Chapter 77: Trial of Strength (4)

Lee Gun had thought it was weird. When he had reunited with Hugo after twenty years, he had realized his friend had become much weaker than he remembered.

Hugo’s god, the Sagittarius, wasn’t weak, and Lee Gun hadn’t taught Hugo to be this weak either. Of course, Hugo could never reach his level, but Lee Gun had trained him to the level where he could fight toe-to-toe with the other Zodiac Saints.

Despite that abnormality, Lee Gun had overlooked this matter. He himself had become too strong and had spent several hundred years within the infinite reset tower. Also, human memory was imprecise. Therefore, Lee Gun had chalked up Hugo’s matter as a discrepancy in his memory.

‘Maybe he forgot the favor I did in training him and slacked off for the past twenty years.’

Lee Gun now realized his assumption had been wrong.

[Monster that Eats Gods (SS) (0/1)]

[It has become stronger through the Archer Saint’s power.]

[The consumed power of the Archer Saint has grown into a mature tree.]

The monster had grown after sucking away his friend’s power ten years ago.

[Warning! The monster has become more powerful after eating the power of the sun god.]

Lee Gun had to admit the monster was powerful. However…

Kwah-jeek!

“Boo-hhhhhhhhhh!”

Everyone screamed when Lee Gun ripped apart the monster’s mouth.

Letting out a sharp laugh, Lee Gun looked at the ruined mouth. The monster had tried to close its mouth shut, but Lee Gun had ripped open the mouth until the damage reached the monster’s ears.

Blood splattered into the surroundings. The monster thrashed as if it was in pain.

Boo-ohhhhhhhh!

The situation seemed as though the monster was telling Lee Gun to stop, but the man showed no mercy and said, “You ate like a pig with that mouth.”

Zzeeeeeeeeeeek!

“You ate indiscriminately until now.”

Zzuh-uhhhhhhk!

“Throw it all up! Bastard!”

“Boo-ohhhhhhh!” An incredible scream rang out.

Lee Gun kept pulling on the monster’s mouth until he ripped it away entirely. This scene shocked the Archer disciples.

“Huhk!”

They had watched Lee Gun do that with his bare hands.

The youngest of the Archer disciples was the most affected. Suh Jihoon placed a hand over his mouth as if just looking at the scene hurt his mouth.

“This is crazy! He’s peeling it as if it’s a cornhusk!”

However, such bravado didn’t last long. Lee Gun had taken Goat’s high-rank equipment for himself, but not even a lunatic would rip apart this monster with his bare hands. Even the Taurus Saint, a defensive-type Saint, wouldn’t try such a crazy move. Why?

“Lee Gun-nim!”

Since he had made contact with the monster’s skin, Lee Gun’s skin melted away. That wasn’t all.

Ooh-doohk, ooh-doo-doohk!

The monster’s blood was so poisonous that the blood could melt the muscles and bones of nearby creatures just by its presence.

[Caution! The monster’s blood is ruining your body.]

Lee Gun had gotten drenched in the monster’s blood. The muscles of his face, shoulders, and wrist started to decompose. The blood on him had strong acidity. As his muscles melted away, one could even see his bones.

The monster roared with its torn mouth as if it wanted to show its prowess.

“Kee-ehhhhk!”

The Archer disciples screamed. “Lee Gun-nim!!!”

Goat’s contorted face turned pale. ‘I should’ve stopped him from getting close to the monster!’

Lee Gun had worn Goat’s S-rank defensive gear, but even that gear wasn’t sturdy enough to block the monster’s blood!

“Hyung! What are you doing? Hurry! We have to use the Aquarius’s recovery skill!!”

The youngest of them, Suh Jihoon, desperately tried to bring forth his badge, but Goat’s hands just shook in place. As a high-rank User, Goat knew the situation better than anyone. That was a fatal injury.

Ten years ago, the Archer Saint Hugo had barely survived when he had closed the distance to the monster. Lee Gun’s situation was beyond the injury Hugo had suffered. At this point, Lee Gun was basically a corpse! However…

Pahng!!

A deafening sound rang the next moment as the enormous toad was sent flying.

Boom!

The toad let out a roar as it lay on its back.

“Ooh-ohhhhhh!”

It wailed even after it had its tongue pulled out.

The people watching this turned in surprise. They saw Lee Gun walk forth while rolling his shoulders.

“How dare you spit that nasty shit on me?” Lee Gun held the monster’s tongue, which he had pulled out with one hand. The tongue was as thick as a person. Lee Gun pulled it, then cut it into a manageable length.

Zzeeek! Pahk!

Something clattered to the ground. It was Lee Gun’s top armor, which had become unrecognizable.

Clank! Clank!

The armor’s disappearance revealed Lee Gun’s muscular upper body. This surprised the Archer disciples even more.

“His body…!”

Just a moment ago, Lee Gun’s arm bones had been exposed, but now, his arms were healing at a breakneck speed. The decomposed muscles crazily regrew, and the nerves regenerated back to the right places.

The toad once again spat its filthy spit, but Lee Gun didn’t care.

Cheeeek!

[Super Regeneration has started.]

[Since its rank has gone up, the regeneration speed has become faster.]

The melting skin of his face recovered quickly. The fearsome recovery ability satisfied Lee Gun, and he smirked. After all, he had put most of his acquired points into Super Regeneration.

[Lv. 10]

[Remaining Points: 15 ▶ 5]

Lee Gun had put nine of his fifteen points into Super Regeneration.

[Gaze of a God (F) ▶ Gaze of a God (E)]

- Consumed Point: 1

[Super Regeneration (E) ▶ Super Regeneration (B)]

- Consumed Points: 9

[Super Regeneration (E)]

- Your damaged body will regenerate at a super high speed for 20s.

- If you get attacked during regeneration, the regeneration speed will decrease by 50%

- If you get a minor wound and full recovery takes less than 20s, the remaining time will be stored. The remaining time can be used immediately.

- Cooldown time: 2 days

▶ [Super Regeneration (B)]

- Your damaged body will regenerate at a super high speed for 60s.

- The amount of magical energy needed increases with each use.

- Caution! If your Divine Status falls below 30%, this skill cannot be used.

Since his EXP would stay stagnant until he cleared his trials, Lee Gun had planned on being extra careful about upgrading his skills. It was something he should’ve agonized over, but Lee Gun didn’t think too deeply about it.

‘I can do anything if I can last long enough. If I’m not dead, I can kill my enemies. It’ll be sink or swim.’

Lee Gun had upgraded Gaze of a God only to check the faith of people around him. The main thing he invested in was Super Regeneration, which was the best skill for withstanding attacks.

In truth, the thing that used to bother Lee Gun the most had been the cooldown time. Now that he had significantly increased the level of the skill, this skill had become usable.

[Super Regeneration will remain active if your magical energy and Divine status allow that.]

The corners of Lee Gun’s mouth turned up. ‘There’s no waiting time. This is unlimited regeneration.’

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Of course, his current opponent could consume the power of a god. The situation could potentially turn dangerous since Super Regeneration was one of his skills.

[Caution! The monster is sucking away the divine power to use as nourishment.]

[The effect of Super Regeneration has been diminished.]

[Its duration has been reduced from 60s to 30s. The duration is 10s now.]

[Your magical energy is being sucked away. There is a limit on reusing the skill.]

Lee Gun laughed at the warning. ‘I just have to kill it before the time runs out!’

Pahng!

Lee Gun rushed forward, surprising everyone. Before they could even register the surprise, Lee Gun extended his hand. The slime, which had been hanging on his belt, looked up. Then, it spat out something.

[Hammer That Grants Achievements (SS)]

Lee Gun grabbed the handle of the enormous hammer and brought down the weapon on the toad.

Kwahng!

The force behind the blow obliterated the toad’s face and eyes.

“Boo-oohhhhh!”

“You think that hurts, bitch!” Lee Gun told the monster not to be a crybaby as he pulled out its eyes. “My nephew doesn’t celebrate his birthday because of you!”

Lee Gun had found out Sungjae’s birth date a couple of days ago from Hahn Jimin. So, he wanted to buy Sungjae a present and celebrate his birthday. However, Hahn Jimin had advised him not to. In the process, Lee Gun had heard something unexpected.

Chun Sungjae’s birthday coincided with the date his mother had passed away. The young man had never celebrated his birthday after his mother’s death.

‘I was wondering why he hated hamburgers.’

Kwahng!

The disciples were mesmerized. They were sure of it.

“I’m pretty sure he isn’t using a skill to do that, right?”

“I don’t think he uses magical energy much in the first place.”

“Then… that is pure physical ability?”

It was nuts. That was the only way to describe the scene.

The Archer disciples had warned Lee Gun that attacking the monster without any divine power backing him up would be dangerous. They now realized why Lee Gun had scoffed at that idea.

In the first place, Lee Gun had never received any skills from the gods. Skills were merely supplementary tools for him. They were something he used if he felt like it.

“H-he just threw away his hammer?”

“Huh!”

Of course, this strategy wasn’t an impossible tactic.

‘It’s possible if you can read your opponent’s movement.’

In theory, an SS-rank disciple could replicate what Lee Gun was doing, “theory” being the important part.

‘I could never do it.’ Goat accepted that. This wasn't a matter of skill. ‘No human in this world has balls of steel like him!’

Who was crazy enough to charge a monster with no weapons and skills! Lee Gun’s boldness and nerve transcended what humans had to offer. The man looked unafraid of death.

At that moment…

The Archer disciples were surprised to sense a familiar energy

“Saint-nim!”

Hugo was standing next to them. They had no idea when he had arrived, but it shouldn’t have been long. After all, Hugo was gasping for breath.

The meeting Hugo had been in was a hundred kilometers away from this location. It wasn’t a distance that could be traveled within a dozen minutes, but clearly, the Archer Saint had used all he had.

This was understandable since Hugo had realized this monster was the one from ten years ago. It was his nemesis, but above all else, he had almost died fighting it. This monster had killed his wife and subordinate. Hugo couldn’t let the monster kill Lee Gun too. However…

“Kee-ehhhhhhk!”

The Archer Saint watched as the monster died. It was literally being ripped apart. Hugo had wanted to kill it in the past, but he had been unable to. Even though he was hailed as one of the twelve heroes, he had felt helpless that day.

After losing Lee Gun in the Devil’s Tower, that was the only other time Hugo had felt a despair of unimaginable magnitude. And this monster was the reason Hugo didn’t want his children to become awakened beings.

“Keh-ehk!”

Boom!

The wail pierced the heavens, and the sound of the monster crashing to the ground rang out.

Hugo felt mixed emotions.

[The Serpent Bearer’s actions have left a deep impression on a contractor serving another master.]

[Your second great achievement has been recorded in the Serpent Bearer’s bible.]

Hugo’s invariable idol stood over there.

On the other hand, Hugo’s subordinates were in a state of panic. As soon as Hugo showed up, their faces turned pale.

“L-Lee Gun-nim!! No weapon!”

“He didn’t use any skills!”

“His skin was melting away, yet he ripped apart the monster with his bare hands!! It was as if he were husking a corn”

The disciples looked like they wanted to cry.

“Are we sure Lee Gun-nim is really alright?!”

Hugo sighed. Lee Gun had been pretty tame in killing Thousand Legs. He had sliced up that monster in a conventional manner, so not much was said about the fight.

“Only the Zodiac Saints know his eccentric way of fighting.’

“L-Lee Gun-nim! I think he didn’t use a skill since he’s fighting this opponent!”

“What if he died attacking in such an unreasonable manner?”

“Ah! It’s fine. He’s always like that,” Hugo explained.

“What?!”

No. If Hugo was being honest, even this was tame compared to how Lee Gun really was. If Lee Gun became serious about his antics, the situation would turn into something that one shouldn’t watch with their eyes. Once, after witnessing what Lee Gun had done, Hugo had been unable to eat food for three days.

Boom!

“Wow! This… this is heavy!”

The youngest Archer disciple and Yoon Yeorin used their hands to carry the black bow. This was the Black Hawk, the longbow Lee Gun had tossed aside in the middle of the fight. Lee Gun probably didn’t want the monster to eat the weapon.

“Oohk! Lee Gun-nim! How did he shoot consecutive arrows with this heavy weapon?”

“If you want to use this freely, your strength has to be really high!” Hugo took the bow with one hand. The bow weighed as much as a small truck.

Boom!

At the very least, one needed SS-rank strength to use the bow. Without that much power, pulling back the bowstring would be difficult.

“He threw this away in the middle of the fight! It’s a powerful weapon! I have no idea why Lee Gun-nim threw it away to fight up close!”

“Did the bow not suit him?”

‘No, there is no way that was the case.’

Even Hugo acknowledged Lee Gun’s skill in archery. There had to be another reason Lee Gun didn’t even fully use his hammer against the monster.

“Hugo!” Lee Gun roared like a tiger.

Hugo realized he had made a mistake. He reflexively pulled back Black Hawk’s bowstring.

Something was rushing toward Hugo. They were the branches everyone thought were dead.

“Wehhhhhh!!!”

“Wehh!!!!!”

The branches were going crazy as if they had located a tasty treat. In the past, these bastards had grown after consuming the power of the Archer Saint. Therefore, they went crazy when they sensed the familiar and special nourishment.

Seeing this, Lee Gun angrily yelled, “Idiot!”

“I understand. I’ll kill them right now…!”

“No, stupid! Don't shoot! I want you to let them bite you!”

‘What the hell!’ Hugo understood not using his skill, but Lee Gun wanted him to let the branches bite him! ‘Has he lost his ever-loving mind?’

Hugo was about to shout something in anger when something within his possession emitted light. It was Lee Gun’s item.

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