The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 1253 "Mmm..." Runaan slightly frowned as she opened her eyes. She wanted to keep sleeping, but someone's sobbing sounds kept coming through, making it impossible to keep her eyes closed. 'What is this?' Runaan slowly raised her upper body and turned her head toward where the sound was coming from. 'Why is there crying... huh? A village?' Where is this place? She had clearly tried to break through Martha and Burren's interference to kill the Ghost of Eden who had destroyed Birdnew Village, but she couldn't understand why she had ended up in a village she had never seen before. 'It's definitely a place I've never seen before...' Yet it feels strangely familiar. The village where she had awakened wasn't very large, but it was a unique place with colorful flowers and gardens spread widely in the center. She had never been to this village, but strangely, the village itself felt familiar. No, it was more than that - she felt like she knew in detail where everything was and who lived where. "Ugh..." Runaan lifted her slightly stiff legs and raised her body. 'But why are people crying?' Many people had gathered in the village center, and they were looking at something while sobbing sadly. It seemed as if someone had died. 'Who on earth could it be...' Runaan approached the village center where people had gathered, slightly frowning. "A child?" In the village center, colorful flower beds were spread out, and within them lay a young boy. The boy was already dead without any movement, his shoulders and chest area covered in blood as if he had been stabbed to death by a sword. "Th-this child, I kil... Ah!" It was when Runaan was about to say with a trembling voice that she had killed the child after looking at his face. The colorful flowers in the garden all turned black and drew a bizarre shape beneath her feet. That form showed exactly the opposite appearance, like a mirror reflection of the magic circle that the real Runaan was standing on. Dream Illusion magic. An ancient magic that reverses dream and reality was completed. "Aah!" Runaan held her head and let out a dull groan. 'Wh-what is this...' Information about this place and the people flooded into her mind like a tidal wave. She couldn't move due to the massive amount of information and intense emotions. 'I, I am...' Runaan couldn't withstand the terrible power created by the magic and collapsed to her knees. The walls she had built up in her mind crumbled and new information covered her soul. 'That's right...' Runaan breathed heavily and clenched her fists. 'I lived in this village.' Now she remembered. In reality, she was a swordsman who protected this village, and in dreams, she had lived as a swordsman of some unknown vicious family. "Sister Runaan!" "Big sister Runaan!" "Runaan..." The villagers called out Runaan's name as if pleading for help, their eyes reddening. "Ruzel..." Runaan called out the dead child's name while biting her lips hard. "Why did this child die?" She showed anger as if she had completely lost the memory of killing that child, biting her lips hard. "Phew." The shaman with the bear helmet who was hiding behind the people took another step back. He seemed to think the magic he had used on Runaan had worked properly, letting out a sigh of relief. "What sin did Ruzel commit?" Runaan bit her lips tightly. Ruzel was a pure and kind child who loved playing hide-and-seek very much. She couldn't understand why this child had to die so miserably. "D-demons killed him!" "Demons with swords did this to Ruzel..." "Please get revenge! Sister Runaan!" "Please trap all those who are trying to kill us with swords in ice!" The villagers continued each other's words like they were performing a play, crying out to Runaan to avenge Ruzel. However, in reality, fear and terror were dwelling in their eyes. "Runaan." Raon appeared from somewhere unknown and approached Runaan. "Let's get revenge. On Zieghart." He whispered to Runaan that they must kill all of Zieghart's swordsmen and firmly held her hand. "Yes..." Runaan clenched her teeth and raised her head. "We must get revenge in the same way." She confused dream and reality, clenching her fists as she vowed to avenge the child she had killed herself. "Yes! We believe in you, sister." "You can definitely do it!" "Poor Ruzel..." The people once again showed natural acting as they drew Runaan into this wretched play. "Don't worry..." Runaan firmly nodded, saying she would avenge Ruzel just as the people wanted. "Yes. Let's do it together. My beloved little sister." Raon's face twisted grotesquely and changed into Syria Sullion's appearance. He said they should do it together while embracing Runaan. "Yes. Definitely..." Runaan clenched her fists as if she felt nothing even though Raon had changed into Syria Sullion's appearance. 'It's over.' The shaman wearing the bear mask lowered his chin as he watched Runaan vowing revenge. 'She can't come back now.' Runaan had already fallen completely into the magic he had cast. In her current state, even if Raon, whom she truly trusted and followed, appeared, it would be impossible to turn her back. 'It's been long.' The magic that bewitched Runaan was the unique ability of Bearwolf Shaman's mask he was wearing, the Bear Fire Demon. It was a vicious magic that drew the opponent into a dream world, made their soul rot very slowly, then reversed reality and dreams to brainwash them - once caught, it was impossible for anyone to escape. 'Honestly, I didn't know it would work on a martial artist of that level.' This ancient magic was extremely difficult to successfully cast. However, Syria Sullion knew the person named Runaan so well, and by placing a spy within the Sullion family, he was barely able to succeed. 'Now those things won't be needed either.' The Bear Fire Demon frowned as he looked at the humans surrounding Runaan. 'Because now Runaan has become a true resident of this dream.' The people currently around Runaan were humans who actually existed in reality. He had forcibly put pleasant-looking humans into this dream world to lure Runaan, but from now on he could simply create dream humans with magic, so they didn't seem particularly necessary anymore. 'Still, it's regrettable that that guy died.' The Bear Fire Demon clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the boy named Ruzel who had been killed by Runaan. 'He was useful.' Though Ruzel's combat ability was insignificant, his skill at running away was the best, so they had put a forest rabbit helmet on him and assigned him the task of luring Runaan to this place. He was ultimately a child who had to die by Runaan's hand, but his abilities were so ridiculous that it was somewhat regrettable. 'No, now that there's no need to hide, I can obtain as many talents as Ruzel anytime.' If Syria Sullion became one with Runaan, there would be nothing left to fear. They could openly mobilize Eden, so they would just need to kidnap talents from across the entire continent. 'This place is finished and reality must be getting sorted out as well.' Both himself and Syria Sullion currently here were clones created by splitting their souls. They could leave external matters to their main bodies and he just needed to properly soothe Runaan here. 'Now, finally...' It was when the Bear Fire Demon was about to wave his staff toward Runaan. A black crack appeared in the sky of the village where warm sunlight had been coming down. "Huh...?" "Why, why is the sky?" "Wh-what's happening?" The villagers trembled all over as if they were afraid of this situation they were experiencing for the first time since entering this world. "What is this!" "Hmm..." The Bear Fire Demon and Syria Sullion also gaped in shock at this impossible situation. "......" On the other hand, Runaan watched the increasingly cracking sky with thinly narrowed eyes, showing no reaction. Finally, the cracked sky completely shattered, and crimson blood poured down like a tsunami from above. ! An enormous sea of blood covered the village, and a black-haired, black-eyed beauty fell down onto that sticky sea of blood. "Haa..." Martha Zieghart. The female warrior of Zieghart who had tried to save Runaan even while being stabbed by a sword opened her eyes in the dream world. "Damn Evelyn!" She roughly kicked the sea of blood as if displeased and shouted. "Appearing like this makes me look like a real demon!" * * * "So this is that dream world." Martha curled her lips while facing Runaan, who was quietly looking this way. "There are many flowers, the buildings are pretty, not bad. I can see why you wanted to sleep so much." Evelyn said that Runaan seemed to be exposed to malice through dreams and created an artifact that could enter that world. Whether her guess was correct, she had been dragged into this strange world as soon as she put on the bracelet. "A-a demon!" "It's a ghost soaked in blood!" "That demon killed Ruzel!" "Sister Runaan!" The villagers pointed at Martha calling her an evil spirit and cried out to Runaan for help. Naturally, they were just following the Bear Fire Demon's instructions. "Runaan." Syria Sullion grabbed Runaan's shoulder and frowned. "Kill that demon for me." He seemed unable or unwilling to use his power here, so instead of stepping forward himself, he asked Runaan to fight. "Yes..." Runaan nodded and stepped forward. "Leave it to me." She directed cold killing intent toward Martha. It seemed she couldn't even recognize her companion and friend who had shared half her life with her. "Wow, now you can't even recognize me? I'm really going crazy!" Martha showed annoyance on her face and sighed. "I-it's all over! Runaan has completely become a resident of this place!" The residents of the dream world shook their heads, saying Runaan was now a human of this place. "That stupid woman is in that state, so it's no exaggeration to say it's all over. But there's something you don't know." Martha curled her lips as she looked at the crimson blood covering the entire village and the blackly cracked sky. "This world is no longer perfect!" Originally, this dream world was a perfect place created to bewitch Runaan, but with her intrusion, that perfection had been shattered. Now it was just a bizarre world where various human mental images had merged. "I will avenge Ruzel." Runaan still seemed bewitched by this world as she swung her sword with scattering frost toward Martha. "In a place like this..." Martha curled her lips and charged toward Runaan. "I won't be pushed back!" She swept her sword upward and split apart all of Runaan's frost that was falling like a downpour. "Hmm..." Runaan frowned as if surprised by Martha's intense yet precise swordsmanship. "It's not just Burren who changed. I also swung my sword while bleeding!" Just as Burren had learned evasion techniques using wind, she too had received her mother's help to eliminate the gaps that existed in her swordsmanship. In this world where they fought with souls without differences in aura and body, she would absolutely not lose to Runaan. "I'll win. Yes, I will win..." Runaan let out a cool voice and thrust her sword down. Her sword shone pure white and summoned a massive frost storm that seemed to devour this dream world. "No matter how big the technique..." Martha ran toward the center of the frost storm Runaan had created while curling her lips. "If there's no substance, then it has no meaning!" She struck down with her sword at full power, crushing the frost storm Runaan had unleashed and then bursting it apart. Since soul clashed against soul, a terrifying wave exploded and the cracks carved into the dream world opened even wider. "Ugh..." Runaan seemed to have received a great shock from the clash with Martha, trembling the hand holding her sword. "Don't you understand how I, who am weaker than you, am fine?" Martha looked down at Runaan and grinned. "It's natural. While you were sleeping, I swung my sword to death! Even if I fall behind in body and aura, I will never be broken in mental strength!" She had practiced swordsmanship like crazy to break Runaan and to save her. In reality it would still be difficult, but in a place where their power levels were equal like this, she had the advantage. "St-stop her!" The Bear Fire Demon couldn't stand it and came forward, waving his hand. "Stop that monstrous woman! Don't let her get close to Runaan!" He chanted magic to prevent Martha from reaching Runaan and sent the dream residents forward. It seemed he was trying to build a wall with humans. "Ha..." Martha frowned as she looked at the people blocking her and the Bear Fire Demon preparing black magic. "So it's you. The vile bastard who killed our swordsmen on the border." She could feel terrible death energy from that bear-masked shaman. Even in reality, seeing how the land touched by his magic had rotted, it was certain that he had killed Zieghart's swordsmen. "You'll soon follow them!" The Bear Fire Demon sneered, saying Martha would also rot and die. "At first I was thinking of grabbing the collar of that bastard who brought back annoying memories..." Martha looked at the blood soaking the dream world, closing her eyes and then opening them. "I guess I should be thankful. It seems she wanted to help in her own way." She muttered thanks to Evelyn and raised her head. "What nonsense! Die!" The Bear Fire Demon shot black burning flames, and the dream residents who heard his instructions rushed at Martha with glowing red eyes. "This place is no longer your home, but my hell." Martha stabbed the blood-soaked earth with her sword and flashed cold eyes. "Devil's Prison!" As she shouted Devil's Prison, the blood that had settled in the village writhed as if alive. Paaaaa! The blood took thin forms like flexible swords and surged up, wrapping around the Bear Fire Demon's limbs and subduing the dream residents so they couldn't move. "Wh-what is thi... Guurk!" Syria Sullion, who had been staying back, sank to the bottomless floor with his limbs bound by blood. "Im-impossible! How can this happen..." The Bear Fire Demon cried out that this was impossible while his dried lips trembled. "Saying it's impossible..." Martha let out a cold laugh and approached the Bear Fire Demon. "That damn magician's skills must be pretty good." To hear words of impossibility from the shaman who created this dream world - it was worth giving up a wish to Evelyn to obtain this artifact. "W-wait!" "There's no waiting." She tore through the throat of the Bear Fire Demon who was shouting to stop with her sword. "Guurrrk..." The Bear Fire Demon sank to the ground with wide eyes, never having imagined he would die in this world. "Aah..." When the Bear Fire Demon died, Runaan seemed to receive a great shock and held her head. Her eyes alternately sparkled with violet and black light. "Aaaaaah! No! No one can be killed!" Runaan screamed not to kill the people bound by blood and shot frost blades in all directions. "Stupid woman." Martha muttered that she would see the end and kicked off the cracked ground. She split apart all the frost Runaan had unleashed and burrowed into her space. "Ugh!" Runaan, like a swordsman who had approached transcendence, reacted even in that instant and brought her sword down on Martha. Martha roughly deflected Runaan's sword and then thrust her sword into her chest. Even though this wasn't reality, she could feel the blade penetrating flesh and bone. "Ah, ah." Runaan let out a dull groan and spat black blood. The black malice that had dominated her eyes subsided, and her original light violet color slowly revived. "M-Martha...?" Runaan seemed to have finally regained her senses as she called Martha's name with brightened eyes. "Wait, I, I!" She trembled all over as if she had not only regained her senses but also recovered her memories from that time. "Have you finally come to your senses?" Martha let out a heavy sigh. "Not bad. But..." She clenched her fist while baring her white teeth. "I can't welcome you with a smile! My anger won't be appeased unless I hit you once!" Martha raised her fist and struck Runaan's face with full force. Runaan seemed to feel a greater shock than being stabbed by a sword, spitting blood as she bounced away and rolled on the ground. "Ugh..." She touched her swollen cheek from Martha's hit and struggled to raise her head. "S-sorry. I'm really sorry..." Runaan now seemed to remember everything as she clenched her fists so hard that blood flowed. "I've really had a hard time. Having such a stupid little sister." Martha pointed to herself and sighed "Ugh." "However..." She approached Runaan. "Ugh..." Runaan bit her lips tightly as if preparing to be hit by Martha once more. "I've been like that before too, so I have no choice but to accept it." Martha chuckled. Looking at Runaan's face reminded her of her former self who had rushed in recklessly to save her mother. Thinking about it now, she could feel that Raon had really suffered. "Runaan. Up until now, Burren and I have done it..." Martha didn't hit Runaan, but instead gently embraced her with the hand she had raised. "I'll leave what comes after to you." Martha wiped away the tears flowing from Runaan's eyes and nodded. "You can do it, right?" "...Yes." Runaan seemed to understand the meaning of Martha's words as she clenched her fists, saying she could do it. "I believe in you." As Martha finished saying she believed, more blood poured from the black cracks and the dream world began to split into dozens of fragments and collapse. "You know? You don't even have the right to cry now." Martha pushed Runaan through the blood while grinning. "Cry after it's all over. No, let's smile." With Martha's final words, Runaan's vision was dyed in darkness.