The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 988

 Chapter 988

 

“Phew…”

Mark Goetten let out a sigh of relief after confirming that Raon had entered the forest.

‘It was worth following him after all.’

He had pushed himself to the limit to catch up, worried that he might get in the way. But it seemed he had managed to help Raon, if only a little. That was enough.

‘Now then…’

Just as Mark was sensing Raon’s energy as he ran deeper into the forest, his eyes suddenly darted upward.

Kwarurururung!

A brilliant yellow bolt of lightning crashed down from the darkening sky.

‘Magic? Sorcery?’

No, there’s no time to analyze that.

I don't know what power summoned it, but that lightning possessed a mighty force like a natural thunderbolt.

“Hup!”

Mark braced himself, slamming his left foot into the ground and raising his saber. He unleashed a form of the Azure Lightning Saber toward the falling lightning.

Kwahhhhhhh!

With a blade flashing in fierce blue light, he cleaved through the yellow lightning and also slashed apart the wall of monsters rushing toward him.

‘This isn’t the time to feel relieved just because I sent the palace master ahead.’

Mark steadied his grip on the Dragon Cleaving Saber, crafted from the horn and fangs of a dragon, and shook his head.

‘I need to clear out as much of this place as I can before the palace master comes back out.’

If Raon was going to save Merlin and escape this battlefield, Mark’s role was vital. Before Raon came back, he had to find a way to break this Sky and Earth Net formation.

‘I’ll have to stake my life here.’

Raon had already cut down over half of the monsters and demons of Eden that formed the formation, but countless enemies still remained.

Especially Eden’s executives, they had sent only their underlings and monsters, too afraid to face Raon themselves. Almost none of them had been killed.

He needed to hunt down those cowards hiding in the shadows first.

‘Avoid the Grandmasters, target the Masters.’

There was at least one in this formation emanating the pressure of a Grandmaster.

He figured it would be best to avoid a frontal clash and eliminate the Masters first.

‘Of course, the one I must be most cautious of is…’

Mark’s thoughts were cut short as he raised his saber and split another lightning bolt falling toward his head.

'...that commander who's dropping this lightning.'

I tried to find the commander controlling this formation from the mountain overlooking the entire field, but he didn't show himself anywhere.

He remained hidden in the forest among the monsters, issuing commands and launching surprise lightning strikes from afar.

Kyakkyakyakyang!

Mark Goetten deflected the spears and arrows flying in from his right and left with lightning energy, narrowing his eyes.

‘The Sky and Earth Net’s pressure is still focused on the palace master.’

As expected, Eden’s demons were focused more on Raon than on himself. He had to make use of this moment while he was being ignored.

‘I’ll stop them no matter what!’

Mark advanced toward the forest entrance Raon had gone through and slashed down Eden's demons in green robes who blocked his way.

‘I can’t use too much strength.’

He steadied his breath where he stood. This battle was going to be a long one, so he needed to conserve as much strength as possible.

Kyaaaaah!

Just as he was about to use his footwork again to block the entrance Raon had gone through, a dual swordsman wearing a red orc helmet and a sorcerer wearing a black troll mask began moving toward the forest. Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon. Eden’s executives, clearly moving to pursue Raon.

‘So they’re making their move!’

Mark bit the inside of his cheek and brought down his saber toward the Red Twin Demon’ neck as the enemy tried to enter the forest.

“Hmph!”

Sensing Mark’s presence, Red Twin Demon swiftly turned and raised a wall of combative energy with his twin swords.

Jjeoeoeoeong!

Mark Goetten shattered the defense with his lightning-saber and slashed deep into the man’s shoulder.

“Guh…”

As Red Twin Demon staggered back with a groan, Mark lunged to finish him off by cutting his neck, when suddenly, a black mass flew in from the right. It was a necromantic sorcery from the Black Soul Demon.

‘Dangerous.’

Mark narrowed his eyes and switched from offense to defense.

‘I don’t know what kind of effect that sorcery has. Best to avoid it at all costs.’

He cleaved through the approaching wave-like spell and surged toward Black Soul Demon.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The Red Twin Demon, unwilling to let him go, slashed at Mark’s back with both swords. The rusted blades flared with combative energy, crashing down as if to shatter even his aura.

“I’ve already got an appointment.”

Mark angled his blade just slightly, redirecting the Red Demon Twin’s fierce attack, then stormed in toward the Black Soul Demon’s left side.

Kwahhhhh!

Summoning the lightning energy burning in his energy center, he unleashed a form from the Azure Lightning Saber aimed at the Black Soul Demon’s chest.

Kwadudeudeuk!

Though the Black Soul Demon tried to defend with a defensive spell, the lightning saber tore through the barrier and carved a deep gash into his chest.

“Gah!”

Clutching his chest, the Black Soul Demon coughed up blood. Perhaps due to his sorcery, his torn flesh began to knit back together on its own, but it wouldn’t be able to heal the internal injuries.

‘I can hold them off.’

Though both Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon were peak Master level, the difference in battle experience was clear. Mark was confident he could take them both on at once.

Pazzzzzzt!

Mark Goetten raised his saber above his head. He summoned a blue bolt of the Azure Lightning Saber and pressured both the Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon at once.

“Th-this bastard!”

“How is he pushing us back…? We’re all Masters!”

Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon, seemingly flustered by being pushed back even when attacking together, trembled their lips.

Jijijijijik!

More arrows and spells rained in from behind, but Mark blocked them with a wall of lightning and pushed his blade of lightning toward the two demons.

Kwadudeudeudeuk!

The Dragon-Cleaving Saber shattered the Red Twin Demon’s swords and cracked the Black Soul Demon’s staff, and just as he was about to cleave through their necks—

Kuwaaaaang!

A gruesome cutting sound echoed in his ears, the wall made of lightning shattered, and a chillingly sharp slash dug into his waist.

Jijijijik!

He tried to block the rushing slash by turning the Dragon-Cleaving Saber sideways, but the energy contained within it was not something he could handle unprepared.

Kwahhhhhh!

Mark was sent flying like a pebble kicked by a child, crashing to the ground and rolling violently.

“Guh…”

Spitting out dark blood, Mark raised his head.

Sssssss…

Beside the Black Soul Demon, whom he had nearly killed, stood a tall, lean warrior.

In his hands were two pairs of sickles, each pair a different color. His limbs were unnaturally long. As he scratched the praying mantis-like helmet on his face, a faint buzzing noise escaped him, like insect wings fluttering.

“White Mantis Demon…”

Mark swallowed dryly as he looked at the man in the mantis helmet.

‘That monster was here all along?’

He had sensed a Grandmaster hiding nearby, but never expected it to be this demon.

‘Of all things, it had to be him…’

White Mantis Demon was an Eden executive who had inherited the traits of the Giant Mantis Lord.

Unlike the purely savage Giant Mantis, he was cautious, cruel, and possessed extraordinary senses, making him a nightmare to face in close combat.

Ssshhh…

Showing no interest in Mark, the White Mantis Demon lowered his sickles and turned his back, heading into the forest.

“Guh…”

Mark gritted his teeth and forced strength into his trembling knees as he got back on his feet.

‘I can’t let him go.’

Right now, the palace master was in a state where he couldn’t maintain composure because of Merlin.

If the White Mantis Demon were to ambush him while he was fighting a Transcender in the forest, even someone like the palace master could suffer a serious injury. No matter what it took, I had to stop him.

Kuuuuung!

Mark Goetten slammed the ground as he poured his full aura into the Dragon Cleaving Saber. Into the violently blazing lightning energy, he incorporated the principles of the Azure Lightning Saber and manifested a bolt of lightning

“You fool.”

The White Mantis Demon let out a wing-like buzzing sound from his mouth and viciously swung up the sickle he had been tilting.

Kwahhhhhh!

A pure white astral sphere blazed up along the sharply rising sickle, slicing through the lightning bolt of the Azure Lightning Saber and cutting into Mark Goetten’s chest.

“Keugh…!”

Mark Goetten staggered back, coughing up blood. As he caught his breath to stop the bleeding pouring from his chest, sword strikes and sorcery flew in from both his right and left.

Chiiiaaang!

It was the Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon. During the time White Mantis Demon had bought, they had recovered their breath and now charged at him.

‘Damn it!’

Mark Goetten clutched the bleeding wound on his chest with his left hand as he retreated, barely managing to block the assault from the Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon.

Jjeoooong!

In his wounded state, attacks he could have deflected with ease earlier now felt overwhelming. Even simple sword strikes and spells were hard to fend off.

Fsssshh…

White Mantis Demon, treating Mark as someone already dead, turned his back to re-enter the forest. It seemed to be in line with the nature of the Mantis Lord, only hunting prey that looked appetizing.

‘I can’t let him go!’

Mark Goeten, with burning determination in his eyes, pushed back the Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon, who were charging at him, with the Azure Lightning Saber’s lightning bolt, and then ran towards the forest again.

“Stop!”

With his chest still bleeding openly, he brought his saber down toward White Mantis Demon’s sickle.

“This bastard…”

The White Mantis Demon frowned, seemingly surprised by Mark Goetten’s charge, even after being wounded.

“I made a promise to the palace master…”

Even in the face of White Mantis Demon’s chilling killing intent, Mark Goetten’s eyes did not waver.

Gripping the saber, now gleaming in blue lightning, with both hands, he stomped down as if to crush the ground beneath him.

"Before I die, no one shall pass this path!"

*   *   *

“Will he be all right?”

Krein looked back at the distant lord’s manor and licked his lips.

“The look on the palace master’s face was really serious…”

He furrowed his brow in concern for Raon.

“I haven’t been in the Light Wind that long, but I’ve never seen him make that face before.”

Trevin let out a low murmur, clearly also worried about Raon.

“I’ve watched Sir Raon since we were trainees, and I can count on one hand the number of times he’s looked like that…”

Dorian scratched his cheek uneasily. Something serious was definitely going on.

“Yeah. It was serious.”

Burren nodded calmly.

“I even thought about following him.”

He clicked his tongue briefly, admitting he had considered it.

“Then why didn’t you?”

Krein tilted his head, curious.

“Because the guardian was behind Raon.”

Burren simply shrugged, saying that was all

“That man values Raon more than his own life.”

He chuckled, saying that in that aspect, he was number one in the Light Wind Palace.

“The reason the guardian wants to become stronger is to help Raon.”

Martha jerked her chin, as if to say, "Don’t you know that?"

“In the Light Wind Palace, the only ones who train as much as Raon are the three of us and him.”

She gave a faint smile, saying Mark Goetten’s determination was no less than theirs.

“Yeah. So we don’t need to worry.”

Runaan looked up at the sky, now bathed in a violet sunset glow, and nodded softly.

“They’ll both come back smiling.”

*   *   *

“Huff…”

Mark Goetten coughed up violet blood, his face completely devoid of a smile.

‘At this rate… I really might die.’

He could still hold off the attacks from the Red Twin Demon and the Black Soul Demon, but the White Mantis Demon’s sickle strikes were sharp enough to threaten even his soul.

If his focus slipped for even a second, he would have already been decapitated.

‘The palace master didn’t put us through focus training for nothing.’

At the time, it had felt like hell, but now, in real combat, it was proving to be a great help.

Kyaaaah!

Parrying the Black Soul Demon’s sorcery and redirecting the Red Twin Demon’s sword strike, Mark tried to catch his breath, but the White Mantis Demon’s sickle was already coming down. His entire body bristled with fear, there was no way to dodge it.

‘If I can’t block it…’

Then attack!

Recalling the realization he had gained from Raon, Mark Goetten brought the Dragon Cleaving Saber down toward the White Mantis Ghost’s incoming sickle.

Kuwaaaang!

The Dragon Cleaving Saber bent to the point it seemed it would break as it clashed with the sickle.

He didn’t have the physical power to match the White Mantis Demon, but the saber, crafted by Vulcan the Continent’s Blacksmith from a dragon’s horn, made up the difference. If it were any other weapon, he’d already be dead.

“You’re a tenacious bastard.”

The White Mantis Demon flicked his hand in irritation, and his sickles fluttered like insect wings.

‘What the—ah!’

Mark Goetten, focusing on the movement of the sickle, quickly threw his body to the left.

PAAAACK!

But it was too late. His waist was slashed open, and blood poured out once more.

“Guh…”

He tried to stop the bleeding with aura, but the cut was too deep, his blood wouldn’t stop.

“This is the end.”

“You tenacious worm!”

The Red Twin Demon and the Black Soul Demon, not missing their chance, charged forward with sword strikes and necromantic sorcery.

‘I can’t even breathe…’

Without even a moment to stop the bleeding, Mark Goetten raised his saber and blocked the combined assault of Black Soul Demon and Red Twin Demon.

‘My head’s going numb…’

His vision blurred, and his thoughts rapidly dulled. He had lost too much blood, his condition was truly critical now.

Fssshhh…

The White Mantis Demon, unlike before, didn’t head straight for the forest. Like a predator eyeing weakened prey, he slowly approached. It seemed he had decided to finish it himself.

‘Maybe it’s better this way.’

Mark let out a faint smile.

‘I’ve probably bought enough time.’

His strength was nearly gone, and he no longer knew where Raon was, but if it was him, he would surely rescue Merlin and return.

[White Mantis Demon! Ignore the one who's already dead and chase after Raon Zieghart!]

Just as the White Mantis Demon was about to raise his sickle, a slightly sluggish voice rang out from the air.

Given that he was giving orders to the White Mantis Demon, it was likely the commander who had constructed this Sky and Earth net formation.

“Tch.”

White Mantis Demon clicked his tongue briefly, as if agreeing with the order, and quickly turned around.

‘No… not yet…’

If White the Mantis Demon were to go now and ambush Raon, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy even in death. He had to buy even one more minute, no, even one more second.

‘I can still move. I have to do it—no matter what.’

He memorized the movements of the Red Twin Demon and the Black Soul Demon. If he could take them out quickly, he might be able to hold back White Mantis Demon just a little longer.

‘Start with footwork—ugh!’

He tried to retreat with footwork, but his body wouldn't move properly.

With blurred vision, all he could do now was raise his saber and defend against the attacks of the Red Twin Demon and the Black Soul Demon.

‘If my body won’t move...’

Mark Goetten bit his lip and raised his head.

‘Then I’ll just have to stop him another way!’

With a flicker of lightning at his fingertips, he pushed the Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon back just slightly, then straightened his posture.

“White Mantis Demon! Are you afraid of me?!”

Calling out the White Mantis Demon’s name, Mark twisted his lips into a sneer.

"All you ever do is run. You're not called an insect for nothing!"

He raised the Dragon Cleaving Saber, shouting that if he wasn’t afraid, then fight him head-on.

“You lunatic…”

The White Mantis Demon twisted his lips and raised his sickle again.

“I’ll split that foul mouth of yours right open!”

[Stop wasting time! I told you to get into the forest!]

Just as the White Mantis Demon swung his sickle savagely, the commander’s voice rang out again.

“White Man—”

[I’ll finish this one myself!]

Just as Mark was about to call the White Mantis Demon’s name again, the dark sky flashed red, and a massive bolt of lightning fell, so large it filled his entire vision.

KUUUUUHHHH!

Mark Goetten let out a breathless gasp as he saw the lightning crash all the way down to the crown of his head in that single moment.

‘Is this… a true lightning?’

It was on a different level from any lightning he had ever unleashed. Deep, vast, ferocious, yet fluid.

‘And…’

Free.

Unlike his own, which merely shaped lightning according to sword forms, that lightning stretched out freely, as if it could go anywhere in the world.

'Yes. Originally, lightning….'

…falls from the sky, so it must be able to go anywhere.

‘Then my saber techniques…’

As he realized that both the lightning and the saber that must draw that lightning needed to be free, all the countless saber techniques that had filled his mind sank away.

What filled the now-emptied space was a single line.

But that line was free—free enough to stretch toward anywhere.

Fsssshh...

With only the strength in his fingertips, Mark Goetten slowly raised the Dragon Cleaving Saber. He recalled the blue line engraved into his mind and gently closed his eyes.

Kwarururururung!

A blue radiance erupted from the Dragon Cleaving Saber, dyeing the entire sky and earth, and within it echoed a thunderclap so vast it seemed as if the sky itself would collapse.

Pazzzzzzt!

The lightning cast down by the commander of the Sky and Earth Net formation did not strike Mark Goetten, it flashed red, swirling around him as if it had become his power.

“S-Stop him! Stop him now!”

The White Mantis Demon, sensing that the current Mark Goetten was truly dangerous, raised his twin sickles and launched red and blue slashes. The two astral spheres mixed together, forming the shape of a massive sickle.

“You bastard!”

"What trick is this now!"

Red Twin Demon and Black Soul Demon also, as if they felt a chill, detonated all the energy they possessed and poured out their ultimate techniques.

Cheeeeeeek!

Without taking a single step back, Mark Goetten brought down the Dragon Cleaving Saber he had raised above his head.

Azure Lightning Saber—Ultimate Form.

Ten Thousand Waves Divine Art.

What Mark Goetten unleashed was neither a saber technique nor martial skill. It was the conviction he had built up until now, falling together with the brilliant blue lightning.

Kuwaaaaaaaaaaah!

In the countless bolts of lightning that seemed to draw the sky itself, the White Mantis Demon’s body was torn apart, and the very existence of Red Twin Demon and the Black Soul Demon was wiped out.

Whoooooosh!

Mark Goetten raised the hand gripping the Dragon Cleaving Saber, as if resonating with heaven and earth, feeling power surge through his body.

Wuuuuuuung!

Only now did the commander of the Sky and Earth Net formation seem to recognize him as a threat and began concentrating the formation’s pressure on him.

Kugugugugugu!

The Eden’s demons and monsters forming the formation also stopped chasing Raon and started surging toward him instead.

“Haaaah…”

Mark Goetten straightened his slightly hunched back and stood upright. Agonizing pain clouded his mind, and his body swayed as if it could collapse at any moment, but even with countless enemies ahead, he didn’t feel like he would lose to any of them.

Kuuuuuuuung!

Standing at the entrance of the forest Raon had entered, Mark Goetten planted his foot in a firm stance. Toward the horde of monsters and Eden’s demons charging in like a wave, he unleashed the mighty will boiling up from his chest.

“Come! I am the guardian of the Light Wind Palace master!”

 

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