The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 289

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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 289

The Trial of God had opened for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
At the Collapse Point, the Lord of War claimed victory once more.
In truth, people had long since stopped reacting with surprise.

“Han Yu-sung has won more times than I can count.”
“It’s obvious Han Yu-sung must have played a decisive role in this victory too, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. According to the records, he was indeed crucial. Though I must say, his Oath-takers under his command also performed remarkably well.”

Everyone had grown accustomed to Han Yu-sung’s victories.
Yet a sense of helplessness was unavoidable. Especially for foreign powers and players.
This trial came with a tantalizing reward.

[The nation supported by the ‘Lord of War’, South Korea, receives additional rewards based on the trial’s outcome!]
[Korea’s national rank is elevated!]
[All national buffs possessed by Korea are strengthened! Additionally, you gain the privilege to significantly enhance a national buff of your choosing!]
[Furthermore, you are granted the authority to select a new national buff!]
[Korea may install a special ‘facility’ within its territory!]

For other nations, it was a reward that made them drool with envy.
For Korea, it was a reward that could only elicit cheers.

“W-wait, the national rank is rising? Does that mean we’re now Grade A?”
“Grade A? It feels like just yesterday we were worried about being demoted…”
“But what exactly changes when we become Grade A?”
“National buffs… and facilities must mean something like the Divine Training Ground, right? I heard that facility is why we’ve been seeing so many talented new players lately.”

For now, the exact nature of the rewards remained unclear.
One thing was certain: it would bring tremendous benefits to Korea.
And the authority to choose these remarkable rewards belonged entirely to one person.

“What will you choose, Han Yu-sung?”
“I’m not sure yet…”

Han Yu-sung alone held that power.
A space within the Player Alliance accessible only to VIPs.
In the expansive Conference Room, I felt the weight of countless gazes upon me.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of pressure.’
[At this rate, we’ll be overwhelmed. How many people are staring at me?]
‘That’s exactly what I was thinking.’

Dozens of people were gathered in the Conference Room alone.
Beyond that, there were hundreds more present for security purposes.
Every single one of them held high-ranking positions in either the Government or the Alliance.

“Since you and the War Covenant Members have obtained these rewards, it’s only right that you make the choice. We did promise this to you before, after all.”
“Yes, well. That’s certainly true.”
“So I’ll leave it to you. Choose carefully.”

Jain, the leader of the Player Alliance, made the request with a solemn expression.
The Government and Alliance officials behind her wore the same gravity.

[These aged ones, with their burdensome gazes….]
‘Tell me about it.’

There was one curious thing, though.
Everyone seemed to have no objection to whatever Han Yu-sung chose.
I suspected Jain had coordinated things beforehand.
In any case.

‘There are roughly three things I need to choose.’

A national buff to significantly strengthen, a new national buff to add.
And the installation of a new national facility.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Han Yu-sung made his decision.

[You have selected the new national buff: ‘Buff Duration Increase’.]
[The national buff ‘All Stat Increase’ has been significantly enhanced.]
[The new national facility ‘Library of God’ has been added.]

[National Buff: All Stats +35%, Experience Acquisition +40%, Attack and Defense Increase +20%, Player Awakening Rate +15%, All Buff Effects Enhanced 1.5x, Buff Duration Increase +50%.]

[Library of God.]
[The Library of God is established in Seoul. This library contains skill books filled with various combat techniques and magic. You can freely purchase desired skill books using ‘National Contribution Points’. Awakened Players are granted a baseline amount of National Contribution Points.]
[The highest grade of skill books currently available for purchase is Grade B. If a skill of a certain grade is purchased beyond a specific quantity, that grade becomes sold out. Sold-out grades are automatically restocked after a certain period of time.]

The Library of God.
Simply put, it was a shop where one could purchase skills.
Of course, its limitations were clear.
The number and variety of skills were restricted, and skills above a certain grade didn’t stock there at all.

‘It’s not a facility that will be of great use to me.’
[Hmm. The grades are far too low. You have your own body, do you not? If you need skills, you can simply purchase them with coins.]

The Divine Training Ground was much the same.
But this facility would prove useful in cultivating novice players.
The frequency of falling for the shallow schemes the Lord of Knowledge had once devised would diminish. In that sense, it was a worthwhile facility.

“The Library of God….”
“An excellent facility indeed. Currently B-grade is the maximum, but if players grow here, we could raise the maximum grade further, could we not?”
“Precisely. Our nation’s players will love it. It should also serve well to attract foreign players with nowhere else to go.”

Pleased with the national facility Han Yu-sung had chosen, those gathered in the Conference Room nodded with satisfied expressions.
Jain was no exception. As the leader, there was no reason to dislike such a facility.
What pleased her most, however, was this:

‘The public sentiment toward Han Yu-sung and the Lord of War will only improve.’

Currently, their public sentiment in Korea was soaring to the heavens.
Among novices, so many wished to become War Oath Sworn that they formed lines, and even players with existing affiliations harbored such thoughts.
For Jain, it was an extremely satisfying trend.

‘I don’t know how he managed it, but Han Yu-sung maintains a close relationship with the Lord of War. Not as lord and oath-taker, but as friends.’

Perhaps that was why.
The Lord of War showed no interest in other nations.
Her interest lay solely in Han Yu-sung and the nation to which he belonged.
Fortunately, Han Yu-sung harbored no interest in foreign lands either. He had no intention of leaving Korea; rather, he was focused on developing it.

‘Supporting those two within my capacity is the right course of action.’

To allow as many talented novices as possible to join their ranks.
And to ensure no one appeared to needlessly obstruct those two.
Naturally, there were those among Korea’s upper echelons who harbored concerns.
Worries that too much power was being concentrated in their hands, and so forth.

‘How utterly pathetic.’

Jain knew the truth.
She knew how Korea had been fading in the Player society. No—it hadn’t merely faded; it had been crumbling.
She knew how people like Lee Su-ho and the Lord of Justice had seized upon the cracks, attempting to seize Korea for themselves.
She could not allow such vultures to emerge again.
Instead.

‘Making it so no one else could covet their positions…’

That was Jain’s calculation.
And both Han Yu-sung and Kakasha understood her thinking.

[From our perspective, there’s nothing particularly disadvantageous about it.]
‘Well, as long as we enjoy it within reasonable bounds.’

Amid the cascade of gleaming gazes.
Han Yu-sung sipped his tea with unhurried composure.

* * *

Before long, the Divine Library was established in Seoul.
It was the second national facility, following the Divine Training Ground.

“…So you’re saying we can acquire skills freely?”
“Not exactly—you need to accumulate national contribution points. But since there are basic offerings, even newly awakened individuals should be able to find what they need.”
“Wow, this is… actually incredible?”

The Players who explored the Divine Library marveled at what they found.
The sheer expanse was overwhelming to those who entered.
More than half the shelves still stood empty, yet the remaining half overflowed with skill books of every description.

“Hmm, with this in place, fewer novices will resort to contracting with just any Lord out of desperation for skills. They’ll be able to find what they need.”
“Beyond novices, it’ll be invaluable for lower-level Players as well.”
“Indeed. And if the facility grows stronger from here, all the better.”

For the Players, it was a facility they could only be satisfied with.
For the mediocre Lords who preyed upon ignorant novices, it was a facility infuriating enough to burn down on the spot.

“So, the War Oath Sworn brought this facility here?”
“I heard they earned quite a bit of compensation from this trial….”
“Han Yu-sung is there anyway. Should I try joining?”

And so, quite naturally.
Interest converged on those who had brought this facility. That interest quickly transformed into a desire to join, and countless players flooded into the Arca Building.
Han Yu-sung, who had been in his office, gazed at the line stretching before the building.

“…Remarkably numerous. How many do you think that is?”
[Surely well over several thousand? If we count those already inside the building, it might even reach ten thousand….]
“You’re telling me I have to interview all of them.”

Han Yu-sung felt a headache coming on.
Fighting would be preferable to this repetitive drudgery.
Of course, those suffering far more than Han Yu-sung right now were the War Oath Sworn members on the 1st Floor greeting applicants and processing paperwork.

“…Just thinking about reviewing those documents gives me a headache.”
[Must you not separate the wheat from the chaff using your memories? Do not worry. I have quite a keen eye for talent myself.]
“How about you handle all of it this time to prove that discernment?”

No response came back. That meant he didn’t want to.
Han Yu-sung, seated on the sofa, buried himself deep into the backrest.

“First, I need to finish the tasks I have to do before that.”
[So you’ve decided to procrastinate on the things you don’t want to do.]

Kakasha had struck a nerve.
Separate from that, the time had come.
Time to use the rewards obtained from this trial.

‘The Aura of a Lord, the Power of Awakening. And the Transcendent’s Hammer.’

Three items lay upon the table.
I could feel each item radiating formidable power.
So then, where would these items be used?
That had already been decided.

[‘Power of Awakening (Mythic)’ has been infused into ‘Blood Demon Sword (Mythic)’. The latent power within the Blood Demon Sword awakens, and its grade rises by one tier!]

Han Yu-sung didn’t hesitate. He activated the item.
A message materialized before his eyes. Tremendous power emanating from the ‘Awakening Force’ infused the Blood Demon Sword, and brilliant light swept across the surroundings.
And moments later, the result revealed itself.

[Blood Demon Sword (Eternity)]
· Slot: Weapon (Sword)
· Attack Power: 1000.
· Attack Power +120%, Defense Power –20%, Attack Speed +40%.
· Blood-type Skill Damage +120%, Defense Penetration +40%.
· Enhances Sword-type Skills by 90% and adds ‘Blood Attribute’. Additionally, absorbs surrounding blood to strengthen the next Blood-type Skill to be unleashed.
· The more you wield this sword, the more the user becomes enchanted by it….
· You can freely use 【Blood Realm】. Blood-type Skills can be used without conditions, with enhanced damage and range, and reduced cooldown times. Additionally, regeneration is greatly enhanced.
· This weapon ‘grows’ alongside its user.

“Huh?”

Han Yu-sung’s expression became peculiar as he examined the item.
There was no helping it. The item had certainly grown stronger.
But was it truly strong enough to befit an ‘Eternity’ grade?
No, for an Eternity-grade sword, it seemed somewhat lacking.
Had I chosen the wrong target for this item?

Ssssssshhhhh…!

The moment Han Yu-sung harbored that thought.
As if refuting his doubt, the Blood Demon Sword erupted with radiant light.
Soon after, another transformation occurred.

[The sufficiently matured ‘Blood Demon Sword’ observes you….]
[The Blood Demon Sword has reached its judgment. You have proven worthy of inheriting the ‘Secret Art’ hidden within the Blood Demon Sword. The Secret Art is being transmitted.]
[Skill ‘Thousand Blood Ten Thousand Swords (SS)’ is being removed.]
[You have acquired the Blood Demon’s Swordsmanship, ‘Blood Heavenly Demon Blade (SSS)’!]

“This is….”

Han Yu-sung’s eyes widened as he read the messages.

“…Completely unexpected?”

An entirely unexpected reward had rolled in.

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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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