Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Countdown （2）

Kang San had recently experienced two crises.

The first was Director Yeon Gyu-seong’s test.

Yeon Gyu-seong had made thorough preparations to stop his son, and Kang San faced a difficult situation when the Hobgoblin created the variable of ‘Rank Transcendence.’ That’s when Burning Time activated. Because there was a definite reward and a safety net for the trial, Kang San risked his life and gained the maximum benefit.

The second was the tenth trial.

It was a moment of despair.

The Werewolf Lord revealed an overwhelming presence, and all Kang San could do was buy time, prepared to die. Simply considering the level of danger, the latter was a much more serious situation. Even though it wouldn’t have been strange if he had died at any moment, a phenomenon like Burning Time did not occur then.

What on earth…

What was the difference between the two?

Was Burning Time simply a one-time event?

Kang San didn’t think so.

It was just a hypothesis, but he came up with a plausible basis.

‘Considering that Burning Time activated during Director Yeon Gyu-seong’s test, the basic premise is definitely a crisis situation where life is at risk. And the reason Burning Time didn’t activate during the tenth trial must be the difference in how much the Blood Demon Art was activated.’

Two situations.

There was one different condition.

While undergoing Director Yeon Gyu-seong’s test, Kang San intentionally accumulated Blood Demon Art stats to open a path in an unmanageable situation. Of course, it was the same in the tenth trial. He stimulated his primal instincts then as well to explosively increase his abilities, but the problem was the difference in the number of monsters he dealt with.

When dealing with low-level monsters, and…

When dealing with Werewolves.

The number killed by Kang San’s hand was different.

Kang San killed over twenty monsters during Director Yeon Gyu-seong’s test, and his hypothesis was that the surging primal instincts stimulated something within him, creating ‘Burning Time.’ If that was true, then in the tenth trial, where he was desperately trying to hold on, the conditions for Burning Time to activate would have been somewhat lacking.

Therefore…

He visited the Stat Training Center to test that.

The employee asked.

“…Huh. You’re D-rank, but you’ve reserved the C-rank Melee course training ground, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Kang San’s current rank was D-rank.

Reserving a C-rank course was originally impossible.

However, Kang San had prepared a document through Kim Myeong-min for this purpose.

“This is a certificate from the Ranger team proving my skills. It states that I can sufficiently undergo C-rank training, so please check it and process it.”

“Ah.”

The employee blinked.

The content of the document was true.

After showing a surprised look, he asked again.

“The difficulty is Hard, and for how long should I set the duration?”

This too…

Was just a hypothesis.

Kang San, who needed time, prayed that this hypothesis would be correct.

“Please set it for six months.”

Half a year.

Kang San invested that half in this Stat Training Center.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

There was a pattern to the trials.

When Kang San attempted something, it drastically increased the difficulty.

When he visited the Stat Training Center before, it had distorted time while increasing the difficulty of the training.

Just like now.

『The eleventh hardship and trial have been assigned.』

『The karma of the wicked has forcibly increased the difficulty of the training ground. The time in the training ground will be distorted, and from now on, time here will flow slower than in the outside world. If you survive for 180 days outside, 1800 days inside, you can resolve your karma, even if only a little.』

『Reward: One 3-star （★★★） skill, +30 to a stat of your choice.』

It was a tremendous reward.

Kang San only possessed one 3-star skill, Trial’s Shield, and in addition to that, it offered to increase a stat by 30. But the point that relieved Kang San more than that was the distortion of time. 180 days outside became 1800 days here. Six months increased to about five years.

It was a long time.

While most people would go crazy with such a long period, Kang San felt a sense of relief.

It was an S-rank Outbreak, after all. If he lost everything with just one failure, he could endure even more preparation than this.

But then…

『As the wicked one intends a trial, the trial is adjusted. The 1800 days are reduced to half, 900 days, and the monsters share experiences to eliminate the wicked one. Also, the distinction between the training ground and the resting area disappears. Monsters can appear anytime and anywhere, and you cannot exert your full physical abilities due to increased gravity.』

It was a different development than expected.

Securing time using the training center.

It was a cheat code that could be intentionally utilized.

As if not allowing such a benefit, the message from God suddenly tightened its grip on Kang San’s lifeline.

“Ugh.”

His body became heavy.

Gravity pressed down on him.

That wasn’t all.

Rumble.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

The boundaries around him disappeared.

Darkness spread in all directions.

And beyond that…

Growl.

Something appeared, flashing red eyes.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Flash.

Flash, flash.

The light of the electric lamp illuminated the surroundings.

From beyond that space, which had been dark and then brightened, a monster of a familiar form appeared.

Growl.

It was a Werewolf.

A C-rank monster.

Dripping with thick, flowing saliva, the monster slowly moved towards Kang San.

Tight.

Kang San gripped his shield tightly.

‘The situation is not good.’

Increased gravity.

It was difficult even to breathe.

He had experience defeating a Werewolf in the tenth trial, but in his current state, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to demonstrate his full capabilities. Moreover, there was a bothersome part in the message. It was that the monsters would share their experiences to eliminate the villain. He didn’t yet know exactly what that meant.

His thoughts were brief.

Before he could contemplate or react, the Werewolf was already upon him.

Kyaak━!

Dadadadat.

“Hup.”

Paang━!

He blocked with his shield.

Kang San was pushed back, but he quickly regained his footing, putting strength into his back leg.

‘Right side.’

Hook.

Pat━!

Sharp claws grazed past his face.

Having already faced Werewolves numerous times, he had grasped the attack patterns favored by this bipedal monster. The Werewolf would swing its sharp claws repeatedly. As it closed the distance in this way, it suddenly tried to bite Kang San’s shoulder.

That, too.

Was expected.

Whew.

He let the attack flow past.

The killing intent he perceived with his extrasensory perception passed by his shoulder, and Kang San, not missing that moment, aimed for the opponent’s jaw.

Flash━

Kreeek!

The attack missed.

In Kang San’s mind, he had clearly pierced the jaw and finished off the Werewolf in one go, but the increased gravity did not allow him to move his body as he had imagined. Even without that, the difference in their stats was twofold. Kang San’s attack couldn’t land properly. The Werewolf, slightly scratched and bleeding, became even more enraged and pressed Kang San.

Tang━!

Kang Kang Kang Kang!

“Kuhup.”

His breath caught.

Not only was the opponent formidable, but he literally couldn’t breathe properly.

It was a penalty that held him back in many ways.

There had been increased gravity when he visited the Stat Training Center before, but the pressure now was even stronger than then. And the penalty seemed to apply only to ‘Kang San’. The gravity did not affect the Werewolf or anything else around him; it only manifested its power with the intention of reducing Kang San’s physical abilities.

The difference between D-rank and C-rank in the first place.

Due to various penalties, the gap widened further, but Kang San’s gaze remained unwavering, fixed on the Werewolf.

One step.

Two steps.

He retreated.

Allowing a certain degree of attack,

‘Now.’

Flash.

He extended his sword.

The Werewolf reacted.

But.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Second Style: Pursuit Kill.”

Whirr.

Puck━!

The sword drew a bizarre trajectory.

The sword, which he thought had clearly inflicted damage, snaked around and pierced the Werewolf’s nape.

Kyaaaaaak!

It spewed blood.

From then on, the situation became easier.

As the Werewolf couldn’t move properly due to the wound, Kang San relentlessly targeted the injured area and steadily pushed the opponent back. Rank wasn’t absolute. One crack. In the end, the Werewolf couldn’t withstand it and its heart was pierced by Kang San’s sword.

Thud.

Krrrgh.

He defeated it.

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

『Attack power is temporarily increased by 3%.』

Thump.

The Werewolf collapsed on the spot.

He couldn’t relax yet.

Kang San nervously wiped the blood off his sword and looked at the space darkened by shadows.

“……If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have set it to melee.”

Melee.

A system for training one against many.

As if reflecting that intention.

Click.

Growl.

From beyond the darkness, several pairs of red eyes exuded killing intent.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

He always thought so, but Guardian’s Will was a contradictory skill.

Generally, a one-versus-many situation meant a disadvantage, but that’s when Guardian’s Will truly showed its effect.

『Guardian’s Will has been activated.』

『As the number of enemies you are facing is 6, your defense and health regeneration increase by 6% each.』

Six.

It was a disadvantageous situation.

Kang San took a defensive stance and first dispersed the enemies’ attacks.

“Dummy.”

He summoned a clone.

He ordered the dummy to only defend, and as intended, three Werewolves clung to it.

That was his chance.

Kang San had to deal with the remaining three before the dummy fell.

“Berserker.”

HP consumption is 50%.

He heard a voice saying that his attack power and agility had increased.

Kang San had to take the risk of starting with reduced HP, but he immediately recovered some HP using Healing Aura. It was a linked skill. His body, which had been sluggish due to gravity, broke through the oppressive weight, and he quickly weaved through the space of the approaching Werewolves.

Kyaak━!

Killing intent intertwined.

Front, left, and right.

The Werewolves each attempted attacks.

He accurately navigated that complexly intertwined space and didn’t miss the opening that appeared right in front of him.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style: Blade Kill .”

Flash.

Thud!

Blood splattered from the chest.

As one Werewolf screamed horribly and retreated, Kang San didn’t even glance at it and attacked another Werewolf. Killing it in one blow was also an option. However, since the Blood Demon Sword Technique had a bleeding effect, he incapacitated one monster with the debuff and attacked another.

Kyaak! A Werewolf bared its sharp teeth.

In the midst of the chaotic situation, Kang San willingly offered his own body if he saw an opportunity.

‘Iron Man.’

He reinforced his forearm.

Increased defense and health regeneration.

Trusting in that, he offered his forearm, and immediately plunged his sword into the head of the biting Werewolf.

Thud!

Groan.

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

『Attack power temporarily increases by 6%.』

The sword, drinking blood.

His attack power gradually increased.

Kang San didn’t stop there.

No, he couldn’t stop.

The reason he visited the Stat Training Center.

And the reason he intentionally chose the Melee course.

He had to defeat as many enemies as possible before the flow of the Blood Demon Art was interrupted.

Even just dealing with three, Kang San’s body was covered in blood, and he had to deal with the three Werewolves that had finished off the dummy as well. He killed, and killed again. At some point, he stopped thinking deeply. He dodged when he saw an attack, and stabbed his sword when he saw an opening. He repeatedly heard messages about the Blood Demon Art’s attack power increasing, but Kang San was not allowed the luxury of catching his breath.

The distinction between the training ground and the resting area disappeared.

The words that monsters could appear anytime and anywhere.

It was the truth.

As soon as Kang San defeated all six, he felt a hot breath from beyond the darkness, as if it had been waiting.

Growl.

Growl.

It didn’t seem to end.

At some point, he stopped counting.

He just killed when he encountered them.

He heard a voice saying that his primal instincts had deepened due to the repeated slaughter, and as his attack power increased, he felt that the Werewolves were easier to deal with than at first. It was ironic. The more he killed… The more opponents there were… Kang San’s physical abilities reached D-rank, and beyond.

And when he killed exactly 20…

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

『Attack power temporarily increases by 60%.』

『Burning Time is applied.』

The message he had been waiting for finally arrived.