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The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman-Chapter 356
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Mark Goettenβs right hand, which was holding his sword, trembled violently. ππ»πππ¬πππ£ππΏππ΅.πππ
βYou want to make my astral energy fall? With your aura blade?β
His anger appeared in his eyes for the first time even though it only used to hold irritation.
βYou are even worse than that child. Do you have to be good at running your mouth to enter the Light Wind squad?β
Mark Goetten twisted his lips while looking at Dorian.
βThatβs kinda true.β
Raon snickered and grabbed Dorian by his clothes, throwing him back. His body was sent flying violently, but it slowed down and gently landed on the ground before it reached the wall.
βHmmβ¦β
Mark Goetten narrowed his eyes after he witnessed the process.
βSo you arenβt just all talk.β
He pointed his saber to the front. Astral energy burst out even further from his crescent blade.
βI guess I can thoroughly beat you up since you arenβt even related to our benefactor.β
βTry it if you can.β
βYou arrogant bastard!β
Mark Goetten declared and disappeared from sight at the same time. He appeared from the left as if he had teleported and slammed his saber down.
Whoosh!
The saber strike was clad with powerful wind and fell rapidly to tear his shoulder apart.
Thud!
Raon extended his right foot to the right. He tilted his body even faster than the saberβs descent.
Whaam!
Mark Goetten was unable to cut his shoulder with a paper-thin difference and ended up hitting the ground.
βHmph!β
Mark Goetten seemed to have expected that to happen and followed up by turning his saber to thrust it from the right side. It was adjusting to Raonβs movement to prevent his escape.
βHeβs pretty fast.β
Raon turned his left ankle inwards and stepped back. River Footwork was naturally incorporated into his steps to dodge Mark Goettenβs saber. His hair was cut by the astral saber and fluttered in the air.
βYou are pretty good with footwork. However!β
Mark Goetten kicked the ground while fiercely glaring at him.
Creak!
He predicted the River Footworkβs direction and slashed his saber to where he was about to dodge. It was a fast and decisive strike. The speed and sharpness were the advantages of a saber, and they were properly incorporated into the strike.
βI heard he was trapped into pleasure-seeking, but heβs not a complete loser.β
The rumors claimed that he accepted all kinds of jobs to earn money for his amusement, but he didnβt seem to have skipped his training. The quality and quantity of his aura was rather extraordinary.
βPerfect.β
He was the perfect opponent to test his increased stats after he absorbed the ocean soul and the ghost jellyfishβs energy core.
Whir!
Raon used the River Footwork consecutively to easily dodge Mark Goettenβs frightening strikes.
βHow long are you planning to run? Werenβt you going to make my astral energy fall?β
Mark Goetten increased his speed with a frown on his face.
He thrust the first saber strike, then he immediately moved behind Raon to unleash the second strike. Astral energies were snapping like lightning to rush at him from front and back.
βI was just looking at the situation.β
Raon turned his ankle and his waist in different directions. His upper body turned as nimbly as a leaf on a flowing river to dodge the first strike.
Whoosh!
Raon looked at the second strike, which was a direct charge from Mark Goetten. He stopped the River Footwork and lowered his center of gravity. He slightly twisted his wrist to unleash the Star Connecting Sword.
βYou idiot!β
Mark Goetten sneered and slammed down his saber. The astral wave brimming from his saber was crushing Raonβs body.
βThis isnβt a big deal.β
He shattered the astral energyβs pressure through sheer physical strength before he raised his longsword. He unleashed the aura blade emerging from his sword into a spiral to chip into the astral energy surrounding the saber.
Cring!
It almost looked like a red whirlwind was coiling around the astral saber.
βItβs pointlessβ¦ Huh?β
Mark Goetten was about to strike his lowered saber upwards but suddenly came to a halt. His jaw dropped upon seeing the saber he was holding.
βThe astral energy was chipped away!?β
Even though the red energy had only scratched it, the astral energy surrounding the saber had a visible hole. It was as if a beast had bitten into it.
He had never seen nor heard of an aura blade damaging astral energy. He couldnβt understand what had just happened.
βYouβ¦β
Mark Goetten swallowed nervously and glared at Raon.
βWhat have you done?β
βI used footwork and swordsmanship. Whatβs wrong? Do you want to know the name of the technique?β
Raon shrugged his shoulders with an easygoing attitude.
βYou are stating the obvious!β
Mark Goetten refilled his astral energy and dashed at him once again. His saber started to draw a systematic trajectory, unlike before. He was finally using a proper martial art.
Raon narrowed his eyes while watching the approaching astral saber.
βHow peculiar.β
It had a violent form where he alternated between left and right, but it was a lot faster and stronger than an ordinary strike.
βHoweverβ¦ Itβs not undefeatable.β
He predicted the saberβs movement and thrust his longsword. Since astral energy was a concentration of a large amount of aura, he could chip it away by repeatedly thrusting the aura blade countless times.
Creak!
The Star Connecting Sword with the true Spiral Power connected like a constellation to tear Mark Goettenβs astral energy.
Psh!
Raon wasnβt satisfied with defense and advanced even further.
After his aura blade severed the astral energy, he thrust it like a flash to pierce Mark Goettenβs waist. Blood gushed from the laceration.
βKuh!β
Mark Goetten covered his waist and leaped backward. His eyes were shivering in astonishment.
β...A-are you using rotation?β
He seemed to have realized how his astral energy was cut apart. He wasnβt completely dull after all.
βYes. I scratched your astral energy by incorporating rotation into my aura blade.β
Raon nodded and pointed his longsword at him.
βI-impossible! You donβt even know my Anarchic Lightning Saberβs trajectory. How are you supposed to read my movement to chip at my astral energy?!β
βI obviously donβt know about your technique, but I could easily read your movement.β
Mark Goettenβs Anarchic Lightning Saber consisted of slashing in an angular trajectory like lightning.
It was fast, sharp, and powerful at the same time, but it wasnβt difficult for Raon to read the flow because he was proficient enough in it.
βWhat youβve achieved is even worse than the most basic footwork and swordsmanship. An aura blade is wasted on you.β
βYou bastardβ¦β
Mark Goetten ground his teeth so hard that he looked like he was about to bleed.
βTalent, is this the difference in talent again?!β
His pressure intensified to a whole different level. Veins were bulging from his forehead, showing that he was using his full power.
βWhy do other people have this talent that I donβt?!β
Mark Goetten shouted and charged at him while crushing the floor. The astral energy bursting from his saber had a terrifying appearance. Even though he was at the novice Masterβs realm, the bursting aura was the one heβd been accumulating for the past dozens of years.
Whaam!
The astral energy emerged from the saber and created dozens of violent trajectories to form an aura storm. It was powerful enough to tear flesh apart upon the slightest touch.
Are you really planning to use nothing more than the aura blade?
Wrath frowned, saying that it was a pointless shackle.
You are going to reveal your identity anyway. Just use astral energyβ¦
βA warrior must keep his word.β
Raon smiled coldly and pierced into the storming astral saber. He analyzed the movement of the saber technique before he created a huge flow to engulf its trajectory.
Rumble!
The flow of his sword was faster, sharper, and more powerful than Mark Goettenβs Anarchic Lightning Saber. A crimson aurora appeared once it surrounded the astral saberβs storm.
Whaap!
The astral energy covering the entire training ground disappeared without a trace, and Mark Goettenβs saber crumbled into powder.
Lacerations caused by the aura blade opened up all around his body, and blood gushed from them. They were dangerous injuries that couldβve been fatal if they were any deeper than they were.
βAhβ¦β
Mark Goetten weakly went on his knees like a marionette whose strings were cut. His trembling limbs showed his complete exhaustion.
βThat appearance is more suitable for your name, the Saber of the Fallen Flower.β
Raon snickered while settling his longsword on his shoulder.
βWh-who the hell are youβ¦?β
Mark Goetten raised his head with difficulty. His eyes were filled with despair.
βYou managed to erase the Celestial Thunderstorm with an aura blade. How is it even possible that there was no rumor about someone like youβ¦?β
βDo you even know my name?β
βI-Iβ¦β
Mark Goetten bit his lip. He finally realized that heβd been fighting without even hearing his name.
βYou were overconfident. Being a Master doesnβt make you invincible, and an aura blade doesnβt always lose to astral energy.β
βItβs only possible for someone like you, who is brimming with talent.β
Mark Goetten spoke with a hoarse voice.
βAn ordinary person like me can never become like you even if they train their entire lives. Whatβs the difference between me and you? What have you even done to deserve so much talent?!β
His shout sounded like he was venting his pent-up frustration.
βTalent, everyone says talent. Iβm sick and tired of it.β
Raon frowned while looking down on Mark Goetten.
βYou are right. I have the talent, and Iβm also lucky. However, how is that even related to your weakness?β
βIf I was as talented as youβ¦β
βTalent isnβt complete from the moment of your birth. You have to experience countless difficulties and despair, and only then is it finally createdβlike a sculpted plaster figure.β
Raon had a great environment thanks to his luck and timeline.
However, his choices and efforts were what turned that environment into a success. He had to walk the bloody path dozens of times in the past, and he was on the verge of them in many of them.
βYou asked me before how I managed to read your saberβs flow, right?β
Raon looked down on Mark Goetten with cold eyes.
βItβs simple. Your technique was too poor. You mustβve been slacking on your training.β
βB-bullshit! Iβve been continuously training my saber until now!β
βYes, you mustβve been continuously training on the principles and aura cultivation. When was the last time you practiced all your techniques from A to Z?β
βHmmβ¦β
βIβm guessing you didnβt train your techniques because you were too focused on the realm of your martial arts and aura. Your techniques are currently dead. Thereβs no way you would advanceβyou donβt even have the basics of a warrior.β
Raon got irritated by the fact that the man who didnβt even make the effort was trying to denigrate his talent, the talent that he created through countless pains that ordinary people would prefer death over experiencing.
Moreover, since he couldnβt even make any effort even if he wanted to in his previous life, he was even more irritated at Mark Goetten, who kept despairing despite the freedom he had.
βHow many times were you on the verge of death? Have you ever fainted while training? Have you ever achieved anything distinguished by yourself? What challenges did you take on?β
βI-Iβ¦β
Mark Goetten couldnβt answer any of his questions. He kept staring at Raon with a trembling chin.
Raon couldnβt tell whether he was speechless or had nothing to say, and he wasnβt interested in his response anyway.
βA sheltered person canβt even overcome the smallest trial.β
Raon clenched his left fist and walked up to Mark Goetten.
βDonβt try to cover up your laziness and incompetence by blaming talent.β
He smacked Mark Goettenβs chin while saying that.
Mark Goetten was sent flying into the wall before he could even scream.
Crack!
The wall collapsed along with a land-splitting noise. Mark Goetten was lying flat on the ground, and he couldnβt stand back up anymore.
βWh-what?! Whatβs happening?!β
Palenβs chin trembled violently as she saw the smoke rising from the wallβs collapse.
βStand up! I spent so much money on you. How dare you lose to a freaking Expert?!β
She shouted while pointing her finger at Mark Goetten, who had fainted.
βStand up!β
Palen kept shouting at him, but his consciousness didnβt return.
βHey.β
Raon walked up to Palen while still supporting his longsword on his shoulder.
βUghβ¦β
Palen frowned but wasnβt exactly intimidated because Raon wasnβt spreading any pressure.
βDonβt be mistaken. This isnβt the end.β
She ground her teeth while glaring straight into Raonβs eyes.
βHeβs just vermin that Iβve temporarily hired for this matter. I can crush you at any moment once I bring in the real deal.β
βCrush me, you sayβ¦?β
Raon smiled faintly and raised his chin.
βAre you sure?β
βYou are as immature as him. Money can hire anyone. Bond? Do you really believe in that immaterial concept? I can bring anyone to my side, Ziegharts and Roberts included, as long as I have enough money. Making you kneel is an easy task!β
βLet me ask the question once again.β
Raon swept up his disheveled hair. The red hair turned into a brilliant golden wave as his hand touched it, and his blue eyes evaporated like an ocean to ignite a crimson flame.
βBl-blond hair and red eyesβ¦β
Palen stepped back in surprise. Her strength left her legs, and she quickly fell on her ass.
Whir!
Raonβs pressure spread around like wildfire. The entire training ground fell under his domination in an instant.
βCan you really crush me?β
βAh, ahβ¦β
Palenβs eyes wavered like a sailboat on a huge tidal wave. She clattered her teeth and her entire body trembled like crazy.
βRaon Zieghartβ¦ What is that monster here?β
Eden lost the entire branch from kidnapping Raon, and the White Blood Religionβs leader was seriously injured.
Even if she considered him as an individual, it was difficult to find anyone who could defeat him in terms of might. He was the White Sword Dragon who defeated Borini Kitten, Garona, and Cadis one after the other, and there werenβt many people who could fight against him.
However, regardless of all thatβ¦
She was scared.
His eyes were even deeper and darker than the crimson moon, and she couldnβt even think anymore upon seeing them. She wanted to kneel right away to escape from the fear.
βSay it. Can you crush me?β
β...N-no, I canβt.β
Palen bowed and surrendered to him.
βKuhβ¦β
She ended up fainting and fell backward because she couldnβt withstand the blade-sharp pressure and the mental shock.
Raonβs gaze turned towards the bulky warrior standing next to Palen.
βWill you surrender?β
βAh, yes! I have no intention of fighββ
The bulky warrior violently shook his hand, trying to express that he definitely didnβt want to fight him.
βI donβt need your surrender.β
Raon frowned and smacked the bulky warriorβs face.
Wham!
His large body was slammed upside down on the ground since he wasnβt going easy on him.
βYou just admitted your defeat as a warrior without even trying to fight. How unsightly.β
Raon clicked his tongue and dusted his hands off.
Huhβ¦
Wrath gasped while looking back and forth between Raon and the warrior slammed on the ground.
What the hell is wrong with this crazy bastard?!
He was the one who asked for surrender, yet he beat him up when he surrendered. He couldnβt imagine that any demon could be worse than this guy.
The King of Essence kept thinking about this, but thereβs only one answer. You belong to Devildom instead of this landβ¦
βShut up.β
* * *
* * *
Dorian bit his lip and watched Raonβs back.
Raonβs victory against Mark Goetten was a natural outcome, as he was powerful enough to defeat an advanced Master.
βThe surprising part is that he managed to destroy the astral energy with an aura blade.β
He didnβt use any astral blade until the end. He didnβt use any special martial art and only used an aura blade and basic techniques to defeat Mark Goetten. It was difficult to believe even though the entire scene happened right in front of his eyes.
βHoweverβ¦β
He was stunned that what touched him the most wasnβt his performance, but what heβd said.
βYouβve been bragging that you made money, but Dorian made bonds in Zieghart. Iβm telling you that Iβm part of his power.β
βEvery single swordsman in the Light Wind squad, including myself, is ready to fight with our lives on the line for his sake. You can never buy that with money.β
Those lines. His placid voice as he spoke those lines kept circling in his head and stabbed powerfully into his heart.
Bond.
He never expected that such a short word that signified a relationship between people could pull his heartstrings so hard.
Moreover, the fact that Raon Zieghart was the one who said it when he wasnβt the type of person to joke around caused a lump in his throat.
βBecause he was serious about that.β
It wouldβve been a different story if it was something else, but he never lied about the Light Wind squad. The fact that he said that in such a situation signified that every member of the Light Wind squad really cherished himβ¦
βI wasnβt the only one.β
The Light Wind squad was his real home, not the company. He couldnβt suppress his flowing tears because he realized that everyone thought like himself, was ready to risk his life for their sake.
βUhhβ¦β
Dorian forced himself to stand by using his sword like a cane. He bowed at Raon, who was standing there proudly.
βThank you for scolding this idiot.β
Raon seemed to be threatening Palen, but his real intention was to enlighten Dorian himself.
ββYou arenβt alone. Raon Zieghart and the Light Wind squad are supporting you.β That was the enlightenment he was trying to give, and it mustβve been the reason why he had been acting that way.β
βIβm really gratefuββ
βWhat are you doing?β
Dorian kept bowing at him while wiping his tears, but a large shadow appeared in front of him and Raonβs voice could be heard.
βI-Iβm expressing my gratituββ
βAh, that felt so good.β
Raon grinned while turning his wrist.
βI didnβt like your sister from the first time she spoke to us. I feel a bit better now that I destroyed all of them.β
β......β
Dorian started to hiccup and raised his eyes.
βD-does that mean that it wasnβt for my sakeβ¦?β
βYou? What happened to you? You got defeated after getting beaten up, didnβt you?β
βNo, you said that you were supporting meβ¦β
βI said that to shock your sister.β
Raon snickered and pointed at Palen, who had fallen unconscious.
βYou were trying to enlighten meβ¦β
βI wasnβt though?β
βErrβ¦β
Dorian swallowed nervously. Palen did fall unconscious from that mental shock, so Raon wasnβt wrong about that.
βW-was he not serious?β
He lowered his eyes from the sadness, and Raon tapped on his shoulder.
βI was just stating the truth. Good job, you behaved like a real swordsman of the Light Wind squad today.β
Raon massaged his shoulder before walking towards the training ground exit.
βAhβ¦β
Dorian grasped his pounding chest and bit his lip. He bowed more politely than ever.
βThank you!β
βI donβt need your thanks. Letβs go.β
βYes!β
He mustered his nonexistent strength to respond and followed Raon.
βYou are so noisyβ¦β
βI-Iβm sorry! I was just too happyβ¦β
βIβm not talking about you. I have this guy who keeps asking for food.β
Raon frowned while looking at his wrist, despite saying that he was hungry. He murmured that the cotton candy was annoying before turning his head.
βLetβs go eat for now.β
βItβs understandable since we didnβt eat anything after lunch.β
Dorian nodded.
βIβll ask them to prepare a meal.β
βCome with me.β
βAh, I need to go to the medical ward before thenβ¦β
βJust apply your saliva and you will feel better. Letβs go eat.β
βNo, I was cut by a bladββ
βDo you want to train before we go?β
βI-Iβm coming!β
Dorian wiped his tears and shook his head.
βSeriously, this guyβ¦β
He was moved to tears because Raon looked really cool, but he had turned back into a demon. Dorian realized once again that he couldnβt understand him at all.
βHaaβ¦β
Dorian sighed, and when he was about to leave the training ground, he noticed that Raon was looking above a tree in the west instead of following him.
βAre you not coming?β
βI feel like I saw a flying squirrel above that tree.β
Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at the tree at the western border of the training ground.
βA flying squirrel?β
Dorian tilted his head while looking at the tree.
βI donβt think there was anything like that thoughβ¦β
βI see.β
Raon shook his head and murmured that he mustβve gotten paranoid. freew(e)bnovel.(c)om
βWell, I donβt know about the flying squirrels, but there are lots of bats around.β
He looked up towards the sky with a cold smile on his face.
βIβm looking forward to their reaction tomorrow.β