118. Archrival 4
Swish.
In the blink of an eye, Helden appeared right in front of Bin.
"It's over, brat."
The moment Helden's low voice reached him—
Puke!
A sword plunged into Bin's heart.
"……."
But Bin felt no pain. Instead, a smile crept across his lips.
'I've been waiting for this moment.'
In a one-on-one duel against a stronger opponent, there were mainly two ways to turn the tables. Exploit your genius talent. Or make the enemy drop their guard.
Bin had orchestrated the situation to make Helden as complacent as possible. And he'd pushed it to the brink—losing part of his arm, nearly losing consciousness.
The result? Just as planned, a gap opened up. After all...
Helden had aimed precisely for the enemy's heart.
He'd assumed Bin would lose consciousness any second. But contrary to expectations, Bin's form began to change. His eyes and arm took on the appearance of a monster.
And then—
Puke!
Bin's severed sword fragment flew straight toward Helden's eye.
"……."
Helden stared blankly at the sword embedded in Bin's heart.
The heart. The central organ pumping blood throughout the body. One of the most vital parts of the human form, the core of life itself.
Yet it remained unscathed even after being pierced by an absolute weapon. How could this be?
'How in the world...'
As Helden pondered, sword lodged in one eye and a long gash across the other—that's when it rang out.
Ting!
A clear chime pierced his ears. With it, a silvery light began to glow around Bin's heart.
That's right. It was the effect of the Zaratann egg activating.
Bin gazed at the light, memories flooding back.
'Mother...'
Danel's eyes widened in astonishment, her expression dazed.
"This... isn't this the Zaratann egg from last year's rite of passage reward?"
The Zaratann egg. An egg from a colossal monster resembling a turtle the size of an island. A mystical being whose hatching varied unpredictably.
Danel's eyes grew even rounder as she stared at it.
"Bin, you still haven't eaten this? The egg that can block even a sword to the heart just once? It seems more suited for you than me."
Bin replied a beat late to her words.
"...Father gave me an extra one for the mission. You should take it, Mother."
Of course, it was a white lie told in good faith. So she could eat it with peace of mind.
"Your father must have felt sorry for burdening you with so many tasks. Sneaking this to you like that. You're so reliable now."
As Danel beamed with pride, Bin couldn't hide his own swell of satisfaction.
Watching the scene, Codic narrowed his empty sockets.
'Kyaha, what a beautiful sight! My lord's kind heart—today too, tears won't stop flowing from these sockets of mine... My lord.'
It was the night Bin had given the Zaratann egg to his mother, Danel.
Thud. Thud.
Someone approached the sleeping Bin in his bedroom. Soon, a warm hand reached for his cheek.
"Bin, you've grown so much."
The gentle touch belonged to none other than Danel. Bin woke at the contact but kept his eyes shut.
Drip.
Drip.
His mother was shedding tears.
With moist eyes, Danel spoke to him. Her loving gaze said it all—how precious he was to her.
And then, something entered Bin's mouth. Danel had scooped the Zaratann egg onto a spoon and pushed it past his lips.
Bin swallowed the liquid sliding down his throat without resistance. He wanted to refuse, but he knew her intentions and couldn't bring himself to stop her.
Gulp.
Gulp.
Danel watched his throat bob with a contented smile.
"Bin, I'm grateful for your intentions... but how could a mother eat something her son struggled so hard to obtain? My wish is for you to return safe and sound, above all else. Please... stay healthy, my son."
Her warm words made Bin's eyes tremble. He held back tears with all his might.
'M-Mother...'
Bin's Luminare pierced straight through Helden's eye.
And Bin's own eyes had already transformed into those of a monster.
But this time was different. Before, Bellatan had controlled him. Now, it moved by Bin's own will.
The result of training with Taia's family head, Endaran Teia.
Helden grimaced at the sight.
'M-Monster?'
Not just any monster. It was the power of a top-tier, 1st-grade monster.
As Helden reeled in shock, Bin fixed him with a murderous glare.
'Monster form lasts ten seconds at most. Finish it within that.'
The moment Bin's eyes brimmed with killing intent—
Slash!
The half-remaining Luminare in his hand shot forward, stabbing into Helden's abdomen.
Puke!
Blood erupted from Helden's gut like a fountain.
"……."
Even halved, Luminare wielded Bellatan's power, making its strike devastating.
Helden's pupils quivered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Bin regarded him with icy eyes.
'This is for my past life.'
He recalled the memory of Luminare piercing his own belly back then.
Suddenly, Helden's head drooped toward the ground. A massive pool of crimson blood stained the earth.
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd bled this much.
The terror of death, felt after so long—what was this sensation?
Helden's pulse raced.
Thump-thump.
That's when Bin's black hand seized Helden's shoulder and hurled him away.
'9 seconds.'
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Trees snapped in a line under his massive frame. Blood trailed from Helden's body, splattering the ground and trunks red.
Even as Helden hurtled uncontrollably, Bin charged after him.
Swish.
A body cloaked in shadow, too fast for the eye to track.
Bin swung the sword in his grip down onto Helden's flying shoulder.
'8 seconds.'
Puke!
Blood sprayed into the air like a geyser. Helden's body plummeted to the ground.
Immediately after, the sword he'd clutched flew from his hand.
Puke!
A deafening boom rang out.
"Urgh...!"
Helden gritted his teeth. He'd already lost one eye and suffered a mortal wound to the gut—his mind was in chaos.
And on top of that, disbelief. This brat was moving too fast even for a 1st-class knight like him to follow.
As Helden clenched his jaw and struggled to rise—
Swish.
The shadow closed in again.
And—
Puke!
Bin's foot slammed into Helden's forehead.
'7 seconds.'
The force was immense. Even Helden's heavy bulk launched into the air.
Unimaginable power. A 1st-class upper knight like him was being toyed with.
Which proved the brat possessed even greater strength.
His vision blurred, head ringing. He hadn't fully recovered.
But Bin didn't miss the opening.
Swish.
Black shadow flashing, Bin closed in swiftly. Sword poised to strike.
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.
Blade whistles in rapid succession. Left to right. Top to bottom. Right upper to left lower. Left lower to right upper.
Invisible slashes rained down repeatedly.
Blood poured from Helden's body in spurts.
Puke!
Puke!
'6 seconds.'
'5 seconds.'
…….
'3.'
'2.'
'1.'
Swish.
Ten seconds elapsed. The black magi faded from Bin's body. The dark pattern on his neck gradually vanished.
Soon, he reverted to his original form.
Helden's body, meanwhile, was torn to shreds in every direction. A total wreck.
'By a mere brat...'
The Scarlet Spear knights couldn't even finish their sentences at the blood-soaked sight.
"……!"
Unilaterally overwhelming a 1st-class knight. It felt like a dream.
Helden, one eye throbbing in agony, trembled with rage.
"Urgh...!"
Memories of the past resurfaced.
Faces of those who had razed his family when he was powerless. They hadn't just killed—they'd severed limbs, laughing as his kin died in agony.
The cruelty of watching family perish slowly in torment. His chest tore open, fury boiling over.
But his power had been insufficient. Recognizing his weakness, Helden vowed never to lose to anyone again.
That past trauma fueled his obsession with strength.
'If I fall, the same tragedy could befall my house again...'
Recalling the trauma, Helden rose once more with iron resolve.
"Urgh...!"
A true powerhouse, one of the continent's top ten.
Regaining his senses, Helden glared at the heaving Bin.
"Hah, hah, hah...!"
"Now's my chance to sever your limbs."
His eyes bulged. He could tell. Bin had just unleashed his maximum power, exhausting most of his mana.
Now, he could repay the attacks in full.
Helden drew his sword again, channeling mana. Just as he gripped Gravity Sword—
Clack.
Clack.
Black forces appeared behind Bin. The Bascon family.
Seeing the horde of Bascons, Helden frowned.
'Damn...'
He was certain. Even if he killed the brat now, the Bascons would finish him after.
Helden chose retreat. Blood streamed endlessly from his eye.
Glancing back through his narrowed vision, he turned to Bin.
"I'll claim your head myself one day."
But Bin wasn't one to just listen.
"Remember one thing. The day you see me again will be the day you lie in your coffin."
"You little—"
Tat-tat-tat.
The one-eyed Helden fled.
Bin could have targeted his unguarded heart but held back.
From interrogating the coerced black blacksmith Doni, he'd learned one fact: Helden had hidden his heart elsewhere using 7th Division Captain Chillis's ability.
"Hah, hah...!"
As Bin panted heavily, the sword Repulsao—capable of repulsion—began to crack on the ground.
Ting!
Smoke bloomed from it, enveloping Bin's Luminare.
Shaaa.
Bin bellowed majestically at Helden and the Scarlet Spears retreating into the distance.
"Grander! This is Bascon!"