The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 691

“Huff…”

Raon exhaled heavily, gazing at Glenn’s broad, steadfast back.

He didn’t know why Glenn, who was supposed to be waiting at the exit, had come here. However, the moment he saw Glenn rushing toward him, Raon’s pounding heart calmed.

Even with the White Blood Leader chasing him and countless blood fiends closing in, Raon didn’t feel anxious. It was as if his real grandfather had come to protect him, making his nose tingle with emotion.

“Glenn Zieghart!”

The White Blood Leader shook her hand that had been struck by the lightning, curling her crimson lips into a long, twisted smile.

“To think you’d come here begging to be killed. You’re still as reckless as ever.”

Her dark eyes swirled wildly. She seemed both fearful and ecstatic at the same time.

“You did it.”

Glenn didn’t respond to the White Blood Leader’s taunts. Instead, he turned to look at Raon.

“I knew you would.”

He nodded quietly, noticing Ogram slung over Raon’s back.

“Patriarch…”

Raon’s lips quivered at the sound of Glenn’s low voice.

He hadn’t expected to hear such words of trust during such a dangerous situation. His heart was more stirred now than when he had been praised back at the Patriarch’s Hall.

“Hah…”

The White Blood Leader bared her white teeth, frowning deeply.

“How dare you act so high and mighty in my presence!”

Her hand trembled with fury, seemingly enraged at being ignored by Glenn.

[We don’t have much time. Prepare to move immediately. The formation is causing the Blood Spirit Path to close quickly.]

Glenn once again ignored the White Blood Leader, his voice echoing in Raon’s mind, transmitted through a technique more advanced than an aura message.

“Glenn Zieghart!”

Unable to tolerate being disregarded a second time, the White Blood Leader exploded with blood energy. A massive wave of blood energy surged out from beneath her fluttering white dress.

“Here, I am a god!”

“You drank Ogram’s blood.”

Glenn sensed the immense power of the White Blood Leader’s energy but remained calm, merely nodding.

“That’s right. It was delicious, nothing like the blood of an old man.”

She licked her red lips seductively, her smile growing cold.

“And now, I’m curious about the taste of your blood.”

“You?”

Glenn let out a chilly laugh.

“Well, foolish mosquitoes do keep sucking blood until they burst.”

He mocked her, fully aware that she had not completely absorbed Ogram’s energy.

“Empty boasts.”

The White Blood Leader’s face twisted into a demonic scowl before she let out a derisive snort.

“You’re not in top condition either, are you? It must be hard to endure with that old body of yours.”

She smiled smugly, having detected that Glenn wasn’t at full strength.

*Kugugugugu!*

Behind the White Blood Leader, a towering figure of a goddess clad in white began to rise. **Mara of Blood and Mercy**, a manifestation of blood energy, now larger and more terrifying than the last time Raon had seen it, with over ten additional arms.

It seemed the White Blood Leader’s growth had also strengthened her manifestation.

*Hwaaaar!*

The Mara transformed the white weapon in its hands into blood energy, compressing it. It formed into a radiant sphere, glowing like a miniature sun. The enormous pulse of blood energy spread across the sky and the earth.

It was clear that the White Blood Leader intended to end this in one decisive strike.

“Grr…”

Raon’s knees buckled as he struggled under the overwhelming pressure of the blood energy.

“You’ve developed a new sword technique.”

Even as the sphere of blood energy hurtled toward them, distorting the air itself, Glenn turned calmly to look at Raon.

“W-What?”

Raon let out a shaky breath, his eyes meeting Glenn’s calm gaze.

“Breaking the limits of the sword… It’s a good idea.”

Glenn nodded slightly, then turned back to face forward. Raon had the distinct feeling that Glenn was smiling.

“Watch closely. It might help your swordsmanship.”

Glenn raised his **True Sky Sword** slowly. As the white world of blood energy closed in, red light began to gather around the blade.

“Heavenly Unblemished Sky Sword.”

The sky itself seemed to split with a single stroke of his sword. Like a drop of red paint splashed across a blank canvas, the pure white world was dyed crimson, expanding outward.

The massive sphere of blood energy, the Mara Bloodthirsty Avalokiteshvara, and even the White Blood Leader herself were forced to bow before the law set by the sword of heaven.

*Kwarrrrrrr!*

The magnificent red light was followed by a booming sound, like a heavenly thunderclap.

Raon swallowed dryly as he stared at the white world, now stained in the hues of dusk.

‘It’s different.’

Now that he had grown, he could understand it. As Wrath had said, Glenn’s swordsmanship had ascended to an even higher realm.

“Let’s go.”

Glenn lowered his True Sky Sword and turned around.

“What about the White Blood Leader…?”

Raon muttered breathlessly as he looked at the empty space where everything had vanished.

“She overindulged.”

Glenn shook his head, frowning.

“Even though her belly burst, she’s still alive.”

Hearing Glenn crack a rare joke, Raon couldn’t help but laugh despite the situation.

*Boom!*

Glenn gestured for them to go ahead, stepping forward with the **Supreme Harmony Step**.

“If you had fully mastered the Supreme Harmony Step, you would’ve been able to escape from the White Blood Leader.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m not asking for an apology.”

Glenn’s movements were as precise and profound as when he had first taught Raon the Supreme Harmony Step. It was as if he was still giving Raon a lesson even now.

As Raon ran alongside him, memorizing Glenn’s footwork, they reached the Blood Spirit Path, where Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn stood guard.

Sheryl and Roenn were holding off the endless flood of blood fiends, while Rimmer was keeping the rapidly shrinking Blood Spirit Path open with a combination of his wind and lightning energy.

“Why are you so late?! I almost died here!”

Rimmer screamed as he held onto the Blood Spirit Path.

“All the apostles are here!”

“Who are you yelling at?”

Sheryl deflected the attack of an apostle and kicked Rimmer.

“Hahaha.”

Roenn chuckled softly while unleashing a murderous sword strike. Blood fiends fell apart like decaying logs wherever his blade touched.

*Crackle!*

The moment Glenn placed his hand on the Blood Spirit Path, lightning surged, causing the path to expand. But its lifespan seemed to be reaching its limit as the white ripples trembled violently.

*Kwooooong!*

The White Blood Leader, who had fled after being struck by the True Sky Sword, was now rushing toward them with a thunderous roar.

“Go on ahead.”

“Yes.”

Raon was about to step into the Blood Spirit Path when he turned back.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

The White Blood Leader charged forward, drenched in white blood. As Glenn had said, she hadn’t died, but she had lost a significant portion of the blood energy she had gained from drinking Ogram’s blood. Her overwhelming fury was palpable.

‘That must be the First Apostle.’

On her right side, a pale man advanced with her. He, too, appeared injured, but his aura was as powerful as that of Aris.

‘And that one is… hmm?’

Raon’s eyes widened as he noticed the bronze-skinned woman moving on the White Blood Leader’s left.

‘What’s going on with her?’

Her energy fluctuated wildly, shifting erratically between Master-level and transcendent strength. Raon couldn’t comprehend what kind of power she wielded.

“Raon! What are you doing?! Get moving!”

Rimmer yelled, kicking Raon toward the Blood Spirit Path.

“Oh, yes.”

Raon marked the white wall with his Soul Requiem Sword before stepping into the Blood Spirit Path.

*Crackle!*

As a few faint bolts of lightning flashed, the scenery of the Chiran Tribe village appeared in front of Raon once again.

Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn followed, stepping out of the Blood Spirit Path and planting their feet on solid ground.

“Where’s the patriarch?”

Just as Raon turned to ask, the Blood Spirit Path shuddered violently, and Glenn strode out. As soon as he did, the path collapsed entirely.

“Hmph.”

Glenn dusted off his trembling hand before sheathing the True Sky Sword. The sight of him shaking off sand like someone who had just finished playing on the beach left Raon dumbfounded.

“Patriarch, are you alr—”

Before Raon could finish, a wall of the half-burned village collapsed, and the warriors and shamans of the Beast Alliance came rushing in. Their eyes blazed with a fierce determination, ignited by the loss of their leader.

“Good thing we stayed put. The criminals always return to the scene of the… huh?”

A young man dressed as a scholar widened his eyes upon seeing Glenn.

“S-Stop! Everyone, stop!”

At his command, the Beast Alliance warriors halted their charge and stood frozen.

“We greet the Lightning God!”

The scholar-like young man ran forward, bowing deeply before Glenn.

“It’s been a while, Vice-Chief.”

Glenn nodded as he addressed the young man.

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the young man.

‘This man is the vice-chief of the Beast Alliance?’

The vice-chief was known to handle all of the alliance’s affairs in place of the wandering chieftain, Ogram.

Just as Raon had heard, the vice-chief was sharp-looking and serious in appearance, distinct from the rough warriors of the alliance. Yet, despite his calm and composed demeanor, Raon could still sense the fierce willpower typical of the Beast Alliance in him.

“What brings you here, Patriarch…?”

“I heard that the beast got caught by a mosquito, so I came to see.”

Glenn answered, gesturing toward Ogram on Raon’s back.

“C-Chief!”

“Chief!”

The vice-chief hurriedly approached Raon and took Ogram from him, while the warriors and shamans screamed in shock as they gathered around Ogram.

“Take the chief back to headquarters! Now!”

“Yes, sir!”

The warriors carefully lifted Ogram, as if handling a sacred relic, and rushed toward the headquarters.

“I don’t know how you managed to save the chief, but first, allow me to thank you!”

The vice-chief knelt before Glenn, trembling as he expressed his gratitude.

“If you want to thank someone, it should be him.”

Glenn casually pointed a finger at Raon.

“What?”

“If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have even found that boar of yours.”

“A-Ah!”

The vice-chief’s eyes sparkled like stars as he looked at Raon.

* * *

At the Beast Alliance headquarters.

“We greet our benefactor!”

The vice-chief, along with the warriors and shamans in the headquarters, knelt before Raon, pounding their chests with their fists.

“We will never forget the grace you showed in saving our chief, even in death!”

Moved by the story of how Raon had rescued Ogram, the alliance members knelt before him, their gratitude overwhelming.

“I, too, owe the chief a great debt.”

Raon waved his hand, his face reddening.

“I was simply repaying the favor I owed him. You don’t need to do this.”

He wasn’t just being humble; he genuinely believed what he was saying, shaking his head firmly.

“I’d heard from Garona that you were a true warrior, but you’re even more than that. I, Bellerton, am deeply impressed!”

The vice-chief, Bellerton, bowed his head deeply, pressing it to the ground.

“Ah, there’s no need for that.”

Rimmer laughed, patting Raon on the shoulder.

“If they’re that sincere, maybe you should accept it. Perhaps some gol—”

“Shut it.”

Before Rimmer could finish drawing a circle with his fingers, Sheryl bent his hand backward.

“Aaaah!”

Rimmer screamed, clutching his bent arm.

“You’re ruining the Zieghart name. Don’t even breathe until this conversation is over.”

“I’ll die if I stop breathing!”

“Then die.”

Sheryl chopped Rimmer’s throat mercilessly.

“Hahaha.”

Roenn chuckled quietly, though he did nothing to help.

*Cough!* “Don’t just laugh, help me!”

“Hahaha!”

Rimmer extended a hand toward Roenn, but the older man only continued to laugh.

“As I said before, I didn’t do this alone.”

Raon shook his head, turning back to Bellerton.

“It was only possible because the patriarch, Master of the True Sky Sword, and Roenn were with me.”

“Hey, what about me?!”

Rimmer weakly raised a finger, pointing at himself.

“Besides, I also owe the chief a great debt. He saved me from a dangerous situation and even taught me martial arts. There’s no need for you to go this far.”

“To be honest, we had given up on rescuing the chief. We thought it was impossible.”

Bellerton sighed heavily, clenching his fists until they bled.

“But Raon, you didn’t give up. You tracked down the chief’s whereabouts and even ventured into the White Blood Religion’s headquarters. All we can offer is our deepest gratitude.”

He bowed again. Though he appeared calm and composed, Bellerton’s fierce loyalty to the Beast Alliance was evident in his actions.

*Ahem!*

Glenn, who had been watching from behind, pressed his lips together, as though he had something to say, but remained silent.

“Of course, we don’t intend to express our thanks with just words. We in the Beast Alliance will provide you with whatever you desire…”

“Brother!”

Before Bellerton could finish, the doors to the room burst open with a crash, and Garona stormed in.

Despite being heavily bandaged and covered in blood, Garona’s eyes burned with determination.

“They told me you saved the chief! Thank you, brother!”

He approached Raon, his eyes brimming with emotion, and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“…You suffered too.”

Raon patted Garona’s trembling shoulder. Even from the visible injuries, it was clear how much Garona had endured.

*Ahem!*

Glenn cleared his throat loudly, covering his mouth with his hand. His eyes shook slightly, though Raon couldn’t understand why.

‘I thought we grew closer today, but now it feels like he’s drifting away again…’

Raon couldn’t quite figure Glenn out.

* * *

Raon gazed up at the slowly brightening sky of dawn, chuckling softly to himself.

‘It’s exhausting, being thanked so much.’

The warriors and shamans of the Beast Alliance had continuously come to express their gratitude, leaving him no time to think.

The volume of their voices was so loud that Raon felt as though his eardrums might burst.

‘But…’

It didn’t feel bad.

More than the words of thanks or praise, Raon was happiest knowing that he had been able to save and bring back the person to whom he owed so much—Ogram.

As he basked in the warm feeling in his chest, Raon heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“Patriarch.”

He turned and bowed slightly, but Glenn waved his hand dismissively.

“Are you injured?”

“I’ve sustained some internal injuries, but it’s nothing serious.”

Though his injuries were more severe than he let on, Raon shook his head, not wanting Glenn to worry.

“Is that so?”

Glenn seemed to sense Raon’s thoughts and didn’t press the matter further. He came to stand beside him, raising his gaze to the soft, violet hues of the dawn sky.

“Though we’ve saved Ogram, the balance that once existed cannot be restored.”

His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the faint colors of dawn.

“The White Blood Leader doesn’t simply absorb aura. She devours the life force and martial power of warriors. Even if Ogram awakens, he will never regain his former strength.”

A heavy sigh escaped Glenn’s lips, tinged with regret.

“I see…”

Raon had anticipated as much, so he nodded calmly.

“And so, there’s something I must ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Your life-or-death duel.”

Glenn’s crimson eyes sank deeply.

“The life-or-death duel with Roman is now like a bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Even if you win, your life will be in danger. There’s also the possibility that other powers will interfere.”

Glenn’s voice was filled with urgency, as though he was more concerned about Raon’s fate than anything else.

“Yes, I understand.”

Raon lowered his head in acknowledgment. It was something he had considered during the journey.

“So, what do you intend to do?”

Instead of giving orders, Glenn waited, wanting to hear Raon’s thoughts first.

Raon didn’t respond right away. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and then spoke softly.

“I…”

(TL Note: No Wrath for this week’s chapters! I miss Wrath!)