The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero

The look in Lee Gun’s eyes instantly changed.

The monarch beneath him had changed its face into the face of a younger person. This person was similar in age to the Lee Gun from twenty-five years ago or even younger.

She had an intelligent face framed by brown, short bobbed hair. Her eyes were bright brown and striking. It was as if she could see through a person’s soul.

When Lee Gun met her eyes, the hand holding Heaven’s Punishment halted for a moment. This surprised the weapon.

[Heaven’s Punishment looks at its owner in shock.]

The monarch laughed at the reaction. In a rarity, the slime, which had been sitting on top of Lee Gun’s shoulder, also looked surprised.

[Clump of Creation Clay says you shouldn’t fall for it.]

[Clump of Creation Clay says this is very dangerous.]

This satisfied the fallen monarch.

‘As expected, it is effective.’

The monarch had chosen this face because Lee Gun had feelings of affection toward the owner of this face, and he also felt apologetic.

The only ones that satisfied such emotions were the Chun siblings and Chun Jiwoo

Although Lee Gun had a deep affection for Hugo, he didn’t feel sorry(?) toward Hugo. Instead, Hugo held Lee Gun’s trust. That emotion was stronger than anyone.

Anyway, the monarch had decided this person was someone Lee Gun couldn’t attack. It knew this face would have a devastating effect.

That face would also be unexpected. The woman with this face was someone who the powerful Time monarch said they must kill. That was why this was a bit unexpected.

Abundance spoke with the face that was Lee Gun’s weakness. “Don’t kill me, Gun. I don’t want to die—”

Kwah-jeek!!!

“Kuhk!”

The monarch vomited. It couldn’t speak any further. The ax’s blade had come crashing down on the monarch’s neck ruthlessly.

Abundance looked at Lee Gun as if the latter had lost his mind.

Lee Gun let out a frightening laugh. “What? You think I wouldn’t be able to stab you if you had that face?”

“…!”

The slime jumped in joy as it watched the distorted face of the monarch.

[Clump of Creation Clay jeers at the monarch.]

[It laughs as it says it warned you not to fall for this.]

[The slime quivers. It is proud of giving the warning of this being very dangerous.]

The warning of danger wasn’t directed at the slime’s owner; it was directed at the monarch.

Boom!

“…!”

As a fierce wind blew, a black power erupted from Lee Gun’s body. Then, the ring on his hand went flying.

Kwahng!

Lee Gun’s fierce magical energy had sent the magical energy control system flying. It screamed.

[“Black Ring that eats divine magical energy(SSS)” says to please give it a signal before you do that. It lets out a sob.]

[The penalty has been lifted.]

[You are in your Zodiac Descent state.]

[The 50% of your power that was being sealed by the ring has been released.]

Hugo shook when he felt the power of Death rage around Lee Gun.

‘Is he trying to evolve to the 3rd stage?’

It was probably too early for that.

Lee Gun seemed more powerful, but it had to do with the removal of the ring, which had been sealing his normal power.

A Zodiac’s powerful strength normally influenced its surroundings. That was why Lee Gun had put on the ring that ate magical energy. The ring allowed him to maintain 50% of his power.

Therefore, although he might feel stronger than usual…

Kwah-jeek!

Hugo flinched when the monarch screamed.

The ax blade was still embedded in the monarch’s neck, and Lee Gun pressed it in deeper. He was trying to open a bigger wound since the monarch was trying to run away.

Laughing, he brought his foot down harder on the blade. “I planned on taking you alive and imprisoning you inside the Devil’s Tower. I planned on using you as fodder for EXP for me and my kids. However, I changed my mind.”

“…!”

An ugly light flashed in his eyes, and he put more strength into his foot.

Ggah-doo-doohk!

The weighted blade sliced through the monarch’s shoulder muscles and crushed its slim shoulder bones.

The monarch gritted its teeth at the horrible pain.

When Lee Gun saw its expression, flames flashed in his eyes. “You still aren’t changing your face?”

As if he was daring the monarch to do that further, Lee Gun relaxed his foot.

Kwahng!

Then, he pressed down again to widen the wound.

Crunch!

The monarch ground its teeth as it looked at Lee Gun.

Normally, a wound created by an edged weapon was nothing to a monarch. The difference here was the weapon.

[This weapon has the Leo’s tooth as an ingredient, and it is very effective.]

[Heaven’s Punishment is reacting to its owner’s emotions. It pours out its magical energy.]

[The Serpent Bearer’s critical damage attribute is active.]

Was it because the ax was a weapon made using the Leo’s tooth? The power of the battle-type Zodiac hit the monarch, and it felt excruciating pain.

‘Damn it! As expected, there is a limit to what I can do in a human’s body.’

To avoid the dome, the monarch had used a human body, and this decision was working against it. The monarch shouted, “Are you of sound mind? How can you do this when you see this— Right!”

The monarch’s eyes flashed as if it had come up with an idea. “If you put this away, I’ll let you have this body.”

Lee Gun’s eyes turned stormy. “What?”

“This human died twenty-four years ago. Ah, ah! Yes… I’m pretty sure Time killed her, and Oblivion ate her.”

Abundance recalled it now. To find the thirteenth Zodiac, Time had taken its army to Seoul. Moreover, it had gone there to eliminate some woman who Abundance had never heard about.

Abundance tilted its head in puzzlement as it looked at Lee Gun.

‘Now that I think about it, this snake bastard was a normal human…’

How did he awaken as a god after being killed by Time? However, that wasn’t important right now.

“Yes. I’ll give you this body. I just have to make another body.”

At that moment, Hugo unconsciously clenched his eyes shut.

Kwah-jeek!

Lee Gun ruthlessly brought down his ax on the monarch’s face.

Hugo was scared to look at Lee Gun’s face, and he realized something at the same time.

‘I know who that is.’

Although his children merely thought that the owner of this face was someone pretty, Hugo now knew.

‘That person is Yeonwoo.’

Before Hugo had met Lee Gun, this woman was the one who lived with Lee Gun. This was only a guess, but she was the one who had affected Lee Gun’s awakening. Their relationship must be…

‘Is she his girlfriend?’

Hugo tilted his head in puzzlement, but he soon shook his head from side to side. He’d ask the next time, after the monarch was taken care of. This matter wasn’t important right now.

‘He might really go to the third stage of Death.’

It would be dangerous. Of course, this didn’t mean Lee Gun should stop evolving Death. From what Hugo had observed, it was a power that would work against the monarchs. The problem was that this power was too powerful.

‘Gun said the reason he’s fine despite having two Divine statuses is that both powers are equal.’

If one side became stronger, that side would purposely try to become larger. This was especially true for Death, which would swallow up the owner in Lee Gun.

‘This is dangerous.’

Therefore, Lee Gun had to grow Life at the same time.

On the other hand, someone was overjoyed at this development.

[Death shudders since 100% of its power has been manifested.]

[As expected, its owner should become the god of calamity. It is so delighted that it is beside itself.]

[Death says that Life is of zero help to its owner! It says to hurry up and kill the monarch as a sacrifice—]

Suddenly, Death screamed.

[Death says the monarch can be killed, but cannot be eaten as a sacrifice.]

[Death says it was wrong. It says to ignore its words.]

Lee Gun grabbed the dog chew that was making a fuss within the black smoke and threw it far away. Then, he tried to look inside the pulped body of the monarch, but…

Flash!

“Uncle!”

Everyone flinched in surprise when a skill was activated.

[Warning! When Abundance feels the threat of death, it spreads the Seeds of Life.]

Abundance was a being capable of bringing monsters to life as its force.

Kwah-jeek!

Like a mushroom spreading its pollen, Abundance had spread its seeds when it had entered this place. If it gave the signal, the seeds would grow by consuming nutrients. It had created these new lives at a request from another monarch.

However, the seeds bloomed when Abundance’s life came under threat. Abundance was the master of those lives. When it was threatened, its instinct was to reproduce.

Therefore, monsters started to appear out of the ground from all directions. This was a bizarre sight, which looked like mold spores appearing everywhere.

[Become the monarch’s nutrient!]

[How dare you do this to their parent’s body!]

They were children. However, they immediately grew up when they received the power of Abundance.

Hugo and Goat quickly raised their bows. They could hear shouts come from nearby. Troops from the other temples were here as well.

“Defend to the last man!”

“How dare monsters invade human territory by pretending to be humans!”

“Kill them all and present them as tributes to our Zodiacs!”

Seeing this, Goat said, “We’ll be in charge of getting rid of them. That is why Lee Gun-nim should—”

“You can’t kill them in normal ways.”

“What?!”

Lee Gun tossed the notebook given to him by the Secretary.

“This is…!”

“Commandment.”

“!”

It was the unknown civilization’s version of the bible, which Lee Gun had stolen from the Abundance general and the Time general.

“I’m not too sure about it, but their souls have to do something that is prohibited by the rules. Many rules are engraved into their souls.”

This was the commandment. It was like a set of commands that made directing the troops easy.

Unlike the disciples, who moved through faith, the monsters were a military group that moved only on command. Of course, the identity of the Commandment wasn’t important.

“The important part is that their weaknesses are written in there.”

In other words, this was a manual on how to defeat them.

“I’ll give this to you. I want you to find the source, and I want you to sweep them clean.”

The Commandment… No, the guide would allow them to attack the unknown civilization, which not even the twelve Zodiacs were able to conquer.

Goat seemed to have realized what Lee Gun meant. He nodded, then disappeared. Hugo was about to follow after Goat, but…

“Ahhk! Sungjaeeeeee!” Hugo’s face turned pale from fright as he wailed.

Chun Sungjae had been attacking the monsters, and he had fallen over when his body was sliced open. Of course, he wasn’t truly hurt or dead.

[Ahhk! What the hell? Why did it suddenly pop out again!]

He had made a mistake while he was killing the monsters, and his body was cut in half. Sungjae had thought he was going to die. However, his soul had separated from his body as soon as his body was damaged.

This was the power of the Zodiac of Life. In his soul state, he would never truly die and would be able to attack his enemies.

Chun Sungjae’s body was quickly mended through the power of Super Regeneration.

However, his father had seen it live, and he couldn’t talk coherently because of shock.

“Sungjae… Sungjae is…” Hugo’s shock lasted only a moment. He then screamed.

“Dad! It’s fine! I’m here!”

The monster Lee Gun from twenty years ago landed in front of Hugo. Soon, the monster Lee Gun started using Chun Sungjae’s spell.

Hugo wondered what was going on.

“What the hell? This is Uncle’s body!”

Yes, Chun Sungjae had entered the slime.

As per Lee Gun’s order, the slime had transformed into the Lee Gun who had high reflex, and Chun Sungjae had temporarily entered it. He would be there only until his body was healed.

Hugo shouted at Chun Sungjae, who was shouting in happiness. “Sungjae! If you move too far away from your body, how are you going to return to it?”

“What! I want to live in this body!”

“What the hell did you say?!”

At that moment…

“Wait a moment. Move to the side.”

“Gun?”

Lee Gun seemed to have business with Chun Sungjae’s body, which was in Hugo’s care. He went on to rip something away in contempt. It seemed to be a flea on Chun Sungjae’s neck.

[Huh-uhk!]

“It really covets our Life.”

This flea was none other than the Abundance monarch, who had disappeared. The monarch had used its underlings to distract them and tried to carry out its previous plan. It was trying to steal the body of the Zodiac Saint of Life.

It planned on eating the body of a Zodiac Saint, then the power would be mixed with its own to recover itself. In truth, Lee Gun’s power of regeneration went well with Abundance.

[Koohk…!]

“I’m curious since Abundance wanted it that bad.”

The undead monarch’s space power had been assimilated under the power of Death. What about Abundance?

“Let me test it out.”

“G…Gun?”

Lee Gun threw the bug and used his ability.

[Gluttony(SSS)]

An incredible light surged forth, and the notifications rang out.

[You have gained EXP.]

[You have acquired a new ability.]

[“Abundance”]

[Life has leveled up.]

[Life is trying to talk to you.]