083. Monster's Castle 5
6th Division Captain Alenda's pupils trembled. It was because King was bleeding from Bin's attack.
The attack... it landed!
Before ascending to the 4th floor, the three captains had devised a strategy. They judged that a frontal clash with the monsters swarming the floor would be impossible. On top of that, they were short on numbers.
So the plan they came up with was to target the monsters' leader. Odekus would provoke it, then Alenda and Bin would step in.
While formulating the strategy, Alenda harbored one doubt. Odekus, who was usually so strong-willed, had yielded to Bin's opinion. And as a result, the plan had succeeded flawlessly.
Alenda was dumbfounded. It wasn't just the strategy—it was the black smoke rising from Bin's body.
A 2nd-grade monster's magic... nullified...
Even as a one-armed fighter, Odekus was a skilled 3rd-class knight with exceptional durability. Yet that magic had laid him low in one hit. But it hadn't affected Bin at all.
Alenda's eyes widened as he muttered to himself.
Is the innate power of a pure bloodline this formidable...!
The magic King had unleashed was unmistakably 2nd-grade territory—something even Captain Alenda couldn't reach. Yet Bin had blocked it effortlessly.
Unable to close his gaping mouth, Alenda stared at Bin, wondering.
Just how far do his limits extend...?
As Alenda focused on Bin, King flashed his eyes.
"...!"
Drip. Drip.
Black blood dripped from King's body to the floor. Clutching his shoulder, King froze.
My body...
The torn skin on his shoulder. King tried to regenerate it, but his brow furrowed. For some reason, unlike usual, the wound wouldn't heal.
It was because Bin had infused it with mana of strength.
King tilted his head, glaring at Bin.
My magic doesn't work on him...? No, that can't be.
King figured it was just the ability of Bin's weapon or mere coincidence.
Soon after, the ringed King extended his hand toward Bin again.
At that instant, red flames erupted on Bin's abdomen. Just as they were about to explode—
Whoosh.
A massive plume of black smoke poured from Bin's body, devouring the flames.
The same as before. King's brow furrowed. It was now certain—his magic didn't work on this guy.
"...!"
Bin gazed at the flustered King and murmured in a low voice.
"It's all for nothing."
King gnashed his teeth at Bin's confident demeanor. This insolent brat daring to act cocky before him—he wanted to crush him right then.
A mere human...
King found the Bin before him unfamiliar. Unlike the humans who entered this place, trembling in fear and terror at the sight of him.
Whether by choice or force didn't matter. To King, humans were just playthings.
King glared at Bin again.
"A human who withstands my magic... Fine. Let's see how long you can keep it up."
King thrust both hands toward Bin repeatedly. But the result was the same.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Once more, the fading sound accompanied black smoke swallowing his magic.
King gritted his teeth and unleashed his hands continuously. Fist-sized flames appeared all over Bin's body in droves.
But the outcome remained unchanged.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh...
Black smoke billowed from Bin again, extinguishing the countless flames.
Bin stared calmly at King.
"You should ration your tantrums."
"...!"
King, who had always viewed humans as vermin, faltered. And now he fully realized it—his magic was useless against this one.
It wasn't just King. Alenda, witnessing it, couldn't believe his eyes.
He blocked all of a 2nd-grade monster's magic...
It was magic that would have reduced anyone else to ashes. Even a decent 2nd-class knight wouldn't have emerged unscathed.
Yet Bin stood there perfectly fine. No—magi now overflowed from his body, thanks to King's magic.
"...!"
That was when something red shot toward Alenda at blinding speed—too fast for his dynamic vision to track.
Only when it exploded did he realize what it was.
Thud!
With a boom, red flames burst from Alenda's abdomen.
"...!"
Alenda's eyes rolled back as he collapsed, black smoke billowing from his mouth.
King tilted his head at the sight.
No anomalies...
Exactly. King needed to test it on another human. Even if his magic didn't work on Bin, he wasn't one to back down.
After all, he had his 100 mounted knights—3rd-class assassins.
King, brimming with confidence, eyed Bin.
"Even if my magic fails, don't get cocky. Look at all these mounted knights around you. What can you do alone?"
King accurately pointed out Bin's disadvantage. Countless knights stared him down, and there was even the 2nd-grade monster Queen.
It was an overwhelmingly threatening situation.
Yet Bin didn't blink. He met King's gaze squarely.
"Who said I'm alone?"
"...?"
As King furrowed his brow at Bin's questioning tone—
Countless skeletons appeared behind Bin. Armored skeleton knights, elite skeleton knights, starfish, Gold Tooth... and even Jack on his purple horse.
"You called, my king?"
Jack's deep voice rang out, irritating someone. It was Codic, in the form of Gustave.
Crunch crunch.
The creature ground its teeth, glaring at Jack. It was miffed by Jack's imposing presence.
That bastard sure knows how to drop his voice low.
Before Codic could grumble more, King's red eyes shook at the sight of the horde of skeletons.
A human commanding monsters?!
And not just one or two—the numbers were staggering. King had never seen anyone handle so many.
His gaze fixed on the most annoying one: Jack.
"Jack, you dare betray me?"
King's eyes bulged as he thrust his hand toward Jack. But Jack wasn't one to take it lying down.
He swiftly raised his sword, blocking the magic.
Ting!
Smoke rose from his red conical blades. Jack glared at King with crimson eyes.
"I merely follow a greater being."
"What? Jack... you—!"
As King scowled, Bin's lips curved up. He approached King, murmuring lowly.
"Annihilate the enemies here."
The skeletons behind him chorused as one.
"Yes, my lord!"
Clack clack.
As the varied skeletons advanced, the mounted knights charged.
Thud thud thud.
The elite skeleton knights split into two groups against the oncoming knights, long iron chains in their grips—purchased from Itos's forge.
The two elite skeletons, arms swollen with mana of strength, raced to either flank of the knights.
Soon, the horses neighed.
"Neigh!"
"Neigh!"
The charging horses' legs caught in the chains, sending knights tumbling one by one.
Thud. Thud. Thud...
The skeleton assault didn't end there. Jack struck first.
"Those who block the king shall be executed at once."
Weapons from the fallen knights rose into the air. Countless blades surged toward the mounted knights.
Swish swish swish.
Swish swish swish.
"...!"
The knights' eyes flashed at the incoming blades, but they couldn't dodge easily.
Swords, spears, axes... they rained down on the knights' bodies.
Thud! Thud! Thud...!
Crisp impacts. Blades embedded in waists, shoulders, heads—without mercy.
The knights' numbers plummeted in seconds.
Odekus, sprawled on the ground, gaped.
All these monsters... obeying Young Master Bin!
Summoning magic wasn't for just anyone. And among them was the 2nd-grade Jack. It was beyond his comprehension.
Meanwhile, Queen stepped forward.
"Jack, putting on quite the show."
As she extended her yellow-glowing hand, the flying weapons slowed, then dropped.
Thud. Thud. Thud...
As Queen blocked Jack's attack, he leaped into the air on his horse, swinging at her.
Thud! Slash.
Queen dodged swiftly. The spot she'd stood cratered.
It spoke to Jack's power.
Queen glared at him.
"Such a brute..."
Jack eyed her with crimson intensity.
"By the king's name, you will be judged."
King scowled at Jack and Queen's clash.
"...?"
Bin noticed instantly.
"Feeling uneasy?"
"...?"
King was speechless at Bin's perceptive gaze.
From his past-life memories, Bin knew their dynamics. Queen countered King, King countered Jack, and Jack countered Queen.
So King was anxious seeing Jack and Queen engage.
But Bin had no intention of letting King join Queen.
Not happening.
Black aura surged from Bin's Luminare into the air.
Slash.
Bin, shrouded in layered shadows, swung his greatsword at King.
From upper right to lower left. Lower right to upper left. In the blink of an eye.
Slash! Slash! Slash...!
King desperately blocked the black-glowing Luminare with his palms.
But then—black blood spurted from King's body.
He'd blocked the blade, but not the unpredictable black currents.
To think I can barely keep up...
As King blocked with all his might, he spotted Bin's reptilian eye and recoiled.
A m-monster?!
The magi pouring from Bin screamed death.
But King wasn't easy prey. He blocked desperately.
"You dare underestimate me!"
King swung his black-magi-infused hand blades.
Ting! Ting!
They clashed with Luminare. His blades rivaled top-grade weapons in durability.
King crossed his black-magi hands in an 'X'.
Ting! Ting!
As they exchanged equal blows—
King scowled.
My body suddenly...
His body wouldn't move as intended. It felt several times slower.
And the aura was familiar.
This aura...
As King sensed it—a greatsword grazed his throat.
He thrust his hand blade desperately, but his slowed movements couldn't reach.
Then—
Splurt!
Blood fountained from King's throat, and he collapsed.
The fallen King turned toward the familiar aura. His eyes bulged with veins.
You bitch...!
Queen, revived by Codic, had extended her yellow hand, debuffing him. She smiled at the panicked King.
"Even you have such an adorable side, my king."
Finally, King slumped, blood pouring from him.
Bin approached and murmured lowly.
"Rise again, King."
At that moment, King stood, speaking.
"You called? I shall fulfill my duty."