The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 319

—————

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 319

Helud, the Count of the Demon Realm, was dead.
It was a pathetically anticlimactic end for someone who had been rapidly expanding his influence throughout the Demon Realm—almost unbelievable for a powerhouse of his caliber.
What emerged from his corpse was a tremendous aura.
A ‘Fragment’—born from the convergence of overwhelming power.

“So this is that Fragment.”

Something similar to this Fragment should be residing within Han Yu-sung’s body as well.
If what the Blood Demon had said was true, then the Fragment I possess must be far more massive than this one. It would wield proportionally greater power.

‘I’m genuinely curious to see just how immense it is.’

With that thought, I reached out my hand toward the Fragment.
The Fragment drew toward me as if pulled by an invisible force.

Shhhhhhhhh…

Helud’s Fragment settled into my body.
I felt the tremendous power contained within the Fragment spreading throughout my entire physique.
The power scattered across my body then coalesced once more, surging toward my heart.
Toward the location of the ‘Mad God’ I normally sensed there.
The moment the two Fragments made contact, a transformation occurred.

[You have absorbed the ‘Fragment of Wrath’.]
[The power contained within the Fragment adds a new effect to the ‘Mad God’.]
[When ‘Sovereign Annihilator’ activates, 【Wrath Calamity Fire】 activates. Physical abilities are further enhanced and you can freely manipulate the calamity fire. Additionally, skills related to calamity fire are added.]
[This calamity fire grows more fierce the stronger your opponent is.]

[Additionally, one of the latent potentials awakened by the Mad God is strengthened.]
[The drop rate of ‘Talent Fragments’ increases, and a special effect is added to the ‘Unique Ability’ obtained when using Fragments.]

The name of the Fragment that Helud possessed was ‘Wrath’.
The newly added effect to the Mad God was the ability to wield the calamity fire he had commanded.
And with it came a strengthening of the Mad God’s inherent potential.

‘Considering Helud’s unique ability, there’s nothing particularly strange about this.’

Helud had grown stronger by absorbing the power of enemies he devoured through his devouring flame.
Needless to say, that power too originated from the ‘Fragment’.
Since he had absorbed that Fragment.

‘It seems the latent potential of a similar lineage has been strengthened.’

Either way, this was nothing but beneficial for me.
And on top of that.

[The remaining power spreads throughout your entire body….]
[Your level has increased! All stats have risen significantly!]

There was even an effect akin to some sort of elixir.
I opened my status window.

[Han Yu-sung (Affiliation: Earth, South Korea (Grade B))]
· Level: 265.
· Class: Absolute Martial (武極)
· Unique Ability: Godly Descent (EX)
· Martial Force: 560 · Unyielding: 500 · Mana: 295
· Annihilation: 740 · Demonic Energy: 460

All my stats had clearly risen across the board.
Even ‘Annihilation’ and ‘Demonic Energy’—stats that wouldn’t normally increase from such effects.
Considering where the stats of Annihilation and Demonic Energy originated, it wasn’t particularly strange that both had increased from absorbing the Fragment.

‘The increase is quite substantial.’

Dozens of levels and stat points had risen at once.
The Fragment wasn’t finished here. There was still Dok-go Cheon, and surely others possessed Fragments as well.
If I gained increases like this each time….

“I’m pleased with this.”

I could accumulate tremendous power.
I was curious about what kind of Fragment Dok-go Cheon possessed, and what effects I would gain from absorbing it.
I picked up the item that had fallen beside Helud.

[Manifestation of Greed (Eternity)]
· A decision left behind by one whose name was never permitted. After experiencing countless trials, it has been twisted into a form far removed from its original state.
· The user can absorb the power contained within the crystal by embedding it into their body. In exchange, they gain transcendent strength, but at the cost of bodily mutation and being consumed by terrible madness.
· The price of this item cannot be removed.

Han Yu-sung’s expression grew peculiar as I examined the legacy.
An item that grants transcendent power in exchange for bodily mutation and inescapable madness.

‘Transcendent… Is that truly the extent of it?’

I recalled Helud, whom I had just faced.
Certainly he had grown stronger, but not to a degree I couldn’t contend with.
Considering that, was the price truly worth paying?

“I’ll need to think about this for now.”

One aspect troubled me.
The part that said it had been “twisted into a form far removed from its original state.”
If it had become this item through distortion, wouldn’t there be a way to restore it to its original form?
Finding that might prove useful.
I placed the Manifestation of Greed into my Subspace.

‘I’ve gained another skill through the Nameless Record.’

Regardless, it was a worthwhile reward.
And there was one more thing—a sacred relic that The Wanderer had given to Helud. But it had cracked, its power exhausted from his use.

[Soul of Slaughter (S-Rank Sacred Relic)]
· A sacred relic of The Wanderer, Salseong. Within it dwell the souls of those who once served Salseong and those whom Salseong slew.
· When the relic is activated, countless souls contained within it dwell within the user. In that moment, the body is strengthened and the combat knowledge of those souls can be utilized. Additionally, special skills related to Salseong can be employed.
· In exchange, control of the body is surrendered to the spirits.
· The more slaughter is committed, the stronger the relic’s effects become.

Though cracked, it could still be used.
It looked so fragile that one more use would shatter it completely.

“This one’s awkward to use as well.”

But it was certainly an intriguing sacred artifact.
Especially the fact that I could wield special skills related to Salseong.
Once I hand it over to Kakasha, he’ll devise ways to use it on his own.
Han Yu-sung deposited the sacred artifact into the Subspace, then meticulously collected every item that Helud and Berias possessed.

‘I think I’ve gathered everything worth taking.’

The sacred artifact, the inheritance, and most importantly, Helud’s ‘Fragment’—the very objective I’d come for.
Now all that remained was to slip away from this place unscathed.

“I’ll need to escape as discreetly as possible.”

The veil’s duration was running short.
Han Yu-sung mentally counted down the remaining time, then activated ‘Transformation’ through his mask while simultaneously casting ‘Veil of Night’ to conceal his form.
Once the veil dissipated, the corpses of Helud and Berias would be exposed, triggering widespread chaos.
I would slip away in that confusion.
He prepared to move swiftly.
Right at that moment.

[The Fragment bears the traces of The Wanderer. You can reverse-track the location of that Wanderer.]
[Would you like to proceed with tracking?]

“This is a message I didn’t anticipate.”

An unexpected message had appeared.
A message stating I could track The Wanderer’s location.
This must be the method the Blood Demon mentioned for fighting Geomson.

‘So absorbing the Fragment allows me to track The Wanderer’s location?’

The name of The Wanderer contracted with Helud was Salseong.
If I absorbed the Fragment that Dok-go Cheon possessed, I would be able to track Geomson—The Wanderer contracted with him.
What significance could tracking a Wanderer’s location possibly hold?
I’d have to ask Kakasha about that.

“Things are getting interesting. Well, for now….”

Han Yu-sung lowered his stance.
The ‘Veil of Hwanrak’ that had blanketed the surroundings was beginning to fade.

“I’ll think about it after we safely leave this place.”

* * *

At that very moment.
The Demon Forces stood motionless, their gaze fixed on a single point.

“What, what is that? That’s….”
“A massive, curtain? Why did that suddenly appear?”

A dome-shaped curtain suddenly materialized in the center of the Battlefield.
It was the Curtain of Hwanrak, created by Han Yu-sung.
The abruptly manifested curtain swallowed Helud and Berias whole.

“Lord Helud is trapped inside! Destroy that curtain!”
“We must save Lord Berias! Faster than those bastards!”
“Move! Hurry!”

The Demon Forces, who had been staring blankly at the curtain, finally sprang into action.
They couldn’t fathom what this curtain was. They didn’t know what would happen if they destroyed it. But they had to destroy it immediately and save the Count.
The Demon Forces desperately unleashed their attacks upon the curtain, but.

“It, it’s not working at all?”
“What is this….”

The Lords observing the Battlefield felt equally bewildered.
A ‘curtain’ that appeared without warning.
Curiosity burned within them—what was transpiring inside?
So they attempted to peer into the curtain’s interior, but.

[…We cannot see inside either?]
[How audacious! Who dares prevent me from observing my Oath-taker!]

The Lords found themselves equally unable to interfere with the curtain.
Even the Lord contracted with Berias was the same. Caught off guard by this unforeseen turn, he raged and attempted to interfere with the curtain, yet found himself unable to do so.
A formidable power barred the Lords from any interference.

[This is no feat a mere player could accomplish. A Lord with considerable power must be involved. However….]
[Yes, a veil of this magnitude cannot be sustained for long.]
[At most, a few minutes. Far too brief, utterly meaningless time.]

The Lords swiftly regained their composure.
Surprising, perhaps, but hardly cause for alarm.
Inside that veil lay Helud and Berias, along with an adversary of unknown identity.
Whether that adversary was singular or plural remained unclear.
In truth, it mattered little either way.

‘Those who bear the rank of Count cannot possibly fall.’

They were far too formidable to perish in mere minutes.
The Lords’ reasoning was impeccably sound. The Demon Forces who heard their thoughts regained their composure as well, waiting for the veil to dissipate.
Each watching the other warily, awaiting the return of the Count they served.
And then.

Ssssshhhhhhh….

“The veil is fading!”
“Ready yourselves! The moment our Count returns, we strike the enemy!”

All eyes converged as the veil dissolved.
The interior came into view—scorched earth ravaged by raging hellfire.
And the grotesque corpse of Berias, lifeless.

“B-Berias, my Lord!”
“The Count is… dead? That would mean….”

Berias, who had been sealed within alongside Helud, was dead.
His form charred as if consumed by hellfire.
Helud’s involvement in Berias’s death was unmistakable.
Which meant Helud had survived.
Helud’s subordinates frantically searched for their master.

“…!”

Their faces swiftly contorted with shock.
It could not have been otherwise.

“Th-that…”
“H-Helud, sir!”

Not far from Berias lay another corpse, equally gruesome and mangled.
Needless to say, it was Helud’s body.
Both Helud and Berias were dead.
And this had happened mere minutes after the barrier appeared.

[Both of them… are dead?]
[B-Berias! No! How much have I invested in that Demon Force! If he dies like this, all my coins invested in him…!]

“What in the world…?”
“The… the Counts are dead.”

Both the Lords and the Demon Forces recoiled in shock at this unforeseen turn of events.
The Demon Forces hastily examined the bodies of the two Counts.

“Did they kill each other? No, if it were mutual destruction, the wounds wouldn’t… these aren’t wounds from Berias. This was done by someone else.”
“S-search the surroundings! There must be someone who killed them both!”
“This isn’t the time for us to fight each other! Find the enemy!”

Helud and Berias.
Both had fallen by a third party’s hand. Since the barrier had only recently vanished, the culprit was likely still nearby.
They had to find this beast at any cost!
The two factions set aside their animosity and searched for the murderer of the two Counts, but.

“There’s nothing. No matter how thoroughly we search the area…!”
“Damn it!”

It was already too late.
Han Yu-sung, the one they sought, had already left the vicinity.
All that remained were the lifeless bodies of Helud and Berias.

[…]
“…”

And the dazed Lords and Demon Forces.

—————

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

—————