The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 233

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

Chapter 233

Darkness enveloped everything.
As if I had squeezed my eyes shut with all my strength, the world before me had turned pitch black.

I narrowed my eyes to slits.

‘Is this Dogyae’s Sword Realm?’

Dogyae’s true name was Harrian Zigheart. He originally belonged to the Elder Council and was a supreme master far beyond the level of a Master, so it wasn’t strange for him to use the Sword Realm.

‘But….’

I never expected he could create a Sword Realm like this.

This world where I couldn’t see even an inch ahead was quiet and serene, like the depths of the ocean. It was far removed from the chaotic personality Dogyae displayed when gambling or engaging in drinking contests.

‘I can’t gauge his position.’

Not only sight, but smell, hearing, and touch detected nothing.

‘I have no choice.’

I deployed my aura perception, which I had come to rely on more than sight these days, by channeling my aura.

“Huh?”

I swallowed dryly.

‘What is this….’

My aura perception wouldn’t move. The aura that left my body didn’t extend outward but scattered like smoke. When I tried again, the aura that had left my body remained completely immobile, like a stone.

‘Is it because of this space?’

It was clear that this dark Sword Realm was blocking my aura perception.

‘Then.’

I channeled the essence of the Fragrant Sound Technique into the Celestial Sword, painting the blade crimson with flames. Unlike when I wielded my aura, there was no trembling whatsoever.

‘A barrier that only blocks aura perception.’

The other four senses remained unaffected.

Dogyae’s Sword Realm appeared to have the effect of drastically diminishing aura perception alone.

‘Fascinating.’

I had sensed it before when Rimer defeated Gwahyeolgwi, but the Sword Realm Manifestation was truly an otherworldly power.

-A peculiar barrier indeed. The seams are crude, yet the interior is densely packed, it is.

Wrath nodded with his arms crossed, his tone brimming with intrigue.

-This king shall resolve it for thee. Let us finish quickly and partake in some bead ice cream….
‘No.’

I shook my head firmly.

-Crude it may be, yet that assessment comes from this king’s standards. It would take thee considerable time to dismantle and escape, it would.
‘I have to do this myself.’

This was different from gambling or drinking contests. I could only stand confidently before Dogyae if I earned recognition through my own martial prowess.

‘It won’t take long. Stay inside.’
-Tsk. Such needless stubbornness.

Wrath clicked his tongue once before retreating back into the bracelet.

‘He definitely said escape.’

Dogyae had told me to escape from his world, yet I could see neither a door nor any method of escape. I had no idea how I was supposed to get out.

“Sigh.”

Raon calmed his breathing and grasped the Jechen Sword.

‘Moving first isn’t wise.’

His vision was swallowed by darkness, his aura sense was useless, and he’d stepped into what was essentially his opponent’s home turf. The situation was far too disadvantageous—moving now would be the worst possible decision.

‘And yet….’

He had to move.

Dogyae was certainly reading his reactions. Standing motionless and offering himself as a target was worse than moving cautiously to understand this space.

He lowered his stance to strike at any moment and began walking slowly forward. He reduced his stride to a quarter of normal, advancing with the deliberate pace of a tortoise.

Five steps. Ten steps. And thirty steps.

Until he reached the edge of the black world, there were no obstacles, no attacks. This dark space was completely empty.

‘What in the….’

Raon’s brow furrowed. The situation deviated so sharply from his expectations that unease crawled down his spine.

Where had Dogyae gone? Why wasn’t he attacking? What was he supposed to do to escape?

His mind grew tangled with the same questions.

‘Should I try breaking the barrier itself?’

He considered destroying the space itself with Frost Bloom, Flame Dragon Binding, or Heavenly Spear, but immediately shook his head. If he channeled that much power and Dogyae appeared to ambush him, he’d have no way to respond.

In this situation, all he could do was move while remaining vigilant.

Unable to use his aura sense, he relied solely on his five senses, and the sustained tension made his head throb. The darkness filling his surroundings created the illusion of phantom shapes.

Clatter.

Just as he returned to his starting position with that tediously slow stride, he heard something fall to the ground. Familiar. The sound of three dice rolling across a table.

After the sound ceased, five, three, and six appeared dimly on the ground before vanishing—fourteen eyes total.

“Fourteen?”

As I watched the ground where the die’s markings had vanished, the darkness before me split like a wave, and a towering silhouette emerged from the shadows.

A swordsman with wild, dark hair swept behind his ears and chiseled muscles like stone—Dogyae Harrian Zigheart.

“Young and fearless, it seems.”

Dogyae tilted his chin upward with a smirk.

“Choosing to move here of all places.”
“What was that die just now?”

I loosened my grip on the Heavenly Sword’s scabbard, ready to draw at any moment.

“That’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself.”

Dogyae curled his lips into a grin and raised his sword to an overhead guard.

“Now, survive however you can!”

He crushed the earth beneath him and charged forward. A dark aura clung to the blade descending from overhead toward my waist.

Clang!

I channeled the Radiant Sword’s essence through the Heavenly Sword and unleashed it like a tempest. The shockwave erupting from both blades felt as though it would tear the skin from my body.

“Ugh!”

I endured the pain and stepped forward with my left foot, bringing the Heavenly Sword—gleaming crimson—down in a middle strike.

Boom!

The immense weight behind the strike sent Dogyae sliding backward as if on ice.

‘I must press forward.’

Dogyae was a master far above my level. I had to capitalize decisively while I held the momentum.

“Ugh!”

A sharp, searing pain erupted from my waist as I pivoted to unleash the Fragrant Sound Technique. I glanced down. Blood dripped steadily from the long gash splitting my uniform.

‘What…?’

I’d blocked it. I was certain of it.

The unexpected turn clouded my vision. My defense had been flawless—I’d intercepted every blade strike—yet blood now flowed from my waist. It made no sense.

“Can’t even defend properly!”

Dogyae rushed forward with a chilling laugh. The sword thrust he drove ahead multiplied into ten, each targeting a vital point across my entire body.

‘Illusory Blade!’

I’d heard that Dogyae’s signature technique was the Illusory Blade—conjuring phantoms with his sword. It was no rumor. All ten blades emanated an ominous, suffocating presence without exception.

Boom!

I planted my foot firmly. The scorching energy I drew up from my knees surged through my lower dantian and flowed into the Heavenly Sword. The brilliant flames dancing along the blade spread in a fan-like arc, forming a circular barrier of pure force.

Clang clang clang clang!

The collision of blade and barrier unleashed a tremendous shockwave. Through the rippling darkness, Dogyae staggered back one step while I was driven back five.

“Tch…”

I lowered my gaze, my brow furrowing. This time, my left forearm and right thigh had split open, spraying blood.

‘How…?’

Dogyae had indeed targeted those spots, and my defense had been perfect. I’d blocked every visible sword strike, and his blade had never touched my skin—yet wounds had appeared. I couldn’t comprehend it.

Drip, drip.

Blood fell from my waist, forearm, and thigh, creating ripples on the ground. My confusion seemed to manifest itself visibly.

“Bewildered?”

Dogyae twirled his sword with a smile that seemed to reclaim the clarity he’d lost during gambling and drinking.

“You’re probably thinking: ‘I blocked it clearly with my aura and sword, so why did I get cut?'”
“Would you give me a hint if I asked?”
“I couldn’t do that.”

Dogyae raised his sword again.

“The fool who gets deceived is the real idiot!”

A darkness-like black light engulfed Dogyae’s blade. The extending black edge unfurled like a kaleidoscope, filling my entire vision.

‘This isn’t just an illusory sword technique.’

Even as Dogyae wielded the illusory technique, he packed tremendous power into it—far beyond what a strong sword should contain. The resonant ringing that shook the Continent was no illusion after all.

Uuuuong!

I drew the Mana Circle’s energy to its peak. Leaning forward, I unleashed the Heavenly Sword that had been held back, its blade igniting with flames that surged like a tidal wave, releasing the roar of a fire dragon.

Kwaddddduk!

A thunderous crash erupted as if metal were being crushed, and I was sent flying backward.

“Ugh….”

I let out a strained groan and clutched my shoulders. Crimson blood gushed from both my left and right shoulders.

‘That was too close.’

The shoulders were mere inches from the neck. If I’d been pushed back even slightly—left or right—my head would have been severed.

I lifted my head to look at Dogyae. His eyes gleamed with the ferocity of a starving wolf. There was no mercy in them whatsoever. If I couldn’t uncover this space’s secret, I might truly die.

“Your eyes are trembling with fear.”

He tilted his chin up, savoring his dominant position in this moment.

“You still can’t read people, can you?”
“Stop bluffing and give up. You can’t escape this place.”
“Give up? What’s that?”

I straightened my posture. Slipping the Cyan-Crimson Ring that Dorian had returned to me onto my finger, I offered a faint smile.

“Enough talk. Come at me.”

*

*

*

“W-what is this now?”

Dorian swallowed hard as he stared at the black, spherical space that had consumed Raon and Dogyae.

“Black Blade. It’s Dogyae’s Sword Realm Incarnation.”

Rimer crossed his arms and cleared his throat.

“W-Sword Realm Incarnation? Dogyae can use that?”
“Why are you so shocked? He’s originally from the Elder Council anyway. Of course he can use it.”

He shrugged as if it were nothing special.

“Then why has someone from the Elder Council been gambling and drinking while wandering the Continent?”
“Because he’s not affiliated with Zigheart. Or rather, it’s more accurate to say he’s half-affiliated.”
“Huh?”

Dorian’s jaw dropped. The story had spiraled beyond comprehension.

“Why isn’t he affiliated with Zigheart?”
“That… I don’t know either?”

Rimer paused for a moment before shaking his head.

“Wait, isn’t this a serious situation right now? This is a test to evaluate combat ability, and he’s already used Sword Realm Incarnation! He’s clearly seeking revenge for the gambling and drinking!”

Dorian gestured as if to draw his sword, insisting they had to rescue him quickly.

“Hold on.”

Rimer shook his head and stopped Dorian’s hand as he reached for his blade.

“Dogyae isn’t so petty. His anger would have dissipated the moment he faced Raon’s sword. He has no intention of truly attacking Raon.”
“Then why did he use the Sword Realm Manifestation….”
“Even though he’s escaped the shackles of Zigheart, his heart never truly left.”

Rimer closed his eyes with a smile tinged with a sigh.

“He wants to see it. What kind of man will be Zigheart’s future.”
“Ah….”
“Raon will earn Dogyae’s acknowledgment and pierce through the Sword Realm with his own strength, so trust and wait.”

He nodded with a solemn gaze.

“Unit Leader….”

Dorian’s expression grew moved as he patted his coin purse.

“As expected, you always think so deeply….”
“Besides, if we stop now, the three-way agreement breaks. Then the gambling falls apart, and my future plans go up in smoke!”

He clasped his hands together before the black curtain and knelt down.

“Divine Raon! Grant me a golden rain!”
“….”

Dorian’s round eyes filled with exasperation.

*

*

*

I wiped away the blood trickling down my cheek with the back of my hand.

‘I’ve taken quite the beating.’

There wasn’t a single spot on my body untouched by blood. The internal injuries weren’t severe, but the hemorrhaging was heavy enough to make my vision swim.

“I told you so.”

Dogyae smirked with his sword resting across his shoulder.

“I said to surrender before you got hurt.”
“That’s quite a malicious smile you’re wearing.”
“It’s refreshing to see that composure finally drain from your face.”

He stretched his grin even wider, clearly savoring the moment.

“Hah…”

I exhaled a turbid breath and lowered my head. Blood streamed from my shoulders in rivulets, pooling on the ground. Even as I used my aura to staunch the bleeding, there were far too many wounds to seal them all.

“If you accumulate any more injuries, you’ll bleed out and die.”
“It’s fine. My recovery is faster than most.”
“Your lips are trembling as you prattle on. That’s enough. Surrender.”

Dogyae pointed his sword at my heart and surged his killing intent forward. A formidable aura laced with murderous intent became thorns that pricked at my skin.

“I don’t know what that is.”

I smiled faintly and raised my sword. Crimson flames erupted along the blade of the Heavenly Sword, unleashing a magnificent sword resonance.

“You fool!”

Dogyae disappears into the darkness. Before he can take a breath, a powerful wave erupts from the left. Dogyae’s blade spreads wide like a beast’s maw and shoots forward as if to tear apart the upper body.

Ching!

I held my breath and drew a single line with the Heavenly Sword. The fastest line of all. A blue radiance that split the horizon of darkness swept across his gaping blade.

Crash!

Seo-ri Yeon and Dogyae’s phantom blades collided, scattering distorted aura in all directions.

Screech!

I was pushed back by Dogyae’s overwhelming force, my feet sliding across the ground. Like a leaf dancing on the wind, I pivoted smoothly and thrust my sword backward.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal erupted in rapid succession, and a black blade hidden in the darkness revealed itself.

“As expected.”

I pushed away the black blade that had been aiming for my chest with the Heavenly Sword.

“So you’ve been hiding such a clever trick.”

I laughed coldly and tilted my head to the side.

“No wonder I’m getting cut even when defending properly.”

The reason wounds appeared despite my solid defense was because of this blade. It had been slashing me while hidden in the darkness, emerging whenever I was pushed back or moved.

“Finding one blade won’t help you now.”

Even though his trick had been exposed, Dogyae’s smile didn’t fade.

“Your senses are remarkably dull for someone who can’t use aura. You’re not what I heard about.”

He approached with a thick sneer on his face.

“With such foolish senses, you’ll end up dying a pathetic death….”
“Fourteen.”

At my quiet voice, Dogyae’s words cut off abruptly.

“There are fourteen blades hidden within you. Black blades that only appear when you swing your sword.”
“Y-you… how did you….”

Dogyae’s confident smile tore like paper. Yet his expression carried a slight awkwardness compared to usual.

“To resort to deception even within the Sword Realm—in a way, that commands my respect.”
“Hmph! It doesn’t matter if you know.”

Dogyae furrowed his brow and leveled his blade.

“Evading that sword while fighting me is impossible!”

His massive frame became a streak of light, hurtling forward. The dark blade twisted in a curve, slashing at both arms and legs.

Zing!

I wielded the Flowing Sword’s subtlety, striking down both blade strikes simultaneously as they surged forward like a serpent striking prey.
Even as I maximized the softness of my technique, I couldn’t fully dissipate the force embedded in Dogyae’s blade, and I was pushed back once more.

Thud!

I drew my shoulders inward and tucked my knees back, landing softly on the ground. Despite the collision with Dogyae, not a single wound marked my body.

“What?”

Dogyae’s jaw trembled as he watched me rise unscathed.

“How… how is this possible…?”
“The blade vanishes and reappears, but its position never changes.”
“You… you memorized all of that? While fighting?”
“My blood told me.”

I adjusted my grip on the Heavenly Sword, my palm crimson with dried blood.

“I’ve grasped what the Sword Realm truly is.”

A gleam of light kindled in my crimson eyes, illuminating the damp darkness.

“Now let us begin in earnest.”

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