The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 37

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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 37

Han Yu-sung made his way to the Star Battlefield.
An expansive white expanse stretched before him, and beyond it lay an infinite cosmos whose boundaries defied comprehension.
He gazed through the transparent barrier at the universe beyond for a moment.

[Welcome to the Star Battlefield.]
[This is where Contractors from countless worlds gather. Various battlefields have been prepared for the Contractors. Participate in the battles for the Lords, for coins, and for rewards.]
[☆ A special event is currently underway! ☆]

Creatures from multiple worlds wandered through the Lobby.
The puppet I had seen before was nowhere to be found. Except for the first time I entered the Star Battlefield, it only appeared when I desired it, so I wouldn’t encounter it for some time.

[☆ A special event targeting Earth is currently underway! ☆]
[☆ Prove your prowess at the Snake Ruin! ☆]
[☆ We are currently recruiting participants! 98 spots remaining! An exceptional opportunity for those ranked Bronze at minimum to Silver at maximum! ☆]
[☆ Betting up to 10,000 coins is permitted! If the participant you bet on clears the Ruin the fastest, you can earn rewards up to 10 times your wager! ☆]
[☆ Additional Star Points will also be provided! ☆]
[☆ Plus exclusive rewards obtainable from the Dungeon itself! ☆]

This event was a Dungeon conquest.
The Dungeon’s name was the Snake Ruin.
It was a place where one had to navigate a labyrinthine Ruin while eliminating enemies that wielded poison. The enemies were formidable, and the maze was extraordinarily complex.

[The Lords of the Stars are placing their coin bets. The top contenders are determined by the amount of coins wagered in descending order….]
[Top Contender 1: Maezato Oju.]
[Top Contender 2: Felix Morgan.]
[Top Contender 3: Kim Jung-hwi.]

The Lords observing this event had placed their coin bets.
Kim Jung-hwi, ranked third, was a player from Korea.

‘Probably a mage, if I recall correctly.’

While Korean players were generally weaker compared to those from major powers, there were rare promising talents who distinguished themselves, and Kim Jung-hwi was one of them.
Above him was a player named Felix Morgan from the United States.
The player commanding an overwhelming first place was Maezato Oju.

“So you’ve entered after all.”

An arrogant and ferocious player.
One who had earned infamy against Korea in the international competition.
This was the perfect opportunity to break both their momentum and their growth.

“I’ll participate in the event. But I’d like to keep my identity hidden.”

[Your name has been registered on the Dungeon Conquest participation list.]
[Request accepted. Han Yu-sung, you will now participate in the Snake Ruin as Participant 902.]
[No Lords have placed bets on you.]

Even if I had participated under my own name, nothing would have changed.
Either way, I was unknown. That was intentional.

“Kakasha, place your bet.”
[I’ve been waiting for this very moment!]

Kakasha wagered coins as if he’d anticipated my request.
Ten thousand coins. The more Lords betting on the same player, the lower the payout. Since I was participating anonymously, no one but Kakasha would wager coins on me.

[Your Lord has wagered 10,000 coins.]

[A maximum tenfold return! We’ll become wealthy in one stroke, kuhehe!]
‘Looking at this alone, he’s every bit the Lord.’

Kakasha’s obsession with coins was identical to that of any other Lord.
But this time, I shared the sentiment.
Regardless, this was a chance to obtain 100,000 coins at once—how could I let that slip away?
It was an opportunity I had to seize, no matter what.
And then a message appeared before my eyes.

[Star Points will be awarded based on your Dungeon Conquest results. You can set restrictions to earn additional Star Points.]
[Would you like to set a restriction now?]

There was no question about what restriction to impose.

“My life.”

[A restriction has been set. If you die while conquering the Dungeon, you will die. In exchange, you will obtain Star Points at the highest multiplier rate.]

Dungeon conquest, like the Consecutive Victory Tournament, is an event where you don’t die even if you lose.
In fact, most events preserve your life. Otherwise, even the Lords would hesitate to send their sworn to the battlefield.
Since there’s no risk of death, they send them without burden.
Though the sworn still dislike it.

[Kufufu! Sworn one, I believe in you. I trust you will bring me vast coins just as you did last time!]
“My ears are killing me.”
[War! I smell the scent of war!]

My head throbbed from Kakasha’s excited voice.

[All necessary personnel have been recruited.]
[All participants are being summoned to the Waiting Room.]

Along with the welcome announcement, Han Yu-sung’s vision faded to darkness.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, I beheld a vast cavern of unknown origin stretching before me.
It appeared to be the cavern of an ancient ruin.
And countless players had been summoned there.

“….”
“….”

Silence hung heavy in the air.
The players adjusted their weapons with tense expressions.
It was unavoidable.
The coins available for betting this time numbered ten thousand.
A considerable sum. Failure to conquer the Dungeon would mean losing those coins, and simultaneously losing the Lord’s trust significantly.
The weight of necessity bore down upon the sworn’s shoulders.

“Hmm, more personnel than I expected.”

Among them, there were uniquely exceptional individuals.
One was Maezato Oju.
He gazed indifferently at the players surrounding him, and those who met his gaze trembled.

“I hadn’t fully tamed the blade yet, but this timing works out perfectly.”

At first glance, his eyes seemed indifferent.
But I could sense the viscous killing intent gleaming within them.
It was the kind of murderous aura you’d only feel on a battlefield.

‘Be careful. That Japanese man—he’s the one who cut down one of our own before.’
‘Maybe we should avoid wherever he goes.’
‘No, but his skills are undeniable. If we use him right….’

The players whispered warily about Maezato Oju.
The other championship contenders felt the same way. Maezato Oju was watching Felix Morgan and Kim Jung-hwi—fellow favorites—with a sticky, predatory gaze.
As if he wanted to cut them down at any moment.

‘Psychotic bastard.’
‘That damn Japanese guy is going to make this even messier.’

And then there was one more person who showed no tension.
Han Yu-sung.
He stood at ease, completely unbothered by the killing intent that Maezato Oju radiated throughout the entire Waiting Room.
Feeling that murderous aura wash over me, a thought surfaced.

‘In my past life or now, he’s always been the same.’

The fact that nothing had changed was almost reassuring.
It meant I could beat him senseless without a shred of guilt.
Soon, a message appeared before everyone’s eyes.

[This is the Snake Ruin.]
[It consists of a dizzying maze and is filled with creatures that wield poison. But do not worry. Throughout the Ruin, there are means to neutralize the poison.]
[Your objective is singular: explore the Snake Ruin to its end and subjugate the boss monster that guards it.]
[Please bring honor to your Lord!]

It was an explanation of the Dungeon—the Snake Ruin.

[※ Note: You can obtain something called 【Snake Marks】 in this Ruin. When you leave the Dungeon, you will receive different rewards based on the number of Marks you possess.]
[Marks can be obtained through various methods, including by defeating players who carry them!]
[Collect as many Marks as possible.]

Upon reading that message, Han Yu-sung let out a derisive snort.
How fitting for the Star Battlefield.
It was deliberately designed to make players wary of one another and compete against each other.
The mechanisms to captivate the Lords’ interest and amusement extended far beyond this.

[You will each select a route and conquer the Snake Ruin accordingly. The higher the difficulty, the more tokens you will obtain.]
[Route 1. A place filled with intricate labyrinths and traps. (4☆)]
[Route 2. Everything is moderate, but the scope is far too vast. (1☆)]
[Route 3….]

It was a window for selecting routes.
The Snake Ruin contained multiple routes, each with distinct characteristics.

‘And the number of stars listed for each route denotes its difficulty.’

[…Route 10. Extraordinarily brief, yet awaits an insurmountable number of monsters, composed entirely of a deadly poison zone. (20☆)]

The route that could reach the boss in the shortest time possible.
Naturally, it boasted the highest difficulty among all routes.

“…20 stars? Just how difficult could it possibly be?”
“We should disregard that one entirely. It’s far too dangerous.”
“Going to the easiest route… sigh, the vast scope is what concerns me.”
“We also need to consider how many people there are, right? This is maddening.”

The players didn’t even consider Route 10.
Aside from its brevity, it was nearly catastrophic.
Not only were there countless monsters, but it was a deadly poison zone.
Taking such a route would be tantamount to suicide.

“…Alright, I’ll go with Route 2. The tokens should at least be reasonable.”
“Route 1 seems like the better choice after all.”

The players began selecting their routes one by one.
Then numbers appeared above their heads—the numbers of the routes they had chosen. Naturally, no one had selected 10.
And none would in the future.
Everyone thought the same.

[Participant 902.]
[Route 10 selected. Prepare yourself.]

Before the number 10 materialized above Han Yu-sung’s head.
The players stared at Han Yu-sung with expressions of disbelief.
The other championship contenders, and even Maezato Oju’s gaze, turned toward him.

“Route 10? Is he insane?”
“Who is he? Some famous player? I can’t see his face because of the hood.”
“No, I don’t think that’s it, but…”

The players in Waiting Room 5 had finished selecting their routes.
Naturally, Han Yu-sung was the only one who chose Route 10.
Everyone else had abandoned it, believing it impossible.

“I’ve seen all kinds of madness, it seems.”
“Why would he willingly enter a route designed to be avoided?”
“Does it matter? He’ll be eliminated soon anyway.”
“Right, what matters now is my own future…”

The players murmured amongst themselves, but it didn’t last long.
They all assumed he would be eliminated before long.
Even the championship contenders, including Maezato Oju, averted their gaze. To them, Han Yu-sung appeared to be nothing more than an unremarkable player.

‘Well, time will tell who’s right.’

In my previous life, no player had ever chosen Route 10.
Which meant even the championship contenders hadn’t selected it. Felix Morgan and Kim Jung-hwi had chosen different routes to leverage their respective strengths.
And Maezato Oju.

“I will select Route 1.”
“What…!”

He had chosen Route 1.
The route selected by the most players.
That was precisely why Maezato Oju chose it.

‘To hunt down the players to my heart’s content.’

So the Dungeon conquest failed?
Surprisingly, it succeeded. He ambushed the players who arrived first while they were hunting the boss monster, then hunted the boss monster alone.
His personality is rotten, but Oju’s skills are undeniably solid.

“Wait, cancel! I’m changing to a different route!”
“Route 2! I’m going with route 2…!”

The panicked players cried out, but it was meaningless.
Once a route was confirmed, it couldn’t be changed.
Oju must have known that, which is why he chose his route last.
He wouldn’t have doubted his success for a moment.

“This should be interesting.”

This kind of Dungeon conquest was a sort of ‘race’—competitors entered through different routes and raced to see who could clear the Dungeon fastest.
I wondered what reaction Oju would show when he lost the race.
And if Oju himself were defeated in a fight against Han Yu-sung as well.

‘There’s no reason not to take Route 10.’

I would reach the boss chamber ahead of Oju via Route 10. Then, after dealing with the boss monster, I would wait for Oju to arrive.
A simple yet effective plan.
And there was another reason Han Yu-sung chose Route 10.

[You can obtain more Marks the higher the difficulty.]

It was because of the ‘Snake Marks’.
I would clear Route 10 and obtain many Marks. Then I would hunt Oju, who would have accumulated many Marks while dealing with the other players.
An enormous quantity of Marks would accumulate.
The rewards I could obtain with them would be beyond measure.
Shortly after, a message appeared before everyone’s eyes.

[You will be transported to your chosen route shortly.]
[Prepare for combat. 5, 4, 3….]

Han Yu-sung closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he stood alone in a vast Corridor.
The path behind was blocked, and he could only move forward.
Beyond the Corridor, darkness obscured the view.

“The stench of poison assaults my nostrils.”

But it was not a single odor—far from it.
Decaying almonds, rotting fish, and something sickeningly sweet intermingled in the air.
A cocktail of countless toxins, each one distinct and deadly.
Han Yu-sung exhaled slowly, bringing his hand to his face.

‘The appearance leaves much to be desired, but…’

In that instant, a mask materialized from the void and affixed itself to his visage.
The Mask of Chaos—a Mythic-grade artifact.

“Its time has come sooner than expected.”
[A plain facade suits you quite well.]

A potent veil of cognitive obstruction enveloped my face, rendering it imperceptible to prying eyes.
The Lords would be watching this place. And if this was a Dungeon conquest event, the players would be glued to their broadcast screens as well—best to keep my identity concealed.

“….”

Han Yu-sung expanded his senses and began to move forward.
The vast Corridor was suffocatingly silent—empty, devoid of all presence. Only I existed in this place.
Or so it seemed.

‘Impossible.’

Han Yu-sung clenched his fist.
Without a moment’s hesitation.

CRASH!

He drove his knuckles into the wall beside him with devastating force.
The Corridor trembled with the impact. But the sensation that traveled through Han Yu-sung’s hand was peculiar—not the feeling of striking stone, but of shattering bone.
Bone fracturing beneath my fist.

[Kek, kugh!]

The blank wall suddenly blurred.
A cloth-like veil fell away, and beyond it, a grotesque creature collapsed, vomiting blood.
A monster that looked as though a human and a massive serpent had been forcibly fused together.

[What… what in the world… how…?]

Crunch!

Han Yu-sung crushed the monster’s head beneath his heel.
With both fists wreathed in crimson wind, he threw a punch without hesitation in the direction his instincts commanded.
The raging blood wind swept through the Corridor.

[Krraaaagh!]
[How… how did they find us!]

“With such a putrid stench radiating everywhere, how could I not?”

Similar-looking monsters peeled away from the walls.
Shadows bound the bodies of those that collapsed, spewing blood. Han Yu-sung immediately shifted his footwork and swiftly dispatched the creatures one after another.
Han Yu-sung only stopped after every last monster lay dead.
Yet he did not lower his guard.

[A remarkable human indeed.]

Beyond the Corridor, in a space thick with darkness.
He sensed countless presences waiting there.
A thunderous boom echoed, and the Corridor flooded with light.
Simultaneously, the monsters hidden in the darkness were revealed.
Monsters that literally packed the entire Corridor.

[This is the sanctuary of our Lord.]
[No one may pass through this place.]
[No one…]

Splurch! A viscous liquid began rising from the floor.
A liquid that reeked of unbearable stench. What it was needed no explanation.
Poison. Poison that engulfed the entire Corridor, creating a ‘deadly toxin zone.’

[Intruder.]
[Die here, drenched in venom…!]

Shaaaaaaaa!
Monsters roared, their serpentine tongues unfurling like whips.
Han Yu-sung let out a scoff, adjusting the mask with his hand.

[The Mask of Chaos converts your stats.]
[Strength and magical power are temporarily exchanged!]

A delirious laughter echoed through my mind.
I felt an immense surge of magical power welling up from within my body.
The shadows around me surged upward in response to my power.
They all took on tangible form at once.

“A corridor. Perfect timing.”

In the shapes of countless weapons.
Shadow-forged armaments materialized around me in a deadly array.
And the moment I thrust my hand forward.

“Try to kill me if you can.”

Shiiiiiiick!

The shadows became instruments of wrath, hurtling toward the monsters.
Soon the corridor filled with anguished screams.
The desperate cries of dying monsters.

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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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