The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 348

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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 348

The Hall of Justice in Seoul had been destroyed.
The news spread to all players in no time.
And naturally, it reached the Lords as well.

[The Hall of Justice? What on earth happened?]
[I heard the central core maintaining the structure was destroyed. The power contained within it went berserk and completely annihilated the building.]
[Hmm. At that level, wouldn’t a Lord have to be involved?]
[Indeed.]

Destroying a central core was impossible for players.
Only another Lord could accomplish such a feat.

[The problem is, we can’t figure out who did it. There are traces of a Lord’s power, but it’s impossible to determine. I thought it might be the Lord of War, but it doesn’t seem to be her.]
[Not the Lord of War?]

It was a situation that naturally bred suspicion.
The Lord of Justice possessed formidable power. Among the Lords bearing titles, she ranked among the highest, possessing strength that could be counted on one hand.
Naturally, there were not many Lords in opposition to her.
The reason was simple. She had already toppled any Lord who dared stand against her.
Wasn’t the Lord of War an example? So it seemed plausible that the Lord of War, having regained her strength, had taken revenge.

[It seems traces related to swords were left behind, but there should only be one or two. And there are circumstances suggesting the Lord of Pleasure was involved.]
[Does the Lord of Pleasure have reason to oppose the Lord of Justice?]
[No. In fact, it seems she’s gone into hiding.]

The Lord of Pleasure had little interest in warfare.
She cared only for things that stimulated her curiosity. There was no reason such a being would touch the Lord of Justice, with whom she had no prior connection.
It was utterly incomprehensible.
Yet one thing was certain.

[Hmm, the Lord of Justice must be quite wounded in pride.]
[Indeed. Her own temple was destroyed. Seoul on Earth is a place the Lord of Justice invested considerable effort in, isn’t it?]

For a Lord with such strong pride, it was a situation utterly unbearable.
Of course, that didn’t change anything about the outcome.
Regardless, it was a fascinating situation for the watching Lords.
The prideful Lord of Justice suffering such a devastating blow, and then wandering about in fury searching for the culprit—it was all deeply entertaining.
But the intrigue was far from over.

[The Lord of War has declared a Lord’s Duel against the Lord of Justice.]
[The Gods have accepted the Lord of War’s request. Should both Lords accept, special conditions will be unlocked in consideration of causality.]
[The Lord of Justice has not yet accepted the Lord’s Duel.]

A message materialized before the eyes of the Lords.
Upon reading it, the Lords’ eyes widened in shock.

[What? A… a Lord’s Duel?]
[This is… extraordinary.]

It was a situation that could only provoke astonishment.
Had the Lord of Justice declared a Lord’s Duel against the Lord of War, none would have been surprised. They would have found it perfectly natural.
But for the Lord of War to reverse the declaration and challenge back?

[Is she mad? She has a record of devastating defeat.]
[There’s no guarantee she won’t suffer the same fate this time…]
[Does she truly believe she can win?]

The Lords’ community erupted into fervent discussion.
A fallen Lord challenging the very enemy who had brought about her downfall to another Lord’s Duel.
It was an utterly captivating development.

[Why hasn’t the Lord of Justice accepted yet?]
[Hmm…]

The Lord of Justice had not immediately accepted the duel.
For her, there was no reason to refuse such a war.
I had thought that with her strength and the pride to match it, she would accept the Lord’s Duel without hesitation.
Yet she was hesitating.
Had the damage from the destruction of the Hall of Justice been so severe?

[It is a situation beyond comprehension…]

There was only one thing I could be certain of.

[How fascinating to wonder what will unfold from here on.]

Eager eyes turned toward the two Lords.

* * *

[Kufufufu….]

The Realm of War had grown desolate as many Oath-takers abandoned their posts.
Kakasha’s laughter echoed hollowly through the sacred realm.
Beside him stood Han Yu-sung, his expression worn thin with exasperation.

[Kufufufufu….]
“How much longer do you intend to keep laughing?”

I couldn’t help but grow weary of it.
He had been at it for hours now.
Of course, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand his feelings.

[How could I not laugh at such a situation! The opportunity for vengeance against the one who destroyed my mother has finally arrived!]
“Yes, well. I understand, but….”
[And that’s not all! We completely destroyed his stronghold. On top of that, we’ve seized the sacred relics that the Lord of Justice possessed!]

That much was true.
Ahn Byung-un, whom Han Yu-sung had slain, was destined to become an Apostle, and as such, he had possessed numerous sacred relics.
Multiple A-rank sacred relics, and one S-rank relic among them.
That S-rank relic was particularly intriguing.

[Fortress of Hymns (S-rank Sacred Relic)]
· An installation-type sacred relic created by the ‘Lord of Justice’. Upon use, it establishes a formidable fortress by drawing upon the owner’s sacred power.
· All stat attributes of the holder +50, sacred power +70%.
· Allied forces within the fortress receive ‘Blessing of Hymns’. This blessing comprehensively enhances the power of allies, capable of strengthening them by up to 70% depending on the user’s sacred power.
· Once the fortress is fully constructed, additional sacred power can be expended to summon multiple ‘Judges’ to defend it.
· When enemies approach the fortress, an ‘Aura of Retribution’ automatically manifests, diminishing the power of those who draw near.
· A destroyed fortress can be restored through the expenditure of sacred power.

Ahn Byung-un had constructed a fortress before his death.
It was so formidable that without Geomson’s power, it could not have been easily destroyed.
This was the sacred artifact that had created that fortress.

“This sacred artifact seems like it could be useful.”
[Hmm. We should adjust it appropriately so our forces can use it.]

I decided to do the same with the other sacred artifacts.
Given the war that would soon follow, I would need many sacred artifacts.

“It’s taking longer than I expected. I thought he’d accept immediately.”
[You speak of Achiros. Considering his pride, it wouldn’t be strange if he accepted outright. It seems he has much on his mind.]
“Well, given the circumstances, there’s no helping it.”

The Hall of Justice had been destroyed, and the culprit remained unknown.
Yet Kakasha had suddenly declared a Lords’ War. And this despite the sudden trial having drawn away much of his forces.
It was far too uncomfortable a situation to accept immediately.
But Achiros would eventually accept.

‘Because he has no reason to refuse.’

By now, Achiros would be assessing my situation.
Wondering if there was something I knew that he didn’t.
Whether the Lord of War possessed unexpected reinforcements or some hidden trump card.
And soon he would realize there was nothing of the sort.

‘War is inevitable anyway.’

That was my assessment.
Achiros was surely receiving divine assistance.
With the War Covenant Members absent due to their participation in the trial.
Now was the optimal moment for him to strike.

‘I could avoid the Lords’ War through compensation, but considering how long the trial might last, that’s not a good solution either.’

It could become a situation where I’d simply keep paying compensation endlessly.
And that compensation would only strengthen Achiros.
Neither I nor Kakasha desired such an outcome.
So.

‘I’ll buy time by attacking the opponent.’

Achiros had lost an Oath-taker along with considerable wealth.
Of course, the situation was still disadvantageous for our side. But Kaldrex and the Draken Tribe had not participated in the Trial.
Most importantly, Han Yu-sung remained.

‘If I utilize the Primordial Force….’

Achiros would certainly be wary of Han Yu-sung.
He knew that Geomson had been defeated by Kakasha and Han Yu-sung.
But he wouldn’t know how that defeat had come about.

[The opponent’s forces have diminished considerably. If you employ the Primordial Force you possess, it seems you could overturn this disadvantageous situation. And there are also things we obtained from Geomson’s Territory this time….]
“Right. If things get truly desperate, I can always resort to the ‘Heart Sword.'”
[I would prefer such a situation never arose.]

Han Yu-sung agreed with Kakasha’s sentiment.
The ‘Heart Sword’ was not something I wanted to use in a Lords’ Duel. If possible, I wanted to save it as a trump card for the Holy War Battlefield, for when I faced Achiros directly.
I had no choice but to navigate this situation using only the Primordial Force.
It would be entirely possible.

Kuuuuuung!

In that instant, the entire Sanctuary trembled.
The space before me split open, and words materialized.
There was no question who had sent them.

– Have you forgotten your humiliating defeat at my hands? Lord of War.
– Just as before, I shall strip you of everything you possess. Of course, including your life. This time, fortune will not favor you….

[The Lord of Justice has accepted the ‘Lords’ Duel.’]

As expected, Achiros had accepted the Lords’ Duel.
Han Yu-sung let out a soft laugh upon seeing the words he had sent.

“A textbook provocation. What do you think, Kakasha?”
[What is there to think? I simply wish to wash my eyes after reading such drivel. Hmph! Truly, I wish I had never laid eyes upon it.]

Kakasha grumbled in discontent.
In any case, Achiros accepted the Lords’ War as intended.
And then.

[Considering the karma between the two Lords, special conditions are now open.]
[This Lords’ War can open multiple Battlefields. Each victory on a Battlefield allows you to seize a Difficult Realm from your opponent. The Lord who seizes more Difficult Realms than their opponent achieves final victory.]
[Seize as many Difficult Realms as possible before the allotted time expires.]

Just as it had been in my past Lords’ War against the Lord of the Dead.
Not an ordinary Lords’ War, but a special one had opened.
For Han Yu-sung, it was the most welcome of news.

“Good, then…”

I turned my head.
At that moment, a Portal opened in the Sanctuary. Beyond it, Draken warriors led by Kaldrex were entering.
Achiros had accepted the Lords’ War.
What needed to be done from now on was simple.

“Let’s prepare for war.”

* * *

The Lords’ War would begin two days hence.
Time passed swiftly. Kakasha armed the Oath-takers as thoroughly as possible in preparation for the Lords’ War, and Achiros did the same.
Simultaneously, Achiros sought to gather as much information as possible.

‘The current situation is extraordinarily disadvantageous for the Lord of War.’

A thought continued to linger in Achiros’s mind.
That thought bestowed an unshakeable sense of unease.

‘Yet he declared the Lords’ War first. What is he aiming for? Does he possess confidence in victory even in these circumstances?’

From where did such confidence originate?
The fact that the Lord of War had eliminated Geomson weighed heavily on his mind. That even the Gods themselves did not know what had transpired troubled him deeply.
Thus, Achiros made every preparation within his power.
The Gods, including the Arbiter, supported him as well.

[A deep breath….]

At last, the dawn of the Lords’ War had broken.
Achiros gazed upon the vast expanse of the Universe that stretched before him.

[I cannot fathom what schemes you are weaving….]

And beyond that lay the Lord of War as well.

[Lord of War. You shall meet the very same fate.]

Just as it had been in the past.
That destiny would unfold identically once more.

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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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