The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 689

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the white ripple blocked by the piece of cloth.

‘What is this?’

He could sense some energy, but it didn’t seem aggressive, leaving him puzzled about its nature.

“It’s a Blood Spirit Path.”

Glenn, with his red eyes reflecting the white ripple, spoke softly.

“Blood Spirit Path…?”

“It’s a dimensional gate that only the blood fiends of the White Blood Religion can use.”

He frowned, explaining that it was a kind of travel magic and sorcery created by the White Blood Religion.

“You’ve seen it before.”

Rimmer pointed at the white, shimmering Blood Spirit Path with his chin.

“The way the Tenth Apostle appeared the first time we encountered him—he used the Blood Spirit Path.”

“Ah…”

Raon nodded as the memory resurfaced.

‘So that’s what it was.’

He recalled how both the Tenth and Seventh Apostles had emerged from the blood pools on the ground.

Since the White Blood Religion couldn’t openly use dimensional gates, it seemed they used this Blood Spirit Path for long-distance travel.

However, there was a significant difference between the Blood Spirit Path they saw back then and the one in front of them now.

“The one I saw back then was red.”

“I’ve never seen a white Blood Spirit Path either.”

Rimmer nodded heavily.

“It’s likely one of two things. Either this path was created by the White Blood Leader herself, or the White Blood Religion’s headquarters is beneath this place.”

He clicked his tongue, seemingly confident in his guess.

“So, does that mean…”

Sheryl placed her hand on her sword as she turned to Rimmer.

“If we enter this path, we can capture the White Blood Leader!”

“That seems to be the case.”

A chilling sharpness flickered in Roenn’s usually gentle eyes.

But Glenn wasn’t focused on the Blood Spirit Path. Instead, he examined the deathly energy lingering on the piece of cloth.

“Deathly energy?”

He quickly identified the black, swirling aura as deathly energy.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Raon embedded the Soul Requiem Sword into the ground to keep the Blood Spirit Path from closing, then handed the cloth to Glenn.

“This is the same energy that attacked me in front of the Sword Saint’s tomb.”

As expected, Ogram hadn’t fallen to the White Blood Leader but had been ambushed by Derus Robert.

“Yes, that’s it!”

Rimmer, nodding slightly, was now certain.

“The one who attacked me seems to have ambushed Ogram while he was fighting the White Blood Leader.”

“……”

Glenn’s red eyes blazed with a heat fiercer than molten lava. He appeared deeply enraged by the cowardly trick that had felled Ogram.

“Hoo…”

Raon glanced at Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn, who were all gritting their teeth in fury, and let out a sigh of relief.

‘It’s a good thing we found this.’

They had found evidence of Derus’ ambush and discovered a way to rescue Ogram.

Having accomplished the reason for their visit, Raon’s rapidly beating heart finally began to calm.

“I knew that fool wouldn’t go down without a fight.”

Glenn twisted his lips into a smile as he stroked the piece of cloth.

“He put his Fierce Sea Art and deathly energy into the fragment of the White Crow Glove, ensuring that the Blood Spirit Path wouldn’t close. His cunning is still sharp.”

“I agree.”

Raon nodded as he looked at the fragment of the White Crow Glove in Glenn’s hand.

‘Calling him impressive wouldn’t be enough.’

The fact that Ogram had managed to prepare for such a contingency without being noticed by Derus Robert or the White Blood Leader was truly remarkable.

“And you’re just the same.”

Glenn glanced over at Raon, tilting his chin.

“Pardon?”

Raon blinked, not fully understanding what Glenn meant.

“I had no way of knowing that Ogram had pulled a trick like this. How did you figure it out?”

“It’s thanks to the Fierce Sea Art.”

Raon lifted his fingers, channeling the energy of the Fierce Sea Art.

“Though the Fierce Sea Art is an ultimate martial art, it has no light, no form, and no discernible energy. It only moves with a natural flow. But I felt a faint trace of it beneath the ground.”

“It hasn’t even been a year since you started learning the Fierce Sea Art, and you’ve already reached such a level?”

“It’s thanks to meeting Ogram in the mental world.”

It was a level of mastery Raon had achieved because of his encounter with Ogram in the mental world. Without it, he wouldn’t have found the fragment of the White Crow Glove.

“Hmm…”

Glenn’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he found something displeasing.

“Our leader is a quick learner, faster than anyone.”

Rimmer nodded, clearly impressed.

“Isn’t Ogram the only one who’s better at Fierce Sea Art than Raon?”

“Seems like it.”

Sheryl smiled faintly.

“He also mastered my dual swordsmanship in no time. He’s a truly annoying person.”

Her eyes briefly clouded with old memories.

“Hahaha.”

Roenn chuckled warmly, clearly pleased.

“Ahem!”

Perhaps because the others were laughing, Glenn cleared his throat and forced the discomfort from his face, allowing a small smile to form.

“The problem now is how to open this path.”

Raon sighed as he pointed at the Blood Spirit Path, which was wriggling as if trying to escape from the Soul Requiem Sword.

“Not to mention, if the White Blood Religion realizes the path hasn’t closed, they may have set a trap…”

“That won’t be the case.”

Glenn shook his head calmly.

“Unlike dimensional gates, Blood Spirit Paths are single-use. The White Blood Leader and the White Blood fiends are probably too pleased with capturing Ogram to even notice that the path hasn’t closed.”

“That makes sense…”

When you’re feasting on a grand meal, no one would pay attention to a small hole in the wall.

As Glenn said, the likelihood of a trap seemed slim.

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t dangers.”

“Excuse me?”

“Entering this path is dangerous in itself.”

“What do you mean…?”

Raon’s eyes widened, not expecting Glenn to mention danger.

“The White Blood Religion’s headquarters is protected by a formation made of blood energy. It’s a deadly trap that saps the energy and stamina of anyone without blood energy.”

Glenn raised his finger, drawing a half-circle in the air.

“Once, the king of the Bellan Kingdom, a power not much weaker than the Six Kings, was overwhelmed and killed by the formation during an invasion of the White Blood Religion’s old headquarters.”

“Ah…”

Hearing that brought back memories of his past life when Derus had mocked the White Blood Leader.

[The fact that the location of the White Blood Religion’s headquarters was leaked? It was just a ploy to lure in King Bellan and drain him of his blood. The Bloodless Hell Formation there isn’t something you can break. You’ll just be slowly consumed by it, like a spider’s prey.]

Raon frowned, shaking off the image of Derus’ laughing face.

It seemed like that scoundrel had planned to use the White Blood Leader from the very beginning.

“Furthermore, the one who left this deathly energy could still be inside, and Ogram’s condition is likely critical.”

Glenn dusted off the fragment of the White Crow Glove, his brow furrowing.

“So, it’s not about a battle but…”

“Exactly. We must focus on rescuing Ogram within a limited time.”

He nodded, saying there wouldn’t be much time for fighting.

Today, Raon had realized that even someone as seemingly invincible as Glenn wasn’t reckless. He always planned and judged carefully. It was another valuable lesson.

“What a shame. If only Ogram were in good shape, I would love to cut them all down…”

Sheryl slapped her palm loudly in frustration.

“You’ll still have plenty of fun.”

Rimmer chuckled as he flicked his hair back.

“Haha, we’re not going for a day out.”

Roenn placed a hand on Rimmer’s shoulder, reminding him with a smile that this wasn’t a leisure trip. Still, the three of them shared light laughter as if they were going on an outing.

However, there was something more pressing for Raon right now.

“I’m not sure how to open this Blood Spirit Path…”

“We’ll force it open.”

The moment Glenn lowered his finger, a red lightning bolt crackled, and the previously narrow Blood Spirit Path expanded until it was nearly as tall as Raon.

Crackle!

Raon’s mouth dropped open as he watched the lightning twist and force the Blood Spirit Path to widen.

‘This is insane…’

No words came out. It was like watching someone tear open a person’s mouth with their bare hands until it was two meters wide.

He had expected Glenn to use some artifact or to manipulate the flow of the Blood Spirit Path, but Glenn had simply forced it open with raw power. At this moment, Raon realized Glenn shared a similar streak with Wrath.

“They’ll know we’re here now.”

Glenn furrowed his brow as he stared at the now wide-open Blood Spirit Path.

“We have fifteen minutes before the path closes completely. In that time, we must find Ogram and get out.”

“Fifteen minutes is more than enough.”

“That’s plenty of time to wipe them all out.”

“Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve had to stretch my back.”

Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn remained as calm as ever. It was clear they placed their full trust in Glenn.

“Raon.”

Glenn turned his gaze to Raon one last time.

“We’ll distract them while you search for Ogram.”

“What?”

Raon’s eyes widened at the unexpected command.

“You’re the one who found this place, aren’t you?”

Glenn gestured toward the Blood Spirit Path with his chin.

“Knowing the White Blood Leader’s temperament, the headquarters of the White Blood Religion will be enormous. Even with fifteen minutes, it’ll be difficult to search everywhere. You sneaking in unnoticed and searching will be the safest and best approach.”

He placed a finger to his lips as if whistling.

“If you’re in danger, send a signal to the Light Wind Division.”

“…Understood.”

“I trust you.”

Somehow, Glenn’s words of trust resonated deeply in Raon’s chest.

“Then let’s go.”

Without waiting for a reply, Glenn stepped into the Blood Spirit Path. Raon felt like he was seeing many new sides of Glenn today.

“If you don’t find Ogram, I’m taking all your gold coins!”

Rimmer followed as the second person through the path, laughing as he referred to their bet as a “man’s promise.”

“Don’t worry. If that rascal takes your gold, I’ll cut off his hands for you.”

Sheryl gave a sweet smile as she entered the path, despite the chilling words she left behind.

“It feels like the old days.”

Roenn hid a spine-chilling bloodlust behind his gentle laughter as he stepped into the path.

“Hoo…”

Raon took a deep breath and followed, the last to enter the path. As he passed through the darkness, Glenn’s words suddenly came back to him.

‘The Light Wind Division signal?’

It wasn’t surprising for Rimmer to know about the signal, but for Glenn to know it too seemed odd.

‘Why is that…?’

Just as he wondered, the darkness parted, and a bright white light surged before him.

He now stood before a massive castle that had been hidden in the darkness.

It was as if the entire area was covered by a white curtain, blanketing everything in sight like a snowfield.

‘Why do all these buildings look the same?’

The structures were so similar in appearance that Raon figured finding Ogram would be a challenge.

Deng! Deng! Deng!

Just as Glenn had predicted, the sound of a large bell echoed throughout the White Blood Religion’s headquarters, signaling the intruders’ presence.

Raon concealed his presence as he stepped onto the white ground, feeling the soft sand under his feet like a beach.

‘Now’s not the time to think about the sand.’

The important thing wasn’t the sand beneath his feet or the similarity of the buildings.

‘My body feels heavy.’

It seemed the Bloodless Hell Formation was active here too. Simply standing drained his aura, dulled his senses, and made his body feel much heavier.

Kwoooooom!

Glenn, Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn were causing sheer destruction, moving as if the formation was of no consequence to them.

The White Blood fiends approaching them were being reduced to puddles of blood with every move.

‘They’re using all their power to keep attention away from me.’

It was clear they were going all out to make it easier for Raon to move undetected.

Raon bowed his head in gratitude toward Glenn and the others before sprinting toward the unguarded right side of the headquarters.

“……”

Once Glenn saw that Raon had broken away, he unleashed a lightning strike on the white tower in front of him.

Kwoooooooom!

With a massive explosion, the tower was sliced in half and collapsed, burying the blood fiends beneath its ruins.

“Come out, all of you!”

This wasn’t just to draw attention or summon the White Blood Leader.

‘That bastard.’

The swordsman who wielded the deathly energy and had targeted Raon—that despicable wretch. Glenn’s roar was a challenge directed at him.

‘You dare to target my grandson?’

Although he had told Raon it was about buying time, if that wretch showed up, Glenn fully intended to kill him on the spot.

“Show yourself now!”

He unleashed a storm of lightning as he advanced, spreading his energy like he intended to destroy the White Blood Religion’s headquarters completely.

“Oh…”

Rimmer blinked as he watched Glenn’s back with a bemused expression.

“Didn’t he say he was just buying time…?”

* * *

‘Wow…’

Raon swallowed as he watched Glenn tear through the White Blood Religion’s headquarters with his lightning strikes.

‘Was the patriarch really that close to Ogram?’

Glenn seemed nearly berserk with rage, as if he was furious with the White Blood Religion for attacking Ogram.

It was surprising to see him move with such intensity in a space where not only was it difficult to use his full strength, but where his aura would be rapidly drained.

‘If I don’t find Ogram, I might be in trouble…’

Raon let out a wry laugh as he climbed a tower that provided a clear view of the entire White Blood Religion headquarters.

‘Why does everything look so similar?’

Not only was this an unfamiliar place, but the buildings all looked like they had been stamped out from the same mold, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

On top of that, everyone here carried blood energy, so it was impossible to detect Ogram’s aura using his normal senses.

‘Even the Fierce Sea Art isn’t much help.’

Capturing someone and using them as a hostage might be the only option.

Just as Raon was considering that, the Soul Requiem Sword let out a sad yet enraged hum as it sensed the thick scent of blood.

It seemed to crave the deaths of the blood fiends within the headquarters.

‘Wait a second…’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the vibrating Soul Requiem Sword.

‘If everyone here has blood energy…’

Then, all I need to do is find the one person who doesn’t.

The only person without blood energy in this place was Ogram, so Raon realized that if he searched for that presence, he could find him.

‘Can you do it?’

Wooooooong!

The Soul Requiem Sword hummed confidently, emitting a faint but far-reaching aura as it spread its energy thinly across the area.

If things were quiet, the aura would have been detected, but with Glenn and the three Grandmasters causing chaos, no one noticed the Soul Requiem Sword’s energy.

Shiiing!

Before long, the sword sent a strong pulse, indicating it had found something.

‘There it is.’

Raon’s eyes locked onto a cathedral-like building at the far western end. Trusting the sword, he made his way toward it.

He concealed himself near the building’s entrance, using his Snow Flower sense to scout ahead.

‘There are two people inside. One of them is Ogram!’

He could sense Ogram’s presence from the figure lying on the floor.

‘But the other one…’

Raon frowned as he felt the energy of the other figure standing over Ogram. He recognized it too well.

‘The Tenth Apostle…’

He could feel the Tenth Apostle’s sharp and sticky blood energy. However, it was far stronger than when Raon had last sensed it.

Given how noisy things were outside, it seemed the Tenth Apostle was either concentrating on guarding Ogram or cultivating his own power.

‘In that case, there’s no need to fight him head-on…’

How about an assassination?

There were no windows in this building, but the strong door seemed like something Raon could use to his advantage.

‘Hoo…’

Raon took a slow breath. He mentally ran through several scenarios of how things could play out before kicking the solid, white door with all his might.

Boooom!

With the strength of a superhuman enhanced by aura, the iron door tore off its hinges and flew straight toward the Tenth Apostle.

Flash!

The Tenth Apostle, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, raised his hand in defense.

Crack!

Just as the door was ripped to shreds like paper in his hand, a flash of yellow light shot out from behind it.

It was Raon. Holding the Soul Requiem Sword in a reverse grip, he unleashed an invisible slash from the tip of the blade.

Slice!