The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 445
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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 445
I shook my right hand, which had been pressing against the ice field.
‘I can hear it.’
The demonic energy blooming from the ice field parted under the force of holy power, releasing the sounds trapped within.
The clash of weapons against weapons, the screams of terrified people, and the sound of something collapsing.
‘They’re here.’
Now it was certain. Inside the barrier connected to this ice field, the warriors of the Cheoljeon Unit and the Black Tower were locked in combat.
‘How did they create an entirely different space through such a small crack in the ice?’
-They used mirrors, they did.
Wrath stared down at the ice field and clicked his tongue.
‘Mirrors?’
-Since ancient times, humans have feared mirrors. The terror that another version of themselves living in a different dimension might leap out from within. To exploit that fear, countless sorceries and curses were created.
I gazed at the ice field as Wrath spoke. Though frozen in a dark hue, it reflected my face with an almost miraculous clarity, like a true mirror.
‘So the Black Tower bastards used this ice field as a mirror to construct the barrier?’
-Indeed. They employed sorcery that draws one into the reverse side within the mirror, using the ice field itself. It is much like how you create barriers with your blade. The humans you seek are trapped within that world inside the ice.
Wrath answered with rare seriousness, as if he understood the urgency of the situation.
‘Binghyang’s sorcery….’
Binghyang, the layer master of the Black Tower, could manipulate cold energy at will. It seemed she had used this ice field to construct the barrier.
I clenched my teeth as the sounds of battle and screams continued to reach my ears.
‘They’ve held on this long….’
I thought rescue had come too late when we reached the village and found no trace of them, but I never expected the Cheoljeon Unit to still be fighting.
“Raon?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Is something the matter?”
The Gwangpung Corps swordsmen watched my expression shift abruptly, their eyes filling with concern.
“I found them.”
I pointed my finger beneath the ice field.
“The Cheoljeon Unit is fighting inside this ice field.”
I explained the facts I’d uncovered so far to the Gwangpung Corps swordsmen in concise terms.
“Th-they’re down there?”
“Good heavens….”
“They’ve been fighting inside the enemy’s barrier all this time….”
“Yes. Remarkable, truly. However….”
I narrowed my eyes as I examined the demonic energy within the ice field.
‘They’re likely keeping them alive on purpose.’
If it were just Marun or Binghyang alone, perhaps. But both of them moved, and they even created a barrier—the Cheoljeon Unit shouldn’t have lasted this long. The Black Tower bastards seemed intent on achieving some other objective within that barrier.
It seemed the Black Tower guys were trying to achieve some other purpose from inside the Barrier.
“Are they trying to lure us in? No, that can’t be it.”
He wanted to use the Cheoljeon Unit to draw himself and the Gwangpung Corps in, but if that were the case, he should have made it easier to find.
The fact that they had set up the barrier in such a difficult way made it clear they had something to hide.
“Whatever’s right. Right now, I need to break that Barrier as quickly as possible.”
But how?
I knew there was a barrier, but I couldn’t think of a way to open it.
‘There’s no helping it.’
I tapped Wrath’s shoulder as he hovered listlessly.
-What is it.
‘How am I supposed to get through that barrier?’
-How would the True Demon King know such trivial matters.
‘Didn’t you say you understood this type of dimensional manipulation?’
-As I’ve told you before, the True Demon King knows nothing of such complexities.
Wrath shook his head, claiming he had no knowledge of opening or closing barriers.
-Simply smash it to pieces, and it will open and twist of its own accord.
He scoffed, saying that with enough power, barriers meant nothing—compatibility and everything else would yield naturally—and urged me to grow stronger.
‘If I had the strength…’
Forcibly twisting open a barrier in my current state was impossible.
Yet from Wrath’s words just now, I had gleaned a crucial hint.
‘I lack the raw power, but I have the compatibility.’
I didn’t possess the strength to shatter a demon’s barrier in one blow, but I did have enough holy power to distort a space infused with demonic energy.
‘Now is not the time to hesitate.’
Having heard it once, sounds continued pouring from within the barrier—screams and the endless thuds of falling bodies.
There was no time to waste, no holy power to squander. I had to settle this now.
I turned to the Gwangpung Corps swordsmen and pointed toward the ice field.
“Gather together.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Gwangpung Corps swordsmen, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately formed their units in formation upon receiving the order.
“I’m going to twist the Barrier now. It won’t hold for long, so move immediately.”
“Got it.”
“I don’t fully understand what you mean, but I’m with you.”
“Finally found a way, it seems.”
Burren, Martha, and Lunan nodded without hesitation, their trust evident. The other swordsmen finished their preparations and gripped their blades.
‘Reliable bunch.’
Feeling the camaraderie unique to the Gwangpung Corps—so different from the White Lotus Society—I placed my hand on the Ice Field and channeled the sacred power blooming from darkness.
A deep rumble echoed.
I thinly layered my sacred power and pushed it into the Ice Field where demonic energy flowed. The moment the demonic energy convulsed in pain, I poured every last drop of sacred power from my core.
Without missing the moment when Magi crumpled as if feeling pain, I poured all the remaining divine power from my dantian into the attack.
Crackle! Snap! Pop!
In that moment, as if night had descended upon the frozen lake, the ice field turned pitch black and began to crack like a spider’s web.
Magic surged wildly from the cracks in the shattered Ice Field, and the gaps in the darkly wet Barrier were forced open.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t destroy the Barrier itself, but I was able to pry open a gap in it.
“Ah…”
Hyeol Unkgyeom let out a stifled groan as he watched that sight.
“What? You forcibly opened Magi’s Barrier?”
He trembled his jaw as he looked at the gap in the open Barrier, wondering if he had noticed Magi’s Barrier.
“Your fates will be decided after we finish here.”
“I’ll decide how to treat you after the work is finished.”
After subduing Hyeol Unkgyeom and the martial artists of the White Whale so they couldn’t move, he turned to look back.
The Gwangpung Corps inspectors nodded slightly as if to indicate they were ready.
“Let’s go.”
I awakened the Manhwagong with intense force. Together with the crimson flames of Wrath that consumed darkness, I leaped into the gap within the barrier.
“Now it’s our turn to repay the debt.”
*
*
*
“Haaah….”
Trevin, commander of the Cheoljeon Unit, clutched his chest and exhaled ragged breaths. He wanted to bite his lip to endure the pain of his internal injuries, but his lips were already torn to shreds—there was nothing left to bite.
‘At this rate, I really will die.’
Since childhood, he had always thought that if he were to die, it would be on the battlefield fighting. But not on a battlefield like this.
This was no arena where warriors clashed with conviction against conviction, strength against strength. This was a slaughterhouse.
“Whoosh.”
Trevin slowly lifted his gaze. Above the crimson pool brimming with blood, he could see the Black Tower’s minions and the people they had abducted.
Screeeech!
As a sound like wind cutting through air rang out, the old man at the front’s head tumbled away. From the lifeless corpse, black energy coiled upward and surged toward the barrier’s ceiling.
Uuuuuung!
The mass of demonic energy rippling above the ceiling darkened into an even more sinister light.
“Next.”
At that command, a young man standing behind the old man was dragged forward.
“You’ve heard everything so far, haven’t you?”
The Demon King smiled coldly as he gazed into the terrified young man’s eyes.
“You die because of Raon Zigheart.”
With those words, a blackened hole tore through the young man’s left chest. He collapsed, his eyes wide with disbelief at his own death. From his bulging eyes, a current of resentment bloomed and seeped into the demonic energy undulating from the ceiling.
“Ahhh….”
The young man collapsed with his eyes wide open, seemingly unable to believe his own death. From his protruding eyes, a current of resentment rose and seeped into the demonic energy undulating from the ceiling.
Trevin ground his teeth together.
‘This is hell. This place is hell.’
The barrier created by Marun and Binghyang was no different from the world of demons.
They were using roughly two hundred people they had kidnapped beforehand to maintain this barrier and forge a curse of resentment toward Raon. It was human sacrifice in its truest form.
Everyone here knew the truth. The ones to resent were not Raon, but the Demon Kings of the Black Tower.
Yet human nature being what it was, resentment toward Raon inevitably took root.
“Aaaahhh!”
Another middle-aged woman’s neck was severed in the meantime.
Another middle-aged woman’s head was severed in the meantime.
“Damn it….”
Trevin’s hand trembled around his sword. He wanted to rush forward and save them all, but he could not.
Trevin’s hand holding the sword trembled. He wanted to rush out immediately and save everyone, but he couldn’t go.
“They don’t even cry out for mercy anymore when their vermin die.”
A gaunt old man approached with a scornful laugh. In his hands were two wheels, their transparent blades completely drenched in sticky blood. This old man was Marun, the Floor Master of the Black Tower.
“Well, they’re too busy worrying about themselves.”
“They’re probably too busy worrying about themselves.”
Marun kicked aside the corpse of a Cheoljeon Unit swordsman lying at his feet, letting out a contemptuous snort.
“This bastard….”
Trevin’s fists clenched until blood seeped from his palms. The rage he’d been suppressing erupted as he watched his comrade’s body being desecrated.
“I understand. Humans are naturally selfish beasts, after all.”
Marun tossed and caught a wheel like a circus performer, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
“Curse Raon Zigheart. You’re dying because that fool touched the True Tower.”
“Ugh….”
“Damn it….”
“Curse this!”
The Cheoljeon Unit swordsmen’s faces drained of color as they watched their comrade’s corpse trampled and innocent people slaughtered before them—helpless and terrified of Marun.
Trevin surveyed his subordinates’ expressions and exhaled heavily.
‘There’s no helping it.’
With no visible path to survival, asking them not to resent Raon was unreasonable.
Whether they wanted to or not, his name would inevitably surface in their minds.
‘But….’
This was all part of their scheme. Unlike the hostages who knew nothing of Raon, they understood him—and the Black Tower clearly intended to complete a vicious curse through the Cheoljeon Unit’s resentment.
‘I cannot die falling into their trap.’
This was a battle between Zigheart and the Black Tower. I must not resent Raon.
A deep rumble echoed.
Trevin stomped the ground fiercely and raised his sword. A fierce aura surged forth, momentarily pushing back the demonic energy and radiating an auspicious light.
“Surely none of you are foolish enough to resent Raon now? If any of you would fall for the Black Tower’s filthy tricks, throw down your swords this instant!”
As his voice infused with aura rang out, the barrier fell silent as if time itself had stopped.
“Of course!”
“What good does it do to resent that Monster!”
“Our enemies are them. Not Raon!”
The Cheoljeon Unit lifted their swords, their expressions hardening as if their resolve had never wavered.
“Reinforcements won’t come. But!”
Trevin ignited his aura across the silver blade, a serene smile gracing his face.
“We fight! Just as the Gwangpung Corps protected the Arian Family for five days, plant the will of Zigheart in this hell!”
“Yes!”
The Cheoljeon Unit’s resolve wove into one, and a vivid aura surged upward.
Clear determination kindled in the eyes of the swordsmen who had been barely enduring, and mystical light blazed across the blades they gripped.
“Hmm….”
Marun felt the Cheoljeon Unit’s aura far more solidified than when they first entered the barrier, and his brow furrowed.
“Ah, didn’t I tell you to deal with him quickly?”
A languid voice drifted from behind Marun. It was a white-haired woman lying diagonally on the floor, her gray eyes devoid of even a trace of humanity.
This witch was Binghyang, who maintained the barrier.
“This has become troublesome.”
Binghyang filed her nails, twisting her lips into a sneer.
“There aren’t many sacrifices left anyway. What will you do! If a problem arises, you go find the Tower Master!”
She gazed at the resentful curses dripping from the ceiling and waved her hand dismissively.
“Certainly.”
Marun ignored Binghyang’s irritation and fixed his gaze on Trevin.
“You should have been dealt with first.”
He swept his gaze across the Cheoljeon Unit swordsmen who gazed at Trevin’s back with trusting eyes, and a fierce killing intent surged within him.
“I didn’t expect you to become an obstacle rather than a medium to accelerate the curse.”
“It’s fortunate we know now.”
“I’ll have to deal with you here.”
“As if you have a choice.”
Trevin’s lips curved into a thin smile as he adjusted his grip on his sword. His mind was foggy from exhaustion and pain, but he couldn’t fall without a fight and die.
“I cannot fall until I sever your neck.”
“What a shame.”
Marun pulled the pair of wheels in his hands backward and licked his lips.
“With that unwavering resolve, you could have become a floor master if you had entered the Black Tower.”
The pair of wheels gripped in his hands flew forward.
Whoooosh!
The speed wasn’t particularly fast, but the demonic energy coiled around the wheels was so vicious that it couldn’t be ignored.
“I’d rather bite my own tongue and die than share a meal with the likes of you!”
Trevin gritted his teeth and unleashed the technique of his Iron Sword. Despite the blade being damaged, it seemed to know its master’s will and added sharpness to its sword force.
Clang!
The Iron Sword’s technique roughly pushed back one wheel, but a second wheel still remained.
“Aaaagh!”
Trevin coughed up blood from his internal injuries as he brought his sword down toward the center of the second wheel.
Crash!
Even with strong energy wrapped around him, the impact transmitted from the rotating wheel made his fingertips tremble, and his insides churned. But he couldn’t collapse.
Boom!
I drove Marun back with sheer willpower alone—neither aura nor swordsmanship—and lifted my head.
‘Damn it….’
I was truly exhausted now.
I’d overextended myself trying to rescue the hostages at the start, then burned through my strength in rage over my comrade’s death.
Worse, the barrier woven from demonic energy prevented me from unleashing my full power—I no longer had the strength to even raise my blade above my waist.
“What a waste,” Marun said.
Yet the Rion he’d recovered emanated demonic energy so suffocating it made breathing difficult. The gray-tinted blade of the Rion was gradually darkening to black.
‘A black Rion….’
They said Marun’s Rion turned black when he fought with true intent, and it seemed that moment had arrived.
“I’ll end your life with this Rion.”
With his mocking laugh, two Rions came flying at me again. As I watched them tear through space itself and descend with devastating force, a chill ran down my spine.
‘Even at full strength, this would be nearly impossible to endure. But….’
I would hold on to the very end.
I knew how Raon Zigheart had fought against the Arian Family, and I couldn’t surrender first. If I had no teeth, I would bite with my gums.
“Uaaaaaaah!”
Trevin roared and unleashed the Cheoljeon Sword’s secret technique—Dead Sea Slash. Only a thin layer of aura seeped into the blade, but its trajectory was sharper than ever before.
Clang!
The thinly aura-wrapped blade struck the Rion saturated with demonic energy.
‘Is this enlightenment? But….’
It was too late.
My Iron Sword Realm had grown stronger, but I had no aura or stamina left. A second Rion was bearing down on me, and I had no way to stop it.
Trevin lowered his sword and spread both arms wide. It was the final resolve of a commander—to protect his subordinates and hostages behind him while facing death alone.
‘I won’t close my eyes.’
As a warrior, I wished to die with my eyes open, watching the black Rion approach.
Crack!
A sound like an eggshell shattering echoed through the air. The strange noise erupted repeatedly, and massive fissures suddenly appeared in the ceiling that had never wavered before.
Boom!
The ceiling, roiling with demonic energy, collapsed, and a tempest of crimson flames poured down.
But the Rion had already reached my throat.
As I bit my lip, contemplating death, a pair of scarlet eyes—deeper than the flames themselves—flashed brilliantly through the inferno.
Raon. I never imagined he would appear here, descending as a crimson thunderbolt.
Crash!
The Rion, brimming with demonic energy, crumpled and was hurled away, and the darkness containing the curse melted into nothingness.
At the center of the collapsing barrier, Raon turned his back. His Black Dragon Robe, not yet settled, billowed like a roar.
“Thank you for holding on.”
Unlike Raon’s smile, a keen edge of sword energy flashed across his crimson eyes.
“Leave the rest to me.”
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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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