The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 1293 'The Archangel of Death and Dominion...' Raon repeated Wrath's words exactly while narrowing his eyes thinly. 'Sariel?' Hearing the words death and dominion, he felt a chilling sensation flowing down his throat. 'Dominion aside, why is the word death attached to an archangel?' He frowned at Archangel Sariel's incomprehensible epithet. -It's simple. Contrary to saying it was simple, Wrath bit his lips deeply. -Because that bastard freely manipulates the souls of others. He can kill humans and devour their souls, or turn them into puppets with whatever personality he wants and control them. He ground his teeth, saying Sariel's abilities were special. 'He freely manipulates souls?' Raon let out an empty breath at words he had never imagined. 'Does that make sense?' If that was really true, it meant Sariel could freely wield an ability similar to the Soul Sword at a level superior to Glenn's. Even for an archangel, it was something that didn't make sense. 'Even as an archangel, he can't completely ignore the laws of causality!' -Of course, there seem to be restrictions. Wrath stroked his chin sharply. -Because that bastard couldn't even touch my soul! It means he couldn't even touch my immense soul! He trembled his pudgy fist, saying Sariel had immediately fled when meeting him. 'Really?' Raon grasped the armrest of the throne and smacked his lips. 'Then does Sariel have a set limit on the size of souls he can control? Like they must be smaller than his own realm of the soul?' There was no way an ability to manipulate others' souls at will without any conditions could exist in this world. If that were possible, it wouldn't be strange to be called a living god. As Wrath said, there were definitely restrictions. -That could be it. This king's soul is much larger and firmer than that pigeon's soul. Wrath nodded, saying it was possible. 'Or there might be limits on the souls he can manipulate. Like a number limit, or only humans being possible.' -That's not it. He shook his head firmly. -That pigeon bastard made this king's subordinates commit suicide! Even chewing his bones wouldn't be satisfying enough! He could feel deep killing intent toward Sariel from Wrath, and now he could understand the reason. It seemed Sariel had manipulated the souls of Wrath's subordinates and commanded them to commit suicide. 'Or he might need to assimilate with that person's emotions or thoughts. Considering he approached through high society, listened to people's secrets, and solved their problems, the possibility is quite high.' Raon made reasonable speculations based on the information Chad had provided and Wrath's information about Sariel. 'Considering he left ordinary people alone and only touched nobles, he probably has high pride. In reality, he probably doesn't see nobles as people either.' -Th-that's right. Every time I met that bastard, despite being a runaway, he strangely had strong pride. Wrath stuttered slightly and wrinkled his nose bridge. 'What's wrong?' Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath's wrinkled expression. -It's nothing! I'm just annoyed that you're guessing parts this king couldn't think of with just that much information! Contrary to saying not to mind it, Wrath deeply furrowed his brow. What an interesting demon king. -Your head always works well! He clicked his tongue, saying words that could be either praise or insult. 'Thanks.' Raon chuckled and waved his hand at Wrath. 'If Sariel touches my soul based on my information or emotions, I should be able to block it without too much difficulty.' Since he possessed all the emotions of the seven demon kings, calling upon those authorities to show false emotions was extremely easy. 'However, if he pressures me with the realm of the soul, it could be dangerous.' The title of archangel was lofty and grand. Unlike Wrath, his realm of the soul was surely lower than Sariel's, so the probability of danger was high if they met head-on. -That's right. That pigeon bastard didn't win the title of archangel with dice. Even for you, it would be hard to overcome. However... Wrath looked at him again and shook his head heavily. -If you spin that damn Ring of Fire, you won't lose. His previously dim eyes began to burn with blue flames. -Your soul surrounded by the Ring won't bow to the names of demon king or archangel! * * * 'Soul...' Raon closed his eyes while sitting on the platform of the great training ground. 'Has the size of my soul now grown to match that of an archangel?' He could feel himself that as the Ring of Fire increased to ten rings and Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier reached 11-star, not only his martial prowess but also his realm of the soul had grown significantly. 'However...' He hadn't thought that level would reach demon kings and archangels. To him, demon kings and archangels were still monsters positioned beyond the heavens. He still couldn't believe Wrath's words that his realm of the soul had become equal to theirs. -Hmph! It's just the realm of the soul! Wrath snorted while raising his chin. -In terms of martial prowess, you're nowhere near yet! He smacked the back of his head, telling him not to get carried away and to come to his senses. 'I know. That's why...' Raon slowly opened his eyes and nodded slightly. 'I'm still cultivating even now.' After hearing from Chad that Sariel had appeared, he had been reducing his sleep for three days, focusing on cultivation. -Cultivation? Wrath frowned as if he didn't understand. -You've just been sitting here continuously! What cultivation when you've even reduced meal time further! He ground his teeth, telling him not to talk nonsense. 'This is also cultivation.' Raon exhaled calmly. 'Cultivation of the soul.' Since he had focused only on cultivation involving the body and sword for a while, he was now focusing on the resonance of the Ring of Fire and meditation. Since his opponent was an archangel who manipulated souls, it was important to forge his own soul and mental image more solidly to match that. 'Thanks to you instilling confidence, I was able to feel my mental image in more detail.' Three days ago, when Wrath told him his soul wouldn't lose to an archangel's, he was able to enter the mental world and feel and realize more. As he said, his soul was now solid enough not to be shaken by external forces. 'Perhaps I'll be using a new weapon.' Raon felt the sword rising within his mental image and curled up the corners of his mouth. -A new weapon? What is it? Just as Wrath raised his head, curious about the new weapon. "Head of House!" Shadow Agents' Leader Chad roughly opened the training ground door and entered. "I've gathered additional information!" He waved his ink-stained hand, saying he had brought information about the archangel. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, it seemed he hadn't slept for quite some time. "How did it go?" Raon nodded and came down from the platform. "The situation is more serious than expected." Chad bit his lips as if it was worse than he had expected. "Not only Sarion Kingdom, but the entire surrounding area is already perfectly in the archangel's grasp. Not just nobles, but royalty and even the king have all become puppets who only listen to the archangel's commands." He scratched his head vigorously, saying it was hard to believe even as he spoke. "Even now, kingdoms and cities following the archangel are increasing, and his influence is growing exponentially. Moreover..." Chad clenched his fist as if this was more serious. "Somehow, all contact has been lost with the agents we and the Black Market infiltrated. Even agents who should have been safe because they were originally nobles seem to have been devoured by him." He let out a heavy breath, saying he didn't know what on earth was happening. "I see." Unlike Chad, Raon nodded calmly. 'As expected, he can read people's thoughts.' From when it was said that Sariel listened to nobles' secrets and worries before solving them and manipulated human souls, he had expected that the bastard might be able to read other people's thoughts, and seeing that all infiltrated agents had been cut off, it seemed certain. 'Direct confrontation might not be good.' If Sariel could read his thoughts, he might detect Wrath's existence and immediately flee, so approaching directly to start a fight didn't seem like a good idea. "I-I don't know what to do." Chad ground his molars as if there was no answer. "If time passes like this, it seems the entire south might be devoured by him..." He trembled his jaw, saying it was shocking how fast the archangel was taking control of the surrounding areas. "Don't worry. There's a way to solve this." Raon waved his hand with a calm smile. "Th-there's a way to solve this?" Chad swallowed dry saliva, seeming rather flustered by Raon's peaceful eyes. "Yes. I've thought of a weapon to hunt the archangel. However, before that..." Raon drew a faint smile while looking at the empty training ground. "I need to find some people to handle that tool." * * * "Haaaah..." "Why? It hasn't even been a week yet, why!" "Exactly! Exhaustion training is supposed to be every ten days, so why are we being called after just four days!" "I don't want to do it! I want to skip it!" The swordsmen wailed like children as they headed toward the head of house's training ground. They forced their unmoving legs to move while showing expressions of wanting to flee immediately. "This reminds me of the old days." Burren let out a long sigh and gave a hollow laugh. "Back then we did focus enhancement training every day. Of course, now is harder..." He tightly closed his eyes, saying exhaustion training was harder than when they did focus enhancement training daily. "I-I like it..." Martha bit her dry lips slightly. "It's fun! This is what training should be!" She shouted that it was fun with an expression showing no enjoyment at all while waving her weakened hand. "Khuk..." Runaan blinked while taking deep breaths in and out like someone who had just woken up from sleep. "Heu..." Despite reaching Transcendence, she seemed like her stamina hadn't fully recovered and nodded her head while fighting off sleep. "I-I'm really going to die..." Krein sat collapsed in the training ground with his head deeply bowed, seemingly without strength to stand. "I-I'm so exhausted I can't even think about organizing supplies..." Dorian rolled his eyes, saying he had forgotten to organize his Subspace Pouch that he never neglected. "Rest, we need rest time..." "It feels like half my lifespan has flown away. Training that grinds up life itself?" "How did the Temporary head of house create such training...?" "He's a demon! Not a head of house, but a demon has come!" "Shouldn't we unite and refuse the training?" "Right! Let's do it! This is too harsh!" Other martial division swordsmen also shook their heads, saying they had never experienced anything as difficult as exhaustion training in their entire lives. Kuuuuung! Just as everyone was speaking out about their hardships, the training ground door opened wide. "Th-the Temporary head of house is entering!" Along with the weak cries of the exhausted gatekeepers who had also done exhaustion training, footsteps that seemed to squeeze the soul could be heard. Step. It was Raon. He crossed through the head of house's training ground and ascended to the platform, wrapped in pressure denser than usual like a cloak. "Hheup..." "Keu..." The swordsmen standing in the training ground seemed overwhelmed by Raon's weight and held their breath while looking only at empty air to avoid catching his eye. "Since everyone must be tired, I'll skip the unnecessary words and get straight to the point." Raon stood at the edge of the platform and looked down at the swordsmen in the training ground. "The reason you've been summoned is naturally because of exhaustion training." As soon as the words 'exhaustion training' left his mouth, the swordsmen's faces turned pale yellow and they began trembling their legs like puppies that needed to urinate. "However, if you endure as long as possible in this exhaustion training..." Raon slowly parted his lips while looking at the trembling swordsmen's eyes. "I'll give you the opportunity to go on a mission with me. In other words, it means you can be excused from exhaustion training for a while." He arrogantly raised his chin, meaning the best reward the swordsmen currently desired would be given. Huuuuuk! The moment Raon finished speaking, the atmosphere in the training ground clearly changed. "Grrrrr!" "I-I will! I'll go!" "Everyone move! Get out if you don't want to die!" "I'll definitely endure! No, I'll endure even if I die!" The swordsmen who had been shouting about refusing training together now emanated cold hostility as if viewing their fellow colleagues as enemies. They growled like beasts and placed their hands on their swords as if conserving even the strength to speak to endure. "Then let's begin." Raon said it was a good atmosphere and lightly clapped his hands. "Exhaustion training to avoid doing exhaustion training." -Wh-what is this... Wrath trembled his jaw as if dumbfounded. -How are you any different from Sariel! You evil spirit!