The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 603

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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 603

“Kkhahahaha!”

King Roman clutched his forehead as wild laughter erupted from his chest. His aura seeped into his emotions, and massive waves undulated across the river’s surface.

“What’s so funny?”

I narrowed my eyes at the resonant sound of King Roman’s laughter.

‘Has that monster grown even stronger?’

The presence King Roman exuded now felt heavier than when we had met at the Rabel River two years ago.
If it wasn’t a mistake, he seemed to have ascended to an even greater height since then.

“My heart, which had ceased its beating, has begun to stir. How could I not laugh?”

King Roman lifted the axe he had been submerged in the river and rested it across his shoulder.

“Only you wretches can ignite my passion.”

He swept his gaze over Raon and Rimer in turn, curling up the corners of his mouth.

“Prepare yourselves.”

King Roman caressed the shaft of his axe as if signaling the start of a three-exchange duel.

“I shall measure your strength in precisely three exchanges.”
“Three exchanges? That won’t work.”

I bit my lip as I observed the madness swirling in King Roman’s eyes.

‘The moment those three exchanges end, he’ll charge forward without hesitation.’

King Roman was a man who broke his word as easily as he had abandoned the epithet “Demon King.”
The moment the three-exchange duel concluded, it was highly likely he would throw caution aside and attack with his full might, claiming his excitement had been ignited.

‘I should save the Sword Realm Manifestation for later.’

Enduring the three-way duel in my current state and then using the Sword Realm to end everything in the real fight that would follow seemed to offer the highest chance of survival.

Thump.

I resonated the ring of fire encircling my heart. Entering a state of absolute concentration, I drew the auras of Manhwagong and Glacia to their peak.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The wave of momentum surging from King Roman froze as if solidifying, then shattered. It meant my aura was no longer being overwhelmed by that liar’s momentum.

“Three-way duel.”

I calmed my turbulent heart and stood before King Roman.

“Let’s begin.”

*

*

*

Rimer bit his lip as he watched Raon face off against King Roman.

‘This is even worse than before.’

Considering King Roman’s behavior up to now, it was clear he wouldn’t back down even after the three-way duel ended—he would continue attacking.

‘Still, there’s a path forward.’

Fortunately, King Roman hadn’t brought a large force with him. If we could just eliminate him, we could escape this place without major problems.

Tsk.

Rimer clicked his tongue sharply and moved to Siyan’s side.

“O-older brother….”

Siyan’s hands trembled as she clasped them before her chest, worry etched across her face for Raon. Even this child, who trusted Raon unconditionally, seemed overwhelmed by Roman’s tyrannical aura.

“Prepare for battle.”
“Does that mean Raon will lose…?”
“That’s not it.”

Rimer shook his head and glared at Roman.

“That bastard lies as easily as breathing. Even if Raon wins the three-way duel, he’ll attack anyway. That’s when you and I need to step in.”
“Ah….”

Siyan nodded softly, understanding now.

“Can you summon a supreme-tier spirit?”
“Yes. I’ll call it right away.”

As she snapped her fingers, the water giant that had been hovering to protect the ship sank away, and a cute little Sparrow—formed from water droplets—spread its small wings.

The Sparrow that descended onto Siyan’s shoulder, despite its adorable appearance, carried an immense amount of mana and chirped mockingly.

Rimer felt the tremendous power emanating from the Sparrow and nodded.

‘This should be manageable.’

Though not long since the contract was formed, that Sparrow is a supreme-tier spirit. It would prove invaluable in the battle against Roman.

“Sigh….”

Rimer placed his hand on his sword hilt and exhaled deeply.

‘It’s pathetic that all I can do is watch.’

Roman seemed stronger than before, and standing before him was Raon—my disciple and subordinate.

My own helplessness cut through me painfully. It stung more than when my core was damaged and I couldn’t fight properly.

‘If I survive this….’

I’ll need to get a prosthetic arm.

I had deliberated when I heard Sterin’s words, but now my resolve was absolute.
If I returned alive to Zigheart, I would beg Ensia for a prosthetic arm if necessary.

‘So I’m counting on you.’

Rimer swallowed hard as he gazed at Raon’s broad back.

‘Hold on.’

*

*

*

“I heard you could use the Sword Realm….”

Roman tilted his chin while gripping his axe in one hand.

“Why not use it?”
“If the need arises, I’ll use it. Don’t worry.”

I met Roman’s gleaming eyes and shook my head.

“Arrogant.”

Despite calling me arrogant, Roman’s lips curled upward in what seemed like genuine approval.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

He raised his axe toward the sky. Formidable aura seeped between the crimson blade edges. Though it was merely energy condensing, the heavens themselves seemed to shriek with a deafening roar.

“One strike!”

With a thunderous cry, Roman’s axe descended. The aura blazing atop the blade flashed with an eerie crimson light.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

I clenched my teeth as I watched Roman’s axe plummet like lightning.

‘What in the—!’

Even before the axe completed its descent, the pressure bearing down on my entire body was terrifying. It felt as though both my shoulders were being torn apart.

‘I cannot yield in raw strength.’

King Roman was a supreme master who never lost to anyone in power and momentum.
If I fell into a defensive position from the first strike, I wouldn’t be able to sustain this three-way duel. I had to block it with every ounce of strength I possessed.

Boom!

I planted my left foot firmly and raised the Heavenly Sword, which had been tilted downward. Upon its cold, silver blade, I poured the profound techniques of ten thousand swords that I had accumulated within my mental world.
With an unwavering resolve never to break, I struck back against the axe that blazed crimson-hot.

Crash!

The moment blade and axe collided, a thunderous roar erupted as if the mountain itself were crumbling. The river water recoiled in terror, flowing backward, and black cracks spiderwebbed across the gravel banks.

Screech!

I bit my lip as I watched Roman’s axe press down with ever-increasing force.

‘Was it always this heavy?’

Roman’s axe felt far heavier than when I had faced it before. It was difficult even to breathe properly.

‘I need to push it back as quickly as possible.’

I added the profound technique of absolute severance to the Heavenly Sword’s blade, which wavered as if it might shatter. Severing the aura that seeped between the axe and blade strand by strand, I unleashed Glacia’s chill with full intensity.

Boom!

A murky gray light exploded between the axe blade and sword edge, and I was forced back five steps.
Yet Roman remained unmoved, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Impressive.”

Roman nodded with satisfaction and tilted his axe downward. It was the Wicked Crushing Strike—rising from the river to shatter the heavens.

Raon’s brow furrowed as he watched King Roman’s axe grow increasingly radiant.

‘I can’t withstand that in my current state.’

He had wanted to preserve the Sword Realm Incarnation, but enduring King Roman’s gap in power was impossible at his present level.

Raon grasped the Heavenly Sword and Soul Reaper Sword in reverse grip and opened his Mental World.

Sword Realm Incarnation Divine Demon Harmony.

As the Sword Realm opened, the river that had been churning like a storm settled into tranquility, and above the darkened sky, a golden sun and silver moon rose into being.

I stood alone in that serene world, raising the divine and demonic blades that shimmered with ethereal light.

“The Sword Realm. I appreciate your swift judgment.”

King Roman chuckled and lifted his axe.

“Had you acted arrogantly again, that head of yours would have been split in two.”

He spoke as though he had shown mercy with that first strike, his nose bridge wrinkling.

“Then this gap is the final clash.”

A crimson sphere condensed above the axe blade held downward. Though smaller than the radiant aura from the first strike, it compressed far greater power, emanating an eerie pressure that tightened like a noose around the throat.
The killing intent was suffocating.

Kuuuung!

King Roman stamped his log-like legs as though committing his full resolve, and swung the axe upward. From the crimson-blazing blade emanated a savage will to shatter the very heavens.

‘This is a battle of will.’

I drew the energy flowing through my entire mana circuit into my hands, channeling every ounce of my body’s power into the blades. The force blazed across the swords like flame and frost, establishing my will to protect my own sky across both unbreakable blades.
My resolve wrapped around them like an unshakeable fortress.

Heavenly Spear Sword, Second Form.
Heavenly Spear Immortal.

I drove down two radiant blades toward the axe that soared as if to cleave the heavens themselves.

Kuwaaaaang!

Aura clashed against aura head-on, and a terrifying storm of energy erupted in succession. The river, as if angered by a god, burst forth relentlessly, exposing the riverbed itself.

Zzzzzzzzick!

After the collision of auras came the clash of wills.

King Roman’s will to shatter everything and my unwavering will that would never break locked together, waging a fierce war against one another.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The auras, worn and scraped against each other, interlocked and detonated. A blinding light erupted so intense that one couldn’t even open their eyes, and the entire river flooded, spreading in all directions.

Kuuung!

This time, King Roman retreated one step, and I retreated four.

I endured the aching pain in my grip as I gazed at King Roman.

‘It’s certain…’

He’s grown stronger than he was two years ago.

I knew that King Roman hadn’t revealed his full power when he fought Rimer in a three-way duel two years ago, but his martial prowess now was on an entirely different level.
King Roman had ascended to a higher realm than he was two years prior.

“You’ve sensed it, it seems.”

King Roman lowered his axe and nodded calmly.

“You’re right. I’ve climbed higher since that day.”
“Did you encounter some stroke of fortune?”
“Yes. I encountered fortune. You became my fortune.”

He raised his axe and pointed at Rimer and me in turn.

“What?”
“When one reaches the Grand Master realm, mental stimulation contributes far more to advancing one’s level than physical training. Thanks to the stimulus of meeting you all at the river, I was able to ascend to an even greater height.”

Roman gripped the axe handle tightly and lifted his chin.

“I owe my current self to you all.”
“Hmm….”

This was a catastrophic situation beyond my expectations. But I had already drawn my blade, and there was no turning back. All I could do now was fight with everything I had.

“You’ve talked quite a bit during our duel.”

Roman grasped the axe with both hands and drew it back over his shoulder. A colossal aura vortex erupted above the blood-crimson axe blade, spinning like a dragon ascending to the heavens. The sickly crimson light that flickered seemed to carry death itself.

“This final strike is the Demon King’s Vortex Slash. If you endure it, I’ll grant you victory.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and come.”

I held my breath steady and flicked my fingers.

“As expected, I like your spirit!”

Roman halted mid-swing of his axe. From that position, he exploded forward with devastating footwork, closing the distance in an instant, and unleashed the remaining arc of his axe blade downward.
It was an exquisite technique that combined both aura attacks utilizing the vortex and strikes that maximized his physical power.

‘I knew this.’

Had I seen it for the first time, I would have been flustered, but this was a technique I had witnessed before from behind Rimer.

‘However….’

Even knowing it, I couldn’t block it with an ordinary blade.

Survival came first, even if it meant exposing all my cards. I decided to reveal everything and drew forth all the aura from my dantian.

I stepped onto the river’s surface with true force. The aura of Manhwagong and Glacesia surged across my entire body, wrapping around the Demon Sword drawn back over my shoulder and the Divine Sword raised at my waist.

I drew both the Divine Sword and the Demon Sword downward to meet Roman’s onslaught that descended like a curtain across my entire vision.
Tremendous heat and cold erupted from my grip, spreading like a tempest and amplifying the force of both blades.

Golden light streaked across Raon’s eyes. Azure Crimson Invincible—a sword strike so transcendent that calling it invincible would be no exaggeration. It pushed back the Demon King’s strong ring and burst forth with auspicious radiance.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

Black flames and brilliant gold light, each wrapped in their own will, engaged in an endless clash.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

The concentrated energy meshed like gears, unleashing destructive light.
Everything that touched the bizarre violet flash was erased as if it had never existed from the beginning.

Behind it, a massive explosion erupted, splitting the Feren River, and the water that had been pushed back scattered in all directions. The river itself collapsed.

“Hah….”

I stood on the riverbed, exhaling a turbid breath. The pain in my hands gripping the Divine Sword and Demonic Sword was so intense, as if they were burning away completely, that my head throbbed.

‘Still, I endured it.’

The grown Demon King’s assault was far heavier than anticipated. It was absurdly powerful and destructive—I almost wanted to praise myself for withstanding it.

But there was no time to rest. I could feel King Roman’s presence within the white steam and smoke rising around me.

‘This is where the real battle begins.’

Given Roman’s nature, he would surely charge in with excitement. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the true fight starts here.

As I regulated my breathing and prepared for combat, wind blew in and cleared away all the steam and smoke.

King Roman stood two steps back from his original position, smiling toward me.

Whoooosh!

As expected, he raised his axe. I held my breath and tried to prepare, but the axe didn’t come toward me—it descended downward instead.

‘What?’

As I thought something was amiss, a tremendous aura surged from behind. It was Rimer and Siyan.
The two, who had been gathering their energy during the duel, unleashed an intense sword strike and spirit magic toward King Roman.

“Tsk.”

King Roman furrowed his brow as he lifted the axe he’d set down, roughly deflecting Rimer’s sword strike and Siyan’s magic.

“What is the meaning of this?”
“It was obvious you’d break your promise and attack anyway, so I simply struck first.”
“Ugh….”

Rimer shrugged his shoulders. Siyan bit her lip tightly beside him.

“Nonsense.”

King Roman snorted and slung the axe over his shoulder.

“The three-way duel is over.”

He shook his head, indicating he had no intention of continuing the fight.

“It was a satisfying battle. Even if we were to engage in a life-or-death struggle right now, you could provide considerable entertainment. However….”

King Roman smirked as he watched the divine and demonic swords blazing in my grip.

“You have not yet reached the level I desire. If you face me next year in your current state, you will perish.”

With those words, he extinguished the aura he’d been wielding. He truly seemed to have no intention of fighting further.

I narrowed my eyes as I observed the dimness in King Roman’s gaze.

‘What is this?’

He had insisted on a three-way duel, even wagering his own title, so I naturally assumed he would see it through to the end.
Yet King Roman lowered his axe with absurd ease.

‘What could he possibly be thinking… wait?’

As I recalled his words, a single thought emerged.

‘Could it be that he was warning me?’

If we meet like this on January 1st next year, it means I’ll be dead?

King Roman had only assessed my strength since appearing here, never launching an attack with genuine intent to kill.
Given that he spoke of death at the end, it seemed he truly held this three-way duel as a warning.

“You… did you warn me?”
“Fishermen have a practice called catch-and-release.”
….
“When they catch young fish that haven’t fully grown, they let them go so they can grow larger. But even that only happens twice.”

He chuckled darkly while stroking his axe.

“I’ve said what needed to be said. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Wait.”

I called out to King Roman as he turned away, stepping forward.

“I’m curious about one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Rector.”

I furrowed my brow while gazing at where the Maritime Market had once stood.

“Why was he destroyed?”
“…I see. Is he dead?”

King Roman followed my gaze and shook his head. For the first time, bitterness flickered in his eyes.

“He was devoured by talent.”
“What?”
“Rector possessed talent that, while not quite your caliber, would be considered genius. But during the Mountain Fortress battle, he was defeated by a far more vicious talent and consumed.”
“He lost to someone named Beorn?”
“You know that name too?”

He smirked and nodded.

“Beorn was Rector’s subordinate. He was someone hiding much. You’d do well to be cautious. Though, that’s only relevant if you’re alive next year.”

King Roman left those words behind and turned away completely.

“Hey.”

As I furrowed my brow, Rimer approached from the side and called out to Roman.

“Regardless of the situation, you did give up your title, right?”
“I did.”

Roman nodded without a hint of regret.

“Then I’ll give you a new title.”

Rimer tilted his chin up and twisted his lips into a grin.

“From now on, your new title is Bullax—meaning a ridiculous liar who uses an axe.”

The serious atmosphere evaporated in an instant.

“….”

Deep furrows appeared on Roman’s brow, despite his claim of having no regrets.

-Good grief….

Wrath shook his head as he looked at Rimer.

-No matter how I look at it, he’s just completely insane….

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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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