The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 672
Raon ascended the darkened staircase, feeling the powerful vibrations emanating from below.
‘Those two should be able to handle it.’
Saintess Olga, though keeping her power concealed, had already surpassed the capabilities of a high priest, and Rimmer’s swordsmanship was more than enough to overwhelm Commander Danief of the Royal Guards.
Moreover, Piren and Danief were burdened by hesitation and guilt, making it impossible to imagine Olga and Rimmer losing.
– The stench of demonic energy is getting thicker.
Wrath narrowed his eyes as he glanced up at the ceiling, filled with demonic energy.
– It means we’re almost there.
‘Indeed.’
Raon nodded calmly. Just as Wrath said, the foul odor of demonic energy was intensifying. The king of Bauren, who had made a pact with demons, was undoubtedly right above them.
‘What level of power does the demon contracted with the king possess?’
– It’s weak.
Wrath answered without a moment’s hesitation.
– I could snap my fingers, and it would explode like a balloon.
Wrath shook his head, deeming it unworthy of being called “power” in the first place.
“Sigh…”
Raon patted Wrath’s cotton-candy-like head, letting out a sigh.
‘I’m not asking about your level, but mine.’
Although Raon hated to admit it, Wrath’s power was on a transcendental level, even among transcendents. Wrath had nearly killed a transcendent demon like the Flame Demon Lord in a single blow, so Raon couldn’t really use Wrath’s standards for comparison.
– At your level, it won’t be easy to win.
Wrath glanced down at Raon, raising his chin.
– If you make even a small mistake, your head will roll.
He sneered mockingly, calling Raon’s level pathetic.
‘Is that so?’
Given the level of demonic energy the Bauren king had revealed, it was natural that the demon’s power would be formidable.
However, Raon wasn’t particularly worried. In his mind, dealing with the demon would be much easier than handling the king himself.
– You needn’t worry. What’s above us isn’t the demon yet—it’s just that foolish king.
Wrath waved his chubby hand, trying to reassure Raon that he was mistaken.
‘I know. But it’s always better to be prepared.’
Raon chuckled slightly as he continued climbing the grotesque staircase lined with pulsating veins.
When he reached the top, an unexpected sight greeted him.
Whoooong!
A cocoon of black light, woven from thin threads of demonic energy, floated in the air, and four high priests stood at the cardinal directions, infusing the cocoon with divine power.
Not just their energy, but the divine energy and demonic energy that permeated the entire kingdom were being funneled into the cocoon.
‘Bauren must be inside.’
Raon could sense Bauren’s presence from within the pulsing, living cocoon. It seemed he was gathering power inside.
“What, what the…!”
“Why is the Dragonslayer here?!”
“Don’t tell me Priest Piren and Sir Danief were defeated…!”
The high priests trembled, their lips quivering in disbelief at Raon’s appearance.
“What a mess.”
Raon muttered a curse commonly used by Saintess Olga as he advanced toward the cocoon of demonic energy that concealed Bauren.
“W-wait!”
“Stop!”
“If you attack now, the cocoon could burst! If that happens, the entire kingdom will be obliterated…!”
“That’s not your concern.”
Raon moved forward without hesitation, knowing that even if a demon emerged from the cocoon, he could handle it.
Tssssk!
Raon placed his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Sword. The moment he resolved to strike, the blade became a scythe of death, slicing toward the priests’ necks.
“Block him!”
“Khhh!”
Despite their panic, the priests to the north and east raised barriers of demonic energy.
Whoooosh!
However, the flame of Mana Flame engulfed the blade, shattering the barriers and slashing the priests’ throats.
“Urgh…”
“This can’t be…”
The two priests collapsed with their eyes wide open, unable to comprehend how easily their demonic barriers had been breached.
“D-don’t come closer!”
“If the cocoon goes berserk, we’ll all die!”
The priests to the south and west frantically waved their hands.
“After what you’ve done to this kingdom, you’ve got some nerve saying that.”
Raon sneered as he pointed the Heavenly Sword at the remaining two priests.
“Attack!”
“Die!”
Realizing there was no room for negotiation, the priests abandoned defense and launched an attack.
From their hands, concentrated demonic energy shot out like spears and arrows.
But Raon was already gone from his position.
Boom!
Using the Supreme Harmony Steps, Raon swiftly closed the gap and appeared behind the priests.
“He’s behind us!”
“Ah!”
Though the priests sensed Raon’s presence and turned, it was too late.
Slash!
The silver blade of frost severed their necks in a single stroke.
“Ugh…”
“Grgh…”
Thick red lines appeared on the priests’ throats, blood spurting as they collapsed.
Rumble!
But it wasn’t over yet. Even with their heads severed, the priests’ bodies began to regenerate, as if consumed by demonic energy.
‘Such regeneration…’
The power of the demon that Bauren had contracted with was evidently flowing through the priests, filling them with demonic energy.
‘But it doesn’t matter.’
Raon slammed the Heavenly Sword into the ground, igniting the flame of Mana Flame to its peak.
Fwoooosh!
Golden flames erupted from the blade, completely erasing the priests’ bodies and the fragments of demonic energy.
All that remained was the black smoke and the cocoon of demonic energy, still floating in midair.
Raon stepped onto the steel frame of the crumbling tower and approached the pulsating cocoon.
With the Heavenly Sword, now engulfed in Mana Flame, he struck the center of the cocoon.
Crack!
The black cocoon shattered like an eggshell, revealing its contents.
Inside, Bauren lay curled up like a fetus, his eyes closed.
Just as Raon was about to swing the Heavenly Sword upward, Bauren’s eyelids lifted.
Boom!
His black eyes gleamed with a darkness even deeper than the demonic energy.
“You…”
“Have you come to celebrate my rebirth?”
A sinister smile curled on Bauren’s lips as darkness surged around him.
Whoooosh!
* * *
Kiaaah!
A beast with the head of a lion and the body of an ox charged across the ground.
“Hah!”
Hopen didn’t back down. Instead, he leaped forward, striking with his sword blazing in holy light.
Slash!
The divine power cut through the demonic energy, slicing the beast’s torso in half.
Screech!
Even though its body was severed, the beast didn’t die, snapping its sharp teeth toward Hopen.
Boom!
Hopen smashed its head with his sword, causing the beast to dissolve into dark sludge.
“There are five more inside! Take them down before they escape!”
At his command, the waiting priests and paladins rushed into the alley, purifying the smaller monsters hidden within.
“Hah…”
Hopen wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked back onto the main street.
‘I’m exhausted.’
He had dealt with most of the monsters using the Paladin’s insignia bestowed upon him by Kinnear , but their sheer numbers had worn him down.
However, there was no time to rest. There was still much work to be done.
‘The most dangerous…’
The Light Wind Division.
Hopen was most concerned about the Light Wind Division, who were fighting demons while protecting Kinnear .
Having eliminated the larger monsters, Hopen left the clean-up to his subordinates and ran toward the spire.
Upon arriving, the sight that greeted him was the Light Wind Division in the form of a single, united wind.
Whoooosh!
Blades of blue wind tore through the enormous demonic energy, shredding the demon into pieces, leaving not even a fragment behind.
“Wow…”
Hopen let out a breath of astonishment as he watched the Light Wind Division obliterate the demon.
‘They really won…’
Demons possessed a natural aura that crushed human spirits.
The fact that these young swordsmen had overcome such a disadvantage and slain the demons was unbelievable.
Most amazing of all was that not a single member of the Light Wind Division had died. Though some were severely injured, none had sustained fatal wounds.
“…”
Even after defeating the demons, the Light Wind Division did not completely relax. Only when the demonic energy had fully dissipated did they finally begin to collapse, one by one.
‘They’re completely different…’
Hopen was filled with awe rather than jealousy, wondering what kind of training and battles they had gone through to achieve such strength and resilience.
“Hmm…”
He followed the Light Wind Division’s gaze toward the spire where Raon was.
‘Only that place remains.’
The demons and monsters had been dealt with. Now, all that was left were Priest Piren, Sir Danief, and his father, inside the tower.
‘Please…’
Hopen clasped his hands together in prayer, hoping no one else would have to die.
Boom!
Suddenly, the entire kingdom seemed to twist as a massive shockwave surged from the spire, and demonic energy erupted, enveloping the sky.
A man with two pairs of wings emerged, rising into the pitch-black night sky.
His body was solidly built, with skin as pale as
a child’s, and his sharp, angular features—his nose and jawline—marked him as a strikingly handsome man.
He wore a black crown, and heatwaves of demonic energy rippled around him.
“N-no way…”
Hopen trembled as he looked at the man, who was smiling coldly.
“Father?”
The man’s face was eerily similar to the portrait of his father, drawn over twenty years ago—before he was even born.
Beyond everything else, the black crown he wore was identical in shape to the white royal crown, the national treasure of Supere, the symbol of kingship. It was unmistakable.
“Krr…”
Hopen felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the man, Bauren, who surveyed the entire kingdom with a twisted smile.
His father, who had dabbled in forbidden arts, had become a monster consumed by demonic energy. There was no longer any trace of kindness or sanctity, only the stench of demonic energy and malevolence.
However, the demonic energy he exuded didn’t reach the ground.
Fwoooosh!
That was because Raon, standing atop the spire, was burning all the demonic energy away with his flames.
‘Please…’
Hopen knelt, clasping his hands together, his lips trembling as he bit down hard.
‘Please stop him…!’
* * *
“I feel free.”
Bauren spread his arms wide, taking a deep breath. The demonic energy that flowed from his breath further darkened the already blackened sky.
“I feel omnipotent, like I can do anything.”
“You’ve rejuvenated?”
Raon, staring up at the floating Bauren, casually rotated his neck.
Perhaps due to the influence of the demonic energy, Bauren’s appearance and physique had reverted to that of a man in his twenties.
His blue hair, blue eyes, and the white crown he had once worn were now all tainted black, making him seem like a completely different person.
Of course, the most significant change was the demonic energy. The divine power that had once filled the kingdom had been transformed into demonic energy, and the scale of the demonic energy emanating from Bauren was beyond comprehension.
‘I won’t be able to win by overwhelming him with aura alone.’
Though Raon had always considered himself to have a significant amount of aura, especially compared to other swordsmen or mages, the amount of demonic energy Bauren possessed was on a whole different level.
“Raon Zieghart.”
Bauren looked down at Raon, stroking his chin. Despite his transformation, his mannerisms hadn’t changed.
“I have finally realized what it means to be a true king.”
He pointed to the now blackened crown on his head.
– The audacity of this fool!
Wrath shouted in fury, shaking his fist.
“You’ve become arrogant. So, you’re done with the polite tone?”
“A king does not raise his voice to anyone. Why should I?”
Whether it was his true nature or a result of the demonic energy, Bauren’s tone was infuriatingly condescending.
“What does a true king mean to you?”
Raon smirked as he looked up at Bauren.
“Power. This power.”
Bauren clenched his fists tightly.
“The power to protect the kingdom and annihilate all enemies. Only the one who possesses such power can become a true king!”
“Power? So that’s it.”
Raon shook his head with a laugh.
“A true king doesn’t sacrifice his people to gain power. That’s not a king; it’s a butcher. You’re worse than a foolish ruler who’s too generous.”
Bauren claimed to have realized what it meant to be a true king, but to Raon, he looked like nothing more than a murderer.
– A generous ruler? Is there really such a fool?! Who is it?
Wrath scoffed at the notion that someone who only gives would be fit to be a ruler.
“Those who become my flesh and blood are blessed. The citizens who die will be glad for it.”
Bauren ran his hand over his rejuvenated body, smiling warmly as if he truly believed what he was saying.
“You’re beyond saving.”
Raon waved his finger at Bauren.
“Let me show you just how pathetic your ‘power’ really is.”
“Very well. As the Dragonslayer, you will be a fitting first opponent to spread my name.”
Bauren raised his right hand, demonic energy crackling in his grip. It transformed into a black bolt of lightning, hurtling toward Raon.
There was almost no delay. The moment the light flashed, the demonic energy was already at Raon’s throat.
Whoooosh!
Raon lowered his stance and slashed upward with the Heavenly Sword. Though the energy was heavy, it wasn’t impossible to cut through.
Slash!
The crimson arc cleaved through the demonic energy, leaving a glowing trail in the air.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
Raon shook his head, flicking the heated blade of the Heavenly Sword.
“Of course not.”
Bauren smiled faintly as he raised his hand once more. The demonic energy Raon had just cut through multiplied, filling the sky.
“I just wanted to have a little fun.”
With a flick of his finger, the demonic orbs rained down like a storm.
Whoooosh!
Raon traced the air with his sword, creating a wave of red blossoms in the sky.
The petals, carried by the currents of all four seasons, filled the air.
Mana Flame: Thousand Petals of Flame.
The fragments of power blocked the demonic rain, causing countless explosions in the sky.
Boom!
Amidst the black smoke that covered the heavens and earth, a dark shadow streaked toward Raon. The speed was incredible—too fast to react to.
However, the sheer speed of the attack made it easier to predict its direction.
Boom!
Just as Bauren’s fist, stained black, shot out, Raon stepped lightly using the Supreme Harmony Steps, avoiding the blow. The strike was so powerful that it seemed to distort the air around them.
Utilizing the fluidity of the Supreme Harmony Steps, Raon deflected Bauren’s attack and countered with a frosty strike from the Heavenly Sword.
Slash!
The frost-covered sword thrust toward Bauren, followed by a second strike.
But Bauren’s reflexes had also increased dramatically, and he dodged both strikes with ease, retaliating with his left fist.
Raon tilted his neck to avoid the punch, though the wind pressure from the blow caused his cheek to bleed.
‘But I predicted it all.’
Raon bit his lip slightly, drawing the Soul Requiem Sword. The yellow energy that surged from its crimson blade tore through Bauren’s demonic energy.
Slash!
Bauren’s front was grazed, though he casually stepped back with a satisfied nod.
“You’re as skilled as I expected.”
He nodded approvingly.
“You called yourself a true king, didn’t you?”
Raon raised his chin, looking up at Bauren.
“That’s right. I am the true king who will protect the Supere Kingdom.”
“Can a king exist without a crown?”
“What do you mean…?”
Just as Bauren furrowed his brows in confusion, the black crown atop his head split in two and fell to the ground.
“It was bothering me.”
Raon chuckled softly as he tossed and caught the Soul Requiem Sword.
“A butcher like you deserves a noose around your neck, not a crown.”
“You wretch!”
A monstrous roar erupted from Bauren’s throat, far from human. His wings extended, and a massive wave of demonic energy surged, suffocating the air.
“I’ll kill you!”
“Do it, if you can.”
Raon slammed both the Heavenly Sword and Soul Requiem Sword into the ground.
“Divine Swords of Heaven and Hell.”
A clear, resonant sound rippled through the world. In the blackened night sky, a golden sun and a silver moon rose.
The sticky demonic energy recoiled in fear, retreating into the corners.
“From you…”
Raon, holding the sacred and demonic swords forged from the sun and moon, glared coldly at Bauren.
“I will take the title of king.”