The Crimson King's breathing was getting shallower and heavier.

All the pain he couldn't feel until now angrily rammed into his senses. Even then, he knew he couldn't afford to pass out here.

He must confirm what was happening to the evil entity with his own two eyes no matter what!

The evil entity was rolling around on the ground, half submerged in water. Whenever he thrashed and writhed about, a wall of seawater exploded fiercely into the air again and again as if bombs were going off everywhere!

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

For some reason, watching the evil entity cry out in despair was making the Crimson King's thoughts... complicated.

That creature calling himself Kang Jin-Ho was an evil monster. No two ways about it. Indeed, 'monster' seemed the most appropriate moniker considering his actions and personality, as well as his propensity for evil acts that no human could resist.

But now, such an evil creature was despairing so pitifully?

“No! It's too early! Now's not the time yet! You stupid bastard! Why does it have to be now?!”

The evil monster thrashed and spasmed violently while screaming even louder and louder.

“I'm not! I'm not trying to take over everything! I told you, I'm only going to fix this and that's all! I told you I'm gonna kill everything standing in your way, you stupid f*ck! And you only have to enjoy the fruits of my labor! So why! Why does it have to be now! You know you can't do it! You can't protect anything! You're too f*cking weak! You... You f*cking son of a b...!”

That scream sounded shockingly heart-wrenching. The Crimson King's body was so badly injured that he could barely respond to external stimuli, yet he was still trembling from the emotions contained in the evil monster's screaming.

“I...! I am Kang Jin-Ho, not you! I'm the real Kang Jin-Ho! You can't label me as you please and try to lock me away! You! You don't have the right! You f*cking bastard!”

Kang Jin-Ho's screaming got even louder with time. Eventually, it began sounding like a desperate screech of a wild beast. The heaven and the ocean below rumbled and roared in sync with his screaming.

Kang Jin-Ho's wild thrashing gradually morphed into pitiful spasming. A man who sneered at the Crimson King's attack containing all of his everything was rolling around in the water in a truly wretched state.

'…! Wait, can't I...?'

The Crimson King's eyes grew sharper and more bloodshot than before. Maybe... Maybe the heavens were granting him one last chance!

In other words... He must kill Kang Jin-Ho. Now!

If he failed now, no one could tell when he'd get another chance to finish Kang Jin-Ho off. It could even be never! The Crimson King was well aware of this.

If the heavens were on everyone's side and the 'previous' Kang Jin-Ho managed to gain full control of that body, the Crimson King could potentially get another shot later. However, what if that evil monster seized control? Then, even the combined might of the Crimson King's faction would not be enough to kill Kang Jin-Ho.

That was why...

'I must do it, now!'

That was what his head was screaming at him. However, knowing what to do didn't always mean one could actually do it.

The Crimson King couldn't take even a single step forward from his position.

Was it because of the hole in his gut? Or his gruesomely shredded chest showing his ribs? No.

Of course, the Crimson King's physical state was absolutely horrendous. Normal, powerless people would've died ten times over from such grievous injuries. Only someone on the level of the Crimson King would still keep breathing in this state.

No, his terrible wounds weren't preventing him from taking another step. The culprit for that was the burning glare sometimes visible in Kang Jin-Ho's eyes even as he screamed in despair and torment.

The Crimson King had already unleashed an attack containing his absolutely everything. But that attack was disintegrated so dismissively by Kang Jin-Ho.

A man could risk their neck for a noble goal. However, a chance to do that didn't come often.

'Wait. Am I... Am I afraid of losing my life?'

The Crimson King gritted his teeth. He repeatedly yelled in his head that such a thing was impossible. Unfortunately, doing so changed nothing for him. His body still refused to budge.

He instinctively knew that even though Kang Jin-Ho was in a state of anguish, killing the Crimson King would still be a cakewalk for him! That painful lesson had been branded into the Crimson King's soul!

Nobly sacrificing oneself for the sake of the world? That was definitely the case of easier said than done!

Attempting to sacrifice his life for the greater good was more than enough to earn the Crimson King much respect and renown. And no one would fault him for not wanting to go through with that trauma again.

While the Crimson King was busy wrestling with himself in his head, Kang Jin-Ho continued to spasm and shiver. However, the intensity of his spasms was gradually winding down. Eventually, only a sporadic shuddering remained as his figure floated up to the surface of the sea.

His hollow eyes aimlessly stared at the heavens above.

“You f*cking son of a…” Kang Jin-Ho smirked weakly at the starless night sky. “Fine...! You can have it. I'll accept the fact that this body is yours. For now. However... However! It won't be for long. Sooner or later, you'll face a reality you can't handle. When you are forced to hand over this body to me... You will also experience the Hell I went through. Heh. I'm looking forward to that. For that moment... I'll be waiting inside you.”

With that, Kang Jin-Ho's figure slowly sunk under the surface. White foam bubbled up only to get broken apart by the tumbling seawater. In this somewhat out-of-place and slightly fantastical scene, Kang Jin-Ho silently sank lower and lower. But then...!

Splaaaaash!

Kang Jin-Ho shoved aside the seawater covering him and rose back to his feet.

“Kuh...!”

Kang Jin-Ho staggered and stumbled before collapsing again. Then, he barely managed to push himself off the ground. He looked so pained and labored that anyone with a heart would've thought about lending some kind of assistance.

However, the only person in the spot near enough Kang Jin-Ho to offer a helping hand didn't do anything. No, he only stood there and glared at Kang Jin-Ho, his expression seemingly containing all the rage found in the world.

“Why...!” The Crimson King's distorted face twisted some more as his angry words left his mouth. “Why did you come back?”

Anger and shame threatened to bleach his hair completely. That was how much the Crimson King was unwilling to accept this development.

That was... Kang Jin-Ho. The 'previous' Kang Jin-Ho!

As for the evil entity responsible for utterly destroying the Crimson King, he went into hiding deep inside Kang Jin-Ho's subconsciousness. And that man forcing himself to stand was unmistakably Kang Jin-Ho's old self!

This development was making it unbearable for the Crimson King.

“Why! Why did you come back! Why, Kang Jin-Ho!”

Behold, his wretched state!

Kang Jin-Ho was struggling to even stand upright. The Crimson King didn't even have to do anything anymore. Anyone with even a modicum of strength could kill Kang Jin-Ho now!

Kang Jin-Ho resembled a deflated balloon, and even a trashy, small-fry nobody of a martial artist could easily cut his head off.

Maybe Kang Jin-Ho was still hiding something? Like an ace up his sleeve? No!

Such a thing didn't exist! The Crimson King knew this better than anyone. He was staring at Kang Jin-Ho from a close vantage point, after all!

Since that was the case, why? Why did Kang Jin-Ho fight to get his body back? If he had entrusted his body to the evil entity for a little bit longer, the Crimson King's head would've been added to his trophy collection. Regaining control of his body afterward would've been just fine, no?

So... why? Why now?

Wasn't this like... the Crimson King's enemy took pity on him and spared his life? An enemy who looked like a tattered rag and was extremely weak?

This thought caused rage to burn madly in the Crimson King's heart. What could possibly be more humiliating than this turn of events!

“Answer me! Noooow!”

The Crimson King roared loudly enough to rupture eardrums. His visceral outpouring of emotions caused blood to splutter from his grievous wounds like broken fountains, but no pain registered in his enraged mind.

“You think... You think I can't kill you?! You think I'll gratefully let you go for sparing me?!”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly raised his head to reveal his sickly pale complexion. It was as if he didn't have a drop of blood left in his veins. That pale face hinted at the likely possibility of him vomiting blood and expiring at any given moment. And the Crimson King wouldn't even have to raise a finger here.

However, what the Crimson King saw while looking into Kang Jin-Ho's eyes was something else.

'Even in this situation, he...!'

Kang Jin-Ho should know this, too. That the Crimson King would definitely kill him.

If his brain was still functioning, he should realize this was the only outcome available. As long as he hadn't gone completely mad, he should know there was no other way out! Would the Crimson King let Kang Jin-Ho go after learning about the existence of Heavenly Crimson Demon King hiding inside the latter's subconsciousness?

Of course not! Even if the heavens fell all around him, he'd never do that.

For the sake of the world... and for himself, the Crimson King simply must kill Kang Jin-Ho tonight.

Knowing all this... Why did Kang Jin-Ho crawl out again and volunteer for death?

The Crimson King's mind faltered and crumbled when his fate was altered by Kang Jin-Ho's illogical decision.

He was the one and only Crimson King. A king! And a king must never be pitied by anyone. But his life was spared by Kang Jin-Ho. And the Crimson King had no say in it whatsoever.

For the first time in his life, the Crimson King didn't have control over his fate. He had no choice but to get dragged around by another person's whims. And this fact brought him down to his knees in despair.

“You... This goddamn...!”

The Crimson King realized something just then. From this moment on... He'd never regain his former self.

Even if he killed Kang Jin-Ho now with a single powerful punch, he'd never get his old self back. Indeed, he'd never be the past Crimson King who ruled the world with his fists and arrogantly laughed at the heavens above!

What about Kang Jin-Ho, though?

The Crimson King's eyes grew even more bloodshot at the mocking sneer etched on Kang Jin-Ho's lips. Why... Why was he smirking like that!

How could that abominable bastard make that kind of face in this situation!

Kang Jin-Ho slowly chewed out some words next. “I'm sure you have no idea, but...”

The Crimson King obviously had no idea since he hadn't experienced death before. However, Kang Jin-Ho died twice already.

So, he knew how scary dying was. It meant you'd get completely cut off from everything, after all. Experiencing it multiple times didn't make death any less terrifying. Even then...

“...But, sometimes? There are things more terrifying than death itself.”

The Crimson King grimaced. “Things more terrifying than death?”

“Yes. Such as... Not being able to live as me,” said Kang Jin-Ho while standing upright. His shaking legs regained some of their stability while his shoulders straightened up more imposingly than before.

Of course, he was bluffing here. Kang Jin-Ho didn't have enough energy to even lift a finger. All this was for a show. But...

Why? Why was Kang Jin-Ho's bluffing so blindingly radiant and heroic? The Crimson King began trembling uncontrollably from this indescribable emotion coursing through his veins.

“I am Kang Jin-Ho.”

“...!”

“And that is enough.”

His words were incomprehensible. His actions were not much better. The Crimson King failed to understand anything about his enemy.

Kang Jin-Ho was an inscrutable mystery. No other description seemed to suit him.

“...Kang Jin-Ho!” The Crimson King growled quietly.

He decided to stop thinking. If he couldn't understand something, he should stop trying.

Baaaang!

The Crimson King's fist slammed into Kang Jin-Ho's chest.

Their positions had reversed. So did their powers, too. The current Kang Jin-Ho didn't have any strength left to handle the Crimson King. Actually, he wouldn't be able to chase away a stray mutt in his current state. Even though the Crimson King was also just as grievously injured as him, it'd still be impossible to resist.

Kang Jin-Ho knew that. Obviously, the Crimson King did, too.

Kang Jin-Ho's figure crashed into the seabed right below his position before bouncing up and landing nearby. The Crimson King was careful not to send Kang Jin-Ho too far away from him. That was his way of restricting more variables from rearing their ugly heads.

He needed to kill Kang Jin-Ho no matter what, after all!

“This night has been too long, Kang Jin-Ho. I promise to remember you. The wounds you've inflicted on my body and my soul will... never disappear. I shall show my respect and hatred toward you by ending your life here.” The Crimson King grimly muttered.

He no longer cared whether Kang Jin-Ho heard him or not. He began focusing his remaining scraps of energy on his right hand. Soon, light began emitting from his fist. Although...

Unlike in the past, this light was a little fainter. Even so, this power should still be enough to end Kang Jin-Ho's life for good.

The Crimson King finished focusing his strength in his fist, then growled angrily.

“Die!”