The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 323

—————

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 323

The Trial of God, the Righteous-Demonic War, had begun.
The Battlefield where the trial unfolded was vast and sprawling.
Forests, mountains, and caves dotted the landscape, a place where countless monsters lurked.
At opposite ends of this Battlefield stood the bases of each faction.
The Righteous Faction to the east, the Demonic Faction to the west.

[The Trial of God, the Righteous-Demonic War, begins now.]
[Red Blood Ming. You are stationed at the Evil Faction Base. From this moment forward, you must defend the ‘Symbol of Demonic Supremacy’ located here from attacks by the Righteous Faction. Should this symbol be destroyed, you will be defeated in the trial.]
[Only warriors of the Righteous Faction may attack the Symbol of Demonic Supremacy.]

Red Blood Ming opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was the Demonic Faction warriors summoned alongside him, and the vast yet dilapidated appearance of the Evil Faction Base itself.
At its center, a colossal symbol floated in the air.
Its form resembled a serpent coiled upon itself.

“So I must defend that.”

Perhaps it was fortunate, in a manner of speaking.
Since only members of the Righteous Faction could attack, he wouldn’t need to worry about immediate betrayals.

[The number of martial artists belonging to the Demonic Faction is five thousand.]
[Use all your forces to achieve victory in the Righteous-Demonic War.]

Red Blood Ming surveyed the personnel at the base.
The Demonic Faction forces participating in this trial numbered roughly five thousand. He could see the Blood Cult, the Demon Sect, the Ha-o Sect, the Assassination Guild, the Green Forest Alliance, and numerous other organizations.
And among them, countless wandering warriors as well.

“Damn it, the Demonic Faction…”
“We’re assigned to a faction with no chance of victory. I never wanted this.”
“…There’s no reason to risk our lives fighting.”

Unaffiliated wanderers drifting through the Murim.
Not a trace of fighting spirit could be found on their faces.
It was inevitable. They had originally supported the Righteous Faction.
But events did not unfold according to their wishes.

[You are a ‘Wanderer’ with no faction affiliation.]
[Choose which faction you wish to join: the Righteous Faction or the Demonic Faction.]
[You have selected the Righteous Faction. However, the Righteous Faction has already filled all necessary positions. You are forcibly assigned to the Demonic Faction!]

The Righteous Faction was already overflowing with personnel.
They needed no additional members. Thus, all the Wanderers who had applied to the Righteous Faction were forcibly reassigned to the Demonic Faction.
Fighting for an unwanted faction naturally drained their resolve.
But that wasn’t all.

“…Vice Sect Leader. Do you see any chance of victory?”
“Outside, they call me Sect Leader. The outsiders don’t know the leadership has changed. To answer your question: no. I see none.”
“Yes. The Wanderers’ skill level is low. And the Demonic Faction as well….”

The martial artists of the Demonic Faction here were relatively skilled.
But that was only “high” by Demonic Faction standards. Compared to the Righteous Faction participants in this Trial, they fell considerably short.
It was unavoidable. As powers like the Blood Cult and Demon Sect collapsed, the Demonic Faction had been severely shaken, while the Righteous Faction continued to grow.
That gap could not be closed in any short timeframe.

“At this rate… there is no chance of victory.”
“I agree.”

Red Blood Ming spoke calmly.
No possibility of winning appeared on the horizon.
He, Seven Evils, and the Blood Cult had grown rapidly with the help of the Lord of War and Han Yu-sung recently, but it remained insufficient.
Fighting the Righteous Faction on a limited scale was possible, but in a large-scale conflict, defeat was inevitable.
Even more so if the Alliance Leader or Dok-go Cheon appeared.

‘There is no way to defeat them in direct combat.’

Knowing his own level well, I could be certain of this.
The fortunate part was that there existed another means.

“…What did that person say they would do?”
“By now, they should have successfully infiltrated. For the moment, they said they would observe the Righteous Faction’s situation from a distance while maintaining their disguise….”
“It will take time for that person to make their move.”

Until then, we had no choice but to manage on our own.
The problem was that only members of the Demonic Faction had gathered here.
Red Blood Ming exhaled a deep sigh as I surveyed the faces of the Demonic Faction members present.

“It’s not my place to say this, belonging to the Blood Cult as I do, but still….”
“…There’s not a single soul to trust.”
“That’s right….”

The Demon Sect, which worshipped only strength under the logic of the strong.
The Assassination Guild, which would do anything for money.
The Green Forest Alliance, a band of brigands. And countless other unsavory organizations besides.
Among them, there was one organization that stood out as particularly unexpected.

“It’s surprising that the Ha-o Sect is even here.”

An information organization composed of those who belonged to the lower echelons of the Martial Arts World.
The organization’s survival instinct was tenacious, but their actual strength was unremarkable. Most of those belonging to the organization were little different from ordinary people.
The only noteworthy thing was.

“I heard the Sect Leader and his inner circle were formidable. Are they the ones?”
“That could be the case. Regardless….”
“Still, they are not to be trusted.”

The situation was approaching catastrophe.
Unlike the Righteous Faction, which could unite around the Martial Arts Alliance as a focal point.
The Demonic Faction had survival instinct ingrained in their very bones.

“I cannot fathom where a traitor might emerge from.”

This Trial had been opened with considerable time to spare.
It meant there was ample opportunity for contact. Among those in the Demonic Faction who saw no chance of victory, there were surely those who had made contact with the Righteous Faction.
There was a high likelihood they were plotting something.
However, that was not necessarily bad.

“Sect Leader. The role we are to play is….”
“Yes. To create the stage. If there is a traitor among them, and if we can turn that to our advantage….”

Red Blood Ming surveyed the martial artists of the Demonic Faction filling the space around her.
Eyes filled with different intentions gazed back.

“It will become an unprecedented opportunity for him.”

And we shall seize that opportunity and claim victory.
Red Blood Ming turned toward his unreliable ally.

* * *

The Righteous Faction and the Demonic Faction began to move.
The Demonic Faction members moved within their respective organizations, beginning to resolve the monsters and incidents near the Evil Faction Base.
Since they were difficult to unite and distrustful of one another, moving according to their original affiliations was only natural.
Meanwhile.

“We move with the Young Master!”
“Maintain formation! Eliminate the monsters blocking our path!”
“Await the Strategist’s orders. We hunt the Demonic Faction.”

The Righteous Faction moved in perfect discipline.
This was because the Martial Arts Alliance served as their central pillar. Moreover, the martial families affiliated with the Martial Arts Alliance participating in this Trial was significant.
They cooperated with one another, each fulfilling the role assigned to them.
And there was one more thing.

“The Alliance Leader watches over us. Forward!”
“Victory to the Martial Arts Alliance! Death to our wicked enemies!”

The presence of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader was immense.
The fact that the Leader himself participated directly in the Trial breathed courage into the warriors of the Righteous Faction.
Standing atop the City Walls, he watched the advancing warriors in silent contemplation.

“Strategist, this passive observation does not suit my temperament.”
“I am well aware, Alliance Leader.”

A lean man emerged from behind the towering Alliance Leader.
It was Je Gal Hwi, the Strategist of the Martial Arts Alliance.

“But now is not the time to act. Please, wait.”
“You speak of waiting for the right moment?”
“Yes. For the moment that shall soon arrive.”

Je Gal Hwi extended his hand.
A translucent sheet of paper materialized from nowhere.
Upon reading the characters inscribed upon it, a smile graced Je Gal Hwi’s lips.

“There’s no need to wait long. Thanks to the traitors within the Demonic Faction, we can see through their every move.”
“Is there someone in the Demonic Faction we should be wary of?”
“The Demon Sect has fallen, and the Ha-o Sect are opportunists not worth our concern. The rest are much the same. However.”

There was one piece of information that troubled me.
The paper in Je Gal Hwi’s hand began to burn.

“The Blood Cult seems to warrant our attention. Especially their leader, Red Blood Ming—he could prove to be a variable we cannot ignore.”
“Variables must be eliminated. Should any useful information regarding the Blood Cult come to light, report it immediately. And you understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
“…Yes, Alliance Leader.”

The Alliance Leader’s gaze shifted elsewhere.
Je Gal Hwi, catching the direction of that gaze, nodded in understanding.

“I will keep watch over Dok-go Cheon as well.”
“Mm.”

Dok-go Cheon.
He stood at the West Gate of the Main Base, preparing to venture out alongside the countless martial artists who followed him.

‘Dok-go Cheon… that man is troublesome.’

As one devoted to the Alliance Leader, he was a thorn in my side.
He was rapidly gaining renown through his remarkable prowess, and he was swiftly expanding his influence within the Martial Arts Alliance by exploiting its internal divisions.
Such a thing was possible because the Martial Arts Alliance harbored deep problems.

‘Arrogant clan dogs.’

I watched the sect masters departing on their hunt.
At first glance, they appeared united. Yet the Martial Arts Alliance had festered from within due to conflicts that had persisted for ages.
That conflict was the power struggle between the Alliance Leader and the Five Great Houses.
Dok-go Cheon was one who actively exploited that very discord.

“A greedy man. It seems he covets my position.”
“Yes. He likely hopes to gain greater renown through distinguished accomplishments in this Trial. It will be crucial to deny him such an opportunity.”

I must keep Dok-go Cheon in check while ensuring the Alliance Leader shines.
More brilliantly than anyone else.

“….”

The gaze of the Alliance Leader and strategist, which had been fixed on Dok-go Cheon, finally withdrew.
Sensing their attention shift away, Dok-go Cheon lifted his head.
A bitter smile flickered across his lips before vanishing.

[Wait for contact from the Assassination Guild. After that….]
“I understand.”

I knew precisely what I had to do.
Dok-go Cheon headed toward the Battlefield alongside those who followed him.
To face the transformation that would soon arrive.

* * *

And there was one who observed all of this unfold.
Needless to say, it was Han Yu-sung.

“Hmm….”

The Righteous Faction and the Demonic Faction.
After observing the circumstances of both forces, I reached a conclusion.

“Certainly, the Demonic Faction has virtually no chance of victory.”
[A harsh assessment. Yet an undeniable truth.]

I nodded in agreement.
While there was a disparity in overall military strength, the gap between the key players was far too vast.
First, there was Dok-go Cheon.
If it were only him, there might have been some hope.

“That man appears to be the Alliance Leader….”
[Indeed. His name was Lee Baek, if I recall correctly.]
“Lee Baek? An intriguing name.”

There was another formidable warrior.
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Lee Baek. A middle-aged man covered in scars from face to feet, his prominent musculature and the pair of swords at his waist left a striking impression.
His appearance was far removed from the typical image of an Alliance Leader.

[I hear he comes from a minor sect. Yet he achieved remarkable feats in war and rose to become the Alliance Leader—quite an impressive figure, wouldn’t you say?]
“Is that so? Certainly an impressive accomplishment.”

Lee Baek. A figure Han Yu-sung did not know.
He had died before their paths crossed in the previous life.
According to rumors, he was already a skilled martial artist, but he grew tremendously after obtaining a fortunate opportunity.
It was around that time he made a contract with the Lord of War.

[The situation within the Martial Arts Alliance appears complex. His reputation isn’t poor, but it seems he faces obstruction from other forces.]
“Hmm, a power struggle?”
[Well, what else would it be? It appears the Alliance Leader and other major sects have clashed for a long time. That must be the cause.]

To be honest.
I have no interest whatsoever in the power struggles within the Martial Arts Alliance.
But there will be those who take great interest in such struggles.

“Now then, Dok-go Cheon….”

I could see Dok-go Cheon and his warriors moving across the Battlefield.
My eyes gleamed coldly as I observed their movements.

“How will you move in this Trial?”

Dok-go Cheon will raise his blade against the Alliance Leader.
But that blade will never reach him.
Because before it does, he will drive it through his own throat.

—————

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

—————