The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 878
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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 878
“….”
I dispersed the oppressive heat that filled the Tunnel, allowing everyone to enter, and turned my gaze toward the West Side.
“Why are you looking over there? Is something wrong?”
Martha tilted her head, questioning why I was gazing in a different direction.
“…No, nothing.”
I slowly lowered my gaze and stepped into the Tunnel where the heat had subsided.
Palentun had mentioned there were stairs shaped like a sword, but all that remained were grotesquely melted chunks of metal.
The iron stairs had melted away like ice cream under that fierce inferno.
‘Now that I’m inside, I can sense the demonic energy.’
Unlike the exterior, upon entering the Grey Hammer Guild’s stronghold, I could feel the Balrog’s demonic energy emanating from deep below.
However, the demonic energy wasn’t as dense as the heat here. It felt more like sensing the aura of a master swordsman or the fighting spirit of a supreme-tier Monster.
“Ah….”
Upon seeing the sword-shaped stairs he had personally crafted crumble to ruin, Palentun’s emotions intensified, and he bit his lip until blood dripped.
“Ah, there’s no one left….”
He clutched his head as he gazed at the Underground Village consumed by lava and flames. His last glimmer of hope had shattered, plunging him into despair.
“Damn it! Damn it!”
As Palentun struck the ground with his fists and let out a anguished cry, red-skinned demons burst forth from the flames and lava that had devoured the village.
“Kyaaaagh!”
“Kiaaaaah!”
It was small, no different in size from a Goblin, but its movements were faster than those of a seasoned swordsman, and it wielded a flaming spear in its grasp. In terms of pure combat prowess, it was upper-tier Monster class.
“W-what is that thing? A Red Goblin?”
Dorian recoiled with a gasp, clearly unnerved by the unfamiliar Monster before him.
-A Red Bes has appeared. So it’s confirmed.
Wrath snorted as he observed the crimson-skinned demon.
‘Red Bes?’
-The lowest-ranking Demon Race, enthralled by Balrog’s power and serving under them. Just as the True Demon King predicted, the creatures in this underground are Balrogs.
He waved his hand dismissively, indicating there was nothing more to see.
‘In other words, small fry.’
I brought the Heavenly Sword down upon the charging Red Bes.
Whoooosh!
The moment the blade’s edge touched the ground, a brilliant azure flash erupted, and the Red Bes’s body exploded into fragments.
All that remained were the flaming footprints the Red Bes had left in its wake.
“Pathetic wretches!”
Burren unleashed a furious gale, cleaving a Red Bes in two.
“You dare act cocky as a Goblin?”
Martha snorted and drove her blade downward, crushing the approaching Red Bes flat against the ground before it could even reach her.
“Hideous things….”
Lunan drove Seolhwa into the earth, and frost scattered in all directions, freezing the arms and legs of the Red Bes that had been rushing in from behind.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Kyiiiiik!”
As the Red Beasts sensed their disadvantage in power and attempted to retreat back into the lava, a blue light flashed brilliantly.
Crash!
It was Sheryl. The magnificent sword strike erupting from her twin blades tore through the Red Beasts and the flames concealing them.
“Palentun.”
I confirmed that all the Red Beasts had vanished before approaching Palentun.
“The monster that attacked this Underground Village appears to be beneath that tunnel.”
I pointed to the large cavern that had appeared in the ground split open by lava and flames.
“Hmm….”
Palentun’s lips trembled as he gazed upon the earth stained with his comrades’ blood.
“I… I don’t think I can go down there.”
It wasn’t Balrog he feared—it was the worst possible future, that all his comrades might be dead.
“Don’t worry.”
I placed my hand on Palentun’s shoulder and offered a warm smile.
“If they’re alive, I will save them no matter what it takes.”
I nodded, telling him to trust me.
“It’ll be fine!”
Dorian supported Palentun and managed a forced smile.
“Our Organization Master always keeps his word.”
“That’s right. He may look delicate, but his actions are those of a true warrior.”
Martha also nodded knowingly, her lips curling upward.
“Yes. I’m sure we’ll be able to save him….”
Lunan Slion nodded while spreading a barrier of frost to prevent Palentun and the others from tiring themselves out opening the way.
Seeing him speak longer than usual, he was clearly showing consideration for Palentun in various ways.
“Show some respect when talking to an adult!”
Burren Zigheart furrowed his brow at Martha and Lunan Slion.
“I apologize for the children’s rudeness. However, every word I’ve said comes from the heart. I will do my utmost to help as well.”
He took a sword salute stance to reassure the anxious Palentun.
“They’ve grown well.”
Sheryl watched Burren Zigheart, Martha, Lunan Slion, and Dorian from behind and nodded gently.
“Those shabby little ones have changed so much.”
She drew a deep smile, delighted by the growth of children she had only seen as young.
-Indeed, that’s right!
Wrath nodded with his mouth covered.
-They’ve truly grown so much! They were all so dull-witted, but how did they become like this….
He sniffled his nose as he spoke with emotion.
‘You didn’t raise them anyway. That’s enough.’
I grabbed Wrath’s tail and pulled him forward.
‘There’s no way that Balrog who abandoned the Demon Lords is down here, right?’
Even if I had transcended, defeating a Demon Lord-class monster would be impossible. I needed to make sure of that.
-If that bastard had come up to the Human Realm, he would’ve already burst out and gone straight to your grandfather.
‘That’s it…?’
-Besides, he’s the type who loves showing himself off, so there’s no way we wouldn’t know.
Wrath shook his head, saying that Balrog wasn’t down here.
‘Then it doesn’t matter.’
I said I could handle it directly and rotated my wrist.
-You should’ve sensed the Balrog’s aura down there, yet you say it doesn’t matter?
Wrath tilted his chin with interest.
‘You said it yourself. You’re the Balrog’s weakness.’
I laughed while adjusting my grip on the Heavenly Sword.
‘Then I’d be afraid too. If that weren’t the case….’
I twisted my lips while summoning Glacia’s chill over my palm.
‘I’ll just make it that way.’
-Kkhehehe!
Wrath twisted his lips upward.
-It’s been a while since you’ve given me an answer I like!
He clapped his hands, pleased with my confidence.
‘But why did the Balrog appear here in the first place?’
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Wrath.
‘Didn’t you say there were several measures needed to enter or leave the Demon Realm?’
-That’s right. It’s not an easy thing to do.
‘Then how did the Balrog down there get here?’
I couldn’t fathom how he’d crossed a dimensional barrier that even the Demon Lords couldn’t traverse with ease.
Especially since this land had been used by the Dwarves for centuries, and they’d never disturbed the geothermal energy more than necessary.
Balrog’s appearance itself was an impossibility.
-You’ve become quite the actor yourself. Why ask when you already know?
Wrath snorted as if to say he knew full well what I was getting at.
-Some damned fools must have summoned him.
*
*
*
Western Hill of Hwaryangsan.
The shadow of a boulder rippled, and a white-haired man and a blue-haired woman rose from the darkness.
“Besides the Dwarf, who are these other humans?”
The white-haired man furrowed his dark eyes as he spoke.
“Likely…”
The blue-haired woman exhaled sharply and parted her lips.
“It appears to be Raon Zigheart, Commander of the Gwangpung Corps, Sheryl, Master of the Heavenly Sword Order, and three unit captains from the Gwangpung Corps.”
“Raon Zigheart? You mean that monster who recently ascended to transcendence?”
The white-haired man’s brows deepened.
“Yes. There is no other young warrior with golden hair and red eyes who radiates such aura as Raon Zigheart.”
The blue-haired woman lowered her head, certain of her assessment.
“Why did you come here? Is it related to the Grey Hammer Guild?”
“A few years ago, we clashed with them near this area over Drake’s matter of accumulating demonic energy. I heard they received Drake’s corpse, so it seems to be because of that.”
She recounted the past events in detail as if she had witnessed them firsthand.
“A brat who could barely handle a Sub-Lord has transcended in less than ten years. It’s absurd.”
The White-haired Man muttered that it made no sense and exhaled a hollow breath.
“What will you do?”
The Blue-haired Woman bowed her waist, indicating she would follow any course of action.
“What would happen if Raon Zigheart and Balrog clashed?”
“Even if Raon Zigheart has reached transcendence, he’s still at the beginning stage and won’t be able to defeat Balrog. However, since the Heavenly Sword Master is also nearly at transcendence, he won’t die.”
She narrowed her eyes, suggesting that Raon would be able to escape.
“Since I’ve emerged from the Tower after so long, I should bring a gift for the Tower Master.”
The White-haired Man stained his fingernails black. He drew a sinister smile and disappeared back into the shadows.
*
*
*
“Phew.”
I furrowed my brow as I pushed down the flames that had risen above my head.
‘The heat keeps growing stronger.’
I had fire attribute resistance, so I was fine, but I could see the others growing exhausted from the heat.
Even as I pushed back the heat with wind and cold energy, the endless waves of flames and lava made it difficult to maintain focus.
“It feels like swimming in lava. Absolutely maddening.”
Martha swept back her sweat-drenched hair and gritted her teeth.
“Ugh….”
Burren, equally exhausted by the heat, trembled as he deliberated whether to unbutton his uniform.
“I-I can see a marble ice cream….”
Lunan, vulnerable to the heat, hung his tongue out long like a half-melted ice cream, his shoulders drooping limply.
Yet even amidst this, he maintained the barrier of cold air to protect Palentun and the others.
“This is exactly what a quartermaster like me is for!”
Dorian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and pulled a fire-resistance robe and a water-made bracelet from his ship’s pouch.
The moment he equipped both items, the exhausted faces around him began to brighten.
“Thank you. You saved us.”
“You’re usually useless as dust, but you’re actually helpful in times like these!”
“Yeah. Yeah.”
Burren, Martha, and Lunan all smiled and praised Dorian.
“Hehe. No, it’s only natural….”
Dorian was scratching his head with a bashful laugh when it happened.
The crimson smoke that had obscured their vision settled, and the end of the tunnel came into view.
Roooaarrr!
Across the barren wasteland where lava flowed, countless Demon Races of various sizes stood in military formation.
Dwarves and human craftsmen stood atop the molten metal, striking their hammers. From the irregular rhythm of their blows, one could sense the terror that gripped their souls.
Whoooosh!
Brilliant azure flames converged above the swirling abyss of scorching air, establishing the throne of Togui the King.
The demon resting its chin on the armrest of the elevated Jade Throne radiated an aura so magnificent it seemed to dominate the entire world.
Five horns jutted from its forehead, wings crafted from feathers of flame spread across its back, and above its brilliantly gleaming eyes burned an insatiable hunger for battle.
The sight of lesser demons mocking humans while the colossal Demon King observed their torment with leisurely indifference resembled the very image of Hell depicted in ancient tales and primordial artwork.
“This… this can’t be real…”
Dorian’s hand trembled violently around his sword’s hilt, clearly unprepared for such a spectacle.
“Those damned bastards!”
Martha’s teeth ground audibly as she raised her blade.
“Haa.”
Lunan Slion’s eyes narrowed with fury as he scattered frost in all directions—an effort to minimize the suffering of the Dwarf and people being burned by the flames.
-That Balrog has some skill, I’ll give him that.
Wrath nodded, confirming what he’d sensed from above.
‘…He’s right.’
I nodded in agreement. The aura radiating from the Balrog seated on the Jade Throne exceeded my own.
Even sitting motionless, the overwhelming heat it emanated felt potent enough to incinerate my skin.
“Raon. Can we fight?”
Burren Zigheart asked, chewing his lips. Though naturally composed, he seemed more enraged than anyone else in the face of such injustice.
“Of course.”
I nodded, my gaze fixed on the Balrog seated upon the throne.
“Fight as you wish.”
The moment I gave the command, Burren Zigheart, Martha, and Lunan Slion kicked off the ground. Even Dorian, his expression trembling with emotion, charged toward the demons.
“I’ll take care of the children.”
Sheryl followed behind the three squad leaders with a faint smile, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.
Crash!
The subordinates of Balrog beneath the Jade Throne were formidable, but with Sheryl’s assistance, the squad leaders should be able to dispatch them without too much difficulty.
“Th-this is….”
Borgos, whose neck was bound by a chain of flames, widened his eyes as he watched the evil spirits perish.
“Chieftain! Are you alright?”
Palentun rushed forward and grasped Borgos’s hand, blood streaming from his abdomen.
“P-Palentun! How did you….”
“I’ve returned! And I’ve brought the person the chieftain called for!”
He raised his finger and pointed toward me.
“Ah!”
A glimmer of moisture caught in Borgos’s cunning eyes.
“Raon Zigheart….”
His jaw trembled with emotion—not for his own survival, but for the salvation of the other dwarves and craftsmen.
“Filthy demon bastards!”
“Die, all of you!”
“….”
It was as Burren, Martha, and Lunan Slion drove back the Demon Race and extinguished the flames.
Boom!
A thunderous sound of heavy footsteps echoed, and the Jade Throne of blue flames collapsed.
Balrog rose his massive body from the ruins of the Jade Throne. As he unfurled his wings of flame, a presence named terror spread throughout the entire Underground.
Whoooosh!
With each step Balrog took, stairs of flame rippled like waves, and the molten lava coating the Battlefield churned as if ready to explode.
Rumble rumble rumble!
A wave of energy so powerful it made heaven and earth tremble erupted from Balrog’s entire body.
“Aah….”
“So, this is all you had?”
“Insane….”
The Dwarves fell to their knees in shock, the leaders of the Gwangpung Corps trembled throughout their bodies as they were overwhelmed by the energy, and even Sheryl’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“What a wonderful meal you’ve brought me….”
Balrog looked down at Palentun and clicked his jaw.
“I made the right choice letting you go.”
He spoke as if he had deliberately sent Palentun away, then raised a sword blazing with flames.
“Balrog.”
I walked across the Battlefield churning with molten lava. With each step I took, the ground froze over, painting a silvery Snowy Plain in my wake.
“What is your name?”
I stood before Balrog like an ancient tree unmoved even in a typhoon, tilting my head slightly.
“I have no name worth sharing with a mere human.”
Balrog simply grinned widely, eager for the fight.
“Very well then….”
I gave a slight nod and drew the Heavenly Sword diagonally upward. Frost clinging to the blade created a silvery radiance that dispelled the heat.
Craaaaaack!
The fusion of the Heavenly Thunder Skill’s frenzied slash and the Spear Sky Sword’s crimson heaven chain—a red bolt of lightning flowing across the silver sky grazed past Balrog’s neck.
“Die nameless.”
As Raon brought his sword down, Balrog’s head fell. Quietly and gracefully.
Thud.
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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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