The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1271

 Chapter 1271

 

The world held its breath.

The earth, unable to withstand its fear, began to tremble in violent spasms, while the air filled with a grotesque heat carrying both the stench of sulfur scorching the atmosphere and the ancient scent of mountain soil.

The clouds scattered in every direction like a flock of terrified sheep, and even the sun lost its brilliant radiance, fading into nothing more than a pale, lifeless disc.

Thump!

In that pitch-black silence where even light and sound had vanished, only the pounding of human hearts remained.

Those heartbeats, stained with terror and despair, became a funeral march as something absolute began to rise from the depths beneath the earth.

KWA-AAAAAAANG!

At last, the land could endure no more and screamed.

A colossal fissure tore across the horizon, splitting mountain ranges apart and evaporating rivers vast enough to resemble seas.

The crimson light that carved an irreversible scar into the continent continued to spread its vicious waves, as though its hunger still had not been satisfied.

Within the fissure that split the land apart, a crimson glow darker than blood pulsed violently. It was not lava born from the dawn of the world, but the authority of an absolute being accumulated over thousands of years, shining with a merciless brilliance that branded the entire world with wounds that would never fade.

“A-Ahh…”

“W-What is that…?”

“That’s not human. There’s no way that thing could possibly be human…!”

“I-I can’t breathe. My body won’t—!”

“Gghhk!”

Both the demons of Eden and the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace were crushed beneath the terrifying energy waves pouring from the crimson light, thick veins bulging across their faces and eyes.

As if they didn’t even dare look at it directly, they fell to their knees and bent forward, lowering their heads like frightened birds.

“Hrk…”

“Aaaagh!”

Even Burren and Martha could no longer endure it and collapsed to their knees with their eyes tightly shut.

“Ugh…”

Even Runaan, a Transcender, could barely withstand it, managing only to lift her head with immense difficulty while kneeling.

“D-Damn it!”

Even the ever-freewheeling Black Form Snake was biting his lip hard, devoid of any room to act laid-back in the face of this pressure.

Kugugugugugu!

Raon bit his lip as he stared at the crimson ripples growing thicker and darker by the second.

‘So this is the Monarch of Pride!’

Taking a step back from the crimson brilliance overflowing with terrifying authority, he tightened his grip on the Divine Sword and the Demonic Sword, whose heat and frost were both beginning to fade away.

Indeed it is!

Wrath nodded, absolutely certain.

That filthy, pathetic pressure belongs to no one but that damned bastard!

Just looking at Pride seemed to infuriate him so much that his teeth ground together audibly.

‘The Monarch of Pride… Pride.’

Raon frowned slightly beneath the crushing pressure pouring from the red light.

‘What a terrifying energy wave.’

If he had not reached the realm of Absolute, he too would have been unable to lift his head and would have been forced to kneel like everyone else. 

‘Now I understand why you called him your archenemy.’

He’s on an entirely different level from the other Demon Kings.

Even Sloth, Envy, and the other Monarchs had released overwhelming energy waves when they first appeared, enough to crush Raon's body beneath their pressure, but Pride was fundamentally different.

Even now, after gaining enough power to contend against Demon Kings themselves, Raon felt a crushing weight twisting his entire body as though he had somehow returned to his days as a mere trainee.

The Monarch of Pride descending before his eyes seemed to be a Monarch of a completely different class, just like Wrath.

KWAAAAAAA!

The crimson radiance created by the Monarch of Pride spread wide enough to engulf Eden’s headquarters, and at that moment, a massive pillar of fire erupted from the enormous fissure as though it intended to burn heaven and earth alike.

This was no ordinary flame.

It was a tyrannical authority that devoured every color in the world, a manifestation of absolute violence itself.

Step.

At last, a figure emerged from within the colossal pillar of fire that looked capable of melting the continent itself.

A massive, unshakable physique like a mountain range. Long crimson hair swept back as though wrapped in flames. Bronze skin scorched as if lava had once flowed across it. His upper body was bare like an ancient warrior’s, while ornate patterns adorned the trousers he wore below.

A breathtakingly handsome young man walked slowly out from the towering inferno with his eyes closed.

Gooooooo!

The Demon King named Pride slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze burned with domination and wisdom, as though suns themselves had been compressed into his pupils.

The mere dignity contained within the Monarch of Pride’s calm eyes felt enough to incinerate every human living upon the continent.

“So, he was wondering who dared lay hands on what belongs to the King of Essence…”

Pride’s crimson eyes gleamed as though he were amused, yet within them blazed an overwhelming authority of pride so intense it could make one’s stomach churn.

Like Wrath, he referred to himself as the King of Essence. Raon didn’t particularly like the title, but somehow, it suited the authority of pride disturbingly well.

“So it was <Wrath>’s little toy.”

Pride casually uttered the name <Wrath>, as though he had instantly seen through Raon’s identity.

‘His very existence feels unreal…’

Raon swallowed dryly as he stared at the Monarch of Pride in his true form.

‘I knew he was strong, but not to this extent.’

Unlike Wrath, Pride was a Monarch who made no effort whatsoever to hide his power or authority.

Just standing before him made it feel as though Raon’s soul itself were melting away, and even maintaining a calm expression required tremendous effort.

Pull yourself together!

Wrath smacked Raon on the back, warning him not to let his guard down.

That bastard is insane! Unlike the other Demon Kings, he might genuinely be impossible to reason with! It would be wiser to prepare for battle immediately!

Even Wrath bit his lip, saying the situation was far worse than expected.

‘I know.’

Raon steadied his breathing internally and nodded.

‘Still… that guy sounds a lot like you.’

What? W-What kind of bullshit are you spouting?! Why would the King of Essence resemble that bastard—?!

‘Pride calls himself the King of Essence too. You and him are the only ones who use such embarrassingly over-the-top titles.’

Raon had met countless rulers and powerful figures by now, yet Wrath and Pride were the only ones arrogant enough to constantly elevate themselves with titles like that.  For two beings who called each other archenemies, they oddly shared quite a few similarities.

No! Absolutely not!

Wrath even bit into Raon’s shoulder in outrage, furiously rejecting the comparison.

Ironically, thanks to Wrath’s ridiculous reaction, Raon managed to regain a bit of clarity amidst the crushing energy waves pouring from Pride.

“So the King of Essence had heard that <Wrath> was raising a human, but this is far more serious than he expected.”

Pride slowly stroked his chin, as though he had already heard rumors regarding Raon and Wrath.

“Don’t tell me… <Wrath> is trying to imitate the King of Essence? A pathetic creature like <Wrath>?”

As Pride twisted his lips in displeasure, the entire world seemed to grow angry with him, and immense pressure crashed down onto Raon’s shoulders.

“…”

Raon endured Pride’s authority and terrifying energy waves through sheer inhuman willpower, calmly closing and reopening his eyes as though unaffected.

‘So the Heavenly Demon really was a monster raised by Pride.’

Combining Pride’s words with Wrath’s explanation, it became almost certain that the Heavenly Demon of Eden had indeed been nurtured by Pride himself.

“No, wait! It’s not just <Wrath> that you received.”

Pride stroked his chin and let out a low murmur of surprise.

“<Sloth>, <Envy>, <Gluttony>, <Lust>… and even <Greed>? You received Greed’s authority as well?”

In an instant, Pride read through every Monarch’s authority dwelling within Raon.

“What, did all the Demon Kings hold a reunion without me? That’s honestly a little hurtful.”

Though Pride’s tone sounded light and flippant, the sheer weight of his existence and the authority of pride surrounding him naturally smothered the atmosphere beneath unbearable pressure.

“How interesting. Truly fascinating.”

Pride slowly rubbed his smooth jaw, clearly intrigued by Raon’s very existence.

“So then, where is that insolent <Wrath>? He’ll have to pay the price for touching what belongs to me yet again.”

He crooked one massive finger, motioning for Raon to bring Wrath out immediately.

So that’s what this was.

Wrath let out a sigh as realization dawned on him.

The helmet that woman is wearing… belongs to a demon.

‘A demon?’

Raon swallowed dryly as he looked toward the helmet worn by the Death Sword Spirit behind Pride.

Indeed.

Wrath shook his head with visible disgust.

That helmet contains the power of Siquir, the Demonic Sword Queen who once stood close to the level of a Demon King herself.

His brows lowered as he explained that the original owner of the helmet the Death Sword Spirit wore had once been a woman known throughout Devildom as the Sword Queen.

‘But why did Pride appear?’

Even after hearing Wrath’s explanation about the helmet, Raon still couldn’t understand the connection and frowned slightly in confusion.

Because Pride loved Siquir.

Wrath clicked his tongue in annoyance.

That bastard chased after her obsessively because he was infatuated with her.

He then narrowed his eyes.

Even the King of Essence didn’t expect he’d go so far as trying to preserve her in that state after her death!

He shook his head in disbelief, clearly finding Pride utterly pathetic.

"S-stay out of my business!"

The Death Sword Spirit ground her teeth as she glared at Pride’s back.

“I fought with everything I had and lost fair and square! Just let me die!”

Even while coughing up blood, she grabbed onto Pride’s leg, demanding that he stop interfering in her affairs.

“Ah, yes, he knows.”

Pride raised a hand and gently brushed back the Death Sword Spirit’s black hair.

“He’ll make sure your revenge is complete. Neither that bastard nor <Wrath> will ever dare show themselves before you again.”

Acting as if he hadn't heard a word she said, he only spouted what he wanted to say.

It was absurd, yet his words and actions perfectly matched his title of Pride.

‘But Pride said you had touched what belonged to him again. Don’t tell me that means…’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked toward Wrath.

Ahem!

Wrath coughed awkwardly, glancing away at the Demonic Sword Queen Siquir's helmet.

Siquir may have received Pride's love, but the one she actually liked was the King of Essence.

He smacked his lips awkwardly, looking faintly embarrassed.

That madman must’ve had his pride wounded because of it. Seems he still hasn’t been able to let Siquir go even now.

Wrath shook his head as though Pride were hopelessly insane.

‘That much is obvious.’

Raon frowned as he looked back at Pride.

‘For someone with that appearance and might, his mind’s a complete mess.’

As the embodiment of pride itself, Pride viewed everything in the world solely through the lens of his own ego. It was obvious that he twisted even other people’s words into whatever interpretation suited his own imagination.

“He’ll ask one last time. Where is <Wrath>?”

Ignoring the Death Sword Spirit to the very end, Pride crooked a finger toward Raon.

“If you refuse to answer immediately, he’ll erase your existence from this world.”

He rubbed the fingers infused with the authority of Pride together, as though he were about to burn Raon alive on the spot.

Kugugugugugu!

Despite the casual gesture, the heavens and earth shook violently as if they intended to swallow Raon whole.

This won’t do after all.

Wrath let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

This matter involves the King of Essence as well, so he shall help you! Only the King of Essence can stop that bastard—

Just as Wrath was about to tell him to retreat and use the Demon King's Advent—

“The one you seek…”

Contrary to Wrath’s words, Raon stepped forward instead.

“…is watching you from above.”

He pointed toward the crimson-burning sky overhead, declaring that Wrath was right there.

“What?”

What?

Pride and Wrath widened their eyes at the exact same moment. Perhaps because they were archenemies, even their shocked expressions looked strangely alike.

“And…”

Even beneath Pride’s absolute energy waves, Raon stood his ground and formed a faint smile.

“…he wishes to propose a wager to you.”

Lifting his chin as though delivering Wrath’s own words, Raon carried himself with even greater pride than Pride himself.

W-When did the King of Essence ever say that?!

Utterly dumbfounded, Wrath's lips trembled as he turned pale.

This crazy bastard is trying to scam even Pride now!

 

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