The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 9

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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 9

The day the Trial of the Gods first appeared.
Monsters emerged across the globe, and nations worldwide suffered catastrophic losses.
The more densely populated a country, the more devastating the damage became.
Buildings crumbled, and carefully constructed infrastructure collapsed.
Those who witnessed the cities reduced to rubble thought the same thing.

‘Will the city ever return to its former glory?’
‘Is it even possible to rebuild from this?’

Fortunately, reconstruction proved far less difficult than expected.
Certain entities had lent their support.

[The Lord of Justice provides assistance for city restoration.]
[The Lord of Trade sends the souls of the Sworn Servants of Trade to this place.]
[The Lord of Construction exercises a portion of their power.]

The Lords had extended their aid.
The devastated cities were rapidly rebuilt with their support.
Yet their appearance had changed dramatically compared to before the destruction.
The most striking change was the countless messages floating across the sky.

[I, the Lord of Adventure, am recruiting adventurers to conquer an impregnable challenge. Interested adventurers, come to my building.]
[Buying coins. Cash only. – The Lord of Hunting.]
[The Lord of War, defeated in successive conflicts! Fleeing alone?]
[I hereby declare: the Lord of War has been defeated before the name of Justice! All her possessions shall be subjugated under Justice!]

The messages were so densely packed that the sky itself became invisible.
It was the greatest change that had occurred since the Trial appeared. I had witnessed this sight continuously in my past life, so by now it had become familiar.
And the second change.

“These buildings are absurdly tall.”

In each city, buildings were erected for the Lords.
Seoul was no exception. The first structure to catch the eye was a towering skyscraper that seemed to blend courthouse and temple, commanding an enormous presence.
It had been built to serve the Lord of Justice.
The building was called the Hall of Justice. Those who had made contracts with the Lord of Justice—her Sworn Servants and associates—made use of that structure.
And perhaps.

‘Lee Su-ho. That bastard is probably there too.’

Lee Su-ho was a Sworn Servant of Justice who enjoyed the Lord of Justice’s favor.
Still, by this point in time, there would be other Sworn Servants of Justice vying for Lee Su-ho’s position. Though it wouldn’t take long before they were all dealt with.
After that, Lee Su-ho would grow rapidly while receiving all manner of support.

‘In this life too, I’ll break him with my own hands.’

Taking revenge on Lee Su-ho wasn’t a significant problem—I had already succeeded in doing so before.
All I needed to do was walk the path I had walked in my previous life, only faster.
However, there was something far more important than that.

“Achiros, you as well.”

Stopping the Lord who would bring about the world’s destruction.
Han Yu-sung turned away.
Today’s destination was not the Hall of Justice, but another Lord’s building.

* * *

Han Yu-sung headed toward a building that resembled an enormous trading post.
What was peculiar about it was that the ceiling was completely open. All manner of items would appear from the building, float in mid-air, and then vanish. Conversely, items that appeared from the void would descend into the building.
Items that materialized in the empty air would descend into the building.
The building’s name was the Dimensional Trading Post.

‘A place created by the Lord of Trade—something like an auction house.’

In the game, there exists an auction house system.
Wherever the auction house could be accessed, one could freely register items and purchase those goods across spatial distances through the system.
The Dimensional Trading Post was that system brought to life in reality.
It was a miracle made possible by the Lord of Trade’s divine authority.

“Welcome to the Dimensional Trading Post!”
“Customer. If you wish to purchase items, please proceed this way. If you wish to register items for sale, please go that way.”

Inside the building, numerous Sworn Servants of Trade guided visitors through the space.
This was because the Lord of Trade demanded transactions from his sworn servants.
It wasn’t a bad arrangement for the servants either. The more sales they generated, the greater the Lord’s favor they could earn, and the benefits that came with it.
There was less need to challenge life-or-death trials.

“I’d like to see skill books. Novice-tier ones.”
“Novice skills, I see. Yes, let me show you the catalog.”

The employee smiled brightly and waved their hand.
A massive holographic window materialized before Han Yu-sung’s eyes.
It displayed a list of novice-tier skills registered at the trading post.

[Flash Strike (Novice) – 1 Coin]
[Magic Missile (Novice) – 2 Coins]
[Spinning Slash (Novice) – 1 Coin]

Generally, purchasing novice-tier skills wasn’t recommended.
Most of them had fundamental flaws. Either they came with restrictive conditions, or without conditions, their effects were poorly designed.

‘Or they had such low coefficients that they were practically useless.’

The skills I was considering now fell into that category.
With low coefficients, damage often failed to register properly even when used.
Since it usually meant wasting coins, most people recommended waiting until after advancing to a higher tier and purchasing skill books suited to their new class.
Normally, I would have done the same.

‘If not for the blessing’s effect, I would have.’

Thanks to the Blessing of Trial, the damage of novice-tier skills doubled.
A buff substantial enough to make even low-coefficient novice skills quite useful.
Moreover, considering the trial I was about to face, I needed to acquire something practical immediately.
It was a considerably dangerous trial, after all.

“I’ll take these.”
“Yes, that comes to 4 Coins total. Let me process the payment for you.”

A shimmering payment interface materialized in the empty air.
I inserted four coins into it, watched the words ‘Payment Complete’ flash across the screen, and the space split open as three skill books tumbled out in rapid succession.

“Thank you so much!”

The employee waved me off with a radiant smile as I departed.
No matter how many times I came, the staff here always demonstrated exceptional service spirit.
Most of the Sworn Servants of Trade who had contracted with the Lord of Trade were like that. They paid meticulous attention to every detail if it meant boosting their performance metrics.
And to put it another way.

‘They would do absolutely anything as long as it improved their numbers.’

Whether that meant committing crimes or worse.
Memories of the major incidents caused by the Sworn Servants of Trade suddenly resurfaced.
I clicked my tongue and absorbed all three skills at once.

[Knee Strike (D)]
· Classification: Active.
· Acquisition Requirement: Novice.
· Strike your opponent with a swift knee attack. Power is minimal.

[Magic Missile (D)]
· Classification: Active.
· Acquisition Requirement: Novice.
· Fire arrows composed of mana at your target. Power is minimal.

[Spinning Kick (D)]
· Classification: Active.
· Acquisition Requirement: Novice.
· Perform a wide spinning motion and strike your opponent with a sweeping leg attack. Power is minimal.

Being Novice-tier skills, their effects were straightforward.
All three had low scaling coefficients. Even if I used them, it would be difficult to deal proper damage.
But for me, they were skills worth having nonetheless.

“Once I gather some basic mountaineering supplies as well….”

My preparations were complete.
Only one thing remained.

“Shall we head to Namhan Mountain?”

Han Yu-sung shouldered his now-heavy bag and set off.

* * *

The first god’s trial unleashed monsters across the entire world.
The sky tore open, and strange Corridors appeared through which monsters poured endlessly.
Many of those Corridors still remained, refusing to vanish.

– Screeeech!
– Grraaaagh…!

In Korea, one existed at Namhan Mountain.
Beast-type monsters emerged from here—colossal mutated predators, bipedal creatures that walked like humans.
Han Yu-sung wandered the mountain while eliminating them.

“That makes six.”

But this wasn’t mere wandering.
After a complex search, Han Yu-sung destroyed a stone Buddha he’d discovered.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance and resumed his trek across the mountain.

“Hiding trials is fine, but there’s such a thing as moderation. Some people have no sense of proportion.”

Certain Lords created special trials and concealed them.
The reasons varied—simple whim, searching for exceptional players, or honoring their Sworn Servants.
There were many motivations, but this trial was peculiar.

‘A trial created for a dead Sworn Servant.’

Exactly as it sounded.
The Lord who created it was eccentric, as was the Sworn Servant.
In any case, they’d hidden the trial with elaborate mechanisms, so thoroughly that its very existence remained unknown to the masses.
Perhaps even the Lord felt this was excessive.

[There is a trial at Namhan Mountain that I myself created!]
[Find it! I’ve left my treasure there!]

I even went so far as to personally reveal the locations of the hidden puzzles.
Only then did players gather and search for the puzzles, competing fiercely for the treasures.
Naturally, it was Han Yu-sung who emerged victorious.
To put it differently.

“It means I know exactly how to find every puzzle.”

Mechanisms hidden throughout Namhan Mountain.
By finding and destroying each one, the puzzles would reveal themselves.
It sounds simple when explained this way, but locating those mechanisms was absurdly difficult.
Riddles layered with tricks—one had to solve everything.
For example, like this.

[I am invisible, yet I set all things in motion.]
[I hide alone where life is reborn anew.]
[I lie fallen where all fortune begins.]

Riddles meant to pinpoint the locations.
Then one had to solve all manner of tricks just to find the mechanism itself.
Fortunately, having already experienced this, it wasn’t particularly difficult for me.

Crack!

“This should be the last one.”

A deep cliff on Namhan Mountain.
So deep that its bottom was unknowable—a skull lay hidden beneath that abyss.
As I shattered it, a sound echoed from somewhere.

Rumble!

“It opened.”

The sound of something grinding open.
I gazed up at the cliff and exhaled deeply.

“Damn. I’d rather fight all night instead.”

How did I come down here only to have to go back up again?
After scaling the cliff, I headed toward where the trial awaited.
Fortunately, it wasn’t far.

Whiiiiiii!

Wind gusting from somewhere.
Below the deeply fractured earth, something resembling a stone entrance came into view.
The moment I fixed my gaze upon that entrance, an explanation materialized before my eyes.

[Trial: Blood Ghost Tomb.]
[A trial opened by the Lord of Training. He created it to honor the Sworn Servant of Training who contributed most greatly to his obtaining his epithet. The moment you enter this place, you become a trainee, and you must pass through multiple gates. The Spirit of Blood Ghost will greet the trainee who conquers all the gates.]
[The strength of enemies appearing here is adjusted to match the trainee’s level. However, it will not be adjusted below level 40.]
[Entry Restriction: Those who have solved the riddle.]
[Entry Fee: None! Praise my generosity!]

Generous, my ass.
I cursed under my breath as I stood before the entrance.
This tomb offered no room for carelessness.
From the moment of entry, countless traps would descend upon the trainee.
The method to prepare for it was simple.

Shhhhh—

To run swiftly the instant I entered.
I summoned my mana. It transformed into fierce wind, wrapping roughly around my two legs.

“Let’s go.”

My vision engulfed in light.
When I opened my eyes, I stood within the underground tomb.
A space adorned with elegant marble. Pale torches installed throughout softly illuminated the dark underground tomb.
And murals carved into the walls as well.

‘To think I would witness this sight again.’

I smiled bitterly and waited for the text that would soon appear.
There was no need to wait long.

[“At last! At last, someone has found this place!”]

Unnecessarily massive text materialized in the empty air.
He burst into hearty laughter, as if delighted.

[“Gahahaha! Unknown cultivator! This tomb was created to honor a Sworn Servant of Training whom I cherished! I built it because I could not bear for that servant to be forgotten, seeking one worthy to inherit their legacy!”]
[“Therefore!”]

Despite being mere text, it felt as though my ears were ringing.
I bent my knees slightly and leaned my body forward.
And then.

[“Prove your worthiness!”]

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The ceiling and walls opened without warning.
From there, countless arrows were unleashed—so many they defied counting. The gleaming tips suggested something coated the arrowheads.
Yet none of those countless arrows reached me.

Whoooosh!

[“Hmm?”]

A fierce wind erupted.
It rose from beneath my feet. Without hesitation, I executed the footwork, launching forward with the fury of that raging gale.
The Lord watched as I vanished beyond the Corridor in an instant, his eyes blinking rapidly.

[“Oh, oh…?”]

The bewildered text drifted aimlessly through the chamber filled with arrows.

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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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