032. Absorption
Gangble Grander hurled a flurry of cards at Bin.
Swoosh—three cards slicing through the air. Their small size and blistering speed made them nearly invisible.
Yet Bin's expression remained utterly calm. He had something to rely on.
The moment the cards neared his eyes, the elite skeleton knights around him threw themselves forward.
Creak. Creak.
Arms, heads, legs... they sacrificed everything without hesitation. One had to wonder if such loyalty was even possible without true devotion.
And at the center of elite skeleton knights Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta stood Codic. He raised one thick arm to catch a card, then crushed it in his bony fist as he faced it down.
Crunch.
Tch! Tch! "There's an order to things. You think you can target my lord right from the first hand? You Grander pup."
The word "pup" drew a hollow laugh from Gangble's narrow, elongated eyes. It had been ages since he'd heard such an insult.
The Red Tide knights couldn't hide their bewilderment at Codic's display. Gangble Grander, a 3rd Class knight, was untouchable thanks to his vast underworld connections. And here he was, being openly disrespected by some monster—the bloodline of Helden Grander, one of the continent's strongest.
A few others gaped at the elite skeleton knights guarding Bin, unable to shut their mouths.
"He blocked it... How are those monsters stopping the boss's attack...?"
"Skeletons don't bleed, so the bleeding effect doesn't work...?"
Gangble's weapon, Trump. A superior weapon with a bleeding effect.
Yet the skeletons struck by it were completely unscathed. No blood meant no bleeding, after all.
A creeping unease filled their minds as the Red Tide knights scanned their surroundings.
"...!"
Countless monster corpses littered the ground. Most had come from Gangble's cards.
'Our Red Tide squad... getting pushed this hard. If this keeps up, we'll be overrun soon...'
They were losing the matchup and now even in numbers. Gangble seemed to share the thought, devising a new plan.
'One-on-one with that guy instead of the mob...'
A confident smirk curled Gangble's lips as he eyed Bin and played his final card.
"Even with a priceless top-grade weapon, you lack confidence? Hiding behind those skeletons like a little girl. Should've been born one—your mother must've botched that, kkkk."
A vile cackle. Anyone could see it was a blatant provocation meant to rile Bin.
It was obvious, but it worked exactly as Gangble intended.
Thud. Thud. Tap.
Bin shoved the elite skeleton knights aside with both hands and stepped forward. He'd touched Bin's deepest wound—his mother. There was no holding back now.
Bin fixed Gangble with an icy glare.
"Looks like you don't want to die easy."
"...!"
Gangble flinched at the killing intent in Bin's voice. Not the tone, but Bin's eye—it had shifted to something reptilian.
'How does that kid have a monster's eye...?'
Any trace of composure vanished from Bin's face. But Gangble masked his shock and spoke up.
"Come on, then. Let's see what you've got. For the honor of Grander and Bascon."
Codic, watching it all, wanted to stop the one-on-one duel. They had the advantage—giving the enemy an opening like this was foolish. But knowing how Bin felt about his mother, he couldn't bring himself to intervene.
'My lord...'
Defying all expectations, Gangble charged Bin first.
'Now that he's riled up, that's my chance.'
It made sense. Excitement disrupted sword stance and breathing.
Gangble judged this the perfect moment. Multiple shadows layered over his rushing form.
'Show an inexperienced fighter something unfamiliar—best way to go.'
Gangble circled Bin at blinding speed, probing for openings.
Bin, in turn, tracked his movements and shifted his stance.
Then came the scraping of Luminare dragging across the floor.
Draggg.
It matched Bin's full height in length, and its weight was several times that of a normal sword.
Gangble burst into laughter at the sight.
"Side effect, huh? Kkkk. Looks too heavy for you. Might even lose those two swords you're carrying."
Luminare, a top-grade weapon. High-rank artifacts came with drawbacks—increasing weight and mana drain with each absorbed ability.
Unlike usual, Bin stayed silent in the face of the taunt.
"...?"
He seemed to be plotting something. But Gangble pressed on.
"Kkkk, dragging around a top-grade burden like that. Even supreme weapons need mastery time. You won't beat me with it."
Gangble smirked, comparing himself to Bin.
'More combat experience. Deeper weapon knowledge. You don't surpass me in anything.'
Draggg—Luminare scraped the floor again.
Gangble wouldn't miss the opening. A white-glowing card flew at Bin.
Swoosh—the air rippled around it.
Whoosh-crack—fierce winds made the Red Tide knights' eyes widen.
"...Wind wrapped around the card."
"Power like a sword gale!"
Bin hoisted Luminare and smashed down on the menacing card.
Clang!
But contrary to Gangble and the Red Tide's expectations, the card tore apart easily.
Riiip!
An unfamiliar sound. The Red Tide had fought alongside Gangble countless times—never had a mana-infused card been bisected.
They gaped in shock.
"It... it tore...!"
"The boss's card...!"
Gangble, who'd thrown it, blinked in stunned silence.
"...?"
The crisp ripping echoed clearly. Shreds fluttering in the air proved it real.
'I infused it with mana... Is a top-grade weapon just different?'
Gangble scowled, then tossed his head back.
'No way. My attacks don't get blocked by some pup. What a weapon costs—that was luck.'
He refocused and zipped around Bin again, eyes gleaming from behind.
'Not so easy this time.'
His card glowed pure white. The Red Tide couldn't hide their awe at the brilliance.
"Boss's card is shining...!"
They fixed on Bin.
'Sword aura tech on that kid...? Is he really that strong?'
Sword aura. Mana-clad blade made sharper and tougher—a 3rd Class technique, like armoring the weapon.
As Gangble reared to throw, Bin shot forward like a bolt.
Swoosh—his speed stunned everyone.
He'd been dragging the greatsword moments ago. How was he moving this fast with it?
Bin's eyes met Gangble's shocked face with utter certainty. No words needed—his expression said it all.
'You fell for it.'
Gangble ground his teeth at the unexpected ploy.
'This bastard...'
Indeed. Bin had faked falling for the taunt to lure him in. Pretending to lose control to the weapon's side effects.
A strategy born from knowing Gangble from his past life.
Gangble Grander equated himself with his flashy connections, belittling others while blind to his place. That arrogance became his downfall.
Bin swung Luminare with both hands. Black energy surged from the blade, shaking Gangble's pupils.
'Ma-magi...!'
Before Gangble could react, he slammed his card into the greatsword.
White clashed with black in a brutal deadlock.
Screeeeech!
Both glared like predators. The stalemate shattered with a rip.
Riiip!
"...!"
The card split in two, fluttering harmlessly. Gangble's pride shattered alongside it.
Blood erupted like a fountain.
Splurt!!
Luminare pulsed wildly.
Thump! Thump!
Red smoke rose from the torn card, seeping into the greatsword. As the white blade turned crimson, Bin grimaced—the weight had spiked. The smoke was now undeniable mass.
'Red hue.'
Bin's fascination with the sword was brief. He swung at the unfinished Gangble.
Swoosh—a crescent of black sword gale hurtled forth.
The Red Tide's eyes bulged at the threat.
"That kid's using sword... sword gale...!"
"Bascon blood really is different...!"
"Boss, watch out!"
Their warnings fell flat as the black gale grazed Gangble.
Swoosh—thud!
It embedded in the wall with a boom, vanishing. But traces remained: dust clouds, a long gouge in the floor.
Ront gaped at the unbelievable sight.
"That kid's overwhelming Gang... Gangble...!"
Even with a top-grade weapon, Bin wielded it freely, like he'd trained with it forever—tricks, swordsmanship, all seamless. Anyone hit by that gale would be dead.
The dust settled, revealing Gangble's silhouette.
But his state was horrific. Right arm severed, he bled profusely onto the floor.
Drip. Drip-drip...
Gangble wanted to deny it all. The severed limb. The torn cards.
'N-no...'
Only once before had this happened—to his father and family head, Helden Grander.
'No one but Father could shred my full-mana weapon... Not this greenhorn.'
His mind reeled—until one sight pierced through: blood gushing from his stump.
'This...!'
Excessive bleeding. Unfamiliar? No—his own weapon's power.
A chill gripped him as he stared at Bin.
'That... sword...'
His guess hit true. Bin's greatsword now gleamed red.
He'd never heard of such a weapon, but he knew.
'Ab-absorption?!'
Bin closed in on the panicked Gangble.
Thud. Thud.
No mercy in those reptilian eyes—not a speck.
Gangble's pupils quivered.
'Me, Gangble Grander, dying here? To this pup, not some big shot...?'
Everything in that gaze felt like a lie. The missing arm, the blinded eye.
But his body reacted on instinct, trembling nonstop as Bin approached.
'No... impossible...'
Bin spoke to the quaking man.
"Why the shakes? We're just getting started."
Tap. Tap.
Bin advanced closer, crimson Luminare in hand.
"Feel the pain of everyone else you hurt. Go on, try it."
It was as if the blade brimmed with the wrath of countless children.