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The ash-gray Erymanthian boar closed in right on Bin's face. Barely an arm's length away. In that split-second where life and death hung in the balance, darkness swallowed everything around him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
All around was pitch black.
"...!"
Bin's panic was short-lived. A voice echoed in the void.
☠ KILL IT ☠
It's annoying.
A voice laced with murderous intent. It pierced his ears like needles. A chilling dread washed over him, and black flames flickered into view before his eyes. Bizarre flames, shaped like a dragon's head.
Bin hesitated for a moment before addressing it.
"What the hell are you...?"
☠ PATHETIC ☠
Struggling against trash like that... You're weak as hell, you damned Bascon brat.
"...."
Bin swallowed hard without realizing it. He knew instantly this thing was no ordinary being. Overwhelmed by its presence, a name flashed in his mind.
Could it be Bellatan?
☠ I CAN'T HAVE YOU DYING YET ☠
I'll lend you my power.
Bin blinked in confusion at the sudden declaration.
"What do you—?"
But before he could finish, the entity chanted rapidly.
☠ %#&$#!... ☠
Incomprehensible sounds rang out as a fragment of the black flame detached from the main body and slipped into Bin's mouth.
"Urk...! Guh...!!"
Bin clawed at his throat, writhing in agony. He grimaced and dropped to one knee. Then, a change rippled through his right arm—bubbles formed like boiling water.
The moment Bin averted his eyes, the voice spoke again.
☠ SEE YOU LATER ☠
Bascon brat.
"W-wait!"
Bin's shout fell on empty air as the black flames vanished completely. He wanted answers about his black arm, but it was too late. The darkness lifted, and light returned.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As Bin's vision cleared, the Erymanthian boar loomed before him, baring its yellowed fangs with a shriek.
"Kweeeekwek!"
Bin swung his right arm in desperation, black smoke billowing from it.
Shaaaak!
A blade of black sword wind erupted from his sword, slicing toward the boar's gaping maw.
In that instant, the Erymanthian boar thrashed in agony, letting out a grotesque wail.
"Kueeeekek!!!"
The sword wind tore its jaws apart in a blink, cleaving the beast clean in two. There was no mercy in that ferocious strike—it was so sharp even Bin's heart skipped a beat.
Moments later, black blood pooled around the bisected boar. Even severed, its body twitched, drawing a frown from Bin. Only when the spasms ceased did he relax.
"...."
Bin stared dazedly at the ruined monster. His swordsmanship was at best 8th class knight level. The boar, by contrast, was a 6th class monster. Felling it in one blow was astonishing.
"How is this possible...!"
Bin knew from his past life's memories just how tenacious the Erymanthian boar was. Ordinary blades or arrows couldn't even scratch it.
He recalled the mysterious voice.
'That guy's doing...'
I can't have you dying yet. I'll lend you my power.
An unexpected variable after his regression. For Bin, who'd relied solely on his crafting skills, this power was a game-changer.
He glanced at the sword in his hand. A rusted, battered hunk of junk that could shatter any second.
"This piece of crap produced that kind of power...?!"
He could hardly believe it.
'If it had been the supreme famed sword Luminare...'
Bin couldn't even imagine the devastation.
He raised his right arm.
"Feels off somehow."
Unlike before, it moved fluidly at his command. Black smoke still wisped from the bandaged limb.
Shiiiiiik.
Bin lost himself momentarily in the allure of the dark energy.
"Revenge might not be such a pipe dream after all."
The black arm everyone cursed as a plague. Bin was certain: if this power wasn't mere chance—if he could wield it at will—he'd claim Luminare sooner than expected. Revenge against the Gana Imperial Guard and Helden Grander no longer felt like fantasy.
He'd taken a real step toward it.
"Is this alien energy from a monster...?"
As Bin pondered, killjoys arrived to douse his mood.
"Hey, Bin. Hand over that boar and get lost already."
"Yeah, listen to big bro. Unless you wanna die."
Familiar voices furrowed Bin's brow. Provocative tones anyone could spot. Billy Bascon, two years his senior. Shirley Bascon, one year older. The infamous Hyena Siblings.
They were part of the Bascon family's 'seven siblings.' Bulging-eyed, curly-haired Billy was the fifth. Twin-tailed Shirley, the sixth. Offspring of Moden Bascon's second wife, Keron.
'Pulling some sneaky trick.'
'Who're you fooling...'
They assumed Bin had trapped the boar with his crafty gadgets, then faked a fight. Knowing his usual skill, they dismissed any chance he'd take on a 6th class monster. Convinced it was unfair, they moved to steal his hard-earned kill. Bin's existence just made it sweeter.
Bin's face twisted at the sight of the siblings.
'Disgusting scum...'
In his past life, they'd tormented him endlessly. Billy and Shirley shoved bugs in his mouth whenever they could. They even used the excuse of his missing arm to feed him 'spirit food'—pure nonsense. That was the mild stuff.
They'd once drowned him in the river. Flailing with one arm against the swift current, he'd barely changed direction. A woodcutter saved him, but he swallowed enough water to lose consciousness for days. His mother's worry deepened, fearing he'd never wake.
Even after surviving, the abuse continued. Bin had knelt, tears streaming. But they mocked him, grinding him down.
"A Bascon heir kneels that easily?"
"Makes my blood boil you're a Bascon, you retard..."
Those memories surged. Instead of words, Bin glared daggers.
Billy scowled. He hated the lack of immediate reply.
Grabbing a spear, Billy bellowed,
"Deaf now too, you one-armed freak? Want me to dig the wax out?!"
His posture screamed he could beat Bin senseless right there.
Bin bit his lip, staring.
'It wasn't my missing arm. It was me you hated.'
Their bullying had escalated lately. From tripping him behind his back to stuffing bugs in his clothes. Always together, Bin had endured, biding his time. But after this hunt, he realized: no more holding back.
His gaze shifted from the boar to them, a sly smile curling his lips.
"Was just gonna offer this pig for your funeral altar anyway."
Billy and Shirley gaped.
"...?!"
Not anger—pure bafflement. Just recently, Bin had been so meek. Now he was mocking them? They wondered if they'd misheard.
Realization dawned, wrinkling their brows.
"What'd this punk eat today? Begging to die?"
Shirley chimed in snidely,
"Our baby bro's so dim. Doesn't he know no one would notice a death in the Forest of Death?"
Bin's lips twitched upward.
"Perfect."
Bin was the one hoping for this. The Forest of Death was ideal to crush them.
Pre-regression, he'd averted their eyes. Today? Their panic was almost cute.
'How should I punish these brats.'
Bin's eyes sharpened. But the confident Hyenas weren't fazed.
Billy spread his legs arrogantly, laughing.
"Feeling generous. For your mom's sake. Crawl between my legs, and I'll let it slide. Go on, haha."
Shirley egged him on gleefully.
"Yeah, squirm like a bug. Gotta live to honor mom, right?"
The memory hit Bin hard. They'd pulled this before. He'd crawled through Billy's legs, desperate for the torment to end. But they reneged, beating him as a 'Bascon disgrace.'
'Dirty memories so vivid.'
Bin sighed, feigning defeat.
"Haa..."
He approached Billy, crouching low. The siblings nodded approvingly.
"Yeah, figured a 7th class like us is too much for you."
"Hurry, crawl like the bug you are. Hahaha!"
"...."
Silent, Bin began crawling between Billy's legs. They jeered at his humiliation.
"Coward."
"Freak."
As they cackled at Bin worming through...
Suddenly, Bin's black arm shot up, slamming full force into Billy's groin.
Thwack!
Billy's face froze in wordless agony.
"...!"
Not just him—Shirley was speechless too.
Billy rolled on the ground, face purple.
Bin rose leisurely, looking down.
"Guess the freak's you."
Billy glared through his pain, but all he managed was a groan.
"Urgh...!"
Bin smirked at his writhing brother.
"Big bro showing off for his sis. Bascon family's great."
Billy's face soured further.
"You little shit...!"
Before he finished, Shirley charged Bin's back.
Tat-tat!
Her spear aimed at his skull.
"You dare, you runt! Who do you think we are?!"
But Bin caught her reflection in his sword, gripped in his right hand.
Smoke billowed anew from his arm.
Shiiiiiik.
Confirming the black aura cloaking the blade, Bin spun and swung.
Shaaaak!