The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 53

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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 53

[Quest, ‘Highland Occupation Battle’ has been completed.]
[Dungeon, ‘Barracks Teeming with Monsters’ has been conquered.]
[Quest, ‘Sanctuary of Swiftness’ has been completed.]
[Quest….]

Find and contract a dragon soul within three hours.
Two hours remained until the promised three-hour deadline.
Han Yu-sung had conquered every Quest and Dungeon within reach.
I had judged this to be the perfect opportunity.

‘Whether Protector or Destroyer, both sides are desperately scrambling to survive.’

One faction was doing everything to gather dragon souls.
The other was doing everything to absorb dragon souls and kill the Protectors.
Quests and Dungeons were the last thing on anyone’s mind right now.
I did not squander that opportunity.
And the rewards came back in tangible form.

[Your level has increased by 3 stages.]
[Strength +3, Agility +3, Stamina +3.]
[Through the Mad Swordsman’s effect, Stamina increases by an additional +3!]

Han Yu-sung’s level ascended.
And.

[Red Hatchling has reached the maximum level of its current rank.]
[The nature of evolution takes effect….]
[Red Hatchling (C) has evolved into a B-rank dragon soul!]

In the form of dragon soul evolution.
From E-rank to D-rank, from D-rank to C-rank.
And now to B-rank. The Hatchling had ascended in an instant.

[Red Hatchling (B)]
· Level: 55/60.
· Strength: B · Agility: B+ · Endurance: B · Mana: B.
· Growth Points: 15,060.
· Possessed Skills.
(1) Destiny (?).
(2) Growth Hunger (S).
(3) Nature of Evolution (S).
(4) Dragon Soul’s Blessing (B): Contractor’s all stats +30, Strength +10%.
(5) Wrath of the Enemy Dragon (B): Contractor’s attack power 2x, all stats +15%, attack speed +15%, occasionally ‘overwhelms’ enemies.
(6) Ancient Knowledge (B): Contractor’s magic damage +30%, casting speed –20%, mana consumption –20%, range expansion +20%.
(7) Aura of Swiftness (A): Contractor’s agility +15% within range, movement speed +15%, weakens debuff effects of the slowing category.
(8) Dragon’s Roar (A): Unleashes a dragon’s roar. Enemies’ stats and speed within range –15%, enemy dragon souls briefly paralyzed.)

Aura of Swiftness and Dragon’s Roar were skills obtained through Quests.

‘Growth points at 15,060. I’ve accumulated quite a bit.’

There were growth points gained from leveling up or raising skills, but more than anything, the growth points obtained during ‘evolution’ were larger than I’d anticipated.
On top of that, the effect of 【Growth Hunger】 increased growth point acquisition.
It was the reason Han Yu-sung had no choice but to maintain the top growth point ranking.

[So, where are you heading now?]
“A Dungeon.”

For that reason.
When nearly three hours had elapsed, Han Yu-sung began moving swiftly.
Toward the most difficult Dungeon he knew of.

[The most difficult? More difficult than that Research Institute?]
“It’s a place I’d struggle to clear alone. That’s why I’m going.”
[Huh? What are you saying?]
“Just wait. You’ll understand soon enough.”
[Hmph, you could just tell me.]

Kakasha grumbled at Han Yu-sung’s response.
He said it would be simple to just answer, yet he was only wasting time. Naturally, I dismissed Kakasha’s complaints lightly and continued moving forward.
Then, the promised deadline arrived.

[Three hours have elapsed.]
[Current survivors: 591,556. Among them, 60,390 Protectors have failed to achieve their objective, and 49,198 Destroyers have done the same.]
[As previously warned, they will now perish.]

In that instant, the ground trembled, and screams erupted from all directions.
The final cries of players who had failed to meet their objectives.
And among those who had been with them, chaos erupted.

“Ahhhhhhh!”
“D-dead? They’re really dead? Really…!”
“I had to survive. That’s why I took it!”

Countless people were annihilated in an instant.
All because they had failed to meet the initially announced conditions.
The number of dragon souls in Dragon’s Tomb was not infinite. When accounting for what the Destroyers would absorb, it was an impossible amount for all Protectors to obtain.
Many Protectors perished, and the Destroyers suffered equally devastating losses.
Yet the trial was far from over.

[From this moment forward, you must achieve a minimum of 6,000 growth points within six hours. Protectors who fail to do so will perish.]
[During this task only, Quests that reward ‘growth points’ will be generated.]
[The Protector who achieves the highest growth points by the promised deadline will receive a special reward.]
…
[Congratulations, Han Yu-sung!]
[You are currently the Protector with the highest growth points.]

Loud fanfare echoed through the air.
A message that seemed purely celebratory of my efforts thus far.
But Han Yu-sung knew what message would follow.

[Protector Han Yu-sung, you have fulfilled all conditions.]
[Therefore, we wish to present you with a special choice.]
[This choice may be refused.]

Kakasha laughed with amusement.
I finally understood what he meant when he said I’d know if I waited and saw.

[Optional Quest: The Weight of the Crown.]
[You currently hold the highest growth rate among all Protectors! A heavy crown demands proportional responsibility. Prove yourself worthy of wearing it!]
[Upon accepting this Quest, up to 100,000 players will receive 【Quest: Regicide】, and your location will be shared periodically. Survive against them for 3 hours!]
[Rewards: Rewards proportional to growth rate, Dragon Soul experience.]

The rewards were extraordinarily tempting.
For Han Yu-sung, who held the highest ranking in growth rate, this was a rare opportunity to obtain precious rewards.
However, the price was being hunted by 100,000 players.

[Will you accept? It seems extraordinarily dangerous. Of course, naturally….]
“Is there a reason not to?”
[Yes, I should have known you would say that.]

Han Yu-sung accepted the Quest without hesitation.
In truth, this wasn’t my preferred style of combat.
Fighting against endless waves of enemies and being buried beneath their numbers was merely tedious labor.
But for rewards of this caliber, it was worth enduring.

‘There are essentially two approaches.’

One was to evade my pursuers until the time limit expired.
Naturally, it wasn’t an easy method. The Dragon’s Tomb was quite vast, but not vast enough to evade my pursuers indefinitely.
With nearly 100,000 pursuers closing in, breaking through their encirclement would be nearly impossible.

“Then I’ll simply create my own Battlefield to fight on.”
[Create a Battlefield?]
“You’ll understand once you see it.”

Han Yu-sung walked through a labyrinthine passage.
A path filled with countless traps and monsters. At its end lay a Dungeon.
The hidden piece I sought—a Dungeon containing it.

[Hidden Dungeon discovered: Lord’s Temple!]
[Once a Temple that served the Star Lords, it has now lost its purpose—both its worshippers and the object of their worship have departed.]
[However, the Temple’s functions remain active. Should you endure the harsh ‘trials’ within, you will earn the right to utilize its power.]

The Lord’s Temple.
Han Yu-sung smiled darkly as I pushed open the Temple doors.

“Let’s recruit companions to help with the ordeal.”
[You’re quite cunning, I must say. Watching you work, it’s clear your mind operates with remarkable acuity in such matters…]

How reassuring it was to have allies who would rush to my side of their own volition.
Han Yu-sung stepped into the interior of the Temple.

* * *

A Battlefield strewn with countless corpses.
A place saturated with the resentment of the dead and the despair of the dying.

“Hmm, now this is an intriguing Quest indeed.”

The Destroyer, Wei Hao, wore an enigmatic expression as he gazed upon the Quest that had materialized before him.
It was a Quest both fascinating and tantalizing.

[Emergency Quest: Regicide.]
[A Protector has emerged with the highest growth value achieved. From this moment forward, the Protector’s location will be shared. Find and eliminate the target.]
[The faster you eliminate the target, the greater your rewards!]
[Reward 1: Treasures equivalent to the growth value collected by the target, Enhanced Blessing of Destruction.]
[Reward 2: Legendary-grade item set, S-rank Skill Book.]

Absorb a certain amount of dragon essence. Fail to do so, and you perish.
An Emergency Quest appearing the moment such a new objective was imposed.
It was far too sudden, and precisely because of that, an irresistible fascination ignited within him.

‘The highest growth value achieved? Who could it be? Galleon, perhaps?’

No one else came to mind besides the Golden Holy Knight.
But he seemed intent on acquiring S-rank dragon essence—had he already accumulated growth value to such an extent? Was such a thing even possible?
In truth, neither concern was Wei Hao’s to worry about.

Crack!

“I’ll find out soon enough.”
“Gah, hck…!”

Wei Hao twisted the neck of the Protector he had been grasping.
The dragon essence the Protector possessed was absorbed into him.

[You have absorbed the dragon soul of a young Flame Dragon (C).]
[Having absorbed sufficient dragon souls, the Blessing of Destruction has been strengthened.]
[All stats +25%, Attack and Defense +100, Attack Power +10%, Speed +10%, Skill Damage +20%, Defense Penetration +5%.]

Wei Hao had absorbed countless dragon souls over the past three hours.
The Protectors had done the same. Thanks to this, their buffs had grown considerably stronger.
Yet it still felt insufficient.

“Finish off any remaining survivors and follow me. Let us venture forth to assess the situation, and if we can slay this so-called king, we shall do so.”
“Yes, Wei Hao!”

Wei Hao and the Destroyers began to move.
Not only them, but the Destroyers operating in other locations as well.
And it wasn’t just the Destroyers who stirred into action.

“This Quest… I cannot refuse it.”

A Quest had arrived for Galleon, who had only just obtained an S-rank dragon soul.
A Quest to eliminate the one who had achieved the highest growth potential.
The reward was at a level that could not be refused.

[Emergency Quest: Regicide.]
[The faster you eliminate the target, the greater your reward!]
[Reward 1: Absorb all growth potential collected by the target and plunder all skills from their dragon soul.]
[Reward 2: A Legendary-grade item set and an S-rank skill tome.]

Both rewards were impossible to covet.
The growth potential was obvious enough, and so too were the dragon soul skills.
Moreover, this was the dragon soul of a Protector who had achieved the highest growth potential at this very moment.

‘They must surely possess some exceptional skill.’

If I could seize it, I could greatly accelerate the growth of the Golden Dragon.
It was an opportunity that could not be missed, nor did I wish to miss it.
Galleon led his subordinates out of the Dungeon.

“They move. An entity that may well become our greatest adversary.”

Galleon’s golden eyes gleamed as he advanced swiftly.

“I’ll deal with him now, and take everything he has.”

Everything that bastard possessed—all of it.
And so the Protectors and Destroyers began converging in one place.
Where Han Yu-sung was—the Lord’s Temple.

* * *

Wei Hao and his band of Destroyers had reached their destination.
The location of the Protector who had achieved the highest growth stage.
After breaking through the congested paths and stepping over countless corpses, they arrived at….

“W-Wei Hao, sir.”
“This is… literally a massacre.”

A colossal temple stood upon the vast plain.
Wei Hao’s subordinates gazed upon the sight before the temple and were struck with horror.
It wasn’t because the temple was massive or its appearance was extraordinary.

“A Protector with a dragon soul! Kill them all!”
“Clear the way! We need to enter the temple!”
“Kyaaaaaaagh!”

It was because they witnessed a fierce battle unfolding before the temple.
Countless Protectors and Destroyers intermingled, locked in combat—a scene of utter chaos.
They could also see those desperately trying to push through and enter the temple.
Corpses of those from unknown factions littered the ground in all directions.

“Whoever he is, he made a brilliant decision.”
“Pardon? Wei Hao, sir, it was too chaotic to hear.”
“The one we’re pursuing. The mastermind behind all this.”

Galleon immediately grasped why Han Yu-sung had chosen the temple.
The reason required no complicated explanation.

‘His purpose is to make the Destroyers and Protectors fight each other.’

The purpose of those gathered here was to kill Han Yu-sung.
And to claim the massive rewards promised by the Quest.
But before that, the players had a fundamental duty to fulfill.
Protectors must nurture their dragon souls. Destroyers must absorb dragon souls and kill the Protectors.

“When you herd them all together like this, they have no choice but to fight.”

Destroyers who failed to absorb a certain amount of dragon souls would die.
For them, this place was brimming with prey.
Protectors bound to dragon souls—delectable prey in abundance.
Killing Han Yu-sung would be satisfying, but first hunting the Protectors and absorbing their dragon souls to escape death was the safer path.

“Just a little more, just a little more absorption!”
“If we don’t want to die like those bastards, we have to kill them!”
“Ha! We can ignore the emergency Quest…!”
“Retreat! Fall back! There are too many Destroyers!”

And so this pandemonium unfolded.
The Destroyers, having forgotten the emergency Quest’s existence, threw themselves into hunting Protectors.
Conversely, the Protectors who had come here for the emergency Quest began to withdraw, abandoning any attempt to enter the Temple.
They judged the risk too great.

‘Make them fight each other to reduce the number of pursuers as much as possible. Then face the diminished pursuers in the confined space of the Temple.’

That Temple was surely a Dungeon as well, so monsters would lurk within.
As we cleared the Temple, the pursuers would dwindle further.
A faint, bloodstained smile played at Wei Hao’s lips.
Whoever had devised this was remarkably shrewd.

“Wei Hao! Among the players who entered, there’s one named Galleon. He’s from the United States, and intelligence suggests he’s with the Protector Faction….”
“What should we do? Do we enter the Temple as well?”
“No. We will not follow.”

Considering the target’s cunning, there was surely something waiting inside the Temple.

‘There’s no reason to play along.’

Unlike Galleon, who had to compete for the highest growth value, the Destroyer Wei Hao had no reason to stake his neck on an urgent Quest.
Eventually, he would leave the Temple anyway.
Until then, hunting Protectors here was the constant.

“Let us wait and see. Will the one who achieved the highest growth value emerge alive, or will Galleon?”

And whoever walked out alive.

“I need only kill them afterward.”

It would become a feast prepared for myself.

* * *

The very subject being pursued by countless Protectors and Destroyers.
Han Yu-sung was cutting through the vast Temple alone.
Yet there was one significant difference from my usual approach.

[Stubborn fool. You intend to avoid hunting monsters as much as possible?]

Precisely—I was refraining from dealing with monsters as much as possible.
The interior of the Temple was quite dark, and consequently, shadows filled every direction.
Moreover, the path to the Deep Layer was teeming with monsters.
I eliminated only those I absolutely had to dispatch.

Kuuung!

– Kugh, keh-ugh….

Only the monsters that blocked my path entirely.
In truth, this was not the recommended strategy.
Upon reaching the Deep Layer of the Temple, one must endure something called ‘Ordeal’.
‘Ordeal’ was a phenomenon where all undefeated monsters converged at once. To prevent it beforehand, one had to eliminate a certain number of monsters in advance.

‘But that concern is irrelevant now.’
[Indeed it is. After all….]

The players who will soon flood in will handle them for me.
In that process, I’ll be able to whittle down the enemy’s forces as much as possible.
And if they manage to reach the Deep Layer of the Temple after all that suffering.

“It’s fortunate that there will be more companions to undergo the ordeal.”
[Sworn one, you too are quite…]

They will end up assisting with the ordeal that Han Yu-sung must face.
Whether they like it or not, they’ll have no choice.

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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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