[Sagittarius’s Prophecy Skill activates.]
And at this sight, Hugo’s eyes went wide.
The surroundings suddenly transformed.
The ceiling and pillars of the conference hall were swallowed by the sun’s light, and another space surged upward.
Hugo could only be shocked by this situation.
After all, this was clearly the Sagittarius’s Prophecy Skill.
[Delphoi Oracle (SSS)]
Simply put, it was the future-seeing ability of the scorching Leo’s constellation spirit.
And 20 years ago, this skill was what showed him the future where Igeon died.
Indeed, he had seen the sight of Igeon’s corpse in the Devil’s Tower.
But more than anything, there was one reason why Hugo was so startled that this skill activated.
‘This skill hasn’t activated even once since Geon died.’
That’s right.
After Igeon’s death, Hugo had never used this skill.
He had seen Igeon’s body in the Devil’s Tower, but he had sealed it away because he felt he couldn’t save his friend even after seeing the future.
Anyway, the oracle skill he hadn’t used activating on its own?
There was only one case for this.
‘When the constellation spirit forces its use.’
In other words, it meant a future of such high importance.
And it hadn’t happened since Igeon’s death.
Well, whatever.
Seeing the forcibly activated oracle skill, Hugo’s eyes couldn’t help but widen.
Two future scenes appeared.
One was the Virgo sanctuary, and the other was Igeon.
And then.
“Hey! Sagittarius!”
“!”
Hugo flinched at the sound of Stephen shaking his shoulder.
Perhaps because Stephen had shaken him awake, the scenes the oracle was showing vanished.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah. Ahh, yeah.”
With a bewildered expression, Hugo looked at Stephen, who shot him a dumbfounded gaze.
“Why’d you stop talking mid-sentence? I thought you said you weren’t going west?”
“!”
“If you’re not feeling well…”
But Hugo pushed Stephen aside, completely ignoring his words, and called someone.
The other party answered on the first ring.
“Yeah, Jaewon. Where are you?”
- Ah, in the desert near Nevada, USA.
At those words, Hugo tilted his head.
Why are his kids all the way over there?
Then, as if reading his confusion, I Jaewon said.
- Lord Igeon gave the order. He told us to head over there for a while.
“He told you to go there?”
- Yes. He said if there’s a guy getting beaten up there, to lend a hand and bring him back. Not sure who it is, though.
Who else could it be.
He was clearly talking about Kevin. Since that’s where Kevin disappeared.
So that’s that.
‘That punk Geon, he keeps bossing my kids around as he pleases.’
Even though Sagittarius has never joined the Ophiuchus.
Well, it didn’t really matter.
The kids already seemed to like Igeon, and there was also the debt of gratitude Ophiuchus owed him.
Besides, if his subordinates were already dispatched there, it actually worked out well.
“Is Ben there too?”
- Yes! Lord! Benjamin is right here!
Hugo laughed at the voice of Gote, who had apparently taken the phone.
“Good. If you’re there, then good. Ben, use your special skill and bring me…”
But then.
- Aaack!
Hugo was startled by Gote’s scream from the other end.
“What’s wrong! Ben!”
Then I Jaewon, who seemed to have taken the phone back, said.
- Ah, it’s fine. Benjamin suddenly disappeared. With a green glow.
“Green??”
- Well, it’s probably Lord Igeon’s doing.
Unlike I Jaewon, who laughed “Heh heh” with familiar nonchalance, as if it was obvious, Hugo was baffled.
‘This punk Geon, what’s he up to again.’
No, more importantly, why is he so calm about whatever this guy did!
Whatever.
- Should we go looking for Benjamin?
“No, forget it. He’ll be sent back there soon. Just you all stay there and look for Kevin if he’s there.”
- Understood.
At that moment, Stephen, already finished preparing for battle, punched the air.
Bam!
Golden particles appeared, and Stephen’s suit transformed into golden plate armor.
It was the holy robe of Leo.
Even the helmet he rarely took out appeared.
It must mean he was ready for war.
As expected.
“I’m heading west first! We can’t let Cancer come storming up into the northern hemisphere!”
“Ooooh!”
The holy knights also cheered.
But Hugo stopped Stephen as he was about to leave.
“You’d better not go to the Virgo sanctuary.”
“What?”
“No, absolutely don’t go.”
“??”
“If you go there right now, you’ll die 100%. You’ll lose your life. And the holy knights will be annihilated.”
Stephen bristled and stared.
“Are you saying we’d lose to Cancer?”
“Ah, not to Cancer, to someone else.”
“??????”
“Anyway, if you absolutely have to do something, go guard our own territory or whatever.”
Stephen’s expression became even more bewildered.
But Hugo turned away, as if it wasn’t worth explaining in detail.
So Stephen was dumbfounded. Just moments ago, this guy had been shouting his head off about how they absolutely had to defend the Virgo sanctuary or Cancer’s constellation spirit would grow stronger?
“You don’t mean…!”
But Hugo waved his hands dismissively as if annoyed and tapped away at his cell phone.
“Ah, just forget it. Forget that place, head east. I’m going to find Geon.”
Hugo seemed concerned about the image of Igeon he saw in the prophecy.
In truth, more than the Virgo sanctuary, it was Igeon that was important to him.
“Where the hell is he holed up that he’s not answering his phone! Anyway, just wait ’til I get my hands on hi…”
But right then.
Poof!
Green light burst out from under Hugo’s feet, and people were aghast.
“Lord Hugo?!”
“Sagittarius?!”
And Hugo, realizing what this situation was, got red in the neck.
“You son of a…! No, not this again… Aack!!!”
With a string of curses, Hugo vanished with a whoosh.
* * *
Around that time.
[The Lord of the Underground has opened his eyes.]
[The Lord of the Underground takes an interest in you.]
At the unexpected notification, Igeon’s lips curled up.
‘The underground.’
It surely meant the underground of this tower.
And that was why Igeon smirked, as if finding it loathsome.
‘So it was this guy?’
The lord that the kidnapped Yang Wei met and set off a bomb with.
And to think the lord was underground in the Devil’s Tower, of all places—it was ridiculous but not beyond understanding.
It was a tower where a creature as powerful as the Red Eye replenished its strength, and where tens of thousands of monsters existed without issue.
Plus, those damned traps that reset infinitely.
Of course, Igeon had thought there was no way it was an ordinary tower.
But he hadn’t expected there’d be a lord here.
Soon, Igeon’s gaze changed.
So he called out to the skull that had mistaken him for the lord earlier.
“Hey, you there.”
The skull, which had gone to fetch something for Igeon, bounced back.
[Yes! My Lord! Did you call for me, sire!]
There was some strange object on its head. It was surely the item meant to be given to the lord.
Igeon smiled as he looked at it.
“I have business down here.”
At that, the skull flinched for some reason.
[D-Down here, you say?]
“Yes.”
The skull seemed restless. Then it looked at Igeon with a dubious expression.
[P-Pardon my insolence, but what business might you have underground…]
At those words, Igeon’s eyes curved slyly.
‘As I thought, there is an underground below.’
[Well…]
“Enough. Guide me. I have business there.”
[Ah, understood!]
“And hand over what you brought.”
[Ah, yes, ye-yes!]
Igeon put the object the skull had fetched into his pocket and followed the skull.
Of course, the sounds of the fake Red Eye and Cheon Seongjae’s screams could be heard, but he paid no mind at all.
‘Well, Taek-su will handle it.’
Igeon’s steps were light.
And Hugo, who had been dragged here to match that intention, was screaming.
“Aaack!! What is this place!!!”
Hugo was dazed by the sight of the monsters before his eyes.
And Cheon Seongjae seemed equally surprised by the appearance of his father.
Of course, just a few seconds before, Igeon’s voice had been heard saying, “Permission to use Family Shield granted.” and “Skill auto-activated.” But still!
“Dad!”
But Hugo, the one who had actually been summoned, seemed dazed by the surroundings.
That was only to be expected.
“What the! This is! It’s the Devil’s Tower!!!”
That’s right.
Even though it was something from 20 years ago, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize the structure of this hell.
Of course, it could be a space that closely resembled the Devil’s Tower, but he knew at first glance.
This familiar smell, this familiar feeling, those familiar monsters!
Even now, it was a place so terrifying he’d refuse and shudder at the thought of going back!
So why!
But whether he liked it or not, Cheon Seongjae smiled brightly.
“Dad! Miss me! It’s been a while! Total nostalgia trip, right?!”
What do you mean, you punk!!
There were plenty of other places to summon someone; why here of all places!
“Do you know how dangerous this place is?! No, before that, why are YOU here!!”
“Uncle told me to level up here.”
What on earth!
“That crazy, insane bastard!”
He said he’d raise him to the level of a Saint, but who the hell throws someone into the Devil’s Tower for that!
‘Does he not remember that even the Saints had to group up as 13 to clear it floor by floor?!”
No, who was it that said this place was so dangerous that all 13 had to be together, and where did he live again?!
In the end, after flinching and barely summoning his bow, Hugo felt relieved.
‘Right, structurally, this is still the 1st floor.’
The 1st floor had the lowest difficulty.
Yeah, no way Geon would be crazy enough to send an S-rank to the upper floors.
‘Right, unless there’s a Red Eye or something…’
“Kieeeeeeeek!!!!”
“Aaaah! What the hell is this now!!!”
Hugo felt like crying as he saw the Red Eye screaming in front of him.
“Why is there a Red Eye here!!! No, before that, it’s the 1st floor, so why is the number of monsters like this!”
Then Cheon Seongjae smiled cheerfully.
“Why do you think? Probably summoned by Uncle.”
“What on earth?!”
“Oh, and Uncle just told me to pass on a message.”
“What now!!!!”
“He says he thinks he’s figured out who the culprit is.”
Hugo, who was about to aim his bowstring, widened his eyes.
If it’s the culprit, he must mean the one who trapped Igeon in the tower.
“Really? He found the culprit?”
“Anyway, Dad! Front! Defend!”
“Wha, ah, no!!”
Hugo screamed at the incoming attack and threw up his hands.
Bam!!
It was a blunt weapon from a giant several times Hugo’s size.
And as he held onto the weapon, Cheon Seongjae, seizing the moment, launched an attack.
Bam!!
Cheon Seongjae’s green flames horribly melted the monster Hugo was holding.
Of course, Hugo tried to attack as well, but as soon as his defense ended, Hugo’s summoning was canceled.
“Aack! Wait…!”
Cheon Seongjae confidently leaped forward.
And when the monster attacked again, he cast the skill once more!
“Family Shield!”
With the skill’s activation, Hugo was summoned right in front of him.
Hugo screamed at the incoming attack and blocked the monster’s blow again.
And then, the same pattern as before, Cheon Seongjae’s attack!
Bam!!
Cheon Seongjae, who had become remarkably adept, kept charging forward and using the skill repeatedly.
“Family Shield!”
“Ack!”
Bam!
“Family Shield!”
“Ack!”
Bam!
“Family Shield!”
“Ack!”
Bam!
“Kieeeek!”
In the end, as Hugo appeared and disappeared, repeating the cycle dozens, hundreds of times!
Unable to bear it any longer, Hugo shouted in fury.
“Cheon Seongjae!!! If you’re going to do this, can’t you just use Teleport to summon Dad here?!!”
“Family Shield!”
“And Dad wants to! Try! Attacking too!!!!!”
“Nope! Family Shield!”
“Aaargh!!!”
At last, Cheon Seongjae, who was monopolizing the experience points, dashed toward the Red Eye.
* * *
Around that time.
In the desert of Nevada, USA.
Cancer Saint Zhang Rui was making a call somewhere.
“Yes, seize the Virgo sanctuary as instructed. All of it, it’s fine.”
She was speaking to her subordinates sent to the Virgo sanctuary.
Of course, their concerns came through.
- Virgo is the 2nd-ranked seat. Won’t it be dangerous to directly attack the sanctuary?
At those words, Zhang Rui laughed as she looked at Kevin, who lay motionless as if his breath had stopped.
“It’s fine, so destroy everything. Now, there’s no one there to protect the sanctuary. They won’t even be able to activate the sanctuary skill.”
Zhang Rui dusted off her clothes and began walking toward the city.
Summoning her flying-type familiar was an added bonus.
But then.
- Aaack!!!
Screams from her subordinates came through the phone.
Zhang Rui was startled.
“What’s going on!”
- Aack! Lady Saint! An attack on the Virgo sanctuary has begun!
- Cough! The sanctuary skill activated and…!
Zhang Rui was shocked by the horrific screams and explosions heard through the phone.
It couldn’t be helped.
‘If the Saint is dead, the sanctuary skill can’t be activated.’
The moment she thought ‘Oh no,’ and was about to quickly turn her head…
‘!’
Someone was standing behind her.
So Zhang Rui was surprised.
A blood-soaked white jacket and white pants. Judging by the attire, it was Kevin.
But what was this?
‘His arm.’
His right arm, which should clearly have been missing, was attached, radiating a green glow.
But her surprise was brief.
Flash!
An enormous silver light, the likes of which she had never seen, poured down from the sky.
Bam!!
It was unmistakably the light of a constellation spirit’s descent!
And Zhang Rui was shocked by what she saw.
‘A woman?’
(Continued in the next chapter)