100. Rebellion 3
Blue lightning crackled from Bin Bascon's greatsword. Sensing it, Enderlin swallowed hard.
Gulp.
'The Previous Family Head's power... why does that bastard have it?! Is that why the Four Ferocious Beasts are terrified?'
Enderlin's tool, the Medina Parasite, could control monsters—but it had one fatal flaw. The moment it was exposed to the Teia family's heirloom, the Mirror of Truth, the controlled monster regained its original consciousness.
Enderlin was well aware of this. To prevent any disruptions to his plan, he had swapped appearances with the Four Ferocious Faction a few days earlier and infiltrated the hatchery. His target: the Mirror of Truth hanging around the Previous Family Head's neck.
But the Previous Family Head's power had exceeded their expectations. The Absolute Weapon Astraphe.
Boom!
Boom...!
With deafening roars shaking their ears, lightning struck from all directions, driving the Four Ferocious Faction to the brink of death. They hadn't even dreamed of snatching the heirloom. They were too busy escaping with their lives.
In the end, Enderlin devised another scheme before launching the rebellion: stationing the Blue Tide Unit at the hatchery to block anyone from entering.
The Four Ferocious Beasts facing the flashing blue greatsword were reliving that terror from before. And now, it was wielded by someone from another family—the Bascon household.
Crackle-crackle-crack!
The countless Teia family members surrounding the plaza blinked in shock.
"Overwhelming mana...!"
One family member spotted Bin's silver epaulets and spoke up.
"Could that be Bascon's supernova, Bin Bascon?!"
"To think Bascon's supernova was this powerful..."
They couldn't hide their astonishment. The blue lightning crackling before their eyes rivaled the might of a family head.
The four members of the Four Ferocious Faction addressed the Four Ferocious Beasts—Confusion, Do-ol, Do-cheol, and Gong-gi.
"The savage Four Ferocious Beasts, cowering in fear."
"Damn it..."
"You idiots, don't chicken out! Rip that guy's limbs off like always!"
But despite the Four Ferocious Faction's words, the Four Ferocious Beasts recoiled in horror.
Thud.
Thud.
It wasn't their heads dictating—it was pure instinct.
Enderlin frowned as he sensed the terrified beasts.
'The Four Ferocious Beasts that ignored even the Teia seal... cowering like this. Damn it...'
As Enderlin's mind grew chaotic,
Swoosh.
'...!'
In the blink of an eye, blue lightning struck the Four Ferocious Beasts.
Zzzzzzzzt!
The electrocuted beasts convulsed wildly. Their flesh tore open, black smoke rising from their mouths.
Unable to endure any longer, the Four Ferocious Beasts collapsed one by one.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
This power was incomparable to battling solid skeletal bodies.
The Four Ferocious Faction stood dumbfounded, unable to believe the scene before them.
"2nd-grade monsters like the Four Ferocious Beasts... taken down in one hit!"
"They wouldn't yield even to foes with superior weapons, and now they're all down..."
"What the hell is that sword...?"
They had no idea. Bin was wielding the power of an Absolute Weapon, the pinnacle among superior weapons.
With the Four Ferocious Beasts sprawled on the ground, the Four Ferocious Faction instantly lost their will to fight.
The Four Death Gods Faction was just as stunned.
"Subduing the Four Ferocious Beasts in a single blow..."
"What chilling power..."
One of the Four Death Gods Faction tilted his head in suspicion.
"But why is Bascon helping our family? There must be some ulterior motive..."
Another chimed in.
"Exactly. He's definitely hiding something."
As their doubts surfaced, Family Head Endaran Teia stepped forward.
"Even if there is an ulterior motive, restoring order to the family comes first."
"But... Understood, Family Head."
One of the Four Death Gods Faction looked reluctant but acknowledged the situation and bowed to Endaran's words.
Endaran gazed steadily at Bin.
'To witness the Previous Family Head's power in Trist once more.'
As Endaran marveled at Bin's strength, his twin brother Enderlin was breaking out in cold sweat on his forehead.
'All because of that one bastard... my plan's unraveling. The Bascons... those nauseating scum.'
Enderlin glared at Bin with displeasure. His body trembled, fists clenching involuntarily. His smoothly progressing scheme was derailing because of this guy—how could he not be furious?
Something gleamed in Bin's hand: the Mirror of Truth, two half-moon mirrors fused together, palm-sized.
Bin gazed down at it intently.
'First, let's wake these guys up.'
Swoosh.
Bin swiftly moved to the fallen Four Ferocious Beasts and shone the Mirror of Truth on them. Black magi surged from their bodies, and they regained their senses.
"Kaaak!"
Their red eyes returned to white.
Regaining their wits one by one, the Four Ferocious Beasts glared at the Four Ferocious Faction.
"Finally, my mind feels stable."
"You used us well, didn't you...?"
Indeed. The Four Ferocious Faction had been controlling the beasts not through agreement, but with Medina Parasites.
The savage Four Ferocious Beasts advanced on the faction, trailing black smoke, baring fangs and murderous glares—as if ready to devour them any second.
"Fearless humans..."
"Daring to treat us like puppets!"
As the beasts glared murderously, the Four Ferocious Faction swallowed nervously.
Gulp.
"The Four Ferocious Beasts have regained their senses... we're in trouble."
"Is our entire plan going up in smoke...?"
The Four Ferocious Faction eyed them anxiously, knowing these weren't the type to let things slide.
The enraged Four Ferocious Beasts pounced.
Swoosh.
Ssssh!
The beasts' massive paws and fangs tore the Four Ferocious Faction limb from limb.
"Kuhk..."
"Let go!!"
Thud-thud-thud.
The faction fled with every ounce of strength, but they couldn't match the beasts' agility.
Swoosh.
Slash!
The Four Ferocious Beasts retaliated with brutal kicks.
"Ugh..."
"Uwaaaak!"
Their screams filled Trist Plaza.
As his subordinates fell, Enderlin frowned.
'The Four Ferocious Beasts...'
Sensing them dropping one by one, he couldn't hide his unease. He might end up the same.
Then, as Enderlin scanned his surroundings, Bin approached.
"You'll pay the price for impersonating him."
"......"
Step.
Step.
Bin's slow footsteps echoed in Enderlin's ears.
Ssssh.
The magi emanating from him was chilling. It felt like a noose tightening around his neck.
Sensing it, Enderlin found it odd.
'Bascon with magi...!'
Cold sweat beaded on Enderlin's forehead.
Drip.
'This bastard...'
Enderlin keenly sensed the mana flowing from Bin's body. Bin now gripped the greatsword in his left hand.
From this, Enderlin inferred one fact.
'That guy must be weakened in his right arm from the earlier attack. In that case...'
Enderlin smirked.
"Impressive, subduing the Four Ferocious Beasts. Why don't you join me in ruling the Teia family—one of the three great battle clans?"
"......"
As Bin stared at him impassively,
Enderlin's eyes narrowed. It was a ploy to exploit an opening.
Immediately after,
Swoosh.
The imugi around Enderlin's neck lunged at Bin. It grew larger as it flew at high speed.
The transformed Enderlin commanded it.
"Rip off that bastard's right arm."
The massive imugi's gaze fixed on Bin's right arm.
Shrieeeek.
Just as its sharp fangs closed in,
Sneer.
A smile crept across Bin's lips.
"You think a cheap trick like this will work...?"
In that instant, Bin's eyes turned green, and green smoke billowed from his right arm.
Ssssh.
A green gorilla arm materialized from Bin's right arm, and his low voice rang out.
"On me?!"
The manifested gorilla arm seized the imugi's neck and slammed it into the ground.
Crunch.
Boom!!
A thunderous crash reverberated. The ground cracked like shattered glass, the imugi's head embedded within.
The imugi collapsed without a fight, leaving the family members speechless.
"He subdued the imugi in one blow...!"
One family member rubbed his eyes and looked around. Everyone reacted the same—mouths agape, eyes wide in disbelief.
"N-No way..."
"Bascon had a powerhouse like that...?"
"......!!"
Enderlin trembled at the unbelievable sight. He couldn't comprehend it. This was an unfamiliar experience.
The imugi had always risen again, no matter the attack. It had lived centuries fueled by its obsession to become a dragon—it never fell easily.
Yet before Bin's raw strength, it was like a worthless worm.
Thud.
Thud.
Backing away step by step, Enderlin forced a smile.
"It's too early to get cocky."
Enderlin hurriedly uncorked the vial containing Medina Parasites.
Pop.
He dumped them all into his mouth.
Crunch.
Crunch...
Everyone around froze, unable to close their mouths.
"......!!"
Shocked, Endaran bellowed.
"Enderlin!!"
Swallowing countless Medina Parasites. A desperate resolve to never submit, even at the cost of his life.
Soon,
Enderlin's guttural roar filled Trist Plaza.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
In that moment, larvae began erupting from Enderlin's skin—arms, legs, face, everywhere. His entire body was swarmed with white worms, like a sea anemone fused with a human.
The grotesque sight made the surrounding family members grimace.
"......"
As all eyes fixed on Enderlin,
Pop! Pop!
The imugi, head buried in the ground, began writhing again.
Thud!
Shattering the earth, it rose, spewing black magi, and soared into the air.
Then, the imugi's body began to grow. And change. Sprouting whiskers. Growing limbs. It was unmistakably a black dragon.
Influenced by Enderlin's power.
With crimson eyes, the black dragon unleashed black magi like a dust storm in all directions.
Ssssh.
The Four Death Gods Faction gaped at the overwhelming magi.
"Th-This is a 1st-grade monster...!"