The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

Raon narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the plains engulfed by purple waves.

'What happened here?'

This region where Bodri Village was located originally had a mix of open plains and hills. It wasn't as fertile as the central continent, but there was always enough grass to feed livestock. Now, not even weeds were visible due to the purple waves.

'That's demonic energy…'

But it wasn't just any ordinary demonic energy.

Demonic energy was the power formed from the grudge of the dead. He had encountered strong demonic energies in battles against necromancers, but the energy covering the plains now was far more vile than anything he knew.

Kuwaaaaaa!

And the problem wasn't just the demonic energy that blanketed the land. Grotesque monsters were constantly pouring out from within those foul purple waves.

Uuuuuung.

– "How foul."

Wrath clicked his tongue as he looked down at the land.

– "That kind of stench doesn't come from just one or two deaths. It seems countless people were sacrificed."

He wrinkled his brow, calling whoever did this a monstrous fiend.

'No doubt.'

Raon exhaled a short breath as he watched the undulating purple waves.

'It's still growing.'

Though the purple sea seemed to ripple in place, it was slowly spreading wider.

"Why are you just standing there instead of going down? Are you tired or—huh?"

Martha was about to tease Raon, but her eyes widened when she looked down the mountain.

"W-What the hell is that?!"

She trembled as she stared at the violet waves covering the land.

"Purple smoke? No, is it energy? What the hell is that…?"

Burren couldn't comprehend what he was seeing and swallowed dryly.

"It stinks…"

Runaan pinched her nose with her fingers and squinted, as though she had already smelled the foul demonic energy.

"Khhhk…"

Dorian gasped as if this situation was beyond anything he could have imagined.

"W-What is that?"

He trembled as he stared at the ominously glowing purple waves.

"It's demonic energy formed from the concentrated grudges of the dead."

Raon snapped his fingers to draw the attention of the [Light Wind Division] swordsmen.

"Exposure to demonic energy will rot your body and corrupt your mind. Wrap your entire body in mana for protection."

After giving the Light Wind Division time to steady their breathing, he turned his gaze down the mountain. He could see a large crowd gathered at the foot of the mountain.

'Are those the people of Bodri Village?'

More than expected.

Bodri Village wasn't originally a large place, but it seemed many who fled the tyranny of lords and cities had gathered here, turning it into a semi-urban settlement.

'The Iron Division is up front.'

The [Iron Division] swordsmen were battling the monsters in front of the purple tide to protect the villagers.

'Trevin…'

At the forefront stood a middle-aged blond man unleashing powerful sword strikes. Trevin was fending off the monsters with the same unchanged vigor.

'He's not in great shape.'

Trevin had become a [Grandmaster] after the war with the North-South Union, but his hand trembled as he gripped his sword—perhaps due to prolonged exposure to demonic energy. He seemed exhausted.

But even in his weakened state, he didn't retreat a single step and continued to protect the Iron Division and the people of Bodri Village.

"We should hurry down."

Mark Gorton bit his lip, suggesting they go help the people below.

"Light Wind Division. Move at full strength and stand ahead of the Iron Division."

Raon nodded and gave the order to charge.

"Yes, sir!"

The Light Wind Division took a deep breath and dashed down the hardened mountain slope faster than they had at the beginning of their journey.

Goooooooo.

Raon followed behind the Light Wind Division, releasing his [Perception of the Snow Flower] in all directions.

'Nothing unusual so far.'

There was no sign of a necromancer, but he remained on alert and focused his mind while using his footwork.

– "Haa…"

Wrath shook his head as he watched the flowing purple.

– "Looks like dinner's going to be Nadine bread again."

'Just dinner?'

Raon looked at the vast purple sea covering the plains and shook his head.

– "Huh?"

'We'll probably be eating Nadine bread tomorrow and the day after too.'

– "You cursed bastard!"

Wrath furiously scrunched up his nose.

– "Whoever caused this mess, come out now! This king will tear you apart!"

He shook his clenched fist, swearing to crush even a Demon King if necessary.

—

"Haaah…"

Trevin exhaled heavily after beheading a decaying werewolf that emerged from the sea of demonic energy.

"There's no end to them."

The purple sea before him had originally been smaller than a stream.

But it grew after devouring the monsters they killed, then swallowed villagers, and had now become an uncontrollable wave.

The more it expanded, the more monsters poured out. No matter how hard they fought, they were constantly pushed back.

"Commander! The right flank is collapsing!"

An Iron Division swordsman clenched his jaw as he blocked a corrupted ogre's fist.eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

"The left flank can't hold much longer either!"

Another swordsman on the left spoke through trembling, pale lips.

"Hold the line! Even if you die, hold it!"

Trevin drew a short breath and thrust his sword into the purple tide. The [Aura Blast] spiraled diagonally along the blade, erupting in a massive explosion.

Kuwaaaa!

Though not perfect, the Aura Blast was strong enough to rip apart the monsters and make the purple wave stagger.

Fwoooooosh.

But as if unaffected by the blow, the purple sea filled the empty space and surged back toward them.

"Reinforcements are coming soon! Just hang in a little longer!"

Trevin gritted his teeth and strengthened his grip on his sword.

'It's tough.'

Even for a Grandmaster like him, the waves of demonic energy took their toll. The [Poisonous Aura] released by the dying monsters further overwhelmed the less-experienced swordsmen.

But the people of Bodri Village hadn't yet fully evacuated, so no matter how difficult it became, they couldn't abandon the front line.

"If we fall here, the villagers will die! Hold your ground to the end!"

Trevin inhaled the demonic energy-tainted air and fired off consecutive [Aura Blasts] to support his weary swordsmen.

"Commander… we're fine…"

A gray-haired elder with a wet cloth covering his mouth approached. He was the village chief who had first requested help.

"You should leave now. I shouldn't have called you here…"

Despite his rotting cheeks and ears from exposure to the demonic energy, he trembled with guilt and lowered his head.

"Don't say that!"

Trevin shook his head firmly.

"As a Zieghart swordsman, I cannot ignore something like this. If I fled and left you behind, that friend of mine would scold me thoroughly!"

He told the village chief to step back and turned his gaze elsewhere.

'I can't show him a shameful side.'

He had accepted Karoon's offer to join the Light Wind Division, believing Raon had the heart and character to lead others. To follow someone with true righteousness and honor, he could not back down here.

Kuwaaaaa!

Just thinking of Raon seemed to restore some strength. Trevin generated an [Aura Blast] on his blade and pushed back the approaching wave of demonic energy.

Fwoooosh!

The recoiling purple wave surged violently. Judging by the flow, a stronger monster was about to appear.

"Huh…?"

Trevin gasped as he saw the figure emerging from the wave.

'A person?'

This time, it was a person holding a sword. But their skin was pale like a zombie, devoid of any vitality.

"What the…?"

As Trevin frowned, the swordsman suddenly lunged at him and stabbed.

Kyaaaaang!

He managed to block it, but the zombie swordsman wielded demonic energy like aura as he swung. Though not powerful, the demonic energy he emitted made it difficult for others to fight him.

'I have to eliminate it quickly.'

To avoid further casualties, Trevin crushed the zombie swordsman's head entirely.

But as if it were only the beginning, the purple sea continued to spew out decayed monsters and zombie swordsmen.

"Ugh…"

A young Iron Division swordsman on the right flank collapsed, his face turning pitch black.

"I-I can't breathe…"

"Damn it!"

"Commander…"

Other swordsmen also fell, unable to withstand the demonic energy and poisonous aura, dropping their swords and kneeling one after another.

"F-Fuck!"

"Aaaagh!"

Even the remaining fighters, trying to protect their fallen comrades, were wounded and forced to retreat.

The front line that the Iron Division had barely held crumbled in an instant.

"Commander! We can't hold this position! We must fall back!"

Vice Leader Kaman decapitated a zombie swordsman and shouted desperately.

"Retrea—"

Just as Trevin was about to order a retreat, the wave of demonic energy surged and engulfed the fallen Iron Division swordsmen.

'No…'

Trevin reached out to block the demonic energy, but he couldn't cover every side. While shielding the left flank, he saw the right flank swallowed whole.

He desperately wanted to help, but he had no way. If he moved to the right, the left flank would die.

'Damn it!'

Like a passing vision, the memories of his subordinates and their journey together flashed before his eyes. His gut churned.

"Khhhk!"

Time seemed to slow as Trevin screamed in agony.

Kuwaaaaa!

The night sky split apart, and a crimson streak traced like a comet's tail. A flaming red blade sliced through the purple tide about to engulf the Iron Division.

Rumbleeeee!

The crimson flame not only repelled the demonic energy but also incinerated the monsters that tried to crawl out from within.

"That sword…" The mo+s#t% u.p‑to*‑d.ate v!e@rsi^on is on M$4VLE.MP4&YR.-

Trevin's crumpled face broke into a smile as he recognized the blade that pushed back the sea of demonic energy. He turned around and called out the name he had been waiting for.

"Raon!"

—

"Long time no see, Iron Division Leader."

Raon bowed his head to Trevin.

"But to think you'd request support from the family over a little demonic energy—how disappointing."

He smiled faintly, echoing the words Trevin had once said when Raon helped the Arian family.

"Th-That's not it…"

Trevin stammered, flustered by the sudden counterattack.

"We can catch up later. Let's clean this up first."

As Raon flicked his finger, brilliant lights flashed across the dark sky.

Kuwaaaaa!

The Light Wind Division had formed the [Light Wind Formation]. Their sword strikes rained down like a meteor shower, bursting the monsters and zombie swordsmen erupting from the purple sea.

But the purple sea only paused briefly before squirming again and advancing toward them.

"It's worse than I thought."

The concentration of demonic energy was far denser than it appeared from the mountaintop. It was a miracle the Iron Division had held out this long.

'There's definitely something in there.'

Something sinister was hidden deep within the writhing purple sea.

"Even aura attacks are useless. It's like cutting water—it just fills right back in."

Trevin shook his head, saying even [Aura Blasts] only temporarily stalled the demonic energy.

"I knew it was dangerous, but I didn't expect the demonic energy to erupt like this."

Raon frowned, asking why Trevin hadn't said anything about this part.

"When I sent the request for aid, the demonic energy wasn't this bad."

Trevin scowled at the rippling purple waves.

"It started small—about the size of a stream, with just some goblin-like creatures coming out. But the stream grew, and before we knew it, it surrounded us."

He bit his lip as he looked at the blackened land.

"The people here fled from the tyranny of other cities to settle in this land. I wanted to protect their home, but I failed…"

Trevin trembled as he clenched his trembling fist, blaming his own incompetence.

"Then let's take it back now."

Raon twirled the [Heavenly Drive] and smiled faintly.

"What…?"

"If a new subordinate wants it, I don't see why not."

He chuckled and wagged his finger.

"T-This is my responsibility! You don't need to waste your strength!"

Trevin shook his head, insisting Raon didn't need to get involved.

"Talking to him is pointless."

Martha shook her head.

"He doesn't really listen to others."

She gestured for Trevin to give up.

"She's right. If he says he'll do it, he'll do it."

Burren nodded, suggesting it was better to leave him be.

"Welcome…"

Runaan patted Trevin's shoulder, saying it was good they came.

"W-What are you all…"

Trevin let out a hollow breath, baffled.

"Welcome to hell, on your own two feet."

Krein nodded, dark circles under his eyes.

"You don't need to feel pressured."

Mark Gorton shook his head calmly.

"The Leader made his decision because he believed he could do it."

He raised his finger and pointed forward.

Kuwaaaaaa!

The blazing white blade of the [Heavenly Drive] split half the purple sea engulfing the plains.