The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman
Chapter 879:

“A-a single strike?”

Borgos stared at the Balrog’s severed head, his bloodied lips trembling.

‘That monster fell to a single blow…’

He had experienced that demon’s power firsthand—the demon who had crushed his legendary Thunder Hammer with a single finger and burned everything the Gray Hammer Guild had built with just a spark. He couldn’t believe that monster’s head had been severed in one strike.

‘It wouldn’t be strange to call him a new Sword Saint…’

He’d heard the rumors that Raon had reached transcendence, but he hadn’t expected him to be already so stable in that realm. Such terrifying talent—his growth was rewriting the continent’s history.

“That’s it!”

Martha clapped her sword-wielding hand against her palm and nodded.

“That’s what it takes to be Light Wind Division Leader!”

“So now he’s using lightning too?”

Burren shook his head in disbelief.

“Flames, frost, wind, earth, and now lightning… What’s next?”

He shrugged, half-joking but also genuinely curious.

“Today, Raon is truly amazing.”

Even while she was busy protecting the injured dwarves and artisans, Runaan’s violet eyes never left Raon’s back.

“Hah…”

Sheryl let out a breathless laugh after cutting down the last remaining demon.

‘That swordsmanship—he just learned it from the family head.’

Is this even possible?

She recalled Glenn’s delighted face as he taught Raon the Heavenly Thunder Art. To think he used a technique he’d only learned overnight, and against a transcendent monster, no less—it was almost laughable.

“Is… is it over now?”

Dorian lowered his sword, gasping for breath.

“Can we go back now? It’s way too hot here, and this place—”

“No.”

Raon cut him off, shaking his head.

“It’s just beginning.”

No sooner had he spoken than scarlet flames erupted from the neck of the beheaded Balrog. Thick fire, shaped by some invisible hand, sculpted a new head crowned with five horns.

“I didn’t expect you to strike so soon—or with a technique beyond my perception.”

The Balrog muttered, rubbing the back of its neck as if impressed.

“Gahhhh!”

Dorian screamed and collapsed, never imagining the Balrog would resurrect.

“Its head was cut off, and it still came back?”

“This is insane! Is it some kind of lizard?”

“As ugly as it is persistent…”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan all paled, their lips trembling at the sight.

“Isn’t it weirder for a demon to die just from losing its head?”

Raon loosened his fingers, showing no sign of surprise.

– Did you know it would come back?

Wrath whistled in surprise.

‘I’ve seen it before.’

The Flame Demon Lord, a transcendent from the Black Tower, hadn’t died even when Wrath tore off his head. If an actual demon like a Balrog died from a decapitation, that would have been stranger. He fully expected the head to regenerate.

“This prey is even tastier than I thought.”

The Balrog licked its lips, sounding almost delighted.

“Don’t act tough.”

Raon tilted his chin and looked up at the Balrog.

“You may not have died, but you’ve lost a lot of strength.”

The Balrog had spent an enormous amount of power regenerating its head. Its strength was now about the same as Raon’s.

“I’m not just posturing.”

The Balrog spread its arms wide, baring its teeth in a grin.

“It’s a joy to fight someone like you. Whether I die, you die, or we both die—it doesn’t matter! Give me your all!”

With a roar that made the skin prickle, he stamped his foot. The thin ground cracked open as lava and flames erupted in every direction.

“No, the only one dying here is you.”

Raon clicked his tongue and slashed. The silvery blade of frost fell toward the Balrog’s head.

“I’ll crush you!”

The Balrog reached into the flames and drew out a massive greatsword that burned with molten heat.

‘FWOOOOSH!’

The Balrog’s greatsword blazed with such intensity that it crushed the chill of Raon’s strike.

‘BOOM!’

The two swords—one wreathed in flames, the other in frost—collided with a deafening shockwave that shattered the frozen ground and sent chunks of lava exploding everywhere.

“You’re not running?”

The Balrog nodded in surprise.

“For a human, you know how to fight. But it’s not the right choice.”

His eyes narrowed.

“That frail body of yours can’t withstand my strength.”

He gripped his greatsword, determined to smash Raon down. But no matter how much force he used, Raon’s arms and legs didn’t budge.

“You’re holding your ground? How—?”

The Balrog’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Now it’s your turn to withstand me.”

Raon smiled coldly, raising his wrist. The slender Heavenly Drive began to push back the Balrog’s enormous flaming sword.

‘RUMBLE!’

Raon, who was less than half the Balrog’s size, started to overpower him. Both humans and demons stared in shock.

“This is human strength?”

The Balrog gripped his sword with both hands, trying to hold his ground—but Raon didn’t falter.

“If this surprises you, you’re in trouble.”

Raon tilted his chin, looking the Balrog in the eye.

“This is only the beginning.”

– Hmph. After sucking up all my bones and flesh, it’s only right you crush a thing like that.

Wrath snorted.

‘That’s right.’

Thanks to Wrath, Raon’s body had been above Grandmaster level even before reaching transcendence. Now, his abilities had skyrocketed. No wonder he could face a Balrog head-on.

“Fine! Let’s settle this with strength!”

The Balrog, pride wounded, stomped and unleashed a surge of demonic energy. The ground around him melted, and blue flames flickered on his greatsword.

‘SSSSHHH!’

Raon unleashed a wave of frost to meet the Balrog’s fiery blade. Two silvery flashes split the flames, deflecting the sword that followed.

‘CLANG!’

Steel clashed again and again, dark cracks spreading through the cave as molten lava bubbled up, ready to explode.

‘RUMBLE!’

Raon and the Balrog fought atop the raging lava, unleashing relentless blows at each other. There was no technique—only raw force and speed, wiping out everything around them.

‘He charges like a wild boar, ignoring every injury…’

Raon deflected the Balrog’s sword, which came not with precision, but sheer explosive power.

‘Similar to a warrior, but not quite.’

No matter how reckless a warrior is, they’ll try to avoid fatal blows. But the Balrog attacked with the intent to kill, without even caring if he died too. His swordsmanship was rough, but each movement was filled with conviction and spirit, making him a difficult opponent.

“Looks like you’re wearing out!”

Thinking he had the advantage, the Balrog twisted his lips into a grin and turned his sword into a whip, slashing it down. He wielded the flame whip with the ferocity of a dragon breathing endless fire.

‘SZZZZZT!’

The more they fought, the stronger the Balrog became. The flames from his whip turned blue, pushing back even the chill of Glacier.

“That pathetic frost can’t stop my flames!”

He scoffed at Glacier’s cold and turned the whip back into a flaming greatsword, swinging it down.

‘BOOM!’

Raon blocked the blow, but the heat was so intense that even the cold wrapped around Heavenly Drive began to melt.

– How dare he!

Wrath bared his teeth in fury.

– What are you doing! You’re making me look bad!

He raged.

– Crush him with force!

‘I was planning to.’

Now that Raon had analyzed the Balrog’s swordplay and abilities, it was time to end it.

“I’ll finish this!”

The Balrog gripped his sword in both hands and swung. With a thunderous roar, a fiery wind mixed with light wind swept across the cavern. The underground was swallowed by the storm.

‘Step.’

Raon stepped forward, thrusting the Heavenly Drive toward the Balrog’s sword. Frost blossomed from the blade, scattering across the underground like a field of silver flowers.

Final move of the Demon King of Wrath.

[Silver Aurora].

A shining aurora drawn by swordsmanship blossomed in the realm of transcendence.

‘KAAAAANG!’

Intense heat and biting cold clashed, sending up clouds of steam.

But the outcome was clear in seconds. Glacier’s cold swallowed the Balrog’s fire, turning the entire cavern silver.

‘CRACK!’

Even the storm of flames froze solid, forming something like a world tree.

“Wait! That cold—!”

The Balrog tried to summon fire to push back the aurora, but the silver world had already bound his limbs, covering his body and head.

“You—are you connected to the Lord of Wrath—”

But before he could finish, his mouth and head froze.

“You talk too much.”

Raon twisted his lips and slashed.

‘BOOM!’

The Balrog’s frozen body exploded, and the raging lava and flames finally calmed. This time, there was not even the faintest sign of life left in its body.

“Whew…”

Raon lowered Heavenly Drive and let out a short sigh.

‘That wasn’t easy.’

It seemed simple, but it was a close call. If he hadn’t used the full power of Glacier, he might have been burned instead.

– Well done!

Wrath spread his hands.

– He dared to ignore my power! Serves him right!

He wagged his tail at the shattered Balrog.

‘You’re actually complimenting me?’

Raon smiled as he sheathed his sword.

– Compliment? When did I do that?

‘You said well done.’

– It just slipped out! Don’t get cocky over beating someone whose name I don’t even know!

Wrath shook his head, saying it was only natural for a Balrog of unknown name to be defeated.

‘I won’t get cocky. But transcendence really is different.’

To be able to move his sword as he wished and control the power around him—after slaying an ancient dragon and a Balrog, he finally felt like he’d truly reached transcendence.

‘Hmm?’

Raon narrowed his eyes at the ground where the Balrog had stood.

‘This isn’t the Balrog’s demonic energy.’

The Balrog’s energy was clean, almost like a warrior’s, but the traces of demonic power left where it was summoned felt foul.

‘Of course…’

Someone else had summoned it.

The Balrog he’d just fought was strong, but not strong enough to tear open a dimensional barrier like a Demon King. It had to have been summoned by someone who’d prepared carefully.

‘Probably the Black Tower.’

There was no doubt. Only the mages of the Black Tower would use such filthy demonic energy.

‘Were they planning to raise its power in this space, then unleash it?’

He wasn’t sure, but it seemed the plan had been to summon a Balrog here, subdue the dwarves, and use them as part of their own force.

‘Should I be grateful…?’

The Gray Hammer Guild and the dwarves had suffered greatly, but dealing with the threat here had prevented thousands—maybe tens of thousands—from dying.

But he couldn’t be entirely happy, not with all the death and injuries that had still occurred.

Raon tasted bitterness on his tongue as he turned. He nodded with a smile to the anxious people looking his way.

“It’s over. You’re safe now.”

He brushed off the lingering heat of the Balrog from his hand and nodded.

“It—it won’t resurrect again, right?”

Dorian, still shaking, pointed a trembling finger at the Balrog’s frozen corpse.

“I can’t guarantee it won’t, but even if it does, it won’t be a threat anymore.”

Raon shook his head lightly. Beings beyond humanity could sometimes come back to life, but they would have exhausted most of their power doing so. If it happened now, even Sheryl could handle it.

“You called it a Balrog earlier—what exactly is that?”

Martha squinted, recalling her first impression.

“A demon.”

Raon clicked his tongue, looking down at the corpse.

“They’re an exceptionally powerful kind of demon.”

He gave a brief explanation of what Wrath had told him.

“Balrog? Now that you mention it…”

Borgos raised his chin, his jaw trembling.

“My father once told me about monsters like that—creatures obsessed with flames, battle, and weapons…”

He exhaled, the memory finally coming back.

“He said there were few in the world who could stand against them—and you…”

Borgos, his bloody knee scabbed over, approached Raon.

“Thank you. No—thank you, truly. I can only say thank you.”

He knelt on the hot ground, bowing his head despite the pain. Not a single groan escaped him.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you so much…”

The dwarves and artisans of the Gray Hammer Guild knelt behind Borgos, ignoring their wounds, pounding their fists to the ground in thanks.

“Please don’t.”

Raon gestured for Borgos and the others to get up.

“I only did what I could.”

He shook his head, saying it was nothing extraordinary.

“No, it was extraordinary. If you hadn’t come, we would’ve died with our hammers in these flames.”

Borgos insisted, saying Raon deserved every bit of gratitude.

“Then get treated first and thank me later. This is a little much…”

– Raon!

As Raon spoke, Wrath shouted, urgency in his voice.

‘CRACK!’

The ground where the Balrog died split apart—or rather, space itself was being torn open, and a pitch-black wave surged forth.

‘BOOM!’

The air itself shattered as a dimensional rift exploded open.

‘CLANG!’

Raon quickly drew Heavenly Drive to defend, but the force was overwhelming, and he was thrown back. The others were sent flying, crashing into the walls.

“Kh…!”

Raon wiped the blood from his lips, struggling to look up.

‘THUD!’

From the black rift, two burning crimson eyes appeared. The being that emerged was similar to the Balrog he’d just defeated, but on an entirely different level. Just meeting its gaze made Raon’s eyes feel like they were burning.

– No way! Why is that thing here?!

Wrath screamed in disbelief.

‘No way…’

– I told you earlier, didn’t I? That there’s a demon who kicked away the throne of Devildom itself.

Wrath swallowed.

– That’s him—the leader of the Balrogs, Askarai.