111. Bascon Family vs Grander Family
Paat.
Moden snapped Emma's arm.
Emma winced in that instant.
That's some serious power...
The force was so immense it nearly tore his uniform. But Emma, deputy head of the Grander family, wasn't about to take it lying down. He twisted his massive body in the same direction as his rotating arm.
Swoosh.
It was an agility that no one would expect from such a hulking frame. Emma's body, freed from Moden's grasp, spun through the air.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
He looked like a pill bug rolling away after being poked. Thud. Emma landed a step further from Moden.
Though he'd escaped Moden, his expression was grim.
Damn...
He hadn't gotten away unscathed. One arm had been dislocated. Grimacing, Emma grabbed the limp arm with his good one and began forcing it back into place.
Crack. Pop.
He rolled up his sleeve to inspect the damaged limb. Clear handprints marred the skin. Moden's mana had been so potent that the flesh hadn't returned to its original state—the impressions remained.
Good thing I countered with mana. I nearly ended up as a one-armed man.
Emma recalled the moment. Moden hadn't stopped at grabbing his arm. He'd infused it with Mana of Strength, crushing down and yanking it toward him. A split-second delay, and the arm would have been ripped clean off.
Emma regarded Moden with his usual nonchalant demeanor. "As expected of a 1st Class knight. I nearly went to the grave without finishing this fine booze."
With that, he hoisted the barrel and gulped it down. Gulp. Gulp.
Moden fixed him with a steady glare. "If you're bold enough to raid the Bascon estate, you should've been prepared for this."
His tone was lethal, each word dripping with killing intent.
Emma flashed a grin and let out a hiccup. "Hic. You don't disappoint."
He was the man from the Bascon family whom Emma respected, despite everything. That extraordinary build. The confident swagger that dominated foes. Even as an enemy, Emma admired it—not just the outward appearance, but the inner steel of a true warrior.
The ambushers were the Grander family. Against ordinary foes, he'd have sneered at their cowardice or dirty tricks. But the man before him was different. Whether the enemy played dirty or pulled any stunt, it was all strategy to crush them—and the blame fell on the unprepared. He saw human battles as no different from the lawless wilds.
Gulp. Gulp.
Emma drained the last of his booze and eyed Moden. "Now that the real beast has shown itself, not just its whelps..."
His flushed face twisted as he drew the sword at his waist, Broadsword. Shing. It was a blade with an unusually long edge for its short hilt. Emma's primary magic was gates—he hurled weapons through them to impale enemies. Hence, the extended reach.
Gripping the sword, Emma continued with a meaningful look. "...I suppose I'll have to get serious too."
Moden smiled at the sight. "When men clash bodies, there should be no regrets at the least. Come on, then... show me everything you've got."
Shing.
Moden drew from his back. A black greatsword. The largest in the Bascon family—and one of only ten Absolute Weapons on the continent: Tombstone.
"What an honor."
Emma's lips curled up. Moden rarely unsheathed Tombstone. It meant this 1st Class knight acknowledged him as a worthy foe.
Silva's eyes widened at the sight of Tombstone. Father's drawing his weapon... It signified that Emma was a powerhouse in his own right.
And then—
Taak!
Emma and Moden's weapons clashed. This was no ordinary strike. Their arms had swollen noticeably.
In that moment—
Ziiiiiing!
Emma was pushed back. Long '11'-shaped gouges trailed from his feet across the ground. He furrowed his brow. Impressive power... As expected of one of the continent's top ten.
Taak! Taak!
Layer upon layer of shadows erupted from Tombstone, striking at Emma's head and waist in sequence. Emma's eyes bulged at the massively enlarged blade. Mana of Agility and Mana of Strength at the same time...
Moden's chain assault left Emma unable to counter even once. He was fully occupied just blocking. Thwack! Thwack! Each clash was so forceful that sparks flew from the blades. And with every impact, fragments rained down—nail-sized chips and shards from Emma's sword. Grind.
Overwhelmed by Moden's might, Emma's hands began to tremble.
"..."
Billy watched in shock. "Such a gap... Is this Father's true strength?!"
Moden allowed not a single opening. Against a Super Nova and Grander deputy head, no less.
Thwack.
Emma's sword shook violently. That was the moment.
Clunk!
Half the blade shattered and hit the ground. Willie gaped in disbelief. "A superior-grade weapon just broke...!"
A broken weapon meant he could fight no longer. Defeat.
Yet even in crisis, Emma's lips curled into a sneer.
He smirked at Moden. "You've taken the bait."
"..."
As Moden's eyes narrowed at the words, purple smoke billowed from Emma's broken sword, coiling around Tombstone.
In that instant—
Sss...
With a corroding hiss that filled the ears, Tombstone's upper half rusted yellow.
"...!"
Silva and Willie's eyes went wide. "An Absolute Weapon, Tombstone..."
"How is this possible...!"
Indeed. Emma hadn't used his usual weapon. This similar-looking sword had a special ability: when broken, it rusted the opponent's blade.
Hearing of the Bascon raid, Emma had fixated on Moden. He'd devised this ploy specifically.
As Moden impassively regarded the rust-eaten Tombstone—
"Time to say goodbye."
A red magic circle spun clockwise in Emma's palm.
In that moment, a gate appeared to his right. Emma plunged his hand in and drew a new sword. Simultaneously, massive red gates materialized on Moden's left and right. Figures emerged from them.
Moden was surrounded on all sides. "Rest easy on your way."
Front: Emma with his sword. Left gate: the 5th Division centurion with his spear. Right gate: not Chillis, but someone else.
"F-Father!"
"N-No..."
As shocked Billy and Shirley cried out—
Swoosh.
Emma's eyes widened, sensing something off. Y-You...!
The one from the gate wasn't Chillis—it was Bin.
Bin fixed Emma with a cold glare. "Emma, I've come for your head."
"..."
After dealing with Krzan, Bin had ridden the thunderbird back, heading to the 2 o'clock position from Plentel Castle. By threatening dwarf Doni with his heart, he'd extracted the full Grander strategy. Thus, he'd waited until Emma sprang his trap.
Bin swung his swollen arm, wielding Luminare swiftly at the 5th Division centurion and Emma.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
Red blood sprayed into the air.
Pfsh!
The centurion's head flew. Emma groaned. "Urgh...!"
Thud.
The head hit the dirt. Emma's arm spun clockwise through the air.
The Bascon siblings were dumbfounded by the sudden turn. Billy and Shirley's eyes bulged. "Why is Bin coming out of the gate...?"
"How...?"
Confusion filled their eyes—they couldn't grasp the full picture.
Willie stared at Bin, mouth agape. What did I just see...? He cut off Emma's arm...!
Willie had good reason to be stunned. He'd clashed with Emma moments ago. The man's body was like forged iron—swinging a weapon rebounded from the condensed mana. Even grazing it left no mark. Yet Bin had severed that arm clean off.
Silva was equally baffled. That's no normal strike. He wrapped it in Mana of Strength. Handling two manas so adeptly...
Moden, watching Bin, narrowed his eyes. His Mana of Strength has grown even more solid.
All marveled at Bin's feat. Meanwhile, Emma, bleeding from one shoulder, scowled with newfound seriousness. "To lose an arm to you of all people..."
He'd recognized it instantly upon seeing Bin: the boy had grown far beyond their last encounter.
Already a 2nd Class knight...
An astonishing growth rate.
Bin glared back, eyes blazing. "Let's end this, Emma Grander."
"..."
Emma grimaced, objectively assessing the situation. The plan had failed. He felt himself pushed into a corner. The Bascon momentum had flipped with Bin's arrival.
Everything's gone wrong...
As Emma ground his teeth—
Clack. Clack.
Someone approached from Emma's side. A man puffing white smoke from a cigarette in his mouth. Massive build. A long scar over one eye. Dual swords at his waist. Even from afar, his overwhelming mana kept everyone on edge. He matched Bascon head Moden without yielding.
As his form emerged through the haze, Moden's eyes flashed. You...
Bin sensed the crushing mana too, his gaze turning icy. Then his eyes ignited as he locked onto the newcomer.
It's been a while... Helden Grander.