Cheon Yuha's vision suddenly shifted.
Outer space.
Something appeared before her.
But it was a different sight from what her younger sibling had seen.
What appeared before Yuha's eyes was a snake dying.
‘That is…!’
Indeed. Around the glowing snake were various gods of unknown identities.
From monstrous forms to human forms.
They were gods of truly diverse appearances.
And their numbers were well over hundreds.
They were killing the giant snake.
Truly, searing it with fire, stabbing it with spears—it was not a sight one could bear to watch.
Because of that, the snake dying with its mouth agape looked utterly anguished.
And the snake, its mouth opening and closing, was trying to say something.
But the spear gouging into its body cruelly stole the snake's voice.
The snake wailed as if grieving.
And the sound was so mournful that Cheon Yuha unconsciously reached out her hand to save the snake.
Crackle!
‘!’
Was it a vision, not reality?
Cheon Yuha's hand simply passed through the bodies of the gods.
And how much time passed?
As if the agonized snake's breath had ceased, the snake no longer moved.
At the same time, the snake turned to ash and vanished.
So she could not help but be bewildered.
‘What is this? It's very different from what Seongjae saw.’
Indeed.
This space was surely the Heart World of the Holy God. According to Seongjae, her uncle transformed into a snake was supposed to appear.
But the oddity was brief.
“Kk!”
The thing in her arm suddenly began to rampage.
[Let me fight! Let me fight!]
Perhaps because she had entered a mental space filled with Igeon's power.
The demon sealed in her arm heaved violently.
Because of that, Cheon Yuha, pressing down on her arm, could only grit her teeth.
‘This thing reacted to Uncle’s aura last time too…!’
It thrashed like a wild beast catching the scent of silver vine.
Moreover, this place was the Holy God's space of the Serpent Bearer.
Since other Holy Gods' powers could not intrude, the sealing technique using the Holy God's skill had also loosened.
It was a perfect chance for the sealed evil god to break out!
Sure enough, something began to emerge from Cheon Yuha's arm.
“!”
It was like a black specter.
Even in its sealed state, its power was enough to swallow even Cheon Yuha!
Thus, the flustered Cheon Yuha urgently pressed down on her arm, but the monster, free of the seal's control, revealed its head.
[Now! Let me fight quickly… Keok!]
But the monster that revealed its head was struck by something and forced back into Cheon Yuha's arm.
“!”
That something was none other than the snake's tail.
[You brat. What is that thing butting in for?]
“!”
Startled, Cheon Yuha turned her head and saw the snake's eye.
But Cheon Yuha involuntarily trembled.
Because the eye alone was several times larger than her own body. Therefore, she couldn't see its full form.
Thus, Cheon Yuha was perplexed.
‘This size is completely different from what Seongjae said.’
And then it happened.
[You are the Serpent…]
“Yes! I receive it!”
[…….]
Did she not feel the need to hear the full baptismal words? The knife-sharp reply seemed to fluster the other party.
And after a brief silence, Cheon Yuha said a word.
“Uncle?”
[Yes.]
And then that moment came.
Flash!
An immense burst of light erupted from beneath Cheon Yuha's feet.
And within that light, Cheon Yuha saw a familiar sight.
‘Jongno.’
But it was not the downtown Seoul she knew.
That was because there were buildings that had already been lost in this era.
‘Deoksugung Palace remains.’
That was not all.
‘That department store…!’
It was definitely the famous department store in Jongno.
And above all, that department store had vanished with the birth of the 13th Awakened One.
‘That is, the sight when Uncle awakened.’
It was the time called the Seoul Invasion.
Indeed, the scenery visible beside the buildings proved it.
[Kieeek!!!]
Monsters flew through the sky, clung to buildings—it was madness.
It was one of the worst incidents recorded even in textbooks.
And above all, the Seoul Invasion incident was a legendary event people couldn’t not know because of Igeon's awakening.
It was the incident where the 13th Awakened revealed himself for the first time among those thought to be only twelve.
As evidence, a flash shot up from the collapsing department store building.
And it was a green light, a light in the shape of a snake.
At the same time, something amazing happened.
Kuguguung!
The green light spread out from the department store as if a nuclear explosion.
The monsters caught in the light screamed and disintegrated in an instant.
Truly a ridiculous, brute force.
And seeing that, Cheon Yuha suddenly recalled her childhood.
Was it when she was six? Her father, drunk, had sat her down and said:
[Igeon’s body would deteriorate the more he used his power. So honestly, wasn’t he at his absolute strongest right after awakening? Even when I met him, his body was already broken, and he was still that strong.]
Back then, she didn’t understand what that meant, but it was definitely as her father said.
This power was not human.
It was an event that was later said to be other Holy Gods descending to save Seoul.
But within the brilliant flash, Cheon Yuha saw.
Igeon's face as he returned to the department store after killing the monsters.
Perhaps the price of using his power, his body and face had already become hideously deformed.
And though it was hard to see, it was certain.
Amidst the people cheering as the monsters died, Igeon alone was silently shedding tears.
It was clearly the expression of someone who had lost something precious.
So it was a surprise.
Because from the footage of that time, the world was celebrating Igeon's awakening.
And everyone was envious of Igeon, who had gained power equal to the Holy Gods.
But she had no time to find it strange.
Along with the flash, Cheon Yuha's vision grew dim.
And.
“Huck!”
How long had she lost consciousness?
Cheon Yuha opened her eyes.
[Baptism has been completed]
[You have become a full Serpent Bearer’s Holy Knight]
Having returned from the mental space while standing, Cheon Yuha looked around.
Around her were the Holy Knights of Leo, staring at her in astonishment.
That was only natural, as green magical power was swirling around her body.
The baptism was over.
As expected.
[A new baptismal name has been granted]
[]
[New skills have been generated]
[Body stats are being readjusted due to new awakening]
[Stats have greatly increased]
[A large amount of contribution has been delivered to the Lord of the Serpent Bearer]
[Reward for the propagation mission has been obtained]
Cheon Yuha felt the changes in her body.
And though her younger sibling hadn't said much, Cheon Yuha sensed it clearly.
‘The power is different.’
The magical power of the Serpent Bearer that began to flow through her body was immensely strong.
Moreover, it was the aura she had always felt from her uncle!
Sure enough.
“Alright. Baptism over.”
Igeon smiled and stroked Yuha's head.
At the same time, receiving a head pat from her uncle for the first time, Cheon Yuha was deeply moved.
‘Finally!’
She had been so envious seeing her younger sibling getting head pats from Igeon.
But how did he interpret Yuha's expression?
“Ah, sorry. I treated you like a kid.”
Igeon tried to pull his hand away, but Cheon Yuha hurriedly grabbed his arm.
As if she would let the possibly last chance slip away in mere seconds.
But that was brief.
“!!”
As if the texture of the large hand she touched was strange, Cheon Yuha dropped Igeon’s hand in surprise.
And after checking Igeon’s hand, Cheon Yuha could only be horrified.
“Your hand…! What happened to it?”
Even though the super-regeneration skill was activating, Igeon's hand was quite a mess.
His right hand was worse.
He seemed to have deliberately kept it in his pocket, but it was clear.
‘Even the bones were exposed…!’
So she could not help but be flustered.
Because it was the first time she had seen her uncle injured to this extent.
But at his niece's expression, Igeon smiled as if it were nothing.
“Ah. This? Don't worry. It happened while catching some thieves.”
“Thieves?”
At the same time, Igeon narrowed his brow.
The thieves referred to the monsters that had crawled into his holy domain.
Well, he had dealt with them himself immediately, but.
‘They were called Black Zone grade, I think.’
Ones entangled with a Lord-level.
But the guys' specs were beyond his calculations. They had long surpassed Red Zone.
That was precisely why he had come here in a hurry.
Sure enough, Igeon's gaze flicked toward Stephen.
Stephen was wearing a deathly expression amidst the weeping Leo Holy Knights.
“Ah…! How do I report to the Holy God!”
“Ho-Holy Lord!”
It was truly like having his nose bitten off while his eyes were open.
And of all things, they took their ace!
Moreover, it was a Holy Knight the Holy God cherished enough to raise to the Ten Stars!
‘If the Holy God finds out, He will be infuriated!’
In the end, the despairing Stephen could only say one thing.
“Let’s not wake the Holy God for the time being.”
“Pardon?”
“And prepare a lot of meat.”
“Pa-Pardon?”
“…Bones would be good too.”
“PAAAARDON?!”
And then it happened.
When Igeon approached him, Stephen immediately went on guard.
“Don’t come near!”
And immediately he raised his killing intent.
“Why? You took my arm, took Yuha, what more do you want to take? Are you planning to take my head now too?”
At those words, Igeon grinned.
“No. I don’t need your head.”
“!”
For a moment he thought it was fortunate, but soon Stephen's face stiffened.
What? His head?
At the same time, Igeon leered.
“Well, originally I thought about ripping off your legs while I was here, but I’ll let that go.”
“Wh-What?”
Igeon lightly stretched his body.
“Since tearing off your spawn’s legs on top of things seems a bit much in the current situation.”
What did that mean? But Igeon's snake eyes flashed red.
“Because the one I have business with right now isn't you.”
“What? What do you…”
But right then.
Boom!
Suddenly the ground shook.
And at the resounding boom, the Leo Holy Knights were horrified, and Cheon Yuha immediately went on guard.
Boom!!
A sound as if heaven and earth were ringing.
At the same time, Stephen broke out in a cold sweat.
‘Damn!’
His expression was as if he'd been screwed.
Sure enough, rough golden light surged from Stephen's body.
And that was the moment.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Golden lightning whirled from Stephen's body.
At the same time, the sky dyed black!
Kugugung!
Stephen hurriedly knelt on one knee in panic, but Igeon’s mouth corner curled up as if he had been waiting.
As if he had deliberately proceeded with the baptism for this.
[An important offering has been taken from the Lord of the Beast]
[The Lord of the Beast, deprived of His precious Holy Knight, bursts into fierce rage]
[Other Lords recoil in astonishment and flee the scene]
[The Lord who has just awakened descends upon this land]
[He intends to kill the Lord of the Serpent]
(Continued in the next chapter)