The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 321

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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 321

I succeeded in killing Helud and absorbing his fragment.
After finishing the task, I rested for a while and observed the situation.
It was to confirm how the Battlefield of Good and Evil was unfolding.

[It seems they managed to complete the trial somehow. However, the casualties were so severe that it amounts to failure.]
“Hmm, it would have been better if they had failed.”

The Ballak Marquis, who had been commanding the Demon Forces, took to the battlefield himself and desperately mobilized everything at his disposal to resolve the trial.
The reason for the severe casualties despite all that was simple.

[According to the Lords, he became too indecisive. Two Demon Forces who held the rank of count died, did they not? It seems he couldn’t act in time because he was wary of the cause behind their deaths.]
“That’s a reasonable explanation.”
[Indeed. He couldn’t possibly know that you were the cause.]
“So, does it seem like the gods or the Lords have noticed my existence?”

Kakasha persistently gathered information about the Battlefield of Good and Evil and monitored the Lords’ community to gauge their opinions.
The result was.

[No, no one has noticed. However, there is much discussion about the ‘Veil of Pleasure’ that you used. But it seems they judge it to be the work of the Celestial Forces.]
“Fortune has favored me in many ways. Has the Lord of Pleasure noticed?”
[That one… do you not know?]
“True, he’s not a Lord one can easily read.”

I’ve already used every means available to me.
I’ve infused Kakasha’s power into the Mask of Pleasure as well.
It will be difficult for him to determine whether the Veil of Pleasure originated from my item.
And besides that.

[Even if he did figure it out, he doesn’t seem like the type to spread it around… but he’s the sort who would enjoy the confusion that stems from it.]
“Well, let’s just observe for now.”
[Very well.]

There’s no need to be careless.
After finishing my rest, I headed toward the Realm of War.
The realm was filled with cries of despair and screams.
Needless to say, they were coming from the Hall of Training.

“The Sanctuary seems to have grown larger. It looks like it’s expanding with each passing day?”
[It is indeed growing. We’re maintaining it by pouring in massive amounts of coins. We must prepare for what lies ahead, after all.]
“True, there is a need to maintain the Sanctuary.”

Various facilities were being installed throughout the Sanctuary.
Most of them were structures designed to prepare for combat.
City Walls, defensive installations, and facilities used to strengthen soldiers.
Of course, their effects were weaker compared to Unique Facilities.
Still, they would prove helpful in battle.

[And those fellows continue to grow as well. Especially the Blood Cult members—their progress is remarkably swift. They must have sensed something themselves.]
“Perhaps they were spurred on by the Blood Demon’s words.”

I had left them the means to survive through their own efforts, out of a sense of responsibility.
As Red Blood Ming himself had said, the Blood Cult’s failure to properly inherit and preserve the Blood Demon’s legacy left in the Blood Cult was their own mistake.
As if reflecting upon it.
The Blood Cult was devoted to grueling training in the Hall of Training.

“What of Red Blood Ming?”
[That one and the Seven Evils finished their training long ago and departed. They should be gathering intelligence from the Murim side….]

It seemed they had gone to collect information related to Dok-go Cheon.
Along with signs that the Trial of God would soon open.

[Ah, speaking of them, here they come.]

Kakasha turned his head.
A group of players emerged from the Portal in the Sanctuary.
Needless to say, it was Red Blood Ming and the Seven Evils.

“Welcome back, Sect Leader.”
“The moment I hear that title, all my strength drains away.”

Red Blood Ming and the Seven Evils prostrated themselves the instant they saw Han Yu-sung.
Witnessing this, Han Yu-sung exhaled a deep sigh.

“…Yes. You mentioned you went to gather information. Did you find anything worthwhile?”
“Yes. I was planning to report to you anyway, my Lord.”
“Hmm, it seems you found quite a bit?”
[The Blood Cult may have declined, but it’s still a considerable force.]

It appeared their intelligence network had tentacles reaching across various locations.
By recalling the scattered disciples who had left the Blood Cult and dispersed in all directions, they had gathered information spread throughout the Murim.
Red Blood Ming knelt respectfully and reported what he had learned.

“A Trial of God is scheduled to open in the Murim soon. A proclamation has appeared announcing it. The name appears to be the ‘Righteous-Demonic Great War.'”
“Righteous-Demonic Great War? Hmm….”
“Yes. As you can infer from the name, it’s a trial where the Righteous Faction, including the Martial Arts Alliance, and the Demonic Faction, including our Blood Cult, wage war against each other.”

The families of the Righteous Faction, including the Martial Arts Alliance.
And the forces of the Demonic Faction, including the Blood Cult and the Demon Sect.
It appeared they would wage war on the same battlefield in this trial.

“I don’t yet know the exact format. Perhaps we’ll only understand it after the trial begins….”
“Still, we can predict our chances of victory. Red Blood Ming, from your perspective operating in the Murim, do you think we can win?”
“To speak honestly….”

Red Blood Ming exhaled deeply and shook his head.

“It’s impossible. Whether it’s the Blood Cult or the Demon Sect, our forces aren’t what they once were. Particularly, the Righteous Faction has many outstanding talents. Conversely, our side has lost talented individuals—either they’ve departed or perished.”
“One of them being Dok-go Cheon, I presume.”
“Correct. The word ‘outstanding’ hardly does him justice. He’s someone who’s predicted to eventually claim the position of Alliance Leader, no matter when….”

It had actually come to pass.
The Dok-go Cheon I met in my previous life wielded authority as the Alliance Leader.
It seems he’s already earned considerable renown in the Murim at this point in time.
The one saving grace, however….

“However, the Current Alliance Leader doesn’t seem to have such intentions. Apparently, he doesn’t particularly favor Dok-go Cheon. I’m not certain exactly how things will unfold, though.”
“He doesn’t favor Dok-go Cheon? That’s unexpected. Is it personal ambition?”
“I doubt he’s that sort of person….”
“He’s not that sort of person?”

Red Blood Ming tilted his head, equally perplexed.

“Do you have any connection with the Current Alliance Leader?”
“Not with me, but my predecessor had dealings with him. And according to public opinion, he possesses character befitting his exceptional skill.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure if it’s wise to trust public opinion.”
“That’s true enough.”

Red Blood Ming hadn’t experienced it firsthand, but judging from his life’s trajectory, he was said to be far removed from personal ambition.
Yet such a man was opposing Dok-go Cheon’s ascension to Alliance Leader.

“With the Current Alliance Leader’s opposition, Dok-go Cheon’s position must be precarious. His recent frantic movements might stem from that.”
“He seems quite formidable for an Alliance Leader.”
“Yes. It won’t be easy to push him aside through force or authority alone. Though if the Alliance Leader were to lose his life under certain circumstances, the situation would change entirely.”
“Lose his life…”

I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
What had Dok-go Cheon been like in my past life? Had circumstances differed?
Likely not. Even then, he must have faced the previous Alliance Leader’s opposition.
Yet he ultimately became Alliance Leader.

‘Did he kill the previous Alliance Leader?’

I couldn’t be certain.
Even I didn’t know everything concerning the Murim.
But if I were in Dok-go Cheon’s position…

‘I would have eliminated him. If possible, with utmost discretion.’

Somewhere I could make it appear as though it wasn’t my doing.
And for that, the Trial of God would be perfect.
Especially in a battlefield like this one, where the Righteous Faction and Demonic Faction clash directly.

‘I could frame it as the Demonic Faction’s work.’

With the right stage set, it would be entirely feasible.
And if I personally eliminated the Demonic Faction, falsely accused of killing the Alliance Leader, I could gain the prestige that came with it.
Of course, I didn’t know Dok-go Cheon particularly well.
But I had heard things about him in my past life.

‘They said he was a man who obsessively craved power and strength.’

His actions after becoming the Alliance Leader followed the same pattern.
Could someone like that have become Alliance Leader cleanly?
Han Yu-sung didn’t think so. There was a high likelihood he’d orchestrated something underhanded.
And Geomson must have assisted him in that.

“I cannot speak to Dok-go Cheon’s character, but if he is truly as vicious as you suggest, it is certainly possible. The death of the Current Alliance Leader would create tremendous chaos over succession….”
“And in that chaos, Dok-go Cheon could emerge as a prominent figure.”
[Hmm, so you’re saying Dok-go Cheon might make a move during this Trial.]

More precisely, there existed that possibility.
It warranted observation.
If Han Yu-sung’s suspicions proved correct and Dok-go Cheon intended to make his move during this Trial.
Then I could turn that against him.

“If we achieve victory in this Trial, the rewards would be substantial?”
“Yes. For a Trial of this magnitude, the compensation will be enormous. Additionally, as the Lord mentioned….”
[So the Lords will make investments in the Battlefield of Good and Evil as well. Direct intervention seems difficult, but.]

The rewards flowing to the Blood Cult.
Combined with the rewards Kakasha would gain through his investments.
Together, they would secure truly staggering compensation.

“However, as I mentioned, our chances of victory are slim.”
“What if Dok-go Cheon and the other players were to die for some reason?”
“The odds would improve somewhat, but still… However, if the Current Alliance Leader were to withdraw from combat, the situation would change entirely.”

The Current Alliance Leader would command the Righteous Faction.
His withdrawal from battle would create massive confusion.
And if Dok-go Cheon, our next strongest force, were to withdraw as well?
The tide of battle would shift decisively in our favor.

“Red Blood Ming. You and Kakasha prepare for the Trial. We still have some time, so arm the Blood Cult as thoroughly as possible.”
“Understood. Many cult members will participate in this Trial. I will train them so they can give their absolute best.”
“Good. As for Dok-go Cheon, I’ll handle him myself.”

Regardless, I needed to observe Dok-go Cheon during this Trial.
That task fell naturally to me, who possessed the mask of the Lord of Pleasure.

[Hmm, I’ll need to spend quite a few coins this time. I’ve already spent plenty creating the SS-rank sacred artifacts, but kufufu! The coins keep flowing in!]

Kakasha spread both arms wide with delight.
Coins continued flowing in thanks to the Difficult Realms I had publicly revealed.
This greatly reduced the burden of arming my allies.

“Good. Then…”

I retrieved items from the Subspace.
The ‘Nameless Record’, and the legacy I had just obtained—’Incarnation of Greed’.

[The ‘Nameless Record’ has recognized a new legacy.]
[The Nameless Record and the legacy are resonating. You acquire one random skill recorded in the Nameless Record…]

The two items began to resonate with each other.
Soon, the Nameless Record emanated a thick demonic aura.

[Annihilation (SS)].
· Classification: Active.
· Condense demonic energy to its limit and thrust it through a spear. The released demonic energy pierces through enemies and destroys the surrounding area with overwhelming force. The greater the amount of demonic energy, the larger the scale of Annihilation and the greater the number of strikes.
· When seeking to pierce the heavens, this skill is strengthened.

The skill was bestowed upon me.
It was precisely a skill related to the ‘spear’ that I had desired.
Whether this was good fortune or something else entirely.

‘Did it know what I wanted and give it to me?’

I gazed quietly at the Nameless Record.
In truth, it didn’t matter either way.
What mattered was that I had gained power.
And that this power would aid me in what lay ahead.
That was enough.

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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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