The black light surged from the surface. It then swallowed the crimson light falling from the sky and revealed its teeth.

Kwah-roo-roo-roong!

Divine power clashed against Divine power.

After the black light encircled it, the crimson light struggled immensely as if it didn’t want this. However, each time it struggled, the black light swallowed it.

Kwah-jeek!

Whenever the crimson light tried to run away, the black light remained tenacious. That was akin to a chokehold where one squeezed the neck and held the head.

The Zodiac was being choked. This was an incredible power, and the other Zodiacs couldn’t believe this.

[The Aquarius is shocked. It asks how a rookie can use such a power.]

[The Gemini tells everyone to stay dignified. It says to wait and watch.]

[The Zodiacs glare at the Aquarius. They state there is no way they would lose to such a power.]

However, their fury lasted only a moment. The Zodiacs flinched when the crimson light no longer moved.

[The Zodiacs clamor for the Star of darkness to get back up.]

[They wonder if it really lost.]

[The Zodiacs are starting to get anxious. They tell the Aquarius to hurry up and use its power.]

[The Aquarius quickly grants its power to the Star of Darkness.]

“It is done.”

The Zodiac flinched at his words. However, Lee Gun’s eyes flashed as if it wasn’t over.

[You have activated 13th Sense.]

The Zodiacs in their avatar states flinched. Fear! Contempt! Worry!

When Lee Gun used his ability, they felt as if they were standing naked in front of him.

Lee Gun was looking toward the Cancer, and his snake eyes narrowed. Then, he disappeared. When he reappeared, he once again swung his scythe-shaped tooth, aiming for the Cancer’s legs now!

The canine moved as it de-shelled the hard carapace.

Kwahng!

Several legs were severed, and the hundred-story tall Zodiac fell over. That was just the start. Lee Gun smirked. He used the severed legs as stepping stones. His aim was a hidden eye!

He had seen it through 13th Sense. A powerful scarlet light was glowing within the Cancer’s eye. That was its Core.

As if it wanted to avenge Heaven’s Punishment, the tooth dug out the Cancer’s eye.

Poo-hahk!

Objects resembling two glass marbles appeared from the wounded region. They were the crab’s eyes and also the divine source.

[You dug out the intact Core of the Cancer.]

[That is the life of a Zodiac.]

[The Zodiacs are appalled.]

The Core emitted incredible light and presence.

Tuhng!

It was letting out a radiant energy. The Core contained a power that made it seem like it was about to explode!

The light looked like it was about to swallow heaven and earth. And when it spread, something happened.

Koo-roo-roong!

[The monarchs located in different locations are reacting to the power of the Zodiac.]

[The monarchs show great interest.]

[The monsters are reacting in a big way.]

[A commotion has erupted in the divine world.]

[Thousand of gods are taken aback.]

All the Zodiacs stumbled over each other to capture the Core. With that, they could gain an instant power-up, all without having to acquire disciples and holy ground!

Up until now, they weren’t able to kill each other. Therefore, they had never thought about attempting this!

[The lights within the eyes of the Zodiacs have changed.]

[They rush forward. They say they must acquire it.]

The Constructs and the disciples also rushed forward.

Kwahng!

However, a powerful wind pressure stopped them from approaching. A line was drawn on the ground.

“Anyone who crosses the line will suffer the same fate.”

[...!]

Lee Gun spun around. Then he used the tooth to bisect the Cancer’s body.

Kwah-jeek!

A light surged forth, and the unknown souls of the gods the Cancer had eaten dispersed into the air.

[The souls that had been swallowed have been liberated.]

[They express their thanks to the Serpent Bearer.]

[They say they will never forget this.]

[After receiving the power of life, the souls want to pledge loyalty to the Serpent Bearer.]

The hundred-story being with the exoskeleton collapsed.

Boom!

The crimson light within the carapace dispersed into the air. It was clearly the death of a god!

The light that had surged into the air fell to the ground like shooting stars as if a star or a volcano had exploded.

[The temple has collapsed.]

[A new record has been recorded in the bible.]

The calamity laughed as he turned his back on the brilliant light of death. It was terrifying. Neither the Zodiacs nor the Constructs could move their mouths, eyes, or anything. Some put their hands over their mouth. That wasn’t all.

Tuhk!

The Cancer’s Core, which had been falling from the sky, landed on Lee Gun’s hand.

‘!’

As soon as this calamity acquired the Cancer’s Core, the descended Zodiacs were overwhelmed.

[The Zodiacs are shocked by the sight before them.]

[They are shocked by this incident, which shouldn’t be possible.]

[Their bodies shook as they asked what the Calamity took.]

The ones to cause commotion weren’t only the Zodiacs in their avatar forms.

[The Virgo inwardly thanks that she’s an ally of the Serpent Bearer.]

[The Virgo discreetly watches the Serpent Bearer with interest.]

[The Leo laughs in a prideful manner. It states this was all possible thanks to its tooth.]

[No one paid attention to what the Leo said.]

[For some odd reason, the Sagittarius keeps trying to leave the scene.]

The one this chain of events had shocked the most was Jean-Louis. The Crab Saint had been burned and charred. However, he was still clinging to his life.

Jean-Louis was a Zodiac Saint, the being closest to his Zodiac. Therefore, he knew what had happened to his Zodiac. The temple had collapsed. Jean-Louis suddenly said, “You have lost your mind. Do you realize what will happen if you destroy a temple— Huh-uhk!! Ahhk!”

Wanting him to shut up, Lee Gun stabbed Jean-Louis’s eye with his carving knife.

Was it because the Zodiac was gone? Without the blessing, Jean-Louis put up zero resistance. In fact, he got sucked into the black power flowing out of the knife.

[“Death” has absorbed the servant of the Cancer.]

Lee Gun turned his head with a frightening look in his eyes. He saw the gods that had taken on the form of the lightning avatars. “It’s time for me to take care of the others.”

The avatars became frightened when Lee Gun picked up his weapon. They released their transformations and surged into the sky.

[The Zodiacs are angry.]

[They ask if you think you can be forgiven after doing this. They are trembling in anger.]

[All the gods will be gathered. The Serpent Bearer and his affiliate will be destroyed.]

As if to ask where they were running off to, the black light again rolled out from Lee Gun’s body.

That power frightened the Zodiacs. Was it because they had been driven into a corner? Even though they would suffer losses, they were about to descend directly.

[The Virgo Saint’s holy ground.... No, the Serpent Bearer’s holy ground will be razed to the ground.]

[They tremble as they state the destruction of the holy ground will weaken the Serpent Bearer.]

Of course, Direct descent would impact the surroundings. Even someone like Lee Gun would have a hard time stopping the invasion of the Zodiacs by himself. The holy ground getting damaged would only be a detriment to the Serpent Bearer.

Despite that, Lee Gun let out a frightening laugh. “Really? Try it.”

He showed his will to fight.

The Virgo flinched as she was about to help Lee Gun.

[The Virgo states it will be dangerous if things go further.]

[She states the Serpent Bearer should decrease his use of his power.]

[The Virgo quickly orders her Zodiac Saint to stop the Serpent Bearer.]

Hugo seemed to have realized something. He quickly called out, “Gun!”

However, Lee Gun acted as if he didn’t want to hear it. Jostling Hugo and Kevin to the side, he used his power.

[The power of “Death” has been activated.]

Lee Gun’s eyes turned black in their entirety. The terrifying black light threatened the Zodiacs. The avatars that had been acting boldly reared back in fright. It was a fear of the god of calamity.

[The frightened Zodiacs say they will stop their descent.]

[They ask you to withdraw that power.]

“Fuck off unless you all want to die!” A brutal magical energy emanated from him.

[Gluttony(SSS)]

[The Zodiacs are frightened.]

[You have stolen their magical energy.]

[The Zodiacs desperately run away.]

[You stole a part of their power.]

[You have gained a massive amount of EXP.]

[The affiliate Constructs bow as they worship the Serpent Bearer’s greatness.]

An incredible light surged forth.

In the end, the Zodiacs had been chased away from the holy ground as their magical energy was stolen.

The Virgo and her Constructs were relieved at this. Had the Zodiacs ganged up on them, things would have turned ugly.

Everyone looked at Lee Gun. Most had lost the strength in their legs, and they had sunk to the ground. It was the same for the hostile gods, who had lost the will to fight.

[He is frightening.]

[How can he have so much power....]

Lee Gun’s Constructs didn’t care about the others. Eeny and Meeny quickly got into action.

[Chase out the enemies that remain inside the holy ground!]

[Move the Cancer’s body to Master’s storeroom!]

[Capture the remaining enemies as prisoners!]

Kevin was puzzled by what had happened. Lee Gun’s actions had been odd right now.

‘That wasn’t like him.’

Lee Gun chose to steal the power of the Zodiacs and defended the holy ground. It was an excellent decision, but Lee Gun had been too provocative and aggressive. It was as if he had purposefully tried to chase out the Zodiacs.

Lee Gun didn’t know fear. However, it had been a situation that could endanger the others; he would never provoke an enemy in such a situation.

‘I might be mistaken...’

At that moment...

“That idiot!” Realizing something, Hugo rushed to Lee Gun.

The members of the Virgo temple were surprised.

“Gun! Gun! Wake up, Gun!” Hugo called out to his friend, who had frozen in place. “Gun!”

***

[Chun Sungjae and Chun Yooha became the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint.]

[“If two of them are Zodiac Saints, what about Lee Gun?”]

The living room within the Archer Saint’s holy ground!

Hugo furrowed his brows when he saw the newspaper articles. The world was in an uproar.

[The Cancer has disappeared amongst the divine seats.]

[The Constructs of the crime temple have ceased to exist.]

[The members of the crime temple in various locations are in a state of panic.]

Hugo rolled the newspaper as more breaking news came in. At the same time, he slapped the head of the sleeping Lee Gun with the rolled newspaper. “The world is in an uproar because of you. Hmm? You must be loving it.”

Hugo wasn’t hitting him hard. Yet, Chun Jiwoo lightly grabbed his arm. Of course, she understood what her husband was feeling right now. “You shouldn’t get cranky at someone who fell over in exhaustion. He overdid it to protect you and his affiliate temple and to chase the Zodiacs away.”

“Phew!” Hugo pounded at his chest as if he didn’t like that.

Yes, Lee Gun had used too much of his power this time. That was to be expected since he had gotten rid of a Zodiac. Moreover, the power of death wasn’t ordinary.

‘Then there is the size of his temple. Since he doesn’t have many disciples, he quickly reached his limit.’

Lee Gun had sensed his magical energy dwindling. He had already acquired the Cancer’s power by killing it. That was why he had chased away the Zodiacs through intimidation.

‘He had reached the end of his limit, so he fell unconscious standing up.’

Lee Gun hadn’t wanted to show weakness to the Zodiacs as he was going through that. He had pushed his limit until he became unconscious, yet he didn’t fall to the floor. Moreover, he was able to steal the abilities of the Zodiacs in that small window. It was an amazing feat.

‘He could have used the Virgo, who was next to him.’

Or Lee Gun could have used him.

‘He always wants to do it alone.’

Lee Gun seldom talked about his pain.

This was why Hugo looked at the fragment of Heaven’s Punishment, which Lee Gun tried to keep possession of until the end.

It was something Lee Gun treasured. So Hugo had picked up all the fragments that he could find despite knowing doing this was hopeless.

He grumbled. It almost made him regret doing it. “When he was dying from a fatal disease, he laughed as he came over to play with me. When I found out about it later, I became really angry.”

“Don’t beat yourself up too much. Lee Gun-nim is a Zodiac. He is the head of a temple, so he shoulders great responsibility.”

Hugo grumbled. His friend being a Zodiac was the problem. “Why do you like someone who can’t even die?”

“What? What did you just say?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, is there chicken inside the fridge?”

“Yes. I bought fifty chicken that Lee Gun-nim likes...”

“That won’t be enough. I’ll go get fifty more, and we can boil them...”

Suddenly, another voice rang out.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“Just buy fried chicken. You’re so clueless.”

“!”

Hugo was surprised by the familiar voice.

Lee Gun had boldly taken up the master bedroom’s bed and was texting someone.

Chun Jiwoo laughed in relief. “The kids went to buy pork belly. They said they’ll personally grill it for their uncle.”

“Look at that. Your kids know what’s up. What the hell is boiled chicken? Why would I eat chicken dunked in water?”

Hugo angrily replied, “Just be quiet and eat it. Otherwise, I’ll take out the chicken, and you can just drink the broth.”

“Whatever. I want you to give up being the Zodiac Saint of the Sagittarius.”

What?

Hugo was taken aback. His facial muscles twitched. “You just woke up. What nonsense are you...”

Lee Gun waved his hand in annoyance when he saw Hugo’s expression. His action meant explaining it was tiresome. “Whatever. It’s fine. Just call your Zodiac here.”

“What? My Zodiac...”

“I want you to call it.”

“Even if I want to call him, he keeps refusing to descend...”

Lee Gun laughed in contempt. “Really? He refused to descend?”

Then, he extended his hand. A menacing green light appeared on that hand.

Hugo flinched by instinct. His reaction was normal.

[You have activated Act Forbidden by the Gods(F)]

[Cut Connection]

– It is indiscriminate. This includes memories, connections, loyalty, etc. It severs all worldly connections.

– Cooldown time: A fortnight

It was a vicious skill that could forcefully sever the connection between a Zodiac and their Zodiac Saint! Lee Gun had used this terrifying skill against the Gemini.

He was about to use the skill against Hugo when...

Kwahng!!

“!”

An incredible light spread across the Archer Saint’s holy ground.

This development surprised Chun Sungjae and Chun Yooha, who had arrived at the entrance. Chun Jiwoo’s eyes turned round as well.

Hugo’s eyes changed color. They became brilliant gold. Was it because the Zodiac didn’t want to lose its Zodiac Saint?

[You’re a menace, God of calamity.]

The Sagittarius had appeared.