The Zodiacs could send power from the divine realm through the Zodiac Saints. In return, they received tributes from their disciples.

The reason they didn’t descend to Earth in person was simple. First, their descent would raze Earth to the ground.

When a Zodiac descended in person, an incredible amount of energy exploded forth. Most buildings would be swept away, and the divine abilities would cause environmental changes on earth.

That was why the Zodiac Saints always acted as proxies. However, this was merely a superficial story.

‘There is no way the Zodiacs are that kind.’

Lee Gun laughed in contempt. Of course, some Zodiacs took care of humans, but most were rude to their Zodiac Saints. They threw tantrums if they didn’t get their tributes and contributions.

In other words, this wasn’t the sole factor in them not descending in person. The other factor was the expenditure of massive amounts of contribution.

If one had to put this in context, to descend, the Zodiacs would have to use all the EXP that their temples had gathered.

Hugo knew this through Lee Gun, but he was sure of it now.

At that moment...

The enraged lion appeared from the divine world.

Koo-goo-goo-goong!

[The Owner of the Beasts has descended to find the Owner of the Serpent.]

[Danger! This energy is heinous.]

[Your opponent’s divine status is too high.]

[You have to quickly open your holy ground to protect yourself.]

Accompanying this notification, heaven and earth reverberated. Then, lightning appeared in the darkened sky. It was as if the world was ending.

Finally, a ray of golden light shone down from the sky.

Koo-goo-goohng!

The light hit the ground, destroying all the buildings.

“Huh-uhk!”

The incredible light and the earthquake made even staying on their feet hard for everyone.

This was different from when the Gemini had attacked Lee Gun in anger and when the Libra had appeared as Giselle.

During Gemini’s attempt to descend, the other Zodiacs had stopped it. As for Giselle, although her identity was unknown, the Libra had entered a human body to act as a human.

Moreover, the Zodiacs’ goal was to convert disciples, so they wouldn’t thoughtlessly use 100% of their power.

They might destroy a human territory to scare the humans, but it would be a problem if there were no humans left to convert.

However, the story was different for the Leo. It didn’t care if human territories were destroyed; it revealed its true nature.

Kwah-jee-jeek!

“Ahhhk!”

A beast made out of light appeared out of the golden light. This gave Stevens a significant headache.

‘Shit! Why the hell did it have to awaken right now?’

The Leo always slept. It awoke only when tributes were given to it, so why was it awake now? This act meant that all the contribution amassed by the Leo temple had instantly vanished.

The Leo’s descent had consumed the points they had gathered for the past ten years! Moreover, the Zodiac didn’t seem to care that this place was the territory of its disciples.

The Zodiac’s roar pierced through the sky.

Kwa-gwa-gwahng!

All palaces built across the vast plain were instantly swept away.

Boom!

The incredible wind pressure sent the Leo disciples flying backward.

“Koo-oohk! Our holy ground!”

Normally, Chun Yooha would’ve suffered the same, but that didn’t happen now.

Tuhk!

‘!’

When she had been about to get sent flying, Lee Gun had put a hand on her back. This was a simple gesture, but Chun Yooha didn’t move an inch as if she had her back against a sturdy wall.

[You are receiving the protection of the Serpent Bearer.]

Chun Yooha found this fascinating. ‘What’s going on? He isn’t using any skill.’

Lee Gun had simply placed a hand on her, yet this simple gesture had activated a buff skill.

‘Dad is a Zodiac Saint, yet he can’t do this. That means...’

Suddenly...

“Hey, cat. What are you doing?”

“!”

Lee Gun asked Stevens in an annoyed voice. He expressed his anger when he saw the fully emerged golden king. “You’re its Zodiac Saint. Go soothe that crazy cat. Put it to sleep. I can’t extract its tooth since it’s too excited.”

The words left Stevens baffled.

He was the one who had caused the Zodiac’s descent! And what did he just say?

“Tooth??”

Did this bastard plan on extracting a tooth from a Zodiac?

Stevens was taken aback. Did Lee Gun really call forth the Leo to extract its tooth? He did snatch away Yooha, and it seemed he had done that on purpose to call for the Leo.

“Why would you antagonize the Zodiac?”

At that moment...

Kwah-jee-jeek!

“Ahhhk!”

With their Zodiac descended, the Leo disciples immediately felt pain.

“Saint-nim!”

Usually, disciples received their magical energy through the Zodiac Saint. The Zodiac Saint normally acted as a transformer. Therefore, humans would never receive more magical energy than they could handle.

However, what would happen if too much energy was sent through? The transformer would be useless as the powerful energy would go toward the disciples.

“Ahhhhk! Saint-nim! Help us!”

Seeing his disciples fainting, Stevens quickly drew the holy symbol for the Leo using his feet.

A golden magical circle appeared on the ground, and the head of a beast emerged from it. This beast had the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. It was a griffon.

The Construct arrogantly raised its head.

[Look! You’re a mere bipedal beast. I told you not to summon me numerous times—]

The griffon screamed.

[Ahk! Master!]

Since the being was surrounded by light, its shape couldn’t be confirmed, but it was as big as Red Eye. The griffon knew this was the Owner of the Beasts!

[Master! Why!]

When the griffon quickly emerged from the magic circle, Stevens yelled, “Hey, eagle! Hurry up and modulate the magical energy for the disciples! Hurry up and go catch some food we can give to the Zodiac!”

Spittles flew from the griffon.

[You bastard! You dare order me around! Food? How dare you think Master wants something so frivolous!]

“Whatever. Hurry up and—” Stevens was frightened out of his wits when he saw Lee Gun walk toward the Leo.

“Hey!”

Stevens quickly got in his way. “Have you lost your mind? If you get any closer, you’ll be caught in its field of vision! You will really die!”

Owner of the Beasts! It was the owner of the Leo temple. As its name implied, it was the king that reigned over wild beasts and fantastic beasts.

Of course, it hadn’t revealed 100% of itself, but it was a violent brute. When it became enraged, it didn’t stop until it killed everything, including allies and enemies.

The other Zodiacs didn’t approach it because of this. Words and negotiations didn’t work against this being.

[Who is it? Who was the one to take my disciple?]

The beast’s roar reverberated through the sky.

Stevens froze. ‘Shit!’

Even he had a hard time appeasing his Zodiac. Of course, this being had selected him as the Zodiac Saint, but it had chosen him for the simple reason that Stevens looked appetizing. The Leo paid attention to a human only if the human looked appetizing. Stevens had been picked because the Leo had needed a Zodiac Saint.

This also didn’t stop the Zodiac from trying to eat Stevens despite him being its Zodiac Saint.

Therefore, Stevens said to Lee Gun, “You have to excommunicate Yooha right now! If it completely emerges— Kuh-huhk!”

Stevens received a kick in the face; the kick meant he was being too loud.

Lee Gun wanted him out of his way. “Even if I do that, it isn’t as if you will help me find my disciple.”

Sent flying like a missile, Stevens cursed. “That bastard!”

Stevens was trying to look out for him!

The Owner of the Beasts finally turned its gaze toward Lee Gun. Of course, it immediately recognized the man.

[I overlooked the fact that you came back from the dead! You’re an ungrateful bastard!]

Lee Gun clenched fists in contempt. The Leo seemed to be talking about what Lee Gun had done to Stevens at Drachma.

“You were probably just sleeping like a cat to even care!” A light erupted from Lee Gun’s body.

[Death Instinct]

[You are using the reward for converting Chun Yooha.]

[Speed Increase]

After using the skill, Lee Gun immediately disappeared.

Pahng!

He reappeared on top of the lion’s head! Lee Gun extended his hand. Heaven’s Punishment, which had been embedded in the ground, immediately flew into his hand. The roaring ax came crashing down at the lion’s tooth.

Boom!

An incredible sound rang out.

Kwah-jee-jeek!

“Koohk!”

A crack appeared on the deflected Heaven’s Punishment.

[Caution! The difference in divine status is too large.]

[Warning! Your opponent may absorb your divine status.]

Lee Gun grinned. He had never expected to win easily against this opponent. His opponent was the Zodiac of a top-three battle-type temple. Its skin was like steel, and piercing it would be very difficult!

In fact, Lee Gun knew death was on the plate if he decided to clash against a Zodiac. Moreover, the descended god’s presence was beyond his imagination.

‘The fact that the other Zodiacs acquiesced to the Libra’s activities is amazing in itself.’

A Zodiac had pretended to be a Zodiac Saint. A rule set by the gods in their world had been broken.

‘Of course, she has the number one temple since a Zodiac is pretending to be a Zodiac Saint.’

All the Zodiac Saints would get blessed by her. In fact, the Taurus Saint and Stevens had badly lost to her.

From what Lee Gun had seen from Giselle’s memories, the other Zodiacs knew about Giselle’s true identity. So there had to be a reason for them turning a blind eye to the beating of the other Zodiac Saints.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The one sure thing was that the Libra didn’t seem to be stronger than all the other Zodiacs. This was especially true for this monstrous Zodiac!

As if to prove this, the lion let out golden lightning. The lightning started to rip and burn Lee Gun’s skin.

Pah-jee-jeek!

Half of his bones were instantly exposed. This sight frightened everyone.

“Uncle!”

However, Lee Gun didn’t even dodge the attack. He laughed as if he enjoyed the pain. The Serpent Bearer was unusual in the fact that defensive skills were very scarce to develop, but that didn’t matter to Lee Gun.

[You have activated Super Regeneration(A)]

His muscles reformed in a flash, and his skin grew back.

“!”

As soon as the new skin appeared, Lee Gun took out something.

[Crab’s Core(Saint’s soul 33%! God’s soul 20%!)]

He took out the item that had made the Gemini retreat when he had caught Heiji.

The Cancer was the god of darkness. The other Zodiacs avoided it. Therefore, the Leo flinched at the sight of the core.

However, the next moment, the Leo had an expression that said it found Lee Gun’s action absurd. It roared in contempt.

[Do you plan on using that?]

Lee Gun had come here with a goal, and an evil laugh escaped his lips. “Of course? I took your precious disciple. I always pay something in return.”

The Leo was angered at Lee Gun’s laughter.

[That might have worked with the Gemini, but I have descended! That item won’t work against me! Do you think someone with low divine status can use that properly!]

“I don’t think so.”

[!]

With a sly laugh, Lee Gun swallowed the Cancer Core.

This surprised the Leo.

[Have you lost your mind? You swallowed the Star of Darkness!]

Something surprising happened at that moment.

* * *

Around that time.

“Where the hell did Gun go? That bastard!” Hugo was huffing in anger within the building belonging to the Sagittarius temple.

After being called by his son’s skill a couple of times, he was looking for the person who had set the skill to work in such a way.

“How can that bastard make me the subject of that skill without telling me?” Hugo ground his teeth as he opened the door to the restroom.

“You’re a terrible person! You would do well if you were half as kind as your Zodiac!”

However, Hugo tilted his head in puzzlement as soon as he opened the door.

“What the hell? Where did he go?”

At that moment...

“Lee Gun-nim went to the holy ground in Hawaii.”

“!”

Hearing his wife’s voice, Hugo turned his head in joy, but the joy soon turned into surprise.

Boom!

His wife had used the slime to put down a mountainous pile. Hugo’s mouth fell open when he saw what it was.

“This is...!”

It was the corpse of a monster. To be precise, it was a helmet and armor.

When Hugo approached it, he immediately felt a chill run up his spine.

‘What the hell is this?’

This item was beyond the red zone rank.

Hugo had felt an evil, murderous intent of this caliber from an item for the first time in his life. And so, he looked at his wife in shock. “What the hell is this?”

“Lee Gun-nim killed it. He said to take it back to the Serpent Bearer’s first holy ground.”

Hugo had no idea why this place was referred to as the Serpent Bearer’s holy ground, but his face suddenly hardened when he saw the armor. The armor was stained with blood.

“Blood? Is Gun hurt?”

It had a lot of blood on it.

“Ah! He’s fine. He’s currently going toward Yooha.”

“Yooha?”

For some reason, Hugo got an ominous feeling.

Chun Jiwoo explained, “Since the monster situation looked very serious, he suddenly left. He also had some business with the Leo.”

Hugo was aghast. “The Leo? Are you sure it wasn’t Stevens??”

“Yes. I think it has something to do with this monster...”

Hugo suddenly realized what Lee Gun intended to do. For some reason, he headed toward the room that Lee Gun had used.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Buhl-kuhk!

Hugo tossed aside Lee Gun’s belongings. He did a double-take when he saw the missing item. “Has he lost his mind?” Hugo suddenly stood up.

Chun Jiwoo asked in surprise, “What’s going on?”

“That crazy bastard took it!”

“What did he take?”

“The Cancer’s Core!”

“!”

“I let my guard down because he said he planned on making an item with it!”

Chun Jiwoo couldn’t understand Hugo’s expression. “What about it? What’s the problem with it?”

“That is....” Hugo was afraid to just say it.

Lee Gun had only one reason to take it. As he did with the Gemini, he would probably use it to deal with the Leo.

“Anyway, it should look like this....”

Chun Jiwoo blinked when she saw the picture on the phone. “It looks like chocolate. Someone might eat it by accident.”

Hugo blanched. “I’ll be bad if it is ingested!! You’ll gain power, but...”

He suddenly did a double-take again. “Wait a moment. There is no way he’ll eat it, right?”