The flashing light exploded forth from the ocean. It was neither a normal light nor a magic spell. This light couldn't be compared to such laughable lighting or magic. It was the light of the sun.

The surroundings became so bright that it looked like daylight within the ocean. The people above the ice were naturally surprised.

“The ocean…!!”

“What the hell is that light?”

However, something was even more shocking than that light.

Gurgle!

A sound akin to the sound of soup or broth being boiled rang out. It was the sound one heard when the water went past the boiling point and started to gurgle!

Everyone was having a hard time believing what they were seeing. They tried to deny it, but it was unmistakable.

“It is boiling!”

“What?”

“The ocean is boiling!!!”

“What?! Have you lost your mind?”

The people on the ice murmured amongst themselves. However, the ocean water started to boil more. At the same time, they started feeling heat everywhere!

“Ahh! The ice! It is melting! Melting!”

“Get back into the castle!”

Those who were holding their swords on top of the ice platform hurriedly turned back toward Drachma.

The monsters were flustered by this situation, so they were about to move quickly. But…

“Do you think you guys can run away from the sun?” Lee Gun laughed as he remained bound. Accompanying his laughter, a powerful light appeared below his feet!

[The great sun ascends from the vast waters.]

Koo-goo-goong!!

After finally reaching the surface, the sunlight covered the vast Atlantic ocean.

“Ahhhk!”

Realizing the danger, the monsters screamed and tried to run away.

[Kee-ehhhhhhk!]

[Jee-ehhhk!]

The water’s temperature had gone up so much that it was boiling, and the monsters within the ocean started to vomit blood.

[The heat of the sun is cooking those monsters.]

[“Life” is overjoyed because of the pain of the monsters.]

[“Life” says it would be great if you can boil them a bit slower.]

[“Death” hates it.]

The scales capable of withstanding cold subzero water temperature were tattered. The muscles within the thick shells became rigid from the heat. Their blood congealed and hardened before it could reach their heart.

[The 7,894 ingredients have been cooked very well.]

[You have gained EXP.]

[You have gained EXP.]

[The monsters cannot stand the boiling water.]

[“Death” is very sad.]

[“Death” doesn’t like things boiled alive.]

[“Death” likes them fried.]

The monsters turned bright red as they floated to the surface of the ocean. It looked as if a piece of land had appeared on top of the Atlantic ocean, which was made out of the bodies of monsters. They did suffer death en masse.

The black stalk-like creature holding Lee Gun seemed to have taken damage too.

[The servant of Abyss is in pain.]

[It twists its body in pain.]

Lee Gun grinned. The being holding him was a high-rank monster sent by a monarch. It was probably a black zone-rank monster. And even a powerful monster had not expected a situation of this magnitude.

‘It is a power of someone I’ve acknowledged.’

Accompanying Lee Gun’s laughter, rough waves erupted. Then, a scream rang out.

[Kee-ehhhhhhk!!]

Splash!

The power holding Lee Gun started losing strength. At the same time, Lee Gun fell toward the ocean.

“Uncle!”

However, Lee Gun spun to regain his balance.

Tuhk!

The floating corpses of monsters acted as a good platform.

Lee Gun recalled Heaven’s Punishment, which had fallen into the ocean, and his eyes flashed. “There should be some that haven’t been cooked yet.” His gaze headed toward the depths of the ocean.

The remaining monsters were trying to quickly return to the bottom of the ocean, where the water was cold. However, it was useless.

[Your effort is in vain.]

“!!”

People were surprised by the voice ringing in the sky. 

Then, a figure of light appeared above the ocean.

“C-Can it be!”

“It is the god of the sun!”

The Sagittarius glanced at Lee Gun to ask if he had done well.

On the other hand, the people were abuzz at the appearance of a great god. He was far away, so it was hard to see his face. However, they were certain.

“That robe! It is the Zodiac of the Archer temple!”

“Really? I want to see it! I heard the Sagittarius is handsome!”

“What? Really?”

Descent was a great opportunity for a Zodiac to raise people’s faith toward it.

Goat shook when he saw his Zodiac.

‘His head…!’

He had heard that the Sagittarius had lost all his hair thanks to Lee Gun. It would be fine if the Zodiac was just bald, but he had done something weird…

‘No! Faith toward the Sagittarius will plummet if his appearance is revealed!’

They had to quickly send the Zodiac back.

“Hey.”

“!”

Lee Gun let out a bright smile as he called for the Zodiac. “Come here for a moment.”

The Sagittarius immediately agreed.

[I should go since the Serpent Bearer is calling for me.]

The Sagittarius seemed to consider this development a good turn of events. He planned on showing its appearance as a god to increase the members of the Sagittarius temple. It was a great opportunity to do some missionary work when so many people were gathered in one place.

However, Goat quickly moved when the Zodiac got closer.

“Ahhhk! No!” He was already sad that they were ranked last. Goat couldn’t give up on his Zodiac’s dignity.

However, the people were able to locate the Zodiac much faster.

“Uh? Is that…”

“Uh? His head…”

Goat knew it was too late, and he was about to despair.

[Zodiac Forced Summon!]

“!”

The bright figure floating in the sky suddenly disappeared.

“Uh? Uh? What the hell was that?”

“The Zodiac went away!”

The one who had made the Zodiac possess his body huffed in anger.

“That bastard, Gun! Our god almost became advertised as the bald Zodiac!”

It was Hugo. He was a couple hundred meters away from Lee Gun, crouched atop the ocean. A transparent blue bow was strapped to his back.

[Bow made out of Fish(EX rank). Multiple attributes (Hope Seeker of Deep Sea)]

- Water bow made through melting the Pisces

- Basic skills: Ocean Breathing, Ocean Walk, and 5 other fish-type skills

- 3 special skills (SS, EX)

This bow was the first EX rank weapon made for someone else, and Lee Gun had wanted to give it to Hugo first.

Hugo had gone back on his word of not liking it. He had taken the weapon made out of a Zodiac and come here according to Lee Gun’s orders.

It was for no other reason. Drachma had been falling, and he had realized that the one dancing like an idol in his room was the slime.

And after he had realized Lee Gun was gone, he had heard Lee Gun’s voice all of a sudden.

[Hey. Hurry up and find my location.]

‘!’

Since Hugo was an affiliate Zodiac Saint, he could hear the Zodiac’s voice. Until now, he had heard only the clear voice of a woman. So hearing Lee Gun’s voice oddly annoyed him. However, it didn’t matter right now.

[I don’t have time to explain. Get ready to boil a hot pot soup.]

‘Hot pot soup??’

At first, he had thought Lee Gun was speaking nonsense, but Hugo did a double take when he tracked down Lee Gun’s location.

‘He is above the ocean?’

The Secretary had shown up and said something was wrong with Drachma. 

Hugo had an idea something was wrong when Drachma had repeatedly dropped and stopped in the air.

‘I don’t know who is behind this, but Drachma will fall into the ocean.’

Of course, he knew what that meant.

‘The ocean is a territory ruled by the monsters.’

If they fell into the middle of the ocean, they would become food for the monsters. That was why Hugo had realized the meaning behind the “hot pot soup” at once and got out of his seat.

The Secretary warned him it would be dangerous when she saw the location, but he didn’t pay attention to her. His one and only idol was there with his children.

[You have rented Teleport.]

[Warning! You are trying to teleport to a dangerous region (Mid-Black Zone). Do you really want to use it?]

It was already a dangerous region, but it was also in the middle of the ocean, where there was no land. However, it didn’t matter to him.

[Ocean Walk has been automatically activated.]

It wasn’t a finished product, but he had the bow that had been manufactured by grinding down the Pisces. He would have no problem above the Ocean. As soon Hugo arrived there, he saw it.

[Warning! The Serpent Bearer, the head Zodiac, has lost his power.]

“!”

Three hundred meters ahead of him, Drachma had crashed into the ocean, and Lee Gun had been captured by a monster’s tentacle.

When he confirmed this, Hugo had immediately carried out the plan.

[All the Temple energy of the Sagittarius has been used.]

[The bible skill has been activated.]

[Sun Summon (SSS)]

In some aspects, it was a skill that summoned the Zodiac itself. However, this was different from the Zodiac descent, where the Zodiac’s soul was summoned. In this skill, the Zodiac was summoned through projection.

When the sun was summoned beneath Lee Gun’s feet, the ocean had started boiling in an instant.

Hugo wondered if a storm would be created if he raised the temperature of the ocean, but it was better than Lee Gun dying.

‘It seems Gun partly allowed himself to be caught.’

It would be troublesome if the prey ran away while the water was boiling. Moreover, Gun was a Zodiac. He just had to stay put, and the strongest monster would try to catch him.

He had kept the powerful monster occupied while its location could be discerned. It was a good plan where he was the bait.

‘Still, this is incredible.’

Normally, Hugo was lacking in power, so he had never attempted this. He could only imagine it. However, after he had become an affiliate under the Serpent Bearer, his options had grown.

Of course, he controlled the power. It would be a shame if the broth was gone… No, no. 

He meant to say it would be a shame if the people in Drachma got hurt.

‘That bastard, Gun.’

Hugo had done as asked, yet Lee Gun had planned on showing the Sagittarius to everyone?

On the other hand, the summoned Sagittarius was disgruntled.

[The Sagittarius grumbles. It planned on showing its great presence. It was an opportunity to convert more disciples. It asks why you stopped him.]

[He is angry, asking if you have any plans on reviving the temple.]

Hugo became angry. Who was the one trying to tank the faith? “Do you have any plans for reviving the temple? Do you realize what kind of articles will be written if you appear with that head?”

[The Sagittarius says he rubbed hair growth solution onto its head. He is proud that his hair has already grown.]

“It is a fuzz! How can you show that? If you act this way, I really will go to Gun!”

[The Sagittarius is aggrieved. It says it fed you, grew you, and protected you. He says the guilty one is criticizing the innocent.]

“I’m the innocent, and you’re the guilty one! Also, you acted as you pleased by declaring a war against another temple— Koohk!”

Hugo quickly brought up his bow. The reason was the Constructs of the Taurus running toward him. The Taurus disciples were there too!

[Warning! The monster cow has given an SS-rank temple mission.]

[The Taurus is at a war with the temples of the Serpent Bearer and the Sagittarius. Rewards will be given if they are pushed into the ocean.]

It was a special mission that the Zodiac and Zodiac Saint could give to the temple. When this mission was completed, the Zodiac personally rewarded them. Or the divine seat occupied by the Zodiac gave a random reward.

Therefore, all those disciples and Constructs were charging forward after they received the mission. Moreover, there was a good enough reason to trigger it.

[The monster cow has declared the Battle of the Temples.]

[Like the Serpent Bearer, it plans on consuming the Sagittarius temple. It will make the Sagittarius an affiliate.]

[The Taurus is confident that the Sagittarius temple will be a good servant for them.]

[The merge will help them fight the unknown civilization. It will be very helpful in bringing back the scattered sense of unity.]

Instead of asking for cooperation or agreement, it planned on merging through force.

This made Hugo glare at his Zodiac. “Look! This is your fault for declaring war!”

[The Sagittarius seems a bit apologetic. He tries to hand you some equipment.]

“I don’t need it! Gun’s items are much better! If you plan on giving something, just hand over some money!”

Well, it didn’t matter. The Sagittarius temple did join with others before. On the other hand, Lee Gun was also in a messy situation.

“Uncle!” Chun Sungjae, who was being held by the Gemini Saint, yelled in desperation.

The Taurus temple was ranked third for a reason.

[Warning! It is the power of an indomitable steel wall.]

[The strength of the powerful monster cow exceeds the strength of the Serpent Bearer.]

The Taurus had grabbed Lee Gun from behind. “Honestly, I was surprised.”

“!”

“I never expected you to use the Sagittarius temple to take care of the beasts of the ocean.”

Thanks to the hot pot soup plan, like Lee Gun, the Taurus had also escaped the grasp of the monster. 

The Zodiac’s eyes flashed. In terms of physical strength, the Taurus was the strongest Zodiac. Lee Gun, who the Taurus had grabbed with both arms, couldn’t break free.

‘It doesn’t budge at all.’

Breaking free using strength would be impossible. Moreover, blood was dripping down from the body part that the Taurus had wounded in its ambush. The more Lee Gun tried to get out of its grasp, the more blood flowed out.

The Taurus was well aware of its strength. It arrogantly laughed. “Looks like you cannot use Super Regeneration because of my power. First, I would like to thank you for getting rid of the monarch’s servant. I’m alive thanks to you.”

The monarchs had aimed for the Zodiacs, and the Zodiacs were vulnerable to the monarchs; the Zodiacs’ powers could be stolen. On top of that, they were above the ocean in the Black zone.

They would remain in danger until they reached land. The angered Abyss might come to the surface at any moment.

Therefore, the Taurus was truly thankful to Lee Gun. However…

“I’ll make you regret gathering all your affiliate temples in one place.”

It looked toward the ocean. A black shadow appeared from beneath the ocean.

The Taurus flinched when it saw the shadow. It wondered why Abyss had come out so quickly, but it soon realized the reason.

‘It came because it smelled this bastard’s blood.’

The Taurus had never expected the inability of Lee Gun to use Super Regeneration to work out like this.

As expected, the master of the ocean had revealed itself.

[How dare you do this to my underlings!]

But this could also be an opportunity. 

The Taurus looked at Lee Gun as it laughed. “Unless you want to get tossed to the monarch as food, you should give me your affiliate temples to me.”

At that moment, Lee Gun took action. Lee Gun had purposefully not used Super Regeneration. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment. He hugged the Taurus and jumped down, taking both of them into the open maw of the monarch.