The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 198

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 198

“Hmm….”

Sheryl, the Heavenly Sword Master, stood beside Glen and let out a soft groan.

“I’m beginning to doubt whether what I’m witnessing is truly real.”

Her pupils trembled as she gazed upon the Sparring Arena.

‘An undefeated record? How is this even possible?’

Thirty wins, zero losses thus far. These were not the Geumcheom-dan’s points, but the Gwangpung Unit’s. The Gwangpung Unit had claimed victory in all thirty matches without a single defeat.

‘And every single one was a dominant victory.’

The Gwangpung Unit overwhelmed the Geumcheom-dan as though there were a gap of at least one tier in their abilities. Matches often ended in a single strike, and it was common to see the Gwangpung Unit pummeling the Geumcheom-dan as if venting suppressed rage.

‘Yet the skill gap shouldn’t be this wide….’

The Gwangpung Unit achieved flawless victories as though they had completely deciphered the Geumcheom-dan’s martial techniques. They blocked every attack and exploited every opening with practical, combat-honed swordsmanship. I cannot fathom what they accomplished in these three months to gain such capability.

“They’ve done nothing but sparring matches, I hear.”

Glen removed his hand from his chin and continued speaking.

“For three months straight, without a single day of rest, they sparred targeting only vital points and openings.”

“Targeting only vital points and openings….”

“Just as they grew accustomed to defending one weakness, a different vulnerability would be exploited. So the Gwangpung Unit children endured beatings by day and learned martial arts for survival by night, or so I’ve heard.”

“Ha….”

Sheryl’s jaw trembled slightly.

“That’s practically hell, isn’t it?”

To patch one weakness only to have another exploited, then to seal that opening only to face a fresh vulnerability—it was no ordinary training that a common person would conceive of, let alone endure.

“Indeed. Most people would find it impossible to impose or withstand such training. Yet Raon and the Gwangpung Unit accomplished it, and now they’re demonstrating the fruits of that labor.”

Glen Zigheart gestured toward the thirty-first match just beginning.

“Aaaaaaah! Die!”

A long-haired swordsman named Crain charged toward a Geumcheom-dan swordsman.

“Because of you bastards, I spent three months in hell!”

He effortlessly deflected the waves of sword energy the Geumcheom-dan swordsman unleashed, then brought his blade down with savage ferocity.

“Breaking my plans, smashing them to pieces, and smashing them again! That demon nearly killed me for real!”

“Ugh, I… I didn’t do anything….”

“I don’t know! Just die already!”

Crain let out a roar and brought his sword down. His blade struck true against the Geumcheom-dan swordsman’s vital point.

“Gasp!”

“Why are you passing out?! Get up! Come at me! Experience the pain of taking hits to your vitals all day long!”

The Geumcheom-dan swordsman’s eyes rolled back from the single blow and he lost consciousness, but Crain’s fury remained unquenched as he lunged toward the fallen body.

“You all need to suffer at the hands of this demon too! I can’t be the only one!”

“S-stop!”

“It’s already over!”

Only when the Announcer and the referee grabbed his arms and legs could they finally restrain Crain.

This wasn’t the first time such a scene had unfolded. The Gwangpung Unit swordsmen had been frozen with shattered pride, but upon realizing their skills had improved, they vented their accumulated frustrations—roughly one in every three of them erupting into such fits.

“Hmm….”

Sheryl narrowed her eyes as she watched the next participant step forward. Martha Zigheart. Given her naturally volatile temperament, it was impossible to predict how she would move.

“Begin the match.”

The moment the Announcer called for the match to start, Martha kicked off the ground.

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

She hurled curses as if she’d forgotten human speech entirely, charging toward the Geumcheom-dan commander.

Crash!

It seemed that losing her humanity had cost her more than just language. With overwhelming force, she shattered the Geumcheom-dan commander’s blade strike completely.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

Martha trampled the fractured stones of the Sparring Arena as she advanced, striking all twelve vital points of the Geumcheom-dan commander simultaneously.

“Gack!”

The Geumcheom-dan commander demonstrated a remarkable feat of being struck mid-air like a leaf caught in the wind before his head crashed into the ground.

“Damn it!”

Martha descended from the Sparring Arena, cursing all the way. She looked utterly bestial.

Fortunately, Lunan Slion, who went next, swiftly and silently knocked the commander unconscious, though he targeted the most painful vital point on the face. It seemed that boy was quite angry as well.

Raon, the thirty-fourth to step forward, effortlessly evaded the Geumcheom-dan vice-commander’s attacks before knocking him out in a single strike. From the lowest-ranking members to the vice-commander, everyone overwhelmed their opponents unilaterally—I’d never witnessed a group battle like this before.

“My lord.”

“Hmm?”

Glen was suppressing the corners of his mouth that wanted to rise, pleased that Raon had created such a situation.

“I understand the Gwangpung Unit members have grown stronger, but….”

Sheryl swallowed hard as she observed the Gwangpung Order members growling like beasts.

“Is that really the right direction? They look exactly like beasts raised by a demon.”

“Ahem….”

Glen cleared his throat and turned his head away without answering.

*

*

*

Kugugugu!

An ominous aura seeped upward from Garon’s shoulders, suffocating in its intensity.

“Do you really want to die?”

He unleashed an aura on a completely different level from before, baring his teeth in a smile.

“Would it satisfy me to take that neck of yours?”

“We’ll know whose head rolls once we see the results.”

Raon laughed coldly and spun the Heavenly Sword.

“When this match first began, how many people thought the Gwangpung Unit would win?”

“So you’re saying the outcome of our duel is also uncertain?”

“No, I’ll win.”

“Ha! You’re being patient, and now you’re dropping formalities?”

“There’s no reason to treat someone kindly when they started the quarrel first.”

I waved my hand at Garon.

“Besides, you don’t have much time left as unit leader anyway. There’s no need to be respectful.”

“What?”

“We haven’t decided on the wager reward yet for when we win. You forgot about that, didn’t you?”

I pointed at the scoreboard behind the Announcer showing 34:0.

“The result is already decided. Once our duel ends, I’m dissolving the Geumcheom-dan.”

“You’re… dissolving the Geumcheom-dan?”

Garon’s hands trembled. He clearly hadn’t considered dissolution as a possibility.

“You think dissolution will happen so easily!”

“The head of the house is watching, and the witness is the Heavenly Sword Master. It’s entirely possible.”

“Ah….”

“If your Jinmu Hall master doesn’t step in, there’s nothing stopping it. And it seems he has no intention of intervening.”

Perhaps because of what happened with Rayden, Valdemar, the master of Jinmu Hall, remained motionless with his arms crossed.

“You….”

The aura emanating from Garon became visibly vivid. A suffocating pressure crushed down upon my entire body.

Roooar!

I resonated the ring of fire and calmly received Garon’s energy wave.

“This is your last chance. If you can’t kill me here, the Geumcheom-dan is dissolved.”

“Provoking at a time like this—you’re truly out of your mind.”

“You can’t pull off something like this without losing your sanity.”

I continued, gesturing toward the Gwangpung Order members.

“Those bastards have been driven mad for three months because of you. Now it’s time they receive the final price for that.”

“That’s not it.”

“We went mad because of you….”

“Demon….”

I ignored the strange sound coming from behind.

“In any case, come at me with full force from the start so I don’t hear any excuses about carelessness.”

Raon flicked his wrist, gripping the Heavenly Sword.

“That’s not something you need to worry about. Carelessness is the word I hate most.”

Garon stepped forward, grinding his teeth.

“Wait, just a moment! This match is supposed to be a unit leader duel!”

The Announcer shook his head as he squeezed between the powerful auras. He was a man of considerable responsibility.

“Ah, I’m injured, so Raon is standing in for me.”

Rimer, eating strawberries beside him, smiled brightly.

“Well, I… ”

The Announcer’s eyes widened. Looking at someone who appeared perfectly fine, his expression turned exasperated.

“Since both have agreed, ignore that fool and proceed as planned.”

Glen nodded as if he didn’t care much.

“Ah, understood.”

The Announcer wiped the cold sweat trickling down his forehead and lowered his hand.

“Then please prepare yourselves, both of you.”

“I’m ready.”

“Start already.”

Raon and Garon nodded in acknowledgment.

“Then let the final match begin!”

The moment the referee raised his hand and stepped back, azure flames erupted across Garon’s blade. A magnificent aura blazing and crackling with intensity—the hallmark of a Master’s power.

Whoooosh!

As if to prove his resolve to leave nothing to chance, Garon tore through the space in a single breath and thrust his blade, now wreathed in that formidable aura.

Crackle!

Even facing that aura laden with such lethal killing intent, my eyes remained steady and unwavering.

‘Now.’

I extended my left foot the instant before that aura could graze my throat. My first step shot forward like a flash of light. The refined Taewhwa First Step flowed like moonlight, deflecting the aura aside.

Thud!

The exchange continued. My swift footsteps cut through the air like a gale, bringing me behind Garon’s position.

Screech!

I leveled the Heavenly Sword at Garon’s throat, and he trembled without managing to react, his back still turned toward me.

“H-how is this possible…?”

“Already finished.”

“I-I let my guard down! I haven’t even shown my true strength yet…!”

“Didn’t you say you despise the word ‘carelessness’ more than anything?”

“Ugh…!”

Confronted with his own words, Garon clenched his teeth without finding a response.

“You claim to be different from your brother, but there’s no difference at all.”

I chuckled softly and struck Garon’s face with the fist gripping the Heavenly Sword.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash like a drum bursting, Garon was sent flying backward and dropped to one knee.

“Ptui…!”

Garon clutched his sunken cheek and spat out two teeth.

“Quite sturdy, aren’t you?”

I’d struck with full force, yet only two teeth came loose—it seemed that reaching Master rank truly did improve one’s durability.

“Why didn’t you finish it?”

“I gave your brother a chance too. It’s only fair I give you one as well.”

“Hah, you’ll regret not finishing this moment for the rest of your life. No—you won’t have time to regret it, because you’ll die here!”

Garon bit his lip and raised his sword. Unlike before, he abandoned his impatience and lowered his stance. A tension flickered in his eyes—no longer regarding me as an inferior opponent, but as an equal.

“Hah….”

I slowly regulated my breathing.

‘Yes. This is it.’

My skin trembled at the killing intent Garon radiated. There was no meaning in fighting a Master who held back or one caught off guard—I needed to defeat a Master who fought with everything he had. Now the real battle begins.

-That spirit, pursuing only strength.

Wrath nodded.

-Indeed, you truly deserve the name of a demon….

‘Once this is over, we’ll eat something delicious. Now be quiet.’

-….

I silenced Wrath’s muttering and positioned the Celestial Sword before me. This was a moment that demanded absolute focus.

Whoooooosh!

I activated my body by operating the Mana Circulation and Ring of Fire at their peak. Crimson flames blazed along the blade of the Celestial Sword, their clarity rivaling that of sword energy itself.

‘I need to dismantle his swordsmanship.’

Garon’s swordsmanship was an ascending martial art that blended ornate and versatile variable techniques with heavy strikes that devoured space itself. To reach him, I had to break his transformations and distort his weight.

Boom!

With rough footsteps, Garon vanished from my sight. A flesh-tearing aura of energy came from my right. I leaned my upper body back.

Whoooosh!

Strong energy grazed just above my forehead, and the severed strands of hair melted away.

Crash!

The assault continued. I deflected the sword strike descending from above with the Gwangya Sword.

Boom!

Blade met blade. Aura collided with aura, and crimson sparks erupted in rapid succession.

I furrowed my brow, feeling the tremor run through my wrists.

His realm was on par with the 7th Apostle.

Garon’s aura was comparable to the 7th Apostle I’d faced before. But unlike that encounter, he was fighting with his full strength—making him far more dangerous. A single clash had already shaken my breathing.

Still, I could endure far better than before.

If we continued clashing, I would eventually sustain internal injuries, but my body and martial technique had grown considerably since my encounter with the 7th Apostle. This was a far more manageable situation.

“I told you. You’ll come to regret not finishing me off from the start.”

Garon raised his sword, aura blazing around the blade, his eyes narrowing with intensity.

“This is the difference between a Sword Master and a swordsman. You cannot defeat me.”

His massive thighs exploded with power as he shattered the ground beneath him, charging forward.

“Now there’s no room for carelessness!”

“Now there’s nothing to let our guard down about!”

“I don’t care.”

Raon smiled coldly as he stepped into the Taewhabo stance. He slipped past Garon’s formidable aura that tore through space itself by a paper-thin margin, then whipped the Gwangah Sword across his face.

“There’s no meaning in this duel unless I defeat someone like you.”

What I needed was irrefutable proof that I, as an Expert, had defeated a Master. That was the reason for this confrontation.

“You bastard!”

Garon retrieved his sword and brought it before his face.

Clang!

Perhaps because his timing was delayed, the impact was less severe despite the collision of auras.

‘That means….’

If I moved at my own pace, I wouldn’t be overwhelmed by his aura.

“You damn fool!”

Garon burst through my space in a single motion and brought his sword crashing down. The blade, multiplied as if into six, scattered the rain of aura.

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch!

Immense pressure crushed my shoulders, and my legs groaned under the strain. It was a sword pressure designed to suppress movement.

‘Woo Chung Sword.’

The subtleties of the Woo Chung Sword that Garon had mastered were unmistakably evident.

Boom!

Raon stepped into the Taehwa First Step. Crossing the space, I reached behind Garon. Toward his heart, I unleashed the Manhwa Technique’s Rotating Heaven.

Whoooosh!

The moment the flame blade spinning like a saw was released, Garon’s sword flashed. The Rotating Heaven melted against the barrier formed by his aura. Despite his crude nature, his martial foundation was solid.

“I’ll admit you’re fast as a rat, but your sword won’t work on me!”

“That’s precisely why I stand here.”

My advantage over Garon lay in footwork. I had to maximize the Taehwa Step to drive my blade through his defenses.

Boom!

I stepped into the Taehwa Second Step. My vision narrowed for an instant, then expanded, and Garon’s eyes came into view.

“What—!”

Toward his startled shoulder, I thrust the Gwang A Sword. The Heavenly Sword pierced through Garon’s defense, which was wrapped in thick aura, and slashed his shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Garon let out a groan, his brow furrowing. Though it was merely a flesh wound, he seemed flustered as he raised his sword and retreated.

My eyes gleamed. Rather than advancing, his retreat presented the perfect opportunity to sustain my offensive. I unleashed a barrage of Radiant Sword strikes toward the opening that had formed at Garon’s waist.

Crash! Boom! Boom!

Each collision of blade against blade erupted like an explosion, the deafening roar reverberating across the arena. Fragments of aura scattered from the detonating shockwaves tore at flesh and uniform alike, yet I did not relent.

Hiss!

Whoosh!

Garon retreated again, and I advanced once more.

Crackle!

Garon’s pupils trembled like waves struck by the sea, confronted by my wild, unyielding gaze that refused to yield even to the overwhelming aura.

“How… how can a mere swordsman…!”

“Aura isn’t invincible.”

I smiled faintly. Aura was certainly a formidable martial art, but it was far from invincible. I wove consecutive flowing sword techniques to deflect Garon’s assault, then drove the Radiant Sword home.

‘Though the impact is hardly negligible.’

My stomach was already beginning to churn. Even with a physique and technique that transcended human limits, it was impossible to completely nullify the devastating power of aura.

“Haaah!”

I couldn’t afford to show weakness, even if the strain was unbearable. Biting my tongue, I pressed forward against Garon.

“Ugh!”

Garon’s instability intensified. He seemed unable to believe he was being pushed back.

“You’ve never fought anyone stronger than yourself, have you?”

“What?”

“I can smell it.”

My eyes flashed with the same luminous hue as the Manyahwa Orb.

“The stench of a coward who’s only ever faced the weak.”

“Shut your mouth!”

Garon snarled and swung his blade. Aura spread like rain, sealing off every available space. Tremendous force pressed down upon my body from all directions.

Gritting my teeth!

I clenched my molars firmly. The Heavenly Sword in my grip rotated with elegant precision, tracing a magnificent arc.

Manyahwa Orb: Ten Flames.

Crimson Bloom.

Flower buds erupted from silver trajectories, their petals unfurling to paint the Sparring Arena in crimson.

Roooaaarrr!

Flaming petals and the aura devouring space collided head-on, birthing a colossal inferno that swept across the arena.

Sizzzzle!

I grasped at my reeling consciousness and wielded the Ten Thousand Flower Technique with extreme precision. Ferocious flames surged forward, engulfing the aura. My strength faltered, but my momentum remained unbroken.

Whoooosh!

I drove Garon backward and twisted my wrist. The sword aura of Frost Lotus, infused with extreme speed, slashed across his chest. A shallow wound, yet unmistakably severe—crimson blood dripped steadily from the gash.

“Tch…”

Garon clenched the flowing blood in his fist, gnashing his teeth. His eyes gleamed with spectral malice.

“I’ll tear you to shreds without a trace!”

Garon drew forth a visibly tangible aura and stomped the ground. His overwhelming force surged through the fractured earth.

“Die!”

He charged forward at a terrifying speed, bringing his sword down in a devastating arc. The curved blade of his aura multiplied into ten in an instant, and tremendous pressure crashed down upon my limbs. The weight was suffocating—I couldn’t move properly. This must have been the true power of the Ox-Charge Sword.

‘I can’t engage him directly.’

I executed the Heavenly Harmony Step and the Second Step in succession, distancing myself from Garon’s domain. There was no way I could deflect the endless barrage of sword strikes raining down. I had to evade while searching for an opening.

“Where are you going!”

But Garon was a Master-tier swordsman as well. He pursued me with extreme reflexes, bringing his blade down once more.

Whoosh!

The wavering blade tore across my chest. My uniform split open, and blood erupted from the wound.

Crackle!

A bolt of aura-infused steel surged upward, aiming for my throat.

Clang!

I pushed off the ground with my footwork, retreating backward. The moment Garon’s blade struck earth, I lunged forward again, unleashing the Radiant Sword in a vicious sweep.

Clang! Crash! Clang!

I countered Garon’s aura with swordsmanship technique, raw strength, and footwork, continuously weaving the Ring of Fire around us.

‘This is the only way to win.’

Breaking through Garon’s full-force aura and inflicting a wound was impossible. I needed to pierce through that barrier of energy and drive either the Flame Dragon Technique or the Frost Chain into him to have any chance of victory.

Which meant I had to grasp the flow and rhythm of that supreme sword technique—the Righteous Charge Sword.

Whoosh!

Raon stamped the Harmonious Steps with intensity, evading the relentless sword strikes by mere paper-thin margins.

In a situation where a single mistake or misjudgment could cost me my limbs, I charged forward instead.

The aura grazed my cheek and drew blood. My uniform tattered and burned, yet I pressed on without hesitation. My crimson eyes held nothing but the trajectory and breathing pattern of the Righteous Charge Sword.

‘Right side.’

Garon’s blade coming from the right barely grazed my shoulder.

‘This time, below.’

The aura surging up like flames from below carved across my shin.

‘Shallow, but visible.’

Perhaps because the Hundred Fragrant Sword—the foundation of the Righteous Charge Sword—and countless martial techniques from the Gwangpung Order had accumulated in my mind and heart, the breathing and flow of the sword technique Garon unleashed through gritted teeth began to slowly become clear to my eyes.

‘Left side.’

Horizontal sword strikes rained down, targeting my left chest. Three blades, but only one was real.

Clang!

I lowered my stance and turned Heavenly Sword sideways, deflecting the aura.

‘Lower left again.’

A faster and more ferocious aura thrust toward my left thigh, fiercer than before.

Boom!

I withdrew my foot and pressed forward. Flames dancing across Heavenly Sword spun violently, shattering through Garon’s aura barrier.

‘I’m becoming familiar with it.’

As Garon’s swordsmanship became recognizable to my eyes, I could now evade his attacks even at close range.

‘It resonates.’

Countless martial techniques poured forth from my mind, responding to my heartbeat. The techniques and formations I had observed, felt, and countered so far played freely, dissecting Garon’s every sword movement.

Whoosh!

Whether it was the blade targeting my head, the aura multiplying into ten strikes, or the technique attempting to slash my body apart—I evaded them all without a single wound.

But.

‘Something is missing.’

I evaded Garon’s attacks using the mystical footwork of Taehua Protection, yet the sensation persisted that it wasn’t enough. My chest seemed to cry out even as I dodged—reach out, it demanded. Strike with the blade.

‘Why can’t I?’

I hadn’t yet found the opening to pierce through Garon’s overwhelming aura, yet the Ring of Fire urged me forward. It screamed for me to thrust the sword.

“Die!”

Garon dropped his blade vertically. A terrifying crushing weight descended, stripped of flourish and laden with raw force.

‘Let’s see then….’

I trusted the Ring of Fire and stepped into the Taehua Six Steps. Moving with the softest of footfalls, I unfurled the Yeonseong Swordsmanship.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

Solidity rising from my legs flowed into the suppleness of my wrists, channeling through the white blade. The flawless technique of the Heavenly Sword perfectly redirected his ferocious aura, and I unleashed a lightning-swift counterattack toward Garon’s waist.

Splurt!

Garon gasped and staggered backward, clutching his waist. Crimson blood poured from the wound piercing through his defense.

Gulp.

I swallowed hard.

‘Is this Tae Hwa Bo?’

The Ring of Fire did not lie. By harmonizing Tae Hwa Bo with my swordsmanship, the impact diminished dramatically compared to before.

“Krraaaaaaah!”

Garon gritted his teeth. He raised his sword toward the heavens and detonated every ounce of aura he possessed. The blade of energy that soared skyward multiplied into dozens of forms, engulfing the Sparring Arena.

‘This is Dae Jung Woo.’

The final technique of the Woo Chung Sword. A brutal technique that ensnared the entire space with aura to suppress movement before shredding the opponent to pieces.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

A colossal wall of aura surged forward. There was nowhere to escape.

Thump!

As I deliberated on how to defend, my heart—resonating with the Ring of Fire—spoke.

Now is the time to advance.

Raon trusted in the martial arts he had cultivated and adjusted his grip on the Heavenly Sword.

A resonant hum echoed through the air.

In that state of extreme concentration, I could see the motes of mana scattering through the void.

Contained within them was Glen Zigheart from that night three months ago.

[I created the Heavenly Sword Technique to suit myself. Learn my Heavenly Sword Technique, but complete your own.]

Those words, which had merely brushed past me, now struck like lightning in my mind.

‘My own Heavenly Sword Technique.’

Now I understood.

Those words didn’t mean to create an entirely new Heavenly Sword Technique.

They meant to harmonize the Heavenly Sword Technique with my own swordsmanship to maximize the power of my blade.

A tremendous force erupted.

Raon stepped into the True Footwork. With movements as sharp as spear and blade, I drew the Heavenly Sword back.

The ground trembled violently.

I detonated every ounce of the Myriad Flame Technique’s energy remaining in my dantian. Above the silver-white blade, flames blazed forth like the radiance of the sun itself.

Myriad Flame Technique, Tenth Flame.

Flame Dragon Seal.

The flame dragon’s roar pierced through the heart of the azure tidal wave.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————