The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 632

Raon sat on a black rock protruding from the lava, lowering his gaze.

[Cluck…]

The once colossal phoenix, which had seemed larger than a volcano, was now reduced to a tiny bird, smaller than a chicken, sitting weakly on the ground.

“Name.”

[……]

Raon wiggled his finger, demanding a name, but the phoenix only gaped, as if dazed.

“Answer.”

[Cheep, cheep?]

Lowering his voice, Raon made the phoenix chirp fearfully like a chick.

“I’ll ask again. Name.”

Raon’s icy gaze narrowed as he furrowed his brow.

[K-Kayaan!]

The phoenix, with a beak that had once terrorized humans, stammered out its name.

“Kayaan, huh.”

Raon nodded, then asked his second question.

“How old are you?”

[I-I haven’t counted after a thousand years…]

Kayaan awkwardly scratched the back of its head with its wing.

[Besides, it’s hard to tell in a place like this…]

“Does that mean you don’t know?”

[……]

“Answer.”

[Cheep, cheep!]

The phoenix’s beak trembled with fear.

“Even an approximation will do. Just tell me roughly.”

[If I count the years I’ve lived, it’s a bit over three thousand years…]

The phoenix closed its eyes tightly, as if forcibly calculating its age.

“Three thousand years…”

From the first moment he saw it, he felt that its size and firepower were beyond ordinary phoenixes. As he suspected, it had lived for an exceptionally long time.

“What were you doing here?”

[I was fulfilling a promise…]

“What promise?”

[To test the people who enter here.]

Kayaan continued, rubbing its beak with its wing.

[Only those who pass my test can go to the lower levels.]

“So you were the gatekeeper.”

As expected, it was playing the role of a gatekeeper, as it had screamed while dying that no one could leave without its permission.

“What am I watching right now?” Burren muttered in disbelief.

“Is he really interrogating a phoenix?”

“He had no problem using the phoenix for training by reviving it repeatedly,” Martha scoffed. “I don’t think I’ll be surprised by anything the commander does anymore.”

She looked at Raon’s back, brushing her hair aside.

“Good job, Raon,” Runaan clapped her hands in approval.

“Who made that promise with you?” Raon asked, looking down at Kayaan.

[U-um…]

Kayaan hesitated, raising its head nervously.

[May I ask you something first?]

“What is it?”

[May I see the flame you used to revive me?]

The phoenix’s tone had completely changed. It was surprising to hear such a soft-spoken phoenix.

“The flame I used to revive you?”

[It feels similar to the human who made the promise…]

“……”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he listened to Kayaan.

‘It must be the first patriarch of Zieghart.’

It seemed that the person who set the phoenix as the gatekeeper was indeed a predecessor of the Zieghart family.

He created a sound barrier to ensure others couldn’t hear and ignited the mana flame.

Fwoosh!

The golden-tinted flame, reaching the peak of the mana flame, danced in the phoenix’s eyes.

[As I thought…]

Kayaan nodded, recognizing the still reddish-gold mana flame.

[Though it’s still immature, you are his descendant. However, your personality is completely different…]

“What?”

[Cheep, cheep! No, that’s not it!]

Fearing another hit, the phoenix shivered its wings.

“That person created this place, right?”

[Yes. It seems they did it with others, but…]

“Hmm…”

That memory was true. The patriarch and his companions did create this space.

“Why did you agree to become the gatekeeper?”

[I owed a debt…]

“A debt?”

[That human saved my kin. Without him, we would have been captured by other humans and made slaves.]

“Is that so.”

The patriarch had saved phoenixes captured by humans. He must have had quite the wanderlust, involving himself in so many different things.

[Since my life was nearing its end anyway, I accepted his offer to become the gatekeeper here.]

“Tell me exactly what he asked you to do.”

[He told me to give appropriate tests and allow those who passed to go down to the lower levels. Those who failed were to be sent back for retesting.]

Raon nodded, looking into Kayaan’s now steady eyes.

‘I’m starting to get the picture.’

It seemed the first patriarch of Zieghart created this space for all his descendants. Referring to it as a test confirmed it.

“But isn’t something odd?”

[Cheep, cheep?]

“When you saw us, you exuded true killing intent.”

The phoenix had radiated a murderous intent, not just testing them but seemingly intent on killing everyone present. Raon felt that true killing intent when he killed and used the phoenix for training.

[That wasn’t my will.]

“Not your will?”

[Some humans discovered this place not long ago. They weren’t satisfied with just passing through but twisted the formations and barriers. One of them was a monster even I couldn’t handle…]

Raon had an idea who it was.

‘Derus Robert.’

Just as he felt on the first floor, Derus Robert had undoubtedly been here.

‘This isn’t a normal tomb.’

Even if this place was originally a training ground for Zieghart or the tomb of the Sword Sovereign, it was now nothing more than a trap set by Derus Robert.

“Did you see his face by any chance?”

[I was captured too quickly to see his face. He was strong, but he was also wearing something on his face…]

Kayaan shivered as if still afraid.

“I see.”

Raon nodded calmly. There was no need to be disappointed. Derus Robert would not have left any traces of himself here.

[Thanks to that, I came to my senses. Now the path to the lower levels can be opened…]

Kayaan cautiously began to move backward.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Raon reached out and grabbed Kayaan by the neck.

[Cheep!]

“What a chick.”

Anyone would think he was bullying it.

-You are bullying it!

Wrath shook his head.

-Poor thing. If it were up to me, I’d eat it in one bite…

Wrath licked his lips regretfully.

“Sigh…”

Raon sighed deeply and plucked one of Kayaan’s feathers.

[Cheep…]

As he continued to pluck feathers, tears welled up in Kayaan’s eyes.

[Are you really planning to eat me? I’m not very tasty right now…]

“That’s not it…”

-You’ve made the right choice!

Wrath raised a clenched fist in triumph.

-I’ve just realized something incredible!

‘What is it?’

Despite feeling uneasy, Raon turned to Wrath.

-You can keep reviving that phoenix, right?

‘Yes.’

-Then you can eat it, leave one feather, revive it, eat it again, and revive it endlessly!

Wrath’s eyes glowed with excitement.

-Tender meat forever! Solving the continent’s hunger problem! Unlimited roasted chicken!

Wrath’s eyes rolled back in ecstasy.

-The chick even asked to be eaten! Put it in my mouth now!

Raon shoved his fist into Wrath’s mouth.

‘You glutton! Eat this and shut up!’

* * *

“Haa…”

Delphros sank into the white chair, holding his forehead.

“The master was right…”

He bit his lip, looking at the shattered crystal orb.

“What?”

The spy commander tilted his head, not understanding.

“The master told me to eliminate Raon Zieghart as quickly as possible if he ever entered the tomb. He said he was as dangerous as a transcendent being.”

“Then why…”

“I thought the others were more important.”

Delphros frowned at the shattered orb.

“There are at least five others in the tomb stronger than Raon Zieghart. It didn’t make sense to focus on a mere twenty-year-old while leaving those monsters unchecked.”

He bit his lip, realizing he hadn’t anticipated this outcome.

“Besides, killing him wouldn’t help. What a troublesome guy.”

“Then how about directing all the traps and monsters on the next floor toward the Light Wind Division?”

The spy commander stepped forward, bowing his head.

“No matter how strong Raon Zieghart is, he can’t protect the entire Light Wind Division. If he stands at the front to handle all the traps and monsters, it will wear him down.”

He clenched his fist, thinking this was the only solution.

“Yes, that seems to be the only option now.”

Delphros sighed and nodded.

“I’ll make the preparations.”

The spy commander nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

As Delphros rubbed his temples in frustration, a strange noise echoed from the right corner of the dark room, like the wail of a demon from hell.

Creak!

Delphros turned calmly, looking at the source of the noise. In a space wrapped in gray mist, a pair of black eyes glowed ominously.

“It’s not your turn yet.”

Delphros met the gaze of the black eyes and smirked.

“The protagonist always appears last.”

* * *

Raon dipped the old iron ring he had bought during his trainee days in Cameloon into the lava. The ring remained intact, unaffected by the lava.

Ssssss.

After a while, the surface of the ring began to emit a strange vibration. It wasn’t melting; the yellow rust was peeling away, revealing mystical engravings.

‘It’s working.’

Raon wrapped the golden-glowing ring with phoenix feathers. The feathers were large, so three were enough to cover the entire ring.

Wooong.

The ring, enveloped in the phoenix feathers, emitted intense heat and began to tremble. When this vibration stopped, the seal on the ring would be broken.

‘Now for the next one…’

He took out the ring he had received from Merlin and tried the same process in the lava.

‘This one doesn’t work.’

Despite being in the lava for a long time, there was no reaction. This ring also had a special seal, but it seemed the unlocking method was different.

‘I’ll have to find another way.’

Deciding there was nothing more to do, he put Merlin’s ring back on his finger.

“Kayaan.”

Raon clapped his hands and gestured to the trembling phoenix.

[Cheep?]

“Open the door.”

[Cheep!]

Kayaan fluttered its wings and extended a wing the size of a human palm.

Rumble!

The lava split into jagged shapes, and a dimension gate opened on the heated ground, leading to the next floor.

[If you go through that passage, you’ll arrive at the third-floor maze.]

“A maze?”

[Yes, the third floor is a maze. You have to avoid traps and monsters to find your way through.]

“Hmm…”

Raon glanced at Kayaan, then turned to the Light Wind Division.

“Go first.”

“Yes, sir. First squad, proceed!”

Burren nodded and gestured for the Light Wind Division to enter the passage one by one.

[Well then, be careful, I’ll just…]

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Raon shook his head, reaching out to grab Kayaan’s neck. The phoenix flapped its wings as if trying to escape.

[Cheep!]

“Where are you going?”

[I-I have finished my duties, so…]

“You need to guide us. If you know it’s a maze, you must know the way.”

[Cheep…]

The phoenix’s eyes darted around nervously, but there was no one to save it.

-Well done!

Wrath cheered, waving his hand.

-You can’t let the unlimited roast chicken go!

‘That’s not it.’

-What do you mean it’s not? Isn’t it on fire?

‘Yes?’

-Doesn’t it revive indefinitely?

‘That too…’

-Then it’s unlimited roast chicken!

‘……’

Too tired to explain, Raon decided to ignore it.

[I-I know the general way, but to move quickly, I need something…]

“Enough. Follow me.”

[Cheeep!]

Raon gripped Kayaan’s neck and descended into the hole leading to the third floor.

….

The people still on the second floor stood there in a daze, despite the open passage.

“Aren’t you going down?”

“There’s no point.”

“Exactly. With people kidnapping the phoenix that was supposed to be a test, do we have any chance of getting anything?”

“I’m giving up.”

“Me too. I’ll just stay here and wait to go home…”

That day, the only ones who descended to the third floor from the lava chamber were the Light Wind Division.

* * *

The sensation of falling was becoming familiar. Feeling his strength return, Raon opened his eyes to see brown sand covering the ground.

Narrowing his eyes, Raon lifted his gaze.

‘Is this the maze?’

A giant wall stood before him, blocking his view. The walls were all gray, making it hard to navigate.

‘Let’s see…’

Using Supreme Harmony Steps, he lightly leapt off the ground.

Thud!

He tried to go over the wall, but it was as if there was an invisible ceiling; he couldn’t go over or see beyond it.

It seemed completely blocked off.

“I tried, but it seems the wall is impenetrable.”

Rimmer shook his head, indicating he couldn’t get past the wall either.

“We can’t break it with aura either.”

Martha clicked her tongue, sheathing her sword after striking the wall.

“It doesn’t freeze either.”

Runaan shook her head in disappointment.

“How long will it take to get through here properly?”

Raon lightly shook Kayaan.

[I-It would take more than half a day even with my guidance.]

“Half a day, huh…”

They didn’t know exactly how long they had been here, but those who had gone ahead might have already passed through the maze. They needed to move quickly.

“Is there a faster way?”

[The person who created this place once touched the wall and opened a path to the end of the maze. But I don’t know how…]

“Some sort of trick, huh…”

Raon clicked his tongue and examined the wall. It looked like an ordinary wall meant to block the path.

Listening to Kayaan’s words gave him an idea.

Fwoosh!

Raon activated the fire ring and mana flame simultaneously. Summoning the flame of Zieghart, he drew the barrier shown by his ancestor on the wall.

Wooong!

Like water breaking through a dam, the flame carved a clear barrier onto the maze wall. The completed barrier shimmered gold and opened a swirling passageway. Though similar to the hole to the next floor, its color was different.

“It works.”

[Cheep!]

Kayaan flapped its wings in surprise and collapsed.

[That, that’s the door! How did you…!]

Judging by the reaction, it seemed to be the correct path to the end of the maze.

“What is this?”

“Commander! What did you do?”

“Why is there a door right away?”

The Light Wind Division widened their eyes in astonishment.

“Is it really safe to go in here?”

Dorian gulped nervously.

“Others may not qualify, but we do.”

“What does that mean…”

“I’ll explain later. Let’s go.”

Raon smiled faintly and entered the fiery passage first.

Unlike other passages, it wasn’t a drop but a straightforward path. For the first time since entering the tomb, it felt warm.

Following the red line like a carpet in an audience chamber, he reached an entrance similar to the one before. Exiting it, he saw a massive wall, with a passage leading to the fourth floor at its center.

“It’s simple.”

Raon smiled faintly, looking at the passage to the fourth floor, when a white hand emerged from behind the left wall. Accompanied by a chilling black frost, a young-looking woman slid forward.

She was the Snow Queen, a floor lord of the Black Tower and a Grandmaster-level demon who had reached the end of the maze.

“I don’t know why you’re here, but it’s convenient.”

She smiled faintly, holding up her transparent fingers.

“I was disappointed we didn’t finish outside.”

“I was too.”

“What?”

“I didn’t get enough practice since I was only training my subordinates.”

Raon silently drew the Heavenly Sword. Golden light shone from his red eyes.

“Even if it’s not unlimited refills, be a good appetizer.”
—