“Saturnus…!”
Kang Chul-In could recognize the gigantic man – no, demon – after a short while.
“Oh?” Saturnus grinned hideously. “You recognize me, son?”
“...”
“Why the silence? Don’t tell me, my adorable son cannot recognize his father?”
Kang Chul-In didn’t reply.
What bullshit… why is that crazy bastard here…?
He was utterly puzzled. Saturnus belonged to the deepest depths of hell (if it existed). Why was he alive? He didn’t even have the Wheel of Three Lives.
Moreover...
He’s young.
The gigantic man didn’t have a single wrinkle on his face. He was Saturnus in his prime.
“Surprising, isn’t it?” Saturnus spoke. “Your father, whom you killed, has resurrected marvelously. Isn’t it surprising?”
“A little bit?”
“A little bit my ass. Kek…!”
“A little bit.”
Kang Chul-In refused to lose this argument.
Right, I’m surprised. You motherfucker.
In fact, he was extremely astonished. He rummaged through all the data in his head, but nothing hinted at Saturnus’ return in the slightest. In other words, it was truly a surprise!
However, only amateurs express their surprise. Kang Chul-In taunted Saturnus nonchalantly.
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a retard who crawled out from hell. Why, was the hell fire a little too hot for you?”
“Kek… keke…!”
“You dare to laugh?”
“...!”
“You should have remained in hell. What a nuisance… even this crazy old geezer has revived...”
He meant it. Kang Chul-In was trying to inherit the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s legacy and fight against the Agnagas. In such circumstance, the appearance of Saturnus was quite a disruption to his plan.
Mainly because...
This bastard, he’s strong.
Kang Chul-In could sense that Saturnus’ combat power was greater than any opponent he had ever faced.
“Kek…!” Saturnus laughed. “Bastard, well I guess you’re not exactly a bastard… but I see that you are quite good at talking shit. But isn’t it time to know your place? Are you good enough to play with words, with this father of yours?”
His sharp insight was almost frightening.
“Son, you are weaker than you were 1000 years ago. Can you even protect your wife and children from me?”
Saturnus discerned Kang Chul-In’s strength without error. Versus the Emperor of Blood and Iron in his prime, Kang Chul-In only had a 30% chance of winning.
“Not bad, for an old geezer.” Kang Chul-In didn’t bother to make a false show. “But let’s get one thing straight.”
“What?”
“Who’s your son?”
“What?”
“I’m not Julius; I am Kang Chul-In, the Supreme King of the West. If you want to meet your son, try digging the ground. Maybe you can find a piece of his bones or two.”
“You expect me to believe that, son?
“Up to you to believe it or not.” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “Let me reiterate...”
At that very moment,
“I’m Kang Chul-In, not Julius!”
Swish! Emitting a beam of dark light, Kaiforce sliced through the air towards Saturnus.
It was a surprise attack!
***
Meanwhile.
“Y-Your Majesty?” In the middle of the battle, Lucia instinctively realized that there was a problem with Kang Chul-In’s health.
[Warning, warning!]
There was a notification in front of her. System Erinyes had sent her a warning message!
[Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!] [Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!] [Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!]
The notification indicated that Kang Chul-In – the Messiah – was in danger.
Ba-dump, ba-dump! Her heart began to race. Her magic-engineered heart, which was 50 times stronger than a normal heart, was beating vigorously.
[Guardian Angel system, online!]
Subsequently, her true awakening occurred… ‘Lucia Headmistress.’
***
A thousand years ago, Dragon Lord Emilia had programmed Lucia secretly to protect the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation.
You’ve spent your entire life under Julius’ shadow… You love him, but… you can’t express it… such a tragic fate...
...
I, Dragon Lord Emilia, wish to make a proposal to you, Lucia.
W-What proposal?
To become a cyborg.
...!
Of course, I’m not referring to a full machine. Just a portion of your body can be substituted by magic-engineered parts.
Is there… any benefit to that?
It will help you...
...
Stay by Julius' side.
Is that… for real?
Certainly. If you accept my proposal, you can proudly stand next to the reincarnation of Julius. As his aide...
I-I accept!
Are you sure?
Yes! I will do anything to stay by his side, as long as it’s not under the shadow of his Imperial Majesty…!
Alright. Ah, and also...
Yes, Ms. Emilia?
I will register an extremely special system into your soul.
What is that?
Guardian Angel.
...!
This system will activate only when Julius’ reincarnation is in grave danger. You will lose your consciousness and fight only to protect him. Even if it may cost your life...
Alright, Ms. Emilia! I will do it! I will protect his Imperial Majesty’s reincarnation!
With that, Lucia went under surgery to become a cyborg and was sealed in Erinyes as a weapon to protect Kang Chul-In. She had no regrets. After all, the sole reason for her existence was to protect Julius.
Your Majesty...
Lucia pictured Kang Chul-In before she lost her consciousness.
I protect you not because you are Julius, his Imperial Majesty’s reincarnation, but because I… I love you, your Majesty…!
Her love for him was genuine. Ever since the Great Summoning, Lucia had admired Kang Chul-In. Thus, there was no question regarding her sincerity.
Your Majesty… I will protect you at all cost! Even if that may cost my life!
Lucia swore.
[Consciousness, halted!]
With that, she lost her consciousness.
[Unlocking the weapon’s seal!]
Sssss…! Aegis and Zenith were enveloped by a curtain of brilliant white light.
[Aegis, the Shield of God – unlocking the item seal! (Item rank changed from Unique to Epic!)]
[Zenith, the Sword of Heaven – unlocking the item seal! (Item rank changed from Unique to Epic!)]
The unconscious Lucia grasped onto the upgraded Aegis and Zenith with her left and right hand respectively.
[Messiah, tracking location!] [Messiah, location identified!] [Protect the Messiah!]
System Erinyes gave Lucia a duty.
Immediately,
Psssh! Lucia began to dash to protect Kang Chul-in!
***
Clang! Kaiforce came to a halt.
“Son.” Saturnus smiled with a hint of lunacy. “Can you even scratch me with such lousy skills?”
“...!”
“If you want to entertain me, at least try your best.”
He was mocking Kang Chul-In.
What the fuck…!
Kang Chul-In was astonished.
So easily?
He couldn’t believe his eyes. Kaiforce, the Demon Sword, an Immortal-rank item, was parried too easily…. with one hand at that.
Well, at least it wasn’t a finger.
“Or...” Saturnus began to move. “Do you want me to entertain you?”
“...!”
“Like this?”
Saturnus flung his fist towards Kang Chul-In’s face.
Bang! An ear-shredding sound echoed in the surrounding.
“Cough!”
Kang Chul-In vomited blood.
Insane…!
The shockwave from that attack was horrendous. How could one yield such power…? Saturnus in his prime was ‘the Pinnacle’ itself.
“Or...”
However, there was no time to be bewildered.
“Like this?”
Saturnus launched his second punch at Kang Chul-In.
I have to doge this!
Kang Chul-In instinctively rolled to dodge Saturnus’ fist. Yes, it was clearly better to avoid the attacks. Not only was it impossible to divert the impact, but it would also involve more than one or two bone fractures upon a direct hit.
Swish! Saturnus’ fist missed Kang Chul-In’s flank by a tiny margin.
I dodged it! Next is...
However,
Crack, crackkk! With a splitting sound,
“Urgh…!”
He began to feel an intense pain from his side.
[Warning, warning!]
A notification popped up.
[Ectoplasm Oversuit, 9% destroyed!]
[Absorbing the user’s mana, restoring the damaged part of the suit!]
[Ectoplasm Oversuit is absorbing the user’s mana, healing the damage!]
Surprisingly, the suit was restored in less than a second. As expected from the Ectoplasm Oversuit… no wonder Vulkan praised that it was the greatest artifact ever made. But there was something even more astonishing.
Strong…!
It was Saturnus’ immense strength. It wasn’t even a direct hit, yet Kang Chul-In could feel its impact.
“Kek… keke…!”
“...”
“Tsk tsk… you are so weak, son… struggling after just two punches… disappointing...”
Saturnus was totally relaxed.
Does this make sense?
Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted. What was with this monstrous power? What, and how? Even if he rummaged through all his knowledge and the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories, he couldn’t find an explanation to Saturnus’ strength.
“Oppa…!”
At that moment, Han Ye-Sun got herself up and joined Kang Chul-In.
“Leave.” Kang Chul-In stopped her. “You will die if you stay.”
“...!”
“That crazy old geezer is out of your league. Don’t get involved and leave.”
“No.” Han Ye-Sun shook her head. “I will stay.”
“Didn’t I tell you to leave? Even if you stay...”
“I know. I’m no match for him.”
Han Ye-Sun knew as well. She might have perfected the light-speed sword skill, but she would still die a dog’s death if she challenged Saturnus.
Moreover,
“I… am of no help, right?”
She would be a burden if she did try to help.
“Of course.”
“So leave...”
“Take it.”
Han Ye-Sun passed something to Kang Chul-In.
“You need this, don’t you?”
It was a ring. This glimmering, light-blue ring imbued its user with the Hyper-speed ability, and was known as the Sonic Ring.
The last component of the Trinity Impact set!