The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 26

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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 26

The Lord of the Dead loves the deceased.
All manner of corpses, specters, and undead creatures.
Moreover, she owns cities and regions scattered across the world—desolate places where undead swarm due to terrain distortions, where no living person ventures.
Then do the Lord of the Dead’s sworn servants share her sentiments?

“Damn it all.”
“My nose is rotting from the stench of decomposing corpses.”
“Staying in a city like this much longer, and I’ll develop depression….”

Naturally, that wasn’t the case.
Just because one contracts with the Lord of the Dead doesn’t mean they’d love corpses and enjoy undead roaming about.
Such eccentrics existed, but they were exceedingly rare.
Even those who’d sworn themselves to the Lord of the Dead despised environments like Yeoju City.
Yet there was only one reason they remained here.

“Hey, the undead are escaping! Do something about management!”
“I know! I know, damn it!”
“Some of them won’t obey—can’t we just dispose of them?”
“You idiot! Do you think the Lord would permit that?”

Because the Lord of the Dead had entrusted them with managing this place.
They were to control the undead so they wouldn’t venture beyond the city’s borders, and to prevent those who would attack this city from succeeding.

“Maintain vigilance around the perimeter. You’re aware of the recent attack by those holy lackeys, aren’t you? Such an incident must not occur again.”
“Yes, yes. We understand.”

The Lords connected to light and holy power despised the Lord of the Dead with visceral hatred.
They constantly sent their sworn servants to purify the cities and regions she controlled, so the Lord of the Dead’s servants had to remain perpetually vigilant.
This too was something the Lord of the Dead’s sworn servants didn’t desire.

“Sigh, I suppose I should be content with the abundance of experimental material. Few places possess such a concentration of death’s aura alongside countless undead.”
“I heard you created an Abomination last time—is that true? Show me.”
“Well, it’s still incomplete in its refinement, but….”

Life spins like a hamster wheel.
The Oath-takers lingering in Yeoju City thought so.
Today passes like yesterday, and tomorrow will pass like today.
But an unforeseen change occurred.

[The Lord of the Dead warns the Oath-takers of Yeoju City.]
[A portal reaction has appeared at a specific location in Yeoju City. Investigate the location where the reaction appeared and confirm what has happened.]
“A portal reaction?”

It was a message from the Lord of the Dead.
The Oath-takers furrowed their brows.
A portal reaction—what did that mean?
There was no need to ponder it deeply.

“Does that mean a dungeon has appeared?”
“Now that you mention it, I heard recently that a reward dungeon appeared. They said our country cleared God’s Trial the fastest.”
“A reward dungeon…!”

The eyes of the Lord of the Dead’s Oath-takers widened.
A dungeon had appeared here as a reward for clearing God’s Trial.
It was common knowledge that reward dungeons granted rare rewards.

“Control the undead! Move immediately!”
“You—cut off the exits! No one leaves here!”
“Yes! Everyone move!”

The Oath-takers began moving urgently.
For the Lord of the Dead. And to seize the rewards.
The undead followed in their wake.

* * *

The hunt proceeded smoothly.
I used Unbi Step to conceal my footsteps and presence, swiftly hunting the Shadow Stalkers lurking throughout the area.
The stalkers never even sensed my approach.
They collapsed in an instant, lifeless.

[Your level has increased by 1 stage.]
[Strength +1, Agility +1, Stamina +1.]
[Due to the effect of God’s Descent, Strength increases by an additional +1!]

My level rose in proportion to the number of dead Stalkers I had slain.
How many levels had I already gained?
Considering the difficulty of combat, it was an unbelievable pace.
The effect of the experience buff was truly tremendous.

‘Thanks to handling them through ambush, I’ve saved considerable time as well.’

Though it wasn’t particularly entertaining.
As battles shortened, I could eliminate more Stalkers, and penetrate deeper into the dungeon at a faster pace.
Han Yu-sung closed his eyes and expanded his senses.
A formidable aura emanated from not far away.

‘That must be the boss monster.’

A boss monster named The Hermit.
Originally, it had been a human mage. Then, upon becoming obsessed with some grimoire, it transformed into a monster—or so the tale went.
That was why this dungeon bore the name The Hermit’s Laboratory.
It was a place the creature had created to conduct magical experiments.

[Sworn One, I have one question for you.]
“Ask quickly.”
[I have not observed you for long, but by any measure, you are a warrior. Magic stands somewhat distant from your nature, does it not? Then why do you covet the rewards here—magic and a staff?]
“Because they’re useful to me.”
[That magic is useful, you say?]

Han Yu-sung nodded instead of answering.
In my past life, I had seen a Japanese player wield it.
It was magic that manipulated shadows, and its applications were remarkably diverse. Especially in its ability to create variables at moments the enemy could never anticipate.
And above all else.

“I intend to master anything that might aid me. Because facing Achiros, I suspect a warrior alone will be insufficient.”
[So you would master magic as well. Hmm, I find that pleasing.]

Kakasha laughed with evident delight.

[To covet material wealth is ugly, yet to covet strength is beautiful. And if one forges war with that strength, it becomes all the more so.]
“Are your questions finished? Then be silent. We have enemies.”
[Kufufu….]

Kakasha’s voice, brimming with laughter, grew increasingly distant.
Han Yu-sung’s target was not a player like Lee Su-ho, but Achiros.
A transcendent being known as one of the Star Lords who traversed countless worlds.
To stop him, I had to grow stronger by any means necessary.
Learning magic, seeking to become a master of ten thousand demons—it was all for this purpose.

‘Because it must be done.’

Han Yu-sung hunted the Stalkers while concealing himself in darkness.

– Kiii, aaaahhhhh….

“Hmm, I suppose I’ve eliminated most of the ones I could catch.”

At last, the final Stalker fell.
More precisely, the Stalkers blocking the path to The Hermit’s location.
More Stalkers remained, but hunting them would require taking a long detour, and time was scarce.
This would have to suffice.
Han Yu-sung opened his status window.

[Han Yu-sung (Affiliation: Earth, South Korea (Grade B))]
· Level: 28
· Class: Novice
· Unique Ability: Divine Descent (EX)
· Strength: 60 (+16) · Agility: 68 (+8) · Endurance: 55 (+6)
· Mana: 15 (+15) · Will: 25

Level 28.
I had achieved absurd growth in such a short span.
My level was still insufficient for advancement, but it didn’t matter.
Once I defeated the boss monster of this place, that too would be resolved.

[I can see light.]

A passageway consumed by darkness—and at its end, a faint luminescence seeped forth, accompanied by a formidable presence.
Han Yu-sung advanced with his aura completely suppressed.

– No, this isn’t it. This isn’t enough….

As I drew closer to the light, a voice reached my ears.
Soft, yet brimming with madness.
Han Yu-sung soon arrived at the source of the light.

– Darkness, shadow. How much must I accept? How much….

Beyond the light lay a Study Room, crammed with countless books and documents.
Arcane diagrams were haphazardly etched across the ceiling, walls, and floor.
At the center stood a man.

– It’s impossible with a human body. So I accept the shadow. I must transform my flesh, just as those abominable creatures have….

Could this even be called a person?
It was a creature of such grotesque form that the question seemed apt.
At first glance, it resembled a Shadow Stalker. Yet half its body remained unmistakably human.
The other half, however, was encased in shadow armor identical to that which covered the Stalkers’ forms.

[The Hermit, Lv.70.]

The dungeon’s boss monster—The Hermit.

‘A formidable opponent, it seems.’

A scorching fervor surged from within Han Yu-sung’s core.

[At your current level, victory will not come easily against such a powerhouse.]
[The Divine Warrior’s buff effect activates: ‘Giant Slayer’.]
[All stats +10, Fist Damage +20%, Speed +10%.]

The Divine Warrior’s buff had activated.
Even accounting for my current stats—equivalent to a level 50 player, or level 60 with equipment—the buff had still triggered.
A testament to the creature’s overwhelming strength.
Most troubling of all was that it was a mage.

Squelch! Blood dripped steadily….

– No! This isn’t it! If I’m to prove myself to those trash from the Magic Tower who looked down on me, this magic alone isn’t enough!

The shadows around The Hermit surged upward in response to his roar.
The shadows transformed into razor-sharp thorns that pierced through everything in all directions, then shifted into blades that slashed through everything around him.
The already chaotic Study Room descended into complete devastation.

‘He said he came from a Magic Tower in some unknown world.’

‘Dungeons’ broadly fall into two categories.
One is a dungeon created by some entity—be it a god or a Lord—for a specific purpose.
And then there’s the other kind.

‘A gateway to a different world, not this one.’

A dungeon that served as a sort of ‘gateway’ to another world.
When a player enters such a dungeon, they are transported to a specific space in that other world. Once they complete the objective given to them or defeat the boss monster that rules that space, they can return to their original world.
The Hermit’s Refuge was clearly the latter type.

‘Not a fabricated entity, but an actual person who truly existed.’

That’s why there are boss monsters with their own stories.
The Hermit is one of them.
He became obsessed with a certain form of magic, was scorned by the Magic Tower because of it, and in his rage, The Hermit left the tower to establish his own research facility, desperately trying to prove his magic’s worth.
And in the process, he lost his mind.

[Hmph, does a backstory like that really matter?]
‘It doesn’t.’

But it does provide a clue to defeating him.
The Hermit, this boss monster, is insane. He wields magic related to ‘shadows’.
A mage is a cannon with devastating firepower.
As a swordsman, he was a rather troublesome opponent. If he tried to kill me with his firepower before I could close the distance, I’d have little way to respond.

‘A mage. Not the most thrilling opponent, so I can’t say I’m excited.’
[Is this really the time to be worrying about whether you’re excited or not?]

Han Yu-sung clicked his tongue inwardly.
I didn’t prefer fighting mages. Setting aside the unfavorable matchup, it all came down to one thing: could I breach through their firepower and close the distance, or not?
Because victory or defeat hinged on that single factor, the tension felt diminished.

‘Still, I need to do what needs to be done. To handle a mage easily….’

There was only one foolproof method.
Ambush them before they could cast their spells.
Fortunately, this space provided a way to do exactly that.

Whoosh!

The torches illuminating this chamber.
They weren’t particularly bright—merely casting a faint glow across the interior.
But brightness wasn’t what mattered.

‘I’ll use the shadows.’

What mattered was that the torches created shadows.
The implication was devastatingly simple.
I could use Shadow of Night.

‘This boring fool deserves a swift end.’

The stacks from the Blood Soul Arena and Crimson Wind Fist Technique hadn’t dissipated yet.
Now was the moment to deal a lethal blow to The Hermit.
And if possible, I needed to seize that staff he was gripping.
That staff possessed an annoyingly troublesome effect.
Han Yu-sung, wreathed in Shadow of Night, began to move.

– Test subjects, I need more test subjects. To complete the essence….

Blades formed of shadow swept across all directions.
Han Yu-sung wedged through the gaps and closed the distance.
The Hermit’s delirious mutterings grew steadily closer.

– I must accept more shadows.

The Hermit seemed to have made a decision and was turning to leave.
But Han Yu-sung’s movements were faster.
Wreathed in shadow, Han Yu-sung surged forward, pushing off the ground with explosive force.

– The sound of wind? This is….

The Hermit sensed Han Yu-sung’s approach, but it was already too late.
A violent gust of wind tore through, and the shadow enveloping his body scattered.
Han Yu-sung clenched his fist.

Whoooosh!

– What manner of creature… Kgh, urgh!

A fist wreathed in crimson wind pierced through The Hermit’s heart.
Han Yu-sung didn’t stop there. He spun his body and swept his left arm in a wide arc. The War Flame clutched in his left hand carved through the air.
The blade’s trajectory aimed for The Hermit’s right arm.

Shhhhwack!

The arm that held the staff.
The swift blade severed The Hermit’s arm clean. The severed limb tumbled across the ground, and the staff clattered alongside it.

– Kraaaaaahhhhh!

The Hermit unleashed a roar wracked with agony.
Shadows filling the surroundings surged upward in response. The magic he conjured swept across the area, attempting to engulf Han Yu-sung.
But Han Yu-sung had already retrieved the staff and withdrawn.

– You, intruder… where… did you come from…!
“The main gate. It took considerable effort to slip in quietly.”

Han Yu-sung twirled the staff in his hand.
The Hermit’s eyes blazed with fury at the sight.

“It seems the effort was worthwhile. Don’t you think?”
– I will kill you…!

The Hermit began to move.
It was movement that defied the belief that his heart had been pierced.
The reason this was possible was likely because half of his body had transformed into a monster.
But it didn’t matter.

‘No matter how much of a monster he becomes, he can’t regenerate a heart.’

He would endure longer than a human, but eventually he would fall.
Until then, all I had to do was simple.

“Struggle all you want, monster.”
– Krraaaaaahhhhh!

Face The Hermit and wait for him to die.
And that was.

‘Boring.’

[How many times are you going to say it’s boring?]

For Han Yu-sung, it was far too easy.
Even if it wasn’t entertaining.

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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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