The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 181

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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 181

– Lord of War, you will lose everything in the Lords’ War. And Han Yu-sung, you will… die by my hand in the Lords’ War.
– This time, without fail.

The Lord of the Dead spat out his curse.
Kakasha let out a derisive snort upon hearing those words.

[How many times does he intend to say that? Last time he swore he would kill us, and the time before that as well, did he not?]
“He did. All of them failed.”

This time would be no different.

“I thought there was a high probability he would retreat, but the man showed more courage than expected. He must have judged that he could win this time.”
[Would it not be so? To speak frankly, even I would have accepted had I been in his position. Objectively speaking, our military strength appears to be…]
“Pathetically inadequate, to be honest.”

In crude terms, it was fair to say Han Yu-sung was a one-man army.
The War Covenant Users still had far to go. Among them, the only forces truly worth calling useful were Baek Min-jun’s party.
And before that, the absolute numbers were simply insufficient.

“If we include the Draken Race, the situation would change considerably.”
[Those creatures are occupied with reconstruction efforts. We could compel them if necessary, but…]
“Never mind. We made that contract with such terms from the beginning.”

Unless we were driven to such desperation that the Draken Race’s aid became absolutely vital.
There was no reason to break the trust between us over something like this.

“So then, which battlefield has the Lord of the Dead chosen?”
[Wait and see. I suspect he will arrive soon…… Ah, there he is.]

A system window materialized before Han Yu-sung and Kakasha.

[Battlefield: Arid Wasteland.]
[A desolate expanse where nothing exists, stretching endlessly in all directions. This realm contains no special mechanisms. In exchange, it allows far more Covenant Users to be deployed compared to other battlefields.]
[Rule 1: Reinforcing personnel through alliances or mercenaries is impossible.]
[Rule 2: The descent of any Lord is forbidden under all circumstances.]
[Level Restriction: None.]
[Maximum Personnel: 700 Covenant Users and 200 soldiers per faction.]

The battlefield for a Lord’s War is not fixed to a single location.
Depending on circumstances and strategy, one can select from various battlefields—the Difficult Realm, or arenas with unique mechanics.
Han Yu-sung had delegated this authority to the Lord of the Dead.
The result was the Arid Wasteland.

[Hmph! A gloomy one indeed. As expected, he chose a battlefield favorable to himself—one where sheer numbers can overwhelm.]
“I guided him toward that choice from the start.”

I wasn’t particularly surprised.
With no mechanisms or structures, there was little room for elaborate strategy.
It was simply a place where two forces collided, and the stronger one prevailed.

“I find it pleasing.”
[I suspected you would feel that way…]

A battlefield where one need only fight without restraint or hesitation.
This was the type of arena I preferred.

“The Nameless One demonstrated his power in the Trial, so he’ll be prepared.”
[Surely so? That gloomy Lord is no fool, after all.]
“Then I’ll have to show something new this time.”

I gestured to Kakasha with a glance.
She smiled, covering her lips, then swept her hand lightly through the air.
In that instant, an egg wreathed in fierce flames materialized in the void.

[Egg of the Sky-Devouring One (Mythic)]
· When the Fire Phoenix meets death, it is reborn within the flames.
· After a certain period, it hatches and automatically follows the item’s owner.
· If flames are provided as sustenance, the hatching time is shortened. The purer and higher the quality of the flames, the more beneficial the effect on the Fire Phoenix.
· The Fire Phoenix can only be summoned in specific battlefields, and it manifests its full power in arenas such as the Lord’s War.
· In unauthorized battlefields, it manifests power in a skill-like form before vanishing.

The Fire Phoenix egg I obtained from the Monster Wave.
I had been nurturing it for a long time by feeding it Kakasha’s flames.
As a result, I could see cracks forming all across the egg’s surface.

[One more feeding and it shall hatch. Since I have fed it only the flames of a Lord—myself—the outcome shall be remarkable…]
“That should prove useful.”

The Fire Phoenix that appeared in the Monster Wave had been a formidable creature.
Had I not ambushed it with Broad Lightning, the battle would have proven considerably troublesome.
If it hatches in an even more enhanced state, it will be invaluable.
Especially if my opponent remains unaware of the Fire Phoenix’s existence.

“Lord of the Dead… truly, you have been a generous Lord from the beginning.”

Had you not bestowed upon me countless gifts from the start?
The only problem was that these gifts were not intentional on your part.
Han Yu-sung turned away with a faint smile.

“Since the Lord’s Tournament is tomorrow, I should prepare.”
[Indeed. I shall summon the Covenant Users myself…]

There were many tasks to complete in preparation for the Lord’s Tournament.
Han Yu-sung departed the Star Battlefield and returned to Earth.

* * *

A single day passed in a blink.
Baek Min-jun stared blankly at the Battlefield that lay before him.

“What in the world is this…?”
“Are we really fighting? Is this… real?”
“Literally, there is nothing here…”

It was not only him.
The other War Covenant Users had also lost their composure.
The situation itself demanded nothing less.

“…Captain. Is this really all of our personnel? Truly?”
“Yes. Were there other War Covenant Users besides us?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”

Baek Min-jun thumped his chest in frustration.
The War Covenant Users were currently positioned in the east of the Arid Wasteland. And to the west, the Covenant of the Dead had gathered.
Seven hundred of them, filling their ranks to capacity.
Meanwhile, our forces numbered eighty-four.
It was pathetically small.

“That’s an eightfold difference, Captain. If we consider that they can summon undead as well, the gap could multiply several times over.”
“With a power disparity like this, it’s….”
“Are you truly certain about this?”

Baek Min-jun’s party voiced their concerns cautiously.
Their words were justified. The War Covenant Users were all in a state of confusion. The personnel difference was absurd, naturally so.
Yet they had not lost their fighting spirit.
The reason was simple.

‘He must have prepared something, which is why he requested a Lords’ War.’
‘And it’s not just anyone—it’s Han Yu-sung, so….’
‘Both the Apostle and the Lord were brimming with confidence.’

It was purely trust in Han Yu-sung.
Had he not already won impossible battles countless times?
And it was Han Yu-sung who had reaped tremendous gains from those victories.
That track record had preserved the Covenant Users’ resolve.
And.

“When have I ever fought a losing battle?”

Han Yu-sung had no intention of betraying that trust.
As he answered with composure, Baek Min-jun exhaled deeply.

“Right, you’re the one who fought a descended Lord and won!”
“And this time we’ve reinforced our equipment and gained new facilities….”
“Very well, I’ll trust you and prepare accordingly.”

The War Covenant Users began preparing for battle.
In truth, there was little to prepare. What more could they accomplish with this force?
All that remained was to inspect their equipment and await the commencement of combat.
Yet Han Yu-sung had preparations of his own.

[The Lord has accumulated sufficient power.]
[Please select a Blessing!]
[The current Lord of War may select one Blessing.]

It was precisely the Blessings he needed to address.
Before making his selection, Han Yu-sung reviewed the Blessings he currently possessed.

· All Covenant User stats +45 (Lv.9).
· Fire attribute damage increase +60% (Lv.9).
· Experience gained by Covenant Users +40% (Lv.11).
· Covenant User combat life regeneration +16% (Lv.8).
· Covenant User attack power +40% (Lv.8).

Among the Trial’s rewards was an item that raised the level of all possessed Blessings by three stages, causing his Blessings to grow substantially.
The experience Blessing, in particular, had reached its maximum level of 10.

‘There was also that reward guaranteeing a special Blessing would appear.’

From a single Trial, I had obtained rewards overflowing in abundance.
After reviewing the list, Han Yu-sung immediately selected his Blessing.

[Loyal Creations]
· A special Blessing possessed by the Lord of War.
· The stats of the Lord’s ‘summoned creatures,’ including soldiers, increase by 20%. Additionally, their attack power, defense, and speed are enhanced by 20%.
· Summoning costs decrease by 20%, and duration extends.
· Whenever a certain number of summoned creatures disappear, all allies receive a minor buff. This effect stacks.

One could say I was fortunate.
Though modest, it was a Blessing that would prove quite useful in a Lords’ battle.
Just as the Lord of the Dead summoned undead, the Lords could summon and command ‘soldiers’ befitting their own power.

[This is what the warriors I can command look like.]

A brilliant flash erupted.

Flames converged before Han Yu-sung.
The gathered flames transformed into the shape of a blazing warrior.
A warrior with a rough-hewn appearance, clad in armor stained with blood and ash.

“Not bad at all. And if it’s a summon….”
[Hmm, I was thinking the same thing. It seems there’s considerable potential for this to apply to The Nameless One and Fire Phoenix as well.]
“A blessing well-suited to our current circumstances.”

Now the preparations were complete.
All that remained was to await the beginning of the Lords’ War.
Han Yu-sung gazed toward the distant encampment of the Lord of the Dead.
He could feel an overwhelming presence watching him from that direction.
There was no question as to who it was.

[The Lords’ War will commence in one minute.]
[Both sides, prepare for the battle about to begin.]

“When the Lords’ War begins, no one moves. Only I and my soldiers will move. I’ll signal you when it’s your time to act.”
“This is seriously insane…. Sigh, yes. Understood.”

Baek Min-jun felt his headache intensifying.
Having served under the Woman Who Cuts the Moon, he had witnessed numerous Lords’ Wars and experienced all manner of situations.
But never anything like this.
Bewildering as it was, he had no choice but to trust and follow.
And then, moments later.

[The Lords’ War commences.]

A Lords’ War unlike anything Baek Min-jun had ever experienced began.

* * *

– Defeat is not an option.

Lucian Reyes recalled the words he had heard from the Lord of the Dead.
He had already suffered several defeats. He could not tolerate further humiliation.
Above all, there was far too much at stake in this Lords’ War….
For this reason, the Lord of the Dead had summoned only his elite for this Lords’ War.
Lucian Reyes was one of them.
Or more precisely.

“Lord Lucian Reyes, our forces are ready.”
“The undead can be summoned at any time.”

Lucian Reyes was the representative of those elite forces.
The reason was simple.

[Apostle of the Dead, Lucian Reyes.]

Lucian Reyes was one of the Apostles of the Dead.
Unlike other Lords, the Lord of the Dead commanded not one Apostle, but several.
In exchange, the power possessed by each individual Apostle was correspondingly weaker.

‘As the Lord said, defeat is not an option. I must….’

Achieve results.
The Apostles of the Dead competed for the Lord’s favor.
Lucian Reyes was among those who received considerable favor. Had it been otherwise, he would never have been entrusted with commanding a Lords’ War of this magnitude.
To put it another way.

‘If I fail here, I lose everything.’

Such was the weight of responsibility upon my shoulders.
Lucian Reyes exhaled slowly and surveyed his surroundings.
The Covenant of the Dead all gazed upon him.

“Covenant of the Dead, you have all heard from the Lord how we shall move in this Lords’ War. We shall act according to the Lord’s will and eliminate the enemies who would obstruct him.”
“The greatest threats we must guard against are Han Yu-sung and the nameless monster who was once a Lord. In other words, should we eliminate those two, there would be nothing left to stop us in this Lords’ War.”

The War Covenant Users are not even worth engaging.
Should we eliminate Han Yu-sung and that monster, victory shall be ours.

“Even those two can be eliminated if we move according to the Lord’s arrangements. Defeat is impossible, and moreover, it shall not be tolerated.”

Lucian Reyes drew his sword upon seeing the message materialize before his eyes.
Morale surged through him and the Covenant of the Dead.

[Lords’ War commences.]

“Summon the dead! As we have always done, we shall claim victory!”

Morale rippled outward in all directions as countless undead materialized.
But that was not all.
The Lord of the Dead simultaneously unleashed her power, and the undead soldiers she had forged from her essence revealed themselves alongside them.
An overwhelming horde of the dead blanketed the Arid Wasteland.

“None can halt the march of death! Advance!”
– Groooooooaaaah!
– Shrieeeeeeek!

The undead legion began their advance.
With the undead at the vanguard, Lucian Reyes observed the enemy encampment.
The enemy was that Han Yu-sung. He had surely prepared something.

‘It matters not what he has prepared. I can adapt to anything.’

Lucian Reyes held this conviction.
Yet that certainty began to waver not long after.

“A-Apostle, sir. The enemy is moving. However…”

It was because he had witnessed something that defied belief.
Lucian Reyes, the Apostle of the Dead, widened his eyes in shock.

“The War Covenant Users are not moving…”
“Han Yu-sung alone is approaching our forces!”

From the War Covenant’s encampment, Han Yu-sung walked forward.
Leaving his allies behind, he advanced alone.
With an utterly composed stride.

[Crack!]

A voice filled with fury reached Lucian Reyes’ ears.

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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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