[I’ve been waiting for you.]
Lee Gun’s eyes turned violent.
The man still looked like Jean-Louis as he sat on the sofa inside the workshop. He was just sitting there, holding Hugo’s head.
Lee Gun became angry, and Heaven’s Punishment transformed into its stage 3 form.
“I didn’t place it there so that you can sit on it.”
Lee Gun disappeared in a flash and swung Heaven’s Punishment.
Kwah-jeek!!
The sofa made for the guests was destroyed, and Hugo’s head melted away into the dirt. However, Time was no longer in the seat. He appeared behind Lee Gun, laughing in surprise.
[You don’t go berserk when I use this anymore?]
“!”
This time, the monarch didn’t look like Jean-Louis. He looked like Time. He had purposefully appeared in the form of Jean-Louis to poke at Lee Gun’s temper.
Lee Gun glared at him in contempt. “I may have fallen for it once, but I won’t fall for it twice. Get rid of it before I split your head open and hang it.”
[I went through the trouble of bringing it from the past.]
Time soon reacted in a lighthearted manner.
[Maybe, this will make you react a bit.]
“…!”
When Time made another summon, Lee Gun almost flipped his lid. It was to be expected since what Time had summoned was none other than Yeonwoo.
Moreover, this Yeonwoo wasn’t whole. Time seemed to have brought her from a time immediately after Oblivion had eaten her! It wasn’t a sight one could watch sober!
However, her face was untouched, so Lee Gun could instantly recognize her. It was enough to make Lee Gun’s eyes bloodshot.
Kwah-gwa-gwahng!
Unexpectedly, Lee Gun didn’t go berserk. He sent an attack using Death toward Time.
Time was surprised.
[It seems you can control your rage.]
No, this was beyond controlling his anger. Lee Gun was deliberate in his actions as he tried to take down Time.
At this point, Time should have been annoyed that his plan had failed, yet the monarch smirked as if he welcomed this development.
[I guess I don’t have to worry about it at this point.]
“!”
Time was conducting an experiment, trying to make Lee Gun as angry as possible.
The reason was simple.
[Your body will be mine soon. It’ll be troublesome if Death stage 6 causes your body to go berserk.]
Time looked satisfied as he looked at the ring on Lee Gun’s forefinger.
‘As expected, he has the talent for Item Creation.’
That item had stopped Death stage 6 from going out of control and kept the balance of the Cycle.
Time had been sneaky in creating this situation. He wanted to see if something unexpected would happen, and he had gotten his confirmation.
[I no longer need this.]
‘!’
Time, who had called forth Yeonwoo to strike Lee Gun’s nerve, tried to unsummon her. He was about to send her back to her original timeline.
[Give me your body.]
Kwah-jeek!
Lee Gun grabbed Yeonwoo, who was about to disappear into Time’s warp gate. He immediately activated Super Regeneration and took a full swing while letting out a sharp laugh.
“You’re the one who should be giving me what you got, bastard!”
Kwah-jeek!
Lee Gun brought down Heaven’s Punishment on Time and immediately activated the power of Cycle.
‘If I get rid of Time, I can raise the level of Life.’
If Life became level 5, Lee Gun could bring back Yeonwoo and Hugo, who had become a Construct! That wasn’t all.
“Thank you very much for bringing Yeonwoo’s data from the past!” Lee Gun held Yeonwoo’s body, which was going through Super Regeneration.
He laughed. It was a body that was eaten by Oblivion, so it wasn’t regenerating well. However, it was good enough to acquire the body’s data.
Of course, the Chun siblings were fanatics. This was why they knew Lee Gun’s three sizes as well as the length of his hair and body parts that he didn’t want them to know… While they knew his exact size, it was different for Lee Gun.
‘It’ll be more accurate than relying on my memories to make the body.’
He was only confident that he could make the same face from memory.
‘If I’m lucky, I won’t even have to go through the process of making her body.’
“You should become my EXP!”
Finally, the power of Cycle clashed against Time.
Koo-goo-goong!
The light of Cycle shone brightly as it had done against Confusion. It started to dismantle Time’s body. The reaction was promising.
[The power of Cycle is pulling Time into the enormous flow.]
[Time is being dismantled.]
[EXP of Life…]
However…
[EXP of Life received is 0.]
“!!”
Time, whom Lee Gun had killed, disappeared as he bled. However, it was unlike what had happened with Confusion. Lee Gun didn’t receive any EXP. He soon found out the reason.
[Time is a being that can exist anywhere and anytime.]
“!!”
A voice rang behind Lee Gun. After appearing behind Lee Gun, Time grabbed his head.
[Time Stop]
“…!!!”
Lee Gun’s body froze. He realized which phenomena had caused this.
‘A different version of Time from a different timeline, where he wasn’t dismantled, had jumped over here.’
In other words, it was like passing a baton. No matter how many times Lee Gun killed Time, Time from a different timeline had to cross over to become his true body. This meant…
‘Time wasn’t registered as being killed.’
Lee Gun seemed to have guessed correctly.
Time laughed.
[You exist in only this timeline. I can exist in any of the timelines. You cannot kill me.]
This was the truth. It didn’t matter how many times Lee Gun killed Time. Versions of Time from different timelines would keep coming here.
Lee Gun’s eyes flashed. A powerful light of Cycle appeared once again, dismantling Time.
In this attempt, Lee Gun tried to eliminate Time before another one could crossover from a different timeline. However…
[Nope. Your level of Cycle is too low to attempt that.]
“Kuh-huhk!!”
Two more versions of Time appeared to grab Lee Gun.
‘Bastard…!’
Time let out a sharp laugh.
[In the first place, speed is not the problem.]
Time put his hand into Lee Gun.
[You can exist in only this timeline. You will cease to exist if you exit this timeline.]
“!”
[On the other hand, I exist beyond this place. I exist everywhere as the Time monarch. No matter how much you struggle, this will repeat forever.]
Lee Gun laughed in contempt at those words. This was expected of Jean-Louis’ true body. However, Time wasn’t dividing himself while sowing seeds.
‘It isn’t just the earth. They are like parallel universes. He’s operating on various timelines.’
Lee Gun was dumbfounded.
‘The only way I can kill him is…’
At that moment…
‘…!’
It was as if Lee Gun had an understanding. He seemed to have thought up a way to kill Time. His expression remained sour since it was a method he couldn’t carry out. However, he didn’t show it on the outside.
“It doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to take the power of Cycle”
This bastard could take his power of Cycle through only one way.
‘He has to extract the cores of my Divine statuses.’
Lee Gun didn’t know which parts would be taken, but it would be similar to how he had acquired the cores from the other Zodiacs. However, Death was at stage 6, and Life was at stage 4.
‘As soon as he extracts it, Death will go berserk.’
This was why Lee Gun laughed. “I’ll tell you this. The ring of Order will follow only me. It will never follow any other master.”
Time smirked at Lee Gun’s expression.
[You probably don’t know why I didn’t approach you until now.]
“!!”
Lee Gun flinched.
[Serpent Eater]
“…?!!”
After putting his hand in Lee Gun’s body, Time activated Lee Gun’s ability at will. Lee Gun was dragged out of his body.
“Kuhk!”
Lee Gun glared at Time. He had no idea why this bastard was able to use the ability of the Serpent Bearer temple.
Lee Gun should have known something was off when Time said he wanted to take and use Cycle, which was someone else’s Divine status…!
“Thanks for the body!”
[!]
Finally, Time entered Lee Gun’s body. For some odd reason, there was no adverse reaction to this.
Lee Gun soon found out how Time was able to do this. It had taken only a moment for him to be dragged out and Time to enter his body. However, Lee Gun had felt it clearly.
‘His energy is similar to mine.’
It was similar to the energy within the bone, which Lee Gun had acquired within Oblivion. Of course, it wasn’t as if they were siblings or the same person.
Lee Gun ground his teeth. A large light surged forth.
[A third party is using the Serpent Bearer’s Cycle.]
[It will lead to Death.]
Time seemed to be planning on dismantling Lee Gun. However, Lee Gun wouldn’t be dismantled without putting up a fight.
‘In fact, this is my only opportunity to kill him.’
This was the method that Lee Gun had thought he wouldn’t be able to carry out! Time was able to use his power. Time having similar energy to him had given him an idea!
‘It’s a gamble, but one worth trying.’
Right before he was going to get dismantled, Lee Gun entered someone else’s body. It was Time’s body.
* * *
Kwahng! Kwahng!
“Shit! Lee Gun still hasn’t accepted us as affiliates?”
“Why the hell isn’t he picking up his phone?”
The mass raid by Time started. It was the start of the war with humanity’s existence on the line. Their enemies were not only monsters but also the demonified Zodiacs that Time had brought.
The Zodiac Saints clashed against the demonified Zodiacs, and they felt like dying!
“Shit! I’ll give you the Churu cat treat! Just go back!!”
[Do you think that’ll work on me, idiot?]
Stevens gnashed his teeth. He was in his demi-god beast form, blocking the dark Leo.
“As soon as Lee Gun accepts us as affiliates, our power will increase, and we will be able to use the skills of the Serpent Bearer temple! Endure for a little longer!”
As an affiliate under the Serpent Bearer temple, Kevin boasted exceptional power. He was in his demi-god form as he sent his enemies flying.
“When we receive the blessing of the Serpent Bearer, the affiliate disciples as well as the Zodiacs will become much stronger!”
Of course, unlike Stevens, some felt uneasy about applying to become Lee Gun’s affiliates. The first person was the Ten Star of the Aries temple. He had become a slave when his Zodiac and Zodiac Saint were turned into slaves of Lee Gun.
‘Ha! Why the hell did they have to go after Lee Gun?’
The second person was the Korean general of the Gemini temple, Choi Sunghyuk. He had come here when Heiji had suddenly contacted him.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this, Heiji-nim?”
The third person was the general of the Libra temple. Carly had pushed all authority related to the Libra temple to him.
“Shit! If we become affiliates under the Serpent Bearer temple, Carly-nim will never come back…! She won’t throw away her strange dream of wanting to become the Zodiac Saint of the Serpent Bearer temple…!”
The last group was the Cancer temple. They had been seized by Chun Yooha.
“Whatever happened, this is the only solution available to us.”
They used all their power to fight against the enemies when…
Pah-jeek!!
New forces appeared before them. They were none other than the Chun siblings!
Enormous flames and light clashed with the dark Zodiacs.
Kwahng!!!
The Zodiac Saints were surprised to see the familiar faces.
Goat followed up with a powerful arrow that shot like a cannon. Lee Jaewon also appeared at the scene, using his Area of Effect skill.
When the Chun siblings made their appearances, the Zodiac Saints tried to tiptoe around them. The reason was expected.
“So you guys…” This was unlike Stevens, but Stevens was trying to be careful with his words.
However, the other disciples raised the issue.
“Where is Hugo-nim?”
“Was he really killed by a monster?!”
Stevens and Kevin glared at the disciples. The Chun siblings’ expressions darkened.
“Dad is….”
That was enough of an answer.
Hailey’s expression darkened.
“It’s fine. He died while giving everything he had.”
“!!!”
Everyone was surprised by the familiar voice. The one to appear in front of them was Lee Gun.
“Uncle!”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in your workshop?”
“Ah! I was. However, I thought I should help here first.”
In contrast with everyone else’s reaction, Hailey’s face turned deathly pale. “Everyone get back!”
“Hailey-nim?”
Hailey immediately used her skill.
Lee Gun smirked in response. Then, a large explosion erupted. It was the Serpent Bearer’s power of Death.
Everyone was sent flying as they screamed.
“Ahhk!!”
They had suffered only that much because Hailey had used her Substitution skill to send “Lee Gun’s” attack away.
In the end, Hailey sent a death glare toward her opponent. “Time!”
“As expected, you were able to recognize me, daughter.”
“!!”
The Zodiac Saints and the disciples were surprised by Hailey’s words.
“He’s Time!”
“What about Lee Gun?!”
Hailey sensed the uneasiness. She glared at the monarch as if her looks could kill him. “What did you do to Lee Gun?”
“I killed him. That’s why I’m the Serpent Bearer now. You guys will become my affiliates.”
Everyone froze in place.
Time smirked as he looked at the Chun siblings. “The level of life is still too low. I’m sure I’ll acquire a lot of EXP if I kill the Saint-ranks, right?”
“…!!!”
“Well, don’t worry about it. I’ll accept you all as affiliates under me.”
All of them stiffened when they saw the evil look in his eyes. Lee Gun was already powerful, but this version of Lee Gun had the additional power of a monarch!
When they raised their guards, Time walked forth with an evil laugh. “You can’t attack me. As affiliate disciples, you dare not kill the Zodiac, who is your owner.”
“…!”
The air seemed suffocating, and everyone felt like collapsing to the ground. They had never expected things to turn out like this!
“Hey.”
“!”
Suddenly, someone appeared behind Time. A bow was aimed at the back of Time’s head.
This development surprised Time.
The mouths of the Chun siblings and the Zodiac Saints also fell open when they saw who it was.
“Who the hell are you?”
“!”
“You sound like my teacher, yet why do you smell like a monster?”
Unlike his present self, this version of the person standing there possessed youthful bravado and long blonde hair.
It was a very young Hugo.
