The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 916

 Chapter 916

 

"Tsk."

Raon clicked his tongue as he looked at the shattered middle floors of the Black Tower.

'Even after striking with full force, I couldn't break all of it.'

He had struck the cracked walls, already weakened by Chamber’s spell, with his full strength, yet he still couldn't completely destroy the middle floors. The walls were simply too sturdy, making further attacks seem pointless.

The higher you go, the more extremely compressed the demonic energy becomes. Even if its quality is slightly inferior, the sheer quantity is overwhelmingly vast, so you won’t be able to break it with your current strength.

Wrath shook his head, warning him not to waste his strength unnecessarily.

‘Something…’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the hand gripping Heavenly Drive.

'It felt like I could do it.'

Since entering the Black Tower’s dimension, he could feel himself gradually growing stronger. Even if it wasn’t due to the progression of his martial arts itself, he had believed that the power of wrath would be enough to break the walls. But it seemed he was still short of that level.

You are indeed devouring demonic energy through the King of Essence’s wrath, but you still lack time.

Wrath snorted, urging Raon to be realistic.

The only one here capable of breaking that upper floors right now is that magician woman who pretends to be a kid.

He pointed at Chamber, who was currently erasing the demonic energy of this dimension.

Of course, she can’t do it since she doesn’t know when the Black Tower’s master will strike.

‘That’s true.’

Raon let out a short sigh.

‘What a shame.’

Chamber had mentioned that she couldn't use large-scale spell when the Black Tower’s master was out of sight, as he might launch a surprise attack. In the end, there was no other choice but to go in and cut down the demonized humans themselves.

However…

Wrath furrowed his brows as he looked up toward the tower’s highest floor, which was concealed by black mist.

Something about the energy up there feels off.

‘Off? In what way?’

Ever since you people entered this dimension, the flow of demonic energy has sped up drastically. That Black Tower’s master seems to be preparing something.

He waved his hand, mentioning that the flow of demonic energy was twisting in an unusual way.

‘What could it be?’

Raon bit his lip as he observed the top floor of the tower.

The King of Essence has said this many times, but he knows little about sorcery or magic.

Wrath lowered his eyebrows, warning Raon not to expect detailed explanations from him.

However, one thing is certain, that mole hiding up there is up to something.

‘I know you wouldn’t just talk nonsense…’

Raon tightened his grip on his sword as he glared at the black mist.

‘I need to get inside as quickly as possible.’

Although he had wanted to lure the Black Tower’s master and the demonized humans outside, it seemed they had no choice but to enter the tower themselves.

"Lady Chamber!"

Raon shouted toward the sky, and Chamber descended as if she had been waiting for him.

"I have something to tell you."

He relayed what Wrath had just informed him.

"You sensed it too?"

Chamber widened her eyes in disbelief.

"What kind of perception do you even have…?"

She was shocked that Raon, who had only just reached Transcendence, was able to read the Black Tower master's schemes.

"Did you feel it as well, Lady Chamber?"

Raon looked at her as she let out a dry chuckle.

"Yes."

Chamber clicked her tongue as she examined the entire Black Tower.

"The Black Tower’s master… he’s gathering demonic energy very discreetly."

She nodded, confirming that the flow of demonic energy had changed.

“I don’t know what kind of spell it is, but something massive is coming.”

“But that also means the Black Tower’s master is panicked by this attack. We need to reach the top floor before that spell is completed.”

She bit into a candy, stating that if they could stop this spell, victory would be within their grasp.

“Then time will be the key to victory.”

"Exactly. Right now, we’re already inside the tiger’s mouth. Before it can clamp down, we have to pull out its fangs and cut off its tongue."

Chamber frowned, warning that if they failed to stop the Black Tower’s master’s spell, everyone here would be in grave danger.

"Wouldn’t it be better for you, the archmage, to take the initiative?"

Karoon, who had approached unnoticed, gestured toward Chamber.

“The Black Tower’s master is hidden, but my location is completely exposed. That bastard could activate his spell and ambush me at the same time.”

Chamber shook her finger, making it clear that the situation was disadvantageous for them.

"That’s why you all need to go in first."

Chamber gave a faint smile as she slipped a blue candy into the inner pocket of her uniform.

"I’ll be here, delaying the completion of his spell."

She waved her staff, signaling for them to head inside and clear a path.

"Understood."

Raon grasped the pocket containing the candy and nodded. This was their best option for now.

"Karoon, I’ll be counting on you as well."

Chamber handed Karoon a blue candy as well. It seemed to be more than just an ordinary piece of candy—likely a special artifact.

"We will make sure you meet the Black Tower’s master."

Karoon pounded his chest and nodded, his expression firm.

"Then I’m counting on you."

Chamber placed a new piece of candy in her mouth before vanishing into the black mist surrounding the tower’s highest floor.

“We’ll go in first. Follow behind us and recover your stamina.”

Karoon declared that he would clear a path, then leaped up to the middle floors he had broken through earlier. The swordsmen of the Central Martial Palace immediately followed, storming into the middle floors.

“Let’s go too!”

Martha waved her sword-wielding hand impatiently, urging everyone forward.

"Going in isn’t the problem, but the demonic creatures keep coming."

Raon frowned as he looked toward the darkness behind the tower. Even after killing Zepel, the demonic creatures continued to surge forth endlessly, as though the place truly bordered the devildom.

“If they surge in behind us, we could end up surrounded.”

If the high-ranking demonized humans inside the tower attacked while demonic creatures poured in from behind, they could be trapped with no escape.

"Leave this side to us!"

The Third Prince Greer raised his sword, which gleamed with a brilliant blue light.

"Not even a single rat will make it into the tower!"

He pounded his chest, signaling for them to trust him.

"Owen is here to aid Zieghart and Balkar. The main course is yours."

Duke Tartan grinned, stating that they would block the entrance.

"Then I’ll leave it to you."

Both the Third Prince and Duke Tartan were trustworthy warriors. With them securing the rear, Raon ascended to the middle floors of the Black Tower.

‘The air here is awful.’

The demonic energy flooding the inside of the tower was far more oppressive than what they had encountered outside. However, because of the wrath dwelling within him, it actually felt lighter than when he’d been outside, but he could see how brutal it was for others.

"Let’s move!"

At Martha’s command, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen followed her into the tower’s middle floors. The Light Wind Palace swordsmen didn’t seem to be affected much by the demonic energy.

In contrast, Jaina and the Balkar mages who came in after them already looked pale due to the thick demonic energy inside the tower.

"Are you alright?"

As Raon checked on Jaina and the Balkar mages, a powerful shockwave erupted from above. Karoon and the Central Martial Palace swordsmen seemed to be cutting down demonized humans and demonic creatures as they ascended.

"We can manage."

Jaina’s hands trembled as she gripped her staff, nodding with difficulty. Despite her words, it was clear that enduring the demonic energy wasn’t easy for her.

"No serious issues here."

Morell Kazan shook his head as if to reassure them. However, it seemed that even he wasn’t completely unaffected by the demonic energy, one of the veins on his forehead was bulging slightly.

“Then, let’s keep going.”

As Raon climbed the stairs, he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his right hand. Thanks to Karoon clearing the way in advance, they could ascend quickly without needing to fight.

What are you doing?

‘I feel like just being here is making me stronger.’

Beyond the wrath he possessed, the demonic energy in this place seemed to be clinging to his body. Yet, unlike the usual foul, impure kind, only pure demonic energy was being absorbed.

Damn it!

Wrath twisted his lips in frustration and threw a punch into the air.

If he had known it’d be like this, he wouldn’t have shared his wrath with you in the first place!

Grinding his teeth loudly, he seethed with regret.

'Don't be so dramatic.'

Raon chuckled softly and shook his head.

‘It’s not as though it’ll make me permanently stronger.’

The demonic energy he was absorbing now wasn’t something he had gained through effort, it was just a temporary boost. There was no reason for Wrath to be so upset.

“But…”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he climbed the stairs, listening to Karoon’s sword ringing out from increasingly farther ahead.

“Just how far up is that man planning to break through alone?”

*   *   *

"Haa…"

Glenn let out a heavy sigh as he gazed out the window.

“I feel strangely uneasy.”

Even with the Archmage Chamber, Raon, Karoon, and even Roenn having been sent, the uneasy feeling in his chest refused to settle.

‘I didn’t feel this way at first.’

With the combined forces of Zieghart, Balkar, and Owen, it had seemed like no enemy could possibly pose a threat.

But after hearing the details of their plan and receiving reports of its success, his stomach had suddenly begun to feel unsettled, as if he had eaten something bad.

“It’s because you’re old. Just old.”

Aris, who was perched casually on the platform, waved her hand dismissively, telling him not to worry.

"Karoon as well, but Raon isn’t the kind of kid who would die in a place like that."

A faint smile curled her lips, showing how much faith she had in Raon.

“You sure talk well.”

Glenn frowned slightly as he watched Aris pop a grape into her mouth.

“It’s because I’ve seen and felt things firsthand. To be honest, I trust Raon more than Lady Chamber.”

Aris pounded her chest with the empty grape stem as if she were making a declaration.

"Keep your nonsense to yourself."

Glenn turned his gaze back to the window, biting his lip.

‘Strangely enough, I also trust Raon more.’

He had brushed off Aris’s words as nonsense, but the truth was, he trusted Raon and Karoon just as much as Chamber—perhaps even more. However, that trust did nothing to ease his growing anxiety.

" I can’t predict how this will go at all. If it were up to me, I’d go there myself right now."

Glenn shook his head in frustration.

“But what about you? Have you finished your training?”

He turned his sharp gaze back to Aris.

"Not yet. I just came down to check on my condition."

Aris pointed to herself, explaining that she had just been examined by Federick.

“What did that quack say?”

“He said my body has almost fully recovered, and my muscles are building up well.”

She grinned, saying that both her training and treatment were progressing smoothly.

“So I’m planning to do one last round of training before I start for real.”

Aris licked her lips as she pulled a Dragon Heart from her subspace pocket.

"I need to be fully prepared if I want to live up to Raon’s expectations."

She shook her head, determined to show him a fully recovered version of herself when he returned.

“To think he just handed over a Dragon Heart like it was nothing.”

Glenn let out a dry laugh as he stared at the iridescent Dragon Heart gleaming in her hands.

“Raon isn’t normal. Of course, neither are you.”

“And where do you think that craziness came from? It all came from you, father.”

Aris smirked and pointed her calloused finger at Glenn.

"So stop worrying and just wait."

She chuckled as she shifted her gaze toward the same window Glenn was staring through.

"Our nephew will bring everyone back safely."

*   *   *

"Hm?"

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked up the stairs.

‘The sound of swords has stopped.’

Karoon, who had been plowing through like a raging bull, had come to a halt just one floor above them. The sound of battle had completely vanished, as if the fight had ended.

"What’s going on? We should be near the upper floors now."

Burren furrowed his brows as he peered through a small window.

"Did some kind of monster appear that even the Central Martial Palace master couldn’t handle?"

Martha licked her lips as if she were looking forward to whatever was ahead.

"There’s no presence…"

Runaan shook her head, confirming that both Karoon and the Central Martial Palace swordsmen had completely stopped moving.

"Let’s hurry up and check."

Raon gestured to the Light Wind Palace swordsmen before stepping onto the circular staircase. As he climbed the final steps, an immense, arena-like space came into view.

It was a grand hall, large enough to hold hundreds of people lying down. Yet, only two doors stood out within the vast space.

The door on the left was adorned with white feathers, arranged like the wings of an angel. The door on the right was embedded with black horns and bat-like wings, forming a distinctly demonic figure.

"A fork in the path."

Karoon turned back and nodded toward him.

"As the archmage said, we need to reach the Black Tower’s master as quickly as possible, no matter which path we take. It would be best to split up."

He pointed at the doors behind him, suggesting they divide their group.

"You choose first."

"Hmm…"

Raon examined both doors closely. Although their designs were different, both emanated thick waves of demonic energy.

"I’ll take the right door."

Raon pointed toward the right door, the one adorned with black horns. For some reason, perhaps because of Wrath and Derus, he felt more drawn to the demonic door rather than the angelic one.

"Then we’ll take the left."

Karoon moved to stand before the white-feathered door.

"What about you?"

He turned toward Jaina and the Balkar mages, who had followed behind the Light Wind Palace.

"I’ll go this way…"

Jaina hesitated for a moment before stepping behind Raon.

"Then I’ll go left."

Morell Kazan chose to go with Karoon, standing behind him.

"Not a bad distribution."

Karoon smirked slightly before pushing open the angelic door. However, just as he was about to step inside, he paused and looked at Burren.

"Don't let your guard down just because you've reached Grandmaster. Most warriors die because they believe they’re stronger than they truly are."

His words weren’t just directed at Burren, they were advice that applied to Martha and Runaan as well. Then, without waiting for a response, he turned away.

"...Congratulations on becoming a Grandmaster."

Leaving those parting words, he stepped through the door without waiting for a response. The warriors of Central Martial Palace flashed Burren warm smiles before following Karoon inside.

"That guy really has no idea how to say what he actually feels."

Martha shook her head as she looked at Burren.

"Your dad is— huh? Are you crying?"

Her jaw dropped as she stared at Burren, whose eyes were brimming with tears.

"I-It’s just… it’s been so long since he last praised me…"

Burren couldn’t contain his emotions, and thick tears dripped down his cheeks.

“I get praised every hour…”

Runaan tilted her head, genuinely confused.

"That's weird too!"

Martha shook her head in disbelief.

"Enough of that, get ready."

Raon waved his hand at Burren, Martha, and Runaan, signaling them to focus.

"Light Wind swordsmen will take the vanguard. Princess, you and the mages will provide support from the middle. Warring Steel swordsmen will secure the rear."

Without wasting any time, he finished assigning positions and stepped in front of the demonic door.

"Our top priority is reaching the Black Tower’s master. Splitting up midway is also part of the plan, so keep that in mind."

"I understand…"

Jayna let out a long breath and nodded.

"Of course."

Trevin grinned, as if to assure them they could count on him.

"Then, let's go in."

Raon made eye contact with everyone before pushing open the demonic door. Even before stepping inside, a brilliant light engulfed him, and he felt his body lift off the ground.

‘What’s happening?’

His energy surged stronger than it had been on the lower and middle floors. It felt like the demonic energy in the air was seeping into his skin.

Thud!

As soon as his feet touched solid ground again, he lifted his gaze.

In a space no larger than a training ground stood a figure with black wings spread wide.

Its hands were as dark as pitch, and he held a sword that crackled like thunderbolts, its radiance so intense that Raon’s eyes stung just looking at it.

"Human…"

Something beyond human fixated its pitch-black eyes on him, rotating its gaze slowly.

That one…

Wrath clicked his tongue as he observed the eerie man.

That’s a real demon.

 

 

 

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