The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 644

Raon ground his teeth as the deathly aura continued to break through his ribs. Just when he thought it was over, the flow of the spear abruptly stopped. It was as if time itself had paused.

In an instant, Aris and Rektor’s combined forces shattered the frozen black blade. The deathly aura, once so menacing, melted away into a dull, shadowy light.

As the dark energy began to seep into the ground, Raon threw a piece of the shattered scabbard into the air. It was as if the piece absorbed the blackness, leaving the air clear once more.

“Raon!”

Aris quickly embraced him and pulled him back, her face showing an urgency he had never seen before, not even when facing the fierce Light Dragon Kaibar.

“A-Aris? What is happening?”

“What’s going on?”

“Who?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan looked around, wide-eyed and confused. Even Master-level warriors couldn’t grasp the situation.

“Everyone, retreat!”

“Take cover behind the trees and rocks!”

Only Grand Masters like Rimmer and Serena recognized the danger and swiftly moved the Light Wind and the others back.

“……”

The Sword Saint Rektor remained in his spot, radiating an ominous presence that sent chills down everyone’s spines.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, even at the cost of my life.”

Aris bit her lip, her grip firm and comforting. She projected a determination to protect them from any threat.

– Grr…

Wrath’s voice groaned, clutching his head.

‘Did you stop that black blade?’

– Yes, I did.

Wrath weakly nodded.

‘Why did you do that?’

Even though Wrath was a spirit residing in Raon’s body, using physical force would defy causality. They had built a bond, but it was unusual for Wrath to risk both his spirit and his true body to save Raon.

– I was angry.

‘What?’

– To think someone could evade my senses even in spirit form! How insolent! If I had my body, I would have killed him instantly!

Wrath clicked his tongue in frustration, seemingly enraged that someone had managed to evade his omnipotent senses.

– Do not pursue him. He is a formidable foe.

‘I know.’

Raon nodded calmly.

– You know? Could it be you recognize him?

‘Yes. It couldn’t be anyone else.’

Raon smiled as he looked at the darkened piece of the scabbard.

‘Only Derus Robert can use dark flow.’

The black blade was one of Derus Robert’s true powers, known as the dark flow.

Even without the dark flow, it was evident. Only Derus, among all the transcendent beings, would attack him from the shadows.

‘However…’

Derus’ actions had defied Raon’s expectations.

Raon had assumed Derus wouldn’t come to this place and, even if he did, would never attack openly.

Yet, Derus had appeared and launched a dark flow at him. The machine-like Derus Robert had shown a trace of human emotion.

‘Derus Robert.’

Raon glared in the direction he presumed Derus was hiding, a twisted smile on his lips.

‘You’ve finally shown your hand.’

***

Kubara stared at the vanishing form of Raon through the tear in the space, her dry lips trembling. She swallowed hard, shifting her gaze to Derus Robert.

“Why are Aris Zieghart and the Sword Saint here…?”

“Quite a coincidence.”

Derus did not appear angry. Instead, he wore a faint smile.

“I was aware Aris Zieghart and the Sword Saint were hiding. I thought I could kill Raon Zieghart before they arrived. However…”

He looked at Raon in Aris’ arms, continuing.

“Raon Zieghart survived purely due to his own strength. Breaking the scabbard bought him a fraction of a second.”

“Oh…”

“That fraction saved his life. But there are a few strange things.”

“Strange things… ah!”

Kubara looked toward the Sword Saint’s tomb, her eyes widening.

“You mean Sword Saint Rektor.”

“It’s understandable for Aris Zieghart to care for Raon Zieghart, even to the point of risking her life. Although unexpected, it makes sense.”

Derus squinted at Rektor.

“However, the Sword Saint’s reaction is unusual. Despite teaching Raon a bit, he should still be an enemy. Yet, he seemed more desperate than Aris Zieghart.”

Derus stroked his chin, shaking his head.

“There might be a relationship between Raon Zieghart and Sword Saint Rektor beyond the Six Kings.”

“I will investigate.”

Kubara nodded, understanding the implication of Derus’ words.

“Another thing.”

Derus gestured toward Kubara.

“Raon’s body had a peculiar reaction at the last moment. Investigate every detail of Raon Zieghart’s life again.”

“Yes, sir.”

Despite the mountain of information already compiled on Raon, Kubara nodded without hesitation.

“Go now. They’ve already picked up on our direction.”

“Yes.”

She promptly sank into Derus’ shadow.

“When she said someone would obstruct my path, I naturally thought of Glenn Zieghart. But…”

Derus narrowed his eyes, his cold gaze filled with a mixture of anger and joy as he looked down at Raon.

“It might be you.”

Before his soft voice could fully echo, the mountain slope where they had stood was left with only a chilling wind.

***

– He’s definitely gone now.

Wrath rubbed his temples, frowning deeply.

– Damn! My pride is wounded.

Wrath grumbled, repeating that if he had his body, he would have confronted Derus.

‘Yes, I’m sure you would have.’

Raon patted Wrath’s red hair, nodding.

‘Derus Robert.’

How much stronger have you become?

Even if Wrath wasn’t in his true form, his senses far surpassed Raon’s. Yet, Wrath hadn’t detected Derus’ presence until the attack.

It seemed Derus had grown beyond Raon’s imagination.

“Aunt, it’s okay now.”

Raon sighed, placing a hand on Aris’ shoulder.

“Hmm?”

Aris blinked, confused.

“If he attacked from a distance, he doesn’t want to reveal his identity. He won’t come again.”

“I know that, but…”

She nodded, having already anticipated this.

“He has already fled. You can relax now.”

Raon smiled, standing up.

“What on earth happened?”

“What’s going on?”

“An enemy?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan hurried over, their faces full of worry. The entire Light Wind Division looked bewildered.

“There was an attack.”

Serena frowned, glancing in the direction of the black blade.

“A-Attack?”

Dorian stepped out from his hiding spot, eyes wide.

“Yes. Someone targeted Raon.”

Rimmer bit his lip, frustrated that he hadn’t been able to intervene.

“I-I didn’t notice anything.”

“Damn it!”

“Hmm…”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan clenched their fists, angered by their inability to do anything.

“It was a high-level master. Only barely did I detect it. If we hadn’t been prepared, we would have missed it.”

Aris shook her head, reassuring the lieutenants not to blame themselves.

“The attacker was strong even among transcendents. He might be able to reach my father’s level…”

“Reach the Patriarch’s level?”

“Yes.”

Aris sighed, considering the possibility.

“I don’t know who it is. I’ve never seen an aura like that.”

Rimmer frowned, puzzled by the unknown adversary.

“A transcendent?”

“Why would a transcendent target Raon…?”

Burren and Martha’s foreheads dripped with cold sweat.

“Probably because I ruined their plan.”

Raon smiled, pointing to the entrance of the dark tomb.

“Ruined their plan?”

Aris turned quickly, her eyes narrowing.

“That place wasn’t a tomb. It was filled with devices meant to incite war among the Six Kings and neutral factions. Inside…”

Raon briefly explained the tomb’s purpose to Aris.

“A plan that consumed astronomical manpower and resources was ruined, so the mastermind behind it must have tried to kill me.”

“Indeed…”

“That makes sense.”

Serena and Rimmer nodded in agreement.

“Who devised such a plan?”

Aris glared in the direction the blade had come from, brushing her hair back.

“There is no one like that among the Six Kings. Well, there might be, but their names are well-known.”

She frowned, having seen all the leaders of the Six Kings, and none fit the profile.

“I don’t know either. But…”

Raon smiled, looking at the dark piece of the scabbard.

“He won’t remain hidden forever.”

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing that Derus had deviated from Raon’s expectations.

Now that his aura was exposed, it would be easier to connect the dots between the respected Heavenly Sword Derus Robert and the infamous villain who committed countless atrocities.

The greatest gain from today might not have been the Sword Saint’s martial arts, but Derus’ exposed dark flow.

“At least it seems to be over now.”

Aris looked around the quiet forest, nodding.

“We should leave quickly, just in case. But first.”

She licked her lips, turning to the Sword Saint Rektor.

“Why did you come? No, why did you save him?”

She stared at Rektor with a piercing gaze, seeking an explanation.

“So…”

Rektor slowly turned, his eyes cold and calculating.

“Is there a problem?”

“No.”

Aris shook her head calmly.

“I’m grateful. Without you, I couldn’t have saved Raon. You acted so fast that I couldn’t even react properly.”

She acknowledged her shortcomings with characteristic honesty.

“But even though I’m grateful, I don’t understand. Why did you save Raon? What’s your motive?”

“……”

Raon nodded slightly, seeing Rektor’s impassive face.

‘She’s right.’

Unlike Aris, Rektor had no reason to risk himself to save Raon.

“I saved him because if he died, the tomb’s legacy would be lost.”

Rektor’s eyes were cold, but Raon could sense his hidden urgency.

“How did you know that?”

“Those people were babbling. It would be strange not to know.”

He pointed at the neutral faction warriors who had emerged with the Light Wind Division. They must have overheard the internal discussions.

“Hmm…”

“I-I’m sorry.”

The neutral faction warriors bowed their heads, embarrassed.

“That’s the only reason.”

Rektor’s sword vibrated with a chilling intent.

“Hmm…”

Raon groaned, watching Rektor’s dry eyes.

‘It’s not impossible.’

The Holy Sword Alliance was obsessed with swords and swordsmanship, and the Sword Saint was no different. It wasn’t entirely illogical.

But the urgency in Rektor’s eyes suggested there was more to it. He seemed to be lying.

“It’s hard to believe…”

Aris tilted her head, finding it strange.

“But there’s no need to dig deeper.”

“……”

Rektor remained impassive, his cold expression unchanged.

“So, are you going to fight us for the Sword Saint’s legacy?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

His eyes glinted with a desire for combat, like a human who had become one with his sword.

“Crazy old man.”

Aris frowned, raising her sword. The space around her shimmered with the prowess of her spatial sword technique.

Rumble!

As they prepared to clash, both of their swords suddenly faltered. The edges of their blades, where they had blocked Derus’ attack, wavered.

“……”

“……”

They glanced at each other’s swords, then relaxed their stances.

“There’s an unknown transcendent. Today isn’t the time.”

“Agreed.”

Rektor nodded, and the warriors of the Holy Sword Alliance moved forward.

“Raon Zieghart. Before we leave, I have two questions.”

“Go ahead.”

Raon nodded at Rektor, who looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

“Is the Sword Saint dead?”

“Yes.”

“And did you truly obtain his martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“Breaking the scabbard was one of his techniques, it seems.”

“Yes.”

There was no point in lying, so Raon nodded.

“I see.”

Rektor nodded thoughtfully, then turned away without hesitation.

“We won’t say goodbye.”

Aris waved them off dismissively.

Raon watched Rektor retreat, then noticed a familiar face among his followers.

“Muston!”

It was Muston, Rektor’s disciple.

“……”

Muston flinched at his name, then turned his back.

“Come over here!”

Muston was still bound to Raon by the spirit of <Jealousy>. He might reveal Rektor’s true intentions.

“I cannot.”

But Muston refused. He glanced at Raon with calm eyes, then followed Rektor.

‘What’s going on?’

Muston’s eyes were clear, and the spirit of <Jealousy> still lingered. Raon couldn’t understand why a bound soul would disobey his command.

-The reason is simple.

Wrath snorted dismissively.

-If a subordinate with a bound soul disobeys you, it means their current action benefits you.

‘So, it means…’

Raon swallowed, glancing at Rektor’s back.