The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 393

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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 393

Unlike other undead monsters, Death Knights and Arch Liches possessed ranks.

Since the strength of these two supreme undead monsters varied according to their power in life, it was impossible to distinguish danger levels by name alone.

Those between Master-rank lower and middle tier were classified as Lower Specters, those at Master-rank middle to upper tier as Middle Specters, and those at upper tier and above as Upper Specters.

I observed the Death Knight whose eyes burned with crimson light and snapped my fingers.

‘Lower Specter.’

It seemed a swordsman who had reached Master-rank middle tier had fallen into a Death Knight upon death, his power degraded to Master-rank lower tier.

-You mustn’t assess it so simply.
‘You’re right.’

I nodded toward Wrath.

‘This swamp is far from ordinary.’

The Swamp of Death, despite its name, carried no trace of death’s aura, yet it possessed the power to strengthen undead creatures. That Death Knight should be considered stronger than Master-rank lower tier.
That Death Knight must be fought with the assumption that it’s at a higher level than a lower-tier Master.

“Burren, Martha, and Lunan. The three of us won’t be enough.”

Had Kamang been serious, one of the three would have fallen.
If Kamang had made up his mind, one of the three would be dead.

That Death Knight is stronger than Kamang was back then, so the entire Gale Wind Squad must face it.

Gale Wind Squad.

Raon pointed at the Death Knight as it drew a longsword from its waist with a raised finger.

“Yes, sir.”
Yes.

The Gwangpung Unit harbored no doubts about the orders I issued as their commander, and they stamped the ground with conviction.
In the eyes of those surging toward the Death Knight burned only the will to annihilate their enemy.

“You’re… entrusting the Death Knight to the Gwangpung Unit?”

Freica’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

“It’s a good opportunity. They should test themselves in battle.”
“But there’s no Master there. How can they possibly—”
“Whether they win or lose doesn’t matter. The path won’t open unless they challenge themselves.”
“Ah…”

He swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming with sudden understanding.

“Advance!”

Burren Zigheart stepped forward at the vanguard and raised his sword.

“Advance!”

Hearing his cry, the Gwangpung Unit spread fluidly like snowflakes caught on the wind, forming a circular sword formation.
It was the Grand Gwangpung Formation, with every member of the unit moving as one.

‘I have to kill it somehow!’
‘If I don’t kill that thing, I’m dead!’
‘There’s a Death Knight in front, but the True Demon King waits behind!’
‘Crushed from the front, crushed from behind! What a cursed existence!’

The swordsmen imagined what would happen if they lost this battle, tightened their grips, and drew their aura to its peak.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

As the entire Gwangpung Unit unified their aura, an energy wave erupted that rivaled even the Death Knight’s.

Whoooosh!

Crimson flames erupted from the Death Knight’s greatsword—the Hellfire Blade, summoning the infernal flames of the abyss.

The Gwangpung Unit unleashed the first form of the Grand Gwangpung Formation: the Emerald Whirlwind. The concentrated energy at the formation’s center coalesced around Burren’s blade and poured forth.

Boom!

The Death Knight’s Flame Prison Sword and the Gale Wind clashed, sending a terrifying shockwave erupting through the air.
The Swamp of Death split open as chunks of mud rained down from above.

Crash!

The Death Knight and the Gwangpung Unit were simultaneously pushed back from the collapsing swamp.

“Shift formation!”

At Burren’s command, the Gwangpung Unit’s positions changed. The third squad fell back while the first squad moved forward, and a formidable aura concentrated around Martha.

-Before, they moved like slugs crawling through mud….

Wrath’s lips curled upward as he watched the Gwangpung Unit transform with lightning speed.

-Their formation transitions have become faster.
‘That’s right.’

I smiled faintly and nodded.

‘They’ve changed so much.’

Before, swapping squad positions took considerable time, and the aura transfers were clumsy, but now it flowed as naturally as water. It was clear how much effort every member of the Gwangpung Unit had invested.
It was a sight that showed how much effort everyone in the Gale Wind Squad had poured in.

“I’ll smash that head of yours first!”

She drove her full-powered sword strike down alongside the first squad supporting her from behind.
She drove down a sword strike infused with full power, backed by the 1st unit behind her.

Crash!

A deafening crash erupts as if the building is being crushed, and the Death Knight is pushed backward. Anger fills his fiery eyes.

‘You’ve been watching closely.’
-Aren’t they the True Demon King’s subordinates? As I said, one must properly nurture their subordinates!
“Aren’t you the True Demon King’s subordinate? As I said, one must properly take care of their subordinates!”

Just as Wrath said, Martha’s mental fortitude had grown even stronger than her physical power. Even now, in the instant she concentrated her strength, she triggered her berserk state and immediately regained her composure to ensure her teammates weren’t injured.

Crack-crack-crack!

The Death Knight’s jaw creaked open. Burning with fury, intense flames ignited in its eyes as it charged forward.

Screeeech!

The Gwangpung Unit’s formation shifted once more. The second squad took the front—their most solid configuration. It was the fifth form, Seolhwa’s Divine Phantom.

Clang-clang-clang!

Lunan advanced forward, swinging Seolhwa in a graceful arc. The frigid aura unraveled like ribbon, blanketing the empty space and creating an elegant sword curtain.

Crash-crash-crash!

The blade of frost and the Death Knight’s flaming sword collided head-on, erupting in tremendous steam.
Through the increasingly dense fog, a silver blade thrust upward.

Ting!

Not the Death Knight—it was Lunan, standing at the end of the formation, who drove Seolhwa forward to pierce the Death Knight’s cheekbone.

Screech!

The aura of death prevented a deep wound from forming, but a small blade mark was etched across its cheek.

-Ohhh!

Wrath clenched his fist tightly.

-To think she could mount such a counterattack! Even the ice cream girl has changed!
‘Indeed.’

Lunan had always been purely defensive before.

True to her gentle nature, she had devoted herself to polishing her frost aura and protecting everyone.

But her disposition had transformed. To save her comrades, she unhesitatingly drew the sharp ice spear hidden within her shield and thrust it forward.

Screech, screech, screech.

The Death Knight, clearly enraged by the slight scratch on his cheek, tapped it irritably and tightened his grip on the Hellfire Blade. Flames erupting from the blackened steel swept forth like a tempest.

Clang! Clang! Clang, clang, clang!

The Death Knight and the Gwangpung Unit collided head-on, causing the swamp to convulse. The mist that had filled the air was torn asunder, and the sky opened wide.

Whoooosh!

Beneath a crimson sky as sunset drew near, the thunderous clash of blade against blade echoed in relentless succession.

I watched the Gwangpung Unit’s sword strikes and allowed myself a faint smile.

‘It’s not just the squad leader. They’ve all changed.’

Not only Burren, Martha, and Lunan, but everyone in the Gwangpung Unit had grown into different people than before.

“Ahhhhh!”

The Gwangpung Unit. No—even Dorian, Zigheart’s greatest coward, refused to retreat from the center of the formation, gripping his blade with all his might and holding his ground. Even as tears welled in his eyes, he steadfastly supported those behind him.

“Ughhhh!”

Just as everyone was holding firm, one swordsman was sent flying with a sound like a pig being slaughtered.

“Damn it all!”

It was Crain. He spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and rushed back into position before the Death Knight could follow up. Because he was always the first to fall, his return was swift as a flying squirrel.

-That one is hopeless, lad. He is the very embodiment of misfortune.
‘There is some truth to that.’

Crain was the vice-captain of the Third Squad and strong enough to rank in the top ten of the Gwangpung Unit, yet he always fell first.
He was a man cursed by fortune rather than lacking in tenacity.

-And it would be wise to prepare yourself. That skeleton is no ordinary foe.
‘I’m aware.’

Raon turned his gaze toward the Death Knight and nodded slowly.

‘An undead growing at an accelerated pace….’

Normally, undead monsters grew slowly. Since they had abandoned life and taken death, their growth was inevitably sluggish. Yet this Death Knight seemed untouched by that curse, growing stronger with each passing moment.

‘And it’s not just the aura of death—its swordsmanship as well.’

I could accept that its morale strengthened from the power of this swamp, but I couldn’t comprehend how its swordsmanship had improved in such a short span of time.

To be honest, the Death Knight was adapting to the Gwangpung Unit far more rapidly than the Gwangpung Unit was adapting to it.

Clang!

At this rate, the Gwangpung Unit wouldn’t last much longer before suffering internal injuries and being forced to retreat.

“Commander.”

Mark Goeten grasped the black-edged sword at his waist, his eyes growing sharp.

“I’ll go.”
“Very well, then—”

Just as I was about to grant permission, Yua beside me suddenly rushed toward the battlefield.

“Yua!”

Mark Goeten raised his hand to stop her, but she waved him back.

“Commander?”
-Hey! Stop the pineapple girl!
“Let’s watch for a moment.”

I circulated heat through my mana circuits, ready to save Yua at any moment, and shook my head.

Whoosh!

Yua clasped her hands together and channeled her aura. A brilliant blue current flowed forth like an elegant silk ribbon.

[Aaaaaaaa!]

Yua chose not the blade, but her voice. A sacred song descended like an angel of white wings, sending new ripples across the swamp.

Screeeech….

The Death Knight’s face, which had only grown wrathful from sword strikes, twisted in agony. His pale eyes fixed beyond the Gwangpung Unit, locking onto Yua.

“What… what is this….”
“My internal injuries are fading….”
“I thought my stamina was depleted, but I can endure a bit longer.”
“I was nearly losing consciousness just moments ago….”
“Is this Yua’s power?”

Conversely, the Gwangpung Unit’s complexions brightened as their internal injuries subsided.

This was precisely the ability Eden had coveted in Yua—the siren’s voice that inflicted harm upon enemies while granting vitality to allies.

Roooaaarrr!

As the Death Knight roared while gripping his blade, the swamp heaved and numerous ghouls and skeleton warriors erupted forth.

Screeeee!
Kyaaaaa!

The ghouls and skeleton warriors paid no heed to the Gwangpung Unit, charging straight toward Yua.

Shhiiiing!

Just as a poisoned claw thrust toward Yua’s throat, a brilliant blue blade flashed.

Shrieeeek!

The ghoul crashed into the swamp, its entire arm severed.

“I can’t let you hog all the glory!”

Julius stood before Yua, gritting his teeth.

“If you can do it, so can I!”

I wielded the Wicked Sword, a straightforward swordsmanship technique I had learned from Roen, and cut down the approaching undead monsters.
Cold sweat dripped down my entire body from the tension, but I gritted my teeth and endured.

Kuguguguung!

The swamp on the right surged like a wave, and a Dullahan erupted from it. Radiating a far more powerful aura than the one I had just defeated, it charged toward Yua.

‘It can even summon a Dullahan?’

Normally, Death Knights can summon different species depending on their rank.
Seeing it call forth a Dullahan, it seemed that Death Knight had already grown from mid-tier to high-tier.

“I’ll handle that one.”

Mark Goeten drew his black-line sword and rushed forward. He blocked the Dullahan before its spear could pierce Yua.

Clang!

Mark Goeten’s fierce blade strike pushed back the Dullahan’s massive frame. Without hesitation, he scattered the initial form of Wallrand Sword Technique, shattering the black spear.

-Before, it was so sloppy it was painful to watch, but he’s improved.

Just as Wrath had said, Mark Goeten’s Wallrand Sword Technique had been nothing but raw power, devoid of any emotional resonance—but now his strikes carried an edge so sharp it sent chills down my spine.

Clang clang clang!

Mark Goeten’s blade fell like lightning, cleaving through the Dullahan’s body in a single breath.

The Dullahan sank into the swamp without even a groan, but in that brief moment, the Gwangpung Unit’s situation grew far more dire.

Boom!

Unable to withstand the sword strike unleashed by the Death Knight, the mid-tier Expert-level swordsmen coughed blood and were driven back.
Even the upper-tier swordsmen suffered internal injuries, blood trickling from their lips. Only the three squad leaders who had reached the highest tier and Dorian barely held their ground.

[Ahhh….]

Yua’s complexion grew increasingly pallid as the Death Knight’s aura intensified, and Julius exhaled heavily, his breath ragged with exhaustion.

“Commander.”

Mark Goeten, having dealt with Durahan, furrowed his brow with a grave expression.

“Surely that Death Knight isn’t growing stronger?”
“Yes.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Initially, it was merely at the lower Master tier, but now it stands on the precipice of the intermediate level.”
“Then I shall join the fray.”

Mark Goeten bit his lip and circled around to the right flank of the Gwangpung Unit. He unleashed the same blade strike that had cleaved through Durahan’s body, but the Death Knight deflected his sword with effortless grace.

“Hmph!”

As if anticipating this, Mark Goeten spun through the air and unleashed a second strike—the opening technique of the Byeokran Sword, its trajectory as elusive as lightning descending from the heavens.

“Let’s move!”

The Gwangpung Unit shifted into their eleventh formation, their most devastating offensive stance, while entrusting their aura to Martha.

Whoooosh!

As torrential power erupted from both sides, the Death Knight brought the Flame Prison Sword down in a diagonal arc. Within that simple blade strike lay an overwhelming force that rippled outward like waves.

Boom!

The Death Knight could not withstand the combined assault of the Gwangpung Unit and Mark Goeten, and was driven backward, slamming its back against three pillars.
Though its body creaked from the considerable impact, its fighting spirit burned even more fiercely than before.

Roooar!

The Death Knight’s eyes, which had blazed crimson, shifted to a sickly green. Simultaneously, the deathly aura that bloomed beneath its feet surged upward to pierce the heavens.

-You have transcended the threshold.
‘Yes. It has reached the intermediate tier.’

I narrowed my eyes as I observed the Death Knight. The impact from moments before had solidified its ascent to the intermediate Master tier—no, it had surpassed even that.

‘It seems to grow stronger the more we fight.’
-The True Demon King shares that assessment. It’s been ages since I’ve encountered an undead like that.

Wrath smacked his lips, calling it a rare specimen even in the Demon Realm.

Kwaaaaaaang!

The Death Knight’s Infernal Sword, now at intermediate Master tier, drove both the Gwangpung Unit and Mark Goeten simultaneously into the swamp.

“Ugh….”
“Kugh!”
“Damn….”
“That skeleton bastard’s gotten absurdly stronger?”
“We… we can’t hold on….”

Mark Goeten and the Gwangpung Unit rose to their feet despite their shoulders trembling from the oppressive despair that had thickened around them.

“Ugh….”
“Hey! Hold on! This isn’t the end!”

Yua’s strength had drained away, and she collapsed. Julius too was exhausted, his sword hand trembling as he gripped it.

“I suppose….”

For the first time since entering the swamp, I placed my hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Sword.

“I’ll end this myself.”

That Death Knight was dangerous. The Gwangpung Unit had gained sufficient experience; it was best to finish this as quickly as possible.

I stepped forward, wielding the Manhwagong and the sacred light that bloomed from darkness.

Thud.

Even as I walked across the rippling swamp, my footsteps rang out with a heavy, solid sound. Hearing that footfall, the Gwangpung Unit retreated without hesitation.

Crackle.

The Death Knight’s green eyes, burning with rage and destruction, turned toward me. A chilling killing intent constricted my very soul. He was growing stronger even in this moment.

“I’d love to see how much stronger you become, but I have too many people I’m responsible for. Let’s end this here.”

Angered by my words, the Death Knight kicked off the swamp. He approached as a streak of green light and brought down the Infernal Prison Sword.

Subtle mysteries melted into what appeared to be a simple sword path. A single blade split into ten, surrounding all possible avenues of evasion and defense.

The heat from the Infernal Prison Sword, wreathed in hellfire, brought a searing pain as if my skin were melting away.

The Soul Reaper Sword at my waist vibrated in warning of danger. I poured strength into my right hand gripping the Heavenly Sword.

The Heavenly Sword was drawn in silence, its blade engulfed in flames darker than the Infernal Prison Sword. The line of fire that shot up like a comet’s tail traced a magnificent arc.

Crunch!

The crimson blade split through the Infernal Prison Sword, brimming with the aura of death, and pierced into the center of the skeleton. I extended the sword with all my might.

Boom!

The aura of death, which seemed absolutely impenetrable, split apart, and the Death Knight’s heart, burning with hellfire, was crushed.

I turned around, grasping the skull of the Death Knight as it fell, losing its body. I smiled as I looked at the people standing with their mouths agape, their minds seemingly blank.

“Let’s head back.”

Now it’s time to deal with those pigs.

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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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