âYou sound like my teacher, but why do you smell like a monster?â
The Zodiac Saints were shocked by the appearance of this unfamiliar person. Of course, it was the same for the Ten Stars too.
âH-Hugo-nim?â
They were unable to shut their mouths. There was another reason for their reactions.
âM-My god! That styleâŠ! That armorâŠ!â
âI-Iâm sure of it! They appeared in Lee Gun-nimâs documentary!â
âIt was when he was called by the nickname Terrius!â
The Chun siblingsâ expressions changed the most. Having seen their father, they looked like they were about to cry. The image of their fatherâs head being delivered was still fresh in their mind.
Unlike his current late twenties look, this Hugo looked much younger, as though he had just reached his twenties. Hugo looked to be the same age as Yooha.
Of course, his children recognized their father.
âDamn it! It is annoying because he does look a bit handsome. However, it really is DadâŠ!â
âDad!â
The Chun siblings seemed like they were going to cry from joy. Sophie also sobbed. Someone they had thought to have died was here. It was naturally a welcoming sight.
Kevin and Stevens looked to be in disbelief.
âIâm sure of it. That appearanceâŠâ
âI think thatâs him from twenty years agoâŠ!â
Unlike his current self, this Hugo was oddly less worn out and more polite. It was the Hugo from an era when Lee Gun would be irritated at Hugo for him looking like a young master raised on a silver spoon.
At that time, Lee Gun used to treat Hugo with disregard. However, Hugo had been very strong during that period.
Hugo, who had been summoned here, looked surprised. âWhat the hell? I was under Teacher's order to buy some hair growth solution when I was told to steal the goods from the Virgo and the Leo temples. I had been carrying that out.â
Kevin and Stevens had been secretly happy to see Hugo, but the light in their eyes changed.
âWhy did it have to be the Archer from that period?â
The two of them became angry.
âYou thieving bastard! Do you realize how many losses we suffered because of you?!â
âWe did all the hard work, yet we received nothing in return!â
â!â
Hugo tilted his head when he heard the familiar voices. He turned to them. Then, his eyes turned round as if he was shocked. âWhat the hell? Why did you two get so old?â
âWhat did you just say?â
âAh. Whatever. Have you seen Sophie-nim? I am trying to buy Teacherâs hair growth solution from her.â
When Hugo looked for Sophie, the nearby Sophie once again wailed. Hugo exactly resembled his past self, and he was looking for her. After the incident with Lee Gun, Hugo had always looked at Sophie as if she were a bug. His gaze was full of contempt, and this made her sad.
âHe called me Sophie-nim⊠He said Sophie-nim.â
When Sophie wailed, Hugo looked at her as if something was off. âThatâs odd. Why do all of you look old? Was I summoned to some place weird?â
Sophie was on the verge of crying when she heard that. Kevin and Stevens bared their teeth.
âYou are going too far with what youâre saying, Archer!â
âHey! What about you? You returned to having the face of an idiot!â
âWow! Your face reflects your ill-nature, and your personality sucks in an odd way⊠Ah! You guys always had terrible personalities.â
âWhat did you just say?!â
Hugo ignored them as he glared at Time. âSo? Who are you? Where is Teacher? Why are you here?â
For the first time, Time furrowed his brow. He was wondering why Hugo was here. Moreover, this wasnât the normal Hugo.
âThe Hugo Otis of the past came here.â
The only thing that could make this possible was the power of Time.
That was why Hailey was flustered as she looked back and forth between Hugo and Time
âFrom Timeâs expression, it seems he didnât call Hugo here.â
In the first place, Hailey had never seen Time look this flustered before.
âCould it beâŠ!â
Time seemed to have the same thought as Hailey. He furrowed his brow in distaste.
âItâs Lee Gunâs doing.â
Time had no reason to call Hugo to his place from a different timeline. Of course, Time didnât think Lee Gun was someone who would get dismantled without putting up a fight, butâŠ
âDid it happen at that moment?â
When he had seized Lee Gunâs body, he was certain Lee Gun had entered his body. Time had thrown away his body alongside Lee Gun so that they could be dismantled.
Like how Time was able to use the power of the Serpent Bearer, Lee Gun seemed to have been lucky in being able to activate the power of Time.
âHowever, Time isnât something easily handled.â
That power would become poison the more one used it. It was a power that could cause self-destruction.
âHeâll become lost in time.â
Lee Gun was probably using the power with abandon, but he would get more lost the more he used the power. In other words, it was like an ant nest.
He wouldnât get lost if he bore through one tunnel. However, once he started creating multiple tunnels, it would be unclear where he came from or where he had to go. He would have no idea about how to get back to the original spot.
âIt means Iâll master the power of Cycle faster than he would master the power of Time.â
As proof of this, Time smirked while activating Death. âThis is the future. You shouldnât be here.â
â!!â
The power of Death headed toward Hugo.
Kwahng!!!
After attacking Hugo, the power would head toward the disciples.
Koo-goo-goong!
Time planned on killing the disciples, then reviving them with Life.
The disciples quickly tried to dodge, but they couldnât, since they had requested to become affiliates of the Serpent Bearer temple. They had put aside everything to do so.
Boom!
[Kneel]
âKoohk!!â
All the disciples kneeled without realizing it when the Zodiac gave the order. As the mast Zodiac, it was overpowering.
Of course, they werenât accepted as affiliates yet. However, they had already promised fealty when they made the request. At that point, a collar had been placed around their necks.
âShit!â
That wasn't all. Their high faith had turned into poison for them.
[Everyone, disarm yourselves.]
âKoo-oohk!â
Everyone around the world put down their weapons and released their defensive skills. It was an innate ability of the Zodiacs, called Compulsory Order.
- Godâs Compulsory Order skill
- Target: Everyone who has faith toward the relevant Zodiac (At least 50%)
- Itâs more effective with higher faith. Disciples follow orders without any suspicion.
The trade-off was high to use it. The Zodiacs didnât like to use it since they had to pay a lot in price. Still, it was a basic power of the Zodiacs.
[You will not use Super Regeneration no matter what. You will willingly receive the punishment given by the god.]
âAhhk!â
The disciples could merely gnash their teeth.
âShit! The faith toward the Serpent Bearer temple is at its highest around the worldâŠ!â
This was to be expected since Lee Gun had taken care of the calamities sent by Confusion.
The events were broadcasted live, and everyone around the world was singing praises about Lee Gun.
This was true for them too!
âShit! At this rateââ
The power of Death appeared as a spearhead and flew toward the defenseless disciples.
âKuhk!â
âKuh-huhk!â
âAhk!â
However, someone kicked the disciples so that Deathâs attack would miss them.
â!â
He was moving so fast that it looked as if he was teleporting. The disciples became surprised when they realized who it was.
âH-Hugo-nim!â
âUh. Iâm not sure whatâs going on, but heâs the bad guy, right?â
The Zodiac Saints laughed when they saw Hugo being able to move freely.
âSince heâs the only one who isnât an affiliate, the pressure doesnât work against him!â
This Hugo was an existence from the past. He was the only person with no connections to the Lee Gun who had become a Zodiac.
Moreover, that era was before Lee Gun became deified. This was why Hugo didnât have any faith toward the Serpent Bearer temple.
âCompulsory Order doesnât work on him!â
Moreover, this was when Hugo had gone all-in on his speed. He had been an evasive archer! At that time, Hugo had been the fastest among them.
The Chun siblings, who Hugo saved, cried as they were held in Hugoâs arms.
âDad!â
âDaaaaaad!!!â
âWhat?? Dad?? What the hell are you talking about?â
âDad!!â
âWhat the hell? Did I marry??? That canât be?? I have to serve my teacher. There is no way. I hate the idea of marriage??â
Suddenly, Time extended his hand as if he was angry.
Kevin yelled. âArcher!! Dodge! Lee Gun is trying to kill you!â
âW-What? He really is my teacher?!â
âWho did you think he was?â
âWow! Thatâs crazy! Teacher became a Zodiac?â
âAh!â
For some reason, they got an ominous feeling. Then they bit their tongue.
[Hugo Otisâs Serpent Bearer Faith]
[0 â¶ 600%]
They couldnât see the figure, but it was obvious what was going on. The Zodiac Saints despaired at the same time.
Kevin was the one who had mentioned Lee Gun by name, and he despaired once he recognized his mistake. âHa⊠I forgot he was a Lee Gun fanatic at the time."
âYou idiot! Hugo couldnât recognize him because Lee Gun became younger!â
Hugoâs mouth fell open when he heard Stevens. âWhat?! Teacher became younger?â
âHuh? Uh⊠He came back younger after he revivedââ
âWhat? He revived himself??!!â
[600% â¶ 1000%]
âThatâs amazing! Teacher! Iâll be sure to serve you better!â
It seemed Hugoâs blind faith might have started at this point.
The Zodiac Saints massaged their foreheads as they watched Hugo sob in joy.
âHey. Are you sure this is fine? Arenât we changing the future by doing this?!â
âIâm sorry⊠We are done for. Itâs my fault.â
As if she were responding to Kevinâs solemn conduct, Sophie became sad.
âHoo-oohk, Hugo. Please look over here.â
Dumbfounded, Time tried to use Compulsory Order. Hugo wasnât someone from this era. His faith shouldnât be able to affect the current reality. It was merely numbers.
It didn't matter if his faith rose or not. Hugo was able to escape the pressure put on him by the Zodiac. This was why Time wanted to attack Hugo for himself.
âIâm too slow!!â
Hugo had received brutal one-to-one daily battle lessons. He was very sharp. Unlike his self from the current time, the younger Hugo wasnât deliberate in deciding his action. He was an evasive archer who fought on instinct! His physical specs were completely different.
This meant the person who had sent Hugo took all of this into consideration. Above all else, Time was still getting used to Lee Gunâs body.
ââŠ!!!â
When Time saw Hugo move around at an absurd speed, he was about to use Cycle.
âIs that the source of your power?â
Hugo aimed for the ring of Order, which Time was wearing. He sent a powerful attack, but the ring didnât break. However, the attack was able to disturb it for a brief moment.
âKoo-oohkâŠ!!â
The balance between Life and Death fluctuated violently. When it lost its balance, Death started going berserk and tormented Time.
Lee Gun had a hard time controlling Death. Now, the Divine status was tormenting Time.
If Time couldnât control Death, the power of Cycle would no longer be within his reach. Time gritted his teeth as he tried to control Death. However, something happened when Timeâs focus shifted to somewhere else.
[Acceptance of the Serpent Bearer affiliates has been completed.]
â!!!â
The disciples flinched when they suddenly heard the voice. Did the missing Lee Gun accept them as affiliates?
The Chun siblings yelled out loud.
âMagical energy! Use it as much as you can!!â
â!!â
âThatâs right! The Saint ranks should use so much magical energy that the Zodiac canât withstand it!â
âHe canât pay attention to us because of Death! Hurry!â
âWe have to consume all of the Zodiacâs magical energy!â
âHe isnât Lee Gun-nim, so it doesnât matter!â
Time had known that such a thing was possible. It was why he hadnât accepted the affiliates.
âYou dare.â
Unfazed by their actions, Time approached them. âIâll get rid of you all with Death.â
Bbah-gahk!!!
However, Hugo kicked Time. âIf you arenât my teacher, I have no reason to be afraid of you.â
ââŠ!â Time became angry. He tried to use the power of Time, which he planned on not using.
Kahng!!
But the sound of something being severed rang out as Timeâs face hardened. The culprit was someone he knew well.
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