The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 702

Fwoooosh!

Axe King Roman began sinking into the turbulent waters of the Label River, unable to steady himself.

“Guh…”

Raon coughed up blood and executed the River Footwork. His aura was depleted, and his injuries were severe enough that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he collapsed at any moment. Using Supreme Harmony Steps was no longer possible.

“Roman!”

He grabbed Roman’s shoulder, lifting him out of the water that was now stained a dark red from all the blood that had flowed.

“Raon Zieghart.”

Even in such dire circumstances, Roman called Raon’s name in an unwavering voice.

“I told you, only one person can leave here. Let me go. These wounds… I can’t survive them.”

Roman’s trembling hand lifted his black robe, revealing a hole the size of a child’s head in his left chest, from which crimson blood gushed out.

“I know.”

Raon nodded, his gaze fixed on Roman’s wound.

‘Of course I know. I was the one who dealt that blow.’

Their final clash had been a battle where both had staked their lives.

It was a fight where mercy had no place—where there could only be one survivor, and the other had to fall.

Even if the Saint of Rags, Frederick, came, he wouldn’t be able to heal the wound left by my attack.

“There are still people who follow you. As their king, you should at least leave them with your final words.”

“Guh… Why the sudden formality? And didn’t you people use to call me *Bural* [1]?”

Roman chuckled, a shiver running down his spine as he reminisced.

“Today, you were a senior warrior deserving of respect.”

Raon nodded, watching the light fade from Roman’s eyes.

“……”

Roman fell silent. Whether he had no words left to say or was saving his last strength for his followers, Raon couldn’t tell.

“Huff…”

Raon finally managed to carry Roman out of the Label River, laying him down on the sandy shore.

There were moments when he nearly collapsed from exhaustion, but he bit his tongue and barely held on.

“Raon Zieghart.”

Roman exhaled shallow breaths, lifting his gaze toward him.

“If the Vice Leader makes a move, escape through the river.”

“The river? Why the river?”

Since the North-South Union operated primarily along rivers and mountains, Raon frowned at the advice to flee through the river.

“I destroyed the warships in advance, just in case the Vice Leader decided to act if you won.”

Roman smiled as he glanced at the shattered warships.

“The warships?”

Raon recalled how strange it had seemed earlier, when Roman had destroyed the vessels with a crimson blaze before their battle began. Now, he realized that was Roman’s intention all along.

“You’ve probably already prepared your own escape. Just follow the river’s flow, and you’ll make it out…”

Roman’s voice trailed off, and his hand fell limp. It seemed he had reached his limit.

Raon, too, felt the same. Although he wouldn’t die thanks to his powers, he knew he would need a long recovery.

“Roman!”

“Please, wake up!”

“You can’t fall here! You still have things to do!”

The leaders of the Black Wolf, White Mountain, and Silent Wave Divisions rushed over with healers, desperately tending to Roman.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, the Vice Leader Helgrum and the warriors of the North-South Union stood motionless, seemingly overwhelmed by Roman’s final display of resolve.

“Leader!”

“Why did you let yourself get hit like that? Couldn’t you dodge a bit?”

“Raon, are you okay?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan hurried over, supporting Raon by his shoulders and waist.

“Let’s treat you first!”

“What kind of wounds are these…?”

Dorian and Krein trembled as they saw the gashes tearing through Raon’s waist.

“Well done.”

Rimmer approached, placing a hand on Raon’s shoulder. His palms were slick with sweat, showing the tension he had been under.

“Open your mouth.”

“Huh?”

“No time! Just open your mouth already!”

When Raon opened his mouth, Sheryl shoved a red pill inside.

Without pausing, she placed her hand over the wound on his abdomen. Warm aura flowed into his heart, and the searing pain began to ease.

“Hoo…”

Raon took a deep breath and forced himself to look up. As the pain subsided, exhaustion began to take over, making his eyelids heavy. If he let his guard down even a little, he knew he would lose consciousness.

‘My head is overheating.’

He had planned to remain calm until the end of the duel, ensuring he had enough strength left even after the life-and-death battle. But fighting Roman had exhilarated him so much that he hadn’t been able to think about what came next.

Growing through combat… Growing stronger alongside your enemy… It was a joy beyond any revelation.

The sacredness that emerged from darkness had been powerful enough to turn into an offensive force, and Raon hadn’t thought of what to do after the duel.

Though things were now off-balance, he still had contingency plans in place.

Raon wiped the blood covering his eyes with the back of his hand and turned his gaze to the side.

Roman was also looking his way, his lips curving slightly, as if to ask if Raon had enjoyed the fight.

‘I did enjoy it.’

When Raon blinked, Roman’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

“Everyone…”

Raon turned back to Rimmer, Sheryl, and the Light Wind Division.

“Take care of things from here.”

With those final words, his vision dimmed to black.

—

On a dark hill overlooking the winding Label River,

“Is that even possible?”

Kubara gazed down at Raon, her lips trembling as she turned to Derus Robert.

Despite knowing it was inappropriate, she couldn’t hold back her words. It was the first time she had ever seen warriors grow through combat in such a way.

“…It doesn’t make sense.”

Derus bit his trembling lip, shaking his head.

“It shouldn’t be possible.”

Warriors who grow through battles do exist—he himself had grown stronger by fighting powerful opponents.

‘But…’

Never had he seen two people influence each other’s growth so directly.

Raon and Roman had not only advanced their own martial arts, but also evolved through their interactions.

Raon had learned the weight of conviction, and Roman had solidified his fleeting intuition with deeper roots.

Both fighters had filled the gaps in their abilities through the fight.

Moreover, the speed at which they had grown was unprecedented, as if both had fallen into a trance. Even now, with the battle over, Derus’s hands trembled from the absurdity of it all.

Ssshh.

Derus removed his leather gloves, blood dripping from his knuckles despite only having watched the battle.

‘That kid is turning 22 tomorrow?’

He had known of Raon Zieghart’s potential, but witnessing it firsthand far exceeded his expectations.

If Raon woke up, he might reach the peak of a Grandmaster—if not the pinnacle itself.

‘Not even Glenn or I could achieve that.’

This was no ordinary growth. Even the leaders of the Six Kings or those with similar talents had only reached the Master level at Raon’s age.

‘If he keeps growing like this…’

Derus bit his lip hard.

‘He might transcend before he’s even 30… Maybe even by 25.’

He was now certain that the wall deemed impossible for humans would be broken by Raon Zieghart.

‘How is that even possible?’

Even if Raon was the reincarnation of the legendary assassin, such monstrous growth defied all logic. Something else had to be supporting him.

‘It was worth coming here.’

Derus burned his blood-stained gloves and donned a new pair.

‘I can’t let him live.’

More than any other threat on the continent, eliminating Raon Zieghart was now the top priority. If left alone, Raon would surely become the greatest obstacle to his plans.

“The North-South Union hasn’t made a move yet.”

Kubara narrowed her eyes, observing the division leaders who refused to leave Roman’s side.

“Sentimental fools.”

Derus retrieved a helmet resembling a blue dragon from his spatial pocket.

The moment he wore it, his presence twisted, exuding a creeping aura of death that didn’t belong in this world.

“……”

Kubara bowed her head and whispered rapidly under her breath. Shadows hidden nearby began moving silently.

“Nothing will change anyway. The brightest star has fallen today, and soon…”

Derus’s lips curled as he looked down at Raon and the Light Wind Division.

“The greatest star will fall next.”

* * *

“No… This can’t be…”

The healer, his hands soaked with blood, trembled as he spoke.

“It’s already too late.”

Shaking his head, he muttered that even a god couldn’t save Roman now.

“Shut your mouth!”

“Do everything you can!”

“Do you want to die too, bastard?”

“Enough.”

As the division leaders yelled at the healer, Roman weakly raised his hand.

“I told you… I have no regrets in this life.”

Roman gave a faint smile, glancing at the division leaders.

“But…”

“What are you doing?!”

Vice Leader Helgrum ground his teeth in frustration.

“I ordered you to take down Zieghart! Why are you standing there?”

He raised his hand, signaling them to attack Raon immediately.

“We can’t.”

The leader of the Black Wolf Division bit his lip and shook his head.

“We won’t tarnish our Leader’s honor.”

“Raon Zieghart must leave this place alive!”

The White Mountain and Silent Wave Division leaders also rose, blocking the path with unwavering resolve.

“You idiots!”

Helgrum snarled, storming forward.

“If Zieghart returns, he’ll become a huge threat to the Union! I won’t be able to stop him then!”

“Even so, today’s life-and-death duel was a fair fight. Even if he falls to the Dragonslayer in the future, we must let him go today.”

The Black Wolf leader lowered his gaze, his expression firm, as if embodying Roman’s spirit.

“Kuhuhu…”

Roman propped himself up, his trembling hand pressing against the ground as he raised his upper body.

“You look troubled… Vice Leader.”

With a pale complexion, as if all the blood had drained from his body, Roman twisted his lips into a bitter smile.

“You…”

Helgrum swallowed hard, staring into Roman’s sunken eyes.

‘The final flicker.’

Just like a candle burning its brightest before going out, Roman was using the last of his life force.

“The North-South Union was founded by warriors who understood loyalty and the weight of strength, built by heroes of rivers and mountains. But now…”

Roman sneered and shook his head.

“Now it’s worse than a gutter, filled with scum like you who don’t even know shame.”

Despite his failing body, Roman pushed against the ground and stood on both feet, glaring down at Helgrum.

Even the healer’s eyes trembled at the sight. It was nothing short of a miracle.

“Strength isn’t about never losing. True strength lies in carrying your shame and continuing to walk forward.”

Roman’s gaze shifted to Raon, lying unconscious nearby. Then he looked at the division leaders standing before him, their eyes welling with tears.

“Did you see my fight?”

“Yes… We saw it.”

“Then that’s enough. Live your lives without shame.”

With those final words, Roman collapsed. Even in death, he didn’t close his eyes, as if determined to see what Helgrum and the North-South Union’s warriors would do next.

“You damn bastard!”

Helgrum clenched his fists so hard his knuckles bled, glaring at Roman’s lifeless body.

“This is your last chance! Strike Zieghart down!”

He held up three fingers, as if to signal the end.

“We refuse.”

“Even if it costs us our lives, we won’t back down.”

“Raon Zieghart earned our Leader’s recognition. We will see to it that he leaves here alive.”

The Black Wolf, White Mountain, and Silent Wave Division leaders blocked the path with weapons drawn.

“Ha!”

Helgrum laughed bitterly, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Fine! If that’s how you want it, I’ll kill you all!”

He raised his hand, furrowing his brow, but before he could act, Rimmer and Sheryl stepped forward.

“There are still those with honor in the North-South Union.”

Sheryl rested her hand on the hilt of her sword as she spoke to the division leaders.

“Yeah. I didn’t expect it, but it stirs something in me.”

Rimmer sniffled, drawing his sword.

“But you.”

He pointed his sword at Helgrum, tilting his chin.

“Leaving here is our decision, not yours.”

Rimmer gestured with his fingers, taunting Helgrum to come at him.

“Beorn.”

Helgrum bit his lip and called out Beorn’s name.

“Kill them all.”

“Yes.”

Beorn bowed and unsheathed his sword.

Vrooooom!

Helgrum also gripped his spear tightly, preparing to act himself.

“Hoo…”

The Black Wolf leader pressed his lips together.

‘I might die here.’

Even with Zieghart swordsmen behind him, no one could stop the transcendent vice leader.

‘And Beorn is a problem too.’

Beorn, who had reached Grandmaster level at a young age, would be a formidable opponent.

“Take Raon Zieghart and escape!”

The Black Wolf leader shouted at Sheryl and Rimmer without looking back.

“The river is your lifeline! We’ll hold them off here, so just focus on getting away!”

“That won’t happen.”

Just as he was about to give further instructions, a black shadow rose from the side.

“Don’t let toys move on their own.”

From within the shadow emerged a swordsman wearing a blue dragon helmet, sneering as he brought down his black sword.

“Ah…”

The Black Wolf leader trembled, realizing the inevitability of his death.

‘There’s no way to stop this.’

Even with his guard up, the perfect arc of the sword was unavoidable. His neck stung as if it had already been severed, and it felt as though his life had ended before the blade even touched him.

‘I’m sorry… I can’t keep my promise…’

Just as he lowered his gaze toward Roman’s fallen body,

BOOOOM!

A wall of crimson lightning erupted, burning away the creeping aura of death. (TL Note : OMG! Let’s effin’ GOOOOO!)

Crackle!

Within the bolts that shattered the space itself, a golden-haired swordsman with red eyes appeared.

It was Glenn Zieghart, the Thunder God. Though he should have been at Zieghart, here he stood at the Label River, raising the Heavenly Tremor.

“As expected, you came.”

From within the blue dragon helmet, a cold light shimmered. Derus smiled as if he had anticipated Glenn’s arrival.

“Who are you?”

Glenn narrowed his gaze, aiming the Heavenly Tremor at Derus.

“The Heavenly Demon.”

Derus tilted his head and uttered the name.

“I am the Heavenly Demon of Eden.”

“If that is your final word…”

Glenn’s eyes gleamed with deadly intent, as if piercing through Derus’s soul.

“Then die with that name.”

(TL Note: Let the war begin!)
(also TL Note: This is the reason I’m doing 3 chapters per day this week. I dont want to leave you guys hanging. :))

* * *

Footnotes:

[1] Bural (불알) is a colloquial Korean term meaning “testicles” or “balls.” It is often used informally or playfully among close acquaintances to convey a sense of camaraderie, teasing, or irreverent humor. I think there was a specific term that Rimmer used to call Roman back at the end of the Elf Arc where they were saving the elves at the auction house.