The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman
Chapter 894:

Raon raised the divine sword and demonic sword as he watched Demonblade gnash his lips.

‘He has more aura than me.’

By offering half the Black Blood Lotus as living sacrifices, the amount of demonic energy Dreg could wield far surpassed Raon’s own aura. Facing him head-on with brute strength wouldn’t be a wise decision.

‘What I have over him is…’

Swordsmanship.

The [Ten Thousand Swords] he’d honed since childhood had blossomed magnificently upon reaching transcendence. Dreg’s swordsmanship was complex, even among transcendents, but as long as Raon focused on his blade, he could fight advantageously.

‘My body and stamina are better too.’

Even if Dreg had regained his youth, he still couldn’t match the physique and endurance Raon had gained by absorbing Wrath’s power. The only concern was that newly grown purple arm.

‘And there’s one more thing.’

If he used what he had learned from sparring with Glenn recently, he could defeat Dreg. It would be exhausting to the point of death—but possible.

“A distraction, is it…”

Dreg exhaled a deflated laugh as he covered his eyes with his palm.

“I never liked that confidence of yours, from the moment we met.”

Lowering his purple-stained hand, he grinned with murderous intent.

“I wonder if that confidence will last when your bones and flesh are shredded.”

Dreg stomped down, and an overwhelming torrent of demonic energy erupted from beneath him with a thunderous quake.

‘Fiaaaaaang!’

The demonic energy spread in concentric rings, then sharpened into the shape of blades that surged toward Raon. It was like a thousand archers releasing venomous arrows all at once.

Fwooo…

Raon let out a pained breath as he looked at the barrage of miasmic blades.

‘I mustn’t get wounded.’

The slash on his waist that had been struck by demonic energy was beginning to rot and fester. If he suffered more wounds, he might not even be able to continue fighting.

‘Go all out from the start.’

Raon surged forward into the incoming barrage, amplifying [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] and [Glacier] to the limit.

‘Kuwaaaaaa!’

The divine sword’s flame spiraled upward like a crimson tidal wave, while the demonic sword’s frost painted a frozen garden of ice blossoms.

‘Boom!’

The fusion of [Flawless Sea of Flames] and [Flame Dragon] met the oncoming demonic energy. The petals of cold rising from the waves of fire clashed with the blades of demonic energy flooding in from all directions.

‘Crack-crack-crack!’

The demonic energy from the right turned to black ash before Raon’s flame, while the surge from the left froze and shattered under the frost.

‘Thud.’

Raon didn’t just defend—he crushed the frozen demonic energy beneath his feet and dashed toward Dreg. He circled to his right and unleashed [Crimson Slash] with the divine sword, followed by [Frost Lotus] with the demonic sword.

The twin strikes, sharp and swift, cut toward Dreg’s neck and chest.

‘Clang!’

Dreg snorted and blocked both strikes at once, twisting his blade diagonally.

“Too slow.”

Still holding off both of Raon’s swords, Dreg unleashed a massive semicircular strike along the arc of his purple-stained blade. The scale of the demonic energy was overwhelming—it looked like a violet crescent moon rising before him.

‘He’s trying to overpower me with brute force.’

Clearly, Dreg was aware that his advantage lay in sheer aura quantity and intended to win by overwhelming him.

‘Then I’ll endure with technique.’

Like a sword dancer performing an elegant routine, Raon took a perfectly balanced stance. He lowered the divine sword and wrapped it with golden flames, while raising the demonic sword with the breath of [White Shadow Slash].

Fwoooosh!

Silken strands of flame unfurled gracefully to trap the tide of demonic energy, while the white glow of [White Shadow Slash] erased the shards that slipped through.

‘Shiiiiing!’

Raon stepped forward using [Supreme Harmony Steps], aiming a counterstrike at Dreg’s shoulder with the demonic sword, then unleashed [Silver Lotus Dream] with the divine sword.

‘Clang-clang-clang!’

Dreg blocked [White Shadow Slash] with a thick wall of demonic energy, and personally parried [Silver Lotus Dream] aimed at his throat.

“Approaching me isn’t a good idea, you know?”

He mocked him, asking if he could endure the demonic energy blooming around him.

“That’s none of your concern.”

Raon ignored him and slammed down the demonic sword.

‘Kyaaaaaaang!’

Dreg endured the impact directly and grinned.

“Then die here.”

He twisted the sword that had blocked the demonic strike. The demonic energy swirling around the blade concentrated into an explosive force. It shot forward like a miasmic cannon.

But the power behind Dreg’s demonic energy was so great that the charging time was nearly instant. Before Raon could react, it was already upon him.

‘Even if it’s fast and powerful…’

Raon retreated using [Three Steps of Supreme Harmony] and raised the divine sword.

‘It won’t reach the heavens.’

In that fleeting moment, he invoked [Azure Sky Sword – Everlasting Sky]. Nothing could reach the endlessly shifting sky. The demonic energy shell couldn’t pierce the divine flame and struck the ground instead.

‘Kuwaaaaa!’

The explosion left behind a bottomless crater. Falling into it would mean no return.

‘Thud!’

Raon stepped on a rising rock and closed in again, unleashing [Thirty-Six Crimson Slashes]. Thirty-six fiery thrusts enveloped Dreg’s body in a storm of blades.

‘Shiiing!’

Dreg spun his sword to form a circle, intercepting every angle of [Thirty-Six Crimson Slashes]. The violet demonic energy melted through the flames and exuded a putrid stench.

‘Kyaaaaang!’

Raon closed in on Dreg’s blind spot with [Supreme Harmony Steps]. Though Dreg’s counters were fierce, Raon used [Fluid Sword] to flow with the demonic energy and stayed locked in.

“Your swordsmanship is sloppier than I thought.”

Dreg scoffed as he tried to interrupt Raon’s [Revolving Sky].

“This rambling ends here.”

He wiped out the rotating flame and stomped down. The dried riverbed split like a spiderweb and spewed an overwhelming surge of demonic energy.

‘Thud!’

Raon leapt into the air using [Supreme Harmony Steps] just as the demonic energy erupted from below. As he prepared to slash with the divine sword, Dreg flashed a chilling grin.

“Knew you’d do that.”

Apparently waiting for Raon to rise into the air, Dreg raised his purple-stained hand. A flash of demonic energy shot from his palm, aiming straight for Raon’s heart.

‘Shraaack!’

Raon swung the divine sword mid-air to split the demonic energy rising from the ground, and used the demonic sword to intercept the purple flash.

‘Uuuuuuuung!’

He successfully blocked the demonic energy, but being airborne left him vulnerable. As he tried to step on a stable rock, a blade of demonic energy erupted from the cliff behind him.

‘Fwoooosh!’

A wave from the front, a blade from behind—there was no way to stop both while still in midair.

‘No choice.’

Raon furrowed his brow and summoned the wind of Garunua.

‘Claaang!’

Riding the green wind, the [Soul Requiem Sword] unleashed sharp killing intent, cleaving apart the blade of demonic energy from behind.

“Sword Control, is it?”

Dreg nodded calmly, as if he expected it.

“This must be your true power now.”

“Maybe.”

Raon responded calmly.

‘If he didn’t already know, I would’ve kept it hidden—but he clearly did.’

His usage of Sword Control was already known across the continent. There was no point hiding it. Using it at the right moment was more valuable.

“Then allow me to show you what true demonic energy is.”

Dreg stabbed his sword into the earth. Violet flames surged from the cracked ground and wrapped around his entire body, unleashing a suffocating pressure.

‘Crack-crack!’

Just standing there, Dreg split the earth and tore the air apart. It was an overwhelming display of power.

‘That much…?’

The demonic energy rising from him was so potent that even the divine flame and demonic frost of Raon’s swords seemed to waver. His heart tightened, and his limbs trembled heavily.

“Let’s begin. Or rather, let’s end this.”

Dreg twisted his mouth into a crooked smile and slashed like a whip.

‘Fwoooooooosh!’

The light slash split the sky with violet and summoned countless miasmic beasts that looked ready to swallow the world. The power behind his strikes had more than doubled.

‘Grit.’

Raon gritted his teeth and used Sheryl’s dual swordsmanship, slicing through the oncoming miasmic beasts with circular strikes.

But there were too many, and they regenerated too quickly. Even with Sword Control, he couldn’t block them all.

‘Splat!’

His shoulder and thigh were ripped open, oozing blood filled with pus. He tried to block it with aura, but the demonic energy inside the wound prevented clotting.

‘I have to keep going.’

If he retreated now, Dreg’s power would consume everything. The only way to win was to push forward.

‘Boom!’

Raon forced himself through the swirling demonic energy, targeting Dreg’s left side. Despite the pain in his shoulder, waist, and thigh, he unleashed [Azure Sky Sword].

“Recklessly charging in…”

Dreg blocked it easily and sneered.

“You’re just a moth flying into a flame.”

He muttered condescendingly and knocked Raon away with his sword.

“You’ll know who the real moth is soon enough.”

Raon let the demonic energy slide off him and charged again. He unleashed [Void Slash] and [Polar Slash], disrupting Dreg’s space and timing.

“Hmph.”

Dreg snorted and twisted his blade. Blades of demonic energy emerged midair, disrupting both sword techniques. He even intercepted the [Soul Requiem Sword] launched behind him, demonstrating perfect defense.

‘Even his reaction time improved?’

Since his demonic energy ignited, Dreg’s sword had moved with intuitive precision. It seemed not just his strength and physique, but even his senses had been enhanced.

‘Faster… I need to be faster…’

Raon tried to accelerate the connection between his techniques—then froze.

His arms and legs trembled so badly it was hard to grip his swords. Black blood trickled from his mouth and nose.

“This is…”

“So it finally hit you.”

Dreg straightened up and lowered his sword.

“You’re addicted to my demonic energy.”

—

“You held out longer than expected. That much, I’ll praise.”

Dreg smiled as he looked at the halted Raon.

‘Yes, lasting this long was impressive.’

Right now, he was the very source of demonic energy.

He hadn’t just sacrificed martial artists of the Black Blood Lotus, but hundreds of civilians. The air around him was like molten lava formed from resentment and demonic energy.

Even if Raon had reached transcendence, fighting here and getting wounded meant he couldn’t avoid demonic energy addiction.

“You said you’d surpass the Five Divine Order?”

Dreg let out a chilling smile and shook his head.

“It’s impossible for you. Unless the Five Kings and the Five Divine Order turn on each other, the balance will never be broken. A new era? Nonsense.”

If Raon had attacked after more time had passed, he might’ve stood a chance—but now, this would be his end.

“That’s not for you to decide.”

Despite being demonic energy-poisoned, Raon clenched both swords in his shaking hands and charged.

‘Clang-clang-clang!’

Though the demonic energy was eating him alive and his pain unbearable, his strikes were still sharp—almost holy.

‘He’s the real deal…’

Dreg frowned, recognizing Raon’s resolve.

‘Even now, his swordsmanship is above mine.’

Where Dreg’s technique was unorthodox and dirty, Raon’s blade carved a mystical path—as though it encompassed all swordsmanship. Without the demonic energy sacrifices, Dreg might have been in serious danger.

‘But I’ll still win.’

Even if your swordsmanship is supreme, it’s meaningless if it can’t reach your opponent.

“Stop struggling and disappear!”

Dreg stopped clashing blades and overwhelmed Raon with pure demonic energy volume. Raon tried to dodge and endure, but his speed slowed, and his strikes dulled.

‘Huff…’

Raon finally staggered and vomited black blood. His sword-wielding hands trembled violently.

“This is the end.”

Dreg grinned, nodding smugly.

“For pestering me so long, I’ll give you a gruesome end.”

Just as he was about to tear Raon’s flesh apart with his surging miasmic sword—

‘Thunk…’

Dreg, just like the weakened Raon, dropped his sword with a trembling hand.

“What is…?”

He blinked in confusion as Raon slowly stood up.

“I’ll return your words.”

Raon raised his chin, crimson eyes glinting.

“Looks like it finally kicked in.”

—

Fwooo…

Raon exhaled as he looked at the trembling Dreg.

‘Took a bit longer, but it worked.’

– “That… that’s…”

Wrath’s eyes widened as he stared at Dreg’s shaking hands and feet.

– “Isn’t that what the old man used on you?!”

‘Yeah. That’s the lightning technique.’

Just like Glenn had paralyzed him during their sparring, Raon used the thunder energy of [Heavenly Thunder Art] to press Dreg’s demonic energy.

“L-Lightning energy…?”

Dreg finally realized what had changed in his body.

“When did…?”

“From the beginning.”

Raon wiped the black blood from his mouth and nose and shook his head.

“I mixed it into the heat and frost.”

Worried that Dreg might notice it, he had hidden the thunder energy inside the flame of [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] and the frost of [Glacier], releasing just a bit at a time. Now, Dreg’s body was fully saturated.

“You were too overwhelmed by your own demonic energy to notice. But the thunder energy of [Heavenly Thunder Art] has been corroding your body and mana circuits little by little—just like your demonic energy was trying to corrode mine.”

Feeling how Dreg’s demonic energy had pressed against his body, Raon had responded with the same strategy.

“So that’s why you kept closing the distance…”

Dreg bit his lip, realizing why Raon had insisted on close-quarters combat.

“Not bad. Impressive even. But it changes nothing.”

He picked up his fallen sword. The violet-stained blade roared with a fire of demonic energy so intense it seemed it could touch the sky.

“You’re already so demonic energy-poisoned you probably can’t even move a finger!”

Dreg released a wave of demonic energy that seemed like it could erase the entire continent.

“Ten Thousand Blade Palace!”

His demonic energy surged, forming thousands of blades across the sky and land. They connected in circular formation, constructing a colossal palace of death.

He intended to trap Raon within and annihilate him.

“No.”

Raon calmly shook his head and readjusted his grip on the divine and demonic swords.

“I haven’t gone all out yet.”

He drew on the tyrannical energy contained in the [Soul Requiem Sword]. [Askarai’s Fighting Spirit] flowed into his mana circuits and repelled the reeking demonic energy.

‘Boom!’

Raon raised both swords against the thousands of miasmic blades descending from sky and earth.

[Raon Zieghart Swordsmanship – Form Six: Divine-Demonic Harmony—Azure Crimson Invincible Blade].

The sword technique that had always brought him victory now surged into transcendence. With the [Soul Requiem Sword], he unleashed the secret technique of [Heavenly Thunder Art] infused with wind.

‘Shraaaaack!’

Three swords converged before Raon’s eyes in divine harmony.

Flame, frost, thunder, and wind connected into golden light.

Like dawn rising after a long, dark night—the brilliant sword of a new era split the violet sea conjured by a ghost of the past.

Chapter 894