075. Submission 2
Numerous corpses of harpies and knights littered the ground, a chill hanging in the air. It stemmed from the tension between Bin and Hite.
Bin drew the greatsword from his back and slammed it into the earth.
Boom!
The blade plunged deep vertically, leaving only half its length exposed—a clear sign of Bin's resolve to fight with this broken weapon.
He spoke in a low voice.
"Then let's begin."
The knights of the 7th Division were dumbfounded.
'Captain... you're serious...?'
'With that dull blade...? How?!'
Codic, hanging at Bin's waist, also paled.
'My lord... you're really facing him with that thing?'
A dull-edged sword with only half its blade intact. Even to Codic's eyes, it looked precarious. He figured it might snap after a few clashes with his own teeth. It might be better to lend his right arm instead.
Hite, seeing Bin's unwavering stance, finally spoke.
"You should be careful."
He raised his red spear and assumed his position. Bin lifted his shattered sword, eyes locked on Hite.
The atmosphere grew heavy. The 7th Division knights already anticipated Hite's victory.
'No way to beat a long spear with a two-handspan sword.'
'Impossible, no matter how you look at it...'
As the 7th Division knights grew certain, Hite lunged first.
"If you won't come, I'll go to you!"
Thud thud! Quick footwork kicked up dirt. The red spear shot toward Bin's body.
Swish. Swish.
Right waist. Left waist. The long spear moved with blinding speed, like a frog's tongue hunting prey.
The spear tip closed in on Bin's waist—and Codic got caught in the crossfire. The skull's eye sockets flashed as it muttered.
'M-my lord. I'm right here...'
The spear tip hovered less than a centimeter from Codic's head. He worried Bin had overlooked him, wondering if that perfect spherical skull of his would get nicked. Even tough old Codic felt anxious; Hite's spearmanship was that fast and powerful.
Swish. Swish.
This time, the spear swept from upper right to lower left. The 7th Division knights gaped, murmuring in awe.
"As expected of Captain Hipo's son. The spear moves like it's alive..."
"A true prodigy spearman is on another level..."
Swift, precise strikes. The spear accelerated mercilessly when smashing down or thrusting up. Hite knew exactly when to apply power and when to relax.
Swish. Swish. Clang! Clang!
Bin parried the incoming spear thrusts one by one with his short sword.
'A prodigy spearman, indeed—not an empty title.'
Hite gripped his spear, calculating the distance Bin could counter from while attacking. Meanwhile, the 7th Division knights marveled at Bin blocking it all.
"He's parrying that spear with such a short blade..."
"With a sword that dull... incredible!"
"As expected of Captain Bin."
It was astonishing. His skill belied his teenage years. And his boldness too. He was no ordinary man.
Still, they thought he lacked emotional control. His opponent was 50th Captain Hite, after all. Even a Super Nova like Bin couldn't win with that stubby sword, they judged.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Bin stepped back under Hite's flurry. A smile crept onto Hite's lips.
'Arrogance, as I thought. No way that junk sword can handle me. Try blocking this.'
Hite swung his long spear from left to right, tracing a massive arc. A big motion, amplified power.
He was certain: with full force, the dull blade wouldn't hold.
As the spear whipped around, Bin closed in and raised his sword.
Clang! A dull clash of metal rang out.
Hite admired Bin's move.
'Blocking before the power fully loads...'
Just as Hite said—Bin had thrust his sword forward the instant the swing began, preventing full momentum. The 7th Division knights watched the prodigies clash, speechless.
"...!"
"The captain trying to shatter that dull sword, and Captain Bin preempting it..."
A duel at a level that made one forget their ages. No comparing to peers—it would be rude even to try.
Hite and Bin, honed from youth in spearmanship and regression alike. Their experience was unmatched.
Hite spoke amid Bin's sharp judgment.
"Impressive, Captain Bin. The best you can do with that sword."
"Save your breath. Focus on trying harder."
Hite's face twisted at Bin's words.
"......"
Bin's confident gaze pierced him. Even with the broken sword, those eyes promised: slack off, and I'll cut you down.
Hite gritted his teeth.
'Against me... with that scrap...'
Hite scowled and swung his spear in wide arcs.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Bin dodged each one, eyes tracking. Then Hite smiled—the gap he'd spotted from experience.
"Sorry, Captain Bin."
The spear targeted Bin's right leg, farthest from his sword in his left hand.
Screeech! It sliced the air, ringing in Bin's ears.
In that crisis, a memory flashed: his father's words.
'Wrap it in mana, and even a twig can cleave steel.'
Bin infused mana into his arm and half-sword. In one fluid motion, he swung.
Slaaash! The sound echoed around them.
The 7th Division knights gulped in unison.
Gulp.
A split-second victory. They couldn't believe their eyes.
Before them stood Bin with his dull sword—and Hite clutching a spear cleaved in two.
Bin's left arm had bulged. Mana of Strength.
The wide-eyed knights erupted.
"N-no way...!"
"The spear... it's broken in half...!"
"How, with that sword...?"
Hite's severed spear spun clockwise through the air.
Whirr whirr.
Hite stared blankly at his ruined weapon.
'My spear... broken?! By that sword...'
Trained in spearmanship since childhood by his father, 2nd Division Captain Hipo. Not just defeated, but by a half-broken sword. The shock of losing to a peer paled against this incomprehensibility.
A memory flickered: his father's voice.
"Well done, son. You're truly my boy."
Young Hite swung his spear, beaming.
"Father, I'll become the continent's strongest spear knight!"
"Yes, you can, Hite. You've got the talent."
Then, voices of peers he'd beaten.
"Ugh... how do you wield that long spear so freely? Can't win once."
"No beating you, Hite. I surrender."
"Lucky bastard, born with it."
Young Hite had thrown his head back laughing.
"Hahaha! I'm destined to be the strongest spear knight. Don't be too jealous."
Hite blinked at his broken spear.
'Strongest spear knight... I thought my talent was unmatched. But this gap...'
He'd believed himself invincible against peers. That illusion shattered in an instant—thanks to Bin before him. Younger, fighting handicapped, yet victorious.
His legs buckled; he came to on his knees. Bin loomed over him.
Hite gulped involuntarily.
Gulp.
'S-strength Mana! Like Father—wielding two manas...'
Mana of Strength and Mana of Agility—a realm he'd heard of. But a younger noble mastering it? Unreal, like a dream.
Bin read his thoughts: eclipsed by talent.
Bin showed his left hand.
"It's not just talent."
Hite blinked, then his pupils shook at the sight.
"......!"
Calluses thick despite his youth, scars everywhere. The pain behind them was unimaginable.
Hite's blank expression crumpled; he bowed his head. Now he understood his defeat.
'A perfect loss.'
Accepting it fully, Hite spoke.
"I acknowledge my defeat, Captain Bin. And..."
Thud!!
He slammed his forehead into the ground, loud for all to hear.
"For defying and insulting you, Captain Bin, I sincerely apologize."
Bin nodded impassively—acceptance. This was enough; no need for enmity.
Gazing at Hite, Bin recalled his pre-regression memories. One of the continent's top spear knights. If he earned Hite's loyalty, he'd be a great asset.
Yet Hite felt it insufficient and spoke again.
"50th Captain Hite formally pledges to Captain Bin once more."
"......"
Kneeling on one knee, Hite offered his broken spear to Bin.
"Loyalty to Captain Bin!"
The 7th Division knights knelt on one knee in unison, echoing him.
"Loyalty!!"
A vow to never doubt their captain again. The moment countless 7th Division knights truly followed Captain Bin.