The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 756 'That's....' Raon swallowed dryly as he watched a human figure rise from Marang's corpse. 'The Black Tower Master?' That eerie mist certainly exuded an aura of a different dimension compared to Marang. It felt as if his soul was being crushed by darkness. 'This necklace....' Raon bit his lip as he looked at the black and white bead necklace on the table. 'Was it really that important?' He hadn't expected someone of the Black Tower Master's caliber to care about such a trivial transaction. It seemed the necklace brought by the White Demon Swordsman was a far more precious artifact than he had thought. 'Then this might be our lifeline.' If the Black Tower Master truly came for this bead necklace, they might be able to negotiate a life-or-death deal. Ignoring the Heavenly Martial Sword Technique and the Azure Sky Sword, he grasped only the bead necklace where black and white mists contended. "Raon." Rimmer's hands trembled as he completely blocked the way forward. "Don't you dare come forward!" He exhaled heavily, vowing to protect Raon no matter what happened. "Vice Leader...." -Hmm.... As Raon stared at Rimmer's back, which seemed ready to face death, Wrath smacked his lips briefly. -Sorry to break it to that posturing Pointy Ears, but that's not the real deal. 'What do you mean it's not real?' -It's just a projection manifested using the demonic energy of that fool you ambushed. Wrath snorted, insisting it wasn't real but merely a projection. -However, that one's demonic energy.... He frowned deeply, as if sensing something. 'A projection...?' A projection? Raon repeated Wrath's words in his mind as he watched the black mist take on a human form. 'Certainly....' The aura is weak. While the Black Tower Master's realm of the soul was immense enough to crush this space itself, the actual demonic energy felt wasn't that significant. As Wrath said, it seemed there was a limit to how much of Marang's demonic energy could be utilized. 'So if all that demonic energy is consumed, will the projection disappear too?' Since the Black Tower Master emerged using Marang's demonic energy, it seemed likely that once all that energy dissipated, the Black Tower Master's manifestation would also dissipate. -Of course. Wrath nodded nonchalantly. -Even parasites fall off when there's nothing left to eat from the host. 'Then it's worth a try.' Considering the current situation of the Five Kings and Five Demons, and what he had heard about the Black Tower Master's personality and movements from Derus and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, one solution for survival emerged. 'Stay calm.' Just as they say you can survive even if caught by a tiger if you keep your wits about you, he could escape this crisis if he used his head and mouth well. As Raon steadied his breathing, a chilling glow flickered in the black mist. Just meeting that gaze sent chills down his spine. "Raon Zieghart." The Black Tower Master, wrapped in black mist, spoke in a dry voice, addressing Raon rather than Rimmer. "It's you again." Strangely, his voice seemed to enter directly into the mind rather than through the ears. "If you don't want to suffer even in death, hand over the Black and White Spirit Bead." The Black Tower Master moved his fingertips as he demanded the bead necklace Raon held. "Ha, what nonsense." Rimmer shook his head, his jaw trembling. "That's our lifeline, how could we give it up! Raon, don't you dare hand it over!" He lowered his eyebrows, seemingly realizing the importance of the necklace. "Then I'll just kill you both and take it." Pitch-black demonic energy blazed in the Black Tower Master's hand. The heat felt like it could melt everything. Raon endured the killing intent and placed his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive. 'That's just a bluff.' If it were the real Black Tower Master, he could probably kill him and Rimmer with just a glance, but what stood before them now was just a projection created from demonic energy. He couldn't win, but he didn't feel like he would lose either. With determined steps, Raon moved forward after organizing his thoughts. "Raon!" Rimmer grabbed his shoulder in panic, blocking his path. "What are you doing!" "It's alright." Raon showed Rimmer a calm smile. "Um...." Rimmer hesitated for a moment, seemingly confused by Raon's composed gaze, before stepping aside. "Black Tower Master." Raon stopped ten paces away from the Black Tower Master. "How long are you going to keep up this bluff, you cotton candy that would blow away in the wind?" He shook the Black and White Spirit Bead necklace at the mist-shrouded Black Tower Master. With a slight movement of his jaw, flames burst from the Black Tower Master's hand, engulfing the necklace. "I knew you'd do that." Raon bit his lip as he employed the Azure Sky Sword with a quick-draw technique. Blue frost erupted from the blade's tip, slicing through the dark flames. With a hiss, the flames raised by the Black Tower Master dissipated before reaching the Black and White Spirit Bead. 'Ugh....' Raon forced strength into his wrist, which ached as if it might break. 'To have such power with that level of demonic energy....' As expected of one of the Five Kings and Five Demons, the Black Tower Master had created flames that overwhelmed Raon's full strength with just a small amount of demonic energy. One moment of carelessness could turn him to ashes in an instant. 'But I can still hold out.' He can't use all that demonic energy anyway. The Black Tower Master's goal wasn't revenge for Marang, but to secure the Black and White Spirit Bead. Raon needed to exploit the enemy's psychology of conserving strength to move the necklace to where his real body was. The Black Tower Master's body suddenly vanished, only to emerge from his own shadow. It seemed like a completely new concept of power that surpassed both magic and martial arts. With a clang, Raon tilted the blades of the Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Death, deflecting the Black Tower Master's attack as he retreated. However, the enemy's strength was so overwhelming that it shattered the observation deck's wall, sending Raon flying outside. "This is your last chance." The Black Tower Master stood still, wiggling his misty fingers. "Hand over the Black and White Spirit Bead." "Chance, my ass." Raon wiped the blood from his mouth and chuckled. "You're not the real deal anyway." He raised his chin and flicked the Black and White Spirit Bead with his finger. "What do you mean, not real?" Rimmer narrowed his eyes, as if asking what Raon meant. "If that were the real Black Tower Master, we'd be dead already. What's in front of us is just a projection of the Black Tower Master created from Marang's demonic energy." Raon curled his lips as he revealed the Black Tower Master's secret. "Being the monster he is, he can exert transcendent power even with that amount of demonic energy, but if you look closely, you can see the energy is being rapidly consumed." "Ah...." Rimmer's eyes widened as if he too sensed the Black Tower Master's diminishing demonic energy. "You're a sharp one, aren't you?" The Black Tower Master exhaled softly, not showing the slightest sign of confusion. "As you say, this body isn't mine. However...." Irritation tinged his cracked voice. "Do you also know that I can summon my real body here if I'm willing to take a loss?" The Black Tower Master revealed a chilling gaze, as if he might manifest his real body at any moment. "......" Raon forced himself to maintain a composed expression. Suppressing his rapidly beating heart with the Ring of Fire, he called out to Wrath. 'Is what he's saying true?' -It's probably not a lie. Wrath narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Black Tower Master. -Swapping the positions of the projection and the real body, or directly manifesting the real body, isn't impossible for demons. If he's willing to accept the evaporation of demonic energy as he says, it's certainly possible. He nodded, seemingly regarding the Black Tower Master as a demon. 'You should have said that earlier!' -Hah! Why should I have to do that! Wrath grinned, wagging his tail as if finding the situation amusing. -Quickly, summon me! I'll freeze that pathetic projection in an instant. He waved his hand, saying he wanted to eat bead ice cream himself for the first time in a while. 'Damn it....' If he resorted to summoning the demon king, transcendence would become a distant dream. He had to resolve this situation on his own. 'First, I need to prevent him from bringing his real body here....' If the real Black Tower Master were to manifest, it wouldn't just be his own death, but the Light Wind division, no, all humans in this Hollam might die. He had to prevent that at all costs. 'But how?' As Raon wracked his brain, the words of both Wrath and the Black Tower Master came to mind simultaneously. 'A loss?' They both mentioned having to accept a loss. 'Would he really come here while accepting a loss?' The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance said that the Black Tower Master was collecting artifacts to become stronger. If the benefits from the Black and White Spirit Bead were significant enough, he might accept the loss and manifest. 'However....' If the loss outweighed the gain from acquiring the artifact, he wouldn't come. Currently, the Five Demons had suffered great damage from Glenn and were in hiding from the Five Kings. He needed to use that information. 'Wrath.' -Why are you calling me? 'It's true that he can't use his real body's power right now, right? His aura perception must have decreased too.' -Didn't I tell you? He can only use the level of demonic energy he possesses. Wrath wrinkled his nose, asking how many times he had to repeat himself. 'Then there's a way.' Raon resonated the Ring of Fire to its extreme. He calmed his mind as he would when training in the great training ground, then twisted his lips into a smirk. "Go ahead." He wiggled his finger, challenging the Black Tower Master to try. "You think I can't do it?" Anger filled the Black Tower Master's hazy pupils. His aura amplified sharply, causing the entire arena to shake. "You probably can. But will you really do it?" Raon tilted his chin, still maintaining a composed expression. "Do you know who's behind me?" "It doesn't matter who's there." The Black Tower Master sneered. "I can kill you and retreat anytime I want." "What if your soul gets cut?" Raon mocked the Black Tower Master in return as he lowered his hand. "What?" "This mission is the first task I've been given since becoming part of the Zieghart direct lineage. It's a test of my attitude, martial prowess, and strategy as a direct descendant." He bit his tongue to endure the Black Tower Master's fierce aura as he nodded slightly. -Y-you, what are you trying to say now.... Wrath blinked rapidly, seemingly feeling uneasy. "Every test has an examiner, you know." Raon curled his lips as he watched the Black Tower Master's wavering eyes. "So, who do you think is behind me?" As Raon said this, he pointed to the sky. "No way...." The Black Tower Master's lips trembled as he stepped back. His aura began to diminish rapidly. "Is it Glenn Zieghart!" "......" Raon just smiled faintly without answering. "If I send just one signal, a Soul Sword will fly in and slice your soul." Those who came for the war with the South-North Union or Uriel would know that Glenn couldn't use the Soul Sword recklessly, but the Black Tower Master wasn't there, so he seemed to fall for it more easily. -N-no way! Wrath waved his round hands frantically. -This sneaky angel brat is lying again! There's nothing behind or above! He shouted that it absolutely wasn't true, but of course, the Black Tower Master couldn't hear him. "Y-you... Hm?" The Black Tower Master's eyes, which had been darting around, stopped on Rimmer. "It was a lie. That elf seems to have no idea what's going on." The Black Tower Master exhaled softly as he looked at Rimmer's frozen face. -Finally, someone who sees through this brat's lies! Wrath grinned and nodded. -Who would've thought that Pointy Ears could actually be useful! He patted Rimmer's shoulder, saying he'd give him praise. 'There's no need to say anything unnecessary here.' Too many words could create vulnerabilities and strengthen suspicion. Now was the time to push harder. "So if you don't believe me, why don't you summon your real body?" Raon lowered his eyebrows as he looked at the Black Tower Master. "Let's see what's faster - your manifestation or the Head of House's sword." Despite the anxiety filling his mind, he nodded with a calm expression. "Hmm...." The Black Tower Master bit his lip as he watched Raon, who seemed as relaxed as if he were sipping tea. 'What's with this guy?' Raon Zieghart's expression showed not the slightest shadow, and his heart wasn't racing. It didn't seem like a bluff, but rather the truth. Especially since, unlike Rimmer, he didn't panic at his manifestation and remained composed, it seemed even more likely that he wasn't lying. Lastly, it seemed unlikely that Raon Zieghart, called the continent's greatest talent, would be able to lie so convincingly. "Even getting hit by a projection would be a big shock, so what would happen if your real body's soul were to be torn apart?" Raon clapped his hands lightly, suggesting they gamble with their lives. "Hmm...." The Black Tower Master slowly stepped back. 'I can't be defeated now.' If he were to fall to Glenn's Soul Sword, all the realm of the soul and demonic energy he had built up by collecting artifacts would be for naught. He needed to be cautious until 'that' was completed. "Raon Zieghart. I will definitely kill you." The Black Tower Master's cold eyes flashed as if etching Raon's face into his memory. He began to take form in the mist, as if about to disappear. -Argghhh! Wrath grabbed his own hair and shook it. -You idiot! You've come this far, why are you going back! You can beat him now! He yelled that the Black Tower Master must have rocks for brains. "Where do you think you're going?" "What?" The Black Tower Master, who was melting into the mist, furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?" "Why do you think I mentioned the Head of House being here?" Raon swung the Heavenly Drive as he looked at the Black Tower Master. "If I had stayed quiet, I would have seen you get beaten and driven away. Why do you think I told you?" "......" "What goes around comes around. If I've opened a path for you to escape, shouldn't you give me something in return?" He wiggled his finger as he said this. -Huh...? Wrath blinked as he looked at Raon. -Y-you're even trying to extort him now? He trembled his jaw in disbelief. "Give me something. Otherwise...." Raon pointed the Heavenly Drive at the sky as if about to send a signal. "The Head of House will come down." "Ugh." The Black Tower Master's eyes darted between the sky and the ground as if jumping. "You insolent...." "Should I call?" "Grrr...." "I'm calling?" "W-wait!" "Tick tock." As Raon clicked his teeth, red flames began to blaze on the tip of the Heavenly Drive. -Hey, that's annoying! Wrath trembled both his hands. -It's so annoying I want to tear his cheeks off! "Damn you!" The Black Tower Master seemed to share Wrath's sentiment as he bit his tongue and threw a black book from within the mist. It was a swordsmanship manual called the Black Thunder Sword. -That, that sucker! Wrath yelled "sucker" at the Black Tower Master, seemingly dumbfounded. "I'll say it again." The Black Tower Master revealed his pale face from within the mist, grinding his teeth. "It won't be long now. I'll kill you and Glenn Zieghart with my own hands!" With these final words, he scattered into mist. Marang's corpse collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. "Phew...." Raon wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh. "...Raon." Rimmer called out to Raon with bewildered eyes. "Um, did the Head of House really come?" "Do you think that's possible?" Raon chuckled and shook his head. Glenn was the type to teach you how to catch a tiger and then push you into the tiger's den. There was no way he'd come here to protect them. "So it was all a bluff?" "That's right." "Are you really insane?" Rimmer sat down on the spot, admitting he was fooled too. He let out a hollow laugh, wondering if he had chosen the wrong profession. -It's all because of that sucker! Wrath trembled his round fists. -I've never seen a bigger sucker than me.... Just as he was about to call him stupid, a message appeared before his eyes. [You have achieved a great feat.] [All abilities....] [Characteristics....] -Ughhhh! 'I'm sorry, but....' Raon smacked his lips as he watched Wrath collapse, foaming at the mouth. 'There's no bigger sucker in the world than you....'