The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 171

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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 171

The Lord of the Dead fell into contemplation.
She had resolved to kill Han Yu-sung in this trial, no matter what.
The problem was that Han Yu-sung had gained strength through obtaining an exceptional Blessing of Stars, and despite lacking a stigma, he had defeated a descended Lord.

‘Just how powerful is this blessing?’

The Lord of the Dead recalled the Blessing of Stars that Japan had obtained.

[Blessing of Stars: Frozen Wolf.]
[A blessing imbued with the power of a divine beast that froze the world.]
[Effects: All stats +50%, Attack and Defense +40%, Physical Resistance +25%, Cold Resistance +80%, Skill Damage +30%, Cold-type Skill Damage +60%, Skill Cooldown –20%.]
[Additional Effect, 【Glacial Armor】: An armor forged from the bitter cold protects allies. Defense and Magic Resistance increase significantly.]
[Additional Effect, 【Howl of Bitter Cold】: A fierce blizzard sweeps across the area, summoning frozen wolves to support allies. Additionally, allies within the blizzard are strengthened while enemies are weakened.]

Needless to say, it was a powerful Blessing of Stars.
Especially suited to the Lord of the Dead. It was a blessing that could significantly enhance the durability of mid and lower-tier undead, their greatest weakness.
But.

‘With this blessing alone, could a mere player defeat a descended form?’

Impossible.
It was an excellent blessing, but not powerful enough for that.
Then what blessing could make that possible?
Every circumstance was making the Lord of the Dead increasingly anxious.

‘This is dangerous as it stands.’

To eliminate him with certainty, she would need to prepare for her own descent.
The problem was that this process consumed considerable time.
She understood that ‘resurrection’ in this trial was despair masquerading as hope. A trap to lure the players.
But if it were Korea, where Han Yu-sung resided.
They might have already achieved enough final contribution to resurrect.

[Everything has become tangled as time drags on.]

The Lord of the Dead clicked his tongue.
It was a shame that I couldn’t kill him, but it was still acceptable.
If I could just confirm the power this human named Han Yu-sung possessed in this opportunity.
Then I could return to Earth and kill him using that knowledge.
‘The Lords’ War’ would make that possible.
Just as the Lord of the Dead was about to change his plan.

[A new 【Plunder】 function has been added.]
[If you defeat the player who has achieved the highest ‘Final Contribution’ from the opposing nation, you can plunder that contribution. However, if the player dies and the rankings change afterward, it will not activate again.]

As the Battlefield collapsed, a new mechanic was added.
The Lord’s eyes widened upon seeing that mechanic.

[First, identify Korea’s location and move.]
“My Lord, do you mean…?”
[We attack Korea immediately. Han Yu-sung—I’ll handle that bastard myself. You prepare to become my descent vessel.]
“Yes, yes! My Lord.”

The situation had changed once again.
Han Yu-sung must be the one who achieved the highest ‘Final Contribution’ in Korea.
Kill him, plunder his Final Contribution, and use the newly added Plunder mechanic in Quests or Battlefields to steal the Final Contribution of the next-ranked Korean as well.
That would prevent him from being resurrected.

[I cannot miss this opportunity.]

The Lord of the Dead smiled coldly.
Korea’s location could be identified quickly. They too had sensed something ominous from the message and were moving about frantically.
She sneered at their panic and advanced her forces.
She had no intention of being careless. Korea was a nation that had survived until now, after all.
Especially since she didn’t know what Han Yu-sung might do, she had to remain vigilant.

“My Lord! The Korean forces have barricaded themselves in the Unique Facility!”
“It appears to be a Fortress, but its defenses are not particularly sturdy.”
[So they’re holed up in a Fortress trying to hold the line? That works too.]

The Japanese Camp soon reached the Fortress occupied by Korea.
It was not as sturdy as it had appeared from a distance. The gates were destroyed, and the City Walls were crumbling, looking as though they could collapse at any moment.

‘Why choose such a facility?’
‘Did I select it hastily because there was nowhere else to go? Or….’

I couldn’t tell.
But there had to be some hidden agenda.
The Japanese Players moved cautiously, their eyes fixed on the fortress.
Someone was climbing the dilapidated City Walls where no one stood guard.

“You found it quickly.”

Morale surged among the Covenant of the Dead as they witnessed the sight.
Han Yu-sung, standing atop the City Walls, smiled silently at the scene.

“Lord of the Dead.”
[Han Yu-sung….]

Crunch!

The Lord of the Dead gnashed his teeth upon seeing that face.

* * *

Han Yu-sung had swiftly located the stage to face the Lord.
A dilapidated fortress situated a distance from the Center of Battlefield.
It was a Unique Facility, though not one with particularly remarkable effects.

[Unique Facility: Fortress of Healing.]
[1. Recovery Effect +20%.]
[2. Upon concluding combat at this facility, wounds and mana regenerate.]

It would be of little aid in combat against the Lord of the Dead.
I had seized this facility to prepare for what came after.
In any case.

“…Oh, they’re coming. The enemies are approaching.”
“I don’t see any undead though… Wait, it doesn’t matter.”
“Right. Once combat begins, they’ll summon themselves anyway.”

The Korean Players were tense in anticipation of the coming battle.
Until now, they had been confident they could revive even if they died.
That certainty had vanished abruptly, so tension was inevitable.

[Ugh, how nerve-wracking this is… You must emerge victorious, I tell you.]
‘I’m going insane. Why are you getting nervous too?’
[W-well, what can I do about it! If you die in this battle, I’m finished! Those cursed bastards will… Aahhh!]

Surprisingly, Kakasha was equally tense.
It was only natural. If Han Yu-sung died here, Kakasha would lose his only support and become prey for the Lords.
Han Yu-sung sighed inwardly.

“Still don’t trust me? Just prepare the blessing. We’re almost there.”
[Ah, I understand… ]

Soon after, the Japanese Camp reached the location of the Fortress.
Standing atop the City Walls, Han Yu-sung surveyed his surroundings.
I could see the earth rotting away from the morale emanating from the Covenant of the Dead.
And between them, I felt a formidable presence.

“Lord of the Dead. Have you finally found the courage to fight? I remember you cowering in fear and fleeing last time.”
[“I shall tear that mouth of yours to shreds this very instant!”]

The words trembled with fury and humiliation.
It was something the Lord of the Dead still regretted.
If only I had known that Han Yu-sung was contracted with the Lord of War.
I would not have retreated when opening the Difficult Realm—I would have killed him then.
If only that had happened, things would never have become so complicated!

“The reward you gave me back then proved quite useful. I’m still using it now. I’m planning to hunt your undead with it—what do you think?”
[“You shameless wretch…!”]

When had a Lord ever suffered such mockery from a mere human?
The Lord of the Dead barely suppressed the rising fury, glaring savagely at Han Yu-sung.

[“Very well. Han Yu-sung. Speak freely. This will be the last time you get to wag that tongue of yours as you please.”]

Crack!

The sound of space tearing apart echoed through the air.
Through that rift, a miasma that dragged all things toward death slowly began to spread.
Simultaneously, the sky darkened to an inky black, and the earth itself began to rot.

[“Because you will die here.”]

The spreading miasma soon converged into a single point.
Toward the Covenant of the Dead. Toward the one chosen as the vessel for descent.

“Ugh, gah… gaaaaaahhh!”

The living body withered and twisted, ultimately succumbing to decay.
The Covenant member wept tears of blood from the excruciating agony.
Yet the suffering was mercifully brief. Death came soon after.
The limp corpse hung suspended in the void.

Crack! Crackle!

The body began to contort.
Countless bones burst through the blackened, rotting flesh.
The bones that creaked upward writhed chaotically before intertwining with one another.
They formed the body of something no longer human.

[“Your corpse will serve me for all eternity.”]

That form was composed entirely of black bone.
Decayed flesh dripped from various points, while between the bones seeped an aura saturated with overwhelming death.
Upon its head rested a crown forged from death itself.
A being draped in a cloak woven from countless spectral forms opened its eyes.

[The Lord of the Dead descends upon the body of Tanaka Yusuke.]
[“Embrace death.”]

The moment the Lord of the Dead descended upon the Trial.
Fear flickered in the eyes of the Korean players who witnessed the horrific spectacle.
She laughed mockingly at them as she took a step forward.

[“Han Yu-sung. You dared show such insolence toward a Lord.”]

As if responding to those footsteps, countless gravestones erupted from all directions.
In the Japanese Camp, and even within the Fortress of Healing itself.
Around the gravestones that had surged upward, numerous corpses staggered to their feet.
Simultaneously, countless specters materialized above the fortress.
The moment the Korean Players gasped in horror and gripped their weapons.

[“A price must be paid for this, after all.”]

The Lord’s hand slowly traced through empty air.
The specters that had appeared above the fortress plummeted, while the undead bodies that had manifested inside grotesquely swelled before—

BOOOOOM!

A tremendous explosion shook the earth itself.
As countless undead detonated, putrid blood and noxious miasma spread everywhere, transforming the fortress into a hellscape overflowing with exploding corpses.
Everything caught in that explosion decayed.
The City Walls, the fortress itself, even the players.
All of it.

[“Hehehehe… Hahahahahaha!”]

The Lord of the Dead, who had been observing the fortress, burst into mad laughter.
Yes, this was the power of a descended Lord.
A power incomparably greater than some nameless Lord!
A power that left no room for resistance!
Yet the Lord remained vigilant.

[“Advance alongside my undead.”]
“Yes, yes! My Lord! Everyone, advance following the undead!”
“The Lord’s undead shall lead the way! Follow in their wake!”

The opponent was Han Yu-sung.
That man would surely have prepared something.
But the fortress was now in ruins, and his allies must have suffered grievous losses.
Therefore, we must advance now. With the Korean position collapsing, we must encircle them and eliminate all survivors.
And hunt down Han Yu-sung, who stands alone, without mercy.

– Grrrraaaaahhhhh….
– Uuuuoooohhhhh…!
– For the one who commands death….

The army of death began its advance.
Led by supreme undead such as Death Lich and Hellknight, the forces finally reached the Fortress of Healing, now shrouded in morale.
The Lord of the Dead once more surged with morale and issued his command.

[“Kill them all.”]

A death sentence had been pronounced.
As if they had been waiting for that command alone, the army of death surged forward with a terrible roar, and the Japanese Players followed in their wake.
Their bodies were clad in 【Glacial Armor】 bestowed by the Blessing of Stars.
Simultaneously, the Lord’s morale became a blessing and settled upon them.

Whoooosh!

Or rather, it was about to settle.
Before the terror flames erupted from within the morale-shrouded Fortress of Healing.
And before those terror flames consumed the morale and engulfed Japan.
At the same time.

Craaaaaaaaack!
[“Kugh…!”]

Before 【Radiant Thunder】 was unleashed upon the Lord of the Dead, that was how it stood.
But only for a moment—the Lord scoffed and surged with morale once more.
He knew that creature could conjure an extraordinary lightning strike.
Naturally, he had prepared a way to stop it.

[“Yes, I thought you wouldn’t die from that. I even anticipated you’d counterattack like this. But human, what can you possibly do?”]
[“All your allies are dead, and you stand alone.”]

The Lord of the Dead blocked the Radiant Thunder and mocked Han Yu-sung.
All of it was futile thrashing. Somehow he had managed to preserve his own body, but that was all.
Most of his comrades had surely perished in the explosion.

– Krraaaaaaah!
“Charge! Kill the survivors! Find Han Yu-sung and kill him!”
“The Lord stands with us…!”

The Japanese Camp surged forward alongside the undead.
Then, fierce flames erupted once more.
As the inferno spread, it swept across the entire area, carving out a vast domain.
The 【Battlefield of Karmic Fire】 wreathed in searing heat.
The roiling flames pushed back the morale of those around it.

“What?”
“Wait, hold on. That….”

Then the Fortress came into view.
Corpse fragments scattered in all directions, the Fortress completely devastated.
And the Korean Players standing without a single scratch.
In that moment of unexpected revelation, the Japanese Players froze in shock.

Kwaaaaaaah!

“Ugh, uaaaaaaah!”
“Kugh, cough…!”

The Korean Players’ counterattack had begun.
It came at an unexpected moment. The enemy could not respond in time, and they were driven back with anguished screams.
The Lord of the Dead watched the scene unfold in disbelief.
How was this possible?

“Weren’t all our allies supposed to be dead?”

Han Yu-sung appeared among the players.
Surrounded by a golden .

“To my eyes, no one appears dead at all. Am I mistaken?”
[“Han Yu-sung…!”]

The Lord’s eyes blazed with fury.

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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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