The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 145

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 145

In the past, when Han Yu-sung had climbed the Tower of Blood Demon, he had believed something.
That the Spirit of Blood Ghost’s bloodline flowing through him had summoned the Tower of Blood Demon.
But upon closer reflection, it made no sense whatsoever.

‘The Spirit of Blood Ghost and the Blood Demon are from different eras.’

The Spirit of Blood Ghost had not even been born during the time the Blood Demon was active.
And if he asked whether the Spirit of Blood Ghost belonged to the Blood Cult, the answer was no.
He wielded martial techniques using blood energy, but those were techniques he had developed himself.
In other words, apart from the matter of ‘blood,’ the two had no connection whatsoever.
The Tower of Blood Demon had appeared for a different reason.

‘It seems the Mad Swordsman is entangled with many things in various ways.’

Obtaining the Nameless Heavenly Blade and encountering the Blood Demon in the Tower of Blood Demon—both appeared to be consequences of the Mad Swordsman’s influence.
And to put it differently.

‘Does that mean the Blood Demon is also connected?’

Han Yu-sung gazed at the Blood Demon, who was watching him intently.
Even if he asked, no meaningful answer would come back.
Besides.

[It appears the permitted time has ended.]

The Blood Demon’s form was growing increasingly translucent.
At the same time, the space where Han Yu-sung stood began to crumble as well.

[Human. The battle you displayed was satisfactory. Separate from the Crimson Star Grand Duke, you shall receive a reward for conquering the Blood Dragon Throne.]
“Before that, there is one last thing I wish to ask.”
[If it is something I can answer.]

Han Yu-sung had harbored a doubt for some time.
A question he had carried since his past life whenever he encountered beings called the Wanderer.

“Did you choose to become a Wanderer of your own will?”
[….]

【The Wanderer】.
Transcendents like the Lords of the Stars, yet those who do not belong among the Lords themselves.
Those known as Wanderers are beings who refuse to become Lords and act independently, freed from the system of the Lords of the Stars.
Did you choose that path of your own desire?
If not.

[It is both something I desired and something I did not.]
“You offer an ambiguous answer once again.”
[You understand why I can offer no other answer. Think carefully upon it. This was the best response I could give.]

With those words, the Blood Demon’s form vanished completely.
Between the scattering crimson energy, a faint voice echoed.

[You wasted time on trivial discourse.]
[Human. No—one who bears the qualifications of a God-Slayer….]

And the Blood Demon’s laughter as well.

[I await the day we meet again.]

Soon, all the scenery dissolved into darkness.
Han Yu-sung closed his eyes.
When I opened them again, the familiar surroundings of the Safe House greeted me.
And messages continued to flow in succession.

[You have conquered the Blood Dragon Throne in the Difficult Realm.]
[As a reward, the ‘Rusty Sword’ has regained its original form.]
[You have gained knowledge to wield the skill 【Thousand Blood Swords】 more perfectly.]
[You have acquired the skill 【Blood Steel Armor (S)】.]
[As a reward for being a God-Slayer, the skill 【Blood Burst】 advances one rank!]
[Additionally, God-Slayer increases by +5.]

The rewards returned were satisfying, just as the Blood Demon had said.
‘Absorption of the Transcendent’ was an SSS-rank skill, but its effects fell short relative to its grade.
So I had thought the rewards were lacking.

“I appreciate how generously you’ve rewarded me. I’m quite satisfied.”

The Tower of Blood Demon was the same way last time.
The Blood Demon possessed secrets and spoke in riddles as a transcendent being, but I appreciated how he delivered rewards with absolute certainty.

[Blood Fortress Armor (S)].
· Classification: Active.
· Condenses blood essence to manifest a blood fortress that protects the body.
· Originally a higher-tier skill, but you have yet to meet the necessary conditions to wield it perfectly.

[Blood Burst (S)]
· Classification: Active.
· Gathers scattered blood in the vicinity and detonates it. The greater the volume of blood, the more powerful and expansive the explosion becomes.

[Thousand Blood Sword Technique (SS)]
· Classification: Active.
· A technique wielded by the Blood Demon consumed by madness.
· A single slash unleashes hundreds of blood-forged sword strikes.
· Originally a higher-tier skill, but you have yet to meet the necessary conditions to wield it perfectly.

I was satisfied with the skill rewards as well.
What startled me was that despite Thousand Blood Sword Technique reaching SS-rank, the description suggested it still possessed room for further growth.
Blood Fortress Armor was the same.

‘Well, since I don’t know the conditions, there’s no need to worry too much about it.’

As I continue to entangle myself with the Blood Demon, I’ll eventually grow stronger.
And there was one more thing.

[Blood Demon Sword (Mythic)]
· Slot: Weapon (Sword)
· Attack Power: 500.
· Attack Power +80%, Defense -30%, Attack Speed +20%.
· Blood-series Skill Damage +80%, Defense Penetration +20%.
· The blood essence radiating from the blade enhances blood-series skills. Additionally, it absorbs blood from the surroundings to amplify the next blood-series skill you unleash.
· The more you wield this blade, the more you become enchanted by it….
· You can absorb vast quantities of blood to strengthen the sword.

The ‘Rusted Sword’ had transformed into the Blood Demon Sword.
Originally, I had needed to infuse it with blood for the rust to peel away and reveal the Blood Demon Sword’s true form.
But now it maintained the Blood Demon Sword’s appearance on its own.
And it even possessed the function to absorb blood and grow stronger.

“Blood, blood… everything’s blood. Not that I dislike it, but still.”

Somehow, I’d accumulated quite a lot of blood-related things.
In my past life, there was nothing like this except for the Crimson Wind Fist Technique.
I swung the Blood Demon Sword lightly before storing it in my subspace.
Then.

“Hm? Something feels off…”

A sudden sense of wrongness washed over me.
It was strangely quiet.
How should I put it… the voice that had always been clamoring loudly in my head had suddenly vanished.

[WAAAAAAAH!]
“Huh?”

At that moment, a ball of fire suddenly flew toward me.
It was Kakasha.
The creature quickly scrambled onto my head and grabbed my hair, shaking it violently.

[You, you forgot me! You wretched Covenant Bearer!]
“Ah, right. You were here. That explains the silence.”
[Screech! That Wanderer bastard! He blocked me from following! I got knocked back out here and have been waiting this whole time!]

That was why Kakasha, who should have been loud, had been silent.
Either the Blood Demon had done something, or the space where the Blood Demon and I were couldn’t be entered by other Lords, or some mechanism was in place.
So it seemed I’d been alone here the entire time I was talking.

[Screech! Screech! What did you discuss with the Blood Demon! Tell me at once!]
“Are you trying to pull all my hair out? Hm?”
[I feel like burning it all away!]

An illusion of fire spurting from Kakasha’s mouth flickered before my eyes.
I exhaled and brushed him off.
Swallowing down the rising irritation, I shared the conversation I’d had with the Blood Demon.

[That Blood Demon bastard—I don’t like how he speaks. Why can’t he just say things plainly? All that unnecessary roundabout nonsense.]
“We’re on the same page. I’ve been thinking the same thing.”
[Well, I understand well enough. As you’ve likely guessed, he seems to be forcibly prevented from speaking, but this is rather peculiar.]

Kakasha tilted his head.
Regardless, she is a Lord. One bearing an epithet at that.
She must possess a different perspective than I do.

[Are not the Wanderers those who cast aside the seat of Lordship and departed? Is it even possible to place restrictions on the words of such beings?]
“What if they were a Lord?”
[Hmmmm… I cannot say for certain. Perhaps if they were a Lord who had committed a sin. But generally speaking, even a Lord could not be bound in such a manner.]
“Hmm….”

This time, both Kakasha and I tilted our heads simultaneously.
A restriction that is impossible even for a Lord has been placed upon the Blood Demon, who is a Wanderer.

“If that were possible, who do you think could do it?”
[An administrator? A god? No, it would be impossible. If there were someone higher still, it would have to be ‘the being who created the Trial of God,’ but even that seems impossible.]
“You sound quite certain it’s impossible. Why?”
[Because I have never witnessed that being take action.]

I had conversed with Kakasha before on this matter.
There exists some being who created the Lords and the Trial of God.
Yet even Kakasha, who has lived for countless eons, knows nothing of that existence.
The other Lords are little different in this regard.

“In any case, it seems only a being of that caliber could impose such restrictions.”
[I cannot state it as absolute fact, but that is what I understand to be true.]

I sank back into my chair.
Both the Celestial Being and the Wanderer harbor secrets.
The inscriptions I had found before on the Nameless Heavenly Robe and the Void-Devouring Sword—the phrases written on both troubled me.

‘There were inscriptions related to names, after all.’

The garments of one whose name was never permitted.
The martial technique whose very name has now been erased.
Both are connected to names.
Han Yu-sung tilted his head back toward the sky, cradling the nape of his neck with his hand.

“For now, I’ll have to be satisfied with what I’ve uncovered.”
[I shall ponder it as well. A personal curiosity has taken root.]

If secrets exist, they will eventually come to light.
It is wise to focus on what can be done in the present moment.
And what I must do now is simpler than I expected.

“First, let me accumulate demonic energy.”

I would test the ‘Absorption of Stars’ technique I had just acquired.
Absorption of Stars could only be used when defeating a Lord or an Incarnate.
The conditions were far more restrictive than I had anticipated.
How could I test this skill as rapidly as possible?

“There is… a way.”

Something came to mind at that very moment.
The Woman Who Cuts the Moon.
A Lord who had suffered a pathetic downfall in my previous life after all her sworn followers were stripped from her.
If events unfolded as they had before, this time would likely be no different.
I had already laid the groundwork with her—that should she face an insurmountable situation, I would offer assistance in exchange for appropriate compensation.

‘It’s about time she takes the bait.’

If the Woman Who Cuts the Moon were to engage in a Lord’s War, if she were to request my aid in that conflict.
There would be ample opportunity to exploit the situation.

‘For now, it’s best to wait for that.’

If she never takes the bait, I would simply have to find another method.
I decided to wait calmly for the right moment.

* * *

Lords’ War.
A war between Lords fought over the Difficult Realm, sworn servants, sacred relics, and the like.
Baek Min-jun, the sworn servant of the Woman Who Cuts the Moon, stared at the system window.

[Lord, the One Who Swallows Earthquakes has challenged you to a Lords’ War.]
[This Lords’ War cannot be refused without proper compensation. Furthermore, should you lose this Lords’ War, the Sanctuary will be opened!]

A sigh escaped Baek Min-jun’s lips as he read the system window.
The other sworn servants beside him felt the same.

“Ugh, the Sanctuary…”
“We’ve already been cornered this far? There’s nothing left to stake now…”
“They’ve taken the Difficult Realm and blessings both, so what’s left…”

The Sanctuary War is what takes place when a Lord, defeated repeatedly, has nothing left to wager.
Literally, a war fought with the Sanctuary itself as the stake.
A Lord who loses here suffers catastrophic damage.
No, it’s worse than mere damage. The probability of being absorbed by the opposing Lord becomes frighteningly high.
This was the fate the Woman Who Cuts the Moon would soon face.

“Ugh… there’s nothing left to stake in the Lords’ War, is there?”
“Not entirely. We can stake the sworn servants too, can’t we?”
“Ah, that’s right. We’re still here…”

The sworn servants’ expressions grew complicated.
Wouldn’t it be better to transfer to another Lord than to remain under this one?
But if that Lord is no different…
All manner of anxiety naturally welled up within them.
Regardless, this war could not be refused.

“For now, well… let’s do what we can.”
“We should. After all, she’s still our Lord for now…”

Baek Min-jun exhaled deeply and rallied the sworn servants.
The one saving grace was that death was not a possibility in a Lords’ War.
That provided minimal comfort. Even if they lost, only the Lord would be ruined; they could simply move under another Lord’s command.

‘Though the real problem is I’m already sick of Lords.’

Baek Min-jun swallowed his true thoughts and prepared for the Lords’ Tournament.
If not for the message that appeared at that moment, that would have been the case.

[“Find Han Yu-sung. And tell him this.”]
[“As I promised before, I will pay a fair price.”]

A message sent by the Woman Who Cuts the Moon.
Baek Min-jun’s eyes widened upon seeing it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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