The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 712

“I’m not going to let either of them go.”

Raon murmured calmly, clenching his fist tightly.

‘I need to be at the North-South Union headquarters before this war ends.’

Normally, he wouldn’t be concerned about the outcome of the war.

With Zieghart, one of the **Six Kings**, fighting the North-South Union, which sits lower on the **Five Demons**’ hierarchy, the result was obvious.

However, this time, **Derus Robert** and **The Fallen One** were pulling strings behind the scenes.

These two were schemers of the highest order, and Raon was certain they had plans to strike from the shadows.

‘Their target will be…’

It had to be **Glenn Zieghart**.

The greatest obstacle standing in their way was the head of Zieghart himself—Glenn, also known as the **Thunder God**.

Raon knew they would try to seize this opportunity to kill him, and whatever it took, he had to stop them.

‘And…’

Raon’s lips tightened as he lowered his gaze.

‘I can’t let Merlin die, either.’

Annoying as she was, Merlin had helped him countless times. From providing crucial information on **Eden** and the **Five Demons**, to saving his life on multiple occasions—now it was his turn to save her.

“Yup!”

Garam nodded with an air of certainty, as if doing both was a given.

– *You’re really planning to do both?*

‘Yeah. With the way I am now, I can handle it.’

Raon opened his eyes slowly, exuding calm confidence.

‘I’ve healed from my wounds, and I’ve organized everything I gained from my battles.’

Thanks to Garam’s treatment and the support of **Sloth**, all of his internal and external injuries were fully recovered. The insights he gained from his duel with Roman and in the **Mental World** had become solidified within him.

He now felt like there was no one he couldn’t defeat—and nothing he couldn’t achieve.

– *Wha—! What kind of growth is this?! You’re still not even worthy to lick my claws!*

Wrath scowled in irritation, narrowing his left eye.

‘You never compared yourself to me in the first place. Being compared to your claws is pretty impressive growth, though.’

Raon smiled, giving a playful wave.

‘Thanks for the compliment.’

– *Th-this isn’t a compliment! I was talking about claw dirt, not my claws!*

Wrath growled, shaking his head furiously.

‘Right, right.’

Seeing Wrath’s flustered expression only made Raon more certain—his growth had been extraordinary, even impressive enough to shock the demon lord.

– *Ugh… your attitude’s gotten even more insolent!*

‘Wasn’t I always like this?’

– *No! It’s worse! Much worse!*

Wrath tugged on his own ears, baring his teeth.

– *How can you be more infuriating every time I look at you?!*

‘Oh? But I was thinking of buying ten boxes of mint chocolate for you as a thank-you once we get back to the manor.’

– *You… you handsome bastard!*

‘…Handsome?’

– *Ah! I meant… annoying bastard!*

Flustered, Wrath had accidentally said “handsome”—a word he had overheard Runaan and Encia use often.

Whether it was intentional or his memory slipping, Raon couldn’t tell.

– *But still… Ten boxes of mint chocolate might make me acknowledge you…*

‘Enough chatter.’

Raon brushed Wrath aside and turned to Garam.

“Garam, this is the **Gazelle River**, right?”

“Yeah! And we’re at its deepest point.”

Garam nodded confidently. “Nobody will find us here.”

“How far is it from here to where you hid the masked woman? And how far to the battlefield?”

“We’re here…”

Garam manipulated the water, drawing a map of the **Gazelle River** connecting to the **Label River**.

“The masked woman is here… and the battlefield is over here.”

– *Hmm. That’s quite a detour.*

Wrath furrowed his brows, studying the map. Indeed, they would need to take a roundabout route through the canyon to reach Merlin.

– *But that dark little fish’s magic can take us straight there, right?*

‘That magic only works for returning to his nest. And his name is Garam.’

Garam’s transportation magic only allowed them to return to this sanctuary. Leaving, however, would require traveling the hard way.

“There are a lot of skeletons around where I hid the masked woman… and there’s a really strong human there too.”

Garam shivered. “I tried getting close a few times, but it won’t move from that spot.”

“It must be the **Soul-Eating Specter**.”

Raon nodded grimly. Until it found Merlin, it wasn’t going to leave the area.

“Don’t worry, Garam.”

He gave Garam’s shoulder a reassuring pat, smiling gently.

“I’ll take care of that bag of bones.”

The Soul-Eating Specter, with its undead army and relentless revival, was an incredibly troublesome opponent. It was better to eliminate it for good while he had the chance.

“Now… wait.”

Just as Raon was about to depart, a strange sense of emptiness spread through his waist.

He reached down to where his dagger should have been, but it was gone.

“Garam, have you seen a red dagger anywhere?”

“A dagger?”

Garam tilted his head in confusion.

– *It probably sank to the bottom of the river when you almost died.*

Wrath shrugged. “Things were moving too fast for anyone to notice.”

‘Makes sense.’

As much as Raon regretted it, there was no time to retrieve the **Soul Requiem Sword** now. He’d have to come back for it after the war.

Strapping the **Heavenly Drive** to his waist, Raon exited the Blue Wave Tribe’s dwelling. Ascending to the water’s surface, he gave Garam a nod.

“Lead the way. Let’s find the masked woman first.”

“Okay!”

Garam nodded eagerly and took the lead.

*Splash!*

Raon followed, leaping gracefully off the surface of the water. He moved so swiftly, it felt as if gravity itself had released its hold on him.

In no time, he caught up to Garam, who had been using sorcery to travel ahead.

“Huh?!”

Garam blinked in disbelief, his lips quivering.

“I-I’m going as fast as I can!”

“It’s fine. Just keep going at this pace.”

Raon smiled lightly, matching Garam’s speed with ease.

– *At this speed…*

Wrath floated alongside him, squinting mischievously.

– *We could probably stop for some mint chocolate on the way, right?*

‘…Haah.’

Raon let out a long sigh, suddenly reminded of how thoroughly Wrath had returned to his usual self.

‘Mint chocolate is banned for a year.’

– *W-what?! It was a joke!*

‘Two years now.’

– *Gyaaah!*

—

Meanwhile…

Sylvia sat down heavily on the shattered deck of another destroyed battleship.

‘It’s getting hard to even stand…’

She was reaching her physical and mental limits. Though her spirit remained unbroken, her body could no longer keep up.

‘I’ve pushed too hard.’

She had charged forward recklessly in pursuit of vengeance for Raon, knowing full well she’d do it all over again given the chance.

‘The North-South Union leader… his deputy… and Beorn.’

These three were the main culprits behind Raon’s death.

While she might not get the chance to kill the Union’s leader, she had to personally end the lives of his deputy and Beorn. Nothing less would suffice.

‘Where are they…?’

As Sylvia scanned the battlefield, a massive **black ship** emerged between the North-South Union’s warships.

It was as large as the **Blue Wolf**, the Union leader’s flagship.

‘That ship…’

Her eyes widened as she extended her aura, expanding her vision. Standing on the deck of the black ship was an elderly man with **gray hair, powerful muscles, and a long spear**.

It was **Helgrum**, the North-South Union’s deputy leader—just as she had been told.

“There you are…”

Sylvia stood, her heart burning with rage. The dwindling embers of her strength ignited, mana surging explosively from her artificial dantian.

‘He’s injured…’

Helgrum was still bandaged from his battle with Rektor. This was her chance.

*BOOM!*

Sylvia leapt from the wreckage and plunged into the river, heading straight for Helgrum’s ship.

Ignoring all the other ships and the hail of arrows and cannon fire, she focused solely on reaching her target.

Even as her flesh tore and her bones cracked, she pushed forward relentlessly. Finally, she landed on Helgrum’s deck.

“You must be… Sylvia Zieghart.”

Helgrum smirked, his eyes narrowing at the sight of her blood-soaked blonde hair.

“You’ve come to join your son in death?”

“Helgrum!”

Sylvia screamed, charging at him with all her remaining strength. Just as she reached him, a dark-haired swordsman stepped in front of her.

*CLANG!*

A wall of oppressive aura knocked her back violently.

“Ugh…”

Sylvia coughed up blood, crashing onto the deck.

“Your son knew his place… but it seems you don’t.”

Helgrum clicked his tongue.

“He was nothing like me!”

Sylvia gritted her teeth, forcing herself to her feet.

“He was so much better…”

Grasping her sword with both hands, she poured the last of her aura into it.

*BOOM!*

But even her strongest strike was effortlessly blocked by the dark-haired swordsman.

“Can’t you see me?”

He sneered coldly.

“Move!”

“Hah. No one has dared ignore me since I received the title of **White Cloud**.”

He narrowed his eyes in disbelief.

“Baekun?”

Sylvia repeated the name under her breath, her lips trembling slightly.

‘Baekun… I didn’t sense him.’

He was a **Grandmaster**, one of the most renowned within the North-South Union. She never expected someone of his caliber to be here, guarding Helgrum instead of fighting on the central battlefield.

The real problem wasn’t just Baekun—Helgrum had **multiple Master-level warriors** standing by his side as well.

“Hah…”

Sylvia exhaled shakily, stumbling back.

‘I made a mistake.’

Even at her full strength, she couldn’t win against opponents of this level. But blinded by rage and her thirst for vengeance, she had rushed in without a second thought.

Her fury, which had fueled her power, was beginning to drain away quickly.

“Already at your limit?”

Helgrum gave a cold, mocking smile as he shifted his gaze toward her.

“When you die, you’ll join your son. At least you won’t be lonely.”

He gestured slightly toward Baekun, signaling him to finish her off.

“Arrgh!”

With a furious scream, Sylvia clenched her teeth so hard they could shatter. She charged toward Helgrum with every ounce of strength she had left.

“This is the end.”

Just as Baekun swung his sword toward her neck, a **colorless sword strike** flashed across the deck.

*BOOOM!*

A powerful explosion shook the air, hurling Baekun backward until he crashed into the ship’s railing.

“Who… who dares?”

Baekun’s jaw tightened as he raised his gaze.

Standing on the deck, with an air of effortless calm, was **Karoon Zieghart**.

“Trash without honor all gathered here, I see.”

Karoon’s crimson eyes glinted coldly as they locked onto Baekun.

“Brother…”

Sylvia whispered, her voice unsteady.

“Idiot. Step back.”

Karoon shot her a glance filled with disdain as he positioned himself in front of Baekun.

“Y-you’re Karoon…”

“Keep my name out of your filthy mouth.”

Before Baekun could finish speaking, Karoon’s blade flickered. Blood burst from Baekun’s chest like a geyser.

“Do not sully my name with your trash-filled mouth.”

Karoon lowered his sword as gracefully as if he were simply placing a teacup on a table.

“Grrgh…”

Baekun clutched his chest, staggering backward as he tried to staunch the flow of blood.

“You’re like moths to a flame—rushing to your deaths the moment you see light.”

Helgrum stepped forward, a twisted grin spreading across his face.

“And just as ugly on the inside as you are on the outside.”

Karoon’s gaze sharpened as if staring at a pile of garbage.

“All of Zieghart’s brats are sharp-tongued, aren’t they?”

Helgrum sneered, raising his spear.

*Swoosh!*

Before he could attack, a figure sliced through the air, landing on the deck with a thunderous crack.

It was **Aris Zieghart**, her eyes blazing with murderous intent.

“Hey.”

She glared down at Helgrum, her lips curling.

“You’re the bastard responsible, aren’t you?”

Her presence exuded a suffocating killing intent so strong it seemed to push the river back.

“Aris Zieghart…”

Helgrum furrowed his brow, clearly unsettled by her sudden appearance.

“Where’s that scum Beorn? Is it you?”

Aris fixed her fierce gaze on Baekun.

“I-it’s not me…”

Baekun stuttered, overwhelmed by the terrifying aura she emitted.

“Bring that bastard here, along with yourself. I’ll chew you both to pieces—bones and all.”

“Beorn isn’t here.”

Helgrum shook his head slowly.

“After assassinating Raon Zieghart, he never returned to the North-South Union.”

He repeated that Beorn had disappeared, and no one knew his whereabouts.

“Oh? So you’re hiding him?”

Aris smirked coldly, shaking her head.

“Well, that won’t matter. We came here to wipe out the North-South Union anyway. We’ll find him eventually… and kill every last one of you.”

She turned to Sylvia and Karoon, motioning with her hand.

“Sylvia, you still good? Revenge is best served personally.”

“Yes, I can do this.”

Sylvia bit her bloodied lips and stepped forward to stand alongside Aris and Karoon.

“Let’s show them just how nasty the Zieghart siblings can be!”

Aris roared as she leaped forward, her sword cleaving through the air toward Helgrum. Sylvia followed closely behind, her eyes burning with hatred.

“I’m not getting involved.”

Karoon frowned, turning toward Baekun as he thrust his sword with precise lethality.

—

The Western Canyon of the Label River

The canyon, which should have been filled only with crashing waves, was now overrun with **undead creatures** made of gleaming white bones. The undead swarmed like rivers of bones, spreading throughout the canyon as if searching for something.

“Damn it!”

The **Soul-Eating Specter** ground its teeth, slamming its fist down in frustration.

‘Merlin…’

Where the hell was she?

Despite searching every corner of the river after Merlin vanished, the Specter had found no trace of her.

The skies were filled with gargoyles and wraiths, skeletons roamed the land, and shark-like monsters patrolled the waters—yet not even a strand of Merlin’s hair had been found.

All it had discovered was half of the old crone’s shattered mask.

‘I should’ve captured Raon Zieghart…’

Merlin was likely hiding somewhere, quietly recovering from her wounds. If only he had kept Raon alive, he could’ve used him to lure her out.

The thought of Raon’s death left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘Damn it all!’

Just as the Specter seethed in frustration, a signal came from one of the **Sharkmoles** lurking in the river.

‘If this is another false alarm, I’ll tear its head off.’

Connecting his sight with the Sharkmole’s, the Specter peered through the murky water.

*Whoosh!*

There, a small, glowing **blue droplet** floated serenely in the water.

‘What’s this…? Wait a second!’

At first, he thought it was meaningless, but then he remembered—this was the same glow that appeared when Merlin disappeared.

It was identical.

‘Found you! She’s there!’

He grinned maliciously. He didn’t know how she had hidden herself there, but he was certain Merlin was nearby.

“At last, I’ve got you.”

The Specter summoned his **Bone Dragon** and prepared to dive into the water when a soft **splash** echoed through the canyon.

*Swoosh…*

The quiet sound drew his attention, and he turned his gaze toward the source.

At the edge of the canyon, a **blonde swordsman with crimson eyes** was walking across the water.

Each step he took left no ripple, as if he didn’t truly exist in this world.

“Raon Zieghart?”

The Specter’s eyes widened. The boy who was rumored to be dead was now calmly approaching Merlin’s hiding place.

“Bwahahaha!”

The Specter burst into hysterical laughter, clutching his head.

“Perfect! Now I can devour both of you!”

He raised his hand, summoning the undead hordes from the skies, land, and river.

*Rumble!*

As if that wasn’t enough, he summoned a **second Bone Dragon** from a pocket dimension.

*ROOOAR!*

The dark mana-infused dragon spread its massive wings, soaring into the sky alongside the first.

“Spreading false rumors about your death… You’re still as clever as ever.”

The Specter sneered as he floated high above the battlefield with his two dragons.

“Did you hide Merlin yourself?”

Raon didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the river below.

“Fine. I wasn’t going to let you live anyway! I’ll turn both of you into my puppets and make you torture each other for eternity!”

With a flick of his finger, the undead army surged toward Raon.

*RUMBLE!*

The Bone Dragons roared, unleashing dark mana-infused breaths.

*Step.*

Raon remained unfazed as he walked forward, drawing the **Heavenly Drive** from his waist.

*Shiiing!*

With a single slash, his sword ignited with golden flames, carving a glowing line through the air.

Every undead creature in its path was obliterated, leaving no trace behind.

*Slash!*

Even the dragons’ dark breaths were severed by the radiant sword. In the blink of an eye, Raon’s blade sliced past the Specter.

*Thud.*

The Specter’s head dropped from his shoulders, his lifeless body falling into the river below.

“If you want to catch me…”

Raon whispered, lowering his spotless blade.

“…bring a real dragon next time.”