[“Death” is trying to talk to you.]

Lee Gun’s eyes turned round at the unexpected notification. Death? Was his Divine status trying to talk to him?

As if to prove this, black magical energy emanated from his body as though it wanted to be seen. The magical energy looked like black smoke, with eyes shaped like half-moons. It also had a mouth that looked ripped, like the mask from Scream.

This surprised Lee Gun.

‘Divine status has a sense of self?’

Of course, the items he made possessed a sense of self, so this shouldn’t be too surprising. However, he wondered why this ego had appeared right now.

[It says that when you evolved the Divine status of Death to the second stage, it was able to express its will.]

[Divine status is the Serpent Bearer itself, so it cannot threaten the Serpent Bearer’s life at a fundamental level. But if it is abandoned, it might run amok and go astray. It gives a warning.]

[However, Divine status can grow faster if its advice is followed. You will be able to grasp how to use the power.]

Lee Gun had a rough idea of what was going on. In simple words, the black light that was sloshing inside him had developed a personality.

Sometimes, he had to ponder which power to use. He also had to undergo trial and error to learn how to develop his powers. If he could communicate with the powers, it would be beneficial to him.

On the other hand, the Zodiacs were mystified by this scene.

[The Leo asks if you were finally able to encounter your Divine status. It sneers with no teeth.]

[The Leo says it already brought its Divine status to its knees. It boasts.]

To check if its fur was growing, Lee Gun had removed the screen for Leo. It had appeared with the Virgo.

[The Virgo says the Leo didn’t bring it to its knees. It is an idiot that killed its Divine status. That is why it stopped growing in power. The Virgo laughs mockingly.]

[Moreover, she has never seen a Divine status take such a form, so she finds it interesting.]

[The meeting between the gods and their Divine status is rare and precious. The meeting is supposed to happen only in dreams.]

[When the Virgo’s interest rose, the reputation of your Temple rose.]

It seemed gods fought within themselves when they encountered their power, and the matter resolved itself only when the gods matured.

On the other hand, the appearance of Lee Gun’s power was clearly different. It appeared in reality instead of in dreams or specific spaces. A Zodiac taking interest in it was understandable.

In stark contrast to the others, the Sagittarius looked enraged.

[The Sagittarius angrily asks, “Why is Death suddenly interfering?”]

[The Sagittarius doesn’t care about something like that. It wants to talk to Life.]

[The Sagittarius is desperate, saying the Serpent Bearer has to grow Life.]

This made Death step forward. It felt like Death was trying to block the Chalice from going to the Sagittarius.

[Death whispers the monarch-ranks have shown themselves.]

[Death laughs. “It is impossible to win against the Monarchs with Life.”]

Lee Gun scoffed. It was as Death had said. He could feel the energy of the monarch-ranks, which he had never felt before. Of course, they weren’t close.

Although Lee Gun didn’t know their exact location, he could feel their presence, like he could sense the Zodiacs. It was as if the Monarchs had suddenly appeared on the earth from a different dimension.

Moreover, Death knew very well that Lee Gun gnashed his teeth when anything related to the Zodiacs and Monarchs came up. Death’s eyes slanted upward.

[Death says you should choose it. The Serpent Bearer is an amazing god of calamity that has already claimed hundreds of millions of lives.]

Lee Gun tilted his head in puzzlement. Hundreds of millions of lives?

‘Is it talking about what happened within the Devil’s Tower?’

No, it couldn’t be. Even if the tower had kept resetting, Lee Gun didn’t think the number would have reached that high.

Death smirked.

[The incident happened recently, so it wonders how you could forget about that. It says you extinguished very precious lives.]

Lee Gun got even more confused. Precious lives? Recently? “I really don’t know when you put it that way.”

Suddenly, a powerful pillar of fire erupted at the side.

[The Sagittarius is furious. He asks how you could forget what was done to him.]

Ah! Lee Gun did a double-take. When it said hundreds of millions of precious lives, was it referring to that?

It seemed the Sagittarius had been trying to be respectful until now since he was an affiliate. However, his patience had clearly come to an end. The Zodiac warned Lee Gun not to move toward Death.

[The Sagittarius says you must grow Life.]

[He pleads, saying if you want to heal his Zodiac Saint’s hand, Life is the only path forward.]

[He says the only one who can revive his dead babies is Headmaster.]

It was true. Lee Gun couldn’t completely heal Hugo’s hand. Death kept eroding the head, so Hailey had used the power of Time to stop the time of Death. She had to clean up after him. This was also why Lee Gun needed Life.

However, Death just laughed in derision.

[It says you should choose Death. It says your friend’s hand can be saved without growing Life.]

[There is no way Life and Death can co-exist. Death warns it cannot be grown if Life is grown.]

[That is why it says it’ll tell you of a way to fix your friend without growing Life.]

Lee Gun wondered what that method was.

[A mere hand should be cut and killed. He won’t be able to feel any pain forever. It says that will solve everything.]

Lee Gun became angry. He wanted to hit this bastard.

When the light in Lee Gun’s eyes suddenly changed, Death flinched. Did it realize its opponent was formidable or did it not want to be hated by Lee Gun? Death gave a warning.

[Two Divine statuses cannot exist together. If you don’t focus on one, it would be bad for the Serpent Bearer.]

At the same time, the black smoke got bigger. It was Lee Gun’s power, so it was closer to Lee Gun than anyone. It also knew a lot about Lee Gun, so Death started laughing slyly.

[If it is chosen, it will be able to revive the dead.]

[It states you have someone you want to revive.]

The light of Death continued to get bigger as it started to eat away at Lee Gun’s body. Since it had leveled up, controlling it had become harder.

The firewood ax (stage 1) on Lee Gun’s waist felt the ominous power. Heaven’s Punishment flinched.

[Heaven’s Punishment says this power is dangerous, and it calls out to its master.]

[Heaven’s Punishment is anxious when its owner doesn’t reply.]

[Heaven’s Punishment reveals hostility toward Death.]

[Heaven’s Punishment was given an attribute.]

[Attribute of Heaven’s Punishment: Life]

Heaven’s Punishment wasn’t the only one to respond.

[The Sagittarius says he knew this power would be dangerous. He’ll seal it before it can grow further. The Sagittarius emits his energy.]

Suddenly, a red light surged forth from Hugo’s body. It was the descent of a Zodiac! Hugo’s eyes turned golden.

Heaven’s Punishment was about to change its form when...

Boom!

Lee Gun extended his hand and grabbed the black smoke as if he wanted to pop it.

Kwahng!!

The face, which looked like the Scream mask, was in Lee Gun’s hands.

[Death is surprised.]

[If it is chosen, it can...]

“Looks like I have to mentally train you. I’ll show you who is the master.”

Pahng!

Death exploded in Lee Gun’s hand.

[The morale of Death has died.]

[Death says it’ll submit for now.]

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

[But, it asks that you awaken the Zodiac Saint of Death instead of the Zodiac Saint of Life.]

[Slaughter is needed if Death is to be elevated.]

[Since Death and Life cannot coexist, it warns that raising both abilities at the same time will be very hard.]

[It must...]

Since the Divine status was speaking too much, Lee Gun melted the Scream face into a black goop.

The process was easy. Life was the opposite of Death. The magical energy of life could dampen the energy of death.

The skill that represented Life for Lee Gun was manufacturing (creation), and he used that skill

[Creation Workshop]

When the warm green magical energy touched it, the Scream face despaired.

[The manufacturing skill has been used to change the shape of the subject.]

The Manufacture skill was used to change the Scream face into a dog chew! And the dog chew now floated around Lee Gun.

Hugo... No, the Sagittarius looked relieved when he saw this. By the looks of it, Lee Gun seemed to plan on developing Life?

Splash!

Lee Gun poured the content of the healing Chalice on top of Hugo’s head.

‘!’

The water of the Chalice started to show its efficacy!

[Super Regeneration was added to make this water.]

[When combined with the tonic of the Chalice, it has shown surprising efficacy.]

[The Chalice has regenerated several things.]

[The Sagittarius’s two dead places have regained their function and become sturdier.]

The Sagittarius was moved. Things had worked to his design since he had borrowed Hugo’s body. When the water was sprayed on Hugo’s body, the Sagittarius also felt the benefit of the water alongside his Zodiac Saint.

[The Sagittarius is ecstatic.]

[As expected of Headmaster! He says you’re a much better healing Zodiac than the Aquarius.]

[An achievement has been added to the bible.]

[The Serpent Bearer’s reputation has increased.]

[Temple EXP has increased.]

[It won’t be long before the stage of Life increases.]

Lee Gun was satisfied. Although he had half doubted it, the Sagittarius’s idea seemed correct. However, that wasn’t enough.

Lee Gun put forth a ring as he wagged a finger. The ring was the control ring that allowed him to hold back the power of a Zodiac!

[Black Ring that eats divine magical energy (SSS)]

– Divine magical energy is consumed and stored until the stomach is full.

– Using it as a temporary control system is possible.

Lee Gun had made another ring. It was similar to the ring that acted as a limiter for his power.

He said, “Since you’re inside Taeksoo, the water of the Chalice isn’t as effective. I want to pour it directly on you. Wear this and descend here.”

[!]

“Don’t be moved too much. I’m healing you because you whine so much. Moreover, I don’t like half-measures. It isn’t in my personality”

The Sagittarius was at a loss for words. This was already enough, yet Lee Gun decided to do more. Moreover, with the ring, the Zodiac could descend without destroying the environment. Knowing this, the Sagittarius took the ring. He left Hugo’s body.

[The Sagittarius has descended to the earth.]

Accompanying a light, a shadow appeared.

Koo-goo-goong!

The face couldn’t be seen clearly, but at a glance, this figure possessed a tall and stocky body. If one had to guess, the shadow was probably a handsome Zodiac.

[The power of the Chalice has been used.]

[Your affinity is tilting toward Life.]

[Death is sad.]

Was it because he was the god of the sun? The halo effect made it hard to see the Sagittarius’s face. The Zodiac spoke.

[Yes. The power of Death isn’t good for several reasons. Growing it in conjunction is hard. You should abandon it early on—]

Suddenly...

Boom!!

[You have used the Divine status of Death.]

[?!!]

As if to mock the Sagittarius, the black power surged forth! Finally, the power of Death hit the Zodiac in the worst places.

Kwahng!

The shocked Zodiac retreated. It wouldn’t hinder him in fights, but the parts important to his pride were affected again!

[The Sagittarius asks what you are doing!]

“What do you think I’m doing? I’ll revive and kill. I’ll be able to grow both Divine statuses this way.” Lee Gun smirked. There was no way he would throw away the Divine status of Death. He seemed to have planned on doing this from the start.

As if to reassure the Sagittarius, Lee Gun immediately activated his Super Regeneration skill. The light changed into flames, and it flew toward the Zodiac. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll heal it all in three seconds.”

At that moment...

“!”

Lee Gun flinched as he turned his head.

Hugo sighed as he furrowed his brows. He wanted Lee Gun to hurry up and heal the Sagittarius. “Gun? What’s going on?”

However, Lee Gun didn’t even answer as he disappeared in an instant. Hugo was truly surprised. “Gun?!”

The Sagittarius reacted in fright when he didn’t receive his treatment.

* * *

Downtown Seoul...

Goat sweated as he watched three people emanate sharp magical energy.

“So Noona wrote this.” Chun Sungjae looked at Carly as he held up a paper.

It was a rare sight, but Carly was surprised. It was because of the paper. This paper was the one that she had received from the Secretary for the interview. She didn’t know how Chun Sungjae got his hands on it, but the problem was the content of that paper.

[Q. What do you think about Lee Gun-nim?]

[I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad. I’ll marry dad.]

Carly’s eyebrows twitched. She wondered why her answer was written that way.

The Chun siblings had already found out the truth about this questionnaire through the Scorpio Saint. Their eyes flashed. They knew the power of Lee Gun’s fountain pen better than anyone.

In strict terms, Carly wasn’t human, and her upbringing was unique. However, they couldn’t overlook this as fans of their uncle.

In the beginning, they had started with a respectful conversation. However, they had all fought each other to become Lee Gun’s Zodiac Saint for a reason. In the end, they spoke about things that shouldn’t be mentioned to each other. Their hairs became abristle.

“Do you really think you guys are fit to be the Zodiac Saints of Lee Gun-nim? If I’m being blunt, you guys are weaker than me!”

“Who are you calling weak?”

“You might be a clone Uncle accepted, but I disagree! You should maintain a safe distance from him!”

“A brat like you should stay out of this! Also, you’re a male!”

“Damn it! Then I... I will...!” Chun Sungjae hated losing. This was why he was about to rent a certain spell from the Gemini temple.

However, Goat quickly got a hold of him. “Sungjae! Not that magic! Your father will really faint!” He was sure it was the sex change spell.

In the end, Goat separated the trio, who were about to go to war with each other. Nevertheless, these three knew not to mix business with pleasure. So Goat wasn’t too worried, but...

‘Can these three become friends?’

Clank!

They were here to buy items Lee Gun had requested, and they were about to head out of the store.

Boom!

They flinched when they felt the sudden earthquake.

Doo-doo-doo!

It wasn’t a normal energy. At the same time, they heard a familiar voice.

[Use Teleport!]

It was their uncle’s voice.

At the same time, the light of the Serpent Bearer started spreading across Seoul. However, it seemed he was a bit too late.

“We are trapped!”

A suspicious barrier made it impossible for the group to leave.

Kwahng!

“Goat!”

Suddenly, Goat, an SS-rank disciple, was sent flying. Shocked, the other three looked at the one responsible for that.

“You guys were here.”

It was a monarch.