Something fell out of the barrier containing Oblivion.
Hwee-ohhhhhh!
The item that fell from the sky surprised everyone.
“W-What the hell is that?”
It was a weird clump that possessed chaotic magical energy.
“Where did that fall from?”
The one with the most wooden face among everyone here was none other than Frey.
‘That’s nuts! Why would that fall here?’
Frey’s face distorted as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have. It was to be expected since this item was the body part of a monarch.
‘That’s Oblivion’s flesh!’
The thing twitching on the ground was a chunk of meat, a piece that looked like beef intestines. However, it seemed a bit different from the flesh of a normal monster.
‘Golden light.’
Unlike the carcass of a normal monster, this chunk of meat was different in color.
Frey gulped.
‘What the hell is happening inside there?’
Oblivion was completely different from Abundance and Abyss. It was a monster treasured by Time, the monarch in charge of the invasion by the unknown civilization.
To make the invasion easier, Time had enticed Abundance (Proliferation) and Abyss (Travel) to come along. However, they had a hostile relationship with Time.
They were all monarchs, yet the difference in their military power was stark. That was why Time didn’t seem to care that the two of them had lost at the hands of humans.
However, Oblivion was different.
‘He damaged the body of the monster treasured by Time?’
Hugo didn’t care about Frey’s reaction. After seeing the same thing, he raised his hands to cheer. “Yes!! I knew it! He exists!”
“Dad?!”
Hugo cheered as if he had seen a hero. “I told you that the really cool guy exists! Uh… He’s an asshole, but anyway, the really cool hero is inside the fog! He’s incredibly strong!”
“????”
The siblings looked puzzled, but as if they were reacting to Hugo’s words, a green light flashed around their bodies. The power of the Serpent Bearer was trying to return.
Frey’s eyes flashed.
‘I went through all that to get rid of the thirteenth Zodiac, yet…!’
It was all because of that bastard! Frey became desperate as he emanated murderous intent.
‘When a disciple remembers the existence of a Zodiac, the god regains his power.’
Belief and the stories passed down were the things that gave birth to a god. Therefore, the existence of a worshiper in Hugo meant Lee Gun would regain his power inside Oblivion.
Frey had to quickly nip this in the bud.
[Wait! I understand the human nature of needing someone to lean on. However, it isn’t good to idol worship someone who doesn’t exist. If you deify someone who is fundamentally unknown, it’ll interfere with the power of the Zodiacs—]
“No, he exists… Someone much better than the Zodiacs exists!”
[Damn it! No one is like that!!!]
“There is! I don’t know who it is, but he’s humanity’s strongest!”
Frey glared at Hugo.
‘That fanatic bastard!’
Hugo was such a fanatic that he could probably create a god who didn’t even exist!
Frey’s eyes flashed when he felt the danger.
[The male twin has a loyal servant who follows his words.]
It was his Bible. The bible activated, summoning a blue shadow. The shadow resolved into Frey’s servant.
[Gemini’s Plunder skill has been activated.]
[Warning! Bright One (Skírnir) is threateningly approaching them.]
[It can steal whatever it wants.]
Skírnir was the spirit that had been tasked to bring the bride of Frey when the Gemini twin had chosen his wife.
At Frey’s request, Skirnir had successfully brought the most beautiful woman to be Frey’s bride. However, the spirit had to use magic to threaten her. It had forcefully taken the bride to present her to its master.
That was why Skírnir had manifested as Frey’s power.
[You will utilize 100% of your Talents.]
[Will you use it?]
Plunder was as powerful of an ability as Aries’ Auction ability. As soon as Frey paid the price…
Flash!
The spirit targeted Hugo and his family.
[Serpent Bearer Faith: 0%]
[Gemini Faith: 600%]
[Gemini Faith: 300%]
[Gemini Faith: 400%]
[Forced transfer of temple is occurring.]
When the magic hit the humans, Frey laughed in satisfaction. This risk associated with Plunder was large, but that was also why the skill couldn’t be dodged.
Frey laughed when the look within the eyes of Hugo and his family changed.
[You will follow the words of your Zodiac from now on. Get rid of the badge that is evidence of idolatry—]
“Dad always spoke about him since we were little! He said there was an awesome hero!”
[?!]
After destroying their badges, they were about to pledge their loyalty to Frey. However, the two siblings’ eyes turned round.
“That’s right!”
“Our uncle…!”
The green light surrounding them became larger than before.
At the same time, Hugo found his badge inside his pocket. He let out a hollow smile. “That’s right. I’m his disciple too.”
Frey screamed bloody murder since the skill had consumed all his Talents and Temple energy.
[That maggot!]
Regardless of Frey’s reaction, green light exploded forth from the three humans.
[Faith is being returned.]
A familiar green magic circle appeared on the floor. It was the mark of the Serpent, which had disappeared from the world.
* * *
Around that time, Hailey was surprised by the sight before her.
“The body of Oblivion…”
It was as if an unobstructed tunnel had been opened. A hole had appeared in the sky that had been full of fog. The reason was special.
[The original owner’s power has awakened.]
Along with the voice, a golden light had emanated from Lee Gun’s body and pierced through Oblivion.
This was why Oblivion was shocked.
Gohhhhhhh!
Its cry was filled with rage and pain.
Hailey’s eyes inevitably turned round as she watched Lee Gun.
‘No way! That power is…’
Yes. What Lee Gun had used wasn’t the power of the Serpent Bearer. However, Hailey had an idea of what this power was.
‘That’s the power Time was keeping an eye on.’
She hadn’t known at the time, but she was sure of it now, after having gone through this series of events.
‘This is the power of the original owner.’
Those who were called the members of the Creation tribe were the original owners of the Seats of power.
Hailey naturally wondered why she could feel their energy from Lee Gun.
‘Now that I think about it, Lee Gun always had it. It was an ability that held little connection to the Serpent Bearer’s temple.’
[Man Who Pounds on All Creations]
It was an ability that extracted data, allowing him to create everything within this world. Of course, Hailey had overlooked it at the time. She had thought it was merely his awakened name.
‘Lee Gun was always a manufacturer.’
She wondered if that was the original power of the Creation tribe.
‘It was only a portion of their power.’
At the same time, she wondered why this power would appear right now. However, she soon had a realization.
‘Is it because the Serpent Bearer’s power disappeared because of Oblivion?’
The probability was high. The power of the Serpent Bearer acted as if it was protecting its owner in Lee Gun. And that power had disappeared.
With the power protecting him having disappeared, Lee Gun’s original power had awakened. This power was related to the reason Oblivion had swallowed him and spat him back out twenty-four years ago.
However, that thought lasted only a moment.
Gohhhhhh!!
“!!”
The tormented Oblivion roared. Then, a large typhoon erupted within the enormous fog.
When Hailey was about to be swept away, Lee Gun grabbed her with his arm. When he took a firmer grip around her, Hailey almost died from her heart pounding like a drum.
However, the bigger priority was Oblivion.
“Lee Gun! Use this!”
Hailey took out an item from her possession. It was one of the items that Hailey had stolen from Giselle’s territory. They were considered to be the monarchs’ weaknesses.
The item was a bone.
“It’s Oblivion’s weakness!”
“Thank you!”
Lee Gun activated his skill after receiving the item.
[Creation Workshop]
Finally, Creation Workshop’s magic circle appeared beneath Lee Gun’s feet.
[Disassemble]
[You have acquired data.]
[Bone of the Murdered One (Original Owner)]
After acquiring the data through the Disassemble skill, Lee Gun pounded the data into Heaven’s Punishment.
Flash!
When Heaven’s Punishment roared, Oblivion suffered.
[Heaven’s Punishment roars.]
[Heaven’s Punishment is sad, since the bone belonged to someone similar to its master.]
Lee Gun furrowed his brows.
‘Someone similar to me?’
It didn’t matter in the end. An unusual symbol appeared in his eyes. Then, golden light erupted into the sky.
Gohhhhhhhhh!
Oblivion tried sending its thorn vines at them, but that was useless. Lee Gun’s golden light collided with the withered thorn vines!
Kwahng!!
Leaves started growing on the vines, and the vines gathered to create a tree. Then, an enormous world tree appeared! Something amazing then appeared on top of the tree.
Flash!
Accompanying a light, a nameless fruit grew atop the tree. For some reason, when the fruit appeared, heaven and earth shook.
[The dispersed gods feel the power of the treasure.]
[Primordial power is showing a reaction.]
[The light in the eyes of the gods has changed.]
Flash!
The golden light stretched out as it hit Oblivion’s body, and the effect was violent.
Kwahng!!
Gohhhhhhhhhh!
Oblivion was in excruciating pain.
As if he wanted to strike the final blow, Lee Gun raised Heaven’s Punishment.
“Koohk!”
However, Lee Gun suddenly became unsteady and dropped his weapon.
Hailey picked up Heaven’s Punishment in his place, surprised. “Lee Gun! Your body!”
The hidden power seemed to be so vast that it had threatened his life. Lee Gun was having a hard time breathing. That wasn’t all.
‘Your skin…!’
The power of the original owner was so strong that his body was incapable of handling it. Lee Gun’s skin was melting away.
It seemed the power couldn’t be used with a normal body.
Koo-goong!
Oblivion attacked the swaying Lee Gun from above.
‘!’
Taken aback, Hailey quickly stood in front of Lee Gun. She planned on being his shield.
Seeing this, Lee Gun desperately got up.
‘She’s in danger.’
Hailey had also been swallowed up by Oblivion, so she had no blessing from her Zodiac. Her body was bare. Just a brush from the attack would kill her. However, it seemed Lee Gun would be a bit too late.
“…!”
Just when Oblivion’s attack was about to pierce through Hailey…
Flash!
A familiar green light appeared around Lee Gun’s body.
[The disciple with 600% faith has remembered the Serpent Bearer’s existence.]
[The Serpent Bearer’s power is returning through the high faith.]
A familiar power encircled Lee Gun, healing all of his injuries. That wasn’t all.
[The high faith has recovered your Divine status.]
[You can use a part of the original owner’s power.]
Lee Gun let out a frightening smile as he activated Death’s Instinct.
[Divine Status 100% Release]
The bright light spread throughout Oblivion.
* * *
“Hey! Stop it!” The angry Hugo shouted.
He was trying to make the unruly Red Eye, who had forgotten the existence of Lee Gun, yield.
Although the Serpent Bearer’s power had returned, Red Eye was a monster. Its memories had yet to return.
Hugo shouted to stop the rampaging monster. “Hey! I am your master’s disciple! That’s why you should follow my orders—”
Red Eye’s tail slammed into him, sending him flying.
“Kuh-huhk!”
“Dad!”
Hugo’s eyes flashed with anger as he got up. “Hey! You’re doing this because you don’t know how scary your master is! Your master is a terrifying pers— Ahhhhk!!”
“Kee-ehhhhhhhk!!!”
“Damn it!” Hugo had almost been eaten by Red Eye.
Moreover, Frey was also angry since Red Eye was threatening him too.
‘The Serpent Bearer has been revived.’
He had tried to bring in the Serpent Bearer disciples by consuming his Temple energy and Talents. However, everything had been ruined.
[It’s fine. I’ll have to give up on the 600% faith disciple.]
The enraged Frey was about to shove Hugo and his family into Oblivion when…
Kwahng!!!
[!!]
Two familiar shadows rushed out of Oblivion.
The sight of those two figures frightened Oblivion.
‘N-No way!’
Frey froze.
On the other hand, Hugo’s face brightened. He was sure of it.
‘That energy and shape…!’
It was clearly their Zodiac. Hugo couldn’t remember the Zodiac’s name, but he remembered his face. That hero had looked like a monster, but his power had been unimaginable.
“Taeksoo!”
“!”
Lee Gun landed on the ground, carrying Hailey like a princess. Hailey had her head down, and she shook as she was in his arms. She might also have been bleeding from the nose.
“Hey, Taeksoo. I got out of there because of you. Thank you!”
“…?”
“Taeksoo?”
With a serious look on his face, Hugo tilted his head in puzzlement. “Who are you?”
“What?”
“That’s odd. Our Zodiac isn’t this handsome.”
“?!”
