The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 699

**Boom!**

North-South Union warriors, stationed along the riverbank, sprang forward with explosive force.

“You bastard! What did you just say?”

“Arrogant!”

“Do you know who you’re speaking to?”

A middle-aged man with long, tangled black hair, a bald monk dressed in ascetic robes, and a young man with blue hair wearing an eye patch each dashed across the water, wielding spears, harpoons, and swords respectively.

Raon narrowed his eyes as he recognized the powerful energy emanating from these three warriors.

‘I know these faces.’

He recalled them from the North-South Union’s records he had studied beforehand.

These were the Union’s prominent captains: the Black Wolf Captain, the White Mountain Captain, and the Silent Wave Captain, who led the land and river branches of the North-South Union.

Though they were strong, Raon didn’t give them much attention. His focus remained solely on Roman Laycal. After all, there were others ready to handle these intruders.

**Boom!**

Trevin, Burren, Runaan, and Martha burst forward, riding the wind to intercept the captains.

“You filthy bastards! Who attacks like this? Are you trying to die?”

Martha ground her teeth, shooting them a murderous glare.

“It seems bandits can’t escape their nature.”

Burren clicked his tongue, his voice calm but biting.

“Want me to kill you?”

Even Runaan muttered a chilling sentence, her lips tightening.

“This is disgraceful. How dare you interrupt a one-on-one duel?”

Trevin frowned as he towered over the captains.

Meanwhile, Rimmer and Sheryl stood motionless by the riverbank, silently keeping the other Union captains in check.

“You brats! Get out of our way!”

The Black Wolf Captain snarled, trying to push past Trevin.

“Ah, it must be nice getting old. Does your back still straighten properly?”

Martha taunted him, tapping her own lower back mockingly.

The Zieghart warriors and the North-South Union captains ground their teeth as they glared at each other through the crossed weapons.

“Black Wolf Captain.”

Roman’s voice cut through the tension as he smiled coldly at the captain.

“Are you saying he’s being arrogant?”

“Yes, my lord! A life-and-death duel? This fool is delusional! He’s not even worth your attention!”

“You don’t understand.”

Roman shook his head decisively.

“The reason I allowed Raon Zieghart to live is precisely because of that arrogance.”

“What…?”

The Black Wolf Captain froze, his jaw quivering.

“Ever since I agreed to this duel, there have been plenty of fools who tried to survive by proposing similar conditions. But not one of them lived. Do you know why?”

“Uh…”

The captain stammered, unable to respond.

“It’s his eyes.”

Roman bared his teeth in a grin as he looked at Raon.

“None of them showed the madness he has.”

“Madness?”

Raon furrowed his brow, confused by Roman’s words.

“Yes. Three years ago, when you first spoke of a life-and-death duel, your eyes carried absolute certainty that you could win. You weren’t thinking about just escaping danger like those worthless cowards—you had the eyes of someone truly insane.”

Roman burst into joyous laughter, his voice booming across the river.

“Everyone, stand down. Raon Zieghart has earned the right to speak to me that way.”

“Ugh…”

“W-We apologize.”

At Roman’s command, the Black Wolf Captain and the other warriors bowed their heads.

“There’s no need to apologize. You served as a rather entertaining appetizer, didn’t they, Raon?”

“Not bad.”

Raon nodded calmly before turning to his companions.

“Go back. Don’t waste your strength and watch the duel until the end.”

Repeating the words Rimmer often used, Raon dismissed them.

“Understood.”

Burren bowed and returned to the riverbank with Martha, Runaan, and Trevin.

“So, you think of that debt as something you owe?”

Roman massaged his shoulder, tilting his head thoughtfully.

“It’s not just something I think—I do owe it.”

Raon met Roman’s amused gaze with unwavering resolve.

“Only after paying that debt can I fight you without regrets.”

“Then I’ll accept it.”

Just as Roman nodded, another warship, painted gray, sliced through the waves and approached.

“That’s…”

Raon narrowed his eyes at the incoming ship, sensing an immense power onboard—one even greater than Roman’s.

“It belongs to the Vice-Commander.”

Roman scoffed, stamping his foot in frustration.

“I thought he wouldn’t come, but of course, he did.”

“The Vice-Commander?”

“Yes. Be cautious around him—he’s as much a thief as anyone. But don’t worry. If he causes trouble, I’ll deal with him myself.”

Roman reassured Raon, stepping back slightly.

**Rumble…**

Soon, the enormous ship docked, and a gray-haired old man descended as if walking down invisible steps. His wrinkled face contrasted sharply with his muscular, steel-like body.

‘That must be Helgrum, the Vice-Commander of the North-South Union.’

An aura of transcendence surrounded him, fitting for the Union’s second-in-command. Every step he took seemed to press down on the air itself.

“…”

Helgrum’s piercing gaze fell on Raon, sending a tingling sensation across his body, as if his nerves had been frozen.

‘I’ve endured the family head’s presence. This is nothing.’

With a cold smile, Raon resonated his Ring of Fire, instantly dispelling the pressure.

“Hmm…”

Helgrum’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, but he said nothing as the Black Wolf Captain escorted him to an elaborate chair.

Raon returned his focus to Roman—until his gaze landed on a red-haired youth following Helgrum.

‘Strong.’

Though young, the youth exuded immense power. He wasn’t quite at Roman’s level, but he was already beyond a mid-level Grandmaster.

‘Was he hiding someone like that all along?’

[Raon.]

Sheryl’s voice whispered through her aura, reaching his mind.

[Don’t worry about the Vice-Commander or his men. Focus on your battle with the Axe King.]

Raon glanced at Sheryl and gave her a small nod.

‘She’s right.’

It didn’t matter who else had come. His only focus was the duel with Roman.

“Anyone else arriving late?”

Raon shrugged, looking out over the river.

“If so, call them now. Don’t ruin the mood.”

“No one else. Even if the Commander himself shows up, the duel won’t stop.”

Roman steadied his grip on the Red Dragon’s Axe.

“Let’s begin.”

Raon curled his fingers, beckoning Roman.

“A three-move duel. Honestly, I never imagined it, but this should be fun.”

Roman raised his axe high, releasing an overwhelming wave of energy.

The Layble River surged violently, as if caught in a storm.

“Here comes the first attack—*Silent Cleave*!”

Roman swung the axe with a force that could split the river itself, crimson flames trailing along the blade’s edge.

**Screeeech!**

Raon raised the *Heavenly Drive*, its frost-covered blade glowing with Glacier’s energy. Icy waves radiated outward, colliding with the fiery axe.

**Boom!**

Though the sound was deafening, the river remained still—the Heavenly Drive had absorbed the full brunt of the attack.

“A refined sword, I see.”

Roman rested the axe on his shoulder, his brow furrowing.

“No, it’s more than that. You’ve combined multiple techniques—very impressive.”

He nodded in approval.

“You’ve grown, just as I have.”

Raon smiled faintly, shaking off the lingering numbness in his hand.

“You used to rely solely on brute force. Now your strikes carry balance.”

Roman had always fought with overwhelming power, but today, his attacks were as precise as those of a master swordsman.

‘He’s dangerous.’

One wrong move, and the duel would end before it truly began.

But Raon had no intention of stopping.

‘I owe him.’

Roman had only accepted the duel because Rimmer had stood his ground three years ago. Until that debt was paid, Raon couldn’t fight with a clear conscience.

“Here comes the second attack.”

Raon steadied the *Heavenly Drive* and gestured for Roman to continue.

“I was hoping you’d say that!”

Roman grinned fiercely, his aura condensing into a sphere around the axe, amplifying its destructive power.

The battle had only just begun.

—

**Rumble!**

Without releasing their auras, Raon and Roman stood motionless, each preparing for the next attack. Time seemed to stop.

Ten seconds, one minute, ten minutes, thirty minutes—they didn’t move a muscle. The only thing that shifted was the immense energy swirling around them. Their combined auras intensified, creating sparks that crackled through the air, as if lightning was forming between them.

“Why aren’t they moving?”

“They know each other’s strength.”

“Yes. Even a slight mistake will lead to instant death.”

“Are they evenly matched?”

“I… I don’t know. Just watching them makes it hard to breathe.”

The Zieghart warriors and North-South Union soldiers watched the standoff in silence, nervously swallowing as they stood captivated by the tension.

**Crack!**

Suddenly, the sparks compressed between them erupted with a violent explosion, and the two warriors moved.

**Boom!**

Their bodies collided at the heart of the Label River like bolts of lightning, releasing a massive shockwave that rippled across the river, making it roar as if it were an ocean.