The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 231

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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 231

I want power.
That’s what Chu Gyu-il said, and Han Yu-sung agreed to grant his wish.
And from that moment on, hell began for Chu Gyu-il.

[Ugh, uuugh… uaaaaaaaah!]

A hell by the name of ‘Difficult Realm’.
Han Yu-sung guided Chu Gyu-il through three Difficult Realms.
The problem was that all three had to be conquered ‘alone’.
He could not expect help from others.
Difficult Realms that could only be cleared through his own strength.

Whoooosh!

[Gasp, huff! This damned… you want me to clear this alone?!]

Chu Gyu-il cursed Han Yu-sung as he dodged the incoming traps.
The first Difficult Realm was one where he had to explore a complex maze.
In truth, this kind of Difficult Realm was right in Chu Gyu-il’s wheelhouse.
It would have been, if it were an ordinary Difficult Realm.

[That damned bastard, why is it so fast!]
– Skreeeee…!

This Difficult Realm had one objective.
To hunt down a monster called ‘Trickster’.
It fled from intruders, darting through every corner of the maze.
Of course, if he only had to chase it, things would have been easier.

– Kraaaaaah!
[Uaaaagh!]

The maze was filled with countless monsters and traps.
The monsters appeared from varied locations—walls suddenly opening, creatures bursting from the floor, falling from the ceiling.
Of course, a composed player could handle them without much difficulty.
The problem was that Chu Gyu-il had no combat ability.

[Aaaaaahhh! I’m dying! I’m gonna die!]
“He’s quite the dramatist. The monsters aren’t even catching up to him.”
“…He’s simply not accustomed to combat, after all.”

I watched Chu Gyu-il through the screen Kakasha provided, while Sung Ha-yan beside me answered without much concern.
These two would actually be delighted if monsters came chasing after them.
It was only natural to struggle understanding Chu Gyu-il’s extreme aversion to combat.

“Will he be alright? Leaving Chu Gyu-il alone like that….”
“If something goes wrong and he dies in a Difficult Realm, that could be dangerous.”
“It’s fine. He’s not the type to die from something like that. Besides, since he’s clearing the Difficult Realms solo, there’s no way for us to help even if we wanted to.”

While Chu Gyu-il cleared the Difficult Realms, I was clearing the surrounding Difficult Realms alongside Sung Ha-yan and the other War Covenant Members.
Sitting idle and wasting time didn’t suit my nature.
In the meantime, I planned to gauge how much strength the War Covenant Members had accumulated through clearing Difficult Realms, and incidentally gather the rewards as well.

[Uooooooh! Huff, gasp… I, I did it! I cleared it!]
“See? I told you he wouldn’t die.”

Just as I predicted, Chu Gyu-il successfully cleared the first Difficult Realm.
His entire body was covered in wounds.
But there were still two more Difficult Realms left to clear.

[Damn it, what is it this time…!]
[“According to Han Yu-sung, it’s a Difficult Realm where you find a hidden treasure chest. Since it’s an Abandoned Dungeon, move quickly if you don’t want to die.”]
[Ugh, uaaaah….]

The second Difficult Realm was one where you had to find a hidden treasure chest.
Naturally, it was no ordinary Difficult Realm. The Realm was unstable and collapsing in real time, while Guardians desperately pursued Chu Gyu-il.
He had to find the chest while evading their pursuit.
Chu Gyu-il desperately searched for the treasure chest, dodging traps, evading enemy attacks, and running to avoid being caught in the collapse.

[Kugh, graaaaaaah!]
“He talks too much. He should focus on moving instead.”

I destroyed the charging monster as I said that.
I had no intention of actively clearing the Difficult Realm. My primary purpose in entering the Realm this time was to assess the War Covenant Members’ abilities.
So I was simply dealing with the approaching monsters appropriately.
And the other Oath-takers watched my movements intently.

‘What—blowing apart a monster with a single punch?’
‘…He seems far stronger than when I first interviewed him?’
‘Barely any time has passed, yet how is this possible!’

I could only shake my head in disbelief.
He had already been a formidable Player, but now he had transcended all conventional limits.
Watching him up close made it viscerally apparent.
Could they ever reach his level, no matter how much stronger they became?
The question arose naturally in their minds.

“….”

Only one person stood apart—Sung Ha-yan.
Her eyes burned with fierce hunger.
A desire to grow stronger, to possess the same power as that man.
Kakasha chuckled at the sight of it.

[A peculiar one indeed. Most humans would be crushed upon witnessing your strength, yet she covets it instead.]
‘That’s precisely why I selected her.’

I appreciated that ambition.
In any case, I had thoroughly assessed the Oath-takers’ capabilities.
Particularly Sung Ha-yan—I observed her performance with keen interest.

[That thieving girl has conquered the second Difficult Realm. For all her complaints, she clears them faster than expected.]
“Then we should send her to the third Difficult Realm.”
[Hmm, about that Difficult Realm… will it be alright? What if she dies? That would be wasteful, considering the effort I invested in bringing her here.]

Kakasha expressed his doubts.
The difficulty of the next Difficult Realm was the concern. But I was unbothered.

“She won’t die in there. If she does, then….”

It would simply mean Chu Gyu-il’s resolve was only that strong.
The difficulty was high, but not beyond what Chu Gyu-il could overcome now. Had it been, I wouldn’t have revealed it.
With sufficient determination, she could clear it.
That was my assessment.

[This is… the final Difficult Realm, you say….]

Chu Gyu-il entered the third and final Difficult Realm.
Before his eyes stretched a long Corridor.

[You are entering Zephyros’s Trial Ground.]
[Challenger Chu Gyu-il, you are granted five opportunities. Should you exhaust all of them….]
[You will lose your life.]

The third Difficult Realm was a trial.
It resembled the Hall of Trials that Han Yu-sung had conquered in the past.
The difference lay in this: Chu Gyu-il’s trial had only one theme.

[Zephyros’s Trial begins.]
[You must prove that you possess speed surpassing all others, and composure that does not falter regardless of circumstance.]

[Wh—what the—?!]

It was speed itself.
An extraordinarily simple trial.
Navigate through a Corridor of tangled paths and traps while maintaining peak speed—that was the test.
Naturally, its simplicity belied its difficulty.
What happened if one failed to maintain that speed?

[Hack! Aaaaagh!]

His entire body was annihilated in an instant.
When a trap suddenly erupted and Chu Gyu-il’s movement ceased, his entire form disintegrated in moments, only to be regenerated at the starting point.
Chu Gyu-il frantically examined his body.

[D-did I just die and come back? This pain….]

This was why the Trial of Speed was so merciless.
One had to maintain peak speed throughout the entire trial.
Fail to do so, and you would be sent back to the starting point amid excruciating agony, consuming one of your five chances. And if all five were exhausted….

[…You would die.]

Chu Gyu-il swallowed hard.
Could he clear a Difficult Realm of this caliber within five attempts—no, four?
If he failed, he would die. Could he survive this?
A sharp wave of dread swept through his mind.

[….]

Chu Gyu-il’s body trembled with the terror of death.
Kakasha, observing him, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

[That thief is frightened. He should move boldly without fearing death. At this rate, he’ll squander his opportunity.]
“Hmm, I’m not so sure.”

Han Yu-sung thought differently from Kakasha.
He knew Chu Gyu-il from his past life. The man had committed all manner of audacious acts—he’d even challenged Lords to combat.
The Library of Knowledge that Han Yu-sung had conquered in his previous life was proof of this.

‘He’d raided the Library of Knowledge not long after finishing the tutorial. He’d thoroughly humiliated the Lord of Knowledge with that.’

That was how it had been in his past life.
He was a player of such audacity. Regression wouldn’t change that fundamental nature.
It would be entirely possible.
That was Han Yu-sung’s assessment.

[…Damn it, fine. Let’s give it a shot. Clear it or die trying.]

Chu Gyu-il rose magnificently to the occasion.
He pushed off the ground. His first attempt failed—startled by a trap that appeared suddenly, he’d hesitated mid-stride.
This time, eyes wide open, he channeled his unique ability to its fullest, predicting the trap’s location.

Whoooosh!

Chu Gyu-il, deploying Shadowless Step, surged forward at tremendous speed.
The War Covenant Members watching couldn’t help but marvel at his movement.

“Will he make it through at this pace?”
“No.”

Han Yu-sung shook his head at Sung Ha-yan’s question.
Just as she’d said, Chu Gyu-il’s body began to fall apart within moments. The Corridor suddenly lurched up and down, and monsters emerged from the chaos.
Chu Gyu-il tried to evade them, and that hesitation cost him speed.

[Grrgh…! That’s right, damn it! I just need to run, whether I live or die!]

Another attempt.
Seeing the monsters appear again, Chu Gyu-il bit his lip.
I couldn’t afford to dodge. I had to break through them. I would evade the relentless barrage with minimal movement, using speed to my advantage.

[Aaaaaaaah!]

Chu Gyu-il roared and burst straight through the center of the monster swarm.
Dangerous attacks were dodged with the smallest possible movements. Unnecessary attacks were simply absorbed by my body—an extraordinarily efficient approach.
A shadow-like figure tore down the path at breathtaking speed.

‘Did I make it? At this rate…’
‘There shouldn’t be much corridor left now, right?’

The watching Oath-takers thought as much.
But in that very instant.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The Difficult Realm convulsed, and the ceiling and floor began to collapse.
At the same moment, Chu Gyu-il’s vision suddenly went dark.

[Dense darkness has stolen your sight.]
[But do not stop.]

Madman!
Chu Gyu-il cursed inwardly.
But my legs didn’t stop, and my speed didn’t falter.

[Hup!]

Chu Gyu-il tore across the ground at tremendous speed.
The Difficult Realm was collapsing at a rapid pace. Yet scattered across the crumbling floor were footholds where he could plant his steps.
Chu Gyu-il struck each point with precision, maintaining his momentum.
The reason was simple.

“Memory.”
[Hmm, the boy is sharper than I expected.]

‘The Great Blade’—Chu Gyu-il possessed exceptional memory.
Considering that in his past life he had created and distributed maps of the Library of Knowledge, the extent of that memory was beyond question.
Anything he saw once could be etched into his mind in an instant.

[Aaaaaaaah!]

Chu Gyu-il moved boldly, trusting in his memory.
The Difficult Realm crumbled rapidly. A shadow raced through its heart.
When the Difficult Realm finally collapsed entirely.

[Gasp, huff…!]

Chu Gyu-il’s vision, consumed by darkness, returned to normal.
The first thing to enter his sight was a completely collapsed Corridor.
The next thing was light.

[Congratulations, Challenger Chu Gyu-il.]
[You have passed the trial with outstanding skill.]
[As your reward, you receive the Book of Speed (Mythic) and the Shackles of Zephyros (Mythic)!]

The light soon became items that fell into his grasp.
Chu Gyu-il’s body trembled with emotion as he received the items.
A sense of accomplishment unlike anything before washed over him.
These were items obtained by transcending his limits through his own strength.
Chu Gyu-il sniffled and checked the items’ descriptions.
His face instantly filled with bewilderment.

“…What?”

It couldn’t be helped.

[Zephyros’s Shackle (Mythic)]
· Slot: Ankle (Shackle).
· A shackle imbued with divine power. This item grants the wearer tremendous speed, but binds them with shackles to match.
· Agility +100, Agility +60%, Strength and Stamina –90%.
· Speed +80%, multiplier continuously increases the longer you move without rest.
· Effects of skills utilizing Agility +80%, Mana consumption –50%.
· The wearer can activate 【Zephyros’s Incarnation】, which greatly enhances Agility and Speed. Additionally, automatically evades incoming attacks, and Speed-based skills are significantly strengthened.
· This item equips automatically upon acquisition and cannot be removed by any means. This is the shackle that will bind you.
· This item grows alongside its user.

The item’s effects were almost unbelievable in their potency.
Especially that one penalty hidden among the otherwise absurd bonuses.

“My… my Strength and Agility…?”

Strength and Stamina –90%.

Click!

In the next moment, Zephyros’s Shackle locked around Chu Gyu-il’s ankle.

“Huh… huh-ugh?!”

With strength draining from his legs, Chu Gyu-il collapsed from the sudden weakness.

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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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