057. Super Nova Hobas 1
As the misunderstanding between Ront and Noni slowly unraveled, someone made their entrance.
It was Super Nova Hobas, his forelock draped over one eye. He faced Ront and flicked out his long tongue.
Slurp. Slurp.
“The ancient weapon, right? Hand it over. Unless you want to die.”
His eerie voice drew everyone's attention.
“……!”
Most wore shocked expressions. Codic, who had sidled up to Bin's waist unnoticed, began muttering to himself.
‘What the hell? That creepy little bug...’
Bin, meanwhile, scowled at Hobas.
‘Trash.’
Thick makeup accentuated his sharp features, and that elongated tongue... He looked like a chameleon crossed with a human. Hobas had a peculiar taste: he relished women's agony. And it went far beyond the ordinary... He needed their screams as a lullaby to sleep. The number of women who had died in torment under him was considerable.
Nicknamed the "Chameleon"—not just for his looks, but his ability. He could mimic an opponent's power once. Thanks to the weapon in his hand, the Great Sickle.
Bin eyed the man's weapon.
‘Superior-grade.’
A broad blue sickle, like a lavish staff fused with a blade.
Clang.
Hobas brought the blue Great Sickle to his lips.
Slurp.
He savored it, slowly licking the blade with his long tongue. His gaze fixed on the parchment in Ront's hands.
"I told you to bring it."
His authoritarian tone revealed how he usually bullied others. It came with his Super Nova status.
Ront broke into a cold sweat the moment he locked eyes with Hobas.
‘Damn, of all people, Super Nova Hobas...’
Unlike before Hobas arrived, Ront's face darkened. He'd heard rumors of the man's prowess as a Super Nova.
‘Even with three monsters helping, this won't be easy...’
Ront's mind raced. What to do in this situation? Some clever solution, perhaps. It wasn't just fear of death. He worried for Ria, trapped here.
‘How the hell do I handle a Super Nova...’
As Ront pondered, Hobas glanced down and spoke.
"By the way, how's life on one leg?"
Ront froze at the words. Hobas eyed his remaining leg intently, his gaze brimming with the urge to sever it too.
“…….”
Before Ront could falter, Ria cried out.
"Lord Ront, if you've saved Mia, that's enough! Get out of here now!"
Her voice made it clear: she didn't care if she died here.
At her words, Ront's eyes widened—unlike before.
‘Ria... If I back down here, I wouldn't be the greatest blacksmith, Ront!’
His gaze hardened. He slammed his staff into the ground with defiant pride.
Thud!
"It's sturdy enough. As you know, my craftsmanship is unmatched."
Hobas's lips curled at Ront's bold tone.
"Just like a cocky dwarf. Time to pay for running from me!"
Tap.
Hobas stepped forward, closing in on Ront in an instant. Impressive speed—Ront couldn't even twitch.
“……!”
As Ront's eyes bulged, the blue sickle swept toward his feet. Aimed at his sole remaining leg. Ria and Noni's pupils shook at the sight.
"Lo-Lord Ront!"
‘M-Master...’
It was no surprise. The Great Sickle had severed countless limbs. For a one-legged man like Ront, evasion was impossible.
Just as the glowing blue blade neared Ront's leg...
Swoosh.
Layers of black shadow surged before him in a flash. Then, the clash of metal echoed through the underground prison.
Clang!
The black shadow before Ront was none other than Bin. Bin and Hobas glared at each other, weapons locked.
Screeech!
“…….”
As their eyes battled, Hobas spoke first.
"A Bascon?"
His gaze fell on Bin's black uniform. A rumor flashed in his mind: Gangble Grander had lost to the Bascon runt.
Hobas pieced it together.
‘Black hair, massive greatsword.’
"You're the one. The brat who crushed Black Foot."
The rumors matched his appearance perfectly. Few youths wielded such a huge sword.
Bin smirked at Hobas.
"What, mad your little brother's down? Hobas... Grander."
“……!”
Hobas scowled at Bin's words. His Grander affiliation was known only to pureblood family members—a closely guarded secret.
One Super Nova condition: no family could have more than one. To prevent power concentration. That's why Hobas was Grander's hidden child. The rule changed later when Helden became Gana's Guard Captain, but...
The others' eyes widened at the revelation.
“……!”
They shifted from doubt to certainty. Hobas's flustered expression gave it away.
Noni recalled something from the past.
‘That's why he had so many Grander connections...’
Ront nodded calmly.
‘Knew it. But how did he figure that out...’
Hobas recovered quickly, smirking at Bin.
"Pulling out such precious info out of nowhere? You wanna die?"
He flicked his tongue at Bin, eyes gleaming with murder. The Great Sickle soon reflected his intent.
Swoosh.
It sliced through the air toward Bin's solar plexus. Bin raised Luminare to meet its path. But Hobas anticipated further.
"Predictable trajectory."
‘Change Room.’
Bin scowled, reading his intent.
‘Swaps space within range...’
A red star-shaped magic circle appeared on the back of Hobas's hand. It spun rapidly, generating a red barrier around him. The Grander signature confirmed it.
A red dome soon enclosed them. Bin's body vanished from the ground, reappearing a handspan higher.
“……!”
His feet lifted off the floor, eyes widening. Luminare, meant to block the sickle, was now too high.
‘Damn...’
Bin adjusted, redirecting the blade downward.
Screeech!
Metal clashed again, filling the prison.
“…….”
Thud.
Bin landed back on the ground, meeting Hobas's gaze. Bin frowned; Hobas looked even more relaxed.
Hobas pressed the attack relentlessly. He saw an opening while Bin hadn't cracked his magic yet.
"Let's see how long you last."
“…….”
The blue Great Sickle struck high, mid, low in sequence.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Not mere strikes. A fierce overhead slash—Bin swung to counter, but his position swapped again. Instantly facing the blade from a handspan up.
The erratic assault forced Bin to constantly redirect Luminare.
Screeech! Screeech!
The longer it dragged, the more it wore on Bin. Unforeseen shifts demanded extra force on his weapon. Luminare grew heavier, worsening the strain.
Bin's responses slowed.
‘Need a counter...’
Then, a blue sickle rushed his chest. As it neared...
Bin scowled.
‘Can't take this lying down.’
He slammed Luminare into the ground.
Thud-thud-thud!
Ice walls erupted before the airborne Bin. Shabest's absorbed power. The Great Sickle hit ice, not flesh.
Crash!!
The thick barrier shattered, shards flying. Immense destructive force.
Ront watched in awe.
‘Superior vs. superior...’
Bin was being pushed, true. But Ront marveled.
‘Holding off Super Nova Hobas at that age? Incredible...’
As they parted, something appeared before Hobas: a blue avian monster, Rain.
"You dare touch one blessed by the Taia?"
Cyan Wind and yellow Thunder flanked him.
"Not on our watch."
Hobas remained unfazed by the trio. A smile crept across his face—more opponents meant more fun.
"Heh, wanna test your skills?"
"You lot wanna die too? Fine by me."
"Let's see who drops first!"
The three avian monsters charged Hobas. Wind struck first.
Whoooosh!
A whirlwind spawned from his wings, engulfing Hobas. But Hobas met the gale with his sickle. It glowed blue, birthing a vortex that sucked in the whirlwind.
"Not bad."
As Hobas focused on Wind, Rain and Thunder flanked him, aiming to exploit the distraction. They slashed with one wing each.
‘Downpour.’
"Taste some lightning!"
Whoooosh. Crackle. Crackle.
Lightning on his right, raindrops on his left. But the attacks met the same fate—a blue vortex from the Great Sickle absorbed them both.
Hobas smirked meaningfully.
"Now, reap what you sowed."
He focused on the Great Sickle. It gleamed white. He leaped before Thunder, swinging.
Swoosh—
Thunder couldn't hide his shock.
"How...!"
Wind's whirlwind assaulted him.
Whoooosh.
"Urk...!"
Red gashes bloomed on Thunder's body amid the gale.
Crackle. Crackle.
With a brief cry, Thunder plummeted.
Thud!
Hobas didn't stop. He hurled Rain's raindrops at Wind, Thunder's lightning at Rain. As they soared to evade...
Hobas grinned.
"Useless."
Their positions swapped.
"Th-this...!"
"D-damn!"
Back in place, they faced their own attacks.
Whoooosh. Crackle. Crackle.
"Agh...!"
"Guh...!"
The pair wailed in agony, crashing limply.
Thud! Thud!
These weren't fodder monsters. But Hobas exploited their affinities perfectly.
His smile lingered as he watched them fall.
"Charging blindly? Pathetic."
Hobas had effortlessly crushed three 3rd-class-or-higher monsters. His Super Nova rank was well-earned.
He approached Bin.
Step. Step.
Meanwhile, Ront urgently addressed Noni.
"Noni, you've had it rough."
"M-Master... I didn't know, and I... to you..."
"Enough, lad. Your love for dwarves hasn't changed—that's pride enough. Later for the rest... First, tend to that sword."
"The sword...?"
Ront and Noni's gazes turned to Bin, sweat beading on his forehead. Precisely, to the sword in his hand: Luminare.
Ront gave Noni a meaningful look.
"For its true power: Opening."