What the hell?!
When everyone heard Lee Gun’s words, their expressions were a sight to behold. This included the members of the Ten Stars in Carly and Goat and also the Chun siblings, who had been chosen as Zodiac Saints.
Hugo’s expression was the cream of the crop. He was the only Zodiac Saint here, so he knew the Zodiac Saint system better than anyone else; he knew better than anyone what nonsense this was.
Hugo’s mouth opened and closed as he looked at Lee Gun. “Have you lost your mind? From a common-sense point of view, do you really think having two Zodiac Saints is feasible?”
“T-That’s right. There has to be only one Zodiac Saint…!”
Lee Gun smirked. “Who decided there needs to be only one Zodiac Saint?”
“What?!”
“I had the option to choose two.”
“What do you mean?”
What else would he be talking about? Lee Gun laughed. In truth, this chain of events wasn’t strange. In the first place, the Serpent Bearer could choose up to two Zodiac Saints.
[The Serpent Bearer has two godships.]
[A single Zodiac Saint isn’t capable of handling the Zodiac’s vast power.]
[You have to pick two Zodiac Saints, each to defend one godship.]
That was why Lee Gun chose the two most suitable people for the role.
Lee Gun’s words shocked everyone, especially Hugo. Hugo’s face held an expression as if something impossible had happened.
‘He has two!’
Of course, such a thing wasn’t impossible in theory.
‘A Zodiac Saint is the Zodiac’s proxy, and the leader of a group.’
With the bible expanding, a Zodiac’s godship would become larger. In the end, the Zodiac would become an existence capable of exceeding a plane. And when a Zodiac reached a new plane, acquiring another Zodiac Saint was possible.
Therefore, it was theoretically possible to have two Zodiac Saints. In reality, however, achieving such a thing was impossible.
‘A Zodiac Saint consumes too much energy.’
A Zodiac Saint was on another level compared to a normal disciple. A normal disciple using a single round of power was like taking a sip of water. Whereas, the use of power by a Zodiac Saint was like the release of an enormous dam.
In other words, the cost of maintenance would get unbelievably high. This was the reason none of the Zodiacs dared have two Zodiac Saints.
‘Moreover, two Zodiac Saints means infighting.’
So what was this?!
“Did you get greedy and pick two? Did you overextend yourself?”
Lee Gun just snorted at the words. However, for some odd reason, the notification sounded angry at Hugo’s words.
[The vast power of the Serpent Bearer cannot be maintained by one Zodiac Saint.]
[To maintain the Serpent Bearer’s temple, at least two Zodiac Saints are needed.]
Zodiac Saints were unlike other disciples; they received direct power from the Zodiacs.
However, the Serpent Bearer was sending too much power. If this power was sent through a single pipe, the pipe would burst.
To make it simple, this Zodiac was too big for a single Zodiac Saint to maintain the temple.
Unaware of this, Goat looked with worry in his eyes. “Won’t it put too much burden on the Zodiac?”
“None at all.”
It wasn’t a burden. In fact, his magical energy stabilized as soon as he chose the Zodiac Saints.
Before, Lee Gun felt as if magical energy was leaking through holes existing all over his body. Now, he felt as if the magical energy had only two exits. The magical energy was flowing out in an orderly fashion.
After leaving his body, this magical energy would be available for the two Zodiac Saints to manage the disciples and Constructs.
With his power no longer leaking, Lee Gun felt as if he could now use the entirety of his power. In fact, his power expanded as soon as he designated his Zodiac Saints.
[The Two Zodiac Saints have been granted payment for joining the temple.]
[With the Zodiac Saints joining the temple, new skills have been formed.]
[Your total amount of magical energy has increased by 20%.]
[The amount of total Temple energy you can store has increased.]
[You have gained EXP.]
[The morale of the Constructs has risen by a lot. (Faith and Stamina have increased.)]
[The Serpent Bearer’s temple has been enrolled as an official temple in the divine world. Your first name has been uploaded.]
At this moment, Lee Gun immediately activated the Virgo Saint’s seal.
[Holy ground defense skill can be designated to a Zodiac Saint as a proxy.]
[Once you choose the relevant Zodiac Saint, the holy ground skill(defense) will be formed.]
[Which Zodiac Saint would like to entrust it with?]
Lee Gun entrusted the holy ground defense skill to Chun Sungjae. He planned on giving an attack skill to Yooha.
Chun Sungjae was happy to receive a new skill, but the other disciples were still unable to recover from the shock.
“Two Zodiac Saints…!”
Moreover, those two Saints were the Chun siblings.
Hugo was trying to escape from reality. He didn’t care about his mean son, who was obsequious about Lee Gun. However, Yooha becoming the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint was a fatal blow.
‘At the very least, I wanted to bring Yooha into the Sagittarius temple…!!’
Since Sungjae had become a Zodiac Saint, Hugo had thought there was no way Yooha would become one. He thought he had plenty of time to talk her out of leaving the Serpent Bearer’s temple.
In fact, Hugo had inwardly yelled out in joy, but what the hell was this! The Archer Saint despaired, but in the end, he came to terms with it. “Yes. It should be fine. If it’s the Serpent Bearer, it should be fine.”
The Serpent Bearer had been so powerful that even Hugo had been tempted to join the temple. Despite not being a battle-type Saint, his battle capabilities had received a massive power-up when he was the temporary Zodiac Saint of the Serpent Bearer! Moreover, the Serpent Bearer had a noble and magnanimous personality!
Therefore, Hugo looked at his daughter with a bit of envy. “Yooha. The Serpent Bearer is a beautiful being. When you get close to him, you should introduce me to—”
Chun Yooha looked at her dad as if he were speaking nonsense. “The Serpent Bearer is Uncle.”
Hugo’s eyebrows twitched. He grabbed Yooha by her shoulders. “He isn’t, Yooha. You and Sungjae are under a delusion.”
“Delusion?”
“Yes. I became the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint a while ago. Do you remember that? At the time, Gun told me that he wasn’t the Zodiac. A Zodiac cannot lie to one’s disciple. Right, Gun?”
“I am the Zodiac?”
What?
“It’s me, you idiot.”
Hugo’s neck creaked as it turned. His expression said he couldn’t accept that statement. It was as if he were asking Lee Gun what nonsense he was spouting.
“You said you weren’t the Zodiac. A Zodiac cannot lie to their disciple…”
“At the time, you were the ‘temporary’ Zodiac Saint. Strictly, you weren’t my disciple.”
“?!!!”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’ll do my best to cultivate your children.”
Realizing he had been swindled, Hugo screamed. “#*($&*!”
At the same time, he despaired as if he suddenly had a realization. Although it was for a brief moment, he had held the Serpent Bearer in his body. He remembered that while doing so, he had been praising the Zodiac.
“It can’t be. Ah!”
Above all else, a Zodiac Saint was a Zodiac’s servant. The Zodiac Saint sometimes needed to act as a servant to a different Zodiac.
Who was the Zodiac?!
On the other hand, Carly was biting her lips as she watched the situation unfold. Naturally, she realized what this situation meant. “You planned on picking the two of them from the start.”
“!”
The Chun siblings flinched as they looked at Carly. Hugo looked at Lee Gun with a worried expression.
Lee Gun apologetically explained, “At the end of the day, I can’t choose someone I do not know as my Zodiac Saint.”
And such a thing was much more unlikely when Carly was someone aligned with Giselle. If Lee Gun looked at her faith, it seemed unlikely she would betray him. However, that didn’t mean something unexpected involving her couldn’t take place.
Carly might be used against him without her even realizing it.
Hugo agreed with those words.
‘The fact that I can feel Gun’s power from her is suspicious.’
When he had become the temporary Zodiac Saint of the Serpent Bearer, his physical abilities had increased. Therefore, he had become capable of seeing things he was unable to before.
And when he had looked at Carly…
‘She clearly has Gun’s power.’
That was why he had asked Gun if she was his long-lost daughter. However, Lee Gun had just beat him up. Of course, Hugo still had other suspicions.
‘I’m pretty sure Sophie used her Zodiac’s blood to strengthen her summons.’
The Aquarius Saint, whose current location was unknown, had healed Lee Gun in the past. She would have had an easy time stealing Lee Gun’s blood.
Carly, who had been discreetly glaring at the Chun siblings, bit her lips. She felt used, so she did feel a bit hurt. However, she understood Lee Gun’s reasoning.
From Lee Gun’s perspective, he had made the obvious choices. Chun Sungjae and Chun Yooha were the children of his most treasured friend.
Carly’s eyes flashed. “It’s fine. I’ll steal the seat of the Zodiac Saint. Also, I was a bit too hasty. I’ll work slowly toward it after entering the Serpent Bearer’s temple.”
Chun Sungjae glared at her. “The bus has already left the station! He already chose the Zodiac Saints—”
Suddenly…
“Alright. It’s possible to change the Zodiac Saints at any time.”
“?!!”
The Chun siblings’ necks creaked as they turned to look at Lee Gun. His words had hit them like a bolt out of the blue.
Lee Gun laughed as if he couldn’t understand why they had such expressions. “I won’t go easy on you guys because you’re my niece and nephew. If you fail to grow, I’ll immediately change my Zodiac Saints.”
“…!”
Of course, Lee Gun wouldn’t swap them out on a whim, but he had said those words for a reason.
‘There are levels to being a Zodiac Saint.’
At the basic level, all Zodiac Saints could house their Zodiacs. However, this didn’t mean they could use 100% of their Zodiac’s abilities. For example, some couldn’t use the Demigod state.
In comparison to the other twelve Zodiac Saints, Yooha and Sungjae were rookies.
“Some Zodiac Saints are very high in level.”
This was especially true of the Virgo Saint, the Gemini Saint, the Cancer Saint, the Scorpio Saint, the Archer Saint, and the Pisces Saint.
The rest of the Zodiac Saints were above average, too.
This was especially true for the Virgo Saint. For some odd reason, he hated using his Demigod state, but when it was activated, his abilities and destructive capabilities were overpowering.
“Your dad will be incredibly strong if he uses the Demigod state.”
When Lee Gun acknowledged that, Hugo’s heart suddenly trembled. The Chun siblings started to sweat.
A Zodiac Saint’s development influenced a Zodiac and its temple. This was the responsibility that came with the position.
It wasn’t a problem for Lee Gun because he was a powerful Zodiac. However, the important point was that his temple was small.
These two new Zodiac Saints would decide if the Serpent Bearer’s temple would flourish or not.
“I do trust you guys. However, I’ll instantly swap you out for Taeksoo if you’re useless..”
“Change it right now!! I don’t want my kids to be Zodiac Saints!!! Do you realize how hard that is?”
“Alright. Then you should go get me some water. Go buy me some chocolate bread.”
“…$#*&*!”
When the Chun siblings looked tense, Lee Gun laughed.
‘In terms of potential, they are the best amongst the fourteen.’
They were better than their dad and the other high-rank Zodiac Saints. That was why he had chosen them.
[Your temporary holy ground is being attacked.]
[A total of 4 other temples have been invaded.]
[You may activate the holy ground skill]
[Natural Disaster] [Divine Punishment] [Release Constructs] [Act Forbidden By God]
Lee Gun turned his head as he picked up Kevin’s prosthetic arm. “Yooha, get ready to go to the Red zone. Sungjae, you will teleport to the holy ground in Europe.”
“You want me to go to the Virgo Saint’s holy ground?”
“A ragtag group is attacking my holy ground.” Above all else… “I have someone to catch over there.”
If Lee Gun went there, he would be able to meet the bastard who had stabbed him.
Seeing the murderous intent in his friend’s eyes, Hugo flinched. He remembered the prophecy he had seen. Was this why he had seen that sight?
‘Kevin should be there.’
Suddenly, Carly said, “I will help your temple…!”
“I want you to submit an entrance application form. I want you to write a hundred-page letter of self-introduction.”
“?!”
Then they disappeared.
The disciples, who had been listening until now, felt like they were in a daze.
“Hey, what the hell did we just hear?”
“Zodiac Saints? There are more than twelve of them now?”
“Moreover, Lee Gun isn’t one?!”
The shocking news spread across the world.
