The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 957

 Chapter 957

 

Tsk.

Raon clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the gray energy he had taken from the black-haired, black-eyed man.

‘Not a large amount.’

It seemed most of the power had been taken away by Wrath, as the energy obtained from Rage wasn’t that significant.

‘However…’

Its quality is incredibly high.

Though the black-haired, black-eyed man had already vanished, it was clear that the gray energy he left behind possessed extraordinary power, even if Raon couldn’t tell exactly what kind of ability it held.

‘It’d be best to convert it into Glacier.’

The energy left behind by the black-haired demon wasn’t cold energy. He could’ve converted it into the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but given how Glacier was lower in rank, it seemed better to convert it to Glacier instead.

Wuuuung…

Raon circulated Glacier to its extreme and began to take in the gray energy left behind by Rage.

‘It’s completely different in nature from any of the energy I’ve obtained so far.’

He bit his lip as he felt the gray energy raging wildly, as if it would burst through his mana circuits.

‘It’s rebelling like a wild beast being leashed.’

The cold energy he had obtained on the way here had naturally turned into his own aura and settled into his energy center the moment he circulated Glacier, but this energy from the black-haired man raged uncontrollably inside his mana circuits, as if refusing to ever become his.

‘I didn’t even force it out of him. What’s with all the resistance?’

Although, truth be told, it didn't really matter.

Glacier was a cultivation technique Wrath had created himself, and still used even now.

It was the power of the demon king. No matter how powerful the gray energy was, it had no choice but to be absorbed in the end.

‘I do feel like a bit of a jerk…’

But thinking it couldn’t be helped if he wanted to restore the balance, he used Glacier’s vast cold energy to forcibly suppress the gray energy.

‘It’s finally starting to calm down.’

Overwhelmed by the immense cold, the energy left behind by Rage began to sink into his energy center, flowing naturally along Glacier’s path.

‘Now that I’ve brought the gray energy under control, time to look for Wrath.’

It was clear Wrath had fought the black-haired man in this space, so Raon moved around, searching for traces.

‘There are many traces of ultimate techniques.’

The traces of ultimate techniques, like the Silver-White Aurora, remained here and there, evidence that Wrath had fought with full power.

‘That guy earlier…’

Raon narrowed his eyes at the dust remaining where the black-haired man had perished.

‘Was he really that strong?’

He’d looked dangerous, so Raon had immediately suppressed him and just took his energy. Looking back, maybe he should’ve tried to pull some information out of him first.

‘Then again, it probably wouldn’t have meant much.’

This space was formed from Wrath’s memories. The man was born from those memories, so it’s not like he would’ve known anything Raon didn’t.
‘But I don’t see any path leading to the next trial.’

Was the trial still ongoing?

Just like how he had been pulled into a separate place to obtain the power of the golden sun, it seemed Wrath was undergoing his final trial in some other space.

‘Then I guess I’ll wait here.’

Rather than returning through the exit, it seemed better to stay in this place until Wrath came back out.

Raon sat down on the scorched black ground and leaned his back against the frozen World Tree.

‘I don’t need to absorb any more energy anyway. This is the perfect time to cultivate.’

Following Wrath had brought him more unexpected gains than he’d imagined.

Since he hadn’t yet fully absorbed the energy from the black-haired, black-eyed man, staying here and focusing on cultivation felt like the right choice.

Honestly, before coming here, he’d considered stea—taking a portion—no, just a tiny bit, of Wrath’s reward. But now, he no longer needed it.

‘Overeating will only make your stomach burst. Besides…’

Wrath needed to recover his strength too.

If Wrath got stronger, things would get a lot more annoying, but considering just how much he’d helped him, Raon kind of wanted to see that cocky look on his face again.

‘So go ahead and come back stronger.’

Because I’ll be growing even more too.

Raon smacked his lips briefly and closed his eyes. The gray energy rising from his shoulder slowly began to turn silver.

*   *   *

“So Raon’s gone into the Chamber of Self?”

Aris, leaning against the doors of the audience chamber, flicked her finger lazily.

“You went on and on about ‘my beloved nephew this, my beloved nephew that,’ and yet you didn’t even know that?”

Glenn scoffed, mocking her.

“I forgot. I’ve been living up in the mountain.”

Aris clicked her tongue with a curt tone, brushing it off as something she’d forgotten.

“You went back up the mountain? Again?”

“After watching Raon and Karoon’s spar, I just couldn’t hold back.”

She clenched her fist, saying that seeing the two of them fight had stirred her blood too much to stay idle.

“I get what you mean.”

Glenn nodded calmly.

‘Both Raon and Karoon had poured the convictions they’d built since childhood into their swords.’

Karoon held onto his noble affection and pride for Zieghart, while Raon had reached Transcendence with the unyielding sword forged from the resolve he made the moment he declared Sylvia would be brought into the direct line.

Since transcendental swords, each carrying different convictions, had clashed, it was only natural that the hearts of those watching would be set aflame.

“So I’ve decided to start again.”

Aris let out a calm breath and lightly struck her chest with a clenched fist.

“Does that mean you’re now mentally and physically prepared?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked her over.

“Not completely.”

Aris frowned, staring at her faintly trembling fingertips.

“But I’ve brought myself up to about eighty percent.”

She licked her lips, saying she was almost ready to accept the mana of the Dragon Heart.

“I see. You’ve clearly put in a lot of effort.”

Glenn nodded as he looked into Aris’s calm eyes.

“If it were the old you, you’d have just readied your body and rushed to absorb the mana of the dragon heart. You’ve changed a lot. I suppose it’s thanks to Raon.”

He murmured that it was fascinating, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“That’s right. It’s because of Raon.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Aris gave a firm nod.

“My beloved nephew risked his life to obtain that treasure and handed it to me without asking for anything in return. I can’t let it go to waste.”

She bit her lip, saying she’d devour the dragon heart down to the bone if that’s what it took to absorb every last drop of its mana.

“That’s a good mindset.”

Glenn closed and opened his eyes again, as if agreeing it was only natural.

“But did you know? You’ve changed a lot too, father.”

Aris lifted her gaze slightly to look at Glenn.

“Me?”

Glenn furrowed his brow, not understanding.

“If this were the old you, you would’ve never said I put in a lot of effort.”

She knit her brows, saying he would’ve just stayed silent and waved her away without a word.

“Hmm…”

Glenn lowered his eyes and smacked his lips briefly.

“You’re not wrong.”

Back when he was consumed by obsession with power, he hadn’t cared for his children, let alone his grandchildren. All he had cared about was becoming stronger, so Aris wasn’t wrong.

“Your change is thanks to Raon too, right? He really is a lucky charm.”

Aris smiled faintly, believing her father had changed because of Raon as well.

“Ahem! N-not just Raon! It’s thanks to all of the children!”

Glenn awkwardly cleared his throat and quickly added that it wasn’t just Raon, but all of them who helped him change.

“Well, whatever the case, I like this much better. Way more than back when you kept everyone at arm’s length with that icy attitude.”

Aris nodded, saying that she preferred how her father was now.

“I wonder if my nephew is doing well.”

She looked toward the door on the right, where the Chamber of Self was, eyes filled with concern.

“What did you see in the Chamber of Self?”

Glenn asked, then turned to look at the door Aris was staring at.

“I just kept fighting in an underwater arena. One fun opponent after another kept showing up, and it made me happy.”

Aris let out a long smile, saying she wanted to go into the Chamber of Self again.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Glenn calmly shook his head.

“Raon wouldn’t fail to walk the path you’ve already passed.”

He gave a dry chuckle, saying there was no reason to worry.

“I know that! But still, I can’t help worrying!”

Aris snorted, a huff escaping her nose.

“Now, tell me why you’re here.”

Glenn clicked his tongue briefly and rested his hand on the armrest of the throne.

“No more stalling with other talk.”

He motioned with his chin, signaling her to get to the point.

“Did you already know?”

Aris’ eyes trembled faintly.

“You're someone who always shows everything on your face.”

Glenn nodded, saying it was obvious to see.

“Haa… you’ve really changed a lot.”

Aris let out a heavy sigh, as if she had finally resolved to speak. She brought her hands together in front of her and looked up at Glenn.

“Please help me. Just a little.”

*   *   *

Gooooooooh—!

The moon, exhaling a silvery frost cold enough to freeze the world, slowly descended toward Wrath.

Crackle!

Just as Wrath tried to receive the moon’s frost with his whole body, a black fissure split open in front of him, blocking the way.

Wuuuuung!

The pitch-black crack erased the cold energy pouring from the moonlight, as if declaring that no more power would be allowed.

Tsk.

Wrath slowly opened his eyes, visibly frustrated. He clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the giant moon still glowing blue.

‘So the restriction really did kick in.’

Just as he was about to enter the state of nothingness and absorb all the frost from the silver moon, a black fissure emerged and severed the channel that connected him to it.

Just as he’d suspected from the beginning, it seemed that the presence of two souls had triggered a limit on how much power he could obtain.

‘He expected this… but it’s still frustrating.’

Had he come alone, he might have broken through the wall.

If he had fully absorbed the moon’s power, he could’ve done more than just recover his lost strength, he might’ve reached the next realm entirely. It was regretful beyond words to be stopped just before the final step.

He had anticipated the restriction from the beginning, but missing that breakthrough right before his eyes was chokingly frustrating. It made him resent Raon—just a little.

‘No, no. There’s no reason to resent him.’

Without Raon, he wouldn’t have even been able to enter this place. He should be grateful, there was no reason for resentment.

‘No, wait! There’s no reason he can’t resent him either!’

That damned weasel who kept blackmailing the King of Essence every day with Nadine bread, there was no reason to see him in a good light.

If they’d met here, he would’ve punched him in the face without hesitation.

‘Threatening someone with food is the most despicable thing in the world!’

Of all things, it wasn’t Raon sucking his precious stats or traits that drove him mad, it was having to eat Nadine bread.

‘And on top of that… Eating ice cream and delicious food isn't such a hard thing to do! He was filthy rich, he could spend money like water and never run out. Why was he so annoyingly frugal, always eating cheap stuff and pretending he was broke?’

Every time Raon claimed he didn’t have money and ate cheap food, Wrath’s hands would tremble from the sheer rage.

‘Still, it’s true he gave me the opportunity to recover. So, just this once, he’ll let it slide.’

Thanks to Raon, even if not fully, he had managed to recover a significant portion of his authority and the level of his soul. So just this once… he’d let it go.

“Huuu….”

Wrath let out a long sigh as he looked up at the blue moon, now separated from the space he stood in.

‘It’s a shame, but it’s time to go.’

He regretted not being able to absorb all of that energy, but he couldn’t stay here forever. It was time to return.

Wuuuung!

As he thought about returning, a circular dimensional gate formed from blue flames opened before him, just like when he first arrived here.

“It’d be nice if the King of Essence could return to this place someday.”

Casting a parting glance at the brilliant blue-glowing moon, as if bidding it farewell, Wrath stepped through the gate.

Whoooosh.

The weightless sensation of being lifted returned to him.

But then, something strange began to happen. The cold energy he had absorbed from the moonlight slowly started leaking away… drifting somewhere else.

‘W-What is this now?’

It was the first time his cold energy had moved on its own, outside of his control. Alarmed, he opened his eyes, but saw only darkness.

‘How frustrating…’

It wasn’t a large amount. Barely enough to care about. But the fact that something he possessed was being drawn away left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘Quickly… He needs to get there fast….’

As he bit his lip and kicked through the void, he suddenly felt something solid beneath his feet. The moment he opened his eyes, the snowy field where he had fought Rage came into view.

‘This is where… huh?’

Why is that brat here?

To his surprise, Raon was sitting there with his eyes closed, leaning casually against the World Tree.

Wrath hadn’t even considered the possibility and tilted his head in confusion.

Then he saw it, his own blue cold energy was flowing out from his heart and being absorbed by Raon.

“You again?! You greedy little bastard!”

He clenched his teeth so hard they made a grinding sound.

‘This can’t be. If the King of Essence leaves him alone like this…’

He’s going to steal every last bit of power he barely managed to recover!

Goooooh—!

Wrath’s blue eyes flared with blazing red killing intent.

‘He must protect it, no matter what!’

Even if it means beating that greedy bastard to a pulp!

*   *   *

“Hm?”

Raon furrowed his brow and opened his eyes. While he was in the middle of absorbing the gray energy, a surge of pure cold energy had suddenly come from somewhere and begun aiding his cultivation.

‘What the…?’

He couldn’t tell what was going on, so he turned his head, and saw Wrath standing to his right.

“Are you done already?”

Contrary to his expectations, it wasn’t the cotton candy form. Wrath was in his true body, neither clearly male nor female, but Raon had seen it a few times already, so he didn’t feel any discomfort.

“You again?!”

Wrath glared at him, grinding his teeth. His whole body was trembling with rage.

“Uh…?”

Raon opened his eyes wide as he looked at Wrath.

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

He had just been waiting for Wrath to return, but now Wrath was acting like he’d done something wrong. He had no idea what was going on.

“Controlling what the King of Essence eats wasn’t enough—you had to go and devour the power he gained here too?!”

“No, I only took what you left behind….”

Raon quickly waved his hands. He had only picked up the remnants Wrath had left, yet Wrath was reacting like he’d stolen something precious.

“The King of Essence actually felt a bit of gratitude toward you, you know. But!”

Wrath’s blue eyes flared with a chilling wrath as he unleashed his terrifying authority of <Wrath>.

“But now you’re even stealing the power the King of Essence gained here?! He’ll fix that filthy habit of yours once and for all!”

Wrath unleashed such a powerful wave of energy that Raon felt his heart sink. The pressure was real, he was completely serious.

“You! The enemy of Nadine bread!”

“W-why am I the enemy of Nadine bread?!”

Raon blinked in disbelief. Being called the enemy of Nadine bread was somehow even more bewildering than Wrath being angry at him.

“You fed that cursed stuff to the King of Essence every single day!”

“But that doesn’t make me its enemy! I mean, the word ‘enemy’ means—”

“Silence that devilish mouth of yours!”

Just as Raon was about to explain the meaning of the word enemy, his vision suddenly shifted. The world spun rapidly, and he could see his own body, standing on the ground, collapse.

‘Why is my body… huh?!’

Raon’s jaw dropped as he watched his own body collapse, headless.

‘Did I… just die?’

To Wrath?

He was so dumbfounded that his mind went blank, then Wrath’s panicked voice rang out.

“D-Damn it all! The King of Essence got so mad, he used his full strength!”

Wrath wailed, saying he hadn’t had power like that in so long, he couldn’t control himself.

‘That demon king bastard….’

As the world around him went pitch black, Raon clenched his teeth in his mind.

‘He totally did that on purpose!’

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