The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 195
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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 195
A thunderous roar echoed once more through the desolate Record Dedication Hall.
As the hall’s appearance transformed, new trials descended upon me.
The second trial unfolded within a Magic Tower of unknown location.
A Magic Tower teeming with mages on all sides.
– Kill the intruder!
The mages unleashed their spells as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Watching the cascade of magic, a smile bloomed across my lips.
It couldn’t be helped.
[You activate Dragon Transformation.]
[The power of the dragon now dwells within your body.]
[As the sovereign of magic, you may now command all spells.]
The situation was far too welcome.
I raised my hand lightly, and the torrential spells shifted direction, crashing down upon the mages themselves.
Their screams of agony filled the Magic Tower, and the second trial ended there.
– Krrgh, kyaaaaaaah!
The third trial took place upon a vast Battlefield.
What emerged were monsters possessed of formidable bodies. Countless beasts roared and charged toward me in unison.
“It’s intriguing that each trial differs in nature.”
[Hmm. I’m uncertain how to phrase it, but it seems they’re deliberately attempting to exploit your weaknesses.]
The first to appear was a mighty boss monster.
The second was a mage battalion unleashing magical bombardment.
When none of these succeeded, they sent forth creatures of tremendous physical prowess.
Just as Kakasha said, it appeared they were desperately searching for some flaw in me.
Naturally.
“A meaningless endeavor.”
A single slash cleaved through the air. Successive strikes followed in rapid succession, cutting down the monsters that rushed toward me.
I activated Spirit of Blood Ghost and stomped the ground.
– Krrk, kraaaagh!
– Gaaaaah…!
Screams echoed across the vast Battlefield.
Monsters were swept away in an instant. As I eliminated them, new ones appeared to fill the void just as quickly.
It was as if they were trying to wear me down through attrition.
Yet this too was a futile effort.
Kwaaaaaaah!
I was a player specialized in prolonged wars of attrition, after all.
How many monsters had I slain as they continued to pour forth endlessly?
[They’ve stopped appearing.]
Even the third Trial had ended.
I collected the grimoire that floated above the Altar.
Crackle!
[Hmm, the Altar…]
At that moment, a massive crack appeared across the Altar.
It looked as though it might crumble at any moment if touched carelessly.
Moreover, the magical power that had been dissolved in the water pooled on the Altar had diminished considerably.
“Did I use too much?”
[Considering what you’ve obtained, I would say not. Rather, it’s astounding that it could provide rewards of this magnitude.]
Kakasha clicked his tongue as he observed the grimoires I had acquired.
[Calamity’s Rain (SS)]
· Classification: Active.
· An ancient magic now forgotten by time.
· A pattern of catastrophic flame is inscribed in the sky through magical power, and a merciless rain of fire pours down upon all enemies within the area.
· Enemies struck by the rain of fire experience greatly diminished regenerative abilities.
[Breath of the Thunder Dragon (SS)]
· Classification: Active.
· A spell crafted by some grand mage, mimicking the breath of the Thunder Dragon.
· A colossal rift tears through the air. Countless bolts of lightning surge through the gap like the breath of the Thunder Dragon itself, utterly annihilating the surrounding area.
[Over Cast (S, Lv.1)]
· Classification: Active.
· Overloads the caster’s mana to transcend limitations for a set duration.
· Spell casting speed +70%, spell range expansion +50%.
· Mana required for spell activation decreases significantly.
· After the buff expires, the caster enters a ‘Runaway State’.
· This spell automatically promotes to the next rank upon reaching maximum level.
To acquire three SS-rank spells in such a short span.
To be precise, ‘Over Cast’ was an S-rank skill. However, upon reaching maximum level, it would be promoted to SS-rank, so it was fair to consider it an SS-rank skill in practice.
“I’ll handle Calamity Rain and Breath of the Thunder Dragon myself.”
But ‘Over Cast’ felt somewhat ambiguous.
Casting speed, range expansion, mana reduction.
All three held little significance for me now that I possessed the Dragon’s Heart.
The Runaway debuff that followed was also bothersome.
[Then, what about giving it to that newcomer?]
“Sung Ha-yan? Bloodlust and Runaway… well, it’s not terrible, I suppose.”
[You don’t seem inclined to simply hand it over.]
I nodded.
This will become an SS-rank skill. To obtain a skill of this caliber, one must prove themselves worthy of it.
I also needed to build up ‘contribution’ to reduce sponsorship costs.
“It’s a gift, Kakasha.”
[A gift? You mean I should take custody of it and manage it instead.]
“You’re the lord—you should handle it. I can’t do it myself.”
I decided to entrust Over Cast to Kakasha.
As a seasoned lord, he would know well how to handle a covenant user.
Kakasha grumbled as he accepted the grimoire.
In any case.
“I wish there would be nothing but Difficult Realms like this from now on.”
[Greedy, aren’t we.]
I had reaped a substantial harvest in a short span of time.
It was greedy, certainly. And truthfully, the Difficult Realm had not been so simple to begin with.
Given that SS-rank magic spells were offered as rewards, the trials had been extraordinarily challenging—at least by the standards of ordinary players.
For Han Yu-sung, however, they had been rather enjoyable trials.
[Then, what shall you do now? Judging by the Altar’s condition, this offering appears to be the last. After that, the Altar shall be destroyed.]
“Well…”
What should I do?
The Altar’s condition was deteriorating, and the magical energy infused in the water had grown considerably weaker.
The number of spell tomes I possessed had also dwindled significantly.
Still, surely an S-rank spell tome or two would emerge.
I attempted to dissolve the remaining spell tomes into the water.
– Ssssshhhhh…
At that very moment, a voice emanated from the Altar.
It was a precarious voice, as though it might extinguish at any instant.
– Uuuuuuh…
The voice seemed intent on conveying something to Han Yu-sung.
The problem was that I could not comprehend what it was trying to say.
There was someone suited for this very situation.
“Kakasha, interpret.”
[W-what on earth do you take me for…!]
“So, you cannot do it?”
[Of course I can!]
Kakasha let out a sharp cry and listened to what the voice was saying.
Then he relayed to Han Yu-sung what he had heard through interpretation.
[It is a spirit dwelling within this Altar. It seems it was tasked with managing the Difficult Realm and creating Trials.]
“That explains it. I could sense intention behind the Trials.”
[And… it is begging you for its life.]
“Its life?”
Kakasha gestured toward the crumbling Altar with his chin.
[If that Altar is destroyed, it dies as well. I’m not certain of the circumstances, but it seems reluctant to perish this way. Trapped here for an eternity? Wronged? Something along those lines, I gather.]
“Hmm…”
The Record Dedication Hall was an Abandoned Dungeon.
No one could say how long it had been abandoned.
It may have wandered through the cracks between dimensions for eons.
It was only natural that a spirit—or whatever it was—would feel wronged.
“What’s the price for saving it?”
[It says it will transfer ownership of the Difficult Realm. Since it’s an Abandoned Dungeon, it seems to have inherited the ownership that the Lord once held.]
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss.”
Should I take an S-rank grimoire? Or should I take the Difficult Realm?
There was truly nothing to deliberate about.
Han Yu-sung gathered the remaining grimoires.
– Siiiiiii…
Seeing this, its voice faded as if relieved.
And shortly after.
[The original Lord of this Difficult Realm has been annihilated. The Trial Administrator who inherited ownership in his stead has resolved to transfer the Difficult Realm’s ownership to the Lord of War…]
[The ownership of the Difficult Realm, the Record Dedication Hall, is being transferred!]
Brilliant light erupted from the Altar.
The radiance swirled through the void before settling upon Kakasha.
A deep smile naturally bloomed across his lips.
[Do you not hear it? The sound of coins rolling in…!]
“Indeed, you must hear it well.”
The Record Dedication Hall was a decent Difficult Realm.
I thought that if I simply added safety measures—something akin to guaranteeing the lives of those who entered—quite a few Players would likely seek it out.
The question was how to generate revenue from it.
That was something Kakasha would handle.
[What a delightful gift you’ve given me. I am a lord who honors her promises. I shall restore the Altar and ensure you can continue managing this place!]
– Sssssssss….
[Hmm! You must be delighted. Serve me faithfully… eh?]
Kakasha, who had been chattering away with unbridled enthusiasm, tilted her head in confusion.
She had been examining the interior while unfurling a map of the Difficult Realm.
But within it, there was something she hadn’t anticipated.
[This is, hmm… a Warehouse? There are items inside, and… none of particularly great value… eh? Ehhhhh?!]
Kakasha’s eyes widened enormously as she discovered something.
With a startled expression, she snapped her fingers.
[Ah, an item! An item it is! My lord!]
An item materialized before Han Yu-sung.
It was a small, spherical item.
An item brimming with such an immense quantity of mana that it was palpable to the touch.
[Star’s Orb (Mythic)]
· Slot: None (Orb).
· An orb crafted by a lord now fallen and extinct. Though its creator has vanished, the orb he left behind still shines with starlight.
· Mana +40, Maximum Mana +30%.
· Magic Damage +30%, Maximum Magic Range +20%.
· By borrowing the orb’s power, the next spell you cast is amplified twofold. By channeling more mana, it can be amplified up to threefold.
· After activation, the orb becomes inert for a time.
It was a Mythic-grade orb.
I suspected it was something the lord who once ruled this Difficult Realm had kept stored away.
It must have been left behind along with the Difficult Realm as the lord faded.
It was a reward I would never have obtained had the Difficult Realm collapsed.
“Not bad at all.”
Mythic-grade items, even in the Difficult Realm.
I had acquired quite a lot in such a short span of time.
Han Yu-sung nodded in satisfaction and turned his back.
A portal to return to where he had come from opened before him.
“I’ve obtained everything I need. Time to head back.”
[Mm. I shall restructure this Difficult Realm myself, so worry not.]
Han Yu-sung stepped through the portal.
The familiar interior of the Arca Building welcomed him. He checked the time on his phone and was about to sit on the sofa when it happened.
At that very moment.
Ssssshhhhh—!
A crimson aura gathered from the empty air.
The aura transformed into a brilliant scarlet liquid, then became a letter that unfolded before Han Yu-sung’s eyes.
Words written in blood-red ink came into view.
[The Wanderer watches over your world.]
[You already know who that is without me saying it.]
It was a letter sent by the Blood Demon.
And there was no need to wonder who this Wanderer referred to.
It was Geomson.
[He aims to claim your enemies.]
[The enemy beneath the Lord of Justice—the one who despises you more than anyone else.]
[Do not let what you hold slip from your grasp.]
With that, the letter dissolved and vanished.
Han Yu-sung let out a hollow laugh.
Surprisingly, this letter was a warning from the Blood Demon. It seemed he had sent it to caution me about Geomson’s movements.
Contrary to his appearance, the Wanderer proved to be more thoughtful than expected.
[Tch! Pointless thoughts! What matters now is—]
“Right, that’s not it.”
Han Yu-sung recalled the words he had just read.
The Blood Demon had said it.
[Beneath the Lord of Justice….]
“You said he was an enemy who hated me more than anyone else.”
Han Yu-sung and Kakasha locked eyes with one another.
Without hesitation, they both blinked in unison.
They had arrived at the same name simultaneously.
“Lee Su-ho.”
[…No matter how I think about it, there’s no one else but that man, is there?]
When combining the keywords, no other name came to mind.
Someone beneath the Lord of Justice, who despised Han Yu-sung more than anyone.
Moreover, a man skilled enough to earn the attention of Geomson.
No matter how I examined it, it could only be Lee Su-ho.
And that meant…
“Lee Su-ho would betray Achiros….”
The conclusion was inescapable.
A stunning revelation that left them momentarily speechless.
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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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