The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 497

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

Chapter 497

I narrowed my sensory range as I examined the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple.

Beneath navy-blue hair that seemed drenched in shadow, emerald eyes gleamed with brilliant clarity. Unlike other Oma practitioners, I could sense that he had cultivated his martial arts without allowing cynicism to seep in.

‘Young in appearance, but a supreme master.’

From the tightly sealed aura pathway and the fluid, water-like movements of his energy alone, I could sense that the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple was a monster who had transcended his master’s level.

“I see you’re as talkative as I’ve heard.”

The Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple touched his smooth chin and let out a cold laugh.

“Though you’re quite mistaken.”

He didn’t fall for the provocation, his cool eyes studying me carefully. His mental discipline seemed as refined as his martial prowess.

“Mistaken?”

I narrowed my eyes as I regarded the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple.

“What mistake am I making?”
“The Rion Lord certainly commanded me to bring you and your companions, but he never specified ‘how.’ In other words, bringing you back as corpses would be perfectly acceptable.”

As the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple’s lips twisted, a sinister aura began to seep from beneath his feet. It was killing intent imbued with will—a force that crushed the body and constricted the heart.

“Hmm….”

I furrowed my brow as I felt the killing intent clinging to me like chains.

‘So he truly is a Grand Master.’

Seeing how freely he wielded his will, the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple was indeed a powerhouse who had transcended the Master realm and ascended to Grand Master—just as I’d initially sensed.
With such a vast gap in cultivation level, I couldn’t guarantee victory in direct combat.

‘For now, I endure.’

The Holy Sword Association wouldn’t have information about my use of Intent.

For now, the best strategy seemed to be enduring Intent through the strength of my soul while waiting for an opportunity to strike.

‘That one has merely crossed the Wall—he hasn’t reached a higher realm yet.’

Based on his appearance, he didn’t seem to be over forty.
Even with natural talent, time is required to cross the Wall. The Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple surely hadn’t yet escaped the early stages of Grand Master rank.

‘Hah….’

I exhaled slowly and met the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple’s gaze.

“What’s your name?”
“What?”
“I asked what your name is.”
“….”

The Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple frowned without answering. It seemed an unexpected question.

“The disciple of the Dark Night Sword God lacks the courage to reveal his own name? How pathetic….”
“Cloud.”

As a smirk played across my lips, the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple Cloud opened his mouth.

“Yes. Cloud.”

I spoke the name Cloud with emphasis and turned my head.

“If you’re going to lie, you need to think it through. Babbling whatever comes to mind is useless.”
“What are you saying.”
“If the Holy Sword Union Master had wanted me dead, I wouldn’t have left that city.”

I continued, curling the corners of my mouth upward.

“The fact that he recognized me and let me live means he wants something. Whether it’s my talent, my swordsmanship, or both.”

This wasn’t mere arrogance. The Holy Sword Association were Sword Ghosts capable of killing anyone—regardless of age or gender—to obtain superior blades and swordsmanship. If they killed someone, there was no reason to take them along.

“….”

Cloud’s gaze grew cold and piercing, like a blade forged in ice. Watching those eyes, I understood why he had become the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple.

“Yes. I’ve heard you’re quite sharp-minded as well.”

He nodded, confirming the information matched what he’d been told.

“You were holed up in that corner room, yet who told you such things?”
“The Blood Sword Master said your talent was the finest on the Continent.”

Cloud mentioned the Blood Sword Master and rolled his wrist thoughtfully.

“The Blood Sword Master?”

As I tilted my head, not knowing who that was, he continued.

“However, that’s only because you haven’t faced me yet.”

A smile bloomed at Cloud’s lips, and his murderous intent grew so thick it became visible. My breath caught in my throat.

“Even if you reached the highest tier of Master at such a young age, there’s no guarantee you’ll cross the Grand Master threshold. Countless insects have reached Master early yet never touched Grand Master—they pile up like mountains.”

He spoke in a dry tone, his hand moving toward his waist.

“Let me show you what true talent really is.”

The way he kept repeating the word “talent” suggested he possessed absolute confidence in his own abilities.

‘Of course he’d be overflowing with talent.’

The Holy Sword Union Master wouldn’t take an ordinary person as a disciple. Just the fact that Cloud had reached Grand Master at such a young age proved what kind of talent he possessed.

‘But….’

I chuckled softly as I watched Wrath sprawled across my right shoulder, yawning lazily.

‘No matter how exceptional his talent, he can’t beat me when I’m with the King of Fools.’

With Wrath, who gave without reservation, I was confident I could devour even the Continent’s greatest talent and everything else.

“I’m not sure who has more talent….”

I scraped my foot against the ground and tilted my jaw to the side. I continued speaking, looking down at Cloud with mockery.

“Seeing how you reached Grand Master at your level, I think I can do it within this year.”
“You….”

Cloud’s expression hardened for the first time. The word “talent” seemed to be his reverse scale.

However, the fact that he didn’t rush forward in excitement suggested he had accumulated proper training befitting the Martial Way.

I clicked my tongue lightly and examined the martial artists standing behind Cloud.

‘Are they guards protecting the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciple?’

Their numbers weren’t large, but they were all skilled masters, and several were Masters themselves. They were clearly guards protecting Cloud.

Whoosh.

Without taking my gaze off them, I spread my perception toward the rear.

‘There aren’t many martial artists left.’

Since the Gwangpung Corps stood at the rear protecting people, the Neutral Factions and a large number of civilians had already moved far ahead. If a battle broke out here, it would be difficult to protect everyone.

‘I need to take that bastard far away from here.’

If a Grand Master’s strong aura fell incorrectly, not only civilians but the Gwangpung Corps would be annihilated.
The best approach was to leave this place to the Gwangpung Corps and lure Cloud far away.

After making my decision, I sent an aura message simultaneously to Burren, Lunan, and Mark Goeten.

[I’ll take this talentless fool with me. I’m counting on you to handle the rest.]

The moment I said that, all three nodded simultaneously. Since we had spent so much time together, there was no need for lengthy conversation.

“I’m rather confident in my movement technique.”

I sheathed the Heavenly Sword and pivoted toward the empty right side.

“If your talent is truly so remarkable, then try to follow me.”

I deployed the fastest Taewhwa Technique and struck the ground with all my power.

“Catch me if you can.”
-Is he insane…?

Wrath exhaled sharply and shook his head in disbelief.

“That reckless bastard!”

Cloud’s teeth ground together as he spun around.

“Clean everything up by the time I return!”

The moment he barked orders to his subordinates, he hurled himself in the direction Raon had vanished. His refined body, honed like a masterwork blade, became a streak of light that tore through the forest.

I felt a sharp killing intent brush against my back and suppressed a smile behind my tightly sealed lips. Glancing back slightly, I saw Cloud pursuing with a cold expression.

‘As expected.’

This wasn’t a thoughtless escape. Based on Cloud’s words, the Holy Sword Union Master truly wanted me alone, not everyone here.

Even if he killed everyone else, failing to capture the target meant mission failure—so of course he would follow.

‘It’s unfortunate that everyone remains there.’

I had hoped Cloud’s escort would follow as well, but that was mere greed. I didn’t stop running, hoping the Gwangpung Corps would fight well, until the castle wall disappeared from sight.

“Hmph.”

When I stopped in a training courtyard far from my companions, Cloud descended to the ground with a furrowed brow.

“So you boasted about talent and fled, yet this is your limit, it seems.”

I had stopped deliberately, but Cloud seemed to believe his movement technique was faster, a smirk playing at his lips. His martial power was formidable, but his mind had many vulnerabilities to exploit.

“The Holy Sword Union Master only ordered me to bring you in, didn’t he?

I brushed my disheveled hair back and smiled coldly.

“With your thoughts so easily exposed, how do you expect to become the successor of the Holy Sword Association? Won’t the ones above just devour you?”
“Shut that mouth of yours!”

Cloud furrowed his brow and placed his hand on the sword’s hilt. A different caliber of aura emanated from him than before.
His body and aura seemed to be advancing toward completion.

Whoosh.

I met Cloud’s distorted gaze and steadied my breathing calmly.

‘I need to go all out from the start.’

Cloud would not hold back his strength to prove his talent. If I responded carelessly, I might fall to a single strike.

I drew Manhwagong and Glacia to their peak and grasped the Heavenly Sword’s hilt lightly.

The moment a withered branch fell to the ground, Cloud and I drew our blades simultaneously. Distance meant nothing to us. The moment our wills were set, our swords were already advancing toward each other’s souls.
Distance meant nothing to the two of them. The moment their resolve was set, their blades were already moving toward each other’s hearts.

Blade against blade.

Fierce auras swirled as the blades spewing fire lunged toward each other’s throats.

*

*

*

Burren Zigheart swallowed hard as he watched the Holy Sword Association’s swordsmen slowly approaching.

“There are a lot of masters.”

Looking at the eerie energy gathered on the blade, it seemed that five out of the twenty were Masters, and one of them appeared to have reached an intermediate Master level or higher.

Even if Mark Goeten handled the strongest one, I had no idea how to stop the remaining four.

“They are the Holy Sword Union Master’s disciples’ personal guards.”

Deningrose narrowed her eyes as she observed the expressionless swordsmen like puppets. When she snapped her fingers, warriors clad in black rose from the shadows on the ground.

“We’ll fight too.”

She declared she would handle one side and issued orders to her guards.

“Kasia!”

At Ensia’s call, a woman leaped down from the tree.

“Help the Gwangpung Corps members.”
“I accept your command.”

The guard called Kasia bowed to Ensia and moved to block the Master approaching from the left.

‘This gives us a bit more breathing room… wait?’

As Burren Zigheart exhaled in relief, White Blood Cult members and Holy Sword Association Sword Ghosts were rushing in from behind the personal guards.
This didn’t look like it would be an easy fight.

“Advance.”
“Advance!”

I opened the Grand Gwangpung Formation and stomped my feet at the center. As the footprints on the ground became a signal, the personal guards rushed forward, drawing the wind with them.

‘Martha…’

Martha still hadn’t awakened. If she were to wake up now, it would be a tremendous help, but there wasn’t enough time to hope for such a miracle. For now, I had to fight with the power of the Gwangpung Corps.

“Dorian, you just protect Martha.”
“Yes, understood.”

Burren sent Dorian, who was carrying Martha, to the rear and advanced to the front of the formation.

“It doesn’t matter if we kill these things.”

A figure who appeared to be the commander of the Royal Guard raised his sword and ordered a massacre.

“As long as I draw breath, no one shall fall!”

Mark Goeten charged forward with a fierce battle cry, rushing to intercept the Royal Guard commander before he could inflict greater devastation.

Crash!

The Heavenly Sword’s seasonal technique, Whirlwind Pierce, descended like a thunderbolt cleaving the heavens, yet the Royal Guard commander merely twisted his blade upward to parry the assault.

“With that level of skill?”
“I don’t rely on raw power—I endure through sheer will.”
“How crude.”

The Royal Guard commander smiled coldly as he drew his sword downward. Diagonal waves of blade strikes cascaded like a whip, targeting Mark Goeten’s entire body.

“Ugh!”

Mark Goeten swung his sword in a cross pattern, raising a shield-like wall of blade fragments.

Clang clang clang clang!

The Royal Guard commander’s strikes fell without end, yet Mark Goeten bit his lip and refused to yield even an inch.

Burren watched Mark Goeten’s back and clenched his fists tightly.

‘Hold on, Sir Mark.’

He wanted to call out that he would help, but he had no room to spare either.
The Holy Sword Association’s swordsmen knew they held the advantage, approaching with leisurely steps.
But the moment they closed in, they unleashed fierce auras and unleashed their blade strikes.

Crash!

With two Masters among the Royal Guard, merely blocking the first strike caused the Gwangpung Formation to ripple as though it might shatter.

‘This won’t do.’

Without Martha and with Dorian absent, the formation had gaping holes. At this rate, they wouldn’t hold out much longer.

“Heavy Formation!”

Burren transformed the Gwangpung Formation into its most defensive configuration and unleashed a sword strike from the ground toward the Water Divine Guard closing in before him.

Whoooosh!

A cutting wind carrying the weight of the earth advanced, but it failed to cleave through the opponent’s aura and dissipated uselessly.

Crash!

The Gwangpung Formation shook violently like a small sailboat struck by waves as the counterattack came crashing down.

‘Damn it….’

Burren clenched his fists so hard his knuckles bled.

‘If we can’t hold even in this state, there’s no hope.’

The Heavy Formation of the Grand Gwangpung Formation was designed to endure like a turtle hiding in its shell before launching a surprise attack, but the enemy’s assault was so ferocious that the shell seemed about to crack.

I turned back quickly. Lunan, who maintained the center of the formation, was biting his lip.
Without Martha, he alone protected the formation, so the impact must be severe, yet he endured without uttering a single groan.

Whoooosh!

Lunan exhaled turbid breath and conjured a chill. It was a mist of frost that solidified the formation further while controlling the enemy’s movements.

Yet even within the frost, the enemy’s assault did not cease. Two Masters’ auras erupted in succession, tilting the formation’s center.

“Ugh!”

Burren clenched his molars tightly.

‘At this rate, we’ll be annihilated.’

Two Masters, ten top-tier Experts. And the Holy Sword Association swordsmen and White Blood Cult members rushing at us like demons were too numerous to count. If we only defended, we’d end up offering our necks.

‘The others….’

I quickly surveyed my surroundings, but the other martial artists were in no position to help. The Gwangpung Corps would have to endure this trial alone.

‘There’s no choice.’

Burren swung his sword forward and advanced.

“Broad Sword Formation!”

He switched from a defensive formation to an offensive one, leaping into the Master’s space as he brought his blade down.

Clang!

As expected of a Master. Even with a surprise attack using my full-power Gale Sword, my shoulder screamed as if it might shatter.
This was different from facing Mark Goeten, who had shown no killing intent. The opponent’s vicious aura was suffocating my body.

“Fool. If you had hidden like a mole, you might have lasted a bit longer.”

The Sword Ghost laughed mockingly as he swung his blade.

“Then my comrade beside me would have died.”
“You don’t pursue the perfection of the sword, and instead concern yourselves with comrades. That’s why you’re in this state.”

He brought down his sword wrapped in aura with an eerie smile. The strike was devastatingly simple, and that’s what made it terrifying.

Clang!

The speed was too fast to evade. I immediately raised my sword to block.

Crackle!

The aura tore through my sword energy, creating a monstrous pressure.

“Ugh….”

I trembled as I forcibly drew aura from my aching core, my jaw quivering.

“You are not Raon Zigheart. Know your place.”

The Holy Sword Union Master released a cold voice as he brought his sword crashing down.
He was poised to cleave me in two along with my blade. Blood erupted from my sword hand and shoulder as the shockwave of his aura struck.

‘Different from Raon Zigheart?’

I knew that better than anyone.

When I first saw Raon, I dismissed him. When I came to understand what kind of man he was, I wanted to catch up to him. Now, I simply wish to support his back.

‘Because I’ve received so much.’

I scorned and mocked Raon, yet he gave me so much. For someone I considered closer than my own father or brothers, I could have sacrificed my life right here and now.
I would have been willing to give my life right here and now for someone I considered closer than my father or my brothers.

If I couldn’t even carry out trivial orders, let alone support Raon from behind, there would be no reason for me to live.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Burren Zigheart let out a scream and stomped his feet. His clothes tore from the shockwave of the River’s energy, and his hair became disheveled. Even screams rather than battle cries. It was the very appearance he hated most, he who loved an aristocratic bearing.

“What a waste of effort!”

The master of the Holy Sword Association twisted his lips and unleashed his strong energy. Dun’s knees, which he had been forcing to endure, buckled, and his back bent.

But freedom. Was it because he had found composure that had never existed within him? His heart and dantian pulsed fiercely, drawing forth a noble wind.

“Ugh!”

Burren Zigheart gritted his teeth and raised his sword. Sword energy accumulated upon the half-shattered blade, creating a magnificent blue light. Along with a slashing wind that shook the Forest, the surging force he unleashed pierced through the Holy Sword Association Master’s sword and tore across his chest.

Ugh! / Argh! / Blegh!

Red blood poured from the prosecutor’s chest.

“Phew…”

Burren Zigheart spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and pointed his sword at him.

“Raon Zigheart is someone who can’t even be compared to an idiot like me.”

He twisted his lips as he gazed at the brilliant light coiling around his blade.

“Apologize for the words that came from your mouth.”

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