The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero
chapter-168

Panic erupted in the nearby city. The reason was the bizarre lights surging into the sky.

“What the hell is that black light?”

“Kyahhhk! This time, it’s a green light!”

The light was emanating from the Devil’s Tower. Aside from the exploration teams, no one had visited that region. Nonetheless, the lights gained the attention of the world.

The black light surged forward as if it were about to swallow the humans. However, the green light acted as if the black light was trying to get cute with it. The green light swallowed up the black light.

This wasn’t the only surprising thing.

“What the hell? Why are the monsters heading toward the tower?”

Was it the aftereffect of the invasion? The monsters had tried to stealthily attack the city, and so the disciples had quickly gathered inside the city.

But what was going on?

“Why are they all heading toward the Devil’s Tower?”

“Why are they in such a hurry….”

It looked as if the monsters had received an unexpected order. Moreover, over half of them had suddenly fallen unconscious. Naturally, the city was spared from taking any unnecessary damage, but…

“Why are they acting that way?”

“I’m not sure. The light might be the reason?”

“Light? Since it’s green, is it related to Lee Gun?”

The disciples flinched at the name.

A couple of hours ago, the Leo Saint Stevens had suddenly confessed to some events and turned the world on its head.

Of course, the opinions about this topic were polarizing. The ones wanting to protect their positions said that Stevens had spoken those words under threat. The other side said that if what Stevens spoke was indeed the truth, they couldn’t stay under the lying Zodiac Saints. They advocated for Lee Gun.

Sides were formed, causing many hardships for everyone! This event was a catastrophic event that had changed the ranking of the temples in real-time! The only certainty coming out of it was that the number of disciples wanting to join Lee Gun’s temple had increased exponentially.

It so happened that the news of Lee Gun killing Red Eye in the invasion spread around. Lee Gun had also killed a general rank monster.

Therefore, the disciples gulped.

“Excuse me, General-nim. What if the Serpent Bearer’s temple becomes the number one temple?”

“What? What are you talking about? Do you realize how much the other temples have done over the years?”

“That’s right. Do not look down on the other Zodiacs! Lee Gun’s temple doesn’t even have a structure yet…!”

“T-That’s right! It all depends on who the Zodiac is. We have no idea what kind of god the Serpent Bearer is…!”

“Ah! About that… the observatory said Lee Gun might be the Zodiac…”

The disciples were alarmed when someone relayed this news.

“Are you kidding me? Lee Gun is the Zodiac Saint! In the first place. How can a human become a Zodiac?”

“Uh… I guess you’re right. If Lee Gun were the Zodiac, it would mean someone else is the Zodiac Saint. Hahaha!”

“T-that’s right. Don’t even talk about nonsense like that.”

***

Around that time, underneath the Devil’s Tower…

Lee Gun was having fun using the monarch as a sandbag. He swung Heaven’s Punishment once again.

Kwahng!

[You have gained a massive amount of EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

Lee Gun looked at the living corpse being ripped apart below his feet.

‘Is this the tenth time?’

Sensing the monarch’s death, the tower let out the light once again.

Flash!

It was the light of Reset!

[Warning! The monarch of space-time has appeared!]

As soon as it appeared, Lee Gun excitedly raised Heaven’s Punishment. He had killed only this monster, yet he had advanced by five levels. Of course, he loved it.

In comparison to its original body as a monarch, the Space-time monarch was like a dead fish right now. However, a monarch was a monarch.

Lee Gun had to use his full power to kill it. He had to use Zodiac Descent. The conventional wisdom said that it was hard to use Zodiac Descent without a Zodiac Saint, but…

[Disciple 1 has sent a massive amount of contribution.]

[The temple has gained a massive amount of Temple energy.]

[All the energy has been consumed. You can use Zodiac Descent once.]

Chun Sungjae continuously sent Lee Gun contributions from the upper floor. This was why Lee Gun could use his power.

Of course, he had become surprised earlier because of Sungjae, precisely when he had slashed the monarch.

[The vitality of Disciple 1 has weakened.]

[Armor skill has auto-activated.]

A couple of minutes ago, Lee Gun had read a notification that Chun Sungjae’s life was under threat. The proof was that “I’ll kill you if you mess with my disciple” had been activated.

That skill automatically activated when Chun Sungjae fell into a danger he couldn’t handle by himself. The skill summoned a copy of Lee Gun.

It was a skill he had created using the Cancer Saint’s skill. Since this skill was a copy, its power was inferior to the original. However, it could use Super Regeneration.

Lee Gun would never let his nephew die.

Even if Sungjae had become incapable of using his regeneration skill, the copy could take an emergency measure to save Sungjae’s life. It truly was an emergency skill.

As expected, the copy had tried to use Super Regeneration, but something unexpected happened.

[Under the influence of Reset, Disciple 1’s body has been returned to its previous state.]

Before the copy could use Super Regeneration, Sungjae had recovered thanks to the power of the tower.

This allowed Lee Gun to preserve his Temple energy, but it didn’t change Sungjae’s dangerous situation. Therefore, Lee Gun had planned on going straight to Sungjae. However…

[Disciple 1 has turned down the offer.]

[He says he cannot inconvenience the Zodiac.]

[He says there is no need for the Zodiac to step forward for a task of this magnitude.]

[He says he is capable of finishing the job. As a disciple of the Serpent Bearer, he will show the greatness of the Serpent Bearer.]

That rascal!

Lee Gun was taken aback, but he soon heard a notification that put him at ease.

[Disciple 1 has activated his special attributes to defeat the enemy.]

[A portion of the EXP has been sent toward the temple.]

[The temple has gained a massive amount of Temple energy.]

[“I’ll kill you if you mess with my disciple” has been released.]

[The copy has returned.]

These notifications let Lee Gun take a sigh of relief.

The release of “I’ll kill you if you mess with my disciple” signified that the threat against Sungjae had disappeared. And this was more than the threat being dismissed.

[Disciple 1 has defeated the revived enemy.]

[You are receiving contribution from Disciple 1.]

[The temple has gained Temple energy.]

…

[Disciple 1 has defeated the revived enemy.]

[You are receiving contribution from Disciple 1.]

[The temple has gained Temple energy.]

Lee Gun killed the monarch, and Chun Sungjae killed the enemy revived by the tower’s reset. He filled up Temple energy. Lee Gun used that power to kill the monarch once again.

Reset, reset, reset, and reset again!

This led to Lee Gun and Chun Sungjae explosively leveling up.

* * *

Back to the present…

The Space-time monarch shouted. He was angry at becoming a sandbag for EXP.

[Stop it! You are harming yourself by doing this!]

Lee Gun laughed at those words. Of course, the monarch was right. It was impossible for Lee Gun to kill the monarch without getting injured. In truth, several holes had formed in his body when the monarch had revived again.

Despite Super Regeneration, Lee Gun felt the pain. And this was what left the Space-time monarch baffled.

[I’m a mere piece of flesh that cannot feel pain. You’re different. You don’t think you will lose your mind if you keep feeling this pain!]

Lee Gun let out a bitter laugh. “I won’t lose my mind from a pain of this magnitude.”

[!]

Bodily pain? He had felt it daily from the moment he had awakened. This was nothing compared to that.

‘I just have to endure it for a couple of seconds.’

The monarch was surprised because of Lee Gun’s expression.

[Do you plan on repeating this again and again?]

“Yes. I like being hit more than others. That’s why you should give me my EXP!”

He swung Heaven’s Punishment once again.

[Personal characteristic, Masochist, are being used.]

[Masochistic special attribute (The pain you feel increases physical ability, vitality, awakening effect, and perception)]

[You have killed the monarch.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have reached Lv. 20]

[The stats of Disciple 1 have risen sharply.]

Lee Gun smirked as he looked at the piece of flesh reform again.

‘I can waste the power of the tower’s owner by doing this.’

The power of the monarch in charge of this tower was being used for Reset, and Lee Gun was sure this power was limited. While gaining EXP, he was weakening the power of a different monarch.

“Let’s test how much I can leech off of you!”

Light surged forth once again. He killed it again and again. How many times?

“!”

Lee Gun flinched after killing the monarch again. The monarch emanated a different light this time.

‘This isn’t the light of Reset.’

This light seemed to be trying to take the Space-time monarch to a different location.

Lee Gun laughed when he realized who was behind this phenomenon.

‘Well, I knew it was slowly coming to an end.’

He was sure the Reset was being done by the Time monarch. And it was as he had expected.

[The “Time Monarch” is taking the “Old Space-Time Monarch” to a different space.]

The Time monarch wasn’t an idiot. It was clear that his power would continue to leak here, so he took steps to rectify that. It tried to move the Space-time monarch to a different location, but…

‘I’ve waited for this.’

Lee Gun’s eyes flashed. He activated his skill. It was a skill that he had prepared from the beginning, all for this moment.

[Gluttony(SSS)]

If he couldn’t use it, he was only satisfied if others couldn’t use it either.

As if reacting to this sentiment, the powerful green light surged forth. The green light formed a magic circle within the Devil’s tower, and its power expanded outward.

When the magic circle was completed, an enormous lightning bolt akin to a pillar of light fell from the sky!

Lee Gun disappeared as the light in the image of a serpent appeared at the scene. It swallowed the Space-time monarch.

[You have swallowed the “Space-Time Monarch” using Gluttony.]

[The Space-time monarch resists. It says there is no way it will become the power of a Zodiac.]

Lee Gun laughed at its resistance. If it were an intact monarch, Lee Gun would be incapable of doing this.

He had realized this when he had listened to the conversation between the Space-time monarch and the skull.

‘This bastard was stripped of its rights as a monarch.’

The skull had referred to the Space-time monarch as the “Old Monarch.” That meant the living corpse wasn’t the current monarch, but the past one.

Lee Gun had no idea what caused it to be in this state, but it was very weak currently. This had made him wonder if that was the reason its right as a monarch had been stripped.

‘Or maybe, the other monarchs stole its power.’

Whatever the reason was, this only benefited Lee Gun!

Knowing it was about to get swallowed by Lee Gun, the Space-time monarch desperately called out for help.

[The Space-time monarch is connected to the Time Monarch. It is trying to draw power from the Time Monarch.]

Lee Gun furrowed his brows since he knew this would be troublesome. It was to be expected.

‘Two might be too much.’

His assumption was correct.

[Warning! The power of the Time monarch is too strong.]

[The power of the monarch protecting the Space-time monarch is too strong.]

Lee Gun thought about swallowing the Time monarch’s power using the Gluttony skill, but the power of the time lord was stronger than expected.

The corpse monarch laughed.

[You should know your place, Zodiac. I’m under the protection of the monarchs. This will be the end of you—]

Suddenly…

[The time monarch has reacted in distaste. It has cut off its relationship to the Space-time monarch.]

This notification made Lee Gun laugh, while the corpse monarch seemed taken aback.

[You ungrateful bastards! You guys used my power to grow, yet you’re throwing me away at the first sign of trouble!]

The corpse monarch yelled as if it wanted to shame the monarchs. However, the power of the Time monarch had been cut off, and the protection dissipated.

In the end, the green light swallowed the Space-time monarch.

[It is being disassembled and recreated.]

The vast energy of the green light eradicated the Space-time monarch’s body. This seemed to have aggrieved the corpse monarch.

[Do you think I’ll be eaten by a young Zodiac like you? Do not look down on me and this tower! When I get out of here, I’ll kill all— Kuhk!]

Lee Gun laughed as he swallowed the monarch. “I’ll carry out your revenge for you. You should just let me eat you. I’ll put this tower to good use.”

The corpse monarch ground its teeth.

[You will be betrayed, fledgling. You will be betrayed someday, and you will become like me…]

“I know! I’ve already been betrayed. I was able to awaken thanks to the betrayal. Goodbye!”

[Kuh-huhk…?!]

When Lee Gun’s eyes flashed, the enormous light serpent shot itself toward the monarch.

Kwahng!

An incredible light exploded forth. Caught up in the light, the monarch’s scream faded away.

[The power of the old Space-time monarch has been recreated.]

[You have acquired the power of Space.]

[Super Regeneration has evolved]

[The Serpent Bearer’s abilities that were limited to living beings may be used in space.]

An enormous sight appeared from the Devil’s Tower.

* * *

Around that time…

“Sungjae!” Hugo was pounding against the Devil’s Tower.

After his son had released Family Shield, Hugo had choked a teleporter to frantically come back to Korea. Then, he had rushed to the Devil’s Tower. However, he couldn’t enter it.

Of course, this development wasn’t the fault of the monsters that had rushed toward the tower. Hugo had killed them all.

The problem was the influence of the Reset. The problem was the tower, which had regenerated.

Originally, Lee Gun had broken out of the tower, and so, entering the tower had become easy. But at this moment, all the entrances and holes leading to the tower were blocked.

Unable to enter the tower, he kicked the entrance.

“Sungjae!” Hugo ground his teeth.

He couldn’t forget the last look on his son’s face before the summon was released. His son was a disciple, and above all else, he was a warrior. One had to be ready to face death in this occupation.

Moreover, the rule was to never mess with a disciple from a different temple. The final say about a disciple resided with the Zodiac and the Zodiac Saint of the applicable temple.

Since Sungjae had wanted to kill the monsters on his own, Hugo had to respect his decision. However…

‘They are general-ranks! Doesn’t he realize how weak he is?’

Hugo believed in Lee Gun. However, Sungjae had been very weak before Lee Gun had laid his hand on him.

‘If I knew this would happen, I should’ve become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint. I should’ve assigned Sungjae to a desk job!’

In the end, Hugo pulled back his bow in anxiousness. “Wait a little longer, Sungjae! Dad will be there!”

He was planning on destroying the Devil’s tower. Naturally, the tower wouldn’t be destroyed easily. However, Hugo planned on using his royal skill. He would even consume his life force to chip away at the tower. He would create a crack!

Suddenly…

“Uh, uh?”

Light rushed out of the tower, and the tower exploded.

Kwahng!!!

Hugo screamed as he fell. Then, he heard a familiar voice coming from the tower.

“What are you doing here?”

“!!”

Hugo became angry when he heard Lee Gun’s voice. “What am I doing! Sungjae is inside—”

Before he could complete his sentence…

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

Hugo almost sank to the ground when he heard the voice. At the same time, he bared his teeth as he turned his head. “What am I doing here? Chun Sungjae! You’re only an S rank, so what are you doing?”

However, Hugo became surprised as soon he turned his head. He realized Sungjae looked different from his normal self.

[It’s a Saint rank energy.]

[An SS rank disciple was born to the Serpent Bearer.]