CH 209

“If I said to call for it, you call it here.” Killing intent appeared in Lee Gun’s eyes.

Confronted with that gaze, Stevens had no choice but to flinch.

‘What is it? Something feels different.’

Stevens felt something unfamiliar from Lee Gun. Of course, he had felt different when Lee Gun had returned after twenty years.

When Lee Gun had awakened as the Serpent Bearer, his rejuvenated face and magical energy had changed. He had become a completely different person. It was as if a weak and sickly monster had gotten rejuvenated. Stevens had finally gotten used to it.

‘However, he changed again.’

Lee Gun had become much stronger than the last time they had met. 

As a Zodiac Saint, Stevens found it hard to grow in power. Therefore, it terrified him that every time he saw Lee Gun, Lee Gun would be stronger.

Still, this felt a bit different.

‘He is scary.’

Was the sensation coming from the magical energy? Stevens couldn’t put a finger on it, but it was frigid. He felt as if his breath was being constricted.

‘Where did I feel this before?’

Soon, Stevens realized where he had felt this sensation, and he bit his tongue.

‘It was on the battlefield.’

Yes, this was the sensation he had felt when Death touched his skin. In reality, Stevens was feeling the Divine status of Death.

While Lee Gun had both the Life and Death Divine statuses, Death had evolved to the second stage. Therefore, his attribute was tilted toward Death.

The first stage of any Divine status was like a rookie status. Since Lee Gun was a newly born god, it was as if he were in his infancy. However, things were different now.

‘His scent as a human has disappeared further.’

Lee Gun felt closer to the Zodiacs. No, it was a more ominous feeling.

However, Stevens soon shook his head from side to side. The important part wasn’t the change in the atmosphere around Lee Gun.

“O…Our Zodiac is sleeping right now.”

“Is that so? It is sleeping?”

Of course, this was a bald-faced lie.

As soon as Lee Gun had arrived at the Leo Saint’s holy ground, the Leo had gone crazy. Since Lee Gun had placed a blackout screen on the Divine world, the Leo was unable to see Lee Gun. 

However, this was the Leo temple. A Zodiac would view everything within its holy ground. As soon as Lee Gun had entered the holy ground, he had stepped into the sensory range of the Leo.

And since the Zodiac could clearly see Lee Gun, the Leo hissed at Stevens and threw a tantrum.

[The Leo is angry. It says to quickly bring Lee Gun to the Divine world.]

[The Leo has been waiting in front of the door, and it is angry that its butt hurts.]

[The Leo says it will kill the Serpent Bearer and take the Chalice. It bares its teeth.]

With his Zodiac going crazy, Stevens felt a headache as he was connected to his Zodiac. He ground his teeth. 

A Zodiac could be manifested in two ways, the first being a Zodiac Saint calling for the Zodiac and the other was the Zodiac descending on its own. 

Of course, Stevens’s master wouldn’t normally care about the earth’s environment. It would have appeared here, the consequences be damned.

‘That’s why two-thirds of our holy ground were destroyed last time.’

When Red Eye had invaded, the Leo’s holy ground had suffered damage. However, the damage caused by its owner was bigger.

The holy ground couldn’t bear the Leo descending once again. If the holy ground got destroyed, its temple couldn’t acquire the meat that it liked. As if to prove this point, there would be no special meal for the Leo soon.

Therefore, Stevens had been firmly telling its master that it couldn’t come down to earth as it pleased. And so, the Leo kept its foul temper in check as it didn't leave the Divine world.

‘There is no way the Leo would show up.’

Stevens just had to make the damned disciple thief leave.

‘In the first place, there has to be a reason Lee Gun is looking for our master.’

Stevens said, “Our master is sleeping. You should come next time—”

“Is that so? Maybe I should just take this back.”

“?”

Lee Gun took something out of his pocket and shook it. It was an antique cup, the size of a teacup. This item was the Chalice.

Stevens instantly recognized it, and his face turned pale.

And as if he had expected this reaction, Lee Gun laughed like a sly fox. “I made this Fast Growth Chalice. I believe the Leo’s tooth will grow back with this. But it’s too bad. I’ll sell it to a different Zodiac suffering under similar pain.”

Stevens screamed when he saw the laughing face. And as expected…

Kwahng!!!

[The Leo roars. It says it wants that Chalice.]

[The Leo says it’ll be there as soon as possible. It bares its teeth and says not to sell the Chalice to a different Zodiac.]

[The Leo descends to this land.]

Lee Gun grinned as a golden light appeared in the sky.

Kwah-gwa-gwahng!

It was the descent of a Zodiac! In the end, everything Stevens had expected to happen came to fruition. He clutched his head as the golden light ruthlessly descended toward the Leo Saint’s building.

Koo-goo-goong!

The deluge of the Zodiac’s light instantly destroyed the guest building of the Leo temple. The shock gave rise to enormous winds. The disciples in and out of the building screamed as they were sent flying.

The impact was akin to an atomic bomb falling from the sky! The building collapsed. Stevens, who had been sitting on the sofa, quickly got out of there. At the same time, the incredible winds swept around.

Koo-goo-goong!

How long had passed? When Stevens opened his eyes again, he saw the enormous lion roar after it had destroyed the Leo Saint’s holy ground once again.

[The Leo has revealed itself.]

[The Leo has activated its basic attribute, Intimidation.]

[Intimidation: It breaks the opponent’s spirit. (Decreases stats, defense, and speed)]

The roar of the savage beast could freeze one’s soul. This roar rang throughout heaven and earth.

The Leo disciples were frightened and appalled when their Zodiac appeared once again and destroyed its own holy ground.

“Ahhhk! Why is the Zodiac here again?”

“Saint-nim said he took steps so that it wouldn’t be able to come here…!!”

“We were barely able to restore the buildings of the holy ground!!! Not again!!!”

“Our master consumed the Temple energy once again!”

The Leo didn’t care about that as it looked for Lee Gun.

[Finally, I get to see your face!!]

The Leo roared. It seemed to have been waiting for Lee Gun impatiently. The lion that was bigger than a ten-story building seemed glad to meet Lee Gun. It raised its front paw.

[I have a lot to say, but I want the Chalice first!]

Kwahng!

The front paw infused with power came crashing toward the ground ruthlessly. The building-sized claws roughly scratched the ground.

Of course, Lee Gun jumped between the claws. Softly landing, he laughed. His gaze headed toward the half-grown Leo’s fang. He laughed in satisfaction. “What the hell? I was worried, but it already grew a lot.”

“…!” Stevens felt a chill run up his back when he saw Lee Gun’s bright smile. Could it be? The reason he called for the Zodiac…!

[Serpent Eater special attribute has been activated.]

Lee Gun’s eyes turned red, and a chain made out of green light encircled the Leo’s neck and wrists.

Kwah-jeek!

[The Leo is bound.]

[The Leo’s massive power resists the Serpent Bearer’s power.]

“Master!”

All the Leo disciples were shocked. Stevens also looked shocked as he glared at Lee Gun.

“Hey!”

It was different from before. When Lee Gun faced the Leo last time, it had felt like he had been struggling. However, right now, they were on much more equal terms. Then there was the power that had surged forth just now!

Caught in the Serpent Bearer’s chains, the Leo laughed in contentment.

[It seemed you evolved your Divine status, hatchling!]

All gods could evolve using the bible and the power of their disciples.

[You’re only on the second stage! Don’t act so high and mighty! You’re the enemy of my tooth!]

The Leo broke the Serpent Bearer’s chains. When it opened its mouth, however…

Kwah-jeek!!

The Leo’s body shook as if it was paralyzed. 

Lee Gun laughed. “It’s finally working.”

[You…!]

A black power had invaded the Leo’s body. This was what Lee Gun had spread in the dimensional crack that existed between the earth and the divine world, the Cancer’s Star of Darkness.

The spiritual body of the Leo had to cross it, so the Star of Darkness had invaded it.

“You were still energetic, so I thought I would have to use my poison too.” Lee Gun finally proceeded to the main issue. He arrived in front of the Leo, who was lying down. “I called you because I have a question for you. It’s regarding what happened twenty-four years ago.”

[!]

The Leo became surprised when Lee Gun mentioned the period. This was to be expected since that period had only one incident where the Leo was involved.

Moreover, the Aries had been hysterical when the Serpent Bearer had been found.

Lee Gun’s eyes flashed menacingly. “I read the memories of a monster that invaded Seoul twenty-four years ago. I heard they invaded to find the Serpent Bearer.”

[…!]

“I heard someone amongst the Zodiacs leaked the location of the Serpent Bearer to the monarchs.”

The eyes of the Leo flashed, the eyes that were many times larger than Lee Gun.

[Are you suspicious that it's me?]

The Leo was baffled. It was about to open its mouth.

Puhk!

[Kyahhhhk!]

However, Lee Gun kicked the enormous eye with his foot. He said as he looked at Stevens, “This dumb cat wasn’t supposed to be in Seoul at the time, yet it was present in the monster’s memories.”

It was the truth. Lee Gun had been unaware at the time, but he had heard it through the monster’s memories. The Leo was the one who had given directions toward the department store that Lee Gun had entered!

“Your size was different, but you were there.” Lee Gun’s eyes let out wicked killing intent. The Divine status of Death leaked out of him.

Stevens felt like his throat was constricting.

“Were you involved in the invasion?”

At that moment, the captured Leo suddenly burst out laughing for some reason.

[Do not presume too much.]

“!”

The serious Leo let out a killing intent that was different from before.

[Warning! The Leo is using Death's Instinct.]

Something surprising happened.

Koo-goo-goong!!

Accompanying a holy golden light, lightning emanated from the Leo’s body.

Kwah-jee-jeek!

The enormous power destroyed the Star of Darkness, which was eroding its body. The power also destroyed the Serpent Eater’s chains, which had been squeezing the Leo’s neck and arms.

The Leo revealed its fangs as it spoke.

[No matter how much I hate the Serpent Bearer, I would never cooperate with the monsters!]

Lee Gun smiled at the sight, while Stevens sweated.

The Zodiac was trying to be menacing, but its fangs were mismatched. It didn’t look dignified at all.

Lee Gun laughed as if the Leo had confirmed it. “So you never went there?”

[In the first place, Korea was troublesome, so I never went there in the first place…!]

Lee Gun laughed. The Leo was like a cat that didn’t like to move. It would have sent its Zodiac Saint instead. There was no way it would move directly. That meant…

‘It was the Pisces.’

The Pisces was the god of transformation. In the Devil’s Tower, the Pisces had turned Jean-Louis into Kevin, and Jean-Louis had then stabbed Lee Gun.

It was a treacherous being that made one nauseous. 

When it seemed Lee Gun was finished with his matter. Stevens quickly spoke up. “Your business is done here, right? Let’s get…!”

He wanted to send his Zodiac back. Stevens quickly tried to use the Zodiac Saint skill.

However, Lee Gun smirked as if to say it was going nowhere.

[Kyahhhhk!!!]

Lee Gun activated Death's Instinct and broke the Leo’s fang with his foot.

Kwah-jeek!

“Oh, Master!!!”

[Master!!!]

To be precise, he had hit the root. When the tooth started to wobble, Lee Gun kicked it again. He looked to be enjoying himself.

In a flash, a fang was dislodged!

Kwah-jeek!

[Kyahhhhhhhk!]

The last time, Lee Gun had a hard time extracting the tooth because he was under a penalty. Now that he could use 100% of his power, he could use an entirely different method! This was the real reason Lee Gun had come here.

Lee Gun laughed. “Give me more! They are my teeth!!!”

Boohoo-gahk!

[Kyahhhhhk!!]

Aside from the still-growing baby tooth, Lee Gun extracted the three remaining fangs by kicking them.

[You have acquired the Leo’s teeth.]

[You have gained EXP.]

Lee Gun loved the power of Heaven’s Punishment, which had been upgraded using the tooth.

‘If I want to fight a Monarch, I need at least two more EX-rank equipment!’

Moreover, he had found out that the Leo had nothing to do with the incident from 24 years ago. He could use it as good ingredients now! “Since I’m at it, let me clip your nails! Bastard!”

Lee Gun laughed as he raised Heaven’s Punishment.

[Heaven’s Punishment says the Leo is excellent as an ingredient.]

[Heaven’s Punishment says it’ll be a big help to its master.]

The Leo released a savage power, but it didn’t matter.

[Psalm of Sungjae]

Page 50

[The Serpent Bearer’s coolness pierced the sky. He extracted the fang of the Leo.]

- Effect: Ingredient acquisition probability up (Debuff on the Leo. Twice the number of ingredients acquired)

The Leo screamed.

Stevens became angry at the sight. He yelled at his disciples to catch Lee Gun. However…

“Gasp! Lee Gun-nim! You’re so cool!”

“I might fall for you! Just kill that cat!”

“Idiots!!”

The bible’s Faith Increase was in effect. The disciples were cheering on Lee Gun.

It was unknown as to how much time had passed.

[Warning! The bible’s effect is coming to an end.]

[Warning! The Leo is taking damage to use 100% of its power.]

Lee Gun’s eyes flashed.

The Leo, who had its nails clipped, violently charged Lee Gun.

[I was going easy because you had the Chalice! But I won’t forgive you now!]

Lee Gun quickly took out his slime and tossed it toward the Leo.

The Leo was about to swallow the slime as if it wanted the slime to buzz off.

Boom!

“Master!!”

The slime changed its form, and it emitted a powder. 

The Leo fell. As if that wasn’t enough, it started to roll around on the ground.

Everyone was surprised, wondering what had happened.

Clank!

As for Lee Gun, he smirked as he picked up the enormous scissor.