Chapter 148: Forked Road (2)

Chapter 148 - Forked Road (2)

[Another person qualified to become the Zodiac has been found.]

[Current number of candidates for Zodiac Saint’s position: 2]

[Who would you like to choose?]

Lee Gun’s eyes turned round. The voice said it had found someone qualified to become a Zodiac Saint. He already knew that. That someone would undoubtedly be Yooha. She fulfilled the faith requirement and the rank requirement.

However, there was one more candidate?

‘No way!’

Lee Gun glanced toward Chun Sungjae. Chun Sungjae, who had turned into a serpent, was rampaging through the Leo disciples who had threatened(?) him.

[Bastards! You guys would need ten million years before you can even dare threaten Uncle!]

The serpent was the size of a three-story building. The light Serpent’s eyes flashed as he body-slammed the ant-sized Leo disciples and sent them flying.

[Your disciple used the power of the Serpent Bearer to inflict massive damage to the servants of the Owner of the Beasts.]

[The contribution of the applicable disciple is accumulating Temple Energy.]

[As contribution accumulates through the temple, Temple Energy will strengthen the Zodiac. It can be used to advance disciples and holy spirits.]

[If you can use Temple Energy in a judicious manner, you can increase the worth of the temple.]

The notification was quite simple. To put it in even simpler terms, the disciples and Constructs fought to earn EXP, achievements, and tributes. Everything they acquired was amassed as Temple Energy, and this power was used to manage the temple.

It could be compared to seed money; it could be used to revive a temple.

Without this energy, the temple would be like a starving person. All of its functions would cease. That was why the Zodiacs and the Zodiac Saints continuously worked their disciples and Constructs. If they were short on manpower, a Zodiac Saint had to work as a mercenary to gather Temple Energy, like a particular someone Lee Gun knew.

It didn’t matter in the end. Lee Gun laughed as he looked at Chun Sungjae. This was unexpected.

‘Since he can use the demigod state, he should’ve satisfied the requirement to become a Zodiac Saint.’

Yes, there were criteria needed to become a Zodiac Saint. To become one, a person had to satisfy three criteria at a minimum. The first criterion was a faith over 90%. Second, one had to be at least SS-rank. The last criterion was a special one that differed for each temple.

Aside from the other two criteria, the reasoning behind the SS-rank criteria was quite simple.

‘The body has to be SS-rank, or one won’t be able to withstand all of the Zodiac’s power.’

There was more.

‘The demigod state can’t be used as one likes since it’s a technique that allows one to be the proxy of a god.’

One had to be at least SS-rank to use the highest-ranked skills as a disciple. Only then could a disciple develop a sense of how to use the Royal skill and the Demigod State. That was why SS rank awakened beings were recommended to become the Zodiac Saints.

So what was the implication of Sungjae already using the Demigod State skill?

‘It’s thanks to the “Genius” attribute.’

In the first place, Sungjae could use high-rank magic without the Gemini’s blessing. He had self-taught himself about the fundamental theories of magic, something humans were not supposed to comprehend.

In other words, he was talented in an extreme way. He was gifted to the point where he had summoned a Spirit King in one try.

‘I can see why that crazy woman didn’t want him stolen.’ Of course, Yooha also seemed to be on the extreme end of being talented. ‘Anyway, the problem is both of Taeksoo’s children are too talented.’

Of course, both siblings were constrained to their area of expertise for now. Therefore, everyone had yet to find out how talented they were. However, that wasn’t important right now.

‘I have two candidates that can become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint…’

In the end, the notification was telling him to choose between Yooha and Sungjae. As soon as Lee Gun looked at Yooha with Gaze of a God, he heard a voice.

[Zodiac Saint Qualified Candidate!]

[She satisfies the criteria needed to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint.]

Lee Gun had assumed it would be the same for Sungjae. However, when he looked at the young man, his eyes turned round.

[Normal Disciple!]

[He does not satisfy the criteria needed to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint.]

“…??” An odd expression appeared on Lee Gun’s face.

Chun Yooha tilted her head in puzzlement. “Uncle? What’s wrong?”

“There are two candidates qualified to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint, and I don’t think one of them is Sungjae.”

“!”

Chun Yooha was surprised. The fact that there were two candidates to become a Zodiac Saint was surprising in itself. Only one person could become a Zodiac Saint.

However, Lee Gun was surprised for a different reason. ‘It isn’t Sungjae?’

Of course, this made sense in a way. Sungjae was still S rank; he came short in that one aspect. It was also the reason Lee Gun found this odd.

‘If not Sungjae, who is the other one?’

At that moment…

“Chun Sungjae! Are you ignoring us now?”

Disciples were expressing their anger from a short distance away. These disciples were the Gemini disciples and Pisces disciples. Both groups had tried to take down Chun Sungjae.

Chun Sungjae had used the demigod state to pierce through the Cancer Saint’s skill, and they had chased him down.

“You running over here means you don’t care if this kid dies or not, right?”

“!”

Lee Gun’s and Chun Yooha’s expressions were a sight to behold. This was to be expected. Those disciples were aiming a sword toward Chun Sungjae’s roommate, Hahn Jimin.

Chun Sungjae screamed. “That’s right! I forgot about Jimin! I was so close to rescuing him, but Uncle was in danger!”

The captured Hahn Jimin looked sad.

Chun Sungjae had pierced through the Cancer Saint’s skill, and in a surprise, he had instantly defeated his enemies.

Despite it being Lee Gun’s temple, the temple of the Serpent Bearer was new. Its abilities were unknown, and there was no way to know how it stacked up against the other temples.

When Hahn Jimin had seen his friend defeat the enemies in one go, he had thought it was great that Sungjae had followed Lee Gun-nim. He also was impressed by the Zodiac Lee Gun-nim followed. However…

“Sungjae. You should’ve cut the rope before you went away!”

“Ahhk! I’m sorry! The situation with Uncle was more urgent!”

Chun Yooha looked at her brother as if she found him lacking. As the older sister that did everything perfectly, she found her brother untrustworthy. Therefore, she took up her spear as if she had no choice.

Kwah-jeek!

However, when Chun Sungjae emitted his magical energy, Chun Yooha flinched. ‘SS rank magical energy?’

Suddenly, a scream rang out amongst their enemies. Flames surged into the air.

[Your disciple’s power has caused the destruction of the Leo Saint’s holy ground.]

[A new achievement has been added to the bible.]

[The contribution has risen by a massive amount.]

Lee Gun laughed as explosions ripped through the Leo Saint’s holy ground.

Stevens cried out. “The little kid and his sister are really tag-teaming me!”

The Leo Saint felt like he was about to lose his mind. His temple’s ace had destroyed his temple’s highest-ranked disciple; she even stole his, her Saint’s, power. Moreover, the ace then left the Leo temple and ran away to another one.

On top of that, the Leo temple’s contribution was all used up, and the holy ground had collapsed in on itself. The damage Lee Gun had caused was extensive.

In truth, Chun Sungjae’s violent act had caused a large commotion amongst the Leo disciples.

“Shit! At this rate, we might be ranked lower than the Sagittarius temple!”

“Hey, there’s no way we’ll be under the Sagittarius temple.”

Lee Gun approached Stevens at that moment. Stevens was disheartened by the fact that all the cards in his hand had been stolen.

“!”

Lee Gun held a suspicious case!

Everyone raised their guards, the reason being the energy within the case.

“Please get away! I’m sure it is a bomb!”

The Leo disciples changed their body parts into the body parts of a beast. They ground their teeth.

“Don’t come any closer!”

“You used your disciples to raze our holy ground to the ground! Are you trying to apply the final touches?”

Lee Gun tossed an unexpected item toward the sniveling Leo disciples.

“!”

The item surprised everyone, especially Stevens.

“This is…!”

“Arm?”

Yes, Lee Gun had taken an arm out of the case and tossed it toward them. However, it wasn’t a real arm.

‘Prosthetic arm?’

This black arm was a mechanical arm made of metal. However, it looked almost the same as Stevens’s old arm.

Taken aback, everyone looked between the arm and Lee Gun.

“E-Excuse me, Lee Gun-nim. What‘s this?”

Lee Gun laughed. “I took your arm, Yooha, and the body parts of your Zodiac. I don’t plan on being stingy.”

“!”

“Of course, I have to use your arm, so I can’t give that back to you. However, this should be serviceable.”

“…??!” Stevens looked at Lee Gun in shock.

Lee Gun laughed. “What? You wanted me to make you a weapon. This is technically a weapon I made.”

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Stevens turned pale as he shouted, “That thing isn’t Lee Gun!!!”

“Saint-nim?!”

“Lee Gun wouldn’t make me something so easily! That’s a fake!”

“Saint-nim!”

Lee Gun whistled, and the mechanical arm moved on its own.

[Right Arm of the Black Beast (S)]

Maker: Lee Gun

It was a prosthetic arm, but it was clearly a holy item Lee Gun had made.

The prosthetic arm moved on its own and attached itself to where Stevens’s right arm should have been. Then, sharp claws appeared out of the black finger.

The Leo disciples, who had been wary of Lee Gun, cheered.

“My god! It seemed we were mistaken about Lee Gun-nim!”

“An item like this…”

Their Zodiac Saint gaining an arm seemed to overshadow the destruction of their holy ground. They looked happy. Moreover, they found the arm very cool.

On the other hand, Stevens looked frightened. “This is a bomb! It’s a bomb!”

“No! Saint-nim! You have an arm now! It’s an arm that not even the Virgo Saint has!”

“You’ll be able to defend the Leo temple with this!”

A notification rang out.

[The faith toward the Serpent Bearer has risen.]

[The faith toward the Serpent Bearer has risen.]

Stevens, who had been in denial until the end, took a peek at his arm. He tried to deny reality for a moment, but the idea of the arm being a special weapon made by Lee Gun seemed to have made him happy.

It felt as if his wish had come true.

Chun Yooha looked at Lee Gun as if she wanted to confirm this was ok. “Are you sure about making him such an item?”

“It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, you have to remember that it is an item I made.”

“?”

Yooha wondered what he meant, but she soon heard Stevens scream.

“Kuh-huhk! Kuhk! Kuh-huhk!”

“S-Saint-nim!!”

The prosthetic hand stuck to Stevens’s right arm pummeled his face as if it had gone mad.

“Kuhk! What the hell… Kuh-huhk!!” Stevens coughed up blood as he screamed at Lee Gun. “Lee Gun! What the hell did you make? Kuhk!”

Lee Gun let out an evil laugh. “Didn’t I tell you? Everything I make has a sense of self now. Even I have no idea what will be born.”

As soon as he spoke those words, the prosthetic hand started beating Stevens’s face.

[The black prosthetic arm swings its fist. It wants you to hand over your money.]

[It requests a usage fee.]

[Its opponent is Saint rank. Its EXP is rising.]

The mouths of the Leo disciples fell open.

Chun Yooha looked at Lee Gun with admiration.

Lee Gun ignored them as he spoke. “I’ll give you one arm for now. I’ll give you the other one depending on how you behave.”

“Kuhk! No! Kuh-huhk!”

The disciples screamed as they grabbed the beaten-up Stevens.

“What the hell? Weren’t you doing this as a goodwill gesture to the Leo temple?”

In truth, the destruction of the holy ground was the fault of the Leo temple themselves. In regards to the problem with Chun Yooha, her contract had come to an end.

When Lee Gun had given the weapon to Stevens, the Leo disciples had looked at Lee Gun with goodwill. They promised themselves that they would follow him.

“You made something you didn’t even make for the Virgo Saint. We thought you were choosing to ally yourself with the Leo Saint amongst the battle-type Saints!”

“This is a bit…”

Lee Gun scoffed. Goodwill toward the Leo Saint, my ass.

It was abundantly clear when the Owner of the Beasts had shown up. A notification had appeared.

[The owner of the best is showing anger at having its important offering stolen.]

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One of the Ten Stars being referred to as an offering got on his nerves. ‘What does it see its disciples as?’

Moreover, Lee Gun planned on acquiring EXP through Stevens, but there was another reason he had given him the prosthetic arm.

‘!’

The light in Lee Gun’s eyes suddenly changed, and laughter disappeared from his laughing face. Then he swung Heaven’s Punishment at a speed never seen before.

Kwahng!

Everyone screamed.

“Ahhk!”

They couldn’t believe their eyes.

The blade of the ax had come to a stop in midair, and something dripped down the blade.

‘Blood!’

Then, something started to appear at the end of the ax blade. Everyone looked on in surprise as a translucent, unknown being started to reveal itself.

“M-monster!”

Yes, Lee Gun’s ax had pierced a monster.

This frightened the disciples.

“I didn’t feel its presence at all!”

“What the hell? It approached using camouflage?”

Stevens was seldomly taken aback like this. The monster was less than a meter away from them. He couldn’t sense its presence even though it came this close!

‘This never happened in the red zone rank.’

What did this imply?

‘Is it from the black zone?’

Stevens did a double-take.

Boom!

Monster heads started to emerge from the ground. They were five hundred meters away.

Lee Gun took a violent swing with an ax, throwing aside the monster stuck on the ax like trash.

“It seems those bastards are already here.”

As Lee Gun coldly smiled, Stevens angrily shouted, “Shit! Everyone, get ready to attack!”

“!”

The disciples quickly took out their weapons.

“Shit!”

They had faced Red Eye just a while ago, yet another monster invasion was upon them.

Lee Gun laughed. ‘Well, it isn’t too bad right now.’

He could kill monsters of this level.

‘It’ll be a problem if the monarch ranks attack.’

Lee Gun would have to fight them to be sure, but he could get some idea from the black zone monsters he had killed. He won’t be able to fight them while protecting others. That was why he had given Stevens a special weapon that was also a prosthetic arm.

Lee Gun took out the Leo’s leather. ‘If I choose a Zodiac Saint for the Serpent Bearer, I think it’ll balance out.’

He would be able to get through this invasion one way or the other. Moreover, the basic foundation of a temple was formed when a Zodiac Saint was chosen. It meant his power would grow much stronger.

It didn’t matter in the end, but Lee Gun was curious who the other candidate was.

‘I should choose Yooha as the Zodiac Saint for now….’

He heard a voice at that moment.

[Will you make candidate “Chun Yooha” the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint?]

Suddenly…

“Yooha! Dad is here!”

“!”

Along with a familiar voice, a man fell from the sky.

Lee Gun’s expression turned peculiar. It was to be expected.

[Zodiac Saint Qualified Candidate]

[He satisfies the criteria needed to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint.]

[Will you make candidate “Hugo Otis” the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint?]

What the hell? He’s the other one?

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