The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 589
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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 589
“My turn?”
Cassandra unleashed a pitch-black aura. Her eyes, burning with fury and irritation, fixed upon Raon.
“You’ve grown arrogant just because one hybrid died.”
“No.”
Raon shook his head, watching Cassandra snarl.
“I was arrogant from the start. The moment you sent Hongryeom-gwi first, the outcome of this battle was already decided.”
“That arrogance will tighten the noose around your neck!”
Cassandra raised her left hand, the one not holding the bow. Black smoke writhed between her curved fingers as if she were grasping at empty air.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air.
The black aura surged forth with an ominous light, undulating like clay before coalescing into the form of a wolf the size of a house.
As I saw the black flames blazing from the wolf’s mane, my hair stood on end.
‘A wolf…?’
No, that’s not it.
The black wolf lacked the vitality that a living being should possess.
It had a presence much like a spirit—yet instead of the essence of nature, I felt a sinister, malevolent energy.
“A… a spirit of darkness?”
The answer to the wolf’s identity came from Erian behind me.
“A spirit of darkness? There are spirits other than the four elemental attributes?”
“Rarely, but yes, spirits exist beyond the four elements…”
His lips trembled as he admitted he was witnessing this for the first time.
“But I heard that dark spirits consume the contractor’s lifespan….”
“That’s correct.”
Cassandra nodded calmly.
“I offered my lifespan to forge a contract with this child.”
Her eyes gleamed with a cold, arctic intensity as she glared at the World Tree.
“Why would you go so far….”
“To kill you all and become true elves, I would gladly sacrifice my lifespan a thousand times over.”
The dark spirit’s jaws yawned open in response to Cassandra’s fury. From its spiraling throat, a torrent of dark, shadowy mana erupted like a fountain.
Whiiiing!
As I retreated to evade the wave of mana, Cassandra’s arrow streaked toward me. Black mana blazed from the arrowhead, ignited by the dark spirit’s power.
Boom!
I deflected Cassandra’s arrow with the Heavenly Sword, my brow furrowing.
‘My palm is burning.’
True to its nature as a spirit of pure power, the mana’s concentration was brutally dense.
‘Are they both Grand Masters….’
Both Cassandra and the dark spirit radiated Grand Master-level auras. If I rushed in recklessly, my head would be the first thing to roll.
‘Focus.’
I sensed the Red Ghost Knight and the Gray Elves moving alongside Hongryeom-gwi, launching their assault on Sepia, but I didn’t turn to look back.
‘Neither of them is an opponent I can afford to ignore.’
For Sepia’s sake, this was the moment to pour all my strength into my own battle.
“Consider yourself honored. This power wasn’t prepared for you!”
Cassandra let out a piercing shriek as if possessed by evil, simultaneously firing five arrows.
As I watched the arrows descend toward my predicted evasion point, the shadow spirit unleashed a vortex of dark magic.
Whoooosh!
I erected a wall of flame to block both Cassandra’s arrows and the dark magic spewing from the shadow spirit.
Using the gap where flames and magic clashed, I carved through Cassandra’s space.
“Ugh!”
Cassandra’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting me to close the distance so rapidly.
‘Now I can strike her down.’
Just as I was about to bring the Heavenly Sword crashing down, the shadow spirit materialized as if transcending space itself, slashing its claws.
True to its wolf form, the trajectory was complex, and tremendous force wrapped around it like a reinforced ring.
Normally, the proper tactic would be to evade first and observe the enemy’s patterns, but time was a luxury I didn’t possess. Instead of retreating, I pressed forward.
I stepped onto the blackened battlefield with my left foot, awakening the Manhwa Palace. Suppressing the dark magic with golden flames, I thrust the Light Sword toward the shadow spirit’s claws.
Crash!
The Manhwa Palace’s flames, devouring the dark magic and burning fiercely, pierced through the shadow spirit’s claws and tore savagely across its chest.
Screech!
The shadow spirit cried out in severe agony and retreated backward.
‘Not yet.’
Rather than pursue Cassandra, who had already leaped back, I clung to the shadow spirit and brought the Heavenly Sword down in a crushing blow.
The golden blade, as if holding the sunset itself, cleaved the spirit’s waist in two.
Shriek!
True to its nature as a spirit, it didn’t die immediately, but the impact was severe—its aura rapidly diminished.
Just as I was about to draw the Red Ghost Knight’s blade to finish things decisively, Cassandra’s arrow pierced through the air.
A wave of power unlike anything before. From the blackened arrowhead, I felt an intense killing intent—a will to end my life.
I sensed the force embedded in the arrow and unleashed the Frost Wind Sword technique with the Soul Reaper Sword gripped in my left hand.
Kyaaaang!
The frost storm summoned by the blade’s edge intercepted Cassandra’s arrow.
Screeeech!
The impact was so heavy—as if I’d blocked a sword strike rather than an arrow—that my grip felt like it would tear apart.
‘This level of pain is familiar.’
Without retreating, I swung the Soul Reaper Sword through its full arc, freezing every last one of Cassandra’s arrows solid.
Thud-thud-thud!
The arrows, frozen along with their dark energy, crashed to the ground with heavy thuds.
“You… you blocked the Annihilation Arrow?”
Cassandra’s eyes widened in disbelief—she clearly hadn’t expected her own arrow to be stopped.
Kiiiiiii!
The shadow spirit, now noticeably smaller than before, returned to her side and let out a pained whimper.
It seemed the spiritual form had suffered damage, but the mental shock was equally severe.
“A clumsy combination is worse than no combination at all.”
I approached Cassandra with the Heavenly Sword and Soul Reaper Sword hanging at my sides. My stride was leisurely, but my heart had grown as cold and still as the Northern Sea.
“I’ll end this here.”
“End? You think someone like you can end me?”
Cassandra unleashed an explosive killing intent and extended her right hand. The shadow spirit returned to her grasp, beginning to reshape itself into a new form.
Whoooosh!
It wasn’t a mere beast. The spirit of darkness had transformed entirely into an arrow—from its arrowhead to its fletching, everything shimmered with an obsidian radiance.
“I intended to lodge this in those old fools’ skulls, but starting with you won’t be so bad either.”
Cassandra unleashed all her power as she nocked the arrow—the transformed spirit of darkness—onto her bowstring.
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
As she drew the string taut, a terrifying aura of dark magic radiated outward, obliterating what little remained of the thicket and trees.
Raon narrowed his eyes, studying the bowstring pulled to its absolute limit.
‘What is that?’
From the impossibly thin arrow—fragile enough to snap at a mere touch—emanated an ominous dread that sent shivers down my spine.
As I moistened my parched lips with tension, Cassandra twisted the fully drawn string.
“Die.”
With a command like that of the Grim Reaper, Cassandra released the arrow transformed from the spirit of darkness.
The arrow, faster than sound itself, spiraled violently as it surged toward my solar plexus.
It wasn’t targeting a vital point—it aimed to obliterate my entire upper body.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
I crossed the Heavenly Sword and Soul Reaper Sword. Drawing upon my extreme power, Manhwa Palace and Glacia bit into the blade edges, erupting in magnificent light.
‘Even this won’t be enough.’
Despite wielding Manhwa Palace and Glacia at full power, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I couldn’t completely block this arrow.
I instinctively retreated half a step. Using the precious moment I’d carved out, I employed the refined elegance of my newly perfected dual-sword technique to drive down the arrow that had nearly reached my face.
Boom!
Even though I braced for the impact, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder as if it might dislocate, and I barely stifled a groan.
Regardless of how fiercely I fought with my life on the line, the arrow’s power was beyond comprehension. It was exactly as Cassandra had declared—an arrow imbued with the intent of instant death.
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
Raon slid backward while standing, biting his lip.
‘My grip is tearing apart.’
The force embedded in the arrow was too immense to break. It was bewildering to be pushed back by an arrow fired from a distance—not even a direct blade clash.
‘Can an arrow become this powerful just by channeling a dark spirit through it?’
Raon furrowed his brow as he watched the wavering Heavenly Sword and Soul Reaper Sword.
‘There’s no choice….’
I had wanted to save my Wrath Release for confronting Hongryeom-gwi, but at this rate, I would die before I could use it.
Raon lifted his gaze to activate his Wrath, then froze.
‘Wait.’
This arrow….
Isn’t it similar to the Soul Reaper Sword?
Just as I had achieved Divine Sword Synchronization with the Soul Reaper Sword during my sparring match with Sterin, it seemed Cassandra had aligned her will with the dark spirit to unleash this absurd arrow.
‘If my assumption is correct….’
I might be able to do it too.
A temporary Divine Sword Synchronization by borrowing the weapon’s power. To grasp that flow, I thrust the Heavenly Sword in my right hand forward.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch!
Trying to block with only the Heavenly Sword what two blades couldn’t stop, my arm felt like it might tear off, but I gritted my teeth and endured.
‘Soul Reaper Sword. I’m counting on you.’
I poured my intent through the gaps in the Soul Reaper Sword’s aura. As I infused it with my will to never lose and my determination never to break, the Soul Reaper Sword seemed to understand my resolve, releasing a crystalline resonance.
Whiiiiiing!
The connection between sword and human intent seeped into the crimson blade, conjuring a magnificent aura.
I pulled the Heavenly Sword back. Synchronizing my intent with the Soul Reaper Sword, I slashed downward following the trajectory of the Heavenly Sword’s form, meeting the arrow that came streaking toward me as if it had been waiting.
Craaaaaaash!
Cassandra’s arrow, which had seemed absolutely unbreakable, could not withstand the Soul Reaper Sword’s aura and crumbled in half.
“Huh?!”
Cassandra’s eyes widened in disbelief as she dropped her bow.
“How… how is this possible…?”
She was so shocked that she didn’t even realize she had released her grip on the bow.
“This makes no sense!”
I did not answer. I surged forward, detonating the aura that had accumulated in my lower body’s mana circuits.
“Ugh!”
Cassandra desperately tried to pick up her bow again as a last resort, but the blade of the Heavenly Sword was already pressed against her throat.
Craaaash!
Cassandra’s head flew skyward, and her ashen body collapsed to the ground.
“A… a monster. Why now of all times…?”
Cassandra gazed up at the World Tree in resentment before her breath ceased.
The dark spirit that had lost its master vanished into dust as if it had never existed from the beginning.
“Hah….”
Erian looked up at me and exhaled sharply.
“Just… how much of your true strength have you been hiding?”
He blinked, clearly unaware that my power reached this level.
“When we fought, you weren’t showing your real ability at all, were you?”
“There’s no need to cause trouble in my teacher’s homeland.”
“At your age, with that level of power… is this truly possible only because you’re a contractor of the Spirit King?”
Even now, he was still fixated on the Spirit King. Truly stubborn to the core.
“Stop spouting nonsense.”
I shook my head and tossed a healing potion to Erian.
“Apply that and follow me. I’m going ahead.”
“Th-thank you. I have no other words right now.”
After watching Erian nod, I rushed toward Sepia.
As I steadied my breathing, ready to fight at any moment, a baby fox emerged from the thicket on my right.
“Merlin!”
“Raon….”
Merlin rushed forward and shook her head. From her voice and condition, it was clear she had expended considerable power.
“You can’t go.”
“Is it because of Hongryeom-gwi? Even if it’s difficult alone, if we combine our strength, we might be able to win.”
Hongryeom-gwi is certainly stronger than me, but Rimer and the elders are inside Sepia. If we all join forces, we should be able to stop him without major casualties.
“No, we can’t win.”
Merlin shook her head firmly.
“Hongryeom-gwi is growing by absorbing the World Tree’s power.”
She bit her lips tightly and turned to gaze at the World Tree.
“Hongryeom-gwi isn’t targeting Sepia—he’s after the World Tree itself!”
*
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Rimer kept the barrier open for the Elves to enter and gazed toward the Grand Forest.
‘The flames are spreading faster than expected.’
The enemies were burning not just the entrance to Sepia, but the entire Grand Forest.
If the battle continued like this, even victory would come at an irreversible cost.
‘No.’
Right now, I had to think of my kin before the forest.
The forest was precious to the Elves, but not more than the lives of my people. Even if the Grand Forest turned to ash, fighting within the barrier was the best strategy.
‘With the Elders here, we can endure somehow.’
Right now, the Grand Elder and ten other Elders were performing a ritual to strengthen the World Tree’s barrier.
Once the barrier was reinforced, no matter how fierce the flames, they wouldn’t reach the World Tree.
As I reviewed the plan, my eyes met those of Siyan, who was wrapped in a blanket.
Even in this situation, she seemed afraid of her kin’s gazes.
‘Once this is over, I’ll be a proper older brother.’
Feeling a small pang of guilt, I shook my head when Dorian, who had been on reconnaissance, came rushing over.
“M-my lord….”
Dorian gasped heavily, his eyes trembling with urgency.
“F-Fire is coming!”
“Fire? What are you talking about? Explain clearly.”
“It’s real fire. It keeps growing, getting hotter, and I can’t handle it!”
He swallowed hard, mentioning not just the fire, but also the Eden Ghosts and Gray Elves rushing toward them.
Rimer furrowed his brow as he examined the direction Dorian had come from.
“Is it the one wearing Ifrit’s helmet?”
“Yes.”
Leiran approached from the side and nodded. Fear began to fill her eyes.
“What’s his power level?”
“My brother said he was around lower Grand Master tier.”
“At that level….”
In terms of matchups, he had an overwhelming advantage, but we had the World Tree’s barrier reinforced by the elders. If we drew him inside and fought, we could definitely win.
“All units, prepare for battle!”
At Rimer’s signal, Leiran issued combat orders to the Guardians.
Just as all the elves of Sepia surrounded the World Tree, a magnificent inferno erupted, erasing the darkness of the night sky.
No—it wasn’t flames. It was a massive human figure wreathed in fire.
‘That’s….’
Rimer’s lips trembled as he beheld Hongryeom-gwi wearing Ifrit’s helmet.
‘That’s lower Grand Master tier?’
That was absolutely not lower tier. He far exceeded even the middle tier.
‘Erian can’t even properly see his opponent now… what?’
While cursing Erian inwardly, the heat and power radiating from the one wearing Ifrit’s helmet surged violently upward.
Roooooaaaaaarrrrr!
The barrier protecting the World Tree shriveled under heat intense enough to melt even earth itself, and Ifrit’s power grew steadily stronger.
‘No way…’
Rimer’s jaw trembled as he stared at Ifrit.
‘Is that monster absorbing the World Tree’s essence?’
If so, then Ifrit came to Sepia not because of the Grand Elder, but to obtain the World Tree’s power?
Crack!
Rimer slapped his own cheek hard.
‘I was wrong!’
He spun around and shouted urgently.
“Stop reinforcing the barrier!”
The Grand Elders’ barrier reinforcement was useless against that overwhelming firepower.
It only helped the monster grow stronger faster.
Zzzzzzzzzt!
But it was too late.
The World Tree’s barrier tore like paper, and the Grand Elder and the elders conducting the reinforcement ceremony collapsed, spewing blood.
“Ugh…”
“What just happened?”
“What on earth…”
The Grand Elder and the elders’ eyes trembled, unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before them.
All of them had suffered severe internal injuries and wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength.
Roooooaaarrr!
In stark contrast, Ifrit’s power grew without limit. Having absorbed the World Tree’s essence seeping into the barrier, he had already surpassed mid-tier Grand Master and reached the upper tier.
‘Damn it….’
I was the only one who could face that Monster, even for a moment.
Rimer drew his sword with his left hand and stepped forward.
Whoooooosh!
Even with wind energy wrapped around me, the heat radiating from that creature’s breath felt like it would cook my flesh.
“Vermin.”
Ifrit’s helmet reached out a hand toward Rimer. The scorching heat of crimson flames erupting from its iron grip warped the very space around it.
Sword Realm Manifestation
Eye of the Storm.
Rimer immediately unleashed the Sword Realm Manifestation. He tried to create a windless zone to suppress the flames, but the overwhelming difference in firepower pushed back the Sword Realm itself.
Roooaaarrr!
The World Tree’s barrier, which had barely maintained its form, completely melted away under the flames casually unleashed by Ifrit’s helmet.
‘I made a foolish mistake.’
Rimer clenched his teeth tightly.
‘I’ve cut off my own escape route….’
But now was not the time for regrets. I had to create an opportunity, no matter what.
Zing!
Rimer clung to Ifrit’s left side and thrust his blade forward. The vibrating wind-infused blade pierced through the wall of flames and advanced.
“Hmph!”
Ifrit’s helmet casually batted away the wind blade with just the back of its hand.
Crash!
My full-force sword strike wavered like a butterfly drenched in seawater, pushed back by the overwhelming assault.
‘As I thought, it’s not working.’
I had trained with my left hand, but it wasn’t enough….
When I wielded the blade with my left hand, the sword wouldn’t extend as I willed it. The absence of my right arm was painfully felt.
“Vanish.”
Ifrit’s helm twisted into a cruel smile as he stretched his hand toward the sky. Crimson flames erupted from his palm, pouring down like hail.
Whoooosh!
Rimer saw the scarlet inferno that sought to erase not just himself but the World Tree as well, and he unleashed every remaining ounce of his power. Red lightning surged above the fading wind, forming a shield against the rain of fire.
Roooar!
Yet the crimson flames devoured both the lightning and the wind, growing ever more intense with their heat.
“Leiran!”
Rimer called out to Leiran behind him while maintaining his focus on the inferno.
“Retreat! Everyone, flee!”
“Retreat! Everyone run!”
Leiran’s jaw trembled as she looked at the Elders.
“You’re the only one who can! Take everyone and run! Save at least one of us!”
Protecting the Guardian Elder and defending the World Tree held no meaning before this overwhelming firepower. Saving even a single one of my kin took priority.
The only consolation was that Ifrit remained focused on me. If I moved fast enough, perhaps a few could escape.
“A futile effort.”
“It’s meaningless.”
Just as I grasped a thread of hope, a mocking laugh echoed from within Ifrit’s helmet.
“What does that even—”
Rimer tried to respond but froze. Around the shattered barrier, Eden Ghosts and gray-skinned traitors emerged, blocking the path.
“No one leaves this place.”
Ifrit’s helmet proclaimed the words like a decree.
“This bastard…”
I wanted to save at least one person, but even that seemed impossible now. The first button fastened wrong had unraveled the entire plan.
‘Still…’
I would endure to the very end.
Rimer tightened his grip on his sword and focused his aura. Even as searing pain tore through his dantian, he stood firm against the crimson flames.
Screeeech!
But Ifrit’s crimson flames spread their heat beyond the blade, reaching the sword guard. A burning agony seized his hands.
‘A way. I need to find a way…’
As I rolled my eyes, desperately searching for any opening,
a silver moon and a golden sun rose simultaneously above the black sky.
Shadows seeping between sun and moon poured forth crimson and azure light.
Boom!
The flames of Hongryeom-gwi, spread like wings, wavered as if about to shatter.
Raon’s sword, wrapped in golden flames and silver frost, clashed with Ifrit’s flames. But even he seemed to struggle under the force, sweat dripping down his forehead.
“Raon! Fall back!”
Rimer called out to Raon, his voice fracturing with urgency.
“You’re not equipped to face him!”
Raon was destined to become the king of Zigheart. I couldn’t allow him to perish here in such a meaningless death.
“This is not the place for you to sacrifice your life! Take Dorian and Yua and leave!”
“You’re right. I’m not someone who can face him alone.”
For once, he acknowledged the disparity in power. At least that was something.
“If you understand that, then hurry and—”
“So help me.”
Silver radiance poured forth from Raon’s grip. Unlike the flames that were dying down, golden fire blazed with ferocious intensity, igniting his eyes with molten determination.
“Help me break him.”
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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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