The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 702 With a thunderous splash, Axe King Roman lost control of his body and began to sink into the turbulent waters of the Lable River. "Ugh..." Raon coughed up blood as he executed the River Footwork. His aura was depleted, and with injuries that could have him collapse at any moment, he couldn't utilize the Supreme Harmony Steps. "Roman!" He grabbed Roman's shoulder, which was submerged up to the neck, and lifted him up. So much blood had been spilled that the surrounding river water was stained crimson. "Raon Zieghart." Even in this situation, Roman called out my name with an unwavering voice. "I told you, didn't I? Only one person can leave this place alive. Let go. This wound is already fatal." He lifted his black robe with a trembling hand. A hole the size of a child's head gaped in his left chest, spewing crimson blood. "I know." Raon nodded as he looked at Roman's wound. 'Because I inflicted it. How could I not know?' Roman and I had staked our lives on this final clash. It was a fight where we couldn't afford to hold back, nor should we have, so it was inevitable that one would live and one would die. The wound left by Heaven's Rift couldn't be healed even if the Ragged Saint Patrick himself were to come. "Don't you still have subordinates who follow you? As the Axe King, you should at least leave some final words." "Heh, why the sudden formality? Besides, didn't you lot call me 'balls' instead?" Roman chuckled, saying it gave him goosebumps. "Today, you were a senior martial artist worthy of respect." Raon nodded as he watched Roman's eyes grow dim. "..." Roman said no more. Whether he had nothing left to say or was saving his last strength for his subordinates, Raon couldn't tell. "Huff..." Raon finally managed to leave the Lable River and lay Roman down on the sandy shore. He nearly collapsed several times due to his weakened state, but he bit his tongue to barely endure. "Raon Zieghart." Roman raised his eyes, exhaling a faint breath. “If the Vice Leader attacks, flee to the river.” "The river? Why the river?" Raon's eyebrows furrowed involuntarily. The South-North Union's main stage was the river and mountains, so being told to escape by river seemed odd. “If you win, the Vice Leader might move, so I destroyed the warships in advance.” Roman smirked as he glanced at the wrecked warships and boats. "The warships?" Raon had found it strange when Roman destroyed the warships with crimson flames before their main battle, but now it seemed that was his purpose. "You must have already secured a boat. If you follow the river, you should be able to... escape." Roman dropped his hand with a faint smile. His voice was breaking up, indicating he had reached his limit. But the same was true for Raon. Though he wouldn't die thanks to his ability, he would likely need a long period of recovery. "Lord Roman!" "Please, open your eyes!" "You can't fall here! Don't you still have things to do?" The Black Wolf, White Mountain, and Martial Wolf Branch Leaders rushed to Roman, dragging healers with them. "Hmm..." Vice Leader Helgroom and the South-North Union martial artists following him still seemed stunned by Roman's final display of spirit and remained motionless. “Leader!” "Why did you get hit so badly! Couldn't you dodge a bit?" "Handsome Raon, are you okay?" Burren, Martha, and Runaan approached, supporting his shoulders and waist. "D-Division Leader! Let's treat your wounds first!" "Ugh, what kind of injury is this..." Dorian and Krein trembled as they saw the gash torn across his waist. "You did well." Rimmer came over and grasped his shoulder. His grip was damp with sweat, indicating he too had been tense. "Open your mouth." "What?" "No time! Quickly, open your mouth first!" As he opened his mouth, Sheryl put a red pill she was holding into it. She didn't stop there but placed her hand on his abdominal wound. A warm sensation of aura flowing into his heart spread, and the pain began to subside. "Whew..." Raon exhaled deeply and forced his eyes open. As the pain subsided, the tension drained away, making his eyelids heavy. If he let his guard down even a little, he felt he might lose consciousness right there. 'My head is overheated.' According to the original plan, he should have maintained his composure to the end, leaving enough strength to fight even after the life-or-death battle. But as he fought with Roman, he got caught up in the excitement and couldn't think about the aftermath. The thrill of growing through battle, of becoming stronger alongside an enemy, was more exhilarating than any enlightenment. He even turned the Divinity Born from Darkness into an attack, so he hadn't thought about what would come after the life-or-death battle at all. (E/N: I don't think he did...or maybe he did...anyway, weird) The plan might be a bit messy now, but he had preparations in place, so it should be fine. Raon wiped the blood from his eyes with the back of his hand and turned his gaze to the right. Roman was looking back at him. He curled up the corners of his mouth as if to ask, "Wasn't it enjoyable?" 'It was enjoyable.' As Raon blinked, Roman drew a satisfied smile. "Everyone..." Raon turned around. He nodded at Rimmer, Sheryl, and the Light Wind division. "I leave the rest to you." With those final words, his vision faded to black. * * * On a dim hillock overlooking the winding Lable River. "Is, is this even possible?" Kubara's lips trembled as she looked down at Raon. Unusually, she spoke to Derus first. Even knowing it was rude, she couldn't hold back. It was the first time in her life she had seen both sides grow stronger as they fought. "...It's not possible." Derus shook his head, biting down on his trembling lip with his teeth. "It's an impossible thing." Martial artists who grow through battle do exist. He himself had grown stronger through fights against powerful opponents. 'But...' There had never been a case where they influenced each other and grew stronger like this. Raon and Roman didn't just improve their own martial arts, but evolved them under each other's influence. Raon learned the weight and spirit he lacked, while Roman gave thick roots to his thin energy. Both martial artists filled in what they were lacking through the battle. Moreover, their growth rate was abnormally fast. The feeling that Raon and Roman had simultaneously entered a state of enlightenment. It was so unbelievable that even now, after the battle had ended, his fingertips trembled. Derus Robert removed his leather gloves. Though he had only watched Raon's battle, blood dripped from the back of his hands. ‘Is he really a kid who will be just 22 tomorrow?’ He had long known about Raon Zieghart's level of danger, but seeing it directly, the brat's growth far exceeded his expectations. If he wakes up again, he might reach at least the peak of Grandmaster or even the pinnacle and get close to facing the wall to transcendence. 'Neither I nor Glenn were like that.' This wasn't a normal rate of growth. Even the leaders of the Six Kings and Five Demons, or those with similar talents, were only at the Master level at that age. 'If he continues to grow like this...' Derus Robert chewed on his lip. 'Before thirty. No. He might reach Transcendence even before twenty-five...' He was certain that the wall said to be impossible for humans would be broken by Raon Zieghart. 'How is this possible?' Even if Raon Zieghart was truly the reincarnation of the assassin Raon, such insane growth should be impossible. It seemed that something else must be helping him. 'I made the right choice coming here today.' Derus Robert burned his blood-soaked gloves and put on new ones. 'That brat must not be allowed to live.' Eliminating Raon takes priority over the numerous strong individuals on the continent. If left alone, he would surely become the biggest obstacle to his plans. "The South-North Union isn't moving." Kubara narrowed her eyes as she looked at the Branch Leaders who wouldn't leave Axe King Roman's side. "Fools consumed by emotion." Derus Robert took out a blue dragon helmet from his spatial storage and put it on. His presence twisted dramatically. A deathly aura that shouldn't exist in this world began to seep out. "..." Kubara bowed her head and moved her lips rapidly. The shadow assassins hidden around them began to move silently. "Nothing will change anyway. Today, the star that rose highest will set, and soon after..." Derus twisted his lips as he looked down at Raon and the Light Wind division. "The biggest star will fall." * * * "No, this can't be. This is..." The healer treating Roman trembled, his hands covered in blood. "It's already too late." He shook his head, saying even a god couldn't save him now. "Stop spouting nonsense!" "Keep going until the end!" "You bastard! Do you want to die?" "Enough." As the Branch Leaders berated the healer, Roman weakly raised his hand. "Didn't I tell you? I have no regrets in this life." Roman looked at the Branch Leaders and smirked. "But, Axe King..." "What are you fools doing!" Vice Leader Helgroom ground his teeth so hard it made a noise. "I clearly ordered you to strike down Zieghart! Why are you still there?" He raised his hand, commanding them to attack Zieghart immediately. "We cannot." The Black Wolf Branch Leader shook his head, biting his lip. "We cannot tarnish the Axe King's honor." "Raon Zieghart must leave this place alive!" The White Mountain and Martial Wolf Branch Leaders also stood up to block the way, saying it was unacceptable. "You stupid fools!" Helgroom shouted angrily as he stepped forward. "If Raon Zieghart returns, he'll be a great danger to the Union! I can't guarantee I'll be able to stop him then!" "Even so, this life-or-death battle was a fair duel. Even if we die by the Dragon Slayer's hand later, we must let him go today." The Black Wolf Branch Leader closed his eyes resolutely, as if Roman's soul had possessed him. "Hehehe..." Roman propped himself up with a trembling hand, raising his upper body. “You seem to be struggling, Vice Leader.” He twisted his lips into a smile, his complexion as pale as if all the blood had drained from his body. "You..." Helgroom swallowed dryly as he looked at Roman's sunken eyes. 'A dying flame.' Like a candle burning most brilliantly just before it goes out, Roman was burning his last bit of life before death. "The South-North Union was originally a land created by mountain and river heroes who knew honor and the weight of power. But..." Roman shook his head, sneering. "Now it has become a place worse than a gutter, filled with those like you who know no shame." He put strength into his legs and stood up. It wouldn't have been strange if he had collapsed right there, but he stood on his own two feet, looking down at Helgroom. The healer's eyes trembled. It was nothing short of a miracle. "Strength isn't about never losing. True strength is being able to face your own shame and keep walking." Roman's gaze turned to the fallen Raon. He nodded at the Branch Leaders standing in front, their eyes reddened. "Did you see my battle?" "We, we did." "Then that's enough. Live a life you won't be ashamed of." With those final words, Roman collapsed. Even in death, he didn't close his eyes. It was as if he would watch how Helgroom and the South-North Union martial artists would act. "You damned bastard!" Helgroom clenched his fists until they bled, glaring at the lifeless Roman. "This is your last chance! Strike down Zieghart." He held up his fingers, as if this was the end. "We refuse." "Even if we die, we cannot back down." "Raon Zieghart has received the Axe King's acknowledgment. We will ensure he leaves here alive, no matter what." The Black Wolf, White Mountain, and Martial Wolf Branch Leaders blocked the way, raising their weapons. "Ha!" Helgroom let out a laugh of disbelief. "Fine! If that's how you want it, I'll kill you all together!" As he raised his hand, furrowing his brow, Rimmer and Sheryl stepped forward. "Looks like there are still some honorable ones left in the South-North Union." Sheryl placed her hand on her sword hilt, looking at the Branch Leaders. "Yeah, you're right. I didn't expect it, so it's touching." Rimmer sniffled as he drew his sword. "But you know what?" He pointed his sword at Helgroom, raising his chin. "Whether we leave this place or not is our decision. It's not for the likes of you to decide." Rimmer wiggled his finger, as if daring him to come at them. "Beorn." Helgroom bit his lip as he called Beorn's name. "Kill them all." "Yes." Beorn bowed his head and drew his sword. Helgroom also seemed ready to take action himself, gripping his spear tightly. "Huff." The Black Wolf Branch Leader bit his lip hard. 'We might die here.' Even with the Zieghart swordsmen behind them, their opponent was the Vice Leader. No one could stop him, a Transcendent Warrior. 'Besides, Beorn is also a problem.' Beorn was a master who had reached Grandmaster at a young age. Stopping him would also be difficult. "You take Raon Zieghart and escape!" The Black Wolf Branch Leader turned around and shouted at Sheryl and Rimmer. "The river is your escape route! We'll hold them off here, just focus on getting away!" "That won't do." Just as he was about to mention the waterway, a black shadow surged from the right. "Toys shouldn't move on their own." A swordsman in a blue dragon helmet emerged from the black shadow, sneering as he swung down his black sword. "Ah..." The Black Wolf Branch Leader's lips trembled. 'This can't be blocked.' It was a beautiful trajectory that would kill even if one was on guard. His neck already felt prickly, as if his breath had been cut off. 'I'm sorry. I couldn't keep my promise...' As the Black Wolf Branch Leader lowered his gaze to the fallen Roman, a wall of red lightning rose, burning away the encroaching death aura. Amidst the lightning that shattered the space, a golden-haired, red-eyed old swordsman appeared. The Lightning God Glenn Zieghart. He, who should be staying in Zieghart, raised the Heavenly Tremor at the Lable River. “You came after all.” The light within the Blue Dragon helmet wavered, and Derus lifted the corners of his mouth as if he had expected Glenn's arrival. “Who are you?” Glenn narrowed his eyes as he pointed the Heavenly Tremor at Derus. “Heavenly Demon.” Derus raised his chin slightly and spoke the name of the Heavenly Demon. “They call me the Heavenly Demon of Eden.” “If that’s your last words…” Glenn’s eyes flashed, piercing through Derus as if seeing everything about him. “Die with that name.”