115. Archrival 1
Lush bushes lined both sides of the road. But today, the atmosphere felt anything but ordinary.
Flutter flutter.
Birds flapped their wings frantically, fleeing far from the area. They had instinctively sensed the danger.
Because two forces were locked in confrontation right in the middle of the road.
Helden's troops—and monsters in the form of skeletons.
Helden eyed them as he exhaled a long plume of cigarette smoke. "Hoo, now even skeletons..."
His brow furrowed. They had already suffered losses bordering on annihilation against the Bascon family, leaving his nerves frayed.
The skeletons before him looked belligerent at a glance.
Who the hell is behind this?
It might make sense if it were a surprise attack from the Taia family, who handled monsters. But the ones who struck first were the Bascons. This tangled Helden's thoughts.
Still, he wasn't without suspects.
He used Medina Parasite. Could it be that bastard again?
Helden suspected Bin. He knew the Taia family had secretly purchased Medina Parasite. And he'd seen Bin using Nemean lion hide on enemy officers. There had to be a connection.
The skeleton unit running into Helden wasn't coincidence. Anticipating the Grander family's retreat, Bin had deployed forces north of Plentel Castle ahead of time. He scattered countless ghouls and skeleton soldiers to patrol the area.
Their diligent scouting had pinpointed Helden's group.
As Helden stared intently at the skeletons,
Starfish, Behemoth, and Gold Tooth suddenly attacked the surrounding cavalry.
"Uwoooo!"
The bellowing Starfish charged headlong at the massed cavalry. Despite its house-sized bulk, the riders brimmed with confidence. They'd faced scarier monsters before and figured this was no big deal.
"Skeleton trash like you..."
Swish.
The cavalry swung at Starfish. They assumed their red-hot blades would shatter bones like these in one blow—based on experience slicing off human arms, bone and all.
But when sword met body, that illusion shattered.
Ting!
'What the...'
The cavalryman gaped, mouth agape. It felt like striking solid rock. His own hand throbbed from the rebound.
Starfish curled its lip in disdain. Then it stomped down hard.
"You call me iron-clad?"
Thud. Thud.
Starfish crushed him instantly and barreled toward the cavalry group.
Thump! Thump!
Horses and knights screamed on impact with the unyielding body.
"Hiiiik!"
"Urgh...!"
Horses soon sprawled on the ground. The fallen soldiers groaned, unable to rise.
"Ugh..."
Metal protrusions on Starfish's body had torn deep gashes near their legs.
Helden gazed down at them in contempt—Get up.
The cavalrymen's teeth chattered. In the Grander family, Helden's word was law.
"Ugh..."
They struggled to move their legs, but their ankles wouldn't budge. Standing was impossible—their Achilles tendons were severed.
Cigarette clenched in his teeth, Helden exhaled even thicker smoke.
'Hoooo.'
By now, Starfish had split the cavalry in two.
Then Behemoth and Gold Tooth advanced. Behemoth toward the left flank. Gold Tooth toward the right.
"Kraaaak."
"Land-bound pups."
Clop clop clop.
The massive, hippo-headed Behemoth lumbered toward the cavalry. Its fangs clashed against a rider's sword.
Cling. Smirk.
The cavalryman grinned—dual swords in hand. He'd feint with one and cleave down with the other while the monster focused.
But then—
Crack!
Behemoth's jaws snapped the blade. Jaw strength beyond imagining.
"Sh-Shattering a sword...!"
As the rider reeled, Behemoth's maw clamped his chest.
Puk!
Blood gushed from the pierced torso.
The cavalryman's eyes bulged. "The armor's pierced!"
"What are these things...?"
Even Grander family gear—top-tier by any standard, backed by vast wealth—failed against 4th-class monster fangs. Knights fell back, morale shattered.
"...!"
Gold Tooth struck the right flank. "We'll show you we're different."
Swish.
A sword arced toward Gold Tooth's head. But it smirked anyway.
Smirk.
It had an ace. The moment the blade touched, Gold Tooth's head turned to water.
The knight stared, dumbfounded—like he'd seen a ghost. Body-shifting weapons were exceedingly rare.
"T-Turning to water...!"
"Land pup. The ocean is vast, and your ignorance endless."
Gold Tooth flashed his signature golden teeth.
And—
Stab!
Blood bubbled from the knight's mouth. Gold Tooth's sword had pierced his gut.
One by one, the cavalry fell to the trio's onslaught.
Thud. Thud. Thud...
Two riders stepped forward, patience spent. Epaulettes on their shoulders marked them as leaders: Karim, 3rd Company Centurion with spear; Karen, 4th Company Centurion with sword. Twin siblings commanding the cavalry.
They bellowed defiantly at the three monsters.
"Skeletons! Your rampage ends here."
"We'll take you on."
Step step.
White smoke billowed from Karim and Karen's bodies.
And then—
"Eat this, skeletons."
Swoosh. Whoooosh.
Sword wind and spear wind hurtled toward the monsters. They sliced through the air, about to strike the bone constructs—
Swish.
Black shadows materialized, batting them aside barehanded.
Thwack! Thwack!
The winds buried themselves in the dirt.
The shadows were King and Jack.
King regarded the centurions with leisure. "Come, entertain us."
Black magi poured from him in welcome.
Whoosh.
Karim's brow furrowed at the foul magi. 'No ordinary monster...'
Just facing it made Karim and Karen falter, faces ashen.
"M-Magi this intense...!"
'On a whole other level from regular monsters...'
As they scowled, scrutinizing King and Jack—
Thud. Thud.
Their horses collapsed under the magi, eyes rolled back, foam at the mouth.
"...!"
Overwhelmed by mere magi—it was mortifying.
Soon after, as the pair glowered at King and Jack—
Their dropped sword and spear lifted into the air.
Then hurtled toward the centurions.
Ssssh. Ssssh.
They couldn't hide their shock. 'This is... Hawk Sword?!'
'2nd-class monsters after all...'
Tic. Tic. Tic. Tic...!
As they frantically deflected the flying weapons—
Clop clop clop.
Jack zipped in on horseback, thrusting his red sword into Karim's gut.
Puk! Splash!
Black smoke billowed from Karim's neck.
Swoosh.
The two centurions collapsed, helpless.
Thud. Thud.
Helden exhaled smoke and approached the bone monsters amid the carnage. "Hoo."
Step step.
"Let's see what you've got."
His gaze was razor-sharp. Crunch. He gripped one of the two swords at his waist—ready to pulverize every skeleton in sight.
As he clenched the hilt—
Red energy swirled around him.
BOOM!!
A massive shockwave sank the ground with Helden at the center.
Red aura smothered the skeletons, pinning them immobile—even the colossal Starfish and Behemoth.
"Ugh..."
Only King and Jack held out, barely. The power of Gravity Sword, one of the supreme Absolute Weapons that commanded gravity.
Helden addressed the defiant King and Jack. "Impressive resolve. Even as foes, I commend you. But... you'll kneel before me soon enough."
Undaunted by the threat, they shot back.
"How dare this king kneel to the likes of you."
"Our knees bend to our king alone."
"King? Hahaha. Pathetic. Let's see if those words hold after I sever your legs."
As Helden eyed Jack and King's legs, raising Gravity—
A shadow fell over their heads. A massive 'X'-shaped silhouette.
Sudden shade—Helden looked up.
A colossal blue thunderbird filled his view.
And from it, someone dropped, slamming a sword into the ground.
BOOM!!
Dust blinded him, billowing outward. Helden shielded his eyes with one hand, scowling.
The dust parted, revealing a figure.
Helden's eyes narrowed. "......"
It was the thorn in his side: Bin.
Bin murmured softly. "Good work. King, Jack."
At Bin's appearance, King and Jack—contrasting their defiance toward Helden—dropped to one knee.
Thud.
"We are honored, Your Majesty."
Codic, dangling from Bin's belt, chattered his teeth at Helden. "This mangy weed dares sully my lord's sacred presence? Tch! Tch!"
Helden's stupefied expression at the lone skull head lasted only a moment before twisting into a scowl.
His pride stung, seeing them show deference to this whelp—unlike with him. At last, the pieces fell into place.
Swoosh.
Dust swirled in the air. But Bin and Helden paid it no mind.
Their eyes locked solely on each other.
Helden spoke, glaring at Bin. "So it was you—"
Before he finished, Bin lunged. "Shut up and draw."
"Hoo... How am I supposed to quit smoking at this rate."
Helden scowled at Bin's edged tone and exhaled a cloud of smoke.