Hugo gritted his teeth.
The one who appeared behind him was Yi.
But the power he felt was on a completely different level from last time.
‘What kind of deal did he make with him?’
Hadn’t they captured this bastard last time anyway?
Since it was said that Yi had trapped him in a human body, he might have released some of his power.
So Hugo immediately activated his magic power.
But.
“Ugh…!”
As if a hole had been closed, he couldn’t use his magic.
The reason was simple.
‘That son of a bitch…!’
Just like when he had killed their subordinates, he had cut off the connection to the god.
That wasn’t all.
“It would be best not to expect any outside help.”
The bastard’s power enveloped the area.
That was the power of chaos that Yi used!
It was a barrier.
Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary barrier.
“Now we just need to finish the repairs at that intersection!”
“Alright, let’s hurry and rest since there’s a strategy meeting tomorrow. They say we’ll be able to see Lord Igeon in person tomorrow!”
This was right in the middle of downtown.
Since repair work was in full swing, there were quite a few believers passing by.
But none of the citizens noticed him or Chaos.
“Still, it’s fortunate. Lord Igeon caught the disasters.”
“Isn’t he almost being worshipped as the only holy god now?”
“Maybe tomorrow, other divine seats will flow into the Serpent Lord’s seat?”
“Now if we just deal with two monarchs, reclaiming the remaining lands is not a dream!”
Not only did they not notice Hugo, they simply walked right through him.
As if he were a hologram, a ghost, they passed through Hugo.
Because of that, Hugo gritted his teeth.
‘He erased my existence from this world.’
But Hugo soon sneered.
‘If they can’t contact me, anyone will notice right away.’
Hugo drew his bow, but soon his face froze.
It couldn’t be helped.
“Kyaa! Lord Hugo! Please sign an autograph!”
“……?!!”
There was another version of himself not far away.
And what could that mean?
Sure enough.
Yi grinned at the pale-faced Hugo.
“It’s your dummy. With this, even if a crisis befalls you, no one will be able to notice.”
“…You bastard!”
No one would notice this situation. Even if he died here.
But then a voice rang out.
[The notification says to trust the Serpent Lord.]
Hey, what trust! What are you talking about!
“If it’s not Igeon, get lost! Or if you have time, contact that side!”
[The notification says that is impossible.]
[It says that from the beginning, you were fated to die this year.]
“What nonsense!?”
[It says that in every previous round, every iteration, in 2025 all the holy ones were devoured by him.]
“……!”
Hugo realized with a start.
Come to think of it, Igeon had said he had seen Yi’s past.
That bastard had returned to the past several times, and in the end devoured all holy ones and holy gods, becoming a great monarch and wiping out all humanity.
However.
[It says that you died the most pathetically among holy ones.]
[It says that in the 187th iteration, you fell into a sewer and died while walking.]
[In the 197th, you choked on tteokbokki and died.]
[In the 198th, you died while taking a dump.]
[Anyway, they say you die in a really pathetic way.]
“Damn it! You don’t have to tell me that!!”
Hugo’s veins popped.
Like father, like son, as they say.
‘They’re both the same at driving people crazy!’
“Come to think of it, isn’t Igeon’s scam-like ability because of his genes too?! Was he born with a silver spoon?”
[The notification says it’s offended. It says its son is of a pathetic level compared to itself.]
Was this guy being serious?
Furthermore, this holy god somehow feels similar to Jakyeol Saju-in.
Like brothers.
‘Do all holy gods act this stubbornly?’
As if reading his thoughts, the notification got offended.
[It grumbles that actually the son’s combat ability is higher.]
[And it says that Igeon is structured in such a way that he can’t inherit its genes for crafting ability or combat ability.]
At that, Hugo narrowed his brow.
‘Is it related to Igeon having been human?’
Anyway, in all those timelines, Yi did not appear before humanity.
That made sense, since Yi was a divine seat who could only appear before humanity after Yeonwoo transferred his divinity to Igeon.
But Yeonwoo had already been captured by him before that.
‘Only this timeline where Igeon exists is different.’
Anyway, that wasn’t what was important.
“Even if it’s you, I don’t think you can revive a god-level being, but just in case, I’ll obliterate your soul into pieces.”
“!!”
Yi approached with the corners of his mouth raised.
Perhaps because of his power, even the notification from the 13th couldn’t be heard anymore.
But right at that moment.
Boom!!
“!!”
From Hugo’s body, the magic power of the Serpent Lord’s seat surged up.
Yi was startled by this.
‘The connection was cut off, but he can use the Serpent Lord’s magic power?’
Whether a human believer or a subordinate god, it was hard to wield power if the holy god’s power was cut off.
Well, there were occasionally guys with good abilities, but well.
‘He didn’t even inherit a divinity with accumulated internal power.’
Given that he has a new divinity called , how great a power could he wield?
But what’s that!
But soon, Chaos, who was dodging the attack, gritted his teeth.
He had figured out what was going on.
‘That bastard, don’t tell me he’s not receiving and using the Serpent Lord’s magic power, but he’s creating it himself and using it?!’
It was absurd.
But he soon figured out the reason.
‘Damn it, his faith is 600%!!’
Come to think of it, hadn’t Hugo worried about Igeon more as his believers increased?
Because a holy god has to distribute magic power to their believers.
So he knew it would be a considerable burden on Igeon.
That’s why he had hesitated to enter the Serpent Lord’s seat in the first place.
‘Could it be that’s why he’s creating it himself completely…!’
Indeed, Chaos’s guess was correct.
[Self-Generator (SSS)]
-A skill born from the desire not to burden his holy god.
-Consumes stamina to generate magic power on his own.
-Generated magic power can be granted to others.
-Usable when faith is 500% or higher.
Thanks to that, Chaos let out a hollow laugh.
Originally, believers and gods developed new skills and authorities according to their inclinations.
So that bastard who recently gained a new divinity called would naturally be the same.
The problem was that he had a mutant faith that didn’t exist among the gods.
‘In the world of gods, faith is the greatest variable.’
The higher the faith, the greater the probability of strange things happening.
Moreover, that bastard even revived a god who had been devoured by him, so what couldn’t he do!
Sure enough.
“Ugh!”
Chaos gritted his teeth at the feeling of his magic power suddenly draining away.
“That mutant is for real!”
He glared, realizing his magic power was being stolen by Hugo.
Not only was that bastard using his own stamina to self-generate magic power, but he had even begun stealing Chaos’s magic power to use as fuel!
Indeed, the skill had another ability.
[Steals the opponent’s magic power and converts it into magic power.]
Not only his own stamina, but the opponent’s magic power also became a driving force for self-generation.
So Chaos was dumbfounded.
‘What an authority other holy gods would covet!’
In the end, Hugo, who had even stolen the monarch’s magic power, laughed.
“I never knew faith could be helpful!”
Just as Hugo was glaring at Chaos with flashing eyes.
Yi suddenly smiled.
“Alright. Then try dying with that high faith of yours.”
“……!”
As soon as the words fell, Hugo coughed up blood.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
‘A curse.’
Yi smiled as he approached.
“We monarchs are natural enemies that devour gods. Did you think I’d be troubled because you became a god-level being?”
“……!”
Moreover, Yi was a monarch who had gone to the past tens of thousands of times with Time.
He was someone who had tested all sorts of arts and created them.
“You’re nothing but a greenhorn.”
With those words, Hugo felt his head being crushed down, thud.
As if an invisible force was pressing down on his entire body.
But that wasn’t the problem.
“……!!”
His breath was blocked, and his whole body became paralyzed.
And this was a precious authority that subdued gods.
“It’s a technique that made all sorts of high-ranking gods kneel with just this one authority. To have me use it on the likes of you, be grateful.”
Hugo glared as if asking if he was crazy, but he was in terrible pain.
And Yi smiled pityingly.
“The higher your faith, the more you suffer and have your power stolen. Even high-ranking subordinate gods with 90% faith begged for their lives. I can’t even imagine how much pain 600% would be.”
Hugo screamed from the pain in his head and body that felt like they were breaking.
“Aagh!”
It was pain that made him think dying would be better.
Yi smiled with satisfaction and held something out.
“Instead, I’ll give you a chance.”
“!”
What Yi held out was a bizarre gem.
“If you use it, your faith will become 0%, and you will be freed from all pain.”
“……!”
Hugo gritted his teeth.
He’s pretending to be generous, but I doubt it.
‘This bastard is telling me to strike a blow against my holy god.’
If a servant betrays their holy god, the impact is enormous.
Especially 0% being like stabbing the holy god in the back.
Even going from 99% to 0% puts a holy god in a near-death state; I can’t imagine what would happen to Igeon if 600% became 0%.
But Chaos laughed.
“This isn’t the time to worry about your holy god. Now, use it and escape the pain.”
When Hugo, in agony, took the gem as if willing to survive, Yi raised the corners of his mouth.
‘Now. Hurry and use it. Stab your holy god in the back.’
But at that moment.
Clang!!
“!”
Hugo smashed the gem Yi had offered.
“Do you think I would do something that would kill Igeon?”
Chaos looked at him as if flustered.
“Are you in your right mind? Worrying about your holy god in this situation? Obviously your life comes first…”
But Hugo let out a hollow laugh.
“Don’t give me that crap. You never had any intention of letting me live anyway.”
At that, Yi smiled chillingly.
“You caught me?”
At the same time, Chaos stabbed Hugo’s heart.
Thud!!
It happened to be the same spot the 13th had stabbed.
“Ugh…!”
Hugo clenched his fist in terrible pain.
Of course, he wasn’t afraid of dying.
Hadn’t the 13th original owner said so?
To trust in the Serpent Lord’s protection.
Therefore, what he was worried about now was Igeon’s side.
‘This bastard’s goal is to kill me and open the lid on Igeon.’
To provoke his anger and make Igeon grow, and turn him into the god of death, I suppose.
So suddenly Hugo remembered.
It was probably 20 years ago.
“-Lee Geon, you rotten brat. I almost died and you didn’t worry at all!!! How come you didn’t come visit me in the hospital? Are you gonna cry and worry only when I die?!”
“-What are you talking about. I’m gonna throw a meat party at your funeral. Have the condolence money ready.”
“-Wow, what does he think a friend is!”
Back then, he thought he was a bastard who didn’t even care about friends, but at this moment he wished for it.
Rather, that he meant nothing special to Igeon.
Because Yi had been ominous from the start, and the power the monarchs were after.
That couldn’t be good for Igeon.
And then.
Squelch!
The moment Chaos’ hand that had stabbed his heart pulled out, Hugo’s vision blurred.
Beyond simple death, it felt like his soul was being torn apart.
It felt like he’d never be able to return to this place.
But at that moment.
In his fading consciousness, Hugo seemed to see the light of the Serpent Lord.
And.
[Well done. Now just sleep for a bit.]
He felt like he heard such a voice.
* * *
And Igeon saw.
A familiar object rolling out of the gift box.
At the same time, he realized at a glance that it was the work of the monarchs.
From the letters written inside the box, and from the round body that fell out.
Because he instantly felt their malicious aura.
At the same time, when Cheon Ji-u fainted upon seeing it, and everyone screamed.
Igeon felt an unbearable killing intent.
And.
[ awakens to the 6th stage.]
[Conditions have been met.]
[]
Along with that notification, a sinister magic power like never seen before in the world surged up.
Boom!!!
Black magic power shot up into the sky, and the world’s sky began to change as if a calamity had arrived.
Rumble!
At the same time, Yi, who had sent the gift to Cheon Ji-u and had been watching the situation nearby, laughed with delight.
“Hahaha! I thought it might happen, and it really did in one shot!! It’s the 6th stage! The 6th stage!!”
Yi was extremely happy about this situation.
That guy said the 6th stage would be problematic and told me to awaken him at the 5th stage, but who cares.
‘It’s a power enough to make him say that.’
It’s a power that even he would fear.
Indeed, Yi felt pleasure from the vast power spreading around him.
“Hahaha!! Isn’t this a power surpassing the level of a Great Monarch! This is it! I’ll use you! First, kill all of humanity and get started! Calamity God!”
But then.
Thud!
With the sound of a large object falling, Yi flinched.
And at that moment, Yi felt.
Something was wrong. A feeling that something had gone wrong.
(To be continued in the next episode)