The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman
Chapter 874:

“Sword of Thunder…”

Raon let out a quiet groan as he met Glenn’s intense gaze.

“Since the head of house created it, I’m sure it’s powerful and well-crafted, but I don’t know if it’ll suit me.”

Right now, he wielded the attributes of flame, frost, wind, and even the earth-attribute aura he gained from the Sword Saint.

No doubt, Glenn’s Sword of Thunder would be destructive, but Raon wasn’t sure it would actually help, since he had already mastered four different attribute auras.

‘Too much power can become a poison.’

He had mastered flame and frost, was becoming familiar with wind, but still had a long way to go before fully adapting to earth.

He worried whether he could properly make use of thunder in his current state.

“You’ve learned more than just a few attributes, so it’s understandable you’d think that way.”

Glenn nodded, as if he’d already predicted Raon’s thoughts.

“As you said, most transcendents focus on one or two attributes. But it’s not because they don’t want to learn more, it’s because learning a new attribute takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.”

He furrowed his brow, saying that someone who had learned the flame attribute would need at least three times longer to learn frost.

“But you, Raon, are different.”

A star of expectation flickered in Glenn’s crimson eyes.

“Even back when you were an Expert, you wielded flame and frost freely. After becoming a Master, you contained both in your sword field, and now you’ve created sword techniques that even embody the wind.”

He nodded proudly as he continued.

“Even so, your vessel isn’t full. If you complete earth and master the Sword of Thunder, your class will be even higher.”

Glenn smiled, saying he’d never seen anyone with a vessel for martial arts as large as Raon’s.

“It might seem chaotic now, but when the auras and martial arts you’ve mastered become one, no one will stand above you.”

He looked up at the dark night sky, saying Raon could even surpass himself.

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

Raon shook his head firmly.

‘Even if I trained my entire life, I’d never reach that level.’

After reaching transcendence, Glenn’s level felt even more unreachable—just watching him was overwhelming. Raon shivered as he realized how high the head of house stood, holding up Zieghart.

“No, you can do it.”

Glenn shook his head, without a hint of hesitation.

“You might even transcend shackles and laws themselves.”

He smiled, saying he thought Raon wouldn’t be bound by causality like himself.

– I agree for once with that old geezer.

Wrath waggled his finger, saying it was rare for him to be in accord with Glenn.

– If you’ve got that cheat ring, you’ll be able to master thunder swords or whatever sword you want.

He muttered that the vessel had grown with the Ring of Fire reaching nine.

– But don’t get careless! If the chance comes, I’ll take over your body!

‘Tomorrow, too?’

– Not tomorrow—anytime the chance comes!

‘Ah, I was planning to grill dragon tomorrow. Guess that’s not happening.’

Raon licked his lips, sounding regretful.

– …Actually, I might be busy tomorrow, so it’s fine?

‘No, too dangerous. I’ll just eat the food in the dining hall.’

– I said eat it! I won’t take over! Have your dragon barbecue!

Wrath shouted for Raon to have his barbecue, saying he wouldn’t interfere for the next couple days.

He talked about stealing the body, but Raon was pretty sure Wrath had already given up.

“If you understand, let’s begin.”

Glenn put his hand on the Heavenly Drive’s hilt.

“The sword technique is called Heavenly Thunder Art.”

“Heavenly Thunder Art…?”

“It’s not just an aura cultivation, but a martial art that links to sword techniques, like a true sword art.”

He gripped his hilt, saying he’d gotten the idea from the martial art he used.

“As I said, it’s meant to connect with Azure Sky Sword, so watch closely.”

Glenn slowly drew the Heavenly Drive. He aimed at the ground with his blade and drew a short breath.

Fwoooooosh!

For a moment, Raon blinked—and Glenn’s sword was already touching the sky, the clear night now dyed with black clouds.

Crackle!

Within the black clouds, the eyes of a thunder dragon filled with scarlet lightning.

Sizzle!

As Glenn quietly brought down the Heavenly Drive, a beam of red lightning filling the sky gathered into a single sword and stabbed downward.

Kuwaaaaaang!

A strike that transcended the very concept of speed crashed in front of them, releasing a tremendous shockwave. Even bracing himself, Raon was pushed backward.

“This is the tenth form of Heavenly Thunder Art—Violent Thunderstorm.”

Glenn shook off the Heavenly Drive, saying it was the first special move of the Heavenly Thunder Sword.

“Ah….”

Raon exhaled as he looked at the black hole left before him.

‘The speed and power are unbelievable.’

Glenn had compressed a sky full of thunder into a blade thinner than the edge of a sword and unleashed it.

Despite the massive shockwave, only a small hole remained—proof of Glenn’s overwhelming control and mastery.

Raon had seen plenty of swordsmanship and magic that used lightning, but never such overwhelming power.

Even if he used Sword Field Creation – Genesis Blade, he didn’t think he could block it.

– N-n-not bad.

Wrath stuttered, shaking his head.

– That old geezer should be getting weaker, but he just keeps getting stronger.

Wrath licked his dry lips, looking genuinely startled.

‘Are you admitting defeat?’

– Nonsense! The Demon King never loses!

Wrath shook his head furiously.

“What do you think? Will you learn it?”

Glenn spread his hands, as if to say he’d do as Raon wished.

“Wouldn’t be a swordsman if I backed out after seeing this.”

Raon let out a short breath and nodded.

“I’ll learn it.”

To turn away after seeing what Glenn had shown him would be a disgrace as a swordsman.

“That’s the spirit.”

Glenn’s eyes shone with pride, as if he knew Raon would answer that way.

“Then I’ll teach you the formulas and forms of Heavenly Thunder Art.”

Standing there, Glenn recited all the theory in one go.

Raon resonated the Ring of Fire, memorizing every word.

‘The method isn’t that hard.’

For someone like Glenn, he could have made it much more complicated, but it was as easy to understand as intermediate swordsmanship.

It was clearly a martial art created with teaching others in mind.

“Next are the forms.”

After finishing the formulas, Glenn stepped forward with his Heavenly Tremor.

He demonstrated every posture from the first to the twelfth form in detail, then sheathed his sword.

‘It really is the perfect match for Azure Sky Sword.’

Just as Glenn said, Heavenly Thunder Art’s sword forms paired perfectly with those of the Azure Sky Sword.

Easily understandable formulas and familiar sword forms. If Raon wasn’t mistaken, Glenn had made Heavenly Thunder Art for him.

‘It has to be.’

Glenn didn’t need to create any more martial arts for himself.

He could express peak swordsmanship with just a swing. The fact that he’d created such a well-organized martial art must mean it was for someone else.

“You’ll be able to put more value into your sword than I ever could. I look forward to that day.”

Glenn told him to draw all possibilities with his sword, then sheathed his Heavenly Tremor.

“Thank you.”

Raon lifted the Heavenly Drive and bowed.

“I’ll master Heavenly Thunder Art and use it to help Zieghart.”

“That’s good to hear, but I didn’t teach you for Zieghart. I did it for you.”

Glenn stepped closer and placed a hand on Raon’s shoulder.

“Think about yourself a little, too.”

He smiled softly, telling Raon to have a little more room in his heart.

“Like that master of yours, who even after death is still resting in that sword.”

“Ah, yes….”

Raon let out a laugh as he stroked the Soul Requiem Sword.

“Now, let’s start again.”

Glenn said he’d fix Raon’s stance, then took a step back.

“Please take care of me!”

Raon bowed deeply and drew the Heavenly Drive.

—

The entire night passed, and only when the late sun finally rose did Glenn lower his hand.

“That’s enough.”

He nodded, looking satisfied.

“Your stance is good. Now you can train on your own.”

“Thank you.”

“I thought I’d have to teach you for days, but you grasped the basics in just one night…”

He let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“Your vessel keeps getting bigger.”

Glenn narrowed his eyes, saying Raon could probably learn even more than thunder.

“It’s thanks to you, Grandfather.”

“R-really?”

Glenn’s lips trembled as if delighted to hear Raon call him Grandfather.

“Yes. Both the formulas and the forms were easy to understand. Thank you, Grandfather.”

“Hup!”

Glenn was so moved by Raon catching his intentions that he momentarily stopped breathing.

“R-right. Go and rest. Y-you worked hard all night.”

He waved, panting as he tried to hide his emotion.

“You worked hard, too.”

Raon said he’d return again and left the training grounds.

‘That’s a crazy sword art.’

He raised lightning along his fingers, smiling faintly.

‘Power, speed, control—nothing’s lacking.’

Heavenly Thunder Art’s strength was its lightning-fast speed and overwhelming force.

But more than that, its control was grand and intricate.

Even a fellow transcendent would have trouble blocking it after seeing it once.

‘To learn a sword art like this in a single night… Even I can’t believe it.’

No matter how skilled, learning a supreme sword art in one night should be impossible.

Even the old him would have needed at least a week to master the forms. He never thought he’d learn Glenn’s Heavenly Thunder Art overnight.

With his Ring of Fire at nine stars, Raon felt like he was becoming a true monster—physically and mentally.

– This is just broken.

Wrath shook his head, exasperated.

– Where the hell did you even get that cursed ring?

‘I have no idea either…’

He let out a quiet sigh, glancing at Glenn in the middle of the training ground, his face and ears flushed red.

‘The closer I get to others…’

His heart ached.

Glenn saw him as a natural genius, but the secret behind his talent was the Ring of Fire.

The only reason he could master sword arts, accumulate multiple attributes at once, and never slow down his learning was because of the ring.

To explain the real reason, he’d have to reveal his past life, and he wasn’t sure he could do that.

‘It’s better not to, but there’s a part of me that wants to tell the truth.’

He wanted to keep living as Raon Zieghart, but guilt made him want to tell the truth to those who believed in him.

‘Whatever happens, the first will be…’

He glanced at Wrath, who was still humming about grilled dragon.

‘It’ll be that guy.’

Whatever Wrath might think, to Raon, Wrath was the closest one.

Before telling anyone else, he should tell Wrath first.

– What are you looking at?

Wrath waved his hand as if to say, just go grill some meat.

‘Enough out of you.’

Raon snorted and turned away.

—

Raon bickered with Wrath as he headed for the annex.

He hadn’t even recovered from his travels, but after a night of training, all he wanted to do was collapse onto his bed.

He hurried back, but as he passed the back of Federick’s estate, he heard someone’s breathing.

‘That sound…’

Raon stilled his presence and entered the small garden behind Federick’s estate.

He hid himself and glanced up—there was Aris, running laps in the garden.

“Huff! Huff!”

Her forehead and shirt were soaked with sweat—she’d been running hard for some time.

‘Still can’t sense any aura.’

Even though Aris’s energy center was empty and her muscles felt hollow, she was still running desperately. The resolve on her face was clear.

‘She’s already up.’

He’d seen her doing push-ups indoors, but hadn’t expected her to be outside running yet.

‘She really is my aunt.’

Even after losing all her strength, betrayed by the son she’d so desperately sought, Aris had picked herself up and kept moving. Raon felt true respect.

– That woman’s spirit is as strong as ever.

Wrath nodded in admiration.

‘Right. I made the right choice.’

– Choice? What do you mean?

‘…….’

Raon didn’t answer, as if telling Wrath to just watch.

“R-Raon?”

Aris stopped running and opened her eyes wide.

“What brings you here so early?”

She looked away, still feeling guilty.

“I was coming back from learning swordsmanship from the head of house.”

“Oh, I heard that after you killed the dragon, Father would teach you swordsmanship…”

She applauded, congratulating him with no trace of bitterness.

Even after losing all her strength, she praised him with no sign of envy.

“I also brought a gift for you from Seiphia.”

Raon smiled softly, pulling out his subspace pouch.

“Will you accept it?”

“Of course! If my nephew gave it to me, I’d eat even a loaf made of mud!”

She spread her arms, ready for anything, though her feelings weren’t fully healed.

“Thank you.”

Raon nodded, taking out a rainbow-hued dragon heart from his pouch.

“…A dragon heart?”

Aris lowered her outstretched hand, staring at it.

“Why are you giving me this…?”

“It’s the heart of the dragon I killed. I wanted you to have it.”

“No!”

Aris waved her hand violently, as if she couldn’t understand.

“I’m just a fool who lost all my strength after being stabbed by my son! My actions got your master killed—how can you give me something so precious!”

She told him to take it back, shaking her head.

“I’m giving it to you because you’re my aunt.”

Raon grabbed her wrist as she tried to pull away.

“You helped me even when you didn’t need to. You gave me the dragon heart after we killed Kaibar without hesitation. I learned that from you.”

Aris had always helped him without asking for anything in return.

He wasn’t hoping for anything either—he just wanted to ease her pain, even a little.

“You look best when you’re proud and upright.”

Raon placed the dragon heart in her hand with a smile.

“You still need to get revenge on Derus, and you made a promise to Martha.”

He bowed, asking her to come back as Aris Zieghart, ruler of the pirates.

“…….”

Aris bit her lip and looked down at the heart in her hand. Tears began to well in her eyes.

“I hope I see you back to your old self next time.”

“…Thank you.”

She bowed her head, her voice trembling.

“It’s nothing.”

Raon gently waved his hand and turned away.

“Thank you, Young Master Raon.”

As he left the garden, Rabawin bowed deeply from the door.

“No, thank you for always looking after my aunt.”

Raon returned the bow and headed back to the annex.

– So that crazy woman was the one you were giving the lizard heart to.

Wrath nodded, saying he understood.

‘She’s helped me so much.’

– Ahem! There’s a demon who’s helped you even more, you know….

Wrath smacked his lips, as if waiting to be asked.

‘What do you want, then?’

– Ahem! The king shouldn’t have to say it!

‘Nadine Bread?’

– You lunatic!

Wrath shouted, swinging his fist.

– I wouldn’t eat that even if you gave it to me! It’s got to be a six-syllable food! Anyone could guess it!

‘Six syllables… Ah!’

Raon snapped his fingers.

‘Whole roasted Nadine Bread?’

– Why would you roast Nadine Bread, you lunatic!

Wrath wrinkled his brow, dumbfounded.

‘Then what is it?’

– You know exactly what I mean!

‘Didn’t you say I was clueless? I really have no idea.’

– You’d be better off dead!

‘I’ve nearly died a lot, but you always save me.’

– Kyaaaa!

As Raon teased Wrath, someone came running up from behind.

“Division Leader!”

He turned to see Chad, the Shadow Agents Division leader, running with a white envelope.

“Shadow Agents Division leader?”

“I-it’s a letter for you, Division Leader!”

Chad, out of breath, handed him the letter.

“I meant to deliver it yesterday, but I was busy…”

“Oh, it’s fine.”

Raon smiled as he accepted the letter.

“Borgos?”

His eyes widened when he saw the name on the letter. It was from Borgos, the dwarven artisan Stehrin had mentioned.

‘That was fast.’

Stehrin said it might take a while, but the reply had arrived almost as soon as Raon returned to Zieghart.

‘Does that mean he’s interested?’

Dragon bones, teeth, and scales were materials even artisans rarely touched. Raon opened the letter, expecting good news.

“…Huh?”

But the moment he read the single line inside, Raon’s red eyes trembled.

“Help me?”