The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 927

 Chapter 927

 

"This is…."

Raon frowned as he looked at Zircon, the Demon of the Birthstone, kneeling before him.

'What's going on here?'

He had fought Zircon to the death while the demon was guarding the gate to the devildom. And yet, now, the demon was suddenly swearing loyalty and declaring his willingness to serve him. Raon couldn't understand.

'Wait, now that I think about it…'

Zircon had stated before their battle that he would test Raon’s qualifications, and before disappearing upon his defeat, he had said that they would meet again.

Raon had kept his aura perception active, expecting a surprise attack. But instead of launching an attack, Zircon had knelt before him, declaring his loyalty and serve him as his master.

Haa…

Wrath grabbed his head and shook it.

This must be the fault of the King of Essence.

'What are you talking about?'

Raon widened his eyes and looked at Wrath.

That demon, Zircon, did not choose you. He was moved by the King of Essence’s <Wrath> and selected you as his master.

Wrath nodded confidently.

In devildom, many knelt the moment they felt the King of Essence’s presence, swearing fealty. It had been a long time since he had felt this way!

He curled his lips in satisfaction.

'Is that so?'

Of course! Why else would a weakling like you be served? If it's not because of the King of Essence’s <Wrath>, then he’ll do anything!

Wrath was so certain that he even bet on it.

'Fine, I get it.'

Raon nodded, pushing Wrath aside. There were too many things to think about right now to waste time arguing with him.

"Khrrrrk!"

The Black Tower’s master had clearly never imagined that Zircon would choose to switch sides. His forehead was bulging with thick veins, and he glared at Raon with intense killing intent, making Raon’s hair stand on end.

"Zircon. Why do you want to follow me?"

Raon shifted his gaze downward and looked at Zircon, the demon of December.

"If it’s because of the energy I have…"

"That is not the reason."

Zircon firmly shook his head.

Ehh?

"What?"

Raon and Wrath widened their eyes at the same time.

"Of course, my initial interest in you was because of that peculiar energy. But that was not the reason I judged your qualifications. It was not that power, but you yourself."

Still kneeling, Zircon slowly raised his gaze.

"Me, myself?"

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Zircon.

"Yes. Even in situations where despair was inevitable, you never gave up. You passed on that will, spirit and resolve to other humans as well. Your unwavering gaze in the pitch-black darkness captivated me."

Zircon spoke honestly about why he had chosen to follow Raon.

"From this moment forward, I will serve you, Raon Zieghart."

Placing his hand over his chest, he bowed his head once more, expressing his sincerity.

'……'

Raon stared at Zircon for a moment before turning his gaze toward Wrath.

Ahem!

Wrath let out an awkward cough, as if remembering how he had been so sure that Zircon was following Raon solely because of his <Wrath>.

A-As he said before, that demon is a very strong one, but unlike other demons the King of Essence has seen, he is difficult to predict.

He cautiously watched Raon’s reaction while backing away, as if regretting his earlier words.

‘I don’t mind this, but I need to be sure.’

It would make sense if Zircon followed him due to Wrath’s <Wrath>, but saying he followed Raon himself made him suspicious instead.

"Lady Chamber."

Raon called out to Chamber, who looked just as shocked as the Black Tower’s master.

"What exactly is a birthstone?"

"As the name suggests, birthstones are gems associated with each month from January to December. It’s a superstition that carrying one's birthstone brings good fortune. But…."

Chamber furrowed her brows as she glanced at Zircon, who remained kneeling beside her.

"As that bastard said, the first birthstone, which is said to have been born alongside the continent, is believed to house beings from another dimension. I always thought it was just a legend, but to think it was real….”

She bit her lip as she glanced at Peridot, who was leaning against the Black Tower’s master.

"The first birthstone…"

Raon gazed into Zircon’s calm, jet-black eyes. There was no hesitation in them. It felt as though he was expressing his sincerity at this very moment.

“Yes. That’s right...”

The Black Tower’s master ground his teeth as he glared at Zircon.

"An artifact of Transcendence… The first birthstone houses beings from another dimension. Their very purpose is to serve the first being who releases them from their gemstone prison! So why is Zircon standing by your side?!"

Even now, he could not accept Zircon’s choice, his fury spilling over in his voice.

"I never asked you to release me."

Zircon returned the Black Tower's master’s glare with cold eyes.

"Zircon!"

The Black Tower’s master wasn't looking at Zircon, though. He was glaring at Raon, his killing intent so sharp it sent a chilling sensation down the spine.

"Hmm…"

Raon pushed back against the pressure radiating from the Black Tower’s master, shifting his focus to the stillness surrounding Zircon.

'A demon unlike a demon, huh?'

The Black Tower’s master had described Zircon as an un-demon-like demon and Peridot as an un-angel-like angel. Seeing them standing on opposite sides, that description seemed accurate.

"…Very well."

The Black Tower’s master bit down on his darkened, chapped lips and nodded.

"I will kill the so-called master you serve with my own hands… and take you back."

He clenched his fists, declaring his intent to kill Raon.

"No."

Raon shook his head calmly.

"We will be the ones to kill you."

His body, possessing regeneration greater than that of a troll, was steadily recovering during their brief exchange. His aura was slowly replenishing, and the wounds on his body were healing on their own.

'The problem is…'

Chamber.

Her injuries were visibly severe, and even more than that, she was mentally exhausted.

He wanted to let her rest, but he couldn't defeat the Black Tower’s master alone. He needed her help.

"Well said."

Chamber wiped the blood from the corner of her lips and smiled.

"Leave that arrogant angel to your demon. We’ll take down the Black Tower’s master."

She clasped her hands together, asking Raon to support her from behind.

"Let the demons handle the angel?"

The Black Tower’s master let out a mocking laugh as he reached out toward Peridot, the angel of July.

"What nonsense. That is not how the birthstone beings are meant to be used."

His blackened, hardened hand grasped Peridot’s neck.

"Die for me."

"It is an honor."

Peridot showed no sign of resistance, only smiling benevolently.

"Do not worry. Your sibling will follow soon."

The moment the Black Tower’s master tightened his grip, Peridot’s neck burst open. Her blood poured down, wrapping around his entire body.

Huuuuuuuuk!

*   *   *

'That…'

Karoon exhaled sharply as he saw Peridot’s lifeless body in the Black Tower’s master’s grasp.

‘That’s the angel I killed.’

Peridot, the very angel who had resurrected after dying by his hands and warned him that he would regret his choices, had just been killed once more, this time by the very master she had served.

‘What is happening…?’

She had been killed by the Black Tower’s master, whom she had revered like a master. Karoon couldn't comprehend the situation.

‘What the hell is going on…?’

As he cut down the demonic creatures lunging for his throat, Karoon lifted his gaze once more.

Kuwaaaaaaaa!

A monstrous surge of demonic energy erupted in front of the frozen gate of devildom, and from within that storm of darkness, a holy radiance burst forth.

Wuuuuuuuuu!

A man draped in white robes emerged, shining brilliantly like a hymn from the Holy Kingdom of Schper.

His striking golden hair and piercing blue eyes contrasted sharply against his deathly pale skin, as if he had never once been touched by sunlight. As he stepped forward, he threw away the golden crown resting atop his head and positioned himself before the gate. His appearance was as holy as an angel’s, much like Peridot’s. However, from within his chest pulsed an enormous and indescribable surge of demonic energy.

Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzzzzt!

As the gate to the devildom sealed shut behind him, dark currents that had momentarily dissipated began to rise once more into the sky, swirling ominously.

‘The Black Tower’s master…?’

Though his appearance was vastly different from the shadow-cloaked figure Karoon had seen before, the foul stench of that monster still clung to this man’s presence.

"Kraaaaaaaahhh!"

The Black Tower’s master let out a monstrous roar, and at that very moment, priests and holy knights collapsed, vomiting blood.

The power he unleashed was distorting the very space around them. He no longer seemed human in any sense of the word.

‘Are we even capable of…’

Karoon bit his dried lips as he looked up at the Black Tower’s master.

‘…defeating that?’

The Black Tower’s master had not only recovered from his injuries but had also fully restored his demonic energy. If Chamber and Raon were in peak condition, it might have been a different story. But in their current state, there was no chance of victory.

‘At this rate, everyone will die.’

I’ll have to put my life on the line as well.

Defending this place was important, but if they couldn't take down the Black Tower’s master, everyone would perish. Bracing himself, he prepared to ascend into the skies.

‘Now… huh?’

Just as Karoon was about to leap toward Chamber, he saw Raon extend his hand toward the demon standing before him.

*  *    *

"Can you do something like that too?"

Raon extended his hand toward Zircon, who remained kneeling.

"I…"

"Zircon can, but you cannot."

The Black Tower’s master answered in Zircon’s stead, waving his hand dismissively.

"If you try to accept Zircon’s power at your current level, your body and soul will be torn apart."

He lifted his chin, as if daring Raon to go ahead and try.

"……"

Zircon remained silent, as if he agreed with the Black Tower’s master.

"Is that true?"

"It is true. You are strong, but you are not yet complete. If you try to take in all of my power, cracks will form in your body and soul."

This time, Zircon nodded, confirming that the Black Tower’s master was right.

"Zircon, you will regret this choice for the rest of your life."

The Black Tower’s master bared his teeth, his blackened eyes glinting ominously.

"Raon."

Chamber stepped forward, exhaling a breath laced with the scent of blood.

"Step back."

Brushing away the cold sweat trickling down her forehead, she positioned herself against the Black Tower’s master. She had suggested they fight together, but now that she had seen the Black Tower’s master in this changed form, she seemed to realize they had no chance.

It looked like she was trying to buy time for the others to escape.

"Zircon."

Raon turned back to Zircon, his brow furrowed.

"So, you can do it, right?"

"I’ll say it again—your body and soul will not withstand it."

"It doesn’t matter. I can withstand it."

It wasn’t just empty bravado. He had already endured Wrath’s advent into his body, something that should have been impossible. Even in his current exhausted state, he believed he could handle Zircon’s power.

"Yes. This is exactly why I chose you."

Zircon nodded in approval, tilting his chin slightly.

"Then take your sword and cut off my head."

"You want me to kill you?"

"A gemstone only gains meaning when it is shattered. Kill me and claim the power of the birthstone."

Zircon lowered his arms, as if urging Raon to do it quickly.

"I'm sorry."

Raon exhaled briefly and swung Heavenly Drive.

The silver blade sliced through Zircon’s darkened neck.

Fwaaaah!

Zircon’s head fell, and his blood surged upward like a crashing wave, swallowing Raon whole.

"Khrrrrk!"

The demonic energy within Zircon’s blood seeped into every pore of his body, consuming his very being. The sheer magnitude of its power made him feel as if both his body and his energy center would explode.

Uuuuuuuuuung!

Under normal circumstances, he might have been able to endure it, but after a prolonged battle and repeatedly using Sword Field Creation, his willpower had hit rock bottom, making it difficult to hold on

So, are you giving up?

'No way.'

Raon bit his lip and resonated the Ring of Fire.

A clear, jade-like chime rang out, as if jade rings were colliding, washing away the fatigue and pain embedded in his mind. At the same time, the overwhelming surge of demonic energy unleashed by Zircon’s power began to subside.

'I can endure this—no matter what.'

Slowly, he raised his gaze toward the Black Tower’s master. Though the man radiated fury, he remained still, it seemed he was convinced that Raon would not be able to absorb Zircon’s power.

'I need to seize this moment.'

The Black Tower’s master was letting his guard down. Raon had to absorb all of Zircon’s strength now, reaching a level that would allow him to stand on equal footing.

'Aura alone won’t be enough.'

Even with the Ring of Fire, his remaining Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier’s aura were insufficient to control Zircon’s demonic energy. He needed to wield something else entirely.

'Wrath.'

Like his other auras, <Wrath> was also heavily consumed, but its very nature was different. Since <Wrath> is a higher concept than demonic energy, it should be enough to fully suppress Zircon’s power.

Uuuuuuuuung.

Raon drew up the <Wrath> buried deep within his soul. But this wasn’t <Wrath> amplified by demonic energy, it was the pure wrath he had accumulated from his previous life, now bearing down upon the rampaging demonic energy released by Zircon.

Zziiiiiiiing!

The violent energy, which had been raging uncontrollably, suddenly trembled like a cat caught before a tiger.

'Now.'

Using <Wrath>, Raon guided Zircon’s demonic energy along the pathways of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier . The demonic energy instantly dissolved into heat and cold, filling his nearly depleted energy center with newfound power.

Paaaaaaah!

As Raon absorbed every trace of Zircon’s demonic energy, a pitch-black radiance surged from within his soul, expanding outward until it covered the entire sky.

Fwooooosh.

Then, the distorted glow, like a black sun, slowly faded, and from within the darkness, Raon stepped forward.

Though his face remained the same, his golden hair and red eyes had turned jet black, radiating an ominous glow.

"Haa…"

Raon exhaled quietly, looking down at his own hands.

'I did it.'

The demonic energy that had entered through Zircon’s blood had now become his own power. It wasn’t a permanent transformation, but at least for this moment, he felt capable of standing against the Black Tower’s master, whose face was now twisted in disbelief.

"T-This… how…?"

The Black Tower’s master stared blankly, his jaw trembling.

"This is impossible! A demon of the birthstone is not something someone like you can handle!"

Even after witnessing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it. His rage exploded as he shouted at Raon.

"That’s not for you to decide."

Raon scoffed as he watched the Black Tower’s master's horrified expression.

At that moment, a quiet voice resonated in his mind.

[Interesting.]

It was Zircon’s voice.

[If you and I fight together, we should be able to defeat him—]

Shut your mouth, you rookie!

Before Zircon could finish, Wrath cut him off, growling through gritted teeth.

[W-what is this enormous presence…?]

Only now did Zircon seem to recognize the immense existence that was Wrath. His very soul trembled in realization.

You better keep your mouth shut for a whole year! How dare you run your mouth already!

Wrath, asserting his dominance as the senior, immediately silenced him.

[……]

Whether out of genuine fear or sheer intimidation, Zircon completely shut his mouth, even his breathing growing faint.

Hmph! Know your place!

Wrath folded his arms and shook his head as if this was only natural.

'……'

Raon lowered his gaze, first at Zircon, who had given him power only to be pushed aside, and then at Wrath, who had effortlessly overwhelmed him.

'Is this really how it's supposed to go?'

No—this was no time to be thinking about that.

Shaking his head, Raon focused on the immense energy rising from his entire body.

Zircon’s demonic energy had been fully converted into his own power without a single loss. He had to finish the Black Tower’s master before this strength faded.

"Let's end this here."

Raon raised Heavenly Drive and Wooden Ring Sword, his pitch-black eyes gleaming as he locked onto the Black Tower’s master.

"You persistent little worm."

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