The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 652

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

Chapter 652

I watched Sylvia face off against the Vice-Leader, a calm smile playing at my lips.

‘Her condition is excellent.’

Even having exerted her full strength to easily subdue Crisson, Sylvia’s aura and stamina depletion were minimal.

The Vice-Leader, meanwhile, was in an extremely agitated state after being mocked before countless spectators. The perfect conditions for Sylvia to face him had been created.

“It’s surprising that Sylvia crushed Crisson so easily, but honestly, there’s no need to watch this match.”
“Right. It’s a Master versus Grand Master fight, after all.”
“Realistically, it won’t be easy to deplete his stamina or aura, will it?”
“Still, you never know. Seeing how she dominated Crisson like that, there’s definitely a chance!”
“A chance? Stop spouting nonsense.”
“I’ve got money on this. Gotta keep the dream alive, right?”

Most of the spectators, regardless of the actual outcome of the duel, already regarded the confrontation between Sylvia and the Vice-Leader as decided.

-Hey.

Wrath glared at the spectators before turning his gaze toward me.

-Do you think your mother can win?
‘My answer remains the same.’

I shook my head calmly.

‘If we fought a thousand times, she’d lose nine hundred ninety-nine. Unless today is that one singular victory, she’ll lose for certain.’

I had revealed the Vice-Leader’s swordsmanship to Sylvia and even imparted the martial techniques to counter it.

But the opponent was a Grand Master, far beyond Sylvia’s level.
Even with a dantian forged from a Dragon Heart and complete knowledge of all his martial techniques, victory was nearly impossible.

-The True Demon King believes that if he fought a thousand times, he would lose all thousand.

Wrath clicked his tongue briefly as he watched Sylvia’s back.

-But you said how one conducts oneself matters too, didn’t you?
‘That’s right.’
-Then I shall watch quietly. How your mother conducts herself. What it is you truly desire.

He settled onto my shoulder with those words.

‘I know, but she’s not your mother.’

I chuckled softly and stepped forward toward the Sparring Arena.

“Mother.”

I called out to her just as I had this morning, waving my hand.

“Raon?”

Sylvia turned around. Her pupils had hardened like plaster. It was clear she was deeply tense, given the caliber of her opponent.

“Think back on the training you’ve done until now.”

I offered the most essential advice needed to ease her tension.

“Yes. That’s right.”

Sylvia nodded, her lips pressed firmly together.

“I cannot endure that hellish ordeal again.”

Her rigid gaze softened before filling with a wild fervor.

“Uh…”

I shook my head with a troubled expression.

‘That wasn’t what I meant.’

I had hoped to ease her tension, but not in this manner.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Sylvia nodded gratefully and made her way toward the center of the Sparring Arena.

‘Not the gleam of one seeking victory, nor the shadow of one fearing defeat.’

She understood better than anyone here how difficult it would be for her to win.
Yet she harbored no thoughts of losing. Only the resolve to prove herself burned within her.

“Are both of you ready?”

The Announcer, seeming most tense himself, drew a deep breath before approaching Sylvia and the Vice-Leader.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Sylvia answered in a calm tone, gripping her sword hilt firmly.

“Ready.”

The Vice-Leader’s face flushed crimson as he continued to dwell on the humiliation Sylvia had inflicted moments before, nodding sharply with his teeth clenched as if demanding the match begin immediately.

Upon hearing both were prepared, the Announcer glanced toward the highest Platform. Glen too closed his eyes, signaling his approval to begin.

“Then….”

The Announcer stepped between Sylvia and the Vice-Leader, raising his hand.

“The second duel begins!”

The moment he dropped his raised hand and stepped back, the Vice-Leader moved. He charged forward savagely, determined to dispatch Sylvia as quickly as possible.
He charged forward fiercely, as if intent on disposing of Sylvia as quickly as possible.

Ding!

Vice-Leader’s sword technique, imbued with extreme speed, extended toward Sylvia’s collarbone.

She rotated her body like the rippling surface of a tranquil lake, evading the Vice-Leader’s blade strike with perfect grace.
He spun his body like the rippling waves of the Lake, perfectly evading the Vice-Leader’s sword strike.

“Tsk.”

The Vice-Leader clicked his tongue in displeasure and abruptly bent the trajectory of his sword that had been extending in a straight line. His blade flashed white as it descended toward Sylvia’s head.

Thwoom!

Sylvia stepped forward using only her right foot. Her body glided across the ice field to the right.

Craaash!

The Vice-Leader’s surprise attack crushed the ground instead of Sylvia, then came to a halt.

“Huff…”

Sylvia exhaled with slightly ragged breathing and held her sword at mid-guard.

“Your movements are quite impressive.”

The Vice-Leader furrowed his brow and pulled his sword free from the Sparring Arena.
His eyes grew cold as he charged toward Sylvia. His footwork was swift yet enigmatic, leaving afterimages despite his proximity.

“Hngh!”

Sylvia drew in a sharp breath and retreated to the left. She deflected the Vice-Leader’s blade strike that came like light itself, then moved counterclockwise.
She used the full breadth of the Sparring Arena to create paths of evasion against his relentless assault.

“Grrr!”

The Vice-Leader bared his white teeth in frustration at Sylvia, who seemed only to flee.

“Slippery as an eel!”

His sword blazed with brilliant light, manifesting three luminous blades. This was the manifestation of Sipjong Geomgyeol. The three radiant swords pressed in from Sylvia’s left and right.

Sylvia took a step back upon seeing the Vice-Leader’s sword transform into three. Drawing half a breath, she infused her blade, angled low, with the majestic flow of a mighty river.

Shiiing!

A wave-like surge of steel twisted the luminous blades and cut across the Vice-Leader’s shoulder. Though his aura shield prevented a deep wound, crimson blood still streamed from his shoulder.

“Huff….”

Sylvia showed no joy despite wounding the Vice-Leader, keeping her stance low as she prepared her next move.

“Hah….”

The Vice-Leader stared at his blood-pooled shoulder with eyes wide in disbelief. His irises began to tint crimson.

-Now it truly begins.
‘No.’

I bit my lip as I watched the blood dripping from Sylvia’s sword.

‘We haven’t even started yet.’

*

*

*

Vice-Leader Kiluwan furrowed his brow as he unfolded the Sipjong Geomgyeol.

‘What is this.’

I had intended to dispose of Sylvia as quickly as possible and face Raon, but that damned woman possessed an absurdly uncanny talent for evasion.

Even with Master-tier supreme sword strikes that should have inevitably found their mark, she deflected every assault as though she could peer into my very thoughts.

‘Is she hiding her true power?’

No, that couldn’t possibly be it.

Sylvia’s complexion was ashen, cold sweat streaming down her forehead. There was not a shred of composure in her expression.

I twisted my lips as I observed the shoulder wound that had already healed.

‘That’s right. I simply let my guard down.’

It’s true that I ignored Sylvia to focus on Raon. If I fought properly from now on, I could win within ten exchanges.

‘Still, I can’t use Kangwhan.’

Kangwhan and the later techniques of Sipjong Geomgyeol possessed lethal power, but they consumed aura heavily.
Since my duel with Raon Zigheart would follow immediately after, I had to conserve my strength as much as possible.

‘I’ll end this with technique alone.’

Sipjong Geomgyeol had thirty-six techniques in total. Until now, I had only unleashed the first twelve, but I decided to deploy the middle twelve techniques to finish quickly.

Shiiiiing!

Kiluwan’s eyes grew calm and serene as his blade transformed into five streaks of luminous light that extended outward.

Shiiing!

The blazing blades of light descended like a tiger, targeting Sylvia’s arms and legs simultaneously. It was the Eunsa Chulram of Sipjong Geomgyeol—a technique that grew faster the more one retreated.

Given Sylvia’s movements so far, she would surely step back, making this the worst possible technique for her.

Boom!

But Sylvia didn’t retreat with her lips pressed tightly together. Instead, she charged forward.

‘What…?’

Kiluwan’s eyes widened as he watched Sylvia approach.

‘This can’t be!’

Rather than panicking and retreating, she rushed toward the blade—a movement completely beyond his expectations.

With a single motion, Sylvia neutralized the Eunsa Chulram and unleashed a brilliant blue light.

Piaaaaang!

The radiant aura contained within her sword strike surged toward Kiluwan’s waist.

‘Damn it!’

Kiluwan ground his teeth. Since he hadn’t considered defense at all, it was too late to block with his sword. He mobilized his aura to erect a wall of energy along his waist.

Shwaaaack!

Sylvia’s blade tore through the aura wall and slashed across his waist, continuing past. The wound opened, and crimson blood sprayed forth. Though the bleeding stopped quickly, the throbbing pain ignited his irritation.

“Huff!”

Sylvia’s shoulders heaved as if her entire body was breathing. Cold sweat streamed across her entire face. Seeing her like that only twisted my insides further.

“How dare you!”

Kiluwan bit his lips until they bled and executed his footwork. His body moved like light itself, materializing before Sylvia.

Paaaaang!

Five blades of light flashed with vicious intent, allowing no time to evade. It was the Muryeong Chwisum, the fifteenth technique of the Sipjong Geomgyeol, infused with extreme speed.

Sylvia neither rushed forward nor retreated. She stepped her left foot ahead while arching her waist backward.
The five blades of Muryeong Chwisum missed her nose by the thickness of paper, passing by. Golden strands of her hair, severed by the blade wind, scattered ethereally.

“Excellent! Let’s see how far you can evade!”

Kiluwan’s veins bulged on his forehead as he unleashed the fifteenth technique of the Sipjong Geomgyeol—Hwaryeon Seonpung. Six blades converged like a pinwheel, descending upon Sylvia.

Chiiiiing!

The blades, rotating as one, split apart just before reaching Sylvia, targeting her arms, legs, and neck.

Kyaaaang!

Sylvia showed no surprise this time either. With her lips pressed firmly shut, she drew circles with the swords in both hands. Undulating waves of aura completely suppressed the blades of Hwaryeon Seonpung.

“Heh…”

Kiluwan swallowed dryly as he watched Hwaryeon Seonpung dissipate.

‘It has to be a coincidence.’

A coward like that breaking the Sipjong Geomgyeol? Impossible!

Grinding my teeth, I unleashed Hyeoncholgonok, the strongest of the twelve mid-tier techniques, filling the empty space with the trajectory of luminous sword strikes aimed at both of Sylvia’s shoulders.

Chiiing!

Sylvia twisted her blade with precision and raised it like a soaring hawk. Kiluwan’s sword strike descended like a lightning rod driving thunder into the earth, traveling down her blade to strike the ground.

Kuwaaaaang!

Because the force didn’t diminish at all, the center of the Sparring Arena where the Hyeoncheol Gonogyeok poured down was completely destroyed.

“Ugh….”

Sylvia clutched her chest as if suffering internal injuries, letting out a groan. Yet she maintained her grip on her sword and fixed me with a solemn gaze, showing her resolve to continue fighting.

‘Just a hair’s breadth.’

Kiluwan clenched his fist as he observed the unwavering resolve in Sylvia’s eyes.

‘It’s been just a hair’s breadth every single time.’

A few times could be coincidence, but evading attacks with paper-thin margins all the way through the mid-tier twelve techniques—that was no accident.

‘She knows my swordsmanship. She knows the Sipjong Geomgyeol.’

Without that, the exchanges we’ve had so far would have been impossible.

‘Could it be….’

Kiluwan glanced at Raon standing behind Sylvia. He wore a leisurely smile.

‘Was the martial arts manual that he requested from the Head of House the Sipjong Geomgyeol?’

Now it made sense. Raon had used his wish not to obtain some other martial art, but my Sipjong Geomgyeol itself.

‘He’s insane. Completely out of his mind!’

Sipjong Geomgyeol was certainly not a poor martial art, but it was far from the supreme technique capable of touching transcendence.
I couldn’t believe he had accepted Sipjong Geomgyeol and caused all this trouble when he could have obtained a far superior martial art suited to him.

Kiluwan bit his lip as he met Raon’s gaze, which seemed to say, ‘Now you understand?’

‘I fell into their trap from the beginning.’

The excitement, the restraint to conserve strength for the battle to follow—it had all been a scheme orchestrated by Raon Zigheart and Sylvia.

‘I’ve been humiliated, but it’s not over yet.’

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her excited heart.

‘I’ll end this decisively.’

If I continued to hold back, I would only end up expending more strength.
I had to draw Sylvia out as quickly as possible, using not just the final twelve-second form, but even Sword Resonance if necessary.

“You’ve used your head quite well. But….”

Kiluwan’s chilling gaze fixed upon Sylvia.

“Your opportunity has ended.”

Spiraling aura coalesced from his blade, erupting into a tremendous explosion of light.

*

*

*

‘Sword Resonance….’

Sylvia bit her lip as she beheld the massive Sword Resonance blazing from the Vice-Leader’s blade.

‘So this is where it truly begins.’

The Vice-Leader had been holding back his strength all this time because of Raon, whom he would face next.
But upon realizing that I had grasped the Sipjong Geomgyeol, he seemed to have made the decision to end this quickly.

Gugugugugu.

The sword of light that had originally been composed of pure aura was now burning as a blazing inferno.
My heart clenched as if I couldn’t breathe just from witnessing it.

To be honest, my body felt as heavy as a water-soaked sponge from the fighting so far. I had sustained internal injuries too, sharp pain radiating through my abdomen and chest.

But this is not the time to fall. I will not close my eyes until I see the end of this battle with my own eyes.

Swoooosh!

The Vice-Leader charges forward without any defensive stance. His blade strikes twice as fast as before.

‘Hwiamakyeol!’

The Hwiamakyeol of the Sipjong Geomgyeol was a technique that simultaneously targeted the opponent’s waist and lower body, containing both tremendous speed and illusions and variations that made it impossible to discern exactly where the strike was aimed.

Sylvia’s hand trembled as she gripped her sword, watching the Vice-Leader’s blade bore down on her fiercely.

‘Focus.’

A single moment of misjudgment could decide victory or defeat. I had to concentrate until the end and find where he was aiming.

Ching!

The Vice-Leader’s blade, now inches from my face, descends sharply like drawing a thundercloud. His target was my right flank.

Thud!

I planted my left foot firmly. Using my left ankle as a pivot, I leaned my right upper body backward.

Ching!

The Vice-Leader’s blade grazes past my waist. Sharp pain struck as if flesh were being torn away, but I ignored it.
I pushed my right foot forward from its retreated position and thrust my sword toward the Vice-Leader’s thigh.

Screeeech!

The Vice-Leader’s aura barrier was weaker than before, his concentration divided between me and the River of Strength. The blade bit deeper than the wounds on my shoulder and waist.

But my injury was far more severe. The internal damage worsened, and searing pain engulfed my entire body.

Yet I had no time to recover. The Vice-Leader charged forward, ignoring his own wound as if determined to end this now.
His blade, forged from the River of Strength, multiplied into eight. He was unleashing the latter twelve-second technique.

Whoooosh!

The River of Strength, shimmering with white light, descended with the elegant grace of a dancer’s fingertips. If I tried to block it head-on, my body would be crushed.

I deployed the Wandering Footwork that Raon had taught me. Five of the Rivers of Strength I evaded by twisting my body, while the ones targeting my head and chest I redirected using concentrated aura.

Boom!

Even without clashing directly with the Rivers of Strength, merely redirecting them shattered my wrists and made me retch. The internal injuries I had forcibly suppressed worsened.

‘Not yet….’

Despite the agony consuming my mind, Sylvia refused to retreat.

‘Not yet.’

I pushed through the torrent of Rivers of Strength saturated with killing intent and malice, launching a counterattack. My blade, piercing through a momentary gap, slashed the Vice-Leader’s forearm.

“Cough….”

Though I had struck the blow, it was I who coughed up blood. Blackened blood stained my lips.

“Go ahead and struggle to the bitter end!”

The Vice-Leader’s blade flared with brilliant light. Eight blades infused with intent enveloped Sylvia’s surroundings.

Sylvia bit her tongue. Even in this extreme situation, she maintained her composure, distinguishing between the Rivers of Strength she could evade and those she must parry.

Clash!

In a span of time barely allowing for a single blink, I completed my calculations, stepped into the Wandering Steps, and drew sword barriers to my right and forward.

Shhhhhhk!

But time was too tight, and I was overpowered in strength—my collarbone and thigh were slashed.
Because I was caught by the Gangwhan, even with my aura barrier raised, chunks of flesh were carved away. Blood that was difficult to block even with aura sprayed out, drenching my head and clothes.

“So your death throes end here.”

The Vice-Leader twisted his lips as if everything was finished, then drew his sword down diagonally. Following the sharply falling blade, a fan-shaped Gangwhan that seemed to fill the entire Sparring Arena extended outward.
The Sipjong Geomgyeol’s absolute technique—Chamyejungseon. A fan-shaped energy wave spread out following the blade’s trajectory.

“Huff….”

Sylvia abandoned her attempt to stop the bleeding. She pulled even the aura she had been using for hemostasis and poured it onto her blade.

‘Chamyejungseon has a wide range, so there are gaps.’

Perhaps because I was concentrating at my limit, time flowed slowly. The energy sense I hadn’t withdrawn until the end found the gap in Chamyejungseon.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

Sylvia unleashed a demonic shout and struck her strong energy downward toward the gap she had perceived with her energy sense. A blue radiance poured down like a magnificent waterfall.

Craaaaaack!

The right wing of Chamyejungseon shattered like thin glass.

Boom!

Sylvia slipped through the gap and moved to the Vice-Leader’s right side, thrusting her sword forward. A cyan light flashed from the blade’s tip, piercing through the Vice-Leader’s aura barrier and tearing across his abdomen. A small hole opened, and blood flowed from his belly.
A brilliant blue light flashed from the sword and pierced through the Vice-Leader’s aura barrier, slashing across his abdomen. A small hole opened, and blood streamed down from his stomach.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

The Vice-Leader let out a terrible cry and swung his sword. The River exploded downward like a bombardment.

“Ugh…”

Sylvia threw herself forward, but she couldn’t completely escape the Vice-Leader’s explosive bombardment. Her waist and calves were torn open brutally.

“How far will you go, you wench!”

The Vice-Leader regarded Sylvia with an expression of exasperation.

“Hah….”

Sylvia smiled faintly as she observed the Vice-Leader’s contorted expression. Despite her vision blurring, she could see exactly what kind of face he was making.

‘Now this feels satisfying.’

Ever since he tormented the handmaidens in the Annex Building, I had wanted to see him make this expression. I was thrilled that it was I who created this face, not Raon.

It would have been impossible without Raon’s teachings and the dantian formed by the Dragon Heart. In this moment, I was so grateful for my son.

“Thank you for underestimating me.”

Sylvia swallowed the blood that had risen up her throat due to her worsening internal injuries, and smiled.

Her hair, which had been tied back, had come undone and hung loosely. Her entire body was drenched in blood as if red paint had been poured over her.
Yet the hand holding her sword did not lower. Even if her grip was torn to shreds, she kept her blade raised to the very end.

“Shut up. Shut your mouth!”

The Vice-Leader roared and charged forward. Like an enraged bull. Now there was no more composure in his blade either. His mind was filled with only one conviction: to win with all his might.

Screeeech!

Even as she defended, blood sprayed upward past her shoulder. The Vice-Leader’s blade grazed her deeply as it passed.

‘He’s changed….’

As the Vice-Leader unleashed his full power, the techniques of the Sipjong Geomgyeol that I knew so well became incomprehensibly swift and intricate.

Sylvia dodged the explosive bombardment raining down on her head by a hair’s breadth, biting her lip. This was truly the limit. A single moment of misjudgment seemed as though it would lead not to defeat, but to death.

Screeeech!

My abdomen was slashed open. The pain was so intense I wanted to collapse right there, but I bit my lip and tore across the Vice-Leader’s waist.

Chunks of flesh from his thigh fell away, and so much blood poured out that it was enough to make one lose consciousness. A chill ran down my spine, but I bit my tongue and slashed at the Vice-Leader’s ankle.

The exchange continued—I lost flesh and bone with every strike.

The Vice-Leader, with his abundant aura reserves, only suffered surface wounds, but with each clash of blades, it felt as though my very life was being torn away.

The pain was excruciating. Unbearable, relentless agony.

Yet I could endure it. Physical suffering could never match the torment of the soul.

Compared to the anguish of failing to protect my family, the sorrow of being unable to save the handmaidens I had come to think of as my own children, these wounds were nothing.

Sylvia laughed, drenched in blood. Within the form of a Blood Ghost, a tender smile bloomed. She was beautiful and terrifying all at once.

“You insane woman!”

The Vice-Leader’s teeth chattered as he retreated.

“You! What are you doing?! Won’t you stop her after seeing her like that?!”

He screamed at Raon, demanding he stop Sylvia.

But Raon stood motionless, arms crossed. His gaze remained fixed on the Sparring Arena, his eyes unwavering—a silent testament to his trust in Sylvia.

“Grr! Fine! I’ll end this once and for all!”

Cold sweat dripping down his face, the Vice-Leader unleashed the Sipjong Geomgyeol’s ultimate technique—Windstorm Phantom Slash. Ten radiant blades spun across the sky, conjuring a massive tempest of light.

The storm of brilliant force spread across the entire Sparring Arena, intent on consuming Sylvia whole, scattering fragments of light in all directions.

Sylvia bit her lip as she faced the suffocating tempest of light that seemed to crush her body.

‘Windstorm Phantom Slash.’

It was the Sipjong Geomgyeol technique Raon had taught me with the most meticulous care.
A killing technique that cornered the opponent before severing their life in a single instant. To defend against it, one had to seize the moment when the aura converged.

I closed my eyes as if awaiting death, sharpening my senses to their limit. My perception, honed to its edge by agony, read every nuance of the Windstorm Demon Slash’s flow.

Kuuuuuuuung!

The blade of light that had been tearing through the sky and earth compressed above Sylvia’s head.

In that instant, Sylvia raised her sword. Her previously hazy eyes flashed with crimson light.

A brilliant azure radiance ascended along her blade, unfolding in an elegant dance. The blue blade pierced through the gaps between the light blades, striking straight through the heart of the Windstorm Demon Slash.

Kuwaaaaaaaang!

A massive shockwave erupted and spread across the entire Grand Training Grounds before the sword strike could even take its proper form, exploding outward.

“Ah….”

The Vice-Leader, caught in the middle of his technique, couldn’t move from the impact.

“Ugh….”

Sylvia stumbled forward. With each step, blood soaked the ground.
With a trembling arm, she raised her sword and brought it down directly toward the Vice-Leader’s head.

But her strength had run out. The blade didn’t cleave through the Vice-Leader’s head—it merely tapped him lightly before falling away.

Kyaaang!

Sylvia’s sword clattered to the ground. Sensing she had reached her limit, she smiled at the Vice-Leader.

“…I have lost. But Hwigwangryu has not.”

With those words, she began to fall backward. Yet her back never touched the ground.

Raon had appeared and was supporting her back.

“You… just who are you people….”

Raon didn’t look at the Vice-Leader. He gently wiped the blood from Sylvia’s face with his hand, then carried her down from the Sparring Arena.

His touch was so noble that not a single person among the many gathered in the Sparring Arena could open their mouth. Time seemed to have stopped.

“You’ve done well.”

I smiled softly as I watched Sylvia, who had not walked down on her own feet as I had said she would.

The victor and the vanquished had been decided. Yet the victor’s face was twisted in agony, while the vanquished wore a radiant smile. It seemed the outcome had been reversed.

“W-what is Hwigwangryu?”

The Vice-Leader wiped away a thin stream of blood trickling down his forehead and cried out as if grinding his teeth.

“The martial art of the Annex Building and….”

I answered while brushing back Sylvia’s hair. A crimson flash of lightning flickered across my eyes as I turned to face him.

“The martial art that will bring you down.”

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