The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 62

—————

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 62

The final trial had begun, yet players from both factions dared not move rashly.
Summoned without warning, they understood their objective from the explanation, but the situation remained too chaotic to fully comprehend.

Kuuuuong!

A tremendous sound erupted across the Battlefield, shattering the tense silence.
It was the thunderous roar of the Colossus of Destruction beginning to move.
With each step, the earth buckled beneath its overwhelming mass.
An ominous aura radiated from the advancing colossus.
And that aura seeped into the Destroyers.

[The Colossus of Destruction grants a buff to the Destroyers.]
[All stats +30%, Attack Power +20%, Speed +20%. If you absorb a Guardian’s dragon soul, the buff effects are temporarily enhanced.]
[This buff strengthens as the Colossus of Destruction grows stronger.]

A buff.
The aura of world destruction became a positive effect for the Destroyers.
And the same held true for the Guardians.

– Kuooooooo!

The Dragon Lord soared skyward, unfurling two pairs of wings.
A crimson aura flowed from the beast and seeped into the Guardians.

[The Dragon Lord grants a buff to the Guardians.]
[All stats +30%, Speed +15%, Wound Regeneration (Moderate) outside combat, Skill Damage +20%, Skill Mana Cost –15%.]
[This buff strengthens as the Dragon Lord grows stronger.]

I felt the power surging through my body.
It was simple. Eliminate the Destroyers or break their will and enslave them. Strengthen the Dragon Lord that way.
Then you too will grow stronger.
Both the Colossus of Destruction and the Dragon Lord understood this well.

– Interesting. So it’s like this.

The Colossus of Destruction turned its gaze toward the enemies directly before it.
I saw them—the Guardians, insignificant as insects. Worthless vermin bound by contract to the Dragon Soul, a race destined for annihilation and oblivion.
I could feel them channeling power to the Dragon Lord.
Invisible to the players, yet visible only to the Colossus of Destruction and the Dragon Lord, threads of energy flowed like luminous strands, providing their strength.

– If I reduce the number of these insects….

Those connection threads would diminish as well, weakening their power.
The Colossus raised its colossal blade with tremendous force.

– You will perish.

The blade cleaved through the void.
A sword aura wrought of destructive energy annihilated everything in its path, seeking to obliterate the Guardians beyond.
Countless barriers materialized to intercept the attack.

– Kuuuuuu.
– A race that should have gone extinct….

It was magic unleashed by the Dragon Lord.
Dragons, called the progenitors of magic itself. The Dragon Lord stood at the apex of that ancient race.
Its mana swiftly engulfed the heavens, and countless magical formations materialized across the sky.
Then a torrent of spells descended upon the Colossus of Destruction.

– Kwaaaaaaaa!
– The day I brought ruin to this world… Do you truly believe you can stand against me!

Beginning with furious slashes that severed the spells, the Dragon Lord and the Colossus of Destruction collided head-on.
The impact sent tremors through the world itself.
The sky fractured, and the earth buckled. Even those standing upon the ground felt their bodies shake from the shockwave.

‘The situation appears evenly matched. Or rather, it seems that way on the surface.’

Han Yu-sung, observing the clash between the two titans, made his assessment swiftly.
The Dragon Lord and the Colossus of Destruction. Their battle appeared balanced at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it was anything but.
The Colossus of Destruction held the advantage.

‘Containing the Colossus is possible, but defeating it… that will be difficult.’

In terms of physique, raw power, and experience, the Colossus of Destruction held the advantage.
The Dragon Lord, having only just awakened, would not find victory easy.
The longer the battle dragged on, the more dire my position would become.
I needed to support the Dragon Lord from this side.

“I need to reduce the Destroyers’ numbers quickly.”

I noticed a message floating in the corner of my vision.
It had been hovering there since moments ago.

[During this trial, you may check the rankings of each faction’s top rankers at any time. Would you like to check now?]

Why would they show me such a list?
Obvious.
I checked the rankings.

[Guardians.]
[1. Han Yu-sung.]
[2. Leo Edelman.]
[3. Yamamoto Yuki.]
[4. Lee Shue-man.]
[5. Park Yong-ho.]

[Destroyers.]
[1. Ludwig Schmidt.]
[2. Lee Sung-ah.]
[3. Vincent Green.]
[4. Christine Bright.]
[5. Ichihara Natsuo.]

With Wei Hao and the Japanese rankers dead, the Destroyers’ fighting strength had been severely crippled.
Yet their numbers still outnumbered us.

‘Then I simply need to reduce those numbers.’

I expanded my Predator’s Senses widely.

“I’ll eliminate the strongest ones first, in order.”

At that moment, a group of Guardians approached Han Yu-sung.
They were rankers like Leo Edelman, Yamamoto Yuki, and Park Yong-ho.
Han Yu-sung was considered the strongest among both the Destroyers and the Guardians.
So it only made sense to consult with him about what to do next.

“You’re Han Yu-sung, aren’t you….”

Leo Edelman, having reached that conclusion, called out to Han Yu-sung.
Or rather, he tried to.

A violent gust erupted!

“….”

If only Han Yu-sung hadn’t vanished before that moment.
A fierce whirlwind tore through the air. I transformed into a single gust of wind and hurled myself into the heart of the enemy formation at tremendous speed.
Straight through the ranks of Destroyers who stood motionless, still assessing the situation.
Leo’s expression turned to one of utter disbelief at the sight.

“What?”

The other rankers felt the same.
And what unfolded after that—

“Wait, what is that….”
“What am I even looking at right now?”

It was enough to shock every ranker and all the Guardians.

* * *

The situation was dire.
Ludwig Schmidt, currently ranked first among the Destroyers, thought so.
It couldn’t be good. The very fact that he had become first was proof of that.
The reason he had become first was because everyone above him had died.

‘Damn it, is this really okay? We do have the numbers on our side, but….’

Ludwig Schmidt bit his lip.
Wei Hao, ranked first among the Destroyers—a man who wielded both factional influence and exceptional personal power—was dead.
The Japanese duo ranked second and third, who had allied with them, were also dead.

‘They must have died in the Dragon Lair. But who could it have been?’

Only one name came to mind.
The one who had completed the Epic Quest, the architect of the trial’s transformation.
It was highly likely they had fallen in battle against that Guardian. Now that Guardian stood on the opposing faction’s side, and he would have to fight and defeat them.

“This is madness. Is such a thing even possible? What am I supposed to do…?”
“Ludwig.”
“…Lee Sung-ah.”

At that moment, a Destroyer approached Ludwig.
Lee Sung-ah, currently ranked second among the Destroyers.
Her expression was equally grim.

“This is absurd. You and I are first and second rank?”
“Absurd doesn’t even begin to cover it. What about the others?”
“I don’t know. Since I didn’t even know who they were, I ordered them to search. They probably only realized they’d become rankers after arriving here, didn’t they?”
“Likely so.”

Ludwig himself had only learned of his first-place ranking upon arriving here.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been overjoyed, but now was hardly the time for celebration.
He turned his gaze toward the two beings locked in fierce combat.
The Colossus of Destruction and the Dragon Lord.

“So we only win if that Colossus emerges victorious.”
“What will you do?”
“First, I need to identify that Guardian. They seemed to be from your country—have you heard of them before?”
“No, never heard the name. They seemed completely unknown.”

That was what baffled Ludwig most of all.
A player who had caused such catastrophe, yet remained unknown even in their own homeland.
Lee Sung-ah shared his frustration.

“I’d like to see their face myself at this point.”
“Well then… first we need to know who our enemy is. Someone that strong won’t remain hidden for long. We must confront them…”

Let me assess my opponent and think about how to fight.
Ludwig’s words were cut short.
A deafening roar and screams echoed from far away.
And that sound was drawing closer.
At tremendous speed.

– Gaaaaaahhhhh!
– P-please… save me… kugh!
– Wh-what the hell is that bastard! Stop him! Stop him now!

Ludwig and Lee Sung-ah reflexively turned toward the source of the screams.
The front lines where the Destroyers were gathered.
From there, a wind thick with the stench of blood came howling through.

Whoooosh! Crack-crack-crack!

“Gaaaahhhhh!”
“Kugh…!”

A ferocious gale of blood, sharp as a blade’s edge, tore through the Destroyers blocking the way.
The Destroyers fell without mounting proper resistance, and the others, seized by terror, scattered in all directions, opening a path.
A path toward where Lee Sung-ah and Ludwig stood.

“L-Ludwig! Come this way!”
“Insane… I’m going mad!”

Ludwig gripped his greatsword in alarm.
In that instant.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

A spear from the abyss shot forth from beyond.
Too fast to evade. Ludwig deflected the spear with his greatsword and immediately tried to regain his stance.
And faster than that.

Crash-booooom!

“Krraaagh!”

A crimson tempest descended upon him.
Han Yu-sung closed the distance in a heartbeat, his footwork flawless, unleashing a punch that blazed like lightning.
Blood Flash strikes followed in rapid succession, hammering into Ludwig Schmidt.

【Blood Flash】.
Consecutive strikes.

Wrist, right arm, shoulder, and then the heart itself.
There was no time to react, no way to react.

“Gack! This… this madman…!”

Overwhelming agony engulfed Ludwig Schmidt.
He gritted his teeth and raised his greatsword, desperate to unleash a skill.
At this rate, I’ll die!
I had to push back the enemy before me.
His greatsword, charged with tremendous force, came crashing down upon Han Yu-sung.

Clang clang clang!

The Moonlight Sword met it head-on.
The fierce slash drove the greatsword upward, and the condensed mana detonated.
The greatsword then released a terrible, anguished cry.

Kaaaaang!

“…!”

It shattered completely.
Ludwig Schmidt’s eyes widened in disbelief at the impossible sight.
It wasn’t as though multiple exchanges had occurred.
Just one clash. A single blade strike, and yet the greatsword didn’t merely break—it was obliterated into fragments.

“Damn it, what in the hell…! Ugh!”

A hand drenched in blood shot forward.
That hand seized Ludwig Schmidt’s throat with crushing force.
The pressure was so overwhelming that I wondered if his head might simply burst.
Ludwig Schmidt’s bloodshot eyes stared at whoever held his neck.

‘Me… me… being overwhelmed so completely…’

I couldn’t fathom this situation at all.
I couldn’t accept it. Though I had claimed this position after higher-ranked fighters fell, I was currently ranked first among the Destroyers.
And yet, to be crushed so easily…?

“I… I see…”

In that moment, Ludwig Schmidt realized it.
Who the man before him was. Who could so effortlessly overwhelm him like this.
A hollow laugh escaped him.

“You’re… Han Yu-sung…”

Crack!

Overwhelming force shattered his neck.
Han Yu-sung hurled the limp Ludwig Schmidt away.
The nearby Destroyers who witnessed this spectacle were so horrified they lost all will to fight.
And Lee Sung-ah, ranked second, felt the same.

“You’re next.”
“Ugh… gasp…!”

Han Yu-sung’s murderous gaze turned toward Lee Sung-ah.
The crimson aura radiating from him made her vision swim.
Lee Sung-ah trembled violently, able only to watch as Han Yu-sung approached.
The terror was unbearable.
As the distance closed and her fear reached its peak.

“I… I surrender! I surrender! I’m surrendering!”

Lee Sung-ah declared her surrender.
Han Yu-sung, who had been approaching, came to a halt.
He regarded Lee Sung-ah, who had declared her surrender, with an expression of utter disinterest before glancing around at his surroundings.
His gaze fell upon the other Destroyers as well.

“How are we supposed to overcome this…!”
“W-we also surrender!”
“Please, spare our lives!”

The Destroyers upon whom his gaze fell all surrendered in unison.
As the Destroyers declared their surrender, the air itself tore asunder. Crimson shackles materialized through the rift, coiling around their necks.

[The Destroyers have been enslaved.]
[These slaves will fight for the Protector Faction, and will be recognized as Guardians, granting the Dragon Lord additional power.]

Upon reading the message, Han Yu-sung turned his back.
The objective was achieved. There was no reason to linger here any longer.

“Go and aid the Guardians. That is the path to your survival.”
“Wait, just a moment. Where are you going?”
“Obvious.”

Lee Sung-ah asked in bewilderment.
Han Yu-sung kicked off the ground without hesitation.

“To kill the other rankers on the list.”

It was the fastest way to end this trial.
A fierce wind swept across the Battlefield once more.
A blood-red tempest that none could resist.

—————

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

—————