The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 889

 Chapter 889

 

“Spar… Ah!”

Raon nodded as he looked at Glenn.

‘That’s right. It was postponed.’

When he returned to the family after reaching Transcendence, Glenn had suggested a light spar. Because Aris’ condition wasn’t good at the time, they had indefinitely postponed it, and it seemed like Glenn was suggesting they do it now.

"It would be an honor."

He bowed, expressing his gratitude for Glenn’s teaching.

Grrr!

Wrath cried out in distress, clutching his head.

This is going to be even louder! How is he supposed to sleep?!

He groaned in irritation, complaining that things were about to get much noisier.

‘I’ll keep it quiet.’

How are you supposed to fight that old man quietly?!

Wrath ground his teeth in frustration.

"Don't be so happy about it."

 Glenn slowly raised Heavenly Tremor.

"I'm not planning to go easy on you."

He gestured with his chin, as if telling Raon to come at him with full strength.

“Hmm…”

Raon bit his lip as he stared at Glenn.

'There are no openings.'

No, should I say everything is an opening?

Glenn was just standing there holding his sword, but it felt like facing an insurmountable, enormous wall.

It felt like there were no openings at all, and also like everything was an opening.

That is the true essence of a natural stance.

Wrath narrowed his eyes.

Both the places you can attack and the ones you can't—everything is a trap.

Clicking his tongue, he muttered that this space had already been devoured by Glenn.

“Are you not coming?”

Glenn, wrapped in a heavy yet sharp energy wave, formed a thin smile.

“Hesitate too long, and you’ll lose before you even get to swing your sword.”

He was right. Just standing face-to-face with Glenn made his head spin, and cold sweat trickled down his back. He could feel Glenn’s energy wave gradually digging into his space.

‘Then, there's no choice but to push through with full strength.’

Raon exhaled sharply and drew Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem. The will embedded in his newly reforged swords slowly calmed his unstable emotions.

Thud!

He drove Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem into the training ground, opening his mental world.

Sword Field Creation.

Harmony of Heaven and Demon.

A red sun and a blue moon rose in the dark, clouded night sky.

The aura of heat and cold intertwined like stage lights, pouring down upon Raon.

Kwaaaaah!

Holding a divine sword forged in the flames of the sun and a demonic sword sculpted from the frost of the moon, Raon once again stood before Glenn.

'The swords are giving me strength.'

He could feel the fire of the divine sword and the frost of the demonic sword exuding an even stronger energy than before.

With Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem strengthened, the power of Harmony of Heaven and Demon had also surged.

“I’m coming.”

With a brief declaration, Raon activated the Supreme Harmony Steps.

A red flash tore through the darkness as he dashed toward Glenn’s left flank.

Fwoosh!

The moment his foot touched the ground, he twisted his wrist.

From the divine sword’s flames, the Fangs of Insanity rampaged like a mad beast, while atop the demonic sword’s frost, the chilling wind of the Blizzard Sword Art arose.

Chiaaaaaang!

Infusing Sheryl’s twin blade technique into the Fangs of Insanity and the Blizzard Sword Art, he aimed for Glenn’s shoulder and waist.

“Testing the opponent’s strength and going all-out from the start…”

Glenn smiled approvingly and nodded.

“A good strategy, but it’s still too light.”

He thrust Heavenly Tremor into the narrow opening where the divine and demonic swords found harmony.

It was a strike that instantly shattered the synchronized flow of twin blade technique, unraveling it like clockwork thrown off balance.

Jjeoooooong!

Though Glenn’s strike seemed light, the weight behind his sword carried an overwhelming force, as if a mountain had been dropped upon him.

The Fangs of Insanity and Blizzard Sword Art collapsed simultaneously, sending Raon hurtling backward.

"Huu..."

Raon casually brushed away the sweat flowing from his forehead, as if nothing had happened, and readjusted his grip on the divine sword and demonic sword.

“Then let’s go a bit heavier.”

Biting his lip, Raon used the Supreme Harmony Second Steps.

 At a speed so overwhelming that his vision darkened, he dashed forward, thrusting his divine and demonic swords right before Glenn’s eyes.

Gooooooh!

The flames of the divine sword surged violently, forming the shape of a dragon, while the frost of the demonic sword condensed into a dazzling white sphere.

Flame Dragon Art and Heavenly Heavy Cannon—Two sword strikes so overwhelming in power that none would dare challenge them, exploded simultaneously.

Kuwaaaaaang!

A shockwave powerful enough to shake all of Zieghart erupted, twisting the floor of the training ground, while cracks spread across the sky like splintering glass.

"This one's got quite a bite."

Even after taking both the Heavenly Heavy Cannon and Flame Dragon Art head-on, Glenn simply dusted off his hands, as if nothing had happened.

‘As expected, I can’t break through.’

Raon frowned as he watched Glenn wipe away the lingering smoke.

‘Overpowering him with force is impossible.’

Glenn had blocked the Heavenly Heavy Cannon and Flame Dragon Art without even exerting his full strength. There was no way brute force alone could pressure him.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Glenn swung his sword lightly, as if merely warming up. But the result was anything but light.

Kwaaaaarung!

The blackened night sky split apart, and red lightning rained down. Faster and stronger than thunder itself—this was Glenn’s lightning energy.

‘I can’t just block it….’

If he was pushed back even once by Glenn, he’d never get another proper swing before the fight ended.

No matter how powerful the attack, he had to counter it.

Whoooosh!

First, Raon used the divine sword’s flames to raise the Firewall to block the falling lightning.

Then, as the tremendous power of Glenn’s lightning energy pressed down on him, he braced his body and tilted his demonic sword downward.

Chiiiiing!

From the blade of demonic sword, white wave bloomed.

The white wave that bloomed from the demonic sword's blade shattered the Firewall and swallowed the red lightning energy rushing in. A counter technique that erased the opponent's attack. White Shadow Slash.

“That’s impressively sharp!”

Glenn nodded as though pleased, then shifted the trajectory of Heavenly Tremor. The scattered fragments of the red lightning spread like a crashing wave, shattering the White Shadow Slash in an instant.

“I guess I can push a bit harder.”

Clicking his tongue lightly, Glenn stepped forward.

Clicking his tongue briefly, Glenn stepped forward. The lightning energy concentrated in Heavenly Tremor coalesced into a blazing red streak, surging toward Raon. A sword technique that transcended even the concept of speed itself.

Zzeoooong!

Raon crossed his divine and demonic swords in a diagonal guard to block Glenn’s strike, but his defense was far from perfect.

The sheer force of the lightning energy pierced through his aura, crushing his bones and flesh.

"From this point on, you’d better keep your eyes wide open."

Glenn lifted Heavenly Tremor high above his head.

Above the sword, the vast night sky deepened, and red lightning crackled across it.

It was the very sword technique Glenn had taught him—Heavenly Lightning Cultivation.

Rumble!

However, the power infused in Glenn’s Heavenly Lightning Cultivation now was on an entirely different level from when he had demonstrated it before.

He had meant it when he said he wouldn’t hold back.

‘Even so, I have to withstand this.’

Raon clenched his teeth and faced Glenn’s Heavenly Lightning Cultivation, which seemed to contain the sky itself.

For any swordsman, witnessing Glenn’s techniques firsthand was nothing short of a miraculous opportunity.

No matter what, he had to push through and learn—even just one thing more.

‘So this is how the Heavenly Lightning Cultivation is truly meant to be used.’

As Raon faced Glenn’s fully unleashed Heavenly Lightning Cultivation, he finally grasped how it was truly meant to be used.

A sword that presses down on the enemy’s throat.

The Heavenly Lightning Cultivation was not just fast and powerful, but a cruel swordsmanship that gnawed away at both the enemy’s body and mind.

“You endure well. Let's increase the intensity further.”

Glenn let out a pleased chuckle as he infused even more lightning energy into Heavenly Tremor.

The red waves of lightning surged, engulfing the entire fifth training ground.

‘It’s piercing through….’

Glenn’s lightning energy was tearing through both the flame energy of the divine sword and the frost energy of the demonic sword, delivering repeated shocks to his body.

Pain and numbness spread from his fingertips throughout his entire body.

“The power of lightning energy isn’t just about strength and speed.”

Glenn’s voice remained calm as he continued intensifying his pressure.

His sword was mysterious, yet at times, it lunged with the ferocity of a beast, making it difficult to read its flow

“Hngh….”

Raon bit his lip.

Even though he knew the sword’s trajectory, his body was slow to react because of the lightning energy, making it increasingly difficult to defend.

The more he fought, the deeper he sank into the swamp of lightning energy.

“Penetration.”

Glenn gazed at him with calm eyes that made it hard to believe they were in the middle of a spar.

"Lightning energy possesses penetration power capable of piercing through an opponent’s aura. If one is unaware and fails to guard against it, will inevitably fall victim to it."

He gave a faint smile and commented that lightning energy was especially useful in prolonged battles.

"Looks like you can barely move now, so let’s wrap this up."

From the start, Glenn had intended to teach Raon how to wield the Heavenly Lightning Cultivation and the true power of lightning energy. Now, he was ready to end the spar.

However, Raon had not yet tested anything he had newly acquired. He couldn't end the sparring here.

Huuuuk!

As Glenn swung Heavenly Tremor down toward his shoulder, Raon exhaled the breath he had been holding back, drawing upon his newly gained power.

Kugugugugu!

The combative energy of Ascara, embedded in his energy center, surged forth, pushing out the lightning energy that had been numbing his entire body. The Balrog King’s combative energy refused to be overwhelmed, and in an instant, it restored both his body and mind to their original state.

Jjeoooooong!

Raon stomped his right foot into the ground and crossed his divine and demonic swords to counter Glenn’s strike.

Raon Zieghart Style Swordplay.

Sixth Form, Harmony of Heaven and Demon, Combined Technique - Red and Blue Invincible Sword.

Flames and frost, burning fiercely atop the blade, erupted in a final surge, engulfing Glenn entirely.

“…What?”

For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed Glenn’s eyes.

It wasn’t because of the Red and Blue Invincible Sword, but rather that Raon had managed to move despite being consumed by his lightning energy.

Crackle!

Even while momentarily startled, Glenn immediately slashed with Heavenly Tremor, extinguishing the flames and frost of the Red and Blue Invincible Sword in an instant.

‘I expected this.’

Even with Ascara’s combative energy, the gap between Glenn and himself was still as vast as the sky and earth.

He knew he wouldn’t break through. That’s why he had one more move ready.

Fwoosh!

Without Raon even touching it, the Wooden Ring Sword slid out of its scabbard and shot toward Glenn from behind.

Void Severance.

A technique of his own creation, combining the Raging Sea and space sword, tore through the red lightning and shot toward Glenn.

Kugugugugu!

Glenn’s eyes slightly widened as the revived wave of Red-Blue Invincible Sword rushed in from the front, while Void Severance closed in from behind, trapping him between two simultaneous attacks.

“Hah!”

For the first time, a deep smile formed on Glenn’s lips.

"Impressive."

With that single word of praise, lightning energy of an entirely different caliber erupted from him.

What had once been a small flickering spark, barely the size of a bead, instantly expanded, shattering the Red-Blue Invincible Sword and Void Severance into nothing.

"Kuhuk…."

Raon let out a ragged breath as he rolled across the ground.

If Glenn had truly unleashed the full power of that lightning energy, he wouldn’t even be standing here right now. It was clear that Glenn had held back until the very end. His true strength was still far beyond what Raon could handle.

Thud!

Returning to their original forms, divine sword and demonic sword dropped weakly to the ground, while Wooden Ring Sword was flung far away, embedding itself into the wall.

“Huff….”

As Raon gasped for air, he lifted his gaze, only to see Glenn standing there with a smile.

"Looks like you’ve gained something new again."

Glenn walked over, picked up Heavenly Drive, the Blade of Requiem, and the Wooden Ring Sword, and handed them back to him.

“You always surpass my expectations, but this time it's truly surprising.”

His voice carried genuine admiration.

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to test so many things.

"Each of these three swords has a completely different nature, yet they all suit you perfectly, I look forward to the future even more."

Glenn nodded, congratulating him on how well his swords had been reforged.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

Raon sheathed his swords and offered a faint smile.

“Hm, but…”

Glenn, still smiling, suddenly approached with a serious expression.

“Ka-Karoon… how close have you gotten to him?”

Out of nowhere, he brought up Karoon, furrowing his brows deeply.

“Uh… not particularly close.”

Raon blinked in confusion before shaking his head.

Raon, momentarily taken aback, shook his head. It seemed like Glenn wanted him to get along with Karoon, but he decided to be honest, their relationship wasn’t that deep.

“I-Is that so?”

Strangely, Glenn’s lips curled upward in satisfaction.

"Yes. I do think it’s admirable that he’s reflecting on his past and trying to change, but we’re not exactly close yet."

"What part of him is admirable?! Absolutely not!"

Glenn shook his head firmly, saying Karoon still had a long way to go.

“Just… Just stay exactly the way you are now. Just like this.”

Patting Raon’s shoulder as if warning him not to get any closer to Karoon, Glenn turned and left the training ground with noticeably lighter steps.

“…Huh?”

Raon watched Glenn’s departing figure, blinking in disbelief.

‘What was that? Does that mean Karoon is an enemy?’

Huaaahm…

Wrath let out a long yawn and shook his head.

He wonders when these idiots will finally figure things out.

Grumbling, he smacked his own head before urging Raon to go get some sleep.

* * *

“From now on, your name shall be Death-Wave, meaning you’ll bury our enemies under waves of death!”

A swordsman from team 1 raised his black-bladed sword high, a broad grin on his lips.

“That weak tide won’t even reach the tip of my Green Wave ver.3! Just look at the radiant gleam of this blade!”

A swordsman from team 2 exclaimed in admiration as he showed off his sword, faintly tinted green.

“Super Haxar, Destiny’s Fate, I’m sorry! A new sword, Storm of Tempests, is now leading my soul!”

A swordsman from team 3 clutched his wind-infused sword, tears streaming down his face.

“…Sigh.”

Raon let out a deep sigh as he watched these swordsmen, who hadn’t displayed their sword-name obsession in a long while.

‘They’re still doing this?’

Even back when the Light Wind Squad was first formed, they used to compete by coming up with childish sword names. Now, even after all these years, they were still acting the same way just because they had received new swords, it was ridiculous.

But it wasn’t just them who were overjoyed.

Thanks to every Light Wind Division swordsman receiving a sword forged from a dragon’s bones, the usual shouts of training in the fifth training ground had been replaced by the sound of joyful laughter.

"This sword feels perfect…."

Runaan blinked her blank eyes as she swung her reforged sword, which had maintained the original shape of the Snow Frost Sword.

"Familiar things always taste the best."

Martha smiled, satisfied with her newly reforged sword, which was made using the same sword Denier had given her.

‘Hmm? This energy…’

As Raon watched the swordsmen grinning as they admired their new swords, he sensed a familiar presence approaching the fifth training ground.

Thunk.

The doors of the fifth training ground opened, and Mark Goetten entered, draped in a gray robe.

“Huh?”

“Sir Mark Goetten!”

“You’re back?”

Dorian, Burren, and Martha rushed to Mark Gaten, looking delighted.

“It’s been a while.”

Mark Goetten greeted the Light Wind division swordsmen with a slight nod before walking up to the platform.

“Division leader, I greet you. I have completed my training at the Holy Sword Alliance and have returned.”

With a gaze heavier than before, he knelt down and bowed his head.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Raon stepped down from the platform to personally welcome Mark Goetten.

"Looks like you've made some real progress."

“I trained diligently every day, and I managed to discover a small path forward,” Mark Goetten replied with a faint smile, adding that training never betrays you.

Mark Goetten gave a faint smile, saying that effort never betrays.

“As you said, Sir Lawrence appeared cold at first, but he was actually quite considerate. Every time I visited him, he helped me in many ways.”

He nodded, acknowledging that much of his growth was thanks to Lawrence.

"That much is clear. Though I imagine Sir Lawrence must have been a bit annoyed."

Raon remarked, narrowing his eyes as he observed Mark Goetten’s energy.

‘He’s really grown.’

Although it hadn’t been a short period, Mark Goetten had returned with astonishing growth.

Before he left for the Holy Sword Alliance, he had been on par with Runaan and Martha. Now, however, he stood slightly ahead of them.

It seemed that Mark Goetten would be the first to surpass the wall of Grandmaster.

He seems more composed as well.

‘Yeah.’

Mark Goetten had once been called a genius, but after stagnating at novice Master level, he had lived with constant impatience.

Now, however, his gaze carried a calmness and composure befitting a seasoned warrior.

“I wanted to return immediately upon hearing the news of the vice division leader, but the alliance master stopped me. He said that even Sir Rimmer wouldn’t have wanted me to abandon my training.”

Mark Goetten bowed his head, biting his lip in regret for missing Rimmer’s funeral.

“No, that was the right decision.”

Raon shook his head with a smile.

‘Master would have said the same thing.’

Rimmer had always been indifferent about his own death. If Mark Goetten had skipped training to attend his funeral, Rimmer would have scolded him instead.

"By the way, everyone seems… different somehow."

Mark Goetten looked around at the Light Wind division swordsmen, tilting his head in curiosity.

“We got new swords!”

Dorian proudly swung his newly reforged sword.

“Swords? Ah, from the dragons the division leader killed?”

Mark Goetten nodded, now understanding the situation.

"How about making a new saber for yourself as well, Sir Mark?"

Dorian pointed at the swords the others had received and suggested that Mark Goetten have one forged for himself.

"It’s a good opportunity, but the saber the division leader gave me is more than enough for me."

Mark Goetten shook his head, saying he had no desire for a new weapon. His demeanor was almost like that of an ascetic detached from worldly desires.

"You could improve that saber instead."

“Is that possible?”

“There are some remarkable blacksmiths in Mirtan village right now….”

Raon nodded and explained about the blacksmiths of the continent currently gathered in Mirtan.

“T-That sounds tempting… No, I’d love to have them work on it!”

Mark Goetten’s detachment shattered in an instant. Even he couldn't resist the chance to own a weapon forged by the finest blacksmiths on the continent.

“Well then, let’s head there right away.”

Just as Raon was about to take Mark Goetten to Mirtan village, he saw Chad, the Shadow Agents master, running toward him.

“Division leader!”

Chad approached with a stiff expression and bowed.

“The head of house has summoned you.”

He let out a heavy sigh, indicating that Raon needed to go to the audience chamber immediately.

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes. From the Warring Steel Division that is out on a mission….”

Chad nodded heavily and continued,

“…has sent an emergency reinforcements request.”

He bit his lip with a grim expression.