Cheon Seongjae originally had a good eye for monsters.
Of course, it wasn’t a wild animalistic sense like his older sister’s.
A power that allowed him to feel the opponent’s magic on his skin.
It was a sense he had gained because he was smart and quick-witted despite his young age. It was also thanks to having immersed himself in the Geminis, a magic divine seat.
And thanks to that power, he could gauge the monster’s grade on his skin.
It was knowing yourself and instantly calculating the enemy’s stats.
But at this moment.
Looking at the enemy that appeared before his eyes, Cheon Seongjae instinctively felt.
The air that felt suffocating just from moving an eyeball. This aura that sent chills down his spine!
It was certain.
‘I’m dead.’
At the same time, Cheon Seongjae, his face turning pale, looked at where his dad had been sent flying.
“Dad!”
Hugo had smashed through the wall and fallen.
And though Cheon Seongjae’s voice calling him trembled, fortunately he seemed unharmed.
“That monster bastard...!”
“Dad! Are you okay?”
Hugo spat out the blood in his mouth as he got to his feet.
It wasn’t for nothing that he was a ranged dealer yet could take down monsters with his fists.
Thanks to Lee Geon, he had been tossed around and trained up his toughness and strength.
Since he hadn’t half-learned from Lee Geon either, he wouldn’t go down easily.
But.
‘There’s no doubt.’
That woman who sent him flying.
‘She’s general-grade.’
Even if it’s a title arbitrarily given by humanity, it was certain.
‘She’s similar to that guy who declared war on humanity.’
He meant the helmeted man that Lee Geon had turned into minced meat recently.
And perhaps because she looked like a dark elf.
That woman also had a human appearance, but she was undoubtedly a monster.
‘At least Black Zone grade or higher!’
But that made it even stranger. Why would something like her be in the middle of Seoul?
‘If a grade like her invaded, the observation post couldn’t fail to notice.’
Moreover, the future he saw of Lee Geon worried him.
But regardless, the woman narrowed her brows as if disgusted.
[I sensed something wrong with the precious tower of the Lord, and it turned out to be the work of you bastards.]
Hey, this isn’t my doing.
Hugo felt wronged, but the woman drew her sword fiercely as if the damage was great.
[Daring to waste the Lord’s power to summon soldiers.]
So this is all someone else’s doing!
“That bastard Lee Geon, why did he...!”
Well, a general-grade was unexpected for him too.
Hugo sprang to his feet.
But regardless, the woman flicked a finger.
[O great God of Silence]
A black wind boiling up from the floor swept through the tower.
And when that wind headed for Cheon Seongjae, a skill activated.
It was the Family Shield that had been activated a while ago.
[Automatically summons upon detecting danger for 1 minute]
And with it, Hugo was summoned in front of Cheon Seongjae. Flustered, Cheon Seongjae urgently slapped his dad’s back.
It was teleport.
Then Hugo vanished in an instant, and Cheon Seongjae was hit by the incoming wind and sent flying.
“Seongjae!”
Hugo reappeared 10 meters away.
And Cheon Seongjae, having taken the attack, glared at the woman while grinding his teeth.
The woman seemed quite interested.
[To still be alive after taking the Lord’s power.]
Cheon Seongjae glared at her.
Well, being able to survive the attack was thanks to Uncle’s armor.
[Armor absorbed the attack (up to 80% of attack)]
And as if realizing the reason, the woman looked at Cheon Seongjae’s clothes.
[You troublesome little brat. Let’s see how long you can last.]
As the woman approached Cheon Seongjae, Hugo, unable to watch any longer, used his ability.
[Blood-red Makeup (Fire Adornment)]
Blazing flames erupted around Hugo, enveloping his body.
And the flame tattoo engraved on his face.
A death resolve to give his all until he killed the opponent and until his own life ended. It was a combat power-boosting skill.
But soon Cheon Seongjae’s face twisted.
It couldn’t be helped.
Because he had read the difference in combat power between his dad and that woman.
Of course, Dad was strong enough not to go down easily. But if they fought head-on, at least one limb would be crippled.
The opponent was too unfavorable. Moreover, right now Dad couldn’t even use ranged attacks.
‘It’s better to retreat from here.’
Cheon Seongjae tried to take his dad and escape via teleport.
Uncle had told him to go up to the 10th floor, but there was no time limit.
Uncle had also said that if it seemed truly dangerous, he could come back.
It was the moment Cheon Seongjae was about to set the coordinates.
[Did you think I’d just let the intruders of the tower go?]
When the woman lunged at Cheon Seongjae, Hugo was summoned by the Family Shield effect.
At that, the woman clicked her tongue and was about to use her power when—
An unfamiliar voice was heard.
[You fool, daring to use the Lord’s power against mere saint-grade.]
“!”
With the unfamiliar man’s voice, Cheon Seongjae’s vision went white.
“Kuh-heok!”
“Seongjae!”
Cheon Seongjae’s consciousness blurred.
He couldn’t tell what had happened.
What was certain was that something heavy had grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground.
As proof, a hot liquid flowed down from his head.
And someone who was roughly gripping Cheon Seongjae’s head looked at the woman as if she were pathetic.
[Despite being unable to use it properly, do not carelessly use the power of those beings.]
[!]
[It shames the 13 Knights.]
The one who appeared was a man in black armor. His build was so large that he resembled the Taurus.
At the same time, Cheon Seongjae furrowed his brows.
‘Another general-grade...!’
It was certain.
This bastard also gave off an aura similar to the helmeted man.
But what was even more chilling wasn’t that.
‘Teleport...!!’
The movement magic didn’t work. He tried again just in case, but it was still impossible to move outside the tower.
Just as he wondered what was going on, the man in black armor laughed.
[Two precious holy ones of S-grade or higher. Did you think I’d let you escape from here?]
It’s this bastard’s doing...!
Cheon Seongjae, his head held, immediately used a skill.
[Kneel to Uncle, or else (S)]
Green flames surged up.
And as the flames surged, the man in black armor seemed to flinch in surprise.
So he quickly let go of Cheon Seongjae’s head, but well.
Fwoosh!!
The fear-fire containing the power of the Serpent Lord melted the armor man’s fingers.
The woman also looked startled at this.
[To think the magic of a holy god works...!]
The armor-clad man seemed greatly intrigued.
[What formidable power. Which holy god’s holy one are you?]
And the moment the man let go, Cheon Seongjae rolled away and shouted like rapping.
“Uncle is the best, Uncle is the best, the best in this world, best best best best best best best!”
Along with the rapid-fire rap, rapid regeneration activated, and the head wound healed.
At that sight, the armor-clad man was even more amazed.
[Regeneration, you say. Superb. An ability of the highest value.]
Which holy god could it be?
[Is it the Grail holder? Well, the twelve are not to be taken lightly.]
Perhaps seeing that ecstatic smile, the woman shouted.
[You! What are you doing!]
[What are you surprised about? I’m just going to rip out and devour its heart.]
As the armor-clad man approached Cheon Seongjae, Hugo, who was blocking the woman, urgently shouted.
“Seongjae! What are you doing! Summon Dad quickly!”
There was one reason Hugo was frantic.
[Royal Family Shield’s duration is ending]
[In 30 seconds, the skill will deactivate and shield summon will be completely released]
It was because even though the summon skill was about to end, Cheon Seongjae wasn’t thinking of recasting it.
Earlier, he had continuously reactivated the skill, so Hugo’s flow wasn’t interrupted and he could take down the monsters.
But like this, they’d be thrown out of the tower.
Even teleport wasn’t working, so if they were kicked out, it was over.
“Seongjae!! What are you doing! The duration’s ending! Summon Dad, quick!!”
But Cheon Seongjae, preparing another skill, shouted.
“No! I used it earlier because I knew Dad wouldn’t die!”
“!”
He was someone who could calculate the difference between the enemy’s abilities and his own faster and more accurately than anyone.
And he used it because he knew Dad’s skill was high, and that Dad was much stronger than the monsters before them.
Until now, all of it.
But now it’s different.
‘He’ll really be killed.’
The ones who appeared now were monsters. And not just one, but two.
Dad would definitely die.
He absolutely couldn’t use it.
And that’s when.
[Royal Family Shield’s duration has ended]
[Summon is released]
“Seongjae!”
“Sorry, Dad. For always being a troublemaker.”
“Seong...!!!”
Hugo screamed and disappeared.
At the same time, the man in black armor smiled and stood before Cheon Seongjae.
[You’ve got guts, for a snot-nosed brat who’s only S-grade at best.]
Cheon Seongjae smiled as if telling him to get lost.
“I’m the son of the Sagittarius saint. And my dad, he may not say it on purpose, but he’s really strong. Actually, his archery is so cool.”
[!]
“But even more great, strong, and cool is my uncle. Don’t you dare, mere monster, disregard the holy one of the Serpent Bearer constellation.”
The armor-clad man snorted.
[Serpent Bearer? Never heard of it.]
No sooner had the words fallen than the armored man’s fist flew.
That very moment.
Cheon Seongjae raised the corner of his mouth as if he were ready.
[Semi-Deification]
A fierce green flash erupted. And something shaped like a snake shot out.
That wasn’t all.
[Idol Worship] trait activates.
[Genius] trait activates.
[Tenacious Obsession] trait activates.
[ Armor Skill] activates.
[ Skill] activates.
* * *
The door opened.
And Lee Geon, who entered, flinched.
[Warning. The holy god’s power is weakening due to the Lord’s power.]
[Warning. It is an immensely strong and dark aura.]
[You may be swallowed by the dark star.]
And from within the room, a tendril-like black fog flew towards Lee Geon.
As soon as it discovered Lee Geon, it tried to pierce and kill him.
But Lee Geon wasn’t one to stay still.
[Holy God Advent]
Boom!!!
When Lee Geon released 100% of his power, the ring on his finger was flung off with a clang.
A green light and a black light shot up toward the sky.
Kugugung!
At the same time, the surging light instantly annihilated the black fog tendrils reaching out from within.
And watching Lee Geon, the one inside spoke, seeming very intrigued and satisfied.
[Come on in.]
That voice was laced with killing intent.
[I didn’t think I’d see you in person, 13th Holy God.]
At those words, the skull that had followed Lee Geon was horrified.
[A, a holy god?! W-what are you saying! This person is not the Lord...!]
[This fraud of a holy god]
The skull screamed.
[A holy god!!! Then I gave that item to a mere holy god...!]
Crunch!
Lee Geon smashed the skull with his foot and smirked.
“I’ll be taking the item.”
The skull screamed.
At the same time, Lee Geon approached the Lord.
‘So it is this bastard.’
The one who fell to the bomb he installed on Yang Wei. And the one whose scent was the same as the one who had laid hands on his family.
But the further he walked, the more Lee Geon had to furrow his brows.
It couldn’t be helped.
‘This aura...’
No way.
At the same time, observing the surroundings, he was convinced. This bastard was the source of the monsters appearing in this area.
‘It’s emitting energy.’
It had to be destroyed. Surely because of that, monsters were swarming into human lands and cities.
‘I’ve found something good.’
And when he got close.
Thud!
The ground shook.
[Warning. The Lord of Spacetime is trying to erase you.]
No sooner had the words fallen than spacetime began to change.
And the place that appeared was a space that wasn’t the tower.
It was like the universe.
And.
[So you’re the insolent one who sent that Aries saint bastard to me.]
“What? You caught on?”
[How dare you send food with such a thing attached.]
“Why? Was the special product not tasty?”
The Lord, emanating killing intent, burst into laughter as if disgusted.
[Eh, fine. O divine existence that can both erase and save the world. Forsake humanity.]
“!”
[Come to the Lord’s seat.]
A powerful aura surged.
But Lee Geon snorted.
“What are you on about, you bomb-struck corpse bastard.”
No sooner had the words fallen than the power of the Serpent Bearer exploded.
(To be continued in the next part.)