The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 224

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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 224

The players began ascending the staircase that led to the Top Floor.
There were twelve of them. Tension etched itself across every face.
And simultaneously, a fragile glimmer of hope.

“…You’ve all studied how that man fights, haven’t you?”
“As much as we could. Tsk, if only that screen had shown us the entire battle. Showing only the crucial moments…it would’ve been far more helpful.”
“Maybe we should just be grateful it showed us anything at all.”

The players had analyzed Han Yu-sung’s combat style to the fullest extent possible.
How he fought. What techniques he employed.
The information was limited, so their analysis wasn’t perfect, but they’d gone as far as they could.
And they’d prepared countermeasures accordingly.

“Since you were all invited to this event, you should have sufficient experience. If unexpected situations arise, handle them as best you can.”
“The opponent possesses a sacred artifact. He seems to be favored by the Lords. We’ll use our own sacred artifacts to respond in kind.”
“I can see the end now.”

The end of the staircase, which had seemed to stretch endlessly, finally came into view.
The players exchanged glances with one another.
Among them, Vizelthia, ranked thirteenth in Tower climbing, stepped forward alongside several others.
They were the players who had agreed to take the front lines.

“We can’t rule out the possibility of an immediate attack the moment we enter.”
“We’ll activate defensive skills as we enter. Let’s go!”

The players entered the Top Floor with tense expressions.
Vizelthia held his breath as he activated a skill. Magical power radiated outward from the shield-shaped sacred artifact he wielded, forming a protective barrier.
And with utmost caution, he stepped into the Top Floor.

“You’ve arrived.”

Contrary to the players’ expectations, there was no attack.
Instead of an assault, only a voice saturated with ennui reached their ears.

“You’re later than I anticipated. I thought you’d arrive sooner.”

Han Yu-sung sat upon the throne, receiving the challengers.
Perhaps from the long wait, his face was filled with boredom.

“Twelve of them. They’ve come with the maximum number allowed.”

Han Yu-sung spoke without concern.
But the situation was far from favorable.
Regardless, the players gathered here were those counted among the strong in their own worlds.
They fell short of the absolute elite, yet they possessed formidable power.
Twelve such warriors had assembled.

“I suppose I should be grateful that this can end quickly.”
“….”
“….”

No answer came.
To the players, Han Yu-sung was an enigma of terror. From beginning to end, he defied every convention they possessed—an existence that transcended their understanding.
A human with no distinctive traits, no apparent strengths.
Yet he had conquered mighty races and conquered the Tower itself.

“…Execute the plan as discussed!”

Vizelthia gripped his shield and cried out.
As if waiting for that signal, the players unleashed their mana.
The first to rise were summoned creatures.
Undead clawed their way from the earth, while mana-forged monsters and spirits materialized.
The players in the front ranks formed a formation alongside their summoned allies.
The rear-guard players each prepared their skills.

‘Magic cannot be used. I don’t know what that monster is scheming, but if we resort to magic, it might be stolen from us.’
‘And the greatest threat to guard against is that creature’s blade.’

The players fixed their gaze upon the Blood Demon sword gripped in Han Yu-sung’s hand.
They had witnessed that blade cleave the heavens. And seen torrents of blood engulf the surroundings.
Beyond that, there were countless sword auras it could unleash.
They had to be wary of Han Yu-sung’s blade and his magic.

‘Block his attacks, then counterattack.’

Vizelthia swallowed hard.
Once I discern how Han Yu-sung attacks, I will move according to my pre-planned strategy.
To do that, I must observe the enemy’s movements.
Based on what I’ve seen so far, Han Yu-sung will surely wield his sword….

A deep, resonant boom echoed forth!

As if shattering every last expectation.
Han Yu-sung took a step forward, and flames erupted from beneath his feet.
The spreading inferno swept across the entire area, creating a roiling domain of devastation.
A domain brimming with scorching heat.
It was none other than the Calamity Flame Battlefield.

[The Lord has opened the Calamity Flame Battlefield at the cost of a sacrifice.]
[Allied forces within the domain are strengthened, while enemies are weakened.]
[The Army of Ash rises.]

From the ashes left behind by the calamity flames, an army rose forth.
It was a sight I had witnessed countless times before. Yet this time, there was a difference.
The number of the Army of Ash that had risen was nearly double the usual amount.
Han Yu-sung did not stop there, driving a flag deep into the ground.

[The Flag of War has declared war upon the surrounding domain.]
[Buffs are granted to the faction that satisfies the sacred object.]
[Wage a war you cannot tear your eyes from!]

The Army of Ash gathered around the Flag of War as its center.
The faces of the watching players trembled at the sight.

‘Soldiers? He has an ability to summon something like that?’
‘This is insane. If he can summon soldiers in such numbers, why hasn’t he been using it until now?’
‘He could have easily used it when fighting the High Elf and the Half-Demon…!’

It was an unforeseen variable.
Not intentionally, but Han Yu-sung had refrained from using most of the Lord’s skills and sacred objects until now.
Even the sacred objects he had used had not fully revealed their power.

[Kuhuhuh, foolish wretches. Shields before me? The true flower of war is shattering the enemy’s defenses!]

That was the players’ critical mistake.
I could see Vizelthia and the front-line players fortifying their defenses. I smiled faintly and took a step forward.

Roooooaaaarrr!

The ‘Flames of War’ tore through the empty air.
The terror-fire that burned as if it would never extinguish was unleashed.
The space around us warped visibly. The terror-fire, transformed into a colossal wave, became an irresistible inferno that advanced toward the enemies.

‘We can endure this. Just once!’

That was Vizelthia’s assessment.
His shield was a sacred relic of A-grade quality, granted by a Lord. The defensive barrier created by this relic could withstand any attack.
Behind it, protected by the Lord’s blessing, everything would proceed as planned.

Whoooosh!

‘The plan… was supposed to…’

Vizelthia stared blankly at the sight unfolding before his eyes.
The other players did the same.
There was no other choice in this situation.
The defensive barrier they had created was burning away entirely.
Consumed completely by the Flames of War that Han Yu-sung had unleashed.

“What on earth…?”

The players momentarily lost their senses.
It was an unforeseen spectacle. But they were seasoned players. They quickly regained their composure and attempted to respond to the situation.
However, that split second proved catastrophic.

Swoosh!

Directly behind Vizelthia.
A figure emerged from the long shadow cast upon the ground.
Vizelthia, sensing the presence too late, spun around in panic.

Slash!

“Gack…!”

In that instant, Vizelthia’s vision tilted.
His vision—why?
Vizelthia desperately tried to comprehend what was happening.
And moments later, he understood the reason.

‘My, neck.’

It had been severed.
There was no time to react, no opportunity to respond.
Literally instantaneous.
Vizelthia stared blankly at his own headless body, and then both vanished.

“Ugh, aaaahhh!”
“My, my body is on fire…!”
“No! The formation is collapsing!”

The players’ defensive stance crumbled entirely.
As if waiting for this moment, the Ash Legion began to move.
Surging forward with fierce flames, the legion advanced toward their enemies.
Then Han Yu-sung extended his hand into the void.

Whoooosh!

A helmet forged from fear-fire materialized in his palm.
Han Yu-sung donned the helmet, and the fear-fire infused the Ash Legion.
The Sacred Artifact, 【Legion Commander of Fear-Fire】, began to exert its power.

“Ugh, kyaaaah?!”
“These, these bastards! Their speed——!”

The Ash Legion closed the distance to their enemies at tremendous velocity.
The enemies’ summoned creatures attempted to block the legion, but it was futile. The legion cut through the summons and unleashed a relentless barrage upon their foes.
And at the vanguard stood Han Yu-sung.

Crash crash crash crash crash!

A fierce blood wind swept across the battlefield.
Players screamed as their bodies were torn to shreds.
Those in the rear ranks unleashed the skills they had prepared to counter Han Yu-sung.
Arrows blanketing the sky, blades converging from all directions, daggers erupting from the shadows.
Every conceivable attack poured down upon Han Yu-sung.
Witnessing this, I gripped my blade firmly.

Halden Style Swordsmanship Third Form, Full Moon.
Heavenly Thunder Sword Technique Third Strike, Heavenly Thunder.

I unleashed both sword techniques simultaneously, cleaving through every incoming attack.
The Full Moon-shaped sword aura and the whirlwind of sword energy wreathed in thunder severed all assaults, and those enemies who witnessed this spectacle were momentarily stunned.
The next instant.

Crash!

Calamity’s Rain and the Thunder Dragon’s Breath poured down upon the players’ heads.
Anguished screams filled the Top Floor.

The War Banner was satisfied with Han Yu-sung’s performance.
Han Yu-sung and the Ash Army received the blessing of war!
Blessing: All stats +30%, Attack Power +40%, Defense +40%, Speed +20%. Additionally, grants the courage to never retreat from battle.

Radiance’s stack has reached maximum.
For a brief moment, the God of War effect activates!
God of War: Attack Power +70%, Additional Damage +60%, Damage Enemies Receive +35%, Next skill’s damage doubled.

That was when both sacred artifacts exerted their effects.
From the enemies’ perspective, they were already being pushed back by the Ash Army.
With this additional enhancement, they no longer had the strength to endure.
The players began to fall back helplessly.
The Lords, sensing defeat, even began reclaiming the sacred artifacts held by the Oath-takers.

Roaarrr!
Damn it…!

The carefully devised plan proved utterly ineffective.
The players desperately cut through the fierce onslaught of the Ash Army, searching for any opportunity to seize victory.
But that respite was short-lived.

“Ah.”

The players let their arms fall limply, their fighting spirit extinguished.
There was no other choice.

“Damn it….”

The Heavenly Sword hovered above their heads.
Soon, the greatsword descended upon the ground.
The unleashed sword qi swept across the enemies.
The players and the summons they had created alike.
All of them.

“….”
“….”

Silence settled over the Top Floor.
The Top Floor, now a chaotic mess from the traces of battle.
The players scattered across the ground began to vanish one by one.
Han Yu-sung, standing in the center of it all, gazed down at his own hands.

‘The stat efficiency is absolutely absurd.’

The Hall of Losers grants a 20-point increase to all stats with each challenger eliminated.
Currently, the total stat increase applied to me is 180.
When this intertwined with the Actionless and Unyielding effects—each doubling the base strength, agility, and vitality—the efficiency became staggering.
Enough to overwhelm the superior races of mankind.

‘And on top of that, the Flames of War.’

The challengers too were Oath-takers favored by the Lords.
They naturally possessed A-grade sacred artifacts. The skills granted by their Lords were no exception. But they could not compare to what I possessed.
The reason was simple.

[The Flames of War activates the God of War.]
[All skills, blessings, and sacred artifacts related to the Lord of War are strengthened. Additionally, you gain complete immunity to flame-based attacks.]

It was thanks to the S-rank sacred artifact, the Flames of War.
Han Yu-sung’s sacred artifacts were reinforced by the effect of 【Omniscience】.
Even if they were of the same rank, Han Yu-sung’s artifacts had no choice but to be stronger.
There was no need to mention the shield-type sacred artifact that Vizelthia had used.

[How does the power of the sacred artifact I created for you feel?]
“Satisfactory.”

Kakasha laughed with evident delight upon hearing that response.
Then, after a brief moment, in a very small voice.

[So now you can forget that I spent coins excessively….]
“….”
[….]

Silence descended once more upon the Top Floor of the Tower of Records.

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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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