The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1325

 Chapter 1325

 

Sp-Spar?

Wrath’s eyes went wide as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

Have you truly gone mad? A spar all of a sudden?! What do you mean, a spar!

He was so startled that the drool he'd been dripping moments earlier shot out like a fountain.

'Mad? Hardly.'

Raon calmly waved his hand.

'I'm more clear-headed now than I've ever been.'

A faint smile spread across his lips, as if to say he meant every word in complete seriousness.

No, that's not something a sane person would ever say!

Wrath frowned deeply.

What kind of spar are you even talking about?!

Unable to make sense of it, he shook his head vigorously.

'Why?'

Raon looked back at Wrath.

‘Why can't we spar?’

He shrugged, wearing an expression that conversely showed he was the one who couldn't understand.

You idiot!

Wrath bared his white teeth in irritation.

The King of Essence is in spirit form right now! You and him can't even fight each other!

He wrinkled his nose as if asking what nonsense Raon was spouting when he already knew that.

‘Ah, that's not really a problem.’

Raon let out a small chuckle.

Y-You, don't tell me...

Wrath's round shoulders trembled.

Are you talking about a battle of souls? That stopped being possible long ago, ever since you swallowed the King of Essence whole!

Grinding his teeth, he glared at Raon as if convinced he was about to get beaten up in a soul battle again.

'No.'

Raon shook his head with a faint laugh.

'I know a way for us to meet. Just like back when you and I...'

He slowly closed his eyes, recalling the time he had faced Wrath's true form.

‘...met in the chamber of the self.’

The Wrath he had met in the chamber of the self wasn't the cotton-candy-like being that screamed at him now. He had been breathtakingly beautiful, and terrifyingly powerful.

' Hopefully this fight will be different from the last one.'

Raon slowly opened his eyes and curled his lips into a smile. He wanted to face that monster once more, the one he hadn't even been worthy of fighting back then.

Hah!

Only then did Wrath seem to remember.

Don't tell me you've found a way to enter the chamber of the self again?

His eyes widened, clearly admitting he'd never even considered that possibility.

It happened once before, so it's certainly possible. But unlike last time, there's no guarantee you'll meet the King of Essence there.

He lowered his eyebrows, as if warning him to think it through carefully.

‘No. I'm not talking about the chamber of the self.'

Raon shook his head firmly.

Then how are you going to— Ah!

Wrath tilted his head in confusion before his mouth suddenly fell open.

So you've finally decided to follow the King of Essence to devildom!”

‘Don't be ridiculous.’

Raon waved him off without hesitation.

'Maybe someday, but definitely not now. There's still a war ahead.'

Then quit making me guess! How exactly are you planning to do this?!

White frost escaped Wrath’s mouth as his irritation flared.

'Sword Field Creation and the Heart Sword.'

As though he had been waiting for that question, Raon raised two fingers.

“Sword Field Creation and the Heart Sword?”

Even after hearing the explanation, Wrath only frowned more deeply.

'I'm going to use the <Demon King's Advent>.'

<Demon King's Advent>?

Wrath let out a dumbfounded gasp.

Have you truly lost your mind? If you use that, our positions will be completely reversed! How are we supposed to fight then? And besides...

His voice rose.

Using it will drastically lower both your might and your realm! The war against Eden is just around the corner. Are you seriously planning to do something so stupid?

He tapped Raon's head, urging him to think it through.

‘Of course I'm not going to use it as-is.’

Raon shook his head.

'The instant your soul tries to enter my body, I'll use the Heart Sword to redirect it.'

Holding two fingers upright like a sword, he lightly poked Wrath.

R-Redirect it?

'So that instead of entering my body... your soul enters my mental world.'

The <Demon King's Advent> was a special technique that accepted Wrath’s soul into his own body. Raon intended to activate it and, at the very instant Wrath’s soul tried to enter his body, strike with the Heart Sword and divert it, not into his body, but into his mental world.

Hmm...

Wrath rested his chin on his hand, letting out a thoughtful hum.

I-if that's really possible, then it wouldn't be impossible for the King of Essence to enter your mental world instead of your body. However!

His nose wrinkled again.

Can you really pull that off?!

His eyes narrowed in disbelief.

That sword field draws the King of Essence’s soul in at a speed even he can barely perceive. Miss that fleeting instant, and you'll fail without question!

Shaking his head, he warned that it was far too dangerous.

'You're right.'

Raon nodded calmly.

'But I can do it now.'

During the previous mission, I had mastered the Heart Sword's precise control. After fighting Uriel, my soul had reached a higher level. Then, by crossing swords with grandfather, even the power of my Heart Sword had grown. It had never been sharper than it was now.

N-no, sharper is exactly what it shouldn't be! What if you cut the King of Essence’s soul?!

Wrath ground his teeth.

'Ah, sorry. I won't be cutting your soul, I'll be striking it.'

Raon nodded, telling him he could trust him.

Grrr...

Wrath bit his lip, clearly torn.

V-very well! Since you kept your promise, the King of Essence shall keep the promise he made as well!

He clenched his fist, eager to begin immediately. Strictly speaking, he didn't have to honor the promise, but the fact that he did only proved what a genuinely kind Demon King he was.

The King of Essence'll tell you the timing. The moment you activate the sword field, immediately—

'Ah, thanks, but not now.'

Raon waved both hands.

'Since we'll likely have to stay in the mental world for quite a while, I plan to recover my body and stamina before heading in.'

He shrugged apologetically, saying that as excited as he was, it couldn't be helped.

Y-You...!

Wrath's jaw trembled with frustration.

You should have said that sooner!

*   *   *

“Haaaaaah.”

Raon slowly opened his eyes and nodded.

“I'm finally fully recovered.”

The physical and mental wounds he had sustained fighting Uriel and sparring with Glenn had completely healed. It had taken some time, but his body felt so light that he could accomplish anything, and his mind was as clear as a cloudless sky.

Finally...?

Wrath chewed furiously on his lip.

You damned bastard!

Unable to contain his anger, he puffed out his chest.

If it was going to take you two whole weeks to recover, you should've told the King of Essence that from the start!

Wrath shouted that he'd spent the entire two weeks worrying about what would happen to his soul while Raon recovered.

‘Worried? About what?’

Raon blinked innocently, asking what there was to worry about.

About what? About whaaaat?!

Wrath let out an incredulous shriek.

Your Heart Sword is going to smack the King of Essence’s soul! How could he not be worried?!

Grinding his teeth, he acted as though the answer should have been obvious.

And if something goes wrong, the King of Essence won't just lose his power, his soul could be sliced apart! How is he supposed to sleep knowing that?!

Claiming he'd been so worried over the past two weeks that he hadn't slept a wink, Wrath pointed to the dark circles beneath his eyes.

And if you make even one mistake, it won't just be the King of Essence who suffers. You'll take a tremendous backlash too!

Clutching his head, he insisted Raon had to be extremely careful.

Think it over again! Your body and mind have recovered now, so there are plenty of other ways to train—

'Of course there are other ways for me to grow stronger. But...'

Raon narrowed his eyes to razor-thin slits as he looked at Wrath.

‘This is the only path that will let me grow the fastest.’

The war against Eden was drawing near. When he considered the Heavenly Demon, the Hydra, and Eden's Transcenders still lurking in the shadows, he had to accumulate as much might as possible before that day came.

Hmm...

Wrath lightly bit his lip, as though he had read every thought in Raon's mind.

If you're that determined, then he supposes there's no stopping you.

Apparently making up his mind, he let out a long sigh.

Very well! But you absolutely must not make a mistake!

He shook his head, warning that a single misstep could cost them everything.

'I know. Then let's begin.'

Smiling faintly, Raon raised Heavenly Drive in a reverse grip.

W-wait! Just wait a moment!

Wrath hurriedly threw up both hands, signaling him to stop.

The King of Essence needs some time to mentally prepare!

'Does a Demon King even need something like that?'

Uh...? N-No. It's not strictly necessary, but he just needs to think for a...

'Then it's fine. Think later. Right now...'

Twisting his lips into a grin, Raon violently drove down the sword he held in reverse grip.

‘Focus on your soul. The blade won't cut it, but it's going to hurt.’

Only now mentioning that little detail, he drove Heavenly Drive straight through his own abdomen.

“Sword Field Creation, the Demon King's Advent.”

Even with Heavenly Drive piercing his body, Raon called out the name of the sword field without losing his smile.

I-It's going to hurt?! Wait a second!

Uttering a panicked scream as though he'd never expected it to hurt, Wrath began getting pulled into Raon.

Listen to the King of Essence! You crazy bastard!

*   *   *

Ghuuuaaah!

Feeling his spirit body being pulled into Raon at a terrifying speed, Wrath let out a strained groan.

'That damned bastard!'

Raon had activated the sword field without giving him a proper warning. Wrath was so furious he wanted to tear his head off, but if he let his anger get the better of him now, the outcome Raon was aiming for would surely fail.

‘Damn it! Why him of all people?’

There were countless humans in the world, yet somehow he had ended up with the biggest lunatic among them.

‘Haaaaah... it's already begun, so the King of Essence has to give him the signal...’

He had to signal Raon before his soul made contact with Raon's body, so that Raon could strike him at precisely the right moment and redirect him into the mental world.

'H-How is the King of Essence supposed to signal him?'

Wrath bit down hard on his trembling lip. He was being pulled into Raon's body so quickly that he couldn't move, he could barely even speak. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to signal Raon at the proper moment.

‘The King of Essence is almost there! If you miss this instant, the <Demon King’s Advent> will be completed! Now! Right now, knock the King of Essence away!’

Wrath screamed as he felt his soul push Raon's aside and make contact with his body. But—

Ghhhhh!

Instead of words, only a choked cry escaped his lips.

‘I-it's over! There's no way that bastard could get the timing right—Ghk!’

Just as he clicked his tongue while cursing Raon, a powerful shock exploded against his head, violent enough to make his entire spiritual form reel.

Kyaaaaaaargh! That's not knocking the King of Essence away, you just beat the hell out of him!

Letting out a scream unlike any he had ever uttered as the Demon King, Wrath was sucked not into Raon's body, but into a space shimmering with golden light.

“Haaah!”

Wrath’s eyes flew open as he gasped for breath.

“This is...”

A bizarre world stretched before him, filled with countless swords flying through both the sky and the earth.

“That crazy bastard's—”

“That's right.”

Before Wrath could finish, the owner of this world spoke.

"This is my mental world. Fortunately, it was a success."

Raon walked toward him, nodding calmly.

"Thanks to the signal you gave me. Though it was more of a scream than actual words."

Smiling, he remarked that it had been loud and clear.

"Haaa..."

Slowly rising to his feet, Wrath looked down at his hands and feet. Instead of the short, stubby hands he usually had, elegant, perfectly sculpted arms belonging to his true body moved at his command.

'My body's moving properly.'

This wasn't his spirit form, but his true body. In this state, just as in the chamber of the self, he could unleash <Wrath> and give Raon the beating he deserved.

"If you're done collecting yourself, let's begin."

Drawing Heavenly Drive, Raon's eyes turned cold.

“We don't have much time here.”

Narrowing his eyes, he urged Wrath to begin the spar immediately.

“Don't regret this.”

Cold frost poured from Wrath as he lifted his chin.

“The King of Essence is truly enraged now!”

Since neither of them could truly die in this place, he thrust out a frost-shrouded sword hand so swiftly that Raon wouldn't even have time to react, intending to sever his head in a single blow.

Fiaaaaaang!

Just as he imagined Raon's head flying off and himself laughing at the sight—

Ziiiiing!

Right before, no, just after, Wrath’s sword hand reached Raon's neck, the clear ring of steel echoed as a sword intercepted the frost.

“Huh...?”

Wrath stared blankly at Raon's sword, which had stopped his attack.

“You blocked it?”

"If you think I'm the same man I was back then, you're in for a rude awakening."

Raon pushed Wrath’s sword hand aside with Heavenly Drive and flashed a confident smile.

"Let's have a proper fight, Demon King Wrath." 

 

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