Hugo was dumbfounded.
Of course, it wasn’t as if Lee Gun had kept him in the dark about this. It had taken place after “Get hit instead of me” had been used again.
When Sungjae, his son, had entered Lee Gun’s temple, other disciples had targeted him for the bonus skill.
“What? You want me to send Sungjae to the Sagittarius temple?”
“Yes.”
“What? Are you worried about Sungjae being in my temple?”
“No. I’m not worried about him being in your temple. However, I would like him somewhere I can keep eyes on him as a parent. I want to be there when something happens to him. If I were his Zodiac Saint, I’d immediately know what’s going on as he would be my disciple.”
“Oh. Then I just have to make sure that you’ll be sent to him whenever something happens to him!”
“What? I guess so, but… That will be impossible if he’s in a different temple.”
“You never know.”
“What?”
At the time, Hugo had wondered why Lee Gun had laughed like that.
“Ahhk! Another attack is coming! D-Dad!”
Along with his son’s voice, Hugo heard Lee Gun’s voice as well.
[The Serpent Bearer’s disciple reacted to the danger.]
[The <Get hit instead of me> skill has been activated.]
[Whenever the disciple Chun Sungjae is in danger, the skill will be auto-activated.]
Fuck!
Hugo’s vision changed. He had appeared in front of his son. Hugo didn’t even have time to activate his skill as the fireballs sent toward his son detonated against his face.
Puhng!! Puhng!!!
It was flame magic.
“D-Dad!”
Of course, Hugo worshiped the god of the sun, so he possessed a defense over SS-rank. Fireballs sent by A-ranks and S-ranks were child’s play.
“Fuck! Give me a warning before you summon me!”
Well, it didn’t matter in the end. At this point, he would pay these attackers back a hundredfold.
“You dare attack my son?” The angry Hugo summoned his bow. A black bow appeared from his watch, and he grabbed it.
[Sun God’s Rage]
The fierce flames raged as if they would sweep away his enemies. However, his intent to use the skill lasted only a moment.
[The threat has been lifted.]
[You will be returned to your original location.]
“?!”
As his body lifted into the air, Hugo’s expression was a sight to behold. “Hey! Wait a moment! Let me attack a bit too— Kuhk!”
It was as if he was being told to beat the matter. The Archer Saint was ruthlessly reverse summoned; the summoning was canceled.
Hweek!
The magicians looked at the place where Hugo had disappeared, dumbfounded. What the hell did they just witness?
However, their surprise vanished the next moment.
“Chun Sungjae!”
“Attack him!”
The magicians recited their spells again.
“Damn it!”
Dozens of magic circles appeared above Chun Sungjae.
[Chun Sungjae has activated the <Get hit instead of me> skill.]
[Chun Sungjae has activated the <Get hit instead of me> skill.]
[Chun Sungjae has activated the <Get hit instead of me> skill.]
[Chun Sungjae has activated the <Get hit instead of me> skill.]
[Chun Sungjae has activated the <Get hit instead of me> skill.]
Hugo was summoned once again in front of his son. It left him fuming. “Gun! You son of a bitch! Let me attack before— Uh?”
“Ahk!” Hugo screamed when he saw a tsunami in front of his eyes.
The rough waves hit him. Was it because of the sun god’s protection? The water holding magical energy evaporated before it could touch his skin, but…
“Chun Sungjae!!”
Chun Sungjae stood behind his angry father. He put on his charms as he apologized to Hugo, “I’m sorry, Dad! My magical energy would’ve been sealed if that water had hit me!”
“That means you don’t mind if your Dad gets hit with it!!!”
“No! I know that type of magic doesn’t work on you! When you cook, you easily evaporate the broth!”
“Chun Sungjae!!!”
“Ah! Someone’s attacking Noona over there! Dad! Hurry up and use the family shield!”
“What?!”
Hugo’s vision changed once again. This time, he appeared in front of Chun Yooha. The fierce energy of the tiger was threatening her.
Koo-goo-goong!
Chun Sungjae had used Teleport to appear in front of his sister, then activated “Get hit instead of me.”
As if he trusted his father, he slapped Hugo’s back. Then, he teleported his flustered sister. “Dad! Fight! You really are the best! You aren’t as good as Uncle, but you’re somewhat amazing too! You’re cool!”
“What!!! Hey!!!” He should be more amazing than Lee Gun!
However, Chun Sungjae and Chun Yooha were gone before Hugo could say anything. At the same time, Oliver’s attack, which was meant for his daughter, struck him. It was the energy of a black tiger.
“Koohk…!”
Unlike the spells from the other magicians that felt like child’s play, this one had a big punch behind it.
Hugo became sure of something. ‘This is the power of the unknown civilization.’
This wasn’t the ability of the Leo temple. At a glance, it felt similar to the power of a Zodiac. It also felt similar to the power contained within his daughter’s arms. It was powerful. However…
“Don’t look down on a Zodiac Saint!”
The eyes of the enraged Hugo flashed, and fierce flames erupted around him! It was as if he had summoned the sun.
Everyone screamed at the incredible flash of light. The ground split, and a serpent-like solar flare surged toward the sky.
Then, Hugo’s gaze headed toward the unknown tiger and the Golden Lion Stevens. “You damn cat! I told you to never mess with my daughter!”
Stevens looked aggrieved. Hugo looked at him with killing intent in his eyes. There was no way he would let Stevens get away with this.
However…
[If you have blocked the attack, please hurry up and return to your original place!]
[They aren’t people you should mess with.]
“?!”
As Lee Gun’s voice rang, Hugo was gone once again. The Archer Saint’s annoyed scream was a throw-in.
The Chun siblings landed on top of a tree.
“Are you ok, Noona?”
“Yes, I’m fine. However, are you sure you should be using Dad like that?”
“Who cares? Him being helpful is all that matters.”
“…”
Chun Yooha looked at her brother as if he were terrible. However, Chun Sungjae shrugged it off. “Anyway! Hurry, noona!”
The light in Chun Yooha’s eyes suddenly changed. This was a precious opportunity that her brother and uncle had set up for her. There was no way she would let this pass by.
Chun Yooha raised her power to the max, then released it.
[True Scarlet Light]
Soon, her attack headed toward the Leo Saint.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwahng!
[You have completed 90% of Missionary.]
***
The Serpent Bearer’s second occupied territory in Hawaii, the holy ground with Lee Gun’s forge!
The Scorpio Saint Hailey, the Serpent Bearer’s Secretary, and Chun Jiwoo stood there. The underlings of the Scorpio Saint Hailey were in a very awkward situation.
The fact that they had been released according to their lady’s order wasn’t the problem.
[Excuse me, Princess. This is starting to turn a bit dangerous.]
[That is right. I don’t think this is…]
Hailey’s eyes flashed. “What’s wrong with Lee Gun upgrading his power?”
[What do you mean? The problem is that the secret mysteries of the Scorpio Saint will be passed to the Serpent Bearer!]
Yes, at the request(?) of Lee Gun, the Scorpio Saint was decorating the Serpent Bearer’s holy ground. Of course, it was decorating in name only. In truth, Hailey was putting up traps, mazes, and prisons here. She was putting up the overall security measures on the holy ground.
The Scorpio temple was known as the temple of the thieves. Creating traps was their specialty.
Moreover, these weren’t normal traps. It was to be expected of the Zodiac Saint famous for never letting an enemy leave her territory alive. She filled the place with poisons, murder nests, and spirit rooms; everything was full of deadly traps.
That was why no one could easily invade the Scorpio Saint’s holy ground. Everyone knew about the power of her traps.
As for how this situation came to be…
Before going to kill Red Eye, Lee Gun had asked Hailey, “Since I trust your skills, I would like to commission something. Do you mind setting up the defense in my holy ground?”
Those words had left Hailey intoxicated. ‘Lee Gun asked me to do it.’ Also, he said he trusted her skills! This was why…
“I’ll make sure this place is better than the Scorpio Saint’s holy ground! It’ll have the world’s greatest security!”
[No, Princess! It shouldn’t be better than our holy ground!]
[Please come to your senses! You have to remember you’re the Scorpio Saint!!!]
Her loyal subjects wailed. Of course, Hailey had an outstanding ability to create within space. The traps her extraordinary mind created made it hard even for Constructs to escape them.
Lee Gun had made the right choice in choosing her. And when it came to Lee Gun, Hailey would never play silly games with him. Moreover, there was no downside in her allying herself to Lee Gun.
There was no downside. Still, this was too much.
[You moved all of our supplies here because Lee Gun-nim asked for it!]
[That’s right!]
Her loyal subjects shed tears as they watched the scorpions transfer supplies to this location. The supplies included food, books, water, dishes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, batteries, etc. They were food and commodities that would last for ten years.
All the goods and supplies of the Scorpio temple were being transferred to the Serpent Bearer’s temple. Therefore, the Constructs had to speak up.
[What do you want us to use!]
“Don’t use anything.”
[Princess!!!!!]
Someone who watched Hailey looked like they were losing their mind.
“Hailey-nim. Our Hailey-nim is…” It was the Secretary. He respected Hailey; therefore, the fact that she was smitten with Lee Gun left him in despair. However, the more distressing part was the bible he was in charge of. Why?
[Gospel of Lee Gun]
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 1>
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 2>
…
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 50>
“What the hell are these garbage pages?”
He had seen all kinds of other bibles when he stole them, but this was a first. At the very least, the bibles of other temples had some dignity to them.
The Gospel of Lee Gun was cringe even in its naming.
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 1>
<In the beginning, Lee Gun-nim existed. He unexpectedly walked out of the crumbling tower.>
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 2>
<Lee Gun-nim has returned. Nothing can hurt him!>
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 3>
<The know-it-all Archer Saint was sent flying with one blow. All monsters fell to their knees in front of his fists.>
…
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 49>
<Everyone kneels on the path traveled by Lee Gun-nim. Wow! Uncle is the best!>
<Gospel of Lee Gun – Page 50>
<Uncle is amazing! Uncle is amazing! Uncle is amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Uncle is uber amazing! Huff huff! Have me.>
The Secretary despaired when the gospel had already reached fifty pages. “This is not a bible! It is something a fanboy would make!”
For some reason, Chun Sungjae had made these pages. Was it because Secretary blood flew through him? The young man was unconsciously using the “Compile” ability that only Secretaries could use.
However, Chun Jiwoo didn’t care that the official Secretary was feeling tormented. She was just shocked by the pages her son had written.
Since it was called the bible, she thought it would be written more philosophically. This made her want to imitate her son’s writing.
“Is it fine if I write inside the Archer Saint’s bible like this?”
“No! Stop! Please!! This isn’t it!”
Secretaries were supposed to be good writers. Therefore, the Secretary took a hit to his pride when he saw these odd phrases. The Secretary felt like dying. Watching this bible was miserable.
Then there was the problem of changing them into normal phrases. He had no idea where and how to start fixing the bible.
“Why the hell did he have to bring in someone so weird as a disciple?”
He didn’t want to fix the bible at all, but it was the great holy scripture. The Secretary couldn’t let it turn into the writings of a fanboy. In the end, he picked up his pen.
[The Secretary is polishing the sentences.]
[The Secretary’s work has raised the contribution.]
[Your faith is very low.]
[You sent 0.00000001% divine status to your Zodiac.]
At that moment…
Kwahng!!!
“!”
An explosion occurred within Lee Gun’s holy ground.
Hailey furrowed her brows in surprise.
[Princess!]
Her face had been red until a moment ago as she thought about Lee Gun. The look in her eyes changed immediately.
[Princ—]
Kwahng!!
She unsheathed her sword so fast that it couldn’t be seen with the naked eye, then swung it.
Boom!
Then, something fell atop the shoulders of the Secretary and Chun Jiwoo.
“Huh-uhk!”
The Secretary screamed.
Accompanying blood, the head of a bug fell.
‘!’
When they turned their heads in surprise, they saw the headless body of a monster.
The Secretary had received a shock. “How can a monster appear in the middle of the holy ground?”
Of course, the Serpent Bearer was a newly born Zodiac. The defense of its holy ground was still being put up. It was still at a stage where it was a hit-or-miss affair.
‘Even the Scorpio spoke highly of the Serpent Bearer.’
In truth, the Secretary had met the Scorpio not too long ago. It was in a dream.
The Scorpio had looked horrifying when it appeared in his dream, but its message was clear.
[Your new master will turn the world on its head.]
Along with these words, the Scorpio had given him something.
Of course, the Secretary didn’t plan on serving a new master. However, Lee Gun’s temple wasn’t ordinary despite it being small.
Therefore, he said, “There is no way a holy ground won’t detect the presence of an intruder!”
However, Hailey and her loyal subject reacted differently.
[Princess! These guys…!!]
“Yes! They are the bishops sent by the Monarch rank.”
“!!”
These were monsters that had never appeared in the territory of humans until now. These monsters were mostly concentrated at the heart of the unknown civilization’s territory, the place called the Black zone.
One might sometimes catch a glimpse of these monsters in this forbidden land. These monsters could copy the power of the Zodiacs, so the barriers never caught them.
“They never leave the black zone, yet they are here.”
[That means…!]
“We’ll have to change the holy ground’s defense system from the ground up.”
However, that wasn’t important at that moment.
“We are surrounded. Everyone, raise your weapons.”
