058. Super Nova Hobas 2
Having felled three avian monsters, Hobas approached Bin. Thud. Thud. He scanned his surroundings with each deliberate step. The countless chimeric corpses strewn about, bleeding out. The sight only fueled his rage. Bin had thrown a wrench into the Grander family's plans.
"You dare mess up my turf. I hope you're prepared."
Slurp. His long tongue flicked across his lips. Killing intent laced his every move.
But Bin wasn't one to cower. "No need to get dramatic over swatting trash."
His words froze the faces around him. "……!"
Noni gaped, too stunned to hide it. How can he talk to Super Nova Hobas like that...? He shot a bewildered glance at Ront. Noni's eyes widened again at his master's calm expression. It was clear—Ront foresaw Bin's victory.
M-Master? Why? Noni turned back to Bin, questions swirling. The odds weren't good. Bin was breathing hard, while Hobas looked steady as ever. Noni's mind reeled.
Ria, locked in her cage, was just as shocked. What the hell is he...? She'd guessed he wasn't ordinary. At first, she thought his youth clouded his judgment. Now she doubted it. Those unwavering eyes. They burned with the patience of someone who'd waited years for this moment.
Hobas grimaced, body trembling. "Trash? You little shit..."
His teeth chattered with fury. Insult boiled his blood. His grip on the sickle shook.
Bin met his glare, dredging up old memories. I won't lose to scum like you... again.
Before his regression, when Bin had made a name as a one-armed blacksmith. Seeking vengeance for his mother, he'd wormed his way into the Gana Empire. As the continent's top smith, the empire welcomed him with open arms. Powerful weapons were the source of all strength, after all.
True to form, Bin hammered glowing iron in the forge. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Sweat poured from the furnace's heat. Drip. As he wiped his left arm across his brow, a visitor arrived.
Long tongue, sinister grin. Hobas.
"Blacksmith. Got a favor to ask."
Bin bowed politely. "Of course, Hobas. What can I do for you?"
"Nothing big. Piece of cake for a guy like you."
Hobas handed over a parchment blueprint. Bin studied it intently. A massive iron cage within another cage. The inner one barely fit a single person—no room to twitch. A hook on top suggested it hung from something. Like a double-layered birdcage.
Bin's eyes sharpened. He could build it. "Just make this?"
Hobas chuckled at his confidence. "Already got it? True master craftsman. A week, then."
His tone brooked no argument. Bin shot back boldly. "Three days."
"Heh heh heh. I like it."
Days later. "Kyaaack!"
A woman's scream echoed from Hobas's room. Alarmed, Bin kicked the door open—a simple task for him. What he saw left him speechless.
"W-What the...!"
The double cage dangled from the ceiling. His creation. Inside the inner cage squirmed an unexpected woman, arms pinned tight. An avian monster's beak tore into her gut. She shrieked in agony as it ripped deeper.
"Aaaagh!"
Horror twisted Bin's face. Why the hell...? He scanned the room. Hobas lounged on his bed, tongue flicking as he eyed Bin.
Slurp. "Barging in without permission..."
His glare screamed displeasure. Bin treaded carefully. "I-I heard screams..."
"And?"
Hobas showed zero remorse. Bin couldn't fathom it. Don't tell me it's like the rumors... for sleep.
Hobas's twisted fetish: women's moans as lullabies. All for a good night's rest. Their pain? Irrelevant.
As Bin stood dumbfounded, the bird pecked her belly again. Another scream. "Aaaack!! J-Just kill me... please..."
Her desperate plea quickened Bin's heart. Thump thump. Guilt crashed in—he'd built that cage. But her fate wasn't his to decide. He gritted his teeth. To get to Helden, he needed these bastards' trust.
But this? Unbearable. "Hobas, please. Let her out."
"Ordering me around?"
Hobas scowled. "N-No, that's not—" Smack!
Hobas's hand cracked across Bin's cheek, sending him sprawling. Splat. "One-armed punk thinks he's hot shit."
Hobas stomped down relentlessly. Bin raised his one arm to shield himself. Thud! Thud! Thud...!
Bin fixed Hobas with an icy stare. Time to settle that debt.
He raised Luminare in one hand. Ront watched Hobas close in, worry creasing his brow. What now? Gotta buy time against a Super Nova somehow...
His mind raced to Luminare's Opening. Use Noni's gear to lighten its weight. Meaning... face Hobas barehanded.
No easy choice. Ront's eyes drifted to his staff. Even Opening this... bad matchup.
True. His cannon blast was one-shot. But Hobas could swap positions freely in a space. Useless—one dodge and done.
"How to stall..."
As Ront pondered, Hobas sneered at Bin. "Arrogant brat."
Sweat beaded on Bin's forehead. Hobas lunged in a blur. Thud thud thud!
Bin's eyes narrowed. Here it comes.
Great Sickle met Luminare. Screeech! Bin yielded ground as expected. Screech— His feet skidded back.
But he wouldn't go down easy. Crack!
Bin unleashed Shabest's power within Luminare. Ice erupted at his heels, halting the slide. Hobas snorted. "Not bad. But green."
He raised the sickle high, hand glowing with a star-shaped magic circle. It spun red. Bin vanished—reappearing at the sickle's edge.
Tricky spell. But Bin smirked. "Just what I wanted."
Like he planned it. Hobas faltered at the grin. Then, from Bin's belt, Codic's skull floated up. It swelled, jaws gaping at Hobas.
"Eat this!"
Elite skeleton knights—A, B, C, D—burst from Codic's maw in sequence. Prepped inside ahead of time.
Hobas reeled at the unseen tactic. "Ugly freaks!"
The elites pounced without mercy: twin swords, twin chariots, twin flails, staff. Hobas blocked on instinct. Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!
Diverse strikes demanded fluid defense. His stance crumbled. Bin seized the opening, closing in. His right hand wreathed in black smoke.
"Try your spell again."
"……!"
Hobas's pupils shook. Bin knew from past life: spells took setup time. He'd timed it perfectly.
This attack...Whoosh!
Crescent black sword-wind clashed with Great Sickle. A dull boom shook the entire second underground level. BOOM!
"Urghhh."
Hobas flew back, slamming into the wall. Crack! Cracks spiderwebbed; dust billowed. His feet gouged an "11" into the floor.
Ront and Noni were speechless. "S-Super Nova Hobas..." "That young lord..."
Small wonder. A pinnacle 3rd-class knight, a Super Nova. Yet Bin had gone toe-to-toe up close. Bold, unorthodox genius.
Ront gawked at Bin. Executing a head-strategy so flawlessly. Against a Super Nova...
Anyone could dream up tactics. Pulling them off perfectly? Astonishing.
Bin's unorthodox style stemmed from regression. Endless imagined fights against Gana guards and Super Novas. Their weaknesses, counters. Routine attacks wouldn't cut it. So he'd innovated wild strategies—and now wielded them.
Ront and Noni rushed to him. Instinct screamed: Hobas wasn't done.
"Noni, now!"
"Yes, Master!"
Bin handed over Luminare. Noni pulled a rune-etched jar from his pocket—top-grade gear.
He infused it with mana, gripping tight. "Nngh."
The jar expanded, fueled by Mana of Strength. Luminare went in; more mana followed. White mist swirled inside, enshrouding the blade. It flashed brilliantly.
"……!"