The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 285

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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 285

I watched the 10th Apostle and Merlin, licking my lips.

“What are you two doing?”

I clashed the Heavenly Emperor Sword and the Soul Reaper Sword together, signaling them to fight quickly.

“Do we have time to waste? Come on, engage and finish this fast.”
“Hah!”
“Aah….”

The 10th Apostle’s fierce, predatory gaze cleared, and Merlin let out an enchanted, excited moan.

‘Now, how will this play out.’

I smiled leisurely, meeting the gazes of the two Grand Masters with ease.

-Of course it won’t work! Do you have no sense at all, you fool!

Wrath furrowed his brow as if that hardly qualified as speech.

‘The possibility is there.’
-You idiot! Those wretches are mere dust to the True Demon King, but they’re fairly strong in your world, aren’t they?
‘Well, that’s true.’
-And they’re allies, you say. Would beings who’ve reached that level be foolish enough to fight because of you? They’ll definitely try to take you with them some other way!
‘I don’t think so.’

I shook my head, observing the different emotions flickering in the eyes of the 10th Apostle and Merlin. This method wouldn’t work on other Omas, but it absolutely would on Eden and the White Blood Cult.

Because….

They were both insane.

Among the mad Omas, Eden and the White Blood Cult were half-crazy again on top of that. Whether allies or not, when the objectives of lunatics align, collision is inevitable.

“Merlin. You’re not actually going to follow his words, are you?”

The 10th Apostle steadied his wavering gaze before turning to look at Merlin.

“Huh? Ah, of course… I have to listen to him.”
“What?”
“I’ve decided to give that boy whatever he wants.”

Merlin’s lips curved into a viscous smile as she extended both hands. Behind her, magical circles of fire and water bloomed into existence, and the surrounding mana began to roil violently.

“Merlin!”

The 10th Apostle channeled white blood energy. His eyes blazed with a killing intent so palpable it was nauseating as he fixed his gaze upon her.

“Don’t you understand? This is a test.”

Merlin wagged her finger left and right.

“A test? What nonsense are you spouting!”
“A test to show your strength if you want to have me. Don’t you really understand that boy’s intention to go to the stronger one?”

She interpreted Raon’s thoughts as she pleased and accepted them as truth.

“Killing you would be simple if it means taking Raon with me.”

Crimson water surged from Merlin’s right hand while azure flames erupted from her left, both torrents launching directly at the 10th Apostle.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

The two streams of magic expanded in volume and force as they advanced, consuming half the cavern.

“This insane woman!”

The 10th Apostle stretched his hand toward the sky. Space split in two, and a pristine white spear materialized like falling snow, grasped firmly in his palm.

Ferocious blood energy erupting from the spearhead collided head-on with Merlin’s magic.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!

The tremendous impact twisted the cavern floor, and the ceiling crumbled like a sandcastle.

“If you don’t wish to fight, step back. I’ll graciously accept your defeat.”

Merlin unleashed four types of magic from a single hand, her laughter dripping with scorn.

“This is an order from the Cult Leader. Even if I must return to the embrace of the Blood God, I cannot stop.”

The 10th Apostle clenched his teeth and leveled his white spear forward.

“Then it’s decided.”

The magical circle that materialized behind Merlin swelled to twice its previous size. The mana she commanded amplified to a degree incomparable to before.

“Come at me with everything you have.”
“I’ll tear that mask from your face and savor your anguished screams.”

The 10th Apostle’s gaze transformed. Like a ferocious beast unleashed from its chains, madness flickered in his eyes—savage yet possessed of a terrible clarity.

Kwaaaaaaang!

Spear and magic collided. The shockwave from two monsters clashing shook all of Glancevil.

-What… what is this?

Wrath swallowed hard as he watched Merlin and the 10th Apostle clash in a torrent of brilliant light.

-Why in the world are those idiots fighting?!
‘The 10th Apostle said it just now. Because they’re insane.’

That was truly the only reason. Merlin and the 10th Apostle possessed strength that matched their fractured minds—their battle was inevitable.

‘Especially since Merlin is obsessed with me.’

Each time I saw her, that fanatical obsession grew deeper. It was obvious she would provoke the 10th Apostle to fight.

The 10th Apostle, for all his pretense of composure, remained a blood fiend that tore flesh from humans. Once his madness was triggered, his rampage was inevitable.

‘Should I show them something more entertaining?’

I smiled faintly as I called out to Merlin, who was simultaneously conjuring wind and flame magic.

“Merlin. If I wear Eden’s helmet, does my existence disappear?”
“Interested? You are! Just as I thought!”

Merlin turned to look back, her smile radiant. The old woman’s mask forming that expression was grotesque itself.

“No. You remain yourself. Only when you wear the helmet does something change slightly. You’ll understand what I mean the moment you try it once. You can become far stronger than you are now. I’ll make it so.”

She spoke in affectionate tones about how the mysterious power dwelling within the helmet would draw out latent potential.

“That’s a lie.”

The 10th Apostle dispelled Merlin’s magic and ground his teeth.

“The souls of captain-class monsters dwell within Eden’s helmet and mask. The moment you use them, you will lose your sense of self!”

He pushed Merlin back with a torrent of blood energy swirling around his spear as he continued.

“We are different. The Cult Leader can make you strong while remaining yourself. You need only accept the blood energy. Come with me. I will make you the strongest among the apostles….”
“That won’t do.”

Merlin conjured a semi-transparent space that absorbed the 10th Apostle’s spear strike, then smiled softly.

“There are indeed monster souls within the helmet, but you won’t necessarily be consumed. You could win. Besides, once you remove the helmet, you’re back to being Raon as usual. Nothing changes. You’ll simply gain a new and formidable power called spirit energy, that’s all.”

She blew a breath from her fingertip where a small wind had sprouted. The wind fragment, smaller than a fingernail, transformed into a massive waterspout that engulfed the 10th Apostle.

“Once you accept blood energy, you’ll live your entire life as a monster tearing human flesh, and you’re fine with that? Moreover, the White Blood Cult Master is human….”
“Silence!”
“Hehe.”

The 10th Apostle tore through the storm and advanced, bringing his spear down in a devastating strike. Merlin used Blink to retreat swiftly, then unleashed a barrage of magical bombardment scattering brilliant light.

Kwaaaaaang!

Merlin and the 10th Apostle fell silent once more, continuing their vicious assault as each sought to sever the other’s lifeline.

“Hmm.”

I narrowed my eyes as I reflected on what Merlin and the 10th Apostle had said.

‘So the helmet has the soul of a Monster dwelling within it…’

This could be useful.

With my current abilities, I’ve obtained valuable information I can leverage. I was truly grateful that both of them had lost their minds.

‘Did you see that?’

I glanced at Wrath and shrugged my shoulders.

‘I can extract information too.’
-Uh, uh….

Wrath stared at me with his mouth agape.

‘Is this creature actually human…?’

Even though his opponent was far stronger, he showed no intimidation, manipulated the enemy’s psychology to provoke a fight, and even extracted information from it—such tactics were beyond imagination.

‘This is absurd.’

Raon was the weakest here, yet he dominated the situation. For the first time, seeing the weakest stand firm and confident against the strong made him appear far greater.

In terms of raw power, he was certainly still a fledgling, but his mental fortitude and strategic acumen had reached a realm that could only be called transcendent.

-Ahem!

This one will prove useful indeed.

Wrath cleared his throat, enlarged his left palm, and began inscribing the day’s events with his right index finger.

-The True Demon King experienced something remarkable today. A weakling against the strong….
‘What are you doing?’

I tilted my head in confusion as I watched Wrath suddenly mutter while scribbling something on his palm.

-I’m taking notes.
‘Notes?’
-Indeed.
‘Notes on what?’
-On how you manipulated those two fools. I must commit this method to memory so I can master it and make that arrogant Pride and that filthy Greed tear each other apart.
‘Hah….

Wrath had initially dismissed it as impossible, but after witnessing it with his own eyes, he seemed utterly captivated by the method.

-The True Demon King has already composed a magnificent line for the occasion.
‘A line?’
-Yes. “Now kill each other!” Isn’t it splendid?

Wrath puffed out his chest, impressed by his own brilliance.

-I must ask for more lectures in the future. I need to teach this to the young demons of the Demon Realm….

He repeated the line again, smacking his lips with regret at the thought.

‘This won’t be as easy as he thinks….’

The reason this scheme succeeded was, above all else, because Merlin is genuinely insane. Without such profound madness, such a thing could never come to pass.

‘Still….’

I furrowed my brow as I watched Wrath revel in what he considered a masterful lesson.

‘Has he truly given up?’

After more than a decade of relentless beatings, Wrath seemed to have half-abandoned his desire to seize control of my body. At this point, he was little more than an illegal tenant renting half of my form.

A lord of wrath who was affectionate, naive, and fond of grotesque things—truly an absurd existence.

Boom!

As I muttered in wonder while observing Wrath’s back, a tremendous explosion erupted above Granseville.

Merlin and the 10th Apostle had emerged from the narrow cavern and were now battling in the sky. Despite the considerable distance, the mana shockwave from these two monsters made my stomach churn.

-What’s the next plan? Are we running away?
‘No.’

I shook my head. Running would only get us caught quickly, and worse, create hostages. That wasn’t what needed to be done now.

Whoooosh!

I placed my hand on the ground and summoned the Mana Circle. Flames traced along the dried blood, spreading outward and enveloping those whose breath had ceased.

-You’re performing cremation in a situation like this?
‘Precisely because of this situation.’

Everyone who died here had their blood and flesh torn away by the 7th Apostle. If left as they were, they could become vengeful spirits or malevolent entities, so I decided to comfort them and send them off properly.

Uuuuuuung!

The Soul Reaper Sword resonated with spectral energy, amplifying the Mana Circle’s flames.

‘I see.’

The Soul Reaper Sword’s clear, resonant cry seemed to wish that these souls would not become like me.

Whoooosh!

Pure heat and spectral energy intertwined, and those who had died with their eyes still open became ash, scattering into the sky above.

‘May you find peace there.’

I closed my eyes with my hands clasped together.
Unaware of the auspicious light blooming from the ashes settling upon the Soul Reaper Sword’s blade, I spent a long time comforting the spirits of the departed.

*

*

*

Craaaaaash!

Brilliant sparks flashed across the sky filled with dark clouds. Within the spectacular sight of yellow chains coiling around the heavens, countless bolts of lightning poured down.

Zzzzzzzziiing!

The wave of blood energy erupting from the 10th Apostle’s White Spear surged from the ground to the end of the sky, engulfing all of Granseville.

Boom!

The city crumbled like mud under the collision of magic and martial arts at their peak. From the aftermath of the clash, mere fragments of mana that burst forth overturned lakes and toppled mountains.

Whoooosh!

The 10th Apostle frowned as he watched Merlin condensing red and blue mana in both hands.

“You know it too, don’t you? If we keep clashing like this, we both die. Are you really going to see this through to the end?”
“When did your Cult Leader start targeting Raon?”

Merlin didn’t answer the question, instead spouting something completely different.

“What?”
“When the 4th Apostle died by Raon’s hand this time, wasn’t it?”
“….”

The 10th Apostle answered with silence.

“It was from the beginning for me. I fell for him the moment I first saw that child. And when I saw him the second time, I was certain. We are destined for each other.”

As Merlin’s smile deepened, the density and fragrance of mana flowing around her increased exponentially.

“Hmm….”

The 10th Apostle narrowed his eyes as he witnessed the madness dripping from Merlin’s gaze.

“The moment I learned you had appeared here, I prepared for this battle. Victory is yours. But Raon will come with me.”

As Merlin’s eyes gleamed a sharp blue, countless magical circles bloomed behind her back.

Boom!

The spellcasting rained down like a meteor shower, each spell carrying the force of a powerful incantation, completely surrounding the 10th Apostle’s space from all directions.

“Merlin!”

A tremendous blood aura erupted from the 10th Apostle’s spear as if to shatter the heavens, cleaving through the spells, but fresh magic immediately filled the void—like water rushing in to replace a severed waterfall.

“Ten thousand spells prepared just for you. Enjoy yourself.”
“Meeeeerlin!”

Merlin descended back into the cavern, leaving the 10th Apostle’s anguished roar behind her.

*

*

*

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Merlin descend.

‘That’s unexpected.’

Seeing her make such preparations, it was clear that woman wasn’t just mad—she was thoroughly, completely insane.

‘But then again….’

This actually works in my favor.

Facing Merlin’s spellcasting was far easier than engaging the 10th Apostle in direct combat.

‘I have the Soul Reaper Sword.’

The Soul Reaper Sword I’d obtained after destroying the black sword in Roengrin’s Dungeon—its ability to sever magical meridians meant I could hold my ground while the 10th Apostle fought through Merlin’s spellcasting.

-You’ve thought this through completely!

Hearing Wrath’s admiration, I leveled the Soul Reaper Sword forward.

“Get out of the way.”

Merlin smiled brightly and applauded.

“What?”
“You’ve grown again and seem to be preparing something?”

She let out a deeper laugh and tilted her chin slightly downward.

“I’d love to see that, but we don’t have time right now.”
“I’m sorry, but I have plenty of time. I really want to see the conclusion between you two.”
“That won’t happen.”

A hexagonal box materialized above Merlin’s hand. From the box covered in bizarre patterns, black heat shimmer blazed up like embers.

“That is….”

I swallowed hard. The box radiated ominousness just by looking at it.

“Do you know that among legendary-grade artifacts, there are single-use consumables?”
“Legendary-grade consumables?”
“This is one of them. It’s called the Shadow Soul Jade.”

A chilling sensation crept up my spine, and I stepped back. I resonated the fire rings intensely to prepare for whatever might happen.

“Activate.”

Merlin didn’t even consider pursuing me. Instead, she poured mana into the box.

Screeeech!

Eighteen holes pierced through the hexagonal box, and black smoke billowed out.

‘What is that…huh?’

I tried to raise my sword, but my body wouldn’t move. Looking down at my eyes, black iron chains sprouted from within my shadow, binding my entire body.

“This, this is….”
“The Shadow Soul Jade is a prison that can confine beings with less mana than its user. The shadow chains bind your soul, so you won’t be able to move.”

She was right. It wasn’t that my body couldn’t move—it was that the soul that moves this body was completely paralyzed. In this state, I couldn’t even yield control to Wrath.

“It won’t take long.”

Merlin smiled brightly and shook the Spirit Jade Stone, and my vision began to darken.

-Your pathetic mana is like a mere spring, preventing even the True Demon King from moving. But this must be part of your plan too, yes? Fine. Let’s see where this goes!

Wrath laughed without regard for human decency.

‘Damn it….’
“Vice Leader!”

As I gritted my teeth, a familiar voice echoed from the hole in the ceiling. I barely managed to lift my eyes, and I could see green hair fluttering in the wind.

Dorian. He pulled something from his waist pouch and threw it toward me.

“You idiot. Run….”

I gritted my teeth as I looked at Merlin.

“If you… touch our people… I’ll kill you.”
“I won’t. Just close your eyes for a moment, and it’ll all be over.”

Merlin let out a soft laugh and waved her hand.

The moment I saw her circling finger return to its starting position, my vision went completely dark.

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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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