The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 259

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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 259

[The Eye of Omniscience guides you to where the Blade of Geomson lies.]

The eyeball resting in Han Yu-sung’s palm began to move.
The eye drifted away from its master, emanating a brilliant radiance.
It was a guiding light leading toward the core of this Difficult Realm—the Blade of Geomson.

“Following this should suffice. Though the path ahead won’t be without its challenges.”

The Sword Oath-takers were present in this place.
At first, they would observe, but the moment they sensed something amiss, they would intervene and attempt to obstruct us.
From that point onward, things would become troublesome in every conceivable way.
It would be better to advance as far as possible before that happened.

‘Then, first…’

Before conquering this Difficult Realm, there was something I needed to do.
Han Yu-sung turned to face the War Covenant Members watching him.
They all held swords obtained from defeating enemies.

“Everyone, discard your swords.”
“Pardon? You mean these swords?”
“Wait, why all of a sudden…?”

It was a bewildering command.
When the swords were the core mechanic of this Difficult Realm and should be utilized to their fullest, being told to abandon them was absurd.

“There must be a reason for this, correct?”
“Have I ever done such a thing without reason?”
“…Then, we shall do as you command.”

Among the bewildered War Covenant Members,
Sung Ha-yan was the first to discard her sword.
Without the slightest hesitation, she threw down her blade exactly as Han Yu-sung had instructed.
Following her lead, the other Oath-takers who had been wavering also discarded their swords.

“Damn it. Why waste such valuable swords…?”

Chu Gyu-il was the last to abandon his sword.
It seemed like a weapon I could sell for a high price if I could just take it as a reward!
It was only natural to feel regret about discarding something like that.
The gazes of the Oath-takers who had abandoned their swords turned toward Han Yu-sung.
Their eyes seemed to be hoping he would explain his reasoning.

“You’ll understand the reason later. Kakasha, relay this to the Oath-takers at the Arca Building as well.”
[Understood. I’m currently transmitting it to Baek Min-jun.]

In truth, I only had suspicions that the swords were suspicious—no concrete evidence.
Even if I wanted to explain properly, the situation didn’t allow for it.
The fortunate part was that the War Covenant Members held great trust in Han Yu-sung. Because of this, they all accepted his words without further questioning.

[You’ve built trust well. Hmm?]

Kakasha let out an unpleasant snicker.
Han Yu-sung lightly dismissed the remark and gripped the sword tightly.
I had successfully identified the location of the core—the greatest problem.
Now, what I needed to do was simple.

“Just as I always have, I’ll lead the way.”
“Yes! Everyone, move!”

Destroy the core.
Han Yu-sung spread the ‘Predator’s Senses’ widely. I could feel the presence of those presumed to be Sword Oath-takers watching this place.
If they sensed anything unusual about our movements, they would act immediately.
But it didn’t matter.

‘I’ll be able to finish this faster.’

I had intended to eliminate them anyway.
Rather, since I no longer needed to search them out, things had become considerably easier.

“Let me see just how strong the Sword Oath-takers are.”

Han Yu-sung kicked off the ground.

* * *

Yeouido, once a thriving district, had been reduced to rubble by the sudden appearance of a Difficult Realm.
The ‘Masters of the Sword’ who emerged alongside the Difficult Realm attacked those in the area without mercy, spreading chaos throughout Yeouido.

“This world hardly appears to be of such a high caliber.”

The Sword Oath-takers observed the spectacle unfold before them.
Hyun-wol, who led them, muttered those words.
Earth’s level was objectively not particularly high. Yet in such a world, a human had emerged who could stand against the Lord of the Dead.

‘A being who even stole something precious from Geomson…’

No matter how I reconsidered it, it remained unbelievable.
Of course, even in a low-level world, there were those worth noting.
Hyun-wol observed those darting through the Difficult Realm.
The players among them who were rescuing caught civilians.
I sensed a certain quality in them.

“Hyun-wol. The enemies are rescuing the humans. What shall we do?”
“Killing them all would not be without merit. However…”

Baek Min-jun and the War Covenant Members, after rescuing the caught civilians, prepared their defenses at the Arca Building.
Killing all the enemies would not be without merit.

“Do we not have something more important to attend to right now?”
“Yes, Han Yu-sung. Killing that player.”
“Do not forget what Geomson told us. He said there is no need to move hastily.”

There is no need to move hastily.
These were the words Geomson had spoken to his Oath-takers. He said we need only wait for the enemies to pass their trials and for the sword to grow sufficiently.
Then the enemies would destroy themselves.

“Our move comes after that.”

To finish off the enemies as they self-destruct and fall into chaos.
To definitively eliminate Han Yu-sung within that chaos.
This was the role assigned to the Sword Oath-takers in the Sword Tomb.
Failure was not tolerated. We must seize the opportunity and eliminate him.
There was no need to waste strength fighting the War Covenant Members.

“Destroying the building can wait until after Han Yu-sung is dead. For now, it would be wiser to observe his movements.”
“Agreed. Cheong-song, where is Han Yu-sung’s location?”
“There, sir.”

The Sword Oath-takers tracked their target, Han Yu-sung.
They didn’t need to search long. Han Yu-sung and the War Covenant Members were where the most intense battle was raging across the Difficult Realm.

‘It’s hard to believe such a level of skill emerged in this world.’

Hyun-wol assessed the situation as he watched Han Yu-sung fight.
He advanced without obstruction, destroying the masters of swords that stood in his way—a sight that drew admiration even from an enemy.
Most impressive of all was his seasoned expertise.
He fought as though he had endured countless such situations, moving with the practiced knowledge of exactly how to battle and maneuver in circumstances like these.

“…Hm?”

Yet something felt wrong.
Hyun-wol quickly examined the War Covenant Members advancing through the Difficult Realm.
No matter how closely he looked, something essential was missing from their hands.

“…Those men carry no swords.”
“What do you mean….”

Had he seen an illusion?
For a moment, he doubted his own eyes.
No. Not a single War Covenant Member wielded a sword.
Not even Han Yu-sung, the War Oath Sworn leading them.
Hyun-wol’s eyes widened at the incomprehensible sight.

“Did they fail to obtain swords? No, that’s impossible. How many masters of swords have they slain? That would mean….”
“They discarded their swords by their own hands.”
“How could they possibly make such a judgment?”

The Sword Oath-takers muttered in disbelief.
They had no choice but to be bewildered.
In this Difficult Realm, the ‘sword’ was a trap.

[Special Mechanic: Defeating enemies grants you a sword. Defeating other ‘masters of swords’ allows you to absorb their blades and strengthen your own.]

It is the core mechanic of the 【Sword Tomb】.
At first glance, it appears to be a mechanic designed to aid in conquering the Difficult Realm.
But that is a trap.

‘The stronger the sword becomes, the greater the price it demands from its user.’

At first, the price is light, but it grows heavier over time.
And once you pay the price, you become ‘bound’ to the master—you cannot discard it, nor can you refuse to pay the price.
It was essentially a cursed item.
As one continues to use the sword, intoxicated by its power,
ultimately, the sword consumes you, stealing your body completely.

‘The only way to escape is to never use the sword itself.’

The method was to discard it before the sword became bound to you.
But that too is impossible. This place contains countless false cores.
To find the true core among them, one has no choice but to rely on the sword’s aid.
Finding the core in time without the sword is nearly impossible.
So inevitably, one must strengthen the sword, pay a heavy price, and ultimately lose one’s body.

‘If I can seize Han Yu-sung’s body, that would be ideal.’

Slaughtering many of the War Covenant Members would be the next best outcome.
This was why Geomson had urgently instructed his Oath-takers not to move hastily. If they simply waited, the ideal scenario would unfold.
It was a trap so difficult to avoid, even knowing it was one.
The problem was, it did not work on Han Yu-sung.

Crash!

Han Yu-sung continued forward.
There was no hesitation in his stride—his movements suggested absolute certainty about where the ‘core’ he sought was located.
And indeed, that was the case.

[Unbelievable. This bastard, could it be…!]

Geomson, observing the Difficult Realm, muttered in disbelief.
It was not surprising that Han Yu-sung advanced unimpeded while eliminating the sword masters.
Given his power, I had anticipated as much.
What was astonishing was the path he was taking.

[You know where the core is located…!]

Han Yu-sung was advancing directly toward the core’s location.
Was it mere coincidence?
No. Han Yu-sung occasionally changed direction, removing obstacles that Geomson and the Lord of the Dead had set in place as he progressed.
Such movement would be impossible unless one knew the path with absolute certainty.
But how, exactly?

Whoooosh!

[I see… is it that item?]

Then, Geomson’s eyes caught sight of one particular item.
An eye that floated beside Han Yu-sung, radiating brilliant light.
It was no ordinary item. It carried a power so formidable that even Geomson could sense it.
Mythic grade? No, perhaps an Eternity-tier item.
One would need at least that caliber to see through a Transcendent’s trap.

[I must concede. The trap has failed. Then….]

It was simply a matter of proceeding to the next plan.
Geomson predicted the path Han Yu-sung would take. He then dispatched his Oath-takers along the route the man could not avoid.
That place was where the most grueling ‘trial’ in this Difficult Realm would unfold.
It was where Geomson had prepared a ‘domain’—a contingency measure.

‘Literally, it was something I prepared just in case of the one-in-a-million scenario.’

I never expected I would actually have to use it.
The Oath-takers who received Geomson’s command moved with urgency.
They reached the location of Geomson’s domain in an instant.
The domain granted them tremendous power.

[My Oath-takers, nothing has changed. There is no need to rush now. You know well who the enemy you must guard against most carefully is.]

Hyun-wol and the other Oath-takers nodded in acknowledgment.
The enemy to guard against most carefully.
Needless to say, it was Han Yu-sung.

[You should know his combat style and the techniques he employs. Utilize my domain and the knowledge I’ve granted you. Fight him and claim victory.]
[Do not grow careless. I will not tolerate defeat.]

Geomson trusted his Sword Oath-takers.
He had gathered only those with exceptional sword talent across multiple worlds.
Those whose talents rivaled—no, surpassed—Han Yu-sung’s own.
With the aid of his domain besides, victory was entirely within reach.
That was Geomson’s assessment.

A resonant hum tore through the air.

It was precisely then that Han Yu-sung and the War Covenant Members arrived.
He regarded the Sword Oath-takers blocking his path in silent observation.
And he noted too how the domain sprawled across this place empowered them.

“Han Yu-sung, is it? I am called Hyun-wol. I serve Geomson with all my strength. I regret to inform you, but this place….”

Hyun-wol stepped forward, twirling the twin blades in his hands in graceful arcs.
A cold, moonlit sharpness—a keen sword aura—clung to the blades he gripped.
He felt the formidable power coursing through his body and took his stance.

“No one shall pass through….”

A searing flash erupted.

In that instant, Hyun-wol felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
The mighty force flowing through his body seemed to vanish in a heartbeat.
No—it was not mere sensation. It was real. It had truly vanished.
The power the Lord had bestowed through his domain had disappeared without a trace.

‘What in the world just happened?’

An ominous presence rippled across Hyun-wol’s vision as confusion gripped him.
His eyes widened, and only then did he comprehend.

“What…!”

Han Yu-sung stood directly before me.
His fist, brimming with overwhelming power, surged forward.
And I could not stop it.

【Sky Rend】.

Hyun-wol instinctively knew he couldn’t block it, yet he thrashed his blade desperately anyway.
But it was all meaningless.
The fist, compressed with demonic energy to its absolute limit, crashed into Hyun-wol with devastating force.
And then.

KABOOOOOM!

Everything shattered.
A force capable of destroying heaven and earth engulfed Hyun-wol’s entire body, and as the demonic energy compressed to its extreme detonated, it obliterated everything in the surrounding area without exception.
When the destruction that had consumed all directions finally ceased.

[What… what in the world is this…?]
“Hyun-wol? Hyun-wol!”

Hyun-wol was nowhere to be found.
Only Han Yu-sung stood alone, towering above the devastation.
He brushed the blood from his knuckles and lifted his gaze.
His eyes, burning with fierce determination, met Geomson’s stare fixed upon this place.

“Is that all, Geomson?”
[…!]

It was unmistakably a provocation.
A provocation humiliating beyond measure for Geomson.

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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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