The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 993

 Chapter 993

 

“Raon Zieghart….”

Green Wolf Snake’s pupils trembled as if in great shock, staring at the reflection of Raon in his eyes.

"You bastard killed the Demon Slaying Spear?"

He bit down hard on his lip as he looked at Blood Horn, the Demon Slaying Spear’s beloved steed.

“……”

Raon didn’t respond to Green Wolf Snake’s question and instead turned his gaze to Mark Goetten, who stood behind him.

"You finally achieved it."

Mark Goetten had stayed true to his belief and, here and now, broke through and reached the realm of Grandmaster.

Seeing that he had settled into a higher level than when Burren, Martha, and Runaan broke through, suggesting that this was the long-overdue reward for all the years he’d never given up the sword, even when he made no progress.

"It is thanks to the palace master for believing in me."

Mark Goetten bowed his head, not even bothering to wipe the blood flowing from his wounds, saying it was all because of Raon.

“If not for you, I would still be…”

“I know you have a lot to say, but let’s take care of things here first.”

Raon gave a faint smile and waved his hand.

“I’ll leave her to you.”

He got down from Blood Horn’s saddle and handed Merlin over to Mark Goetten.

“Hmm…”

Mark Goetten let out a low groan as he examined Merlin’s condition, full of wounds from being pierced by a spear.

“I’ll protect her with my life.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Raon calmly lowered his hand and drew Heavenly Drive.

“Nothing will reach her.”

Saying that no one would be able to touch her, he walked forward toward Green Wolf Snake.

“Green Wolf Snake.”

Raon tilted his chin slightly as he looked at Green Wolf Snake.

“I’m sick of seeing that snake helmet.”

From the golden one he first encountered at Eden’s branch to the Green Wolf Snake who attacked Seipia, he’d already run into four snake-colored helmets. Just seeing one now made his irritation rise.

“I let you go at Seipia, but today, you won’t be that lucky.”

He had let Green Wolf Snake go back then to minimize casualties, but today he had no intention of doing so.

Not just Green Wolf Snake, he vowed to kill the next snake-helmeted man as well, and tightened his grip on Heavenly Drive.

“Grrk…”

Green Wolf Snake flinched at the murderous intent radiating from Raon, biting his lip and stepping back.

Step.

Raon narrowed his gaze and stepped forward, matching the distance Green Wolf Snake had backed away.

‘He hasn’t gotten any stronger.’

Quite some time had passed since he last saw Green Wolf Snake in Seipia, but his martial strength hadn’t changed much.

It felt like there was some other secret behind his strength, as if he grew stronger each time he came back from death.

‘Before killing him…’

What are you trying to do now?

Wrath tilted his head curiously.

‘I have a few things I need to check.’

Raon pulled out the dark red bell he had placed in the pocket of his uniform.

“Green Wolf Snake. Do you know what this is?”

He hooked the ring connected to the bell onto his fingertip and held it out in front of him.

“That thing… why is it in your hand…?”

Green Wolf Snake stopped stepping back and widened his eyes within his helmet.

Rumble!

It wasn’t just Green Wolf Snake. The other demons of Eden also showed beast-like eyes and drooled sticky saliva when they saw the bell.

“No…”

Green Wolf Snake grabbed his head with one hand and let out a low breath.

“Merlin is with you, and the Demon Slaying Spear is dead… I suppose it’s only natural.”

He nodded heavily, as if it made sense now.

“Haaah…”

Green Wolf Snake’s hand holding his sword trembled.

“If that thing is in your hands, I can’t simply retreat.”

He pressed his lips together, stating he had no choice but to fight.

“I agree. I wasn’t planning to let you go either.”

Raon let out a quiet laugh and spun the bell around his finger.

“So what is this bell that it’s causing such a reaction?”

He gestured with his chin, demanding an answer from Green Wolf Snake.

“Even if you know… you wouldn’t understand.”

Green Wolf Snake licked his lips as he looked at the spear wound on Raon’s chest left by the Demon Slaying Spear.

“I’ll stop you here, if only to carry on the Demon Slaying Spear’s will.”

He licked his lips, openly revealing his intent to target Raon’s wound.

“Don’t dare speak the Demon Slaying Spear’s name with your filthy mouth.”

Raon turned his chin to the side, furrowing his brow.

“Hmph!”

Green Wolf Snake snorted and lowered his hand, and the monsters and Eden’s demons behind him charged at Raon all at once.

“There is no Sky and Earth Net anymore!”

Mark Goetten shouted that the formation’s pressure had vanished with the death of the commander.

“Understood.”

Raon nodded calmly and looked at the wave of charging monsters.

‘The Sky and Earth Net is indeed gone, but…’

The monsters’ combative energy had become even more vicious.

While the powerful pressure of the formation was no longer present, the demons of Eden exuded an intense will to kill, perhaps because of the bell.

“Just wait right there.”

Green Wolf Snake didn’t come at Raon directly. Instead, he retreated behind the monsters and demons, hiding his presence. It seemed he was trying to circle around and find an opening.

He’s getting more and more pathetic.

Wrath clicked his tongue in disgust.

At least he used to be worth fighting head-on!

He snorted, saying Green Wolf Snake became more pathetic each time the color of his helmet changed.

‘I think the same.’

Raon nodded and stepped forward.

Rumble!

As the large monsters and Eden’s demons drew near, Raon activated Glacier and took an advancing step.

Craaaaack!

The ground beneath his stomping foot split violently, and the charging monsters and Eden’s demons were all flung into the air.

“Keep attacking!”

“We have to kill him here!”

“If your hands don’t work, bite him with your teeth!”

Even while floating in midair, the Eden’s demons and monsters threw themselves at Raon to attack him.

But his attack wasn’t just about launching them into the air.

Crash!

From the long fissures in the ground, silver frost exploded outward, turning the airborne monsters and specters into giant chunks of ice.

It was a martial technique adapted from Wrath’s ultimate technique, Silver-White Aurora.

Ssshhh.

As the monsters and ghosts of Eden froze, clearing his field of view, Raon turned his gaze to the right.

In his red eyes, which gleamed like the sun, he caught Green Wolf Snake moving from behind.

“Damn it!”

The moment their eyes met, Green Wolf Snake flinched and quickly retreated in panic.

“So you were there.”

Raon tossed Heavenly Drive he held into the air.

Fwoooosh!

Wrapped in green wind, Heavenly Drive rose on its own as if alive and shot toward Green Wolf Snake.

“Dancing Sword!”

Green Wolf Snake stopped retreating and gripped his sword with both hands. From his fingertips, a wave of Transcendence energy rose, and a brilliant green light surged up his blade.

“Haaahhhh!”

He unleashed a full-powered sword strike to repel Raon’s attack, but in that very instant, Heavenly Drive vanished from before his eyes.

“What the—!”

Just as Green Wolf Snake’s eyes trembled in shock, Heavenly Drive pierced through space and curved straight toward his chest.

Raon Zieghart Style Swordplay.

Eight Form — Chilly Breeze. (Gentle Wind changed to Chilly Breeze)

A sword technique that evolved Aris’ space slash and Rimmer’s Garunua to an even higher level, it pierced through Green Wolf Snake sword attack and slipped into his opening.

“Damn it!”

True to his status as a Transcender, Green Wolf Snake sensed the flow of Chilly Breeze, retreated to the right, and raised a wall of aura.

But Heavenly Drive, following Raon’s will, didn’t lose track of Green Wolf Snake’s movement and continued to pursue him.

Puhhhhkk!

Heavenly Drive, wrapped in a crisp green wind, pierced through the final aura wall Green Wolf Snake raised and stabbed through his chest.

“Gahhh!”

Green Wolf Snake coughed up black blood and came to a halt. Unable to withstand the overwhelming weight of Heavenly Drive, which crushed even the will of a Transcender, he dropped to his knees on the spot.

“Speak.”

Raon stepped up in front of Green Wolf Snake and held up the dark red bell.

“What is this bell?”

“…I don’t know. And even if I did, I couldn’t say.”

Green Wolf Snake shook his head and spat blood. Even with a blade filled with cold and wind impaled in his chest, tormenting him with terrible pain, he kept his mouth shut.

“Then what are you? Why do you keep coming back to life?”

Raon furrowed his brow and asked a second question.

“I think… I told you once before…”

Green Wolf Snake shook his head with difficulty.

“You’ll find out soon enough. This time, for real…”

He sneered, as if to say this death wouldn’t be his last.

“I see. In that case…”

Raon pulled Heavenly Drive from Green Wolf Snake’s chest.

“Die.”

Without hesitation, he swung the sword and severed Green Wolf Snake’s neck.

“N-no…”

Green Wolf Snake’s eyes trembled, as if he hadn’t expected Raon to cut him down right away, and then he collapsed.

‘There’s no reason to drag this out any further.’

He might have been able to extract information about the bell by torturing Green Wolf Snake, but with the Fallen or another Transcender of Eden possibly arriving at any moment, escaping from here quickly took priority.

“To kill a Transcender that easily…”

Mark Goetten let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just seen. He had just felt how strong Green Wolf Snake was, which made it all the more shocking to see him killed so easily.

“Get on.”

Raon climbed back onto Blood Horn’s saddle and gestured to Mark Goetten.

“Ah, no, I’ll go on my own two feet…”

“This one’s faster.”

Blood Horn’s speed was faster than Mark Goetten running at full power. Especially now that he was injured, riding the horse was unquestionably the better choice.

“…Ah, understood.”

Mark Goetten, still looking like he couldn’t believe it, rolled his eyes slightly before climbing onto Blood Horn.

“Let’s go!”

Even before the reins were pulled, Blood Horn, as if reading his master's intention, pushed off the ground and charged across the field.

Thud!

Before they knew it, Blood Horn had crossed the plains and was running up the mountain they had descended earlier. It didn’t need to be told, it understood without words.

Rumble!

Normally, horses slow down significantly when climbing a mountain, but Blood Horn ignored that very concept, sprinting uphill at the same speed as on flat ground.

“Huuh!”

Mark Goetten couldn’t close his gaping mouth, clearly stunned by Blood Horn’s speed.

‘It really is worth being surprised over.’

Raon stroked Blood Horn’s mane and nodded.

Blood Horn’s basic movement speed, instantaneous acceleration, and turning ability all exceeded that of a Grandmaster, and even mountainous terrain didn’t slow it down.

He had never imagined such a warhorse could exist.

Th-the King of Essence wants to ride it too…

Wrath licked his lips, wanting to ride Blood Horn himself.

‘Yeah… it’s fast and feels good.’

That’s not what he meant!

When Wrath denied wanting that kind of experience, Raon narrowed his eyes.

‘Then what?’

He glanced over at Wrath.

Look how big and flashy it is! It suits the King of Essence perfectly!

Wrath drooled as he gazed at Blood Horn’s elegant form, completely smitten.

It doesn’t suit you at all. Hand it over to the King of Essence! He’ll use it well!

‘Haa…’

Raon let out a short sigh and shook his head.

Why aren’t you answering? You didn’t even want it that much in the first place!

Ignoring Wrath’s shouting, Raon turned to Mark Goetten.

“Congratulations.”

He nodded, congratulating him on becoming a Grandmaster.

“It’s truly all thanks to you, palace master.”

Mark Goetten bit his lip and bowed his head.

“If you hadn’t accepted me, I’d probably still be rotting in a tavern somewhere.”

He gave a bitter smile, saying he likely would’ve sold his soul for scraps of coin, having abandoned the path of the sword.

“No. That realm you’ve reached now isn’t something I achieved for you, it’s something you accomplished yourself.”

Raon shook his head as he looked into Mark Goetten’s eyes.

“Kneeling before someone younger than you and asking to be accepted, that kind of courage isn’t something just anyone can have. And keeping the promise you made afterward is just the same.”

Even now, their first meeting came back to him as clearly as if it were yesterday.

The reason someone whose body and mind had both been broken could become a warrior like this wasn’t because Raon’s teachings had been good, but because he had pushed himself with desperate effort.

It was true that Raon had helped him, but he didn’t want to diminish the growth of a warrior who had changed through his own strength.

“…Thank you.”

Mark Goetten lowered his head, his shoulders trembling, as if Raon had understood what he meant.

“Until the day I die. No, even after death, I will serve you, palace master.”

As if making a renewed vow, he raised his fist and struck it against his chest.

“There’ll be even more work ahead.”

Raon said he’d be relying on him again, then turned his gaze forward.

Tududududu!

Before long, Blood Horn had reached the mountain summit and began descending on the other side.

‘It’s probably best to call Larian once we get past this mountain.’

Raon clicked his tongue as he looked down the slope.

‘She probably isn’t in good condition either.’

Larian had used a magic spell that even Chamber hadn’t known existed, sending both Raon and Mark Goetten to this place.

Since using that spell required nearly thirty minutes of preparation, it must have taken a toll on her.

For her sake too, it would be best to leave this land full of sorcery.

‘But…’

As they descended the mountain, Raon took out the dark red bell from his pocket.

‘What is this bell, really?’

Even the reason they used the Sky and Earth Net to pursue Merlin, and why the Green Wolf Snake attacked him despite having decided to flee, was all because of this bell.
He didn’t know what it was, but it was clearly something important.

‘Could it really be Eden’s divine relic…?’

Just as Raon narrowed his eyes while shaking the bell, which made no sound—

Dodge!

Whoooosh!

Even before Wrath’s shout fully reached him, a brilliant light flashed across the dark sky above.

White rays and black rays. Dozens of beams pierced through his senses and rained down from overhead.

Chiaaaang!

Raon drew Heavenly Drive to protect Merlin, Mark Goetten, and Blood Horn, and launched the Wooden Ring Sword to raise a double-layered Firewall.

But the flashes falling from the sky pierced through the Firewall and struck his chest and Blood Horn’s leg.

Thududududud!

Raon was flung from Blood Horn and rolled down the mountain slope.

“Damn it…”

He didn’t even have time to think about stopping the bleeding from the wound gushing blood from his chest, he just looked up.

Whoooosh…

On the ground where a dark hole had opened, Mark Goetten was trembling and coughing up blood, while Blood Horn, with what looked like a broken leg, leaned against a tree and let out a pained cry.

‘M-Merlin…’

As Raon turned his head with difficulty, he spotted Merlin collapsed beneath a rock on the left. Bright red blood welled from her chest. It seemed the wound that had barely healed had reopened.

“Merlin!”

Raon used Heavenly Drive as a cane to push himself up. Just as he gathered strength in his legs to run to Merlin, the black sky split open and a brilliant radiance bloomed.

Amid the sacred yet ominous light, a strange figure wearing the mask of a young man descended. The Fallen. The leader of Eden had appeared himself and now stood blocking Raon’s path.

“You’ve caused quite a flashy scene again.”

The Fallen raised his hand over the gray robe adorned with demonic horns and angelic wings, smiling warmly.

“Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart.”

Just as his pale-white hand, untouched by sunlight, reached out to grab Raon’s throat.

Thwaaang!

A pure-white magic circle surged up around Raon, Merlin, and Mark Goetten, pushing back the Fallen’s hand.

Wuuuuuung!

From within the magic circle, a blonde woman in a loose-fitting robe stepped forward and stood before the Fallen, as if to protect Raon.

Gooooooo!

The Magic Tower’s master Larian. Her blue eyes, which had always seemed lazy and bored, now flickered sharply like the blade of a famed sword.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Larian turned to Raon and gave a small nod.

“I needed a bit of time to prepare. And also…”

She pointed a blue-glowing dagger at the still-smiling the Fallen.

“I had to choose the right tool to dissect that bastard.”

As if to say, leave it to me now, Larian walked boldly toward the Fallen. The mana flowing beneath her calm stride shook the entire mountain.

Ruuuuuumble!

 

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