Major Jimmy Bower stared slack-jawed at Kang Jin-Ho.

Be prepared to die? Did he really say that with a sane mind?

He repeatedly closed and opened his eyes, but doing so did not change this absurd situation. Kang Jin-Ho still stood relaxedly before the soldiers, his eyes locked on the hostile crowd.

He wants to fight them all by himself?

By himself?! That had to be some kind of joke. A joke so absurd that Bower couldn’t think of something clever to retort with!

Even then, his brain still kicked into a higher gear and searched for something appropriate to describe this situation, eventually arriving at an exceedingly logical conclusion.

Yup, that must’ve been a slip of his tongue.

When Bower thought about it, it made some sense. After all, it didn’t matter how fluent Kang Jin-Ho was, English wasn’t his mother tongue. Non-native speakers often misspoke and failed to get their intentions across properly, didn’t they?

Bower turned his head to stare at Wiggins instead. Since the former Knight was fairly fluent in Korean, he should be able to fix any language-based misunderstandings if there were any.

“Mister Wiggins, can you elaborate on what Mister Kang said?”

Wiggins casually responded. “It’s as you’ve heard. He wants your soldiers to attack him simultaneously.”

“...!”

Oh, so it wasn’t a slip of his tongue?

It seemed Bower’s hearing was functioning just fine, then!

Bower cried out in shock. “Did he lose his mind?! We have nearly a thousand combatants right here!”

Wiggins slowly scratched his chin. “Yes... That might be a problem.”

That was when Lee Hyeon-Su nonchalantly chimed in. “But this won’t be his first time fighting a thousand enemies, though.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Wiggins rested his chin on his fist while studying the unfolding situation. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The soldiers, thoroughly provoked now, were glaring murderously at Kang Jin-Ho. Judging from their muscles twitching visibly like that, it seemed they were barely holding back their desire to pounce on Kang Jin-Ho right now.

I wonder, do they even know what happened?

Did they know that the man before their eyes had easily swept aside over a thousand Japanese warriors, who were desperately struggling to save their lives, on a vast stretch of the East Sea?

Well, if they knew, they wouldn’t be making such expressions.

In Wiggins’ view, this scene reminded him of day-old puppies growling cutely at a full-grown mountain tiger strolling closer.

One could only judge their opponent’s strength with what they “knew”. The Demon Flames were all individually strong enough to toy around with these American soldiers. However, even they would run for the hills if Kang Jin-Ho generously extended his invitation to them.

Regrettably, these soldiers could not see the true depth of Kang Jin-Ho’s strength.

It’s like they are artificially bred.

Sometimes, produce grown on farms was superior to what was found in nature. But not in this case. These people were nothing more than a school of fish reared in captivity, waiting for the chef’s blade to end their lives while obediently lying on a cutting board.

They were supposed to be warriors who fought tooth and nail to kill their enemies. However, to think that the American government had nurtured them this way!

How foolish they are!

On one hand, Wiggins could understand the why of it; after all, wasn’t this what the American government always did? They always relied on science to analyze and would pour an ungodly amount of resources into researching that one method capable of producing the highest efficiency possible.

Once found, that method would be zealously adhered to. They would rely on their trained bodies to overcome any difficulties they might face.

Unfortunately, this was not a combat sport. And soon, they would get to learn that painful lesson. That lesson would start the moment they attacked Kang Jin-Ho!

Bower growled again. “Are you serious about doing this?”

Wiggins, his patience wearing a little thin now, glanced at Bower. The American must’ve thought that, since Kang Jin-Ho was too hard-headed to listen, he should engage Wiggins instead to diffuse this situation.

Unfortunately, Wiggins was in no mood to humor Bower whatsoever.

“I’m not sure why you keep insisting on acting like a moron,” said Wiggins.

“A m-moron, sir?”

“Major Bower. Do you still not understand what kind of great opportunity this is?”

“I... I’m sorry?”

Wiggins sighed deeply. “That is my lord you’re talking about. He’s the leader of the Korean Martial Assembly and East Asia’s Demon King. Do you still not get it? Do you honestly think your soldiers will get another chance to engage someone of such status ever again?”

Bower’s eyes powerfully quaked just then. Wiggins tutted and continued with his rebuke.

“That is why you’re still stuck as a major. If your higher-ups learn of what you’ve said, they might do everything in the power to crucify you in the most painful way imaginable. How would they ever trust someone who tried to ruin this heaven-sent opportunity so thoughtlessly?”

Only then did Willie Reese also gasp in shock. He urgently turned to look at Major Bower.

Wiggins was right, wasn’t he?

Even with the most conservative estimation, Kang Jin-Ho was still one of the top ten-ranked martial artists in the entire world. There could be countless hidden experts around the globe, yes, but Kang Jin-Ho should still be stronger than them.

One couldn’t just fight such an expert because they wanted to. If America wanted its soldiers to experience the power of the Three Kings, it’d have to invade China first. Which, for obvious reasons, sounded completely absurd, didn’t it?

If an invasion did happen, it’d not be strange to see a full-blown war break out and every American martial artist get apprehended or slaughtered on the spot!

Among the Three Kings, maybe the Crimson King wouldn’t mind accepting challengers. But those challengers would have to be the righteous cultivators who had dedicated their entire lives to perfecting their martial arts.

What if “martial artists” nurtured like these American soldiers traveled to China to challenge the Crimson King? Before they could even arrive at the Crimson King’s doorstep, his people would capture them first and torture them to extract information before executing them!

But here was Kang Jin-Ho, who was seen as an equal to those Kings, offering to fight all these soldiers, no strings attached! Not even millions of dollars would be enough to buy an opportunity like this. No, make that billions!

Bower’s expression hardened after he finally figured this situation out. He then roared to the soldiers. “You all heard the man! Our important guest has graciously offered to fight you all!”

Despite his booming voice echoing in the area, no one said a word. They all glared like angry serial killers at Kang Jin-Ho.

But the man under all those intense glares simply mouthed a cigarette while looking completely unfazed.

Well, at least they have pride. Unfortunately, they don’t have the... fighting spirit.

Even though it should have been the other way around!

The one element all martial artists must possess was the “fighting spirit”. The tricky part about that, however, was that one’s fighting spirit should not manifest as pride. Getting angry because someone slighted you? You wouldn’t be able to become a true martial artist in that case. No, your rage must come from knowing that you were weak.

However, would these American soldiers understand that? Not likely. Because they were not martial artists, but soldiers.

Hmm. Did soldiers need pride?

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t be sure. He didn’t remember being particularly proud of being a soldier, after all. However, things might be different for American soldiers.

However, what did that matter, anyway?

What did matter right now was these soldiers’ lack of fighting spirit. And that, in turn, left Kang Jin-Ho unimpressed and not all that motivated.

“Fuu-woo...”

Kang Jin-Ho lazily exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke and frowned subtly. “Are we not going to fight or what?”

The soldiers began whispering with one another.

Bower said earlier that this base housed two thousand combatants, but only about half of them had gathered here. However, the combined volume of such a large number of people whispering was still nothing to scoff at.

Eventually, one man cautiously stepped forward and announced himself. “Sergeant First Class, Chris Glancy!”

Kang Jin-Ho studied the soldier with zero enthusiasm. The latter’s broad shoulders and sharp eyes heavily emphasized the fact that, yes, he was a soldier.

Chris Glancy stood tall before Kang Jin-Ho. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to use this chance to learn a thing or two from you, Asia’s Demon King!”

Kang Jin-Ho said nothing and just puffed away at his cigarette. Chris Glancy didn’t hesitate to yank out his dagger from its holster on the thigh, then pointed it at his target.

Yeah, I know I won’t win.

As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even aiming for that.

Training down here for all this time didn’t mean his ears had stopped working. He heard so much about Asia’s Three Kings—now the Four Kings—that the mere mention of their names was enough to nearly make him sick to his stomach!

The pillars that supported this world! The men who could legitimately be called the apex of the martial world! Indeed, Chris Glancy had heard all there was to hear about them!

Which meant he and his comrades were well aware of the Four Kings’ power. Naturally, Chris Glancy knew he didn’t stand a chance.

He slowly licked his lips.

That’s what makes this all worth it!

Fighting the Demon King along with his comrades was pointless, at least that was what he believed. No, he must fight the Demon King alone! This experience would prove to be the invaluable factor that catapulted Chris Glancy ahead of everyone here.

“Then, I’m...”

Just before Chris Glancy could lunge forward, however, Jimmy Bower loudly yelled at him.

“Who gave you permission to act independently?! Sergeant! Fall back in line! Fight him with your squad mates!”

Chris Glancy flinched slightly before turning his attention to Major Bower.

Dammit!

Bower had a point, though. All soldiers in this battalion were trained to fight together in a squad. Especially when facing a powerful enemy, the entire squad was supposed to act together as one to tie the opponent down. That had been their training until now.

Kang Jin-Ho was undoubtedly a powerful enemy. Hence, he should have acted together with his squad. Despite knowing that, however, Chris Glancy found it oddly difficult to suppress the desire to fight the Demon King alone.

Bower saw the hesitation and roared again. “Fall back now! Or...”

That was when Willie Reese raised his hand abruptly to stop Major Bower.

Bower’s brows rose higher. “Colonel? Why?”

“Let him be, Major.”

“But we were trained to...”

“Yes, I understand. But this is an invaluable opportunity. Miss this chance, and our troops will never have another. They will never get to fight the Demon King again on their own.”

Reese deliberately omitted the “When will we get another chance to acquire data this valuable, too?” part from his reasoning just then.

Many cameras installed in this base were filming this encounter even as they spoke. For the sake of data, Reese wanted Kang Jin-Ho to fight individual soldiers, not squads.

“Mm...!”

Bower could only suck in a deep breath, then wordlessly looked away from Reese. While grimacing stiffly, he nodded at Glancy.

“Thank you, sir!”

Glancy roared back energetically, then focused his attention back on Kang Jin-Ho. Although he felt sorry about his squad mates missing out, he simply couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

I’m not even asking to win here. But! If I do this right, I should land a hit, at the very least.

Their standard-issue daggers boasted unimaginably sharp blades. Even a slight touch should be enough to cut human flesh and bone apart. Usually, the soldiers trained with practice daggers with dull edges, but not today. They had deliberately brought combat daggers just in case.

If he managed to nick the Demon King, Chris Glancy would walk away with an incredible achievement, a military merit of highest order, to his name. He’d have an amazing tale to boast about for the rest of his life.

Yeah, I have nothing to lose.

Glancy continuously muttered to himself. At the same time, his mind kept churning and grinding fast. By doing this, he successfully stopped the tension from stiffening his muscles. And, once he felt that he was loose enough...

Sergeant First Class Chris Glancy lunged at Kang Jin-Ho at the speed that even surprised him.

He was moving at least fifty percent faster than his usual self. No, maybe even more!

Was it because his excitement had unleashed a torrent of adrenaline? Or did his latent potential finally wake up? He didn’t know, nor did he have enough time to figure it out.

He simply charged at Kang Jin-Ho while relying on the speed he might never reproduce again for the rest of his life!

He could see everything so vividly. He could see every particle of dust brushing past his face and every hair on Kang Jin-Ho’s skin bristling. Glancy’s fully awakened brain commanded his body to swing the dagger at the speed of light.

It’s... perfect!

No one should be able to dodge this strike. Even the one and only Demon King would not be able to walk away from this hit unscathed...!

Just as his thoughts reached that far, his consciousness instantly blacked out.

BOOM!

Baaaang!

Two explosion noises rocked the area. First came from Kang Jin-Ho’s casually thrown jab connecting with Glancy’s torso, and second came from the impact of the American soldier slamming into the floor.

Despite the floor being made of reinforced concrete, cracks resembling a spider web spread out from the point of impact. Glancy lay in the center, unconscious and unmoving.

“Fuu...”

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely puffed out a small cloud of cigarette smoke. He glanced at the collapsed and unmoving Chris Glancy on the floor, then slowly scanned the faces of frozen-stiff soldiers.

“Next.”

“...”

No one dared to step forward just then.

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at them for a few seconds before straightening himself. “Fine. If you’re not willing, I’ll come to you instead.”

While making an expressionless face, Kang Jin-Ho leisurely approached the columns of soldiers. And the complexions of these poor soldiers grew paler and paler as he got closer and closer.

Only then did they finally realize who they were dealing with!