The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 216

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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 216

I held my blade against Gwahyeolgwi while hoisting the Thousand Flower Demon upward.

‘I need to finish this without causing unnecessary damage.’

According to Roji, there were four Masters in total. With Gwahyeolgwi before me, that meant three Masters remained in the Forest. To rescue the Saint from them, I had to conserve as much strength as possible here.

-Do you truly believe that’s possible?

Wrath let out a scornful snort.

-Surrender your body to me. I shall freeze every worm that dares covet my flesh and all those luminescent maggots writhing in that forest.

He extended his round hand toward me.

-That is the only way to save your benefactor.
‘You said before that if you entered my body, I’d go berserk.’
-That, well, that’s true, but I’ll regain control quickly! If I just keep my mind in check….
‘Stop spouting nonsense and stay back.’

When I met Sloth, Wrath had explained that his body and soul had been separated for so long that entering my flesh would trigger an uncontrollable rampage.
If I surrendered my body to him now, Sheryl might survive, but Pedrick and the child in that Forest would surely perish.

“Haaa….”

Pale breath like cigarette smoke poured from Gwahyeolgwi’s mouth.

“Your confidence is excessive. It must stem from being born into a prestigious family and overflowing with talent.”

His pupils gleamed red with jealousy and murderous intent.

“Even after reaching Master rank, that inferiority complex hasn’t faded. How pitiful.”

I tilted my chin upward and let out a mocking laugh.

“Shut your mouth!”

Gwahyeolgwi unleashed a piercing shriek as his fist hurtled forward, a torrent of crimson aura blazing with murderous intent. The very air shattered under the assault.

Whoooosh!

I watched Gwahyeolgwi’s fist eclipse my entire field of vision, then withdrew my left foot at the final moment. Even without contact, the shockwave threatened to tear through my skin.

‘The raw power is no weaker than the Gwahyeolgwi I faced before. The aura quality is similar too.’

His fist bore striking resemblance to the previous Gwahyeolgwi I’d fought in Sebu Village.

‘Then what about the next attack?’

I retreated lightly and brought Jecheongeom downward. Gwahyeolgwi clung to me like a leech, swinging his entire forearm in a wide arc. His limb burned with crimson aura, leaving almost no space to evade.

‘Just as expected.’

The second attack followed the same pattern I’d witnessed from the previous Gwahyeolgwi. I arched my spine backward, perfectly slipping through the linear onslaught.

Clang!

I straightened my torso and channeled a cascade of Quick Sword strikes into Jecheongeom as it descended. The blade, glowing crimson-hot, became a beam of light that carved across Gwahyeolgwi’s forearm.

Splurt.

Blood dripped from the fissure in his armor. Gwahyeolgwi lowered his head, staring blankly at his own blood.

“Hah…”

I steadied my breathing and rotated my wrist.

‘Eden doesn’t know I’ve already fought a Gwahyeolgwi.’

That information gap could be the key to turning this battle in my favor.

“Impressive—dodging that and counterattacking in one motion.”

Merlin exhaled a deep breath of admiration.

“I was right about you. Raon. You must come with me.”

His voice was measured, yet beneath it flowed an insatiable hunger that could not be restrained.

“How fortunate you are to be blessed with such talent.”

Gwahyeolgwi slowly lifted his head. His crimson eyes twisted with madness and fury.

“To wield such talent, to earn renown, and to capture even his attention—how truly enviable!”

His momentum intensified with each breath. The aura blazing from his fists spread across his entire body.

“Now your blade shall never reach me!”

Gwahyeolgwi unleashed a roar like that of an ogre and charged forward. It was not a man rushing toward me, but a mountain itself bearing down with overwhelming force.

‘This technique again.’

I could never forget this attack—the one that had shattered my left arm when I failed to defend against it properly.

Thoom!

I stepped into the Harmony of Three Treasures. My movements, infused with gentleness, flowed like raindrops seeping between stones, allowing me to redirect Gwahyeolgwi’s charge.

“Curse you!”

Gwahyeolgwi instantly shifted direction and closed in again, extending both arms as if to crush me in his grasp.

Screech!

I stepped through the River Flow Method in rapid succession, slipping free from his grip before unleashing the Thousand Flower Technique at full power.

Thousand Flower Technique, Ten Flowers—
Flame Spirit.

Petals of flame bloomed from the silvered earth and descended upon Gwahyeolgwi, yet they could not pierce his aura and dissipated like mist.

“Did I not tell you!”

Gwahyeolgwi laughed with unhinged madness as he charged once more.

“Your sword won’t work on me!”

Gwahyeolgwi unleashed a barrage of fists like boulders. With each tremendous wave of energy, the air and earth shattered endlessly.

“Whoosh!”

I barely deflected or blocked Gwahyeolgwi’s punches, continuously retreating. Though it appeared to be a desperate crisis, my eyes remained perfectly steady.

‘Everything is proceeding as planned.’

Thanks to mastering all of the previous Gwahyeolgwi’s combat patterns, I could have evaded perfectly—yet I was deliberately acting as though I was narrowly escaping. There was only one reason: to slay Gwahyeolgwi with a single strike.

‘He’s still inexperienced.’

According to Demte’s testimony, Stain hadn’t possessed Gwahyeolgwi’s power for very long.

The fist force created through fighting spirit was formidable—surpassing even the 7th Apostle—but its mastery was clearly lacking. There were openings I could definitely exploit.

“Grrrgh!”

I unleashed the Myriad Heavens Swordsmanship in succession, making it abundantly clear that my attacks were ineffective against Gwahyeolgwi.

“I’m different from the 7th Apostle you fought! Your flames won’t work on me!”

Those words were identical to what the previous Gwahyeolgwi had said. As expected, they didn’t know I had fought the previous Gwahyeolgwi.

“Let’s end this!”

Gwahyeolgwi drove his right fist forward from where it had been drawn back. Fighting spirit swirled around the fist like a dragon ascending, creating a tremendous wave.

“Finally.”

I smiled as I watched the fighting spirit spreading so intensely it was hard to keep my eyes open.

‘It’s here!’

The wave of fighting spirit Gwahyeolgwi unleashed was the exact same fist strike that Rimer had split apart with his wind blades. Since I had witnessed it shatter before my eyes, I could immediately identify where the weakness lay.

Zing!

I extended the Heavenly Sword toward the minuscule opening, like a single brushstroke of blue paint across canvas. The azure light dwelling upon the blade’s edge tore through the void.

Crunch!

Gwahyeolgwi’s armor was torn asunder, and a torrent of blood erupted from his chest.

“You wretched creature!”

Gwahyeolgwi’s eyes bulged as though they might burst from their sockets. Even in his panic, he raised his right arm. It seemed he had instinctively sensed Seo Ryeon’s second slash coming.

‘I anticipated that too.’

I stomped the ground with all my might, reversing my grip on the Heavenly Sword that had reached my right side, then drew it down toward my left.

Boom!

The icy torrent of Seo Ryeon’s blade, traced along the first trajectory, interlocked with the silver light erupting from the opposite direction.

Crack!

The two sword strikes, unleashed simultaneously, pierced through Gwahyeolgwi’s energy and cleaved his heart asunder.

“Ugh… you… you…”

Gwahyeolgwi fell to his knees, clutching at his chest as blood fountained from the wound.

“Hah, I told you.”

I steadied my ragged breathing and looked down upon Gwahyeolgwi.

“Power obtained through sorcery is nothing at all.”
“I… I had talent…”

Gwahyeolgwi stretched out his arm one final time, but his hand never reached me—it fell to the earth instead.

Thud!

Strangely, the man who had abandoned his family, his comrades, and his lifelong rival to reach the Master realm fell defeated by a swordsman who had never attained it.

“Gwahyeolgwi…?”

Even Merlin hadn’t anticipated this turn of events—her mask’s grotesque expression hardened for the first time.

“Raon! You absolute madman!”

Sheryl too was startled, her narrow eyes widening so dramatically they appeared perfectly round.

“Heavenly Sword Master. Shall I proceed according to the orders you gave earlier?”

I held the Divine Celestial Sword tightly, my gaze fixed on Sheryl’s back.

“Yes! Go!”

She nodded sharply, as if urging me forward immediately.

“Go? Where! Absolutely not!”

Merlin, regaining her senses, clasped her hands together. Behind her, colossal magical circles resembling the sun and moon blossomed, and from them, countless spells erupted skyward.

“Seize him!”
“Don’t let him enter the Forest!”
“Roooaaarrr!”

That was merely the beginning. The green demons and red demons that had been holding back until now, along with the monsters, surged forward like a tidal wave.

“Raon. I told you to go. Why are you still standing there?”

Sheryl turned her head backward.

“But…”
“Do you still not know who I am?”

She smiled faintly and drew the sword strapped to her back.

“I am his first blade and his final shield.”

Two swords rose from a single scabbard. The White Sword and the Black Sword. Blades of starkly contrasting colors warped the darkness around them.

“The Black and White Swords! How do you possess them?!”

A scream tore from Merlin’s lips.

“Nothing shall pass behind me!”

The white blade pointed toward the earth, the black blade toward the heavens.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

The moment the gray radiance from the two blades stretched across heaven and earth, Merlin’s cascading magic dissolved like dust, and the Eden demons that had surged forward were swept away like sand caught in a tidal wave.

“I’ll give new orders.”

Sheryl, having erased all the magic and monsters that had filled her vision, pointed backward.

“Raon Zigheart. Rescue the Saint.”

*

*

*

Kwaaaang!

A tremendous shockwave shook the forest.

“Ugh….”

Pedrick, the saint of rags, staggered and was pushed back like a drunken man. The burlap sack he always wore had crumbled like dried leaves, losing all semblance of its form.

Damn it…

Pedrick stared at his trembling hands. Both his arms ached as if they were completely broken, and the strength drained from his legs that had been supporting his entire body. He felt like he would collapse right there if he let his guard down for even a moment.

“For an old body, you’re holding up pretty damn well.”

The ghost of Eden who inherited the power of the Gargoyle Lord, the Black Wing Demon, laughed wickedly while floating in the air.

“Don’t let your guard down. The Saint is still recovering his body.”

The Red Wolf Demon clad in Lycanthrope armor released a cold voice as he extended his claws. Crimson aura rippled across his black nails.

“Hngh!”

Pedrick forced aura into his trembling grip and unleashed his palm technique. A golden palm strike infused with the rotation of warrior’s spirit shot toward the gap between the two demons.

Boom!

The aura on the Red Wolf Demon’s claws erupted with tremendous wind pressure, shattering the palm strike. The aura was deployed with perfect timing in a linear trajectory—not a dirty trick, but the work of one who had mastered genuine martial arts.

“Is that all?”

The Black Wing Demon swept the air with the wings attached to his armor, deflecting the palm strike. The movement revealed the full majesty of a Gargoyle Lord who dominated the heavens.

“Hah…”

Pedrick exhaled with a furrowed brow. Though I was using Sylthia’s energy to recover from internal and external wounds, the damage from clashing forces was slow to heal. The longer the battle dragged on, the worse my losses became.

“Grrr!”

The Red Wolf Demon rushed forward in a wolf-like crouch. Terrifying speed. He closed the distance as if erupting from the earth itself, unleashing aura.

“Hehehehe!”

The Black Wing Demon circled through the air in the opposite direction of the Red Wolf Demon’s movement, targeting my back.

Boom!

Pedrick spread both hands and unleashed the Wall of Heaven technique. Condensed energy and aura clashed from my palms, erupting in a terrifying explosion.

“Kugh!”

Pedrick retreated, shielding Julius from the blast’s aftermath. In a one-on-one fight, I could have overwhelmed either of them, but facing both simultaneously was overwhelming.
Especially with the Red Wolf Demon pressing from the front while the Black Wing Demon exploited gaps from the air—it was infuriating.

‘And on top of that…’

There was one more opponent I had to contend with. The Evil Goat Demon leaning against the tree. For now, he remained still like a bystander, but the moment those two were in danger or disadvantaged, he would strike. I had to remember this was a three-against-one battle.

“Where are you looking!”

The Black Wing Demon plummeted vertically, thrusting his dagger downward. His wrist twisted like rubber, aiming for my neck with an eerie and unorthodox technique.

“Grrrrgh!”

The Red Wolf Demon did not remain idle either. He swept in from the left, his claws infused with an aura so formidable that blocking it was nearly impossible.

Whoooosh!

Pedrick drew upon Siltia’s power and brought his hands together as if in prayer. The wave of aura emanating from his clasped hands spread outward, repelling the auras of both the Black Wing Demon and the Red Wolf Demon. It was the Thousand Barriers technique of the Grand Master.

“Ughhhh!”
“Ungh….”

The Black Wing Demon and the Red Wolf Demon could not withstand the sudden rebound and were sent flying back like rubber balls.

Pedrick’s seasoned eyes gleamed for an instant. He did not miss the opening revealed by the Black Wing Demon, pushing off the ground and extending his palm strike.

Crash!

The Black Wing Demon, his waist grazed by the palm strike, crashed into the ground without managing to spread his wings.

‘I must end this now!’

Finally, an opportunity had arrived. I had to reduce their numbers here, even at great risk. Just as I was about to bring down my palm strike, brimming with power, a terrifying aura erupted from behind me. It was the momentum of the Red Wolf Demon, who had somehow caught up to my rear.

‘Damn it!’

If I pressed forward, I could kill the Black Wing Demon, but I would also die or suffer grievous wounds. I hesitated for a moment, uncertain whether to retreat or continue—but that was a catastrophic mistake.

For masters of the craft, such a fleeting instant stretched like an eternity.

The Red Wolf Demon sensed Pedrick’s delayed reaction and tore into that opening.

Screeeech!

Before Pedrick could turn around and assume a defensive stance, the Red Wolf Demon’s claws raked across his right chest and passed through.

“Ugh!”

Pedrick had no time to register the pain. The Black Wing Demon was already diving at him, unleashing a ferocious aura.

Boom!

I managed to avoid losing my head by hastily deploying a palm technique, but my body’s balance had collapsed catastrophically. Before I could even stem the bleeding, successive waves of aura came crashing down.

Crash! Kaboom!

Each clash with the aura felt like my chest was melting away. Severe internal injuries. I swallowed the blood rising up my throat again.

“Nngh….”

I couldn’t afford to panic, but the situation made composure impossible. My regrets were overwhelming, yet I had already crossed a river from which there was no return.

‘Still!’

For Julius behind me, who was covering his mouth without letting out a single scream, I couldn’t afford to give up.

Whoosh! Crash crash crash!

But the Red Wolf Demon and Black Wing Demon continued to force collisions, worsening my internal injuries and tightening the noose around my throat. They knew exactly how to pressure a cornered rat.

‘At this rate, I’m truly going to die.’

I had sustained internal and external injuries too severe to recover from during combat. I had to decide the outcome before I collapsed.

I deployed my footwork to avoid collisions as much as possible, but the Red Wolf Demon and Black Wing Demon relentlessly targeted my wounded areas.

‘Yes. Come on.’

This was exactly what I wanted. I was setting a trap—when they approached in their carelessness, I would use the final technique of the Grand Cloud Palm to sweep them both away in one strike.

Slash!

The Black Wing Demon, hidden behind the Red Wolf Demon, lunged forward, and my waist was torn open.

“Ugh!”

Pedrick staggered, a groan escaping his lips as his feet faltered. The Red Wolf Demon kicked off the ground and unleashed a projectile, while the Black Wing Demon surged forward alongside it, a dagger burning crimson-hot, baring its fangs in a grotesque grin.

‘Now!’

I opened my dantian and released all the energy I had condensed within my mana circuits in a single, catastrophic burst. It was the Heavenly Sword Master’s ultimate technique—Inferno Annihilation, capable of obliterating everything in its path.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

A tremendous explosion erupted, shaking the entire forest.

Kugugugugu!

Everything within my sight lay scorched and devastated, yet my expression remained grim.

“Tch….”

I clenched my teeth and looked up into the void. The Black Wing Demon hovered there, cradling the Red Wolf Demon, its grotesque smile still intact. Save for a few wounds, it remained remarkably unscathed.

“Old man. You’re showing your hand too clearly.”
“Even a saint cannot escape such circumstances.”

The Black Wing Demon let out a mocking laugh, while the Red Wolf Demon’s cold gaze betrayed its disappointment.

“Damn it….”

I bit my lips until they bled. Masters of their caliber would never fail to recognize desperation. The trap was not sprung upon these demons—it had ensnared me.

‘Empty.’

My dantian and mana circuits held nothing left.

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped me as death’s shadow crept ever closer.

‘Is this the end?’

I feel Julius’s gaze from behind me.

‘Even now, he must be biting his lips firmly, holding back his tears.’

The boy who endured his sobs and screams to the very end so as not to hinder the battle filled me with such pride.

‘I’m sorry.’

I can no longer keep my promise to visit Raon, nor the promise to escape this place together. I wanted to fight until the very end, but there is nothing left. I can only apologize to Julius.

“Now it ends. You held out better than expected.”
“I shall grant you a painless death, befitting the name of a saint.”
“Ah, how I hate this! I’ll tear you apart while you still draw breath!”
“Has your mind become as bestial as the monster’s hide you wear?”

The Black Wing Demon and the Red Wolf Demon approach slowly. Both of them were exhausted from expending considerable strength, but it was incomparable to my own depletion.

A deep, resonant roar echoed forth.

The two creatures showed no carelessness even now, unleashing their full power as crimson aura flooded my vision.

‘O God. I do not fear death.’

I bit my tongue and screamed inwardly—not a prayer, but a desperate cry.

‘Save only the child behind me! He is far too pure to remain with these wicked demons! Take this worn body instead—do with it as you will! Please, I beg you, spare only that child!’

I lived by the name of saint, yet I never truly believed in God. I regarded faith merely as a tool for healing, but now I prayed for the first time.

Yet nothing changed. It seems I am too late.

A deafening roar erupted.

Pedrick turned to face the aura that consumed his entire vision.

“Julius. I cannot keep my promise.”
“N-no, Saint….”
“Live on with strength.”

He offered a gentle smile to Julius, whose jaw trembled. Then he turned away and waited for his final moment.

But even if the gods had abandoned them, the thread of fate had not yet been severed.

A thunderous roar that seemed to shatter the earth accompanied a crystalline wind that swept across the battlefield.

Crimson and azure flashes intersected diagonally, tearing apart the clash between the Red Wolf Demon and the Black Wing Demon.

A man stood amid the flickering flames of battle. Tall. His flowing golden hair stirred memories of an old friend within Pedrick.

“Y-you are….”

He turned around. Those dignified crimson eyes—eyes he felt he had seen before—gleamed with profound recognition.

“It has been a long time.”

His final words made my heart surge with powerful emotion.

“I have come to repay a debt.”

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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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