So it was this bastard??
From Lee Geon’s eyes shot out the light of the netherworld.
Simultaneously, a sinister light leaked from Lee Geon’s body.
Green light and black light.
Normally, those two lights should mix in a 5:5 ratio, but...
[……!?]
No matter how you look at it now, the proportion of black is far higher than green.
And at that deathly power, even the Scorching Sun Master, renowned under heaven, seemed to flinch. That black power was the source of a force that had even killed a dark star.
There was no way he wouldn’t be frightened.
Perhaps that was why.
Pretending not to be scared but subtly pulling one leg back, the Scorching Sun Master smiled.
[Calamity God, you mustn't do this. We are allies…]
“What are you saying, you bastard!”
The squirming black light extended toward the Scorching Sun Master.
And just as the black light was about to envelop Hugo’s body, the startled Scorching Sun Master’s eyes flashed.
Simultaneously, Hugo’s body emitted sunlight and vanished.
The place he reappeared was by the window.
When he, who had been sitting in the chair, appeared by the window, Lee Geon turned his head.
By the window stood Hugo elegantly with arms crossed—or rather, the Scorching Sun Master.
Having fled in fear, his arrogance hadn’t diminished at all.
And then.
[First, listen, this hot-tempered Calamity Go—]
“Listen to what! You bastard, the enemy of my hair!”
Lee Geon instantly appeared in front of Hugo.
The undulating black light brushed past Hugo’s hair.
With that, Hugo’s hair smoothly disappeared, and the Scorching Sun Master nearly screamed.
That was because the saint and the star god were one body in the contract.
Though Lee Geon didn’t know it, in truth, if the saint’s physical body took damage, the main body would take damage in the same spot.
Of course, there were various conditions, but anyway, perhaps it was because his own head almost got annihilated.
[This god of death actually intended to erase even my head! You truly don’t know moderation!]
“What are you saying, you erased mine first!”
The Scorching Sun Master flinched.
[Ah, no! When did I!]
“It was you, right? Hair loss and... foot—ah, damn, anyway, you bastard who cast that curse!”
[Foot what!]
“What do you mean what! Foot...!”
Lee Geon, about to shout ‘erectile dysfunction’ but making eye contact with Cheon Ji-u, blushed.
“Anyway, you killed my little guy!”
Bang!
The black light struck down where the star god had been, and the star god, having dodged, flared up with anger.
[Can't you refrain from using that power! With that power, even a star god will really be done for!]
“Shut up, you shameless bastard!”
Lee Geon viciously emitted demonic energy.
He trembled with a sense of betrayal.
That was because the Scorching Sun Master was also the star god of his friend, so among the star gods, he had been a god he was close to.
So much so that even White Sheep and Virgo had protested, and he had made many items for the Archer Star Sign.
Above all, he was a god who had really liked the items he made, so Lee Geon had also taken a liking to him.
But what now?
“You received dozens of sacred objects from me, yet you dare curse me and completely ignore that kindness?!”
He had his suspicions when the guy subtly tried to avoid the place when they were dealing with Cancer, and sure enough!
But the Scorching Sun Master, as if he had plenty to say, shouted back confidently.
[Even if I put a curse, it was a curse that didn't threaten your life, wasn't it!]
“Are you even making sense, or are you drunk on makgeolli!”
Just because it didn't threaten my life doesn't mean you can put a curse on me!
Moreover, there are things more important than life itself!
But again, the Scorching Sun star god, having vanished in light, appeared on the desk with his legs crossed.
[In the first place, I didn't do it because I wanted to.]
“!”
The Scorching Sun star god was serious.
[To put it another way, the existence of the Calamity God is that serious. So serious that all gods would join forces to eliminate that existence.]
The only existence the gods fear.
From the beginning, the 13th star sign was a god that must not exist.
And the appearance of the 13th signified the destruction of the gods.
‘A god of destruction that can erase not only the gods but also the divine realm.’
For that reason, the star gods had been uncomfortable with Lee Geon’s appearance.
After all, the 13th awakened one was a being that shouldn't have been able to emerge.
‘The 13th is dead.’
It was originally the leadership position of the 13 Zodiacs.
And a position that must never exist in the future.
So, besides the 12 they had chosen, no one else could appear, but at first, they thought it was just a mutation.
A mutation that gained power after being exposed to the gods’ power.
So at first, some gods even looked at it favorably, thinking they could hunt monsters well, but who knows.
21 years ago. Through a certain event, all gods realized.
It wasn't a mere mutation.
For some reason, he had only half-awakened, but that power was unmistakably the power of the Serpent Master!
It was literally the power of condemnation that could erase the world.
Of course, the Scorching Sun Master didn't dislike Lee Geon's existence. Rather, he liked him.
He had raised his own saint, and just for that, he had a desire to cherish him.
To the point that when they said Lee Geon had to be killed, he argued why a human needed to be killed, saying he was completely different from the Serpent Master, and took his side.
Therefore, even in the tower, he chose a curse that would have minimal impact on combat.
[That's why I'm saying this! You, of all people, what were you thinking killing the 12 star gods? Isn't your existence becoming even more of a terror? At this rate, I can't even protect you, you bastard!]
But Lee Geon sparked fire from his eyes.
“Don't change the subject, you son of a bitch!!!”
[!!]
Lee Geon's eyes flashed as he told him to stop talking nonsense.
“Protection, my ass. You, anyway, you put a curse! You killed my little guy! How dare you pretend the perpetrator cares for the victim!”
[Ah, no! So I at least chose one that wouldn't threaten your life...]
“Okay, then you won't be in danger of your life either, so want to get chopped!?”
Enraged Lee Geon picked up a sickle-like fang, and the Scorching Sun Master was horrified.
Cheon Ji-u was also shocked and clung tightly to Lee Geon.
“That body is your husband’s, your husband’s.”
As Cheon Ji-u desperately tried to remind him, Lee Geon, growling, slightly lowered the fang.
And as if suppressing his anger a bit, he glared at the Scorching Sun Master.
“They call something like that a star god. Taek-su, who serves such a thing, is an angel.”
At that point, the Scorching Sun Master, who had been slightly cowed, seemed to get choked up.
[Why! What! You should be thanking me instead!]
Lee Geon couldn't believe his ears.
“What? What did you just say? Thanks? Thanks??”
[Yes. Thanks! Didn't I let you focus on catching the red eyes without worrying about useless things!]
Sparks flew from Lee Geon’s eyes.
“You’ve really gone insane!”
[Why! Wasn't it something you didn't need anyway!]
“What are you talking about??!”
[Why! Did I say something wrong? You didn't have any use for it anyway!]
“Hey! You really want to die!!!”
Turning beet red, Lee Geon, unable to hold back, emitted ominous demonic energy.
“Come out of there right now.”
[Why! Can't you attack this face?]
The Scorching Sun Master, as if he had something to rely on, propped his chin and smiled.
[Still, a guy who thinks about his friend... cough!!]
The Scorching Sun Master, or rather Hugo, went flying.
At the same time, Cheon Ji-u screamed.
“Lee Geon-nim!”
Lee Geon smiled as if enraged.
“What? Can't attack? On the contrary, since it's Taek-su's face, it seems even easier to hit, you bastard.”
[?!]
Whether the Scorching Sun Master was flustered or not, Lee Geon sent Cheon Ji-u out of the room for a moment.
Cheon Ji-u was startled.
“L-Lee Geon-nim?!”
Lee Geon beamed a wide smile.
“I'll just borrow him for 10 minutes. I'll send Taek-su out intact, so don't worry.”
“!”
At that, the door closed.
Click.
And he saw the star god flustered by the metallic sound.
“You know what? While I was away, a lot of interesting movies came out.”
[Hey?]
“So I binge-watched them all, and in there, they said this.”
[W-Wait?]
The star god was flustered, but Lee Geon raised the corner of his lips.
“Spare the rod...”
Click.
“...spoil the child.”
Lee Geon’s eyes turned into snake eyes.
The sound of one more star being extinguished was heard.
* * *
An enormous light spread across the sanctuary.
At the same time, at the sound of the building seemingly about to collapse, the Cheon siblings and the Archer Star Sign followers were startled.
“What! What’s going on?”
It wasn't ordinary power.
‘Clearly the power of the Serpent Master and the Scorching Sun...!’
And in the situation where god and god's power were roughly clashing, they felt ominous.
“Uncle!”
Moreover, for Uncle to exert such power!
Surely something serious had happened.
In the end, Cheon Seong-jae urgently teleported away.
And after some time had passed.
Following that, the Archer Star Sign followers and Cheon Yu-ha arrived at the place where the light was bursting out.
“Uncle!”
The door, which had been firmly locked, had long since been smashed by Lee Geon’s power, and inside, Cheon Seong-jae was gaping.
And seeing that expression, Cheon Yu-ha became urgent.
“What’s wrong, did something happen to Uncle?”
“A-Ah, no. Nothing happened to Uncle.”
Seeing the inside of the room, they couldn't help but be shocked.
[Calamity God. We are allies...!]
“Allies my ass, you're just a minion now!”
[Cough!]
Hugo—or rather, the Scorching Sun Master—was being stepped on by Lee Geon.
That wasn't all.
In front of the Scorching Sun Master was a contract.
It was the slave contract that Lee Geon had been presenting to Hugo from long ago.
No, it had changed into an even harsher contract.
Perhaps that was why the Scorching Sun Master was looking at Lee Geon as if to say, ‘Isn’t this a bit too much?’
[Hey, no matter what, this is a bit!]
“Hey, who’s speaking informally to the boss? Lower your head! And hand over the sanctuary too!”
[I'll do it for now... cough!]
As if asking where he was trying to escape to again, Lee Geon grabbed Hugo by the collar.
Then the Scorching Sun Master tore a pendant from his neck and handed it over.
That was none other than the seal of the Archer Star Sign’s saint!
At that sight, the Archer Star Sign followers swooned as if wondering what kind of spectacle this was.
After all, the master of the Scorching Sun sign was a god of immense pride.
But to hand over the authority of the sanctuary?
Nevertheless, the Scorching Sun Master ground his teeth.
In fact, it was a part he couldn't do anything about.
After locking the door, Lee Geon had immediately beaten the body of his friend.
‘This rotten bastard, if he trained his star god like this, he should get beaten just the same!!’
At the same time, the Scorching Sun Master, realizing it was no good, canceled the descent and fled.
Thanks to that, it immediately changed to Hugo.
‘Cough, no, Geon-ah?! What’s suddenly going on! Why the fist?! I didn’t do anything wrong!’
‘This bastard, dare to run away??’
‘Geon-ah?!’
‘Stop playing tricks and come back out quickly.’
‘No, what is this situation… cough!’
Enraged, Lee Geon, while grabbing his collar, activated a skill.
[Act Forbidden by God (F)]
And when he was about to use that skill, the flustered Scorching Sun Master had descended into Hugo’s body again.
And to the returned Scorching Sun Master, Lee Geon spoke menacingly.
‘Try running away again. I’ll immediately sever your bond with this skill.’
In the end, that’s how the Scorching Sun Master had no choice but to be captured by Lee Geon.
Simply put, if he was possessing Hugo’s body, he got beaten, and the damage came to his own soul as well.
But if he tried to run away, Lee Geon said he would forcibly sever the saint contract with that fraudulent skill.
Of course, the Scorching Sun Master wasn't one to quietly back down at that level.
Though the Archer Star Sign was called the lowest star sign, its combat power was top-tier.
He wasn't a star god with weak power. And although the Calamity God’s power was fearsome, how could he cowardly not even try to fight?
If he set his mind to it, he could inflict damage on a mere Calamity God.
But one word from Lee Geon was decisive.
“As I see it, Taek-su doesn't remember anything that happens when you descend, right?”
[!]
Something having dawned on him, Lee Geon’s gaze sharpened.
“And he doesn’t know at all that you placed a curse on me.”
[……!!]
“So you shut your mouth and first requested an alliance with me, right? So that Taek-su wouldn’t notice the curse.”
[Ah, no.]
“You know it too, like the Virgo star god, right? If he finds out, Taek-su’s faith will drop.”
[……!]
“No matter how harmless the curse, who knows. How much does he like me? Just by cursing me and keeping silent about it, Taek-su’s faith will plummet from a sense of betrayal.”
That wasn’t wrong.
Of course, the Archer Star Sign faith might not drop, but Hugo’s personality was extremely upright.
He also liked Lee Geon immensely.
‘It’d be fortunate if it didn’t go negative.’
Then what would happen to Hugo, who has 400% Serpent Master faith?
‘He would naturally become Lee Geon’s follower.’
Anyway, one way or another, he would lose his saint to Lee Geon.
And now.
Having the Archer Star Sign star god by the leash, Lee Geon smiled like a fox.
That was because the Archer Star Sign, even if it looked like that, was a star god with formidable combat power. So it had been coveted, and he was actually thinking it was fortunate just to have an alliance.
“Well, if you quietly come under my command, I’ll keep it a secret from Taek-su.”
At those words, the Scorching Sun star god ground his teeth.
No, if he becomes a subordinate, it’s the same thing anyway!
Since a subordinate’s saint is also the right-hand man of the boss star god.
That’s why it was absurd.
But Lee Geon actually smiled as he looked at him.
In truth, he had been suspicious of the star gods. Even if he let the Scorching Sun guy slide.
‘They’re afraid of me simply because I’m the Calamity God?’
Bullshit.
Lee Geon recalled the time of his awakening and twisted a smile.
‘If these guys are the culprits who trapped me in the tower, and if they were connected to the unknown civilization, that’s a different story.’
As expected.
Lee Geon, trying to dig something up, raised the corner of his lips as if disgusted.
“Anyway, I’ll keep it secret, so come under me quietly.”
But at the word ‘subordinate,’ the Scorching Sun Master seemed to have hurt pride.
Of course, he was originally a cherished guy, and there was a reason he had to protect him anyway, so he was protecting him, but...
[If it’s going to be like this, I should’ve just used the wish ticket from the start...!]
“Are you crazy?”
[What?]
“Why waste a wish ticket on something you can just coax Taek-su into? I’ll save it for something more useful later.”
This bastard!
“Alright, if you understand, just put your fingerprint on it, you bastard!”
That was the moment.
An enormous light shot up, and a notification appeared.
(To be continued in the next episode)