[The Serpent Bearer Constellation’s trap has been activated.]
A scream erupted.
The ground split open, black light burst forth, and black hands seized the general and his subordinates.
So those caught in the black hands were bewildered.
[Damn, how?!]
Indeed. They were currently transformed into ordinary birds.
Thanks to their ability.
Of course, this transformation ability was not their master’s own.
It was the authority of Pisces, obtained long ago through a special channel.
And that powerful authority had been perfected further through their modifications.
In fact, they had no trouble infiltrating other sanctuaries.
They were recognized as ordinary wild beasts.
But.
[Ugh! Our strength is being drained!]
[Damn, how did they notice...!]
They were bewildered, but soon realized the reason.
[General! This trap... it wasn’t made with the power of a Constellation!]
[What?!]
[Our side’s demonic energy is in the trap...!]
There was no time to ask what that meant.
Rumble!
Those caught by the black hands were immediately dragged underground.
And what appeared before their eyes was a hole with no end in sight, like a black hole!
The moment they fell into it, they realized the trap’s true nature.
‘It’s certain. The one who made this trap is surely from our side...!’
It seemed at first glance like human faction power, but it was unmistakably mixed with their own civilization’s sorcery.
That’s why they, as mid-level beings, could detect it. Recognizing the aura of their own kind was child’s play.
It was thanks to a peculiar scent only their kin could detect.
So they were bewildered.
‘Why would our own kind be in the Serpent Bearer’s domain...!’
But what was even more shocking was something else.
‘This feeling is unmistakably the Red Lord’s...!’
It was unmistakable.
This was a high-level sorcery at the Lord level. Thus, they could only be confused.
‘Why is the Red Lord’s power felt in the Serpent Bearer Constellation’s trap?’
‘The Red Lord would never get involved in this matter in the first place...!’
At the same time, they realized.
‘Could it be that they let us in on purpose?’
Had they appeared weak to lure them into a trap?
But the trap gave them no time to think.
[......!]
A chilling energy and a hair-raising voice reached them.
At the same time, a strange phenomenon occurred.
[General... cough!]
The subordinates who had been sucked in together turned into mummies in an instant.
Those who had been in the subordinate’s possession became penniless and vanished.
And likewise, the general, stripped of everything and reduced to poverty, glared into the endlessly stretching darkness.
But it was that moment.
In that unknown space, the general felt as if his breath had stopped.
And the moment the general hurriedly returned to his original form!
Rumble!
[The Serpent Bearer’s trap has captured the intruders who dared to invade.]
[The First Gate’s trap is draining the intruders’ strength.]
One of the traps specially made by the Scorpio Constellation, Hayley, swallowed the generals.
And finally, their drained strength became nourishment for the sanctuary.
[High-quality superior nourishment.]
[Good nourishment is being used as fertilizer for the Serpent Bearer sanctuary.]
[Divine Throne energy is filling up.]
[Divine Throne experience is increasing.]
And the Virgo subordinate gods, having witnessed the intruders vanish, collapsed.
It had happened so suddenly that even the gods were bewildered.
Moreover, it was a type of trap they had never seen before in their lives.
[Could that have been the sanctuary’s security system just now?]
[What on earth just happened...!]
But it was then.
“Kieeeek!”
[?!]
A sudden monster’s cry made the Virgo subordinate gods startle.
And the sound came from the sky!
A monstrous bird was roaring in the sky.
Thanks to that, the goddesses gritted their teeth and grabbed their weapons.
[These bastards dare to enter the baby snake’s sanctuary...!!!]
But it was then.
“Hahaha, it’s effective. I didn’t think I’d get a chance to test the traps like this.”
[!]
A familiar voice made the Virgo subordinate gods jump in surprise.
[Chief Master!]
Indeed. On the back of the monstrous bird were Igeon, the Cheon siblings, Hyugo, and Seo Gigwan.
And perhaps because they had teleported with the bird, Cheon Seongjae, next to Igeon, was covering his mouth as if he might vomit.
Even as a transcendent, it seemed he still got motion sickness if he moved beyond his stamina or more than his own weight.
At the same time, the monstrous bird screeched.
“Kieeeek!”
It meant they had done as ordered, so now let them go.
But as if asking where the noisy barking was coming from, Igeon struck down on the bird’s head.
“Shut up and get down.”
Thwack!
“Kieeeek!”
As the monstrous bird fainted from the head strike, everyone plummeted to the ground.
Thud!!
And though one might wonder who would land like that, Igeon, having landed on the ground, immediately snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Then the fertile soil split right open.
Rumble!
As if the gates of the underworld were opening, a black hand shot out from within.
The hand dragged out the mummified monster.
It was the general’s subordinate.
Igeon grabbed the dragged-out subordinate’s neck as if to twist it.
“Seo Gigwan. This is enough, right?”
Seo Gigwan, who had been riding the monstrous bird and suddenly fell, looked at Igeon as if appalled.
But Igeon, holding the monster’s neck, raised the corner of his mouth.
“We’re old acquaintances, aren’t we? When I went to find the bed-wetter, I felt a presence, but you disappeared, so I was disappointed. It’s nice to see you like this.”
But the captured general’s subordinate was in an unacceptable state.
[The S-Serpent Bearer was definitely reported as dealt with... cough!]
Twisting the monster’s neck, Igeon smiled.
“Right, your subordinate must have said that.”
Instead of answering, Igeon kicked the monster Hyugo was holding by the scruff of its neck.
[Heok! This place is...!]
Among the several riders, only one was kept alive.
And that rider was undoubtedly the advance party the general had sent to the Archer Constellation’s sanctuary!
At the same time, he was the very one who had contacted the general to report that the Serpent Bearer’s body had been secured.
And the awakened rider was horrified at the sight of his superior caught by Igeon.
[Heok...! Adjutant! What happened to you! How did you end up in such a state...!]
The adjutant who had followed the general could only raise his voice in anger.
[Are you joking! Didn’t you report that you had dealt with the Serpent Bearer!]
[Yes! That’s right! The Serpent Bearer was dealt with! But how did you end up like that...]
However, the excited rider’s words trailed off.
Because Igeon had entered his field of vision.
At the same time, the rider who saw Igeon screamed.
[Why is the Serpent Bearer alive!!]
[Are you truly insane!]
Igeon laughed loudly, and the Virgo goddesses were puzzled.
But soon, the Virgo goddesses immediately caught on to the situation.
It was because of Seo Gigwan, who was watching Igeon’s reaction as if asking if he had done well, right next to Igeon.
[...Then could it be!]
It was certain. Seo Gigwan must have used his ability.
As an awakener who could manipulate the achievements of gods and, theoretically, even the history of gods, he could temporarily distort the cognitive information of living beings.
Of course, the risk was great, and the moment the opponent recognized the truth, it would quickly unravel, but it was still powerful.
‘I’ve heard the risks are mostly life-threatening injuries or illnesses, so their lifespan is short...’
But wasn’t Igeon the Divine Throne of Regeneration?
He would more than compensate for the drawbacks.
Anyway, they must have planted false cognition in the rider and made him contact his superior.
In the end, the subordinate who realized the situation let out a powerful aura.
[To be swayed by such a wretch, I will not let this go!]
[Aaack!]
Along with it, fierce hatred was directed at Igeon.
[A mere Constellation’s trap! Do you think it will work on the general below...! He will also escape soon...]
But at that moment, the subordinate screamed.
Crunch!
A black hand emerged from the floor and dragged the subordinate back down.
Igeon raised the corner of his mouth.
[It has dried further, extracting more nourishment.]
[Divine Throne energy is filling up.]
[Experience has increased.]
“Okay. Now that it’s been made into dried pollack, it can’t speak anymore.”
Thanks to that, the Virgo subordinate gods could only tremble.
‘Good heavens, a trap that can even swallow general-level beings...!’
Though they were in the form of birds, those bastards were the very group of the general who had attacked Kevin.
So it was astonishing.
Because they themselves hadn’t noticed the bastards until just before they revealed their killing intent.
But the sanctuary’s trap was different.
It had already sensed the bastards, and the moment they entered the exact location, it felt like they were swallowed up.
[How did you detect their presence...!]
At those words, Igeon grinned.
Indeed, entrusting the trap design to the Scorpio Constellation, Hayley, had been a brilliant move.
But.
[The General of Plenty has escaped the First Trap.]
At that notification, Igeon smiled.
‘Well, even if he escapes there, it just leads to the Second Trap.’
“It’s troublesome, but I’ll have to go fetch that general.”
And at Igeon’s words, Cheon Yuha grabbed her vomiting younger brother by the scruff of his neck.
“We’ll bring him.”
“Yeah. Don’t overdo it.”
Cheon Yuha nodded and disappeared with her brother via teleport.
And it was just then, when Igeon had deliberately sent his nephews.
[Warning. The transcendent Kevin under your command is dying.]
“!”
At the unexpected notification, Igeon turned his head, and there was Kevin in white clothes on a nearby outdoor bench.
Kevin was nearly on the verge of death.
Seeing blood gushing endlessly without stopping, it seemed he hadn’t been treated yet.
So Igeon frowned and approached.
“What’s this, I sent you regeneration ability. Didn’t it work?”
[Yes...! The ability does work, but their curse won’t lift...!]
[When he regenerates, the wound opens again...]
At those words, Igeon summoned the kettle and poured it over Kevin’s body.
Splash!
At first glance, it was a merciless drenching.
[Ch-Chief Master!]
But the effect was clear.
[The power of the kettle has withdrawn the curse of Plenty that had encroached on the body.]
[Super Regeneration is activating properly.]
As Kevin’s wounds healed, the Virgo goddesses deeply sighed in relief.
And then, as if suddenly remembering, they quickly took out a small jewel box from Kevin’s pocket.
[Master, this is a Royal Court Subordinate God brought from the Scales’ domain!]
[We don’t know which one is sleeping, but Royal Court Subordinate Gods are the highest grade among subordinate gods. Surely, it will be of help to the baby snake... no, the Chief Master!]
[You have obtained the Scales’ Royal Court Subordinate God.]
Igeon took the jewel box as if he had done well.
“Did this guy bring it alone?”
[No, Kevin and Kali together...]
“Really? Then where’s Kali?”
At that name, Hyugo, who was next to him, flinched.
And it was that moment.
“Ugh.”
[Kevin! You’re regaining consciousness!]
Perhaps because Super Regeneration had worked, Kevin opened his eyes. As soon as he opened his eyes, he looked for Igeon.
Not for any other reason.
“Did you safely bring the Scales’ subordinate?”
“Yeah. Here.”
Having confirmed the object in Igeon’s hand, Kevin deeply sighed in relief.
“What a relief. Then I can speak without worry.”
“What?”
Blood flowing from his mouth, Kevin grabbed Igeon seriously.
“Igeon. You might not believe it, but it’s a very important fact.”
Igeon was slightly annoyed.
“What is it? What’s so important that you’re being all serious and dragging it out?”
“Listen carefully. Igeon. Actually, Kali is your dau... Pfft!!”
[Aaack! Kevin!!!]
Hyugo stomped on Kevin’s wound and knocked him out.
The Virgo goddesses screamed in horror, but Hyugo smiled and said.
“Hey. If you talk, your wound will open up. Just sleep.”
[Kevin!!!]
Igeon looked at them as if dumbfounded, but soon let it be.
Originally, those two were on such bad terms they were like cats and dogs.
But Hyugo’s heart was pounding.
‘That was dangerous.’
He didn’t know how, but this guy must have also learned about Kali.
Of course, talking about Kali was fine.
But.
‘How unfiltered Kevin is when he blabbers!’
And on top of that, how hot-tempered Igeon was! And handling the aftermath would be entirely his responsibility!
In other words, even if he spoke, he had to choose his words carefully.
An adult like himself should step in here and calmly convey the story well.
‘Right. I’ll buy some fried chicken he likes and tell him later.’
Maybe tomorrow...
But Hyugo, having anticipated Igeon’s reaction, smiled brightly.
‘Ah, maybe about a hundred years after I die...?’
Anyway, not now.
But.
“Igeon!”
Suddenly, Kevin got up.
Startled, Hyugo widened his eyes and tried to stomp on the wound again.
‘This damn Super Regeneration ability...!’
But then Kevin kicked Hyugo and said.
“Listen carefully! Igeon! Kali is your daughter!”
“?!”
Igeon’s neck snapped back.
What?
(To be continued in the next episode)