The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 166

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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 166

The “method” Han Yu-sung employed was remarkably straightforward.
Lead the 【Army of Strife】 across the Battlefield while drawing the enemies’ attention.
Simultaneously, achieve the objective with speed.
In the end, it was simply a matter of annihilating every visible foe and ravaging the Battlefield.
That was when I discovered the Japanese players targeting the Special Quest.

[What will you do? It seems they’ve noticed you.]
“What else? It’s obvious.”

Plunder!
Nothing drew the attention of the Lords, including the Lord of the Dead, quite like that.
The 【Army of Strife】 surged forth, carving a path.
I closed the distance to the boss monster in an instant along the newly opened way.
And then.

【Thousand Blood Sword】.

Countless sword auras erupted from Han Yu-sung, shattering the boss monster into fragments.
That was all it took.

[Special Quest: Monster Rampage Resolved.]
[Contribution increased by 5,000.]
[Limited Item 【Ogre Soul】 obtained.]
[Ogre Soul: Wearer’s Strength +10%, Ability ‘Brute Force’ Unlocked.]

A pale aura flowed from the boss monster and settled into Han Yu-sung, granting him power.

– Uooooooh!
– Victory! How long has it been since I tasted victory?!
– Give us more battles!

The 【Army of Strife】 roared in triumph, raising their weapons.
Beyond them, in the distance, I could see the Japanese reconnaissance unit.
They hesitated, uncertain of their next move.

[Those Japanese players are hesitant. They look uncertain whether to attack or hold back.]
‘They lack conviction.’

From their perspective, there were far too many concerns weighing on them.
And indeed, that was the case.

“Lord of the Dead, what should we do…? Should we attack Han Yu-sung?”
“No! It’s impossible with our current numbers. The specters are there! We need to call for reinforcements first. We’ll have a chance of victory only after we join forces with the main contingent.”
“But Korea also received the blessing of the Star Lords. Surely those specters…”
“Is this the effect of the Star Lords’ blessing? They don’t look easy to deal with.”

The Japanese Players were thrown into considerable confusion by Han Yu-sung’s appearance.
The greatest problem was that Korea had obtained the blessing of the Star Lords.
Han Yu-sung was already a troublesome player to begin with. If such a player had grown stronger by receiving the Star Lords’ blessing, then what?
Could they handle him with their current forces?
They could not arrive at an answer.

“…Lord of the Dead. Please give us your command.”
“We shall obey your orders.”

And so they looked to the Lord of the Dead for guidance.
The problem was, she too could not arrive at an answer.
For reasons unknown, the other Korean Players were nowhere to be seen. Only Han Yu-sung and the specters he commanded remained.
If they were to eliminate him, now was the opportunity.
But.

‘Would that cunning bastard hand me such an easy opening?’

The Lord of the Dead bit her lip.
Had she not already experienced several failures?
Most importantly, she could not discern what power Han Yu-sung now possessed.
If she attacked recklessly and suffered a devastating loss?

‘If I fail now, there will be no recovery.’

If she lost the Japanese Players here, she could not accumulate contribution points.
The means for the Lord of the Dead to ‘descend’ would vanish.
She had to account for that.

‘I’ll let this situation pass, and once I’m ready to descend, then I’ll engage….’

That would be the way to ‘certainly’ kill Han Yu-sung, would it not?
But to do that, I would have to let that hateful Han Yu-sung go right now.
The Lord of the Dead could not accept that.
This situation was, as if….

[I, retreating out of fear of a mere human…!]

And I, who bore the epithet ‘the Dead’.
That fact carved a deep wound into my pride.

“My Lord, Han Yu-sung is moving. What should we…!”
[“….”]

The Lord of the Dead fell silent, and deliberated further.
Just then, a message arrived from the other Lords who had chosen Japan.
Some asked what to do, others said to strike immediately.
Among them was a message from the Lord of Justice.

[I hear Han Yu-sung has been spotted. Since you’re managing that main force, the judgment is yours. But, personally….]
[It troubles me that he disappeared for a while. Remember the humiliation you suffered during the Hero’s War, Lord of the Dead.]

Achiros had entrusted Japan’s main force to the Lord of the Dead and was moving separately with his sworn followers.
Upon seeing that message, the Lord of the Dead gnashed her teeth.

“My Lord, Han Yu-sung is leaving.”
“Should we attack? What should we…!”

But she could not ignore it.
She deliberated, and soon reached a conclusion.

[“No, we do not attack immediately. You continue accumulating contributions as you are now. Watch a bit longer, and it is not too late to move when we are certain. Instead, I will monitor that bastard using my undead.”]
“Yes, my Lord. We shall do so.”
[“I will grant you my blessing, so move quickly!”]

After calmly observing the situation, I would kill Han Yu-sung with certainty.
The Lords, including the Lord of the Dead, bestowed their blessings upon the Japanese Players.
The Japanese Players moved to accumulate contributions according to the command, and the undead created by the Lord of the Dead tracked Han Yu-sung.

[Yes, it would be wise to first confirm which blessing of the stars I’ve obtained before making my next move.]
[I’m not afraid of that monster. I’m simply aiming for a more certain and perfect victory….]

Mindful of his past failure, the Lord decided to proceed with caution.
He repeated to himself that this caution did not stem from fear of defeat, but from strategy alone.
However.
This very caution was precisely what Han Yu-sung desired.

[They’re withdrawing.]
“The Lord of the Dead won’t retreat like this. He’s probably using the undead to monitor me right now. You know that as well as I do.”
[Tch! A Lord as gloomy and damp as they come. That does sound like him.]

If I use this surveillance well, it could become an excellent opportunity.
A very good chance to cultivate the Last Hero as I see fit.

[List of achievable ‘Feats’.]
1. Enemy Elimination (Players and Monsters alike). (300/300)
2. Seizing and Occupying ‘Unique Facilities’. (3/3)
3. Clearing ‘Special Battlefields’. (2/2)
4. Completing ‘Special Quests’. (5/5)

Thanks to dividing my main force into two groups, I was able to achieve the Feats rapidly.
Soon after, the rewards for completing the Feats were granted.

[You have achieved four Feats.]
[Blessing of the Stars: Last Hero has grown!]
[Effect: All Stats +30%, Attack Power and Defense +20%, Magic Resistance +10%, Armor Penetration +5%.]
[Additional Effect, 【Unbreakable】: Even when death draws near, I do not yield.]

The existing effects had been strengthened, and a new effect had been added.
Han Yu-sung fell into thought.

‘Still, compared to other blessings of the stars, this falls quite short.’

However, looking at the growth rate, it’s better than expected.
Moreover, new Feats have already been added the moment I completed these ones.

[List of ‘Feats’ that can be achieved.]
1. Enemy Elimination (Players and Monsters alike). (300/700)
2. Seize and Occupy ‘Unique Facilities’. (3/6)
3. Resolve ‘Special Battlefields’. (2/4)
4. Complete ‘Special Quests’. (5/10)

I could continue growing steadily.
The fact that these Feats weren’t as difficult to achieve as I’d feared was significant.
Given sufficient time, I could grow strong enough to overwhelm the blessings of other stars.
But there was one obstacle.

‘This alone won’t buy me enough time.’

Han Yu-sung assessed the situation quickly.
What mattered was instilling caution in the Lords.
Korea had obtained a powerful blessing from the stars—though I didn’t know what it was. Now wasn’t the time to fight. I needed to fight only when I had certain means. That kind of caution—the fear that they might lose if they fought now.
If we fight now, we might lose—that kind of vigilance.

“The Lord of the Dead is watching. He’ll attack if he thinks he can win. But I need something more certain.”

If they attacked now, I would fall into dire straits.
If they struck at the divided Korean Players, we would be consumed whole.
If you attack the Korean Players divided into two, you’ll be swallowed whole.

“The moment I saw it being treated, it was something that made me realize the danger…”

Just then, something came to mind.

[I knew it! I felt uneasy from the moment you started thinking!]
“If you knew, why are you screaming?”
[Because you’re saying something insane so casually!]
“That’s why you sound so crazy saying such absurd things so casually!”

Fighting an Incarnation in a human body was something that demanded risking one’s life. He had every reason to react this way when I spoke of it so lightly.
Certainly, it was a dangerous gamble.
But.
But.

“It’s a gamble with much to gain if we win.”
[Grrrraaagh….]

And there was a way to improve the odds.

“Kakasha. Do you remember the reward I obtained from the Hero’s War?”
[You speak of the reward to craft or restore an A-rank sacred artifact? Did you not decide to set it aside for later?]
“Right. I think it’s time to use it.”

A reward I’d obtained long ago but postponed using for a future opportunity.
Now was the moment to put that reward to use.
Upon hearing Han Yu-sung’s words, Kakasha clutched his head in deliberation.

[Grrrrgh…. Uuuugh…! T-this kind of Difficult Realm in such a situation…! What am I to choose! What on earth…!]
“Don’t overthink it. Just find a sacred artifact that can strengthen those specters while granting me power. Anything come to mind?”
[Strengthen the specters while granting you power….]

Kakasha’s expression suddenly brightened.

[Y-yes, there is! The 【Legion Commander of Dread Flame】! That would surely work!]
“See? I knew you’d have something. Prepare it. I’m using it this time.”
[Mmm, I had completely forgotten it since it was lost so long ago. Trust in me, master. This sacred artifact will surely prove invaluable!]

Kakasha hurriedly set about restoring the sacred artifact.
Yet one question still lingered in my mind.

[But where do you intend to find a descent vessel to face?]
“I have one.”

I lifted my head.

“It will appear soon enough anyway.”

If my memories from my past life held true, that is what would transpire.
A Lord who had fortunately cleared the ‘Special Quest’ would soon descend into this place.
That would become my opportunity.

* * *

In the North, within a cunningly concealed Underground Temple.
The British Players who had resolved the Quest there received their reward.
A reward so precious that exclamations spilled forth the moment they laid eyes upon it.

[Special Quest: Ancient Temple has been cleared.]
[Contribution has increased by 7,000.]
[Limited Item, 【Seal of Descent】, has been acquired.]
[Seal of Descent: Allows the user to summon a contracted Star Lord for a set duration. The currency cost for summoning is drastically reduced.]

Edmond trembled as he beheld the item in his grasp.
It was an item that naturally warranted such a reaction.
An item that could summon a Lord and drastically reduce the currency expended in doing so!
His companions marveled at it, and the Lord contracted with him did the same.
Yet there was one problem.

“S-should we really be using this…?”
“Y-yeah. Wouldn’t it be better to give it to the commander? You’ve contracted with a Lord who bears a True Name. It would be better if they summoned instead…”
“…”

At his companions’ words, Edmond fell silent.
Britain had divided into multiple squads to tackle Quests and Battlefields. That was why Edmond’s party had come here.
They had discovered it by chance and barely managed to clear it after considerable effort.
Yet they were being told to give it to a third party who had no involvement whatsoever?

“What will you do? Perhaps we should give it after all…”
[“Do not let this opportunity slip away, my sworn one.”]

A voice reached Edmond’s ears as he sank deeper into contemplation.
It was the voice of the Lord he had contracted with—the Walker of Harsh Winter.
A voice both profoundly cold and captivating.

[“Do you not wish to become a hero? Leave it to me. If you surrender your body to me, I shall make you a hero with that Seal.”]
“B-but, my Lord. This is…”
[“I am your Lord. Do not disappoint me.”]

For a greater victory, it would be right to hand it over to the commander.
But Edmond’s Lord did not want that.
It was for personal gain. In this Trial, the higher the final contribution score, the greater the benefits bestowed upon the nation.
And the same applied to the Lord.
The higher the final contribution score achieved by the Lord’s Sworn One, the more intervention the Lord could exert, and correspondingly, the greater the rewards to be obtained.

[Hand such an opportunity to another Lord? Never!]

Regardless of lacking a Divine Name, a Lord was still a Lord.
If I descended myself, I could accumulate tremendous contribution during the allotted time.
That would return as pure profit.
Thus, the Walker of Harsh Winter pressured the Sworn One.

“Yes, yes, my Lord. As you command… I shall do so.”
[“Wise. Now, let us create a stage.”]

The Sworn One, bound to obey the Lord, bowed his head.
The Walker of Harsh Winter burst into laughter.

[“A stage where you can become a hero.”]

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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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