"Damn! The dome has been breached!"
"Call the saint orders!"
"They've already been annihilated!"
"What!"
The world was in absolute panic.
It was because of the first mass monster invasion since the Red Eye.
"There's nowhere to run! Monsters everywhere!"
"Monsters keep pouring out of strange gates!"
Mass death of holy knights. The destruction of the dome that was humanity's safety barrier.
Furthermore, even the saints, who were the very symbol of humanity, couldn't become a hope—the worst reality.
In the end, humanity despaired.
And at that moment, when faced with death and about to let go of hope.
Bang!!!
People screamed at the green pillar of fire that shot up from the ground.
"Kyaaak!"
It was a massive pillar of fire as large as a 20-story building.
[Kneel to Uncle, or else (S)]
And the flying monsters engulfed in the green fire instantly became fireballs and plummeted to the ground.
"Kieeek!"
It was a lethal flame that melted flesh on contact, and even dissolved bones in the respiratory system like hydrochloric acid.
In fact, when the monsters hit the ground, not even a trace remained.
Wasn't it more like hydrochloric acid that liquefies rather than burns? No, it was like poison disguised as flame.
That was how scorching it was.
Thanks to that, people could only stare slack-jawed.
"H-have you ever seen something like that?"
"No, it's like magic... but I've never seen that color before..."
But their surprise was short-lived.
"Uncle!"
Along with the voice of the one who cast the spell, a sound like a building collapsing echoed.
"Craaash!"
It was the sound of the gate's pillar collapsing.
The strong monsters coming out of the pillar were crushed under rubble or had their heads cut off as they tried to emerge, vanishing without a trace.
People buzzed at the sight.
"Who is it, who was that just now!"
"Hey, over there!"
Those looking atop the pillar cheered.
"It's Lee Geon!"
"Lee Geon destroyed the monsters' passageway!"
That's how, in many places around the world, the enemy's strategic points were ruthlessly destroyed.
And the world was astonished by Lee Geon's exploits.
Of course, it wasn't just the news that Lee Geon was destroying gates that surprised them.
"Aack! It's the Red Eye!"
"W-why is Lee Geon riding on the Red Eye's head?!"
"Has he been kidnapped?!"
Indeed.
What the world was aghast at was the existence of the Red Eye that had become Lee Geon's personal vehicle.
And.
[Lee Geon "Rides Around on the Red Eye"]
[Shocking Sightings Pour In from Around the World]
[It Really Is That Human Disaster from 20 Years Ago]
At that unbelievable news, the world screamed.
And the same was true for the foreign correspondents in Korea.
"This is absurd. Even if it's Lee Geon, how can he ride around on humanity's disaster?"
"No, I'm telling you it's true! A senior of mine in the U.S. said so. They said Lee Geon really rides on the Red Eye!"
"It's probably just a similar-looking familiargod! I'll know when I see it!"
The place where these voices were bursting out was none other than the northern wastelands of Seoul.
Normally, it's a deserted area close to the Devil's Tower, but now it was different.
"Lee Geon riding the Red Eye—speak sense. His followers must have released fake photos."
"Yeah, I'll see it with my own eyes. They said Cheon Seong-jae is around here, right?"
"Ah, there he is!"
That was the case.
Those who flocked to the northern forest were foreign journalists.
They had come to verify if the rumors were true.
Most of them were journalists from other saint orders who didn't trust Lee Geon.
They had heard the rumors that Lee Geon had stopped the invasion, but they were all jealous of Lee Geon.
They wanted to find fault and call it fake somehow.
"Anyway, it's iffy whether Lee Geon even stopped the monsters, and now the Red Eye too?"
"If Lee Geon really can ride that thing around, I'll cut off my own hand."
But whether they buzzed around and approached or not, Cheon Seong-jae, who had been looking for something, quickly made a call.
"Uncle! I found it! I'll summon you right away!"
[Okay. Prepare the plastic bag.]
No sooner said than done, Cheon Seong-jae took out a plastic bag from his bosom.
People tilted their heads at the sight.
"Why a plastic bag all of a sudden?"
"I don't know! Anyway, riding the Red Eye is just a hallucination, I tell you. Look, there's no Red Eye even now..."
But right then.
"Kieeeeek!!!"
"?!!"
People screamed at the tremendous roar.
Because a familiar monster had appeared in the sky.
And journalists who had seen the Red Eye before just collapsed.
"I-it's not a hallucination!!!"
At the same time, Cheon Seong-jae, who had teleported them there, vomited into the plastic bag with a retch.
Actually, Cheon Seong-jae had found the location of the gate through a monster Lee Geon had captured.
And he had a skill, a skill obtained as his first holy knight perk.
So he used it to go to Lee Geon and bring him back via teleport, which was fine, but...
"Urk, the Red Eye is too heavy... uwegh!"
Cheon Seong-jae felt like dying.
Because the heavier the object being transported and the farther the distance, the more motion sickness erupted.
And when the journalists trying to disparage Lee Geon were trembling before the Red Eye...
"L-Lee Geon is jumping off the Red Eye!"
"Dangerous!"
Lee Geon swung the Heavenly Judgment toward the ground.
Bang!!!
And an incredible flash of light struck down from the sky to the ground.
Along with that, the ground split and monsters tried to burst out from a gate hidden underground.
"Kieek!!"
The monsters roared fiercely, as if asking where a mere human dared to intervene.
But seeing that, the Red Eye immediately howled as if disgusted.
"Kieeeeek!!!"
[Yongyong uses a skill]
[The monsters' momentum is broken]
At the sight of the terrified monsters, Lee Geon laughed.
"Good. Well done."
The Red Eye, delighted by the praise, bowed its head to Lee Geon.
And at the sight of anyone clearly taming the Red Eye like a pet, people fully collapsed, and the journalists just gaped.
But then.
Lee Geon suddenly looked somewhere and smiled.
"What. Isn't this the low-level uncle who almost died on his way to work?"
"!"
At those words, the surroundings were taken aback and stirred.
It was because of someone who appeared from the forest.
"Huh? Wait! Isn't that the President of Korea?"
"...Y-yeah, you're right!"
Indeed.
What appeared before Lee Geon were President Yoon and his close aides.
They had been captured under a forced contract by the Gemini Saint and recently freed.
And it seemed the President had rushed here after hearing that Lee Geon had appeared.
At the same time, as if the talk of being close friends was not false, Lee Geon sneered at President Yoon.
"I was already amazed that you became a lawmaker 20 years ago, and I was really surprised to hear you even became President recently."
As Lee Geon approached, the aides were frightened, and the President immediately bowed his head.
People stirred, but he seemed moved and apologetic just to see Lee Geon alive.
"I ended up coming all the way here because I couldn't find you, Lee Geon-nim. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for not having searched the Devil's Tower sooner. In many ways, to Lee Geon-nim...!"
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine. You were under a soul contract with that crazy bastard."
In fact, the Gemini Saint had placed a device on the leadership to increase their stake in Korea.
Simply put, a forced contract with the souls of themselves and their families as the price.
They had held people who could get in the way in their grasp.
"I had Leriqueen break all of those, no problems?"
"Yes, thank you! How can I ever repay this favor...!"
"Ahh, that's enough for now. There's one thing I want to ask. But I think I need your permission for this."
At that, the President looked right at Lee Geon.
"Yes, just say the word! If it's Lee Geon-nim's word, the country will do anything...!"
At that, Lee Geon, as if that was good, pointed to the Red Eye.
"Could I keep and raise that guy on some unused land for a while?"
"Pardon?"
"Of course, in a cage."
"......?!"
They looked at the 150-meter Red Eye roaring "Kieeek" at humans and broke out in a cold sweat.
The President also sweated profusely.
"Y-you want to raise that?"
In the end, the sightings became truth, and the news spread throughout the world.
[Shock: "Lee Geon, who made even the Red Eye submit to the general that appeared 20 years ago"]
[Lee Geon single-handedly stops the unknown civilization's second invasion]
["What even saints gave up on, Lee Geon handled alone." Saints in name only]
[Red Eye to take up defense of Korea near the Devil's Tower]
Of course, the news that spread was not just that.
Perhaps because the bomb Lee Geon planted on Yangwei successfully went off.
A victory rumor that they had dealt a blow to the lord-level quickly spread as well.
It was because of the Leo holy knights who were there.
[Lee Geon inflicts blow on unknown civilization]
[A long-cherished wish of 20 years, a chance to reclaim humanity's land?]
[Attention focused on Lee Geon]
Thus, the world was turning upside down with news of Lee Geon.
And at the U.S. interview venue.
Hugo, reading an article about the spreading news, sighed.
Of course, it wasn't because of news related to Lee Geon's achievements.
[Hugo Otters manifests Snake Master power]
[Is the Sagittarius saint leaving?]
[Sagittarius sanctuary turns into Lee Geon Tower]
[Sagittarius to come under Lee Geon's new constellation]
Hugo's face fell.
No, why is the story about them spreading like this again?
Of course, a correction article saying it wasn't true came out immediately, but the Sagittarius holy knights scattered around the world were in an uproar.
It was so shocking that even the Sagittarius executives sent messages in droves.
[No!!! Holy Lord, why did you issue a correction article!!]
[Being under Lee Geon-nim would be so helpful!!!]
[That's right! If we contact Lee Geon-nim and publish a photo book, our new constellation's living expenses for 5 years would be nothing!!!]
Hugo's face flushed with anger.
These guys, after they said they wouldn't leave the holy order for their own sake, yet it's come to this.
Well, whatever.
'Who was it that stabbed Geon in the tower?'
The prime suspect was Kevin, but it doesn't seem to be him.
No, from the start it didn't seem like a problem that would end with catching one person.
'There seems to be something bigger entangled in the matter of killing Geon.'
Besides, the general of the unknown civilization was the same.
He had clearly borrowed power from a lord. But the way he looked seemed similar to a saint, which bothered me.
'So even the unknown civilization has a system similar to ours.'
What could be the reason?
But soon Hugo shook his head.
'Anyway, Geon said he'd defeat the lords and reclaim land, and also find the one behind stabbing him.'
And as much as Lee Geon had retrieved his family, he too would prioritize helping him.
'After all, if we don't drive out the unknown civilization, there is no future for humanity.'
Even now, the poison of the unknown civilization is gradually reducing the land where humanity can live.
'And didn't Geon say there's something he's looking for from the unknown civilization?'
But then.
[The Snake Master saint's contract has ended]
[The Snake Master's blessing disappears]
"!"
As the temporary contract with Lee Geon ended, the green light faded from Hugo's body.
And as the original red aura slowly rose, the master of the Scorching Lion seemed very pleased.
As expected.
[The master of the Scorching Lion says he knew you would]
[The master of the Scorching Lion boasts that his saint would never betray him]
[He urges you to work as much as you haven't so far]
[He says work has piled up]
[He says to quickly bring his food]
At this, Hugo's face flushed with anger.
And.
Slide.
Hugo half-drew the Snake Master's insignia dagger that Lee Geon had given him.
Then, the red aura enveloping Hugo shook violently as if shrieking.
[The master of the Scorching Lion says that's not it]
[He says you don't have to bring food or anything]
[He says he'll just find and eat such things himself]
[He asks what you want]
[The master of the Scorching Lion bestows treasures]
[Gods' Snack (SSS) has descended]
[Gods' Beverage (SSS) has descended]
[Holy God's Bed (SSS) has descended]
[Holy God's Blanket (SSS) has descended]
Hugo grinned as he looked at the items piling up next to him.
'Still effective.'
At the same time, he wondered who would become Lee Geon's saint.
'If Geon is not the holy god, I don't mind if it's Yuha or Seongjae, but...'
There are suspicious parts, but whatever.
'He wouldn't really be trying to pull out Kali, would he?'
Hugo grumbled, oddly displeased that Lee Geon was showing interest in other candidates.
"If he's going to pull that out, I'd rather be the saint myself."
But then.
"It's Leo! The Leo saint!"
At the familiar figure emerging in the distance, Hugo stood up from his seat.
"Are you going to the press conference? To reveal that it wasn't you who caught the Red Eye, but Geon?"
"...Yeah. I plan to say we just ran away."
"If that comes to light, the world will be in an uproar. Aren't you afraid of the aftermath?"
At that, Steven sweated.
Honestly, right now, rather than people's gazes, the thought of Lee Geon throwing him to the Red Eye is scarier.
But then.
Steven tilted his head when he didn't see Lee Geon, who had called him out.
"What. Where did Lee Geon go?"
"What? Where else."
Soon, at the destination Hugo answered, Steven's eyes went wide.
"Are you crazy? Why go there?!"
(To be continued in the next episode)