monsters in the A-rank world.

Pat.

Ju Seok-hun quickly got up.

Before he could even properly secure his vision, the Lord’s claws ripped through the air.

Kraaaak!

Kaang━!

Kang, kang, kang!

He was pushed back repeatedly.

In a situation where he could collapse at any moment, Kim Myeong-min quickly rushed in.

“Berserker.”

Kurrrrrrung.

A red aura surged.

Kim Myeong-min’s speed increased momentarily, and he aimed for an opening as the Lord attacked Ju Seok-hun.

Kaang━!

Blocked.

The moment the Lord tried to counterattack Kim Myeong-min.

“Push.”

Kooong━!

Ju Seok-hun pushed the Lord back.

It was the synergy built up through past battles.

The Lord stumbled from the sudden attack, and the sword, gleaming in the moonlight, aimed for the Werewolf’s vital points in the blink of an eye. However, it didn’t land a single hit. No matter how much he increased his physical abilities with Berserker, the Fear debuff and the full moon’s effect rendered the ‘increase’ meaningless.

On the contrary.

Crack━!

Blood splattered on his shoulder from sharp teeth.

Despite launching numerous attacks, it was Kim Myeong-min who was bleeding instead.

‘This is dangerous.’

He glanced around.

Yoon Ji-tae and the rear forces were struggling just to deal with the surging Werewolves.

In the end, it meant that the two of them had to somehow shake off the Lord, but it wasn’t easy for two B-rank Hunters to face a Lord. The commonly known stat difference was about double. Some people say that two B-ranks can then defeat one A-rank, but things aren’t that simple.

Three years ago.

Even considering the incident where an A-rank Hunter slaughtered ten B-ranks, a single rank difference represented a gap that couldn’t be measured by numbers alone.

That’s when it happened.

“Glory.”

Whooooong━!

Ju Seok-hun was enveloped in a bright light.

The light encompassed Kim Myeong-min, not only healing his wounds but also removing the debuff effect on him.

“Team Leader. I’ll try to hold him off somehow, so give it your all. If we don’t take this bastard down, we’re all dead anyway.”

For a moment.

Their eyes met.

Memories of the past resurfaced.

On the day they lost their colleagues, Ju Seok-hun, who had been sobbing for a long time, chose to enter seclusion training, vowing never to repeat such an incident. That determination was visible in Ju Seok-hun’s eyes. Even without exchanging words, just by Kim Myeong-min turning his head to face the Lord, the ‘two’ accepted the plan to risk their lives and defeat the Lord.

Ju Seok-hun initiated.

Thump.

He kicked off the ground.

Glory not only heals targeted allies but also temporarily increases their defense significantly.

However.

After 10 minutes, the healed amount returns as damage, and defense drops drastically, posing a tremendous risk. But right now, there was no other choice. Ju Seok-hun grabbed the Lord head-on. The Lord’s sharp claws grazed his body, but he gritted his teeth against the pain, trying to hold on somehow.

The opportunity created in that way.

“Flash.”

Flash.

Kwarrrrrrrrng!

Kim Myeong-min’s sword explosively surged through space.

A single streak of murderous intent, blazing fiercely, seemed to pass through Ju Seok-hun and pierce the Lord.

But.

『……Pathetic humans.』

Papapapang━!

A tremendous shockwave erupted.

Ju Seok-hun was thrown back, and Kim Myeong-min’s attack sliced through the air futilely.

His heart sank.

In the slow-motion-like time, he saw the Lord’s claws piercing Ju Seok-hun’s body.

Puck━!

“Cough.”

Ju Seok-hun, spewing blood.

His shaking eyes turned towards Kim Myeong-min, filled with despair.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“Seok-hun!”

“Damn it!”

Screams like cries echoed from behind.

Seeing Ju Seok-hun falter and collapse, everyone wore expressions of despair.

On the night of the full moon.

The Lord’s destructive power was too much for even a B-rank Tanker to handle.

As the Lord immediately lunged to finish off Ju Seok-hun, someone reacted even faster than Kim Myeong-min.

“Trial’s Shield.”

Whoosh!

The Lord’s gaze shifted.

It was Kang San.

As the Lord changed targets and charged towards him, Kang San felt his heart pounding.

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

It felt like his blood was running dry.

He wanted to run away.

He had been protecting Yoon Ji-tae in the chaotic situation, but the moment Ju Seok-hun was in danger, he activated his skill without a moment’s hesitation. He had to. Azmoon’s trial was to rescue the targets without a single casualty, which meant the Rangers were included as well.

His mind was hazy.

He bit the inside of his cheek.

If he didn’t do that, he felt like he would lose his composure.

“Pull the Tanker back!”

“But you won’t be able to handle…”

“Just do it! Damn it, we’re all going to die like this!”

He yelled at Kim Myeong-min.

He couldn’t talk anymore.

Believing that Kim Myeong-min would pull Ju Seok-hun back, Kang San had to face the Lord who was right in front of him.

‘Extrasensory Perception.’

Swoosh.

A-rank minimum stat: 500.

D-rank minimum stat: 50.

A tenfold difference.

To face this monster that even B-ranks couldn’t handle, he absolutely couldn’t clash head-on even once.

Red lines, shimmering like heat haze.

When they converged and aimed for his head, Kang San rolled on the ground without hesitation.

“Huff.”

Dust covered his head.

It was an unsightly sight, but Kang San got up as soon as he could and frantically let the murderous intent pass through the space. Whoosh, whoosh, the sound of cutting wind resonated eerily. The Lord’s attacks were impossible for Kang San to even grasp with his eyes, and a second after the murderous intent passed, the space was brutally torn apart.

Tap, tap.

He was pushed back.

A situation where he couldn’t avoid it even if he tried.

Even if he grasped the attack direction with the murderous intent, his D-rank stats couldn’t handle the speed.

“Dummy.”

Hook.

Crack━!

The clone was ripped apart instead of Kang San.

His heart raced madly.

As his eyes met the Lord’s, Kang San tore a scroll without hesitation.

Rip.

“Great Shield.”

Kwaang━!

A huge barrier appeared.

A 4th Circle barrier, a high-priced magic item with a single scroll costing over 10 million won.

Even that was torn to shreds after a few strikes from the Lord.

He felt suffocated.

Even though he had already boosted his physical abilities by tearing a Haste scroll, the A-rank Werewolf Lord exuded a presence that Kang San couldn’t handle. The countless crises he had experienced so far in his life. Kang San had overcome them each time by surpassing his limits, but they were nothing compared to this.

It was only natural.

Knowing his limitations, he always sought out places he could manage.

The variables that occurred in such places were no different from having a ‘safety net’ like Azmoon’s trials.

And now it was different.

The safety net was gone.

The existence of a being like the Werewolf Lord, whom Kang San could never defeat even if he died and came back to life, meant that he could truly die at any moment in this trial.

Kwaang━!

“Ouch!”

He blocked with his shield.

But a scream still escaped his lips.

He stumbled, unable to react even as the murderous intent targeted his head.

To be precise, even if he could react, he couldn’t bring himself to block the Lord’s attack that would pierce him in less than a second.

In that split second.

“Powerful Strike.”

Kwaang━!

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

Once again, Kim Myeong-min appeared.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A moment ago.

In the chaotic situation, Kim Myeong-min accepted reality.

Even though he knew Kang San wouldn’t be able to withstand it, he knew what to do in that moment of choice.

Kang San had already stepped forward.

It was too late to save him.

Then, he had no choice but to pull out Ju Seok-hun, get him treated, and pray that Kang San would somehow hold on until then.

He moved quickly.

He entrusted the groaning Ju Seok-hun to the Priest.

“Treat him quickly and fall back!”

“Yes!”

He turned his gaze sharply.

About 20 seconds?

That’s how much time had passed.

He thought Kang San would be dead already, but surprisingly, Kang San was still holding on, rolling on the ground.

‘What are you?’

He couldn’t understand.

Just a D-rank.

What confidence did he have to step forward, and how was he holding on?

He couldn’t comprehend it at all.

Hesitation was only for a moment.

In this situation where even thinking was a luxury, Kim Myeong-min immediately kicked off the ground.

The option of abandoning someone was something he hadn’t even considered since ‘that incident’ where he lost his colleagues.

“Powerful Strike.”

Kwaang━!

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

He pushed the Lord back.

It was truly a close call.

Relieved to see Kang San safe, Kim Myeong-min shouted.

“Fall back now! I’ll buy you some time!”

There was no time to hear a response.

The Lord was fine.

The moment their eyes met, they clashed fiercely without hesitation.

Kwaang━!

Kakakakakang!

They exchanged blows frantically.

When he unleashed Wild Dance, aiming for the Lord’s vital points, the shallow attacks couldn’t even pierce the Lord’s outer skin, and he felt a strong repulsive force. Instead, his body was getting more wounded from the Lord’s counterattacks. His arm was cut, his leg was cut, and as he became increasingly covered in blood, Kim Myeong-min felt dizzy.

He knew it himself.

To survive.

He should have abandoned Kang San.

From the moment he returned without hesitation, he knew his survival was unlikely.

But he couldn’t do that.

If he had lived with that mindset, if his survival had been his top priority, he wouldn’t have been able to live as a Ranger.

‘Even if I die, I have to increase the team’s chances of survival.’

Kraaaak!

The Lord lunged.

He gritted his teeth.

There was no other way.

The moment the Lord’s claws tore his chest, Kim Myeong-min’s Flash pierced the Lord’s vital point.

A mutual destruction tactic.

Thud━!

The sword was embedded.

It missed the heart.

Even risking his life, that was all he could do, and with the excruciating pain, he thought he was dead.

But then.

『You have been designated as the Shared Pain recipient.』

『From now on, all damage you receive will be transferred to ‘Kang San’.』

An incomprehensible message.

At the same time.

“Kraaaak!”

Right behind him, he saw Kang San collapsing, vomiting blood.