The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 631

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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 631

I narrowed my eyes at Wrath rather than the Phoenix, my expression hardening.

‘The Phoenix is already burning in flames. What are you talking about?’
-How foolish.

Wrath clicked his tongue as if disappointed.

-The flesh of a Phoenix that dies and resurrects is as tender as the finest beef. And since it’s already burning in flames, there’s no need to cook it!

He drooled as if he’d already tasted roasted Phoenix before.

‘What exactly do you eat all day….’

I pushed Wrath away as he stuck out his tongue like a puppy and turned my gaze back to the Phoenix.

‘Grand Master-level warriors should have passed through here first. The fact that the Phoenix still remains….’

Could the space be divided?

It seemed the paths branched off starting from the Second Layer.

‘Regardless, I can finally unseal the ring.’

The reason I’d requested the Phoenix’s location from the Black Market was to unseal an old ring I’d purchased during my trainee days.

I’d waited long for this moment, and finally it had arrived.

‘But that Phoenix….’

Why was it so enormous? Had it lived for over a thousand years?

The Phoenix hovering before my eyes was more than three times larger than the one I’d encountered in my previous life, and the heat radiating from its wings far exceeded normal parameters.

Since Phoenixes grew stronger with age, it seemed this one had lived an extraordinarily long time.

[Vermin-like humans.]

The Phoenix ruffled its wings sharply, its eyes blazing with an eerie light. It felt as though invisible flames were strangling my throat.

“D-did it just speak?”

Burren’s jaw dropped. He clearly hadn’t expected the Phoenix to be capable of speech.

“It’s not speech.”

I fixed my gaze on the Phoenix and shook my head.

“It’s communication through intent.”

The Phoenix conveyed its malice to every human present using intent. Judging by its use of intent, its rank appeared to be Grand Master or higher.

[I’ll reduce you all to ash.]

The Phoenix opened its beak, ablaze with flames. From its pitch-black throat, like the Bottomless Abyss itself, crimson fire flickered brilliantly.
Despite the distance, the overwhelming heat was so intense it felt as though our skin would cook.

“Ah…”
“H-how do we block that!”
“It’s over. We’re done for…”

The martial artists stood frozen in place, overwhelmed by the Phoenix’s oppressive presence, unable to move a single finger.

But the Gwangpung Corps was different.

The swordsmen who had experienced terror greater than the Phoenix itself gripped their blades to survive.

“Formation!”

Burren commanded the swordsmen and took his position at the center of the formation. A fierce cutting wind swirled around him.

“Squad One! Fall in beside me!”

Martha activated her rampage ability and drew her sword in front of Squad One. A thick wall of aura surged forth, shielding the Gwangpung Corps.

“Second Unit, fall back.”

Lunan Slion spoke in a calm voice as she stepped forward to block the Second Unit’s path. Frost flowers of noble elegance bloomed along the blade of her beloved sword, Seolhwa.

“I’ll handle the front.”

Mark Goeten gripped his sword with both hands, standing at the very front of the Gwangpung Formation as he unleashed his aura.

“If a Phoenix emerges on the Second Layer, what comes next, I wonder….”

Rimer sighed and shook his head. Despite his complaint, his hand rested on his sword’s hilt, ready to move at any moment.

I watched the Gwangpung Corps from behind and nodded in approval.

‘They’re becoming quite impressive now.’

Even the Masters were flustered, yet the Gwangpung Corps showed no reliance on Rimer’s aid or mine. They were preparing to overcome this crisis through their own strength.

Three weeks of intensive concentration training had borne fruit.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

The Phoenix’s flames poured down upon the Gwangpung Formation. It was a grotesque sight, as if molten lava erupting from a volcano had fallen directly upon them.

“Give it everything!”

Following Burren Zigheart’s cry, the Gwangpung Corps ignited their resolve and thickened the shield of aura that flickered with azure light.

Uuuuuung!

The auras of the three squad leaders washed over the edges of the Gwangpung Formation, erecting an even more formidable barrier.

The Phoenix’s flames—said to devour even fire itself—collided head-on with the Gwangpung Formation’s mightiest defensive array.

Kugugugugu!

The Gwangpung Formation’s defense was so solid it could ignore raw power, yet the Phoenix’s flames burned through the aura itself, beginning to crush the formation.

“Not yet.”
“Hold the line!”
“If even one of us falls back, we all die!”

Lunan Slion, Martha, and Burren Zigheart—the three squad leaders rallied the swordsmen’s resolve, while Mark Goeten stood at the vanguard, using his body to shield them from the inferno.

Yet the Phoenix’s flames never ceased, burrowing relentlessly toward the feet of the Gwangpung Corps.

‘A pity.’

I clicked my tongue softly. Had the Gwangpung Corps been just a touch stronger, they might have truly overcome those flames.
It pained me that they fell short by such a narrow margin.

‘Still, they did well.’

The unmistakable resolve of the Gwangpung Corps—so different from before—drew a natural smile from me.

I smiled with satisfaction and reached my hand toward the Phoenix’s flames.
What I summoned from my core was neither Manhwagong nor Glacia. It was the crimson flames that burned with breathtaking beauty—the Scarlet Flame I had received from Ifrit.

As I wielded the Scarlet Flame, which possessed dominion over fire itself, the Phoenix’s flames that had sought to devour the Gwangpung Corps lost their force, bending and flowing away to the left.

Kuwaaaaaaaang!

Where the flames met the lava, a tremendous explosion erupted. Dark clouds heavy with ash rose into the sky.

[You….]

The Phoenix turned its gaze toward me, its beak trembling.

[What have you done?]

Its blue eyes twisted, as if the very word “bewilderment” had been carved into them.

[Why do you possess such power….]
“….”

I examined the Phoenix’s feathers without answering.

‘Where is that creature’s weakness?’

The Phoenix’s beginning and end lay in those golden feathers. Just as dragons possessed reverse scales, the Phoenix concealed its vulnerability within specific plumage.

I wielded the Crimson Flame and Wrath’s demonic eyes simultaneously with Seolhwa’s senses.
As the resonating ring of fire amplified all three attributes, the Phoenix’s aura became tangible—as if I could touch it with my bare hands.

‘Beneath the right wing, perhaps.’

Subtle, but unmistakable—the flames beneath those feathers burned with less intensity than elsewhere. That had to be the weak point.

[Speak! How does a mere human wield such power….]
“My sister gave it to me.”
[S-Sister?]

I ignored the Phoenix’s bewilderment and stepped on the Heavenly Step. I launched myself skyward with explosive force, but the Phoenix hovered too high—my reach fell short.

[How dare you!]

The Phoenix, realizing I couldn’t reach it, sneered and swept its wings downward. Countless feathers unleashed a torrential downpour of flames.

‘Caught you.’

I bit down hard, then pushed off against the empty air with tremendous force, launching myself higher. It was the Gwimma Swordmaster’s technique—stepping through the void—which I’d witnessed before entering this place.

[Grrgh!]

The Phoenix panicked, flapping its wings to ascend even higher into the sky.

Despite pushing off once more from the air, a considerable distance still separated me from the creature.

[Foolish wretch!]

The Phoenix, embarrassed by its own alarm, narrowed its eyes and spread its wings wide.

[I’ll incinerate you where you stand!]

It exploited my inability to move freely in the air, concentrating flames at the tip of its beak.
The gathered inferno coalesced into a massive fireball that plummeted downward, the terrifying heat warping the very space around it.

I curled my lips upward as I watched the fireball hurtling toward me.

‘They think it’s over. But….’

This is where it truly begins.

I placed my hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Sword hanging at my waist. Gripping firmly, I awakened the Manhwa Palace within me.
Focusing inward rather than outward, I ignited the mana circuits throughout my entire body.

Chiiiiing!

Feeling both body and spirit fill with the flames of the Manhwa Palace, I simultaneously wielded Aris’s spatial sword technique and Ogram’s violent strike technique.

Crackle crackle crackle!

Using two unfamiliar techniques at once sent a searing pain through my mind as if it were being torn apart.

But this was the moment to endure the pain and push forward. Resonating the ring of fire, I drew the Heavenly Sword.

Swoooooosh!

The crimson blade erupting from its sheath disregarded the Phoenix’s sphere of flames and slashed beneath its left wing.

[Kiiiiieeeee!]

The Phoenix let out a scream of anguish that seemed impossible for a mere wing wound to produce.
Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, it began plummeting toward the ground as if consciousness had fled.

‘It’s not dead yet.’

My proficiency was still lacking, and I hadn’t been able to execute perfect swordplay while evading the fireball. The Phoenix was still alive.

I made my body heavy and descended rapidly to the ground, then charged toward the falling Phoenix.

[Disappear!]

True to its nature as a mystical creature, the Phoenix regained its senses in that brief moment and erected a wall of flames.

‘I anticipated this.’

I tilted the Heavenly Sword back and drew the Soul Reaper Sword. I drove the blue flash cascading down the crimson blade straight through.

Screeeech!

The Soul Reaper Sword pierced through the thick inferno, and once again, it savagely tore into the Phoenix’s weak point.

[Kyaaaaaaah!]

The Phoenix couldn’t bear the agony. Its eyes rolled back—it seemed to have lost all reason entirely.

I didn’t miss the opening. I thrust the Heavenly Sword I’d tilted back. The crimson-soaked heat line sliced across the Phoenix’s neck with a soft luminescence.

Gurgurgurgurgur!

The Phoenix’s massive body fell away, severed from its neck.

Kuuuuung!

The Phoenix’s head plummeted into the lava, while its body thrashed about, half-suspended on the ground.

“Wow….”
“How many swings was that? Three?”
“Yeah, three. So now he defeats the Phoenix in three sword swings….”
“Can’t even call him a monster anymore.”

The Gwangpung Unit shook their heads in disbelief.

“Is that… is that Raon Zigheart….”
“There’s a reason he’s called the Dragon Slayer.”
“Wait, is his epithet changing again? To Phoenix Slayer?”
“We have to compete with a monster like that…?”
“Suddenly I want to go home….”

The other warriors simply collapsed where they stood, shaking their heads in resignation.

[Not yet!]

Just as everyone’s strength drained away and they exhaled in defeat, the Phoenix’s voice echoed once more.

[You will never escape this place!]
“It’ll take you over ten years to resurrect, won’t it?”

I shook my head while observing the lava from which the Phoenix’s spiritual essence flowed.

The Phoenix was indeed a creature capable of resurrection, but it didn’t come back to life immediately.
From what I understood, it would be reborn from one of its feathers ten years after its death, so I couldn’t fathom why it was saying such things.

[This place is special. I can resurrect whenever I wish!]

The Phoenix ground its teeth, determined not to fall for deception this time.

“Hmm….”

I bit my lip while gazing down at the lava.

‘So it will resurrect within the lava.’

Even when the Phoenix resurrected, it wouldn’t possess its full power initially.
It would undoubtedly be reborn within the lava where humans couldn’t enter, regain its strength, and then emerge.

‘If I could just identify which feather it resurrects from, I could suppress it easily… wait?’

I blinked as I observed the Phoenix’s feathers scattered in all directions.

‘What is this?’

Perhaps because I was still channeling Crimson Flame, I could sense small sparks of fire burning from each of the Phoenix’s feathers.
These weren’t ordinary flames, but the very life force of the Phoenix I had just been fighting.

‘Could it be…’

Does it resurrect by using the life force embedded in the feathers?

[Wait! I’ll incinerate every last fragment, leaving not a single bone!]

The Phoenix continued to reveal its malice, as if resentful of being dead.

[I’ll chase you to the very end and melt you down. I’d rather die in lava than endure this!]
‘Perhaps….’

I ignored the Phoenix’s words and picked up a single feather that had fallen to the ground.

Whoooooosh!

I blended the Manhwa Palace and crimson flames together, channeling heat into the burning embers within the feather.

Blaze!

Suddenly the feather trembled violently, and an enormous sphere of flame shot upward as if touching the heavens.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The round flame split in half, and from within emerged a Phoenix roughly half the size of the one I’d seen before, tumbling down to the ground.

[I will absolutely not let you escape… chirp?]

The Phoenix had been spewing rage when it let out a chick’s cry, lifting its head in confusion. Its beak trembled as if bewildered.

[What, what is this! Why am I here….]
“This works.”

I smiled faintly, watching the Phoenix’s trembling eyes.

“What did you say a moment ago? Would you mind repeating it?”
[Ah….]

*

*

*

The Phoenix, bearing the name Kaiyan, stared at me with its beak agape as I chuckled.

‘How did this happen….’

I was preparing for resurrection within the lava when my consciousness was suddenly dragged outward, and I was forcibly resurrected.
I wanted to resist, but I couldn’t control it—as if I’d been sucked into a maelstrom.

[W-what in the world is happening? I wasn’t ready to resurrect yet!]
“Ah, I did it.”

The human waved his hand mockingly.

[What nonsense! How could you possibly resurrect me!]
“I just tried it. And it worked.”
[That makes no sense! Don’t lie to me!]
“Then let me try again.”

The human grinned wickedly and swung his hand. In that instant, the world split apart, and a sharp pain pierced my neck.

[Kyieeeek!]

Followed by an overwhelming agony, my vision darkened.

How much time had passed? I could feel my consciousness returning.

‘Phew, it was just a dream.’

Brief as it was, it had been terrifying.

The human forcibly resurrecting me—even as a dream, it was absurd. I was grateful it wasn’t real.

‘I must have been far too tense.’

It seemed I’d had a nightmare from the unexpected ordeal.
After resolving to fight properly next time, I was about to sense the energy of the feather I’d placed in the lava when—

Suddenly, my soul wouldn’t move, and I felt as though I were being torn outward.

‘C-could it be?’

I tried desperately to resist, but there was nothing I could do. Like my hair being grabbed, I was pulled straight outside.

[Squawk?]

When I opened my eyes, that irritating human was waving his hand.

“Did you see it?”
[Ah…]

Kaiyan stared at Raon with his mouth agape.

“Still don’t believe it? Want me to do it again?”
[No, wait! I believe you…]

Whoosh!

My vision was swallowed by darkness once more.

*

*

*

A tranquil land where gray mist hung like a canopy.

Delphos sat in an ornate chair that seemed out of place here, his eyes closed.
It was not rest—around him, an aura so intense it could crush steel writhed and coiled.

The aura that had raged like a tempest gradually subsided over time, honed to a razor’s edge that seemed to bleed killing intent, before returning to Delphos.

“This should suffice.”

As Delphos nodded with a satisfied smile, a black shadow rose behind him.

“Delphos.”

The Sabi Commander bowed his head to Delphos.

“All the key figures have descended to the Third Layer. Their wounds have worsened, and their mental fatigue appears to have doubled.”
“Casualties?”
“Many wounded, but almost no deaths.”

He nodded, saying that everything was proceeding according to plan.

“So what happened to that one?”
“Yes…?”

The Sabi Commander understood immediately who “that one” referred to, but his lips trembled as if he hadn’t heard.

“Raon Zigheart.”
“He’s, still in combat.”
“Still fighting? It seems he’s found it quite challenging.”

Delphos nodded with a faint smile.

“Didn’t I tell you? The Phoenix’s flames have nothing to do with fire attribute resistance.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“What?”
“Um….”

The Sabi Commander bit his lip as if reluctant to speak.

“Speak quickly.”
“He, he’s training with the Phoenix.”

He clutched his head as if unable to believe his own words.

“What nonsense is that?”

The gold-rimmed goblet in Delphos’s hand shattered.

“It’s true, sir. After killing the Phoenix, he resurrects it and trains in combat with….”
“Do you think that makes any sense right now?”
“It’s not a lie. I’m not entirely certain, but it appeared that Raon Zigheart could determine the location where the Phoenix resurrects.”
“…Bring it here.”

As he extended his hand, the Sabi Commander produced a circular crystal sphere. When he infused his aura into it, the interior began to glow.

Whooooooom!

A Lava Field where flames drenched both sky and earth.

From a small feather, the Phoenix was born. The Phoenix spread its massive wings, displaying overwhelming majesty that dominated the surroundings.

[Kieeeee!]

The swordsmen in black uniforms rushed forward as if they had been waiting and began striking the Phoenix relentlessly.

[Kyaaaaak!]

The Phoenix shrieked and emitted light, but having been resurrected not long ago, it couldn’t summon its full power and collapsed.

Then, as the golden-haired, red-eyed handsome youth grasped the feather that had fallen to the ground and exerted force, the feather ignited once more and the Phoenix was resurrected.

This time, the swordsmen positioned on the other side approached the Phoenix and began their battle.

Kyaaang!

Delphos’s grip loosened and he dropped the crystal sphere, shaking his head.

“What are these creatures…?”

*

*

*

“Next, Second Squad.”

I nodded at Lunan Slion with my hands clasped behind my back.

“Yes.”

Lunan Slion stepped forward with the Second Squad swordsmen.

I infused the Phoenix’s feather with the power of Manhwagong and threw it. Intense flames erupted from the feather, and the Phoenix was born.

[You, you fiends! Stop this!]
“Let’s go.”

Lunan advanced forward, scattering silver frost in his wake.

Whoooosh!

The Phoenix’s feathers, still unable to recover their power, froze solid.

The Second Squad swordsmen seized the opening while the Phoenix couldn’t move, rushing in from all sides to unleash their blade strikes.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

The Phoenix ignited flames and flapped its wings, but weakened as it was, the Gwangpung Corps pierced through the space filled with fire without much difficulty.

[Krrrrgh!]

After taking a beating from the Second Squad, the Phoenix rolled across the ground with feathers torn out.

[P-please! Stop… please stop….]

The Phoenix shook its head, begging for mercy.

[I’ve already died nearly twenty times! This is too much for me now!]

It cried out in anguish, pleading for them to stop.

“Hmm….”

I watched the Phoenix practically begging and smacked my lips.

“We still have more, sir!”

Burren Zigheart raised his hand.

“Organization Master! I’d like to face it one-on-one!”

Mark Goeten raised his hand, expressing his desire to fight directly.

“I see.”

I shook my finger at the Phoenix.

“Let’s finish them first and think about it later.”
[Wait, hold on!]

I sliced through the Phoenix and grasped its feather once more. As I infused the feather with flames, the Phoenix was born anew.

[Kyaaaaaaagh!]

Watching the Phoenix emerge not with a roar but with a scream, I flicked my fingers.

“I’m counting on you.”
“Let’s go!”
[Please, stop!]

Burren immediately charged at the newly resurrected Phoenix, and it flailed its wings with tearful eyes.

[I’m going to kill myself? I’m serious! I really will!]

The Phoenix thrashed its wings, threatening to end its own life.

-Using a Phoenix as a training dummy…

Wrath let out an exasperated sigh as he watched the tearful Phoenix.

-You don’t even deserve the title of demon! You absolute madman!
‘At least it’s better than eating it.’

As I muttered that it was better than you, the Phoenix’s tearful cry reached my ears.

[Just eat me instead! You wretched demons!]
“….”

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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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