The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 958

 Chapter 958

 

"HAAAAH."

Raon opened his eyes, letting out a faint scream.

'I definitely died, didn't I?'

He remembered up to the moment when Wrath’s surprise attack severed his neck, but everything after that was a complete blank.

‘Did I return to reality?’

Since he died inside the space created by the Chamber of Self, he assumed he had come back to reality and began scanning his surroundings.

‘No. This is…’

He swallowed dryly as he looked at the golden, shimmering ground.

‘This is the place where I first woke up.’

The place where he revived after dying was the boundary between the sandy mountain and the blue ocean. It was the same land where he had opened his eyes when he first entered the Chamber of Self.

‘So if you die in the Chamber of Self, you come back here?’

The trials he had gone through had been so dangerous that it wouldn’t have been strange to die during them. It wasn’t too odd that even if he died, he would be given another chance.

“Haa…”

Raon let out a long sigh as he leaned his back against the ground.

‘Thank goodness.’

Because he had entered the Chamber of Self with both body and soul intact, he had feared that dying here might result in actual death. Now that he confirmed it didn’t, he finally felt at ease.

Tsk.

Raon clicked his tongue deeply as he touched the neck that had been severed by Wrath.

‘I didn’t think I’d have to watch my own head fall off again.’

The moment Wrath killed him, the memory of his previous life as an assassin—how it ended—came flooding back.

He recalled the moment when Derus cut off his head and flicked the blood off his hand like brushing off an insect. That memory made his anger boil up uncontrollably.

“I swore I’d never suffer such humiliation again…”

Guess I still have a long way to go.

He thought he had grown significantly, defeating the Black Tower’s master and making it this far in the Chamber of Self. Yet he couldn’t even withstand Wrath’s strike. Even if it was a surprise attack, it was still frustrating.

‘Are we even the same kind of Transcenders?’

He was a Transcender too, just like Glenn and Wrath. But the range of what counted as Transcender felt far too broad. It seemed like there ought to be levels even within that realm.

‘No, that’s something to think about later…’

Why the hell did that damned cotton candy attack me?

All he did was go find Wrath after finishing his trial, yet he was attacked by a strike that took his head off. It was so sudden, it left him completely bewildered.

‘Sure, if Wrath got a lot of rewards, I was thinking of taking a bit. Well… maybe a lot more than just a bit...’

But I didn’t actually steal anything!

If I’d been killed while trying to steal his power, maybe I could’ve accepted it, but being struck down while I was just cultivating? That was seriously unfair.

‘Did he hear me say I’d take 80 percent? I was just saying that, did he really think I’d take that much?’

At most, he would’ve taken half.

Even though he said eighty percent, in truth, he only intended to take about half, which made his chest tighten with frustration.

‘Seriously, what a petty bastard.’

Raon smacked his lips, imagining Wrath freaking out if he heard that thought.

‘But what exactly hit me?’

The attack had come so suddenly, he didn’t even know what killed him.

‘Seeing as my head flew off, did he shape his cold energy into a blade and fire it at me?’

Even if he’d let his guard down, the fact that he couldn’t react at all meant Wrath had definitely honed his cold energy into a sharp form and launched it like a blade.

‘The wall is still so high.’

It unsettled him that he couldn’t even sense Wrath’s attack. For the first time in a while, the difference in their skills felt painfully real.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

Raon checked his body and smacked his lips again.

‘I didn’t lose anything.’

Just to be sure, he checked the state of his cultivation. The progress he’d made in the versatile sword, Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, and Glacier, all of it was still intact.

It wasn’t the mental world, but since it was a similar kind of place, dying here didn’t seem to cause any damage.

‘Though it did hurt like hell.’

The ominous sensation he felt at the moment of death, and the pain that made it seem like every cell in his body was being erased, had been real. But since there was no actual loss, he was thankful.

Wuuuung!

Just as Raon let out a breath of relief, a circular dimensional gate rose up from the golden, shimmering ground.

‘Is that the exit?’

As he had initially suspected, this land that separated the sandy mountain and the blue ocean seemed to be both the entrance and exit of the Chamber of Self.

“A bit of a shame, but I’ve gained a lot.”

He had refocused his slackened body and mind, gained insight into the true nature of the versatile sword, and raised the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation to ten stars while reaching the threshold of nine stars with Glacier. It had been a short time, but one of tremendous growth.

‘Of course…’

Raon clenched his molars as he looked toward the ocean.

‘I still need to get my revenge on that damned cotton candy.’

Even if he hadn’t lost anything, the sensation of dying had been vile enough to send chills down his entire body. Especially the moment he lost his neck and watched his own body collapse, that had been the worst.

‘How should I take my revenge so that people say I did it well?’

Even if both of their souls had entered together, Raon was the one in control, so the moment he stepped through that gate, Wrath would inevitably be dragged along. It made more sense to plan revenge in the real world.

‘Ban him from eating bead ice cream? No more eating out? No, those are too soft.’

Wrath had grown more patient lately, he’d be able to endure that much.

‘Then maybe… Nadine bread?’

He’d blown up the moment he called Raon the enemy of Nadine bread. That alone showed just how much he hated it, more than going hungry.

‘Perfect. I’ll feed him nothing but Nadine bread for a year.’

Having lived as an assassin, there was nothing Raon couldn’t eat.

He could even swallow actual rubber, not just rubbery bread. So eating nothing but Nadine bread for ten years would be no problem.

‘Just wait and see.’

Raon curled the corner of his mouth and stepped toward the dimensional gate.

‘So you’ll never be able to kill me again. Time to teach you a lesson… with Nadine bread—hm?’

Just as he was about to pass through the gate, thinking of his revenge on Wrath, he pulled his foot back.

‘Wait a second.’

Raon smacked his lips as he stared at the blue ocean.

‘I died… and didn’t lose anything?’

In reality, death meant the end. And even in mental world, dying usually came with serious losses, like damage to the soul. But here, nothing had happened even after dying

‘This is…’

Raon turned away from the golden exit. He stepped into the blue ocean that resembled Wrath’s hair color and slowly smacked his lips.

‘I might’ve discovered a new opportunity.’

*   *   *

"Damn iiiiiiiit!"

Wrath screamed, clutching his head with both hands.

"A mistake. He has made a terribly big mistake!"

He had only meant to smack Raon across the face with cold energy, but ended up putting too much power into it without realizing, and ended up slicing the guy’s neck clean off.

‘But was it really… a mistake?’

It was true that he had suddenly become much stronger and failed to control his power. That part, he could say for sure.

But when asked whether he truly had no intent to kill… he couldn’t answer with certainty.

‘My blood rushed to my head.’

The moment he saw Raon trying to steal the Moonlight Cold Energy he had painstakingly acquired, his mind went blank.

‘And then…’

Everything he’d endured up until now came flooding back.

How that little brat Raon had ignored him. How his stats had been stolen. How he’d extorted the other demon kings using his name. And above all, the greatest humiliation—food.

‘Nadine bread…’

The moment that disgusting, rubbery taste of all the Nadine bread he’d eaten came rushing back, he ended up pouring out far too much power, far beyond what Raon could handle as he was now.

'Since it's certain that punk is still alive...'

It's even more terrifying.

This place was a mental space created by his and Raon’s combined souls. Since it was impossible to truly die here, Raon must have already come back to life.

‘It would’ve been better if he had actually died…’

Now what was he supposed to do?

Not only Raon, but his own trial had ended as well, so an exit from this place was likely open by now.

The moment Raon passed through that exit, he would be dragged along with him and wouldn’t be able to resist in any way.

‘That damned Raon…’

He looked like he was seriously pissed off.

The moment his neck was severed, he had glared at him with a look that clearly said, “You’re dead.” Just remembering those murderous eyes made his shoulders tremble.

‘He might make me eat nothing but Nadine bread for a month…’

Wrath shook his head, seemingly unaware of who Raon truly was, as he spoke of the laughably short period of just one month.

‘That’s… the one thing the King of Essence could never endure.’

He would rather starve than eat Nadine bread repeatedly. In fact, he had nearly died from eating it just before coming into this space.

‘Ugh… is he going to have to beg for forgiveness?’

In a battle of souls fought in reality, he could never win against Raon because of the Ring of Fire. The moment they exited this place, he’d have to raise both hands and beg for forgiveness.

'Of course, that lump of greed won't let me off that easily.'

Raon would definitely demand some compensation. He had no idea how much he’d have to hand over to satisfy that god of greed.

“Sigh… this is going to cost me dearly.”

Even though it wouldn’t consume his soul’s level or his authority, just the thought of having to part with the cold energy he’d obtained under the moonlight made his chest tighten like he had indigestion.

‘Fuck!’

Wrath threw a fist into empty air.

‘All because he couldn’t hold back for one second, what a disgrace for the monarch of Wrath!’

But even that Monarch of Wrath couldn’t overcome the fear of Nadine bread. He slumped to the ground, trying to figure out how to talk Raon down and get himself out of this mess.

But no matter how long he waited, the space still showed no signs of collapsing.

‘What’s going on?’

Shouldn’t it be over by now?

The moment Raon walked through the exit, he too should’ve vanished, and this space should’ve disappeared. But strangely, nothing changed.

‘Don’t tell me… did he really die? No, that can’t be!’

If Raon had truly died, then this world would’ve collapsed the moment his head was cut off. Since everything was still intact, it was certain that Raon was alive.

‘Then did he fail to find the exit?’

Or maybe… he’s plotting revenge on me?

Not knowing anything was more suffocating than getting hit.

It got to the point where he actually found himself thinking he’d rather just die to be free of this awful feeling.

'You sneaky punk! What on earth are you thinking!'

He leaned his back against the World Tree where Raon had been sitting, wanting to shout 'If you're going to get revenge, just get it over with quickly!'

Gooooooo…

Just as the unease crawling down his spine reached its peak, Raon stepped out from the black mirror.

“Wha…?”

Wrath’s dry lips trembled as he saw Raon step onto the snowy ground.

‘Why is that ghost back here?’

The exit to the Chamber of Self was the same as the entrance. Raon could’ve just left the moment he came back to life, so why in the world had he returned here?

‘D-don’t tell me…’

Is he trying to get revenge here too?

That ghost-like bastard wasn’t just going to torment him in reality, he meant to squeeze him dry even in this place.

“Khugh…”

Wrath buried his face in his hands and let out a low groan. The future playing out in his head was so vivid that a few tears slipped out without him even realizing.

“Wrath.”

Raon was looking straight at him, his red eyes sharp enough to make Wrath flinch.

“Th-the King of Essence is sorry! Truly, it was a huge mistake!”

Now that he was actually face-to-face with Raon, every line he’d prepared vanished from his mind.

Like a prey animal frozen before a natural predator, his mind went completely blank, and all he could say was that he was sorry.

“He swears he’ll never lay a finger on you again, so please, anything but the Nadine bread…”

“Hey.”

Raon, clearly and genuinely angry, waved a hand to cut him off mid-sentence.

“Y-yes…?”

"Forget it. Just use the same technique you used when you killed me."

He drew Heavenly Drive and gestured with his finger, as if telling Wrath to hurry up and attack.

“Y-You want the King of Essence to do it again?”

Wrath widened his eyes at Raon.

“What are you saying all of a sudden?!”

He thought Raon would say something like you’re eating nothing but Nadine bread for a month, but instead, he was told to attack again. He was completely thrown off. What was this guy even thinking?

“Attack me just like before. Try cutting my neck again.”

Raon lowered his stance and jerked his chin, signaling him to hurry up.

‘Th-this is…’

Wrath swallowed dryly as he saw the smile on Raon’s face.

‘This is definitely a trap!’

Looking at Raon’s expression, he could tell, if he attacked now, he’d be fed Nadine bread for not just one month, but three months. He must not attack under any circumstances.

“Guh…”

Wrath clenched his eyes shut like he hadn’t seen or heard anything.

“Th-the King of Essence will never lift his hand against—”

“If you don’t attack me right now, I’ll feed you Nadine bread until you die. Forget bead ice cream, you won't even get home-cooked meals.”

Raon furrowed his brows and spoke with deadly seriousness.

“F-For life… Nadine bread…”

Wrath’s blue eyes trembled like jellyfish drifting in the water.

"You know I'm the type who does what he says he'll do, right?"

Raon stomped his foot, urging him to make a decision.

“Y-You really want me to attack? Really?”

Wrath exhaled a heavy, murky breath and asked again, just to be sure.

“I told you. How many times do I have to say it?”

Raon nodded, signaling for him to go ahead already.

“Kugh…”

Wrath bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. The thought of living the rest of his life eating nothing but Nadine bread, with no bead ice cream, washed his mind white with panic all over again.

‘Anything but that…’

Even slathered in jam, drowned in peanut butter, dipped in coffee, or soaked in wine, that rubbery taste of Nadine bread never went away.

It was a grotesque flavor that crushed every other taste and shattered his sense of taste itself. Thinking of experiencing that for life, his killing intent surged again.

“Die!”

Wrath roared and unleashed his blade of frost with all his might.

Fwaaang!

The blade of frost flew faster than sound and, just like before, sliced through Raon’s neck.

“Ha!”

Even as he died, Raon smiled brightly, as if praising him for doing well.

Thud.

The moment his head hit the ground, his body vanished like a crumbling sandcastle.

“W-What the hell? What is this?!”

The fact that Raon was smiling as he died filled Wrath with even deeper fear than the first time. It made him genuinely afraid of the guy.

“What the hell do you want from the King of Essence!”

Have you awakened to some new fetish or something?!

*   *   *

“As I thought…”

Raon rose to his feet in front of the golden exit.

“You don’t die in here.”

Seeing that even after dying twice nothing had changed, it seemed Raon’s initial assumption was correct, this place allowed one to revive without any loss whatsoever.

‘But still…’

I didn’t see it.

Even though he hadn’t let his guard down, he couldn’t tell where Wrath’s attack had come from or how it hit. It was clearly a power that surpassed his current level.

‘Good. That makes it fun.’

Raon curled his lips into a grin and stepped out over the ocean, using the Supreme Harmony Steps.

‘This will be an even greater gain than what I got in the Chamber of Self.’

Here, he could die and instantly come back, without losing anything in terms of martial progress.

In other words, it was the perfect training ground, where he could face Wrath at his full power.

‘Right now, I can’t even see it…’

But if I keep dying, I’ll eventually start to sense something.

Even if he couldn’t block Wrath’s attacks yet, just accumulating the experience of facing him would be an enormous help when facing other Transcenders.

Of course, dying was terrifying—and excruciating.

But missing a chance to grow hurt even more.

Paaaaang!

Raon crossed the ocean at full speed. He passed through the cave on the gray island like a bullet and stepped back into the mirror once more.

Fwaaaaaaah!

As he arrived on the ruined snowfield, he saw Wrath clattering his teeth in terror.

“Kill me again.”

Raon smiled brightly and gave a small nod.

“Y-You….”

Wrath took a step back and violently shook his head.

“What kind of revenge are you trying to take on the King of Essence, doing this crazy shit!”

He screamed, begging Raon to at least say something.

“You perverted bastard!”

 

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