Krrrrk!

Coarse, beastly panting sounds escaped from Kang Jin-Ho’s throat. Now completely taken over by the demonic qi, Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at the dead Dark Moon Squad member with his dyed crimson eyes before slowly looking away.

Flinch!

The shinobis unfortunate enough to lock eyes with Kang Jin-Ho flinched nastily.

“...I don’t understand this,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

His voice remained as coarse and rough as metal plates scraping against each other. That voice, seemingly leaking out from the deepest depths of the netherworld, sent a creepy chill down everyone's spine.

“This is the best you can do,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered curiously as he took a step forward.

His foot landed in one of the pools of blood, causing the crimson liquid to splash briefly in the air.

“So… What made you think you could kill me?”

Kang Jin-Ho was genuinely having trouble understanding this situation.

Before coming here tonight, he had heard countless times that the Japanese martial society boasted far higher levels of strength. However, Kang Jin-Ho couldn't see any evidence to back that claim right now.

He couldn’t accept the fact that these people tried to invade South Korea with such meager skills.

Kang Jin-Ho took another step forward.

“There are many ways to die.”

Every step he took heightened the already tense mood even more. The demonic qi gushing out of his body continued to billow madly into the night sky.

“That's the case, yet so many bastards are still hell-bent on dying by my hands for some strange reason.”

Kang Jin-Ho's steps could only be described as leisurely. As languid as a man on a Sunday stroll. Each movement seemed to overflow with leeway. However, his walk heaped more and more crushing pressure on his opponents.

“Just like you idiots,” said Kang Jin-Ho while leisurely extending his hand.

“H-huh?!”

That was when one of the shinobis tensely observing this scene from a corner suddenly floated up in the air… before getting sucked right into Kang Jin-Ho’s grip!

“U-uwaaahk?! Aaaahk!”

In the blink of an eye, terror completely dyed his face. No one did anything, but his body still levitated all on its own. In that kind of situation, who would be able to remain calm?

A scream loud and desperate enough to rupture the vocal cords erupted from the shinobi's throat. Unfortunately, his screaming didn't last for long.

Grab!

Kang Jin-Ho grabbed the face of the Dark Moon Squad member, and then…

Crunch! Cruuunch!

...His fingers began digging into his victim’s face!

“K-kkuhup! Kku-huuuph!”

The shinobi instinctively reacted and grabbed Kang Jin-Ho’s arm. He struggled desperately, but everything was in vain. The flames of demonic qi burning on Kang Jin-Ho’s arm crushed the shinobi’s hands instead.

“Kuk… Kkkuuuuk…!”

Kang Jin-Ho silently studied the Dark Moon Squad member gasping and struggling within his grasp. What a futile struggle this was.

CRUNCH!

The shinobi's body went limp after his neck snapped in half. After killing someone as if he were swatting an annoying bug, Kang Jin-Ho let go of the body.

Plop…

The shinobi’s corpse fell into a pool of blood below to produce an unpleasant splashing noise. Kang Jin-Ho continued to stare at the dead body before raising his head to glance at the other shinobis.

“This is getting boring.” Kang Jin-Ho's icy voice rang in their hearing. With eyes filled with killing intent, he studied each and every shinobi standing there. “Are you planning to do nothing, then?”

“…?”

What was Kang Jin-Ho trying to say here?

“Well, I guess that's not a bad option. I don't have a reason to persuade you to not kill yourselves one by one. However, if I were you, I would have wanted to try at least something before the enemy kills me.”

Kang Jin-Ho casually pointed at the ocean with his chin.

“If that's not what you want, there is another way. I stick to my promises, you see? Let me repeat myself, then.”

Kang Jin-Ho leaned back a little and addressed the Japanese in a haughty tone.

"Jump off this ship. If you do… I will not chase after you.”

Kang Jin-Ho finished saying his piece, but no one dared to move. Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes and studied the Japanese before looking up at the distant skies above.

The night skies were filled with sparkling stars. The sky over here seemed completely different from the one visible in the city.

This sky, it… It was as if Kang Jin-Ho was back in Zhongyuan.

‘Nothing has changed.’

Whether it was in the past or present, humans hadn’t changed all that much. And that applied to Kang Jin-Ho’s methods, as well.

Kang Jin-Ho never spared his enemies but didn't bother to chase after those who fled from him. That was because he didn't care about the escapees, and his subordinates were around precisely to handle matters like that. Of course, all this would come after he killed every single enemy pouncing on him first!

Back then, people like these Japanese warriors also existed. People who didn’t try to escape even though they knew their death was inevitable. People who didn’t back down even in front of the absolute proposition called death!

Kang Jin-Ho held a favorable view of such people. On the other hand, he also found them utterly foolish.

What were they even fighting for, anyway?

Humans were selfish, so everything they did ultimately was for themselves. As for Kang Jin-Ho, he never fought for the sake of others. If there was someone he wanted to protect, that was because that person was an indispensable existence to him.

Kang Jin-Ho's everything was set up in a certain way to protect his world. Bringing the demon cult over to Korea and improving the Martial Assembly's strength were meant to solidify the defenses protecting Kang Jin-Ho's world so that his people wouldn't get harassed by external forces.

A similar thing happened in Zhongyuan back then. He risked everything to become stronger for the sake of ensuring his survival. And improving the demon cult served the same purpose. Everything was for Kang Jin-Ho's benefit.

It wasn't as if Kang Jin-Ho cared deeply about the demon cult and decided to improve its strength. His case would be closer to growing attached to the cult as he tried to fulfill his original goal.

But these Japanese weren’t like that. For what purpose were they trying to stop Kang Jin-Ho?

It wasn't as if failing to kill Kang Jin-Ho now would immediately cause some kind of catastrophe back in Japan. Even if something like that did happen, it would still be more beneficial to survive tonight's affair and plan for the future instead of throwing their lives away.

They should know this, yet these people still didn't back off. Even though the fear in their eyes was oh-so-clear to see!

Even though these people knew they couldn't deal with Kang Jin-Ho on their own, they still stood their ground.

This was nothing more than a dog’s death.

Was he trying to pity these Japanese invaders? Of course not. No, Kang Jin-Ho was simply amused by them.

Individuals were responsible for their own actions and choices. That was how life operated, after all. And that rule still applied regardless of what the reasons for making those choices were.

These Japanese warriors had been given a clear chance. But they kicked that chance away to the curb. In that case, why should Kang Jin-Ho reserve his sympathy for these fools?

This was the part Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t comprehend. Humans were supposed to be individuals and be different from each other.

In that case, something worthless to Kang Jin-Ho, like not backing down even in the enemy’s presence and acquiring a sliver of pride in the process, could be worth its weight in gold to these people.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

If that was the case, then shouldn’t Kang Jin-Ho help them protect that pride? Since he was a merciful and benevolent man?

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely unsheathed the Crimson Destiny again. The flames of demonic qi burning on his fingertips instantly enveloped the blade. He then pointed at his enemies with the sword now burning demonic fire.

“Come.”

“…!”

“Since you all willingly chose death, I shall help you stick to your resolutions. So, come at me.”

Kazeichi clenched his teeth. He knew they didn’t have any other choices left.

As Kang Jin-Ho had alluded to just now, their last chance to escape from this place was gone. That meant there was only one option left for the Japanese.

“Go! Kill him!”

The Dark Moon Squad members soared into the night sky as azure aura gushed out from their bodies.

It was as if they had become meteor showers falling into the ocean bathed in the darkness of the night.

***

“So, this was where you were?”

Lee Seong-Hwi turned his head to look at that familiar voice calling out to him. He cocked his brow slightly. “Kim Seok-Il?”

“Heh. You seem surprised. Didn’t expect to see me?” Kim Seok-Il casually smirked.

Lee Seong-Hwi stared at that unreadable smirk.

This man was still a frightening bastard. Kim Seok-Il in the past certainly did give off a similarly unsettling vibe. However, his current self was…

It was as if he was a large bundle of pure malice. Nothing existed in this man's heart anymore other than his hatred toward Kang Jin-Ho. And that was all the fuel source he needed to keep living on.

‘I’m in no position to talk, now am I?’

A wry smirk formed on Lee Seong-Hwi’s lips.

These two men didn’t want to be in each other’s company. Despite knowing they needed each other, Lee Seong-Hwi and Kim Seok-Il did their absolute best to stay away as much as possible.

That was because they could see themselves from the other person.

Both men had nothing left other than hatred toward Kang Jin-Ho. And that was all they could see when staring at each other. That had to be the worst torture imaginable.

Lee Seong-Hwi subtly bit his lip. Looking at Kim Seok-Il always made it feel like his innards were getting sliced apart by a sharp dagger. Would other people see any appreciable difference between Kim Seok-Il and Lee Seong-Hwi?

“Kim Seok-Il… Why did you seek me out when Kang Jin-Ho must be running rampant upstairs?”

“That’s what I want to ask.”

Lee Seong-Hwi gritted his teeth. “What are you doing here? Aren't you the one who wishes for Kang Jin-Ho's death the most? In that case, why aren't you on the deck?”

“Don't be so cliched, Lee Seong-Hwi. Before all that…” Kim Seok-Il smirked weirdly. “Can you get me a cigarette?”

“I don’t smoke.”

“It's in my breast pocket. Dammit, this body of mine… I can't even smoke as I want without someone helping me out!”

Lee Seong-Hwi’s slightly withdrawn eyes locked on Kim Seok-Il.

“...Don’t look at me like that, Lee Seong-Hwi. You don’t have the qualifications to pity me, anyway.”

“I’m not pitying you.”

“...Oh? Then, what is it?”

Lee Seong-Hwi groaned, then walked up to Kim Seok-Il. He fished out a packet of cigarettes from Kim Seok-Il's break pocket, placed a cigarette between Kim Seok-Il's lips, and then lit it up with a lighter.

Click…!

After lighting it, Lee Seong-Hwi backed off and then resumed his explanation. “I was thinking that you're in a better position than me.”

“Hah? Are you making fun of me?” Kim Seok-Il cocked an eyebrow.

“No, I’m being serious. Nothing remains in your heart other than your hatred toward Kang Jin-Ho. And that means you have no reason to doubt yourself. You get to focus on only one thing, after all.”

“Fuu-woo…” Kim Seok-Il released a lengthy trail of cigarette smoke; then he glared coldly at Lee Seong-Hwi. “Sounds like you're regretting your decision.”

“No, that’s not it.” Lee Seong-Hwi firmly shook his head. However, his firm attitude didn’t last for long. “...No, wait. Maybe I am regretting it.”

“Hmm?”

“Yes… Maybe I have been regretting everything leading up to now. I didn't have a reason to escalate things, after all. I simply detested that bastard's guts. So, I thought about killing him, but that was about it. I obviously didn't think things would get this crazy.”

“Hah! The moment you grabbed onto the back of the moving tiger, you lost your right to choose.”

“I guess so…” Lee Seong-Hwi chuckled wryly. “Well, then… What are you doing here, Kim Seok-Il?”

Lee Seong-Hwi asked that while shaking his head briefly as if he wanted to rid himself of some part of his emotional baggage.

Kim Seok-Il smirked weakly. “Are you asking me that because you don’t know?”

“…”

“From the get-go, it was obvious. Don’t tell me you thought those bastards were strong enough to stop Kang Jin-Ho?”

“…”

“You sound like a man in regret. Even though you are a loser who can’t even pull your own weight.” Kim Seok-Il openly mocked Lee Seong-Hwi.

The thing was, Lee Seong-Hwi was incapable of passionately hating himself even if he could hate others. As wishy-washy as adding more water into the water. Or mixing one booze into another. That was Lee Seong-Hwi and his fragile resolve.

A mindset like that could never destroy Kang Jin-Ho.

A traitor to one’s country? What a laughable notion that was in Kim Seok-Il’s mind.

To fight a monster, or a devil in this case, one had to become a monster himself. What could Lee Seong-Hwi even do when he foolishly let himself be tormented by the useless sense of belonging and obligations to his country and his people?

“Those idiots can never stop Kang Jin-Ho. You knew this, too,” Kim Seok-Il tutted loudly.

Lee Seong-Hwi didn’t say anything and simply listened.

“This… What's happening here is the spark, Lee Seong-Hwi. The spark that will burn everything down! It doesn't matter whether Kang Jin-Ho dies here or not. Actually, the odds of him dying tonight are close to zero, but I don't care.”

Kim Seok-Il briefly stopped talking for a second to smirk deeply.

“Over a thousand Japanese idiots are riding on this ship. So… If they all die here, what do you think will happen back in Japan? To avoid getting blamed for their deaths, the ones back in Japan will stop at nothing to kill Kang Jin-Ho. And no, I'm not talking about some half-baked attempts like this one. The Japanese will resort to everything at their disposal to kill Kang Jin-Ho!”

Kim Seok-Il used his chin to point to the floor.

“And all that will become reality… By puncturing a small hole right here.”

Goosebumps broke out all over Lee Seong-Hwi’s skin.