The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 278

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 278

Concealed by the Veil of Night, Han Yu-sung moved with utmost discretion toward the location of the Hunting Wreckage Ship.
The Hunting Oath-takers were particularly skilled in hunting and reconnaissance.
To avoid detection, I had to move with extreme caution.

“Scout the perimeter! We need to identify what enemies are present!”
“We can move once the reconnaissance is complete.”

The Hunting Oath-takers had already divided their forces.
Just as Han Yu-sung had done, they had sent some of their members separately to map the surrounding geography and conduct reconnaissance.
This presented an excellent opportunity for me.

– Screeeee!
“Hmm, a messenger bird has arrived.”
“It seems to be from those sent to scout for resources. I should report this to the Apostle.”
“I’ll take it.”

At that very moment, a messenger bird descended from above.
The mana-formed messenger bird soared toward the highest point of the wreckage, where it approached the woman standing there.
It was the Apostle of Hunting. With her skill active and her senses vigilant over the surroundings, finding the right moment to strike proved difficult.

“Apostle! The messenger bird has arrived. It carries a map documenting the geography of the surrounding area. If you would examine it—”
“Bring it here.”

And now, the moment Han Yu-sung had been waiting for arrived.
Adriel, the Apostle of Hunting, extended her arm to receive the messenger bird.
In that instant, her attention was momentarily drawn entirely to the bird.

‘Now.’

Han Yu-sung pushed off the ground with explosive force.
I felt the Black Sword in my grip greedily absorbing the dark mana around me.
The blade soon erupted with an ominous radiance.

Whoooosh!

Phantoms composed of demonic energy surrounded the Hunting faction.
Adriel and the Hunting Oath-takers stared in shock.
They attempted to react, but it was already too late.

Kwaaaaaaang!

Han Yu-sung’s phantoms unleashed their skills in unison.
Blood Storm Fist Art, Halden-style Swordsmanship, Annihilation Fire Leg Technique, Heavenly Thunder Sword Art, Celestial Blood Ten-Thousand Sword.
Countless skills released by the phantoms crashed down upon the Hunting faction.
The assault shook the entire area with the momentum to destroy everything.

“What is this… Krraaaagh!”
“Ugh, gaaaaaaah!”

Screams echoed from all directions.
Adriel’s eyes widened as he witnessed the skills descending upon them.
Was this even possible? Could a player truly unleash skills of this magnitude simultaneously?

‘That cannot be.’

Adriel assessed the situation calmly and quickly understood.
They were weak. Multiple skills crashed down with tremendous force, yet their actual power was far less than their appearance suggested.
This was something he could defend against.
With the sacred relics of Hunting at his disposal, it was possible.
Having made this judgment, Adriel chose defense over evasion.

“Uh, wh…?!”

And that was the moment I had been waiting for.
The phantoms vanished after releasing their skills. Through the dispersing demonic energy, I alone remained and charged forward at tremendous speed.
Adriel gasped at my velocity and deployed his sacred relic.

破天.

The power of Breaking Heaven swept through everything.
The defensive barrier of the sacred relic surrounding Adriel, the Hunting Oath-takers in the vicinity—nothing was spared.
A tremendous impact shook Adriel’s body.

‘At this rate…!’

I’m going to die.
Adriel spat blood and gripped her bow tightly.
She was trying to counterattack by any means necessary. But Han Yu-sung passed by her as if she were beneath his notice. His gaze had already fixed beyond her.
Directly toward where the Hunting Wreckage Ship’s flag stood.

“No, this can’t be! The enemy is targeting the flag! Right now, immediately——!”
“Stop them? We can’t let that happen!”
“Graaaaaaah!”

Han Yu-sung charged toward the flag.
Chu Gyu-il and Sung Ha-yan rushed in to intercept him, unleashing a barrage of attacks on Adriel, who was desperately trying to summon her mana.
At the same moment, the War Covenant Members who had been waiting joined the fray.

“Go! Block the enemies from reaching the Apostle!”
“Don’t overextend! There’s no need to die here! Our objective is to shackle the enemies’ movements! Remember that and act accordingly!”
“These… these bastards——!”

The enemy’s numbers were still overwhelming.
Though they were in chaos now, there was no telling what would happen once they regained their composure. It meant there was no time to waste on unnecessary delays.
Therefore, the War Covenant Members focused on shackling the enemies’ movements from a distance rather than engaging them head-on.
The purpose of all these actions was singular.

“Stop him! I’m telling you to stop that bastard!”

To seize the Hunting Wreckage Ship’s flag.
Adriel screamed desperately, but no one could answer her call. Han Yu-sung had already closed the distance to the flag in an instant.

[You have approached the 【Lord’s Flag: Hunting】.]
[When holding a Lord’s Flag, you can forcibly subjugate the target Oath-takers by breaking and absorbing the opposing Lord’s Flag.]

I seized the Hunting Wreckage Ship’s flag.
Following the message’s instructions, I snapped the flag with all my strength.
Crack! The flag broke in half. A tremendous force leaked from the broken edge, seeping into the Lord’s Flag I possessed.

[You have absorbed the 【Lord’s Flag: Hunting】.]
[The Hunting Oath-takers are now subjugated to the War Covenant faction!]

That was the end of it.
I drove the flag forcefully into the ground, gripping it tightly.

“Kneel.”
“Ugh…!”

Boom!
Upon hearing that command, the Hunting Oath-takers fell to their knees in unison.
An irresistible force compelled them to do so.
Adriel glared at Han Yu-sung with clenched teeth.
Yet nothing had changed.

“Phew! I barely made it out alive again. If I keep pulling off these insane stunts, I won’t last long—I’m telling you, I’ll be dead before I know it.”
“Grrrrgh….”
“Hey! Someone calm Sung Ha-yan down!”

The War Covenant Members exhaled sighs of relief.
Fortunately, there were no casualties. But had anything gone even slightly wrong, the damage would have been catastrophic.
I suppose we should count ourselves lucky that it worked out.

“Apostle. What should we do with the Hunting Oath-takers?”
“Gather them in one place. They’ll prove to be useful personnel.”
“Understood.”

The War Covenant Members began collecting their defeated enemies in one location.
Han Yu-sung watched the scene unfold, his mind drifting back to the battle that had just concluded.
More precisely, to the moment when he had used ‘Afterimage’.

‘The skill’s power is certainly weaker than the original, that much is clear.’
[It does seem that way. Wasn’t it supposed to deal only 50% of the original power? Hmm. From what I observed, it seemed even weaker than that….]

Moreover, the mana consumption had been enormous.
I had only created five ‘Afterimages’ this time, yet I felt the mana drain was substantial.
The power seemed even less than 50% of the original.

‘The more mana I use, the stronger the effect becomes, or so it was said.’

Perhaps the 50% power was only achieved when I expended mana to its maximum.
Since I had held back considerably this time, the power would naturally be inferior.
In any case, it was a useful effect in multiple ways.

“…What are you planning to do with us?”

Adriel spoke to Han Yu-sung, who was lost in thought.
Her face was etched with humiliation and rage.
She couldn’t accept the situation she now found herself in.
Han Yu-sung ignored her and focused on the message that appeared before his eyes.

[You have subjugated a new faction.]
[When you complete the Wreckage and escape the Collapse Point, you may board the subjugated faction onto the Wreckage and escape together. At that time, the subjugated faction can receive Trial rewards based on their contribution. Alternatively, you may abandon them and leave.]
[If you wish, you may discard them and depart.]

It was an intriguing message.
Would he take those he’d made subordinates aboard the Wreckage and escape together?
Or would he leave them at the Collapse Point and depart?
Two choices had been presented to him.
Han Yu-sung informed Adriel of these options.

“That… what do you mean…?”
“Things have become quite interesting, haven’t they?”

Adriel’s eyes trembled violently as she looked up at Han Yu-sung.
Being left at the Collapse Point was tantamount to death. Without the Wreckage to save them, they would perish helplessly.
In other words, their lives and deaths now rested in Han Yu-sung’s hands.
Naturally, he intended to exploit this to the fullest.

“Fight for us during this Trial. If you do your utmost, I will grant you escape from this place.”
“…And if we cannot?”
“I don’t think there’s any need to elaborate further.”

He meant he would abandon them here and leave.
Crunch! Adriel clenched her teeth in humiliation.
To suffer defeat the moment the Trial began. And worse, to become a slave to another faction. It was unbearable shame.
The only consolation was that there remained a way to survive.
And the Lord of Hunting desired this as well.

[Since the hunt has failed, it is only natural to pay the price. My incompetent Apostle, you must pay that price with your own hands, must you not?]
“…Yes, my Lord.”

For the Lord of Hunting, it was a proposal with no reason to refuse.
The lives of the Apostle and the Oath-takers could be preserved, and if escape succeeded, they could even obtain rewards of sorts.
Of course, the displeasure of the situation remained unchanged.

[How absurd. How long has the Trial been running, and they’re already eliminated? Did I choose the wrong Apostle? Or was it simply misfortune?]

It was utterly ridiculous.
I had heard stories about Han Yu-sung. Recently, he had gained tremendous renown by toppling the Lord of the Dead.
But I never expected the gap in strength to be this wide.

[Tsk, there’s nothing to be done about it….]

The Lord of Hunting clicked his tongue.
This Trial offered little room for direct intervention by the Lords. It was a Trial where the Oath-takers and the Unique Facilities we had accumulated thus far were paramount.
Since we had been outmatched among the Oath-takers, there was no way around it.
The Lord swallowed his displeasure and withdrew from the Trial.

“Very well, you heard what the Lord said, yes?”
“….”

Only the Hunting Oath-takers remained.
Their faces were deathly pale. They could already envision the treatment they would receive after the Trial ended.
Han Yu-sung patted Adriel on the shoulder.

“You should have a map obtained from scouting this area. Use it to gather nearby resources, then we head to where our Wreckage Ship is located.”
“…Understood.”
“Good—you grasp situations quickly.”

Han Yu-sung turned away with a faint smile.
He could see the Oath-takers of the two remaining factions watching him.

“We move in five minutes. Prepare as quickly as you can!”

There was no time for complacency.
The War Covenant Members, now reinforced with a new faction, set out once more.

* * *

Resource gathering, conquest of nearby factions—
Having achieved the objectives I had set, I returned to the Wreckage Ship.
Fortunately, the ship remained unharmed during my absence.

“You’ve arrived, Commander. The players in the back are….”
“Hunting Oath-takers. They’ll work for us during this Trial. Did anyone come looking for this place while I was away?”
“We spotted what appeared to be scouts, but they retreated immediately upon confirming our presence.”

Those must be the factions positioned some distance from here.
They’re the ones who could attack this location while Han Yu-sung is absent. I need to prepare countermeasures to defend against them.

“…Where should I place the resources we brought?”
“Set them in front of the Mana Core.”

All the necessary materials were already prepared.
The Hunting Oath-takers had deposited all manner of resources in front of the Mana Core.
Mana ore, steel ingots, timber, and various other materials….
These would be transformed into the ‘Unique Facility’ to protect the Wreckage.
Han Yu-sung stood before the Mana Core.

“Well then, shall we begin.”

It was time to construct the Unique Facility.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————