The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1308

 Chapter 1308

 

'Hmm...'

As he landed on the summit of Melvin mountain, Raon narrowed his eyes until they were as sharp as blades.

'Why is there nothing here?'

Sariel had clearly said that a temple for the archangels stood atop Melvin mountain, yet all Raon could see were withered trees and cracked rocks.

'Did Sariel lie?'

No. There was no possibility of that.

Sariel had laid his emotions bare as if he were naked. Even his death had unfolded exactly as I had expected. There was simply no chance he had lied.

'Then...'

Raon bit lightly on his lip as he approached one of the dead trees.

'Have all the archangels already come and gone?'

It wouldn't have been strange if Uriel had visited the temple sooner than Sariel expected and erased the place once it had served its purpose.

Sniff!

Wrath looked around, sniffing the air like a puppy.

There is definitely a trace of divine power lingering in the air...

He smacked his lips and said that although he couldn't pinpoint the exact location, divine power had certainly been used here.

Then perhaps you were right. Uriel may have destroyed the temple.

Wrath nodded as if his conclusion made perfect sense.

‘No, I don't think so.’

Raon shook his head immediately.

Huh...?

Wrath blinked in confusion.

Y-You crazy bastard! The one who suggested Uriel destroyed the temple was you!

'True, but I don't think that's what happened anymore.'

Exhaling calmly, Raon gestured toward the summit.

'If Uriel really destroyed the temple, there should be traces of it. This place is far too clean.'

The withered trees, cracked stones, and weather-worn boulders bore only the marks of time. There wasn't a single sign that any outside force had acted upon them.

‘Even if the temple had been erased with divine power, some residual divine power should have remained. But the energy left behind here isn't even enough to be called an echo.’

Raon nodded as he gazed at the barren branches.

‘Which means there's a good chance the temple is still here.’

Muttering that he was almost certain, he tightened his fingers.

[Want me to take a look?]

Evelynn's doll spoke from inside his pocket.

[We can just use magic to see what happened here.]

Evelynn chuckled, confident that magic could reveal what had happened atop Melvin mountain.

'No.'

Raon shook his head firmly.

‘Magic might reveal what happened here, but the moment mana is used, we'll leave traces behind.’

Uriel possessed not only overwhelming might but also a sharp and calculating mind. If they used magic in a place saturated with divine power, he would undoubtedly notice.

‘There's no guarantee Uriel has already come here. Until we know for sure, we need to be as careful as possible.’

We couldn't afford to waste an opportunity to kill Uriel, or even weaken him. For now, the safest path was to proceed with extreme caution, checking every step before taking it.

Then what are you planning to do?

[Yeah!]

Wrath looked curious, while Evelynn simply smiled as though she trusted him completely.

'First...'

Standing at the summit, Raon looked up at the sky.

‘I'll need to cut through some of the divine power here.’

Since the divine power permeating the summit might be concealing something from both me and Wrath, I needed to deal with it first.

‘They may have hidden the temple itself behind divine power.’

Hiding an actual space with divine power....

Wrath slowly nodded.

That's certainly possible, but how are you planning to do that?

He tilted his head, unable to understand.

Didn't you say it yourself? If we tamper with this place carelessly, Uriel might notice.

Wrath frowned deeply.

‘I have a trait bestowed upon me by a great Demon King, don't I?’

Raon smiled and elevated the level of his soul.

‘A trait graciously bestowed so it could be of great help when fighting the celestials. It would be a waste not to make use of it.’

He thanked Wrath and winked.

D-Don't tell me....

'<Divine Power Resistance>.'

Raon grinned as he spoke the name of the trait he had obtained thanks to Wrath.

‘It's normally a defensive trait that allows me to withstand attacks based on divine power. But if I can channel it into my sword... things could get interesting.’

After calming his breathing, he activated the trait.

Ordinarily, such a thing should have been impossible. Yet as the ten rings resonated together, the power of <Divine Power Resistance>, which had enveloped his body, began flowing into his sword.

Sssssss!

Without using even the slightest trace of aura, Raon slashed through empty space with his sword imbued with <Divine Power Resistance>.

Riiiiiip!

A golden fissure appeared in the empty air where Heavenly Drive had passed, revealing a world completely different from the summit of Melvin mountain before his eyes.

Transparent clouds drifted across the sky, and above a land overflowing with vibrant trees and lush undergrowth rose a dazzling white temple of purest ivory. Each pillar supporting the temple was so enormous that the place resembled a mystical realm where immortals might dwell.

‘The archangels seemed to have concealed the space containing the temple with divine power..’

Just as he had suspected, the archangels seemed to have concealed the temple from ordinary eyes with divine power, ensuring that no normal person could ever discover it.

Whoooosh!

As Raon attempted to deepen the cut, the split world mended itself, and the scene reverted to the ordinary summit of Melvin mountain.

'Not enough power?'

After taking a breath, he activated the Divine Power Resistance again and slashed downward.

Riiiiiip!

Once again, the fissure closed before the divine power concealing the temple could be completely severed.

'Again.'

Frowning, Raon swung once more.

Just like before, the space containing the temple opened halfway before sealing itself shut.

Pwahahaha!

Wrath burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.

Hah! You acted as if you could do anything, but it seems there are still things beyond you after all!

His grin widened as if he couldn't be more pleased by the sight.

'…..'

Raon quietly watched the cackling Wrath before nodding.

‘There's still something I can use.’

He tightened his grip on Heavenly Drive.

Hmph! You're thinking of using the King of Essence’s authority?

Wrath lifted his chin and scoffed.

If you used the King of Essence’s authority, cutting through that space would be simple enough. However, the King of Essence's authority is the natural enemy of the archangels' divine power. It would leave traces even more obvious than that madwoman's magic. There's no way that would work!

He waved a round hand dismissively.

'No.'

Raon smirked.

‘I'm not going to use your authority to cut through the concealment itself. I'll use it to strengthen the trait.’

Rather than releasing Wrath's authority outward, I could use it internally to strengthen the <Divine Power Resistance>. If I did that, I should be able to completely sever the divine power concealing the temple.

Y-You can do that...?

Las bit his lip, clearly having never considered the possibility.

'Besides...'

Raon's smile deepened as he slowly raised the Heavenly Drive.

‘If I focus on the sword itself, it'll be even more certain.’

Even without using aura, I was still a swordsman who had briefly touched the ultimate realm of the sword. As long as a sword rested in my hand, there was little I couldn't accomplish.

"Hoo..."

Raon slowly regulated his breathing at a pace so slow it bordered on tedious as he raised Heavenly Drive above his head. He strengthened the power of <Divine Resistance> with Wrath's authority, then halted the deep breath he had drawn in.

Sssssss...

For that fleeting instant when his breath ceased, he unleashed a sword that was neither fast nor slow, neither strong nor weak, neither heavy nor light.

The most perfect sword he could wield as a swordsman.

Craaaaaack!

As Heavenly Drive descended with a tranquil presence, the silver blade opened the realm hidden beyond the divine power, revealing a mysterious world where immortals might dwell.

This time, unlike before, the opening did not immediately close.

It remained open.

T-That actually worked?

Wrath stared at the split space, his jaw dropping so wide it looked as though it might tear apart.

N-No, how is that even possible...?

His jaw trembled as if he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing despite witnessing it with his own eyes.

'Of course it's possible.'

Raon shrugged.

‘Though I couldn't have done it without your help.’

He smiled and said that thanks to Wrath, he had been able to find the true temple and sever the divine power concealing it.

Grrrk!

Despite being thanked, Wrath ground his teeth so hard that an audible scraping sound echoed out.

Y-You bastard! One day you're going to get yourself into serious trouble!

Blue flames flared in his eyes as though he were genuinely frustrated.

The King of Essence tells you every time! This world is vast, and there are plenty of beings stronger than—

Just as Wrath was launching into another curse that was really meant as a warning—

[You have cut through divine power using the trait <Divine Power Resistance>.]

[You have accomplished an unbelievable feat.]

[All stats have increased by 30 points.]

[A new trait, <Blade That Cuts Divine Power>, has been created.]

As though even the system itself was astonished by the fact that Raon had cut through divine power using <Divine Power Resistance>, reward messages immediately appeared before him.

U-Uhh...

Wrath stared at the floating messages, foam nearly forming at the corners of his mouth as if he were about to suffocate.

S-Stop it already, you damned System! At this rate, there really won't be anything left of my main body but bones!

He ground his teeth as if he would kill the system on the spot if it were standing before him.

‘Looks like I won't be getting myself into serious trouble after all.’

Raon smiled faintly as he checked the reward messages.

‘How could I possibly get myself into serious trouble when you're helping me like this? No matter how strong the enemy is, I'm sure I'll win.’

He bowed his head toward Wrath.

'Thanks, as always.'

Haa! Haa! Haaaaaah!

Wrath pounded his chest and screamed as though he were on the verge of hyperventilating.

[That's my Raon!]

Unaware of what state Wrath was in, Evelyn giggled and raised the doll's hand.

[I've always believed in you!]

Of course, even if she had known what state Wrath was in, she probably wouldn't have stopped praising him.

‘Then let's go.’

Telling Wrath and Evelynn that they should head inside, Raon concealed his presence. Erasing every trace of his existence until it was as though he wasn't there at all, he stepped into the golden rift.

Step.

It wasn't the sensation of stepping onto solid ground.

Something softer than even the carpets of an audience chamber brushed against his feet first.

The unfamiliar sensation was so strange that his shoulders trembled slightly on their own.

‘The air is here, but even it feels different.’

Unlike when he had been on Melvin mountain, breathing felt strangely heavy. Even when he drew a deep breath, it felt as though he was taking in less than half the air he normally would, leaving a faint pressure in his chest.

'So this is a realm ruled by divine power.'

If I fought an archangel in a place like this, defeat would be inevitable. It was fortunate that I had discovered the location of the temple in advance.

'Let's take a closer look.'

Raon moistened his dry lips and started toward the temple.

Then—

“I just heard the sound of an excellent sword.”

A voice filled with excitement came from behind him.

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, Raon turned around.

Raon swallowed and turned around. His eyes widened when he saw the man who had approached without making the slightest sound.

“You are...”

 

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