Descent of the Demon Master

‘What the hell is that?’

Leveaux's expression stiffened almost immediately. He could clearly see the pitch-black demon qi resembling flames enveloping Kang Jin-Ho's figure.

‘Is that aura?’

That mysterious black energy quite closely resembled aura. However, was it possible to envelop one’s entire body like that?

‘...Well, it isn’t impossible.’

Even Leveaux could cover his whole body in aura if he wanted to. That would be the best way to defend against attacks coming from every direction.

However, what Kang Jin-Ho did here was unleash all the necessary aura in the blink of an eye. Leveaux couldn't possibly emit enough aura to cover himself so quickly and thoroughly like this, then maintain this state as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Not only that, but the amount of aura gushing out was explosive, too…!

‘Is this the difference between Eastern and Western martial arts?’

Of course Leveaux knew that was not the case. Even if the framework or the foundation of martial arts differed between the East and West, a martial artist's energy reserve shouldn't be impacted by such things. Besides, the shocking amount of energy Kang Jin-Ho was emitting couldn't be chalked down to something as inanely simple as that!

That man's strength was so overwhelming that Leveaux wouldn't even dare to estimate it. No wonder he got spooked so much by it.

‘How can such a thing even be possible?’

Leveaux was confident about his knowledge of Kang Jin-Ho. As a matter of fact, he could very well be the most knowledgeable person in everything related to Kang Jin-Ho within the Round Table.

He already made plans to eliminate Kang Jin-Ho and even lost some Chevaliers in the process. In other words, there was simply no way he wouldn't know how strong Kang Jin-Ho actually was. However, this sight… Wasn't it a bit too much!?

Leveaux tightly clenched his fist.

‘Really?! Did I really get scared!?’

Not just his fist, but Leveaux also clenched his teeth next.

The enemy was physically stronger than him. But, so what? Leveaux had never been the strongest warrior in the Round Table, anyway. Several Knights and the Master were easily stronger and more accomplished in martial arts than him.

So, he shouldn't be shocked by how much stronger the enemy was. Even though the answer to the question of “How much stronger” happened to be “In another universe compared to all the enemies he had encountered up to now!”

“...I see now. That man is no joke, then.” Knight Rodriguez muttered, his expression as stiff as it could get. “And here I am, thinking that the Garter Knight Order was being cowardly for giving up and opening up the path. I must say, they might have made a shrewd decision instead. The Garters fighting that man would have meant their total annihilation, after all.”

“That’s all the extenuating circumstances you need, isn’t it?” Knight Leveaux bitterly smirked.

He never thought the Garter Knight Order or Chadwick could stop Kang Jin-Ho's advances. Not because he estimated the enemy's strength to be superior, but more like he evaluated Wiggins' smarts far higher instead.

As a man with intimate knowledge of the Round Table's military strength, Wiggins would never try something that had no hope in hell of success.

So, Leveaux believed Wiggins would've at least mobilized enough firepower to slaughter the HQ's British defenders as well as the representative Knights. Even if the timing and circumstances forced Wiggins to compromise, he would still have gathered enough combat strength for the task at hand.

Since that was the case, the Garter Knight Order would never have won against the invaders.

Despite knowing all this, Leveaux still told Chadwick to stop Kang Jin-Ho and Co. That was because losing the British forces wouldn't have hurt Leveaux much, if at all.

That was what Britain and her warriors meant to Leveaux. He would never treat Chadwick as a trusted ally regardless of how sincerely the latter tried to cooperate.

Somewhat ironically, though, the Garter Knight Order sided with Kang Jin-Ho and managed to preserve their combat force. And now, those bastards were standing behind Wiggins, cowardly waiting for the situation to turn in their favor!

‘A bunch of bastards…!’

Leveaux felt renewed resentment well up in his chest. Before he could say something, though, Knight Rodriguez spoke first to relieve some of Leveaux's frustration.

“Yes, that man is indeed quite remarkable. However, seeing how Knight Wi… No, Wiggins is stepping back, it seems that man wishes to fight all of us by himself. If true, is he even sane?”

“Mm… Yes, I agree with you on that one,” Leveaux grunted deeply. Knight Rodriguez made a valid point. There were over ten Knights present in the hall, after all!

Even though a nation's representative Knight was not selected solely for their martial prowess, people still had to recognize a prospective candidate's strength first. Without attaining that level of strength first, a candidate shouldn't even dream of becoming a Knight.

That was the situation, yet Kang Jin-Ho wanted to fight alone against over ten warriors representing their nations? He'd have to be insane to come up with such an idea!

Knight Rodriguez muttered in a mocking tone. “Apparently, he fought the Crimson King to a standstill. His arrogance must be soaring through the skies because of that little experience.”

“Yes, that seems to be the case,” said Leveaux. He tried to smirk as well, but… For some reason, his lips refused to move.

‘...But, how come?’

On the face of it, this situation shouldn't even worry Leveaux. He had ten-plus powerful Knights with him.

The Crimson King? Even if that famed warrior came here personally, ten Knights of the Round Table should be sufficient enough to tear his flesh right off his old bones. But this was not the Crimson King. No, they were dealing with Kang Jin-Ho!

What a laughable notion that was. Yes, so, so very laughable! But…

‘Why! Why can’t I even smile about it?!’

It wasn’t as simple as Leveaux being unable to laugh. Even his hands had begun trembling now. To top it off, even his back was soaked in cold sweat!

Leveaux wanted to smile, but it felt like calming his clattering jaw alone exhausted almost all of his mental energy!

‘No, calm down!’

This reaction of his should not come as a surprise. Yes, he was supposed to get nervous in this situation!

A pack of ten-plus wolves could hunt a lion down. There was no question about that. However, that didn’t mean the wolves wouldn’t get nervous about the upcoming hunt.

So, Leveaux told himself that getting nervous would have no bearing on the outcome of this battle… That him getting nervous was definitely not an ill omen!

‘Definitely not!’

Knights of the Round Table quickly picked up their swords and gathered, with Leveaux in the center.

Knight Riberio growled like a wounded beast. “It’s like we’re staring at the devil, no?”

“Right, right. I feel like a holy knight about to hunt the demon down.”

“Should we inform the Vatican about this fella, then?”

The Knights were trying to banter among themselves, but their expressions remained gloomy.

They could smell it. Even though the battle hadn't even begun yet, the thick, heavy stench of blood was already wafting in the air. That wasn't all, however. They could also feel this biting coldness intent on freezing their hearts, plus this disgusting stickiness continued to press down on them.

None of the proud Knights wanted to admit this, but… Kang Jin-Ho’s current appearance roused primal fear in the hearts of all who laid eyes on him!

Was it because of his appearance? Or was it the bizarre aura gushing out of Kang Jin-Ho? Whatever it was, Leveaux could feel his heart being squeezed unbearably since Kang Jin-Ho began walking toward him.

“Even if he's a real devil, he alone cannot fight all of us!”

“Yes, that goes without saying!”

While listening to the Knights yap on, Leveaux suddenly realized something was not quite right with this situation.

‘Since when did these Knights become so… talkative?’

Knights had to deal with extreme workloads every day. Which instilled a habit of trying to finish whatever they were doing as quickly as possible. And that included fighting against enemies.

In other words, finishing something as quickly and concisely as possible was the Round Table's way. The Knights would never share casual banter with each other while their enemy stood right before their nose!

‘Why are they doing this?’

Could it be that… Everyone here was scared of Kang Jin-Ho?

Because of one man?

‘…! No! That can’t be true!’

Such a notion didn't make any sense. Yes, these Knights could become tense. And this tension could help them become even more focused. However, them being too scared to even make a move? Utterly unthinkable!

Weren’t these people Knights of the Round Table? Weren’t they basically the pride of Europe itself?! So, how could…

Just before Leveaux’s flabbergasted mind could finish the train of thoughts, the pitch-black demonic qi around Kang Jin-Ho’s jaw area suspiciously quivered and wavered. Then, a coarse noise reminiscent of nails scraping against steel painfully dug into Leveaux’s hearing.

“I shall give you one last chance.”

Everyone’s attention focused on Kang Jin-Ho.

“Anyone who wishes to give up, do it now. Remain there, and I’ll take that as your intention to fight me.”

Give up? Did Kang Jin-Ho really tell them to give up and take a hike?

Leveaux had to chuckle hollowly at this one. Finally, a grin that wasn’t really a grin broke out on his rigid face, even though he couldn’t physically do that until now!

‘You want us to give up?!’

Leveaux’s hollow chuckle soon morphed into a scowl of anger. Didn’t Kang Jin-Ho understand that there was a limit to looking down on people!

He was only one man, yet he dared to order ten-plus people to give up? Just how arrogant must one be to spew such nonsense publicly?!

“You arrogant little…!” Leveaux loudly gritted his teeth.

Once blood rushed to his head, it felt like the terror squeezing his heart dry was easing a little.

Leveaux yanked his sword free from its scabbard, then pointed it at Kang Jin-Ho. Pure white aura began gushing out from the pristine blade.

“You fool! It seems playing a king in a tiny backwater nation has made you forget your place! However! Today, you shall learn the painful lesson of what it means to go against the great and noble Round Table!”

The demonic qi covering Kang Jin-Ho’s jaw area wavered again. It should’ve been difficult to see the expression Kang Jin-Ho was making from the movements of that black-hued energy, but Leveaux still could tell. That man was grinning. Not just any grin, but an openly derisive smirk, no less!

“I will count to three,” said Kang Jin-Ho, the demonic qi around him beginning to burn even fiercer as if to match the heightened atmosphere!

“One…”

Someone swallowing nervously entered Leveaux's hearing. It seemed one of the Knights couldn't suppress their nervousness anymore.

However, why would anyone be that nervous? When they were dealing with only one opponent?

“Two…”

That was when Leveaux suddenly sensed something. He sensed someone… hurriedly leaving the Knights’ ranks!

‘What?! Someone gave up?’

Ten Knights were fighting one opponent, so how could any self-respecting Knight flee in fear?!

‘Just who was it?!’

Just who would dare commit such a shameless, impudent act?! The position of the Knight of the Round Table was one of pride and honor. In that case, how could someone calling themselves a Knight dare throw away their honor like an old shoe with a hole in its sole?!

Unfortunately for Leveaux, he had no time to confirm anything. After all, he couldn’t even turn his head to look. He must focus his entire being on watching Kang Jin-Ho right now!

“Three…!”

‘Here he comes!’

That was when Kang Jin-Ho suddenly slashed down with his sword covered in the flames of demonic qi.

Paaaahng!

The air shrilly exploded as pitch-black sword light made purely out of demonic qi rapidly closed in on Leveaux’s face!

“Uwaaaaaaaht!” Leveaux roared while swinging his own aura-laden sword at the incoming sword light.

He would never look down on Kang Jin-Ho's attack. After all, Leveaux was no fool and knew the opponent this time was clearly far stronger than he was. In that case, the only way to fight back here would be to defend against this attack with everything he had, then aim for an opening!

Leveaux swung his sword with everything he had, and the pristine blade grandly collided with the pitch-black demonic qi. And then…!

KA-BOOOOOOM!

A massive explosion went off, flinging Leveaux’s figure back like a piece of broken toy!

He would have crashed into the wall had he stayed in his trajectory, but Knight Rodriguez standing behind roused his own aura and tried to catch the flying Leveaux with his own body.

Craaaaack!

Knight Rodriguez’s feet got dragged back on the pristine stone floor, creating a pair of deep grooves. He finally stopped moving some distance away, giving him a chance to hurriedly look up at Kang Jin-Ho, his expression one of pure shock.

Plop!

Leveaux fell on his butt on the floor just as crimson blood began gushing out of his mouth like a waterfall.

“Keuh… Kuh-huk!”

It felt like all of his internal organs had ruptured from that strike! Leveaux’s vision rapidly faded, turning the world black.

‘That… That was just one hit! One!’

Just one attack from Kang Jin-Ho was enough to transform Leveaux’s burning rage and desire to fight into soul-shaking terror.

“Cough!”

Leveaux coughed out one more mouthful of blood before forcing his head to look up at Kang Jin-Ho. Pure disbelief completely filled his expression. Just what…

Just what happened here?!

Leveaux’s head could not process this situation at all.

“Fuu…” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly grunted softly. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Clomp… Clomp!

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely walked toward the stunned Knights. The crimson eyes visible within the pitch-black demonic qi eerily and coldly wavered before more demonic qi bloomed and spread out behind Kang Jin-Ho to become demonic wings next.

“After all, this… is merely the beginning.”

Pure terror began filling up the expressions of the Knights next.

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