A blinding light exploded forth from Lee Gunâs fist. This wasnât a normal power. It was a monstrous power that rivaled the Zodiacs of the battle-type Saints.
Lee Gunâs power was strong like steel as he destroyed Giselleâs face.
Puh-guhk!
It sounded like an egg breaking open.
Kevin and Hugo couldnât close their mouths. Giselleâs face was nowhere to be seen. The powerful magical energy of the Serpent Bearer had destroyed her face.
In the end, the only thing left was Giselleâs neck. After losing her head, the Libra Saint fell over as she lost strength.
Boom!
At the same time, a scream came from a window of the Archer Saintâs building.
âAhhk!â
âI-Isnât that the Libra Saint?â
The voice was coming from the third floor. The ones there were Suh Yeorin and Suh Jihoon. These siblings were in charge of defending and repairing the buildingâs interior.
When the Taurus Saint had stopped attacking the holy ground, they had stuck their heads out the window. However, the corpse of the Libra Saint had shocked them.
âThatâs her robe! Iâm sure of it!â
Each Zodiac Saint possessed iconic holy items. The best example was the Leo Saintâs golden armor. It was famous for appearing when the Leo Saint went into his battle mode.
The clothes Giselle wore were similarly famous.
It was also why Hugo couldnât believe what he was seeing. The Libra Saint didnât move an inch after Lee Gun obliterated her head.
âIs she really dead?â
Kevin had the same thought as he stood frozen.
In terms of physical defense, the Libra Saint was more outstanding than the Taurus Saint. She hadnât budged an inch even when she had faced the physically-strongest Zodiac Saints. And that wasnât all.
âSheâs a Zodiac Saint with divine protection around her.â
Even if one had powerful strength, destroying a Zodiac Saintâs body like a tomato should have been impossible.
In a fight between Zodiac Saints, the most one could expect was a critical wound. However, this was different.
Lee Gun had destroyed the vessel.
Therefore, Kevin quickly approached Giselle. He wanted to check if she was dead or alive. However, when he touched the corpse with his hand, his brows furrowed.
Of course, he felt no heartbeat. He also didnât feel the magical energy of the Libra. It being there wouldâve meant she was alive.
âShe is dead.â
Hugo was surprised. âThat woman is dead? No way!â
âShe really is. She is dead.â
At that momentâŚ
âThereâs no way sheâs dead! Thatâs a clone!â
â!â
The one venting his anger was the Taurus Saint. After taking that hit from Lee Gun, the Taurus Saint had fainted. It was just now that he had crawled out of the hole.
He was in such a rough shape that even looking at him with open eyes was hard. It seemed he was resilient in keeping his life like a cockroach; after all, he was a defensive-type Zodiac Saint.
Anyway, the Taurus Saint huffed as he glared at Lee Gun and Kevin. âThat woman is close to the Crab Saint. Do you not realize what that means?â
Of course, they knew what that implied.
The Crab Saintâs specialty was splitting himself. How could Giselle not take advantage of that skill?
âOf course, thatâs a clone!â
Lee Gun looked at Hugo as if he found this detestable. âHey, Taeksoo.â
Seeing the look in his friendâs eyes, Hugo called forth a flame. Burning the body with the sun godâs flame could tell if that was a clone or not.
âIf thatâs a real corpse, there will be ashes from the bone. If itâs a clone, the Crab Saintâs carapace will appear.â
Finally, the Sagittariusâs flame engulfed the corpse.
ââŚ!!â
Aside from Lee Gun, everyone was surprised. The Taurus Saint just despaired.
The flame had burned, leaving behind the ashes from human bones.
They could conclude only one thing.
âIs⌠Is she really dead?â
The Taurus Saint looked like he was going to collapse in front of the remains. âThat makes no sense. For what reason did I go under her?â
Lee Gun cackled when the Taurus Saint gnashed his teeth. âAn idiot did something idiotic!â
â!â
The Taurus Saint looked at Lee Gun as if he wanted to kill the man.
However, Lee Gun sneered while dusting off his hands. âWhy the hell would you eat the ass of a different Zodiac? Thatâs why you had your power taken by that woman, idiot.â
An odd look appeared in Hugoâs eyes. âThe Taurus Saint had his power stolen? By Giselle?â
âThat isnât all. He had his contribution stolen too.â
The Taurus Saint sounded baffled.
âIt seems you know nothing since you arenât a Zodiac Saint! Contribution is something given to a Zodiac.â
âThatâs right, Gun. Even if the Taurus Saint was under Giselle, thereâs no way his contribution would head toward another Zodiac SaintâŚâ
âYes! Thereâs no way that would happen, but this assumes your opponent is human.â
Silence descended upon them. What did he just say?
âWe are assuming our opponent is human?â
Their faces froze.
âWait a moment. What⌠What the hell do you mean?â
At that moment, an enraged voice rang out.
[I never expected you to notice to that extent.]
â?!â
An ominous smoke appeared above Giselleâs corpse. Surprisingly, it was a spirit.
The nude woman glared at Lee Gun.
[A mere mutant dares to destroy my body?]
She sounded like she wanted to rip Lee Gun into pieces. It was clear that this was Giselleâs voice. However, the more frightening part was the identity of this spirit.
âZ-Zodiac?!â
The Taurus Saint fell to the ground.
As Zodiac Saints, there was no way they would fail to recognize the energy of a Zodiac.
The number varied depending on the Zodiac Saint, but the Zodiac Saints had always met the Zodiacs in the inner world. Zodiacs were like Constructs in that they were both in the divine rank. However, their powers were clearly different. The energy coming from them felt oppressive.
Hugo had no idea what was going on. He shook as he looked at his friend.
Lee Gun looked askance at his reaction. âWhy are you surprised like an idiot? Close your mouth!â
âWhy am I surprised⌠Hey!!â
âWhat? You shouldâve realized it as soon as she revived Red Eye.â
ââŚ?!â
âEven if that woman is supposed to be the Zodiac Saint of equivalent exchange, do you think that was something a human could pull off?â
â?!â
No way!
Lee Gun once again released Death Instinct as he let out a frightening laugh. âYes. This Zodiac Saint isnât human. Sheâs a Zodiac pretending to be one.â
âSheâs pretending to be human? Since when!â
âIâm not sure. I donât know if the owner of that body was her Zodiac Saint or not. At the very least, she became that thing over there before we entered the Devilâs Tower.â
â?!â
They were in a state of shock.
Why would a Zodiac pose as one of the twelve Zodiac Saints? Nevertheless, the reasoning didnât matter.
Realizing the implication of Lee Gunâs words, the Taurus Saint was frightened. âIf Giselle really was a ZodiacâŚâ
This method could have been used to steal his contribution. It was true that the Taurusâs power had become weaker. At the time, the Taurus Saint had thought this was because he had lost disciples to the Libra Saint.
[I should have killed the mutant in the beginning.]
A terrifying light exploded forth from Giselleâs body. At the same time, a gate emitting yellow light opened in the sky.
The Zodiac Saints froze when something came out of it.
âThey areâŚ!â
Constructs had appeared out of the gate. However, that wasnât the only reason for the Zodiac Saintsâ surprise.
[The Four Royal Guardian Gods]
These Constructs were on a different level than the low-level gods that normally protected the holy grounds. In short, they were the highest-ranked amongst the eighty-eight Constructs.
They would react to their ownerâs intention to blow up this region. It wouldnât just be the Archer Saintâs holy ground. The region would include the entirety of Korea, which was Lee Gunâs base. The Zodiac Saints might die too.
âShit! We have to get rid of it before they are fully summoned.â
The three Zodiac Saints desperately made the signs of their Zodiacs. This wasnât a common sight. It was as if the three Zodiac Saints had promised to do this at the same time. Every one of them got on their knee and clasped their hands together.
âOh, king of the great scorching heat. Please accept the call from your servant!â
âOh, great adamant god! Please give me the power of the adamant so that I can deal a heavy blow to the enemy that tricked us!â
âOh, great goddess of the moon! Stop stealing glances at that man and quickly lend me your power!â
As those words reverberated in the air, a light emanated from each of their bodies.
[Each servant of the Zodiacs is borrowing divine power.]
Along with that voice, a gate opened in the sky.
Boom!
Koo-goo-goohng!
The ones to appear this time were the other eighty-eight Constructs. They were the gods the Zodiacs had sent here at the request of the Zodiac Saints.
The Zodiac Saints had to consume a massive amount of contribution, but it couldnât be helped in this situation. Their opponents were gods, including a Zodiac. It wasnât something they could cover with only their powers.
[Protect our master!]
The Constructs clashed against the other Constructs.
At the same time, the Libraâs Constructs yelled out in desperation.
[Guide our master to our holy ground!]
[Get her body!]
The Libraâs Constructs picked up the pieces of Giselleâs body. They were picking up parts that had yet to completely burn.
Moreover, Giselle was using the chaos to leisurely use her Return skill.
HoweverâŚ
[How dare you run away, you fraud!]
The Taurus Saint rushed Giselle. He looked different from his usual self.
â!â
Hugo, who had been reloading his bow, flinched. âThatâs the Demigod state!â
A Zodiac Saint could use a Zodiacâs power in three stages. The first of them was direct intervention, the second was possession, and the last was the Demigod state.
In the first stage, a Zodiac could imbue a body part of the Zodiac Saint with its power. The second stage was where the Zodiac borrowed the body of the Zodiac Saint, which allowed the Zodiac to descend into this world.
âAll Zodiac Saints can use the two stages.â
However, the final stage was different. Only the talented Zodiac Saints could use the Demigod state.
The difference between the second and the third stages was the amount of power one could use.
The second stage was the direct possession by a Zodiac. However, the human body had its limits, so only 50% of the Zodiacâs power could be used. Any more, and the human couldnât withstand it.
But, the Demigod state, the third stage, was where the Zodiac Saintâs body was upgraded.
The Zodiac Saint changed into the form of the Zodiac, and this allowed them to use as close to 100% of the Zodiacâs power as possible.
This was basically imitating a god. One would become a copycat or a doppelganger of the Zodiac. For a brief time, this phenomenon allowed the Zodiac Saints to use divine power.
And right now, a bull emitting a massive amount of light tried to pierce Giselle.
[Die!]
Kwah-jee-jeek!
[Master!]
HoweverâŚ
[Huhk!]
The Taurus Saint became surprised after he pierced Giselle. Despite the bullâs enormous horn piercing through her body, Giselle laughed in a light-hearted manner.
The Taurus Saint had manifested his Zodiacâs power, so why wasnât his attack working on Giselle?
[WhyâŚ]
Giselle contemptuously laughed.
[Youâre foolish. Do you think an attack from a mere human will work on me?]
[!]
The monster bull froze.
As Giselle savagely laughed, a brutal magical energy erupted around her.
[Humans cannot attack me even if you call forth a monster bull.]
[Shit!]
[Die as you wallow in your foolishness.]
Giselle said with a sharp laugh.
âYou really are putting on a show. You know you canât attack either.â
â?!â
It was Lee Gun. Standing atop the roof of the Archer Saintâs holy ground, he spoke to the shocked Giselle. âWhy are you so surprised? You canât manifest your ability without a body. I donât know whose it is, but you used that damned face to swindle everyone.â
[What?]
âIf you could use your ability in that state, you wouldâve already taken over the world.â
Giselle glared at him. At that moment, the Taurus Saint shouted in despair.
[That means we canât attack each other?]
âWhy would I be unable to attack?â
[What?]
At that moment, light exploded forth from Lee Gunâs body. Then a large green magic circle appeared at the heart of the Archer Saintâs holy ground.
[The Serpent Bearerâs awakened skill(SSS) has been used.]
[Gluttony(SSS)]
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