The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 704

*Tsk.*

Aris clicked her tongue briefly as she deflected the fist of the First Apostle rushing toward her.

‘It resonates through my bones.’

The First Apostle, fitting his position as the second-in-command of the White Blood Religion, had achieved the stable transcendence of an absolute being.

Stopping the Spatial Severance with his bare hands meant he was no less capable than she was.

‘Even so…’

He’s not beyond capture.

Aris crushed the shattered walls beneath her and thrust her sword toward the heart of the First Apostle.

*Whoooom!*

The First Apostle responded immediately, his fist descending like an attack rather than a defense. Heat ignited fiercely from his fingertips.

‘Blood Flame Technique?’

It was undoubtedly the Blood Flame Technique, the ultimate martial art of the White Blood Religion, which heightened destructive power to its extreme by burning blood energy.

*Claang!*

Aris slashed through the Blood Flame Technique with a series of Spatial Severance cuts and countered with the tip of her sword.

*Ziiing!*

Suddenly, a spatial sword shot from the First Apostle’s temple.

“How crude.”

The First Apostle, seemingly accustomed to spatial swords, blocked it with the back of his hand.

Following the block, he stepped inside Aris’s range, aiming to exploit a close-quarters combat advantage.

“Unfortunately…”

Aris twisted her lips as she deflected the First Apostle’s hand over her shoulder.

“Close combat is my specialty!”

She distorted space, forcing back the Apostle’s offensive, and struck his chest with the hilt of her sword.

*Thwack!*

The First Apostle staggered three steps back after the blow to his solar plexus. But he immediately pushed off the ground and charged again, as if he had taken no damage at all.

“Is he a zombie or what?”

Aris narrowed her eyes at the relentless Apostle. Even though she had used the hilt, his bones should have been crushed—yet he seemed impervious to pain.

“Fine. I’ll peel off your flesh and bones entirely!”

Grinding her teeth, Aris unleashed a flurry of sword strikes toward the Apostle’s oncoming fists.

*Kuwaaang!*

Sword and fist collided diagonally, unleashing a crimson shockwave that swept through the surroundings.

The Zieghart warriors and White Blood cultists battling nearby were thrown off their feet by the impact.

“Ha.”

Aris shook off the trembling in her sword, tilting her chin slightly.

“You live up to your status as the White Blood Religion’s second-in-command. Annoyingly strong.”

“Second-in-command?”

The Second Apostle, who had been casually knocking down Zieghart warriors, chuckled lightly.

“That guy isn’t second-in-command.”

With a smirk, the Second Apostle curled her lips in amusement.

“……”

The First Apostle said nothing, clenching his trembling fist tightly.

“I’ve never heard of a vice-leader in your ranks.”

Aris squinted at the Second Apostle.

“There’s no such thing. The leader is a god—there is no second-in-command…”

The moment the Second Apostle started to speak about the hierarchy, a faint whistling sound disrupted the air.

“Found them. They’re over there.”

She turned her gaze leftward and licked her red lips.

“I leave this to you.”

With a nonchalant gesture toward the First Apostle, the Second Apostle vanished into a white current.

“Wait, over there…?”

Aris bit her lip as she watched the Second Apostle leave.

‘Could it be?’

It was the direction of the annexed building, far from both the inner and outer fortresses, and the furthest point from the Zieghart estate’s main building.

‘This is bad!’

The warriors and elders stationed at the main fortress were deployed outside to protect the citizens.

Although the annexed building had capable guards, they wouldn’t stand a chance against the Second Apostle.

‘There’s no one to stop her.’

Balder was out scouting, Denier was waiting at the main building, and Dokgo was holding the outer fortress. None of them could come to help.

Even though Sylvia had grown stronger, there was no way she could block the Second Apostle with her current strength.

“Damn it!”

Aris stepped onto the Flowing Spatial Steps, cutting through space to chase the Second Apostle. But just then, a pale hand emerged from the void.

*Boom!*

The First Apostle unleashed his blood energy, disrupting the flow of the spatial technique. A sharp pain surged through Aris as her movement was forcibly halted.

“Get out of my way!”

Ignoring the pain, Aris slashed toward the First Apostle’s neck.

*Clang!*

But the First Apostle, as if sensing her desperation, reinforced his defense and stood firmly in her path.

“You need to understand.”

The First Apostle’s eyes darkened coldly.

“I’ll make you learn what happens when you touch the White Blood.”

“If you don’t move, you die.”

Aris twisted her lips and slid her sword back into its sheath. She bent her knees, her stance fully protective.

“Sword Field Manifestation.”

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she intended to end this battle with a single blow.

“Annihilation.”

The blade that shot from her sheath extended with a graceful elegance, like moonlight itself. The blade emanated a chilling intent to obliterate everything it touched, as sharp and elegant as the nose of a goddess.

“Blood Offering.”

From the First Apostle’s grip, a white flame erupted, exuding a destructive energy powerful enough to incinerate the world within the pale haze.

*Kuwaaaaaang!*

The sword slash that tore through space collided head-on with the blood energy that scorched existence itself.

—

“Whew…”

Sylvia exhaled softly, adjusting her combat uniform.

‘To think someone could face my sister…’

She could feel the immense clash of energies from the fortress walls, even from where she stood.

It seemed a monster capable of confronting Aris had revealed itself among their enemies.

‘Raon was right.’

Before departing for his battle of life and death, Raon had warned her that the Five Demons might launch an attack. His words had come true.

“Madam…”

Helen approached, her trembling hand grasping Sylvia’s.

“I’ve evacuated the maids to the underground shelter in the annex building. Now, you too…”

“No, I must stay here.”

Sylvia smiled softly at Helen.

“But…”

“It’s all right.”

Sylvia gently brushed Helen’s hair and shook her head.

“The enemies won’t come this far. Even if they do, it will likely only be a scouting party. You don’t need to worry.”

The annex building was located on the outskirts of the Zieghart estate.

The enemy would target the main building or the outer fortress where the citizens were concentrated. They wouldn’t waste their efforts on this place.

“Then, I’ll stay with you…”

“No. You need to go inside as well.”

Sylvia’s expression hardened as she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. A blue light shimmered along the blade as she swung it through the garden trees.

*Slash!*

A branch—and the masked figure standing on it—fell to the ground.

“Gah…”

The masked man, seemingly an assassin, clutched his bleeding throat, groaning in agony.

*Thwack!*

Without hesitation, Sylvia struck him down, severing his life. She narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the fallen assassin.

‘This isn’t the Five Demons.’

Before Raon’s birth, she had fought against every faction of the Five Demons, except the Holy Sword Alliance. This man didn’t belong to any of them.

‘Is it the faction targeting Raon…?’

Having clashed with four of the Five Demons factions, Sylvia could tell this assassin didn’t belong to any known group.

It must be the faction that attacked Ogram, the Night King.

*Whooosh!*

Sylvia raised her gaze, hearing the sound of sharp wind. Enemies cloaked in hostility were approaching from the right.

*Boom!*

Although the warriors Aris had stationed blocked their path, it seemed they wouldn’t hold for long against the overwhelming numbers.

“There’s nothing for you here.”

Sylvia furrowed her brow and stepped forward. The assassins and White Blood cultists charged at her from all directions.

*Slash!*

She swung her sword upward from below, her blade swirling with ocean-blue aura.

The heads of the assassins and White Blood cultists fell cleanly as the ocean-blue aura swept past them.

It was a graceful swordsmanship that hid lethal intent within natural movements.

Sylvia flicked the blood off her sword and bit her lip.

‘I have to stay focused.’

If she showed any leniency, the consequences would fall upon the guards and the maids. She had to turn this garden into an impenetrable fortress.

Without holding back her aura, she cut down all the approaching White Blood cultists, assassins, and Eden’s specters.

“Hah…”

Sylvia exhaled heavily, looking at the growing pile of corpses.

‘What’s going on?’

Why are the enemies gathering at the annex building?

There were no treasures here, nor anyone particularly important to protect. It made no sense for them to converge on this spot.

*Slash!*

Perhaps realizing they couldn’t break through, the assassins and cultists stopped attacking and surrounded the annex building instead.

‘That makes things easier.’

Sylvia slightly lowered her sword and licked her lips.

‘Reinforcements from the main building will arrive soon.’

Once the warriors from the main building arrived, she wouldn’t need to stay here guarding the maids. She could push forward and eliminate all enemies herself.

‘Just a bit longer… Hmm?’

As she steadied her breathing and prepared to hold out a little longer—

*Whoooom!*

A tall woman wrapped in a white current, like a scarf, appeared among the cultists.

She was a striking beauty with bronze skin and a tattered robe draped over her shoulders, her mere presence enough to send chills down Sylvia’s spine.

“Red eyes, radiant blond hair—now I know.”

The bronze-skinned woman curled her lips into a grin as she looked at Sylvia.

“You must be Sylvia Zieghart.”

She smiled warmly, as if greeting an old friend.

Sylvia lowered her stance and swallowed dryly.

‘An Apostle…’

And not just any Apostle—her overwhelming aura was enough to render Sylvia’s body motionless. This was undoubtedly the Second Apostle.

‘I can’t stop her.’

From the Second Apostle, Sylvia felt a murderous intent so fierce it was as if the Apostle had already decided to kill her. There was no way she could win, no matter what she did.

“We were humiliated by your wonderful son, so it’s time to settle that debt.”

The Second Apostle let out a sinister laugh as she approached. At her gesture, the White Blood cultists began advancing toward the annex building.

‘Can’t win?’

So what?

Sylvia clenched her jaw. She had received her energy center from Raon to protect this annex building. She wouldn’t retreat just because the fight seemed unwinnable.

“Step aside. I’ll take her on.”

Sylvia dismissed the guards and stepped forward toward the Second Apostle.

*Slash!*

With a chilling slicing sound, the right flank of the cultists collapsed.

Amid the faint mist of blood, a pair of red eyes gleamed.

It was Karoon Zieghart.

The man, imprisoned for his crimes, now exuded a terrifying killing intent.

*Ziiiing!*

The moment Karoon’s sword trembled, the bodies of the masked figures in the center split in half, collapsing to the ground. His overwhelming bloodlust surpassed even that of the Second Apostle.

*Squish.*

He crushed the blood-soaked ground underfoot as he advanced toward the Second Apostle.

“O-Oppa…”

Sylvia exhaled nervously at the sight of Karoon’s burning red eyes.

“Karoon Zieghart?”

The Second Apostle frowned, her gaze locking onto Karoon’s twisted expression.

“I thought you were locked up. You shouldn’t be here.”

She cracked her fingers and twisted her lips into a smirk.

“I don’t care what punishment awaits me.”

A thick vein bulged on Karoon’s forehead.

“I will never let filthy scum like you set foot on Zieghart soil.”

Biting his lip until it bled, he rushed toward the Second Apostle.

“Things are getting messy!”

The Second Apostle furrowed her brows and threw a punch toward Karoon’s sword.

“Stop babbling and just die.”

Karoon’s narrow sword pressed against the Apostle’s fist, his cold eyes glimmering with murderous intent.

“Sword Field Manifestation – Manifestation of the Sword King.”

—

*Crackle!*

The blue screens showing the battle across the Zieghart estate flickered and went dark, possibly due to the overwhelming impact of the clash.

Glenn lowered his gaze as he thought of Karoon standing in front of the Second Apostle.

‘Karoon…’

Seeing Karoon step up to protect Sylvia stirred something in his chest, as if his heart might burst.

It felt as though the shattered bonds of their family were slowly beginning to mend. His fingers trembled slightly with emotion.

He wanted to return immediately to see the faces of those two.

“It seems things aren’t going as planned.”

From beneath her large witch’s hat, the Archmage Chamber sneered mockingly.

“Well, considering how that Raon kid thinks, he doesn’t quite act like a typical Zieghart.”

She glanced toward the shiny glimmer within the dragon-helm, curling her lips.

“What brings the great Archmage of Illusions all the way here? Surely you don’t expect to gain anything.”

A taunting voice emanated from within the blue dragon-helm.

“Why do you think? It’s because of you, you little bastard.”

Chamber crunched down on the lollipop in her mouth, narrowing her gaze.

“Even though I tease him, I do have a bit of affection for that musclehead.”

A chilling killing intent shimmered in her eyes.

“I’ll rip you to shreds.”

“My apologies, but I’d like to take you on myself.”

The Fallen One, wearing a young man’s mask, stepped forward toward the swordsman in the blue dragon-helm. His mask showed a gentle smile.

“I need to understand the Archmage’s abilities to better plan our attack on the Balkar.”

“Do as you wish.”

The moment Chamber gave a sweet smile that matched her appearance, the world turned upside down.

Rivers soared into the sky, and the land twisted upward as if defying gravity.

“So, this is the famous Reverse Heaven World?”

With a flick of The Fallen One’s finger, the distorted sky and earth returned to their original form.

Transcendent mages could alter the fabric of the world itself.

“Then, shall we?”

The North-South Union leader rubbed the back of his neck and started to step forward.

“No. Take a break.”

The swordsman in the blue dragon-helm held out a hand to stop him.

“Given that the balance of the Six Kings and Five Demons has been disrupted, that little mage is likely the best they could send.”

He glanced toward Chamber, who was clashing with The Fallen One, and let out a chuckle.

“Everyone else must stay in their territories.”

“……”

Glenn’s crimson eyes glowed quietly without a word.

“Well, the same goes for us.”

The swordsman in the dragon-helm pulled on his gauntlet, raising his deathly aura-infused sword.

“Shall we have a one-on-one?”

“There’s something I want to see.”

Glenn raised his Heavenly Tremor. A flash of crimson lightning exploded along the white blade.

“Let’s end this as quickly as possible.”