[Reaper Summon]

Hugo reared back in shock when he saw this person. This shadow that was in the shape of a person was the Pisces Saint.

Hugo hadn’t been sure at first. However, he recognized her when she saw the features hidden between her gloomy hairstyle. “Liv!”

The name of the person before them was Liv Rich, and she was the Zodiac Saint of the Pisces temple.

Amongst the twelve Zodiac temples, two were great magic temples, the Pisces temple being one of them. If the Gemini temple was known for its magic engineering, the Pisces temple was known for its members being like druids. Their styles also differed.

Despite both temples being magical organizations, the Zodiac Saints of both temples were different. Heiji was tall and also strong like a leopard, but Liv was short in stature. If one had to make a comparison, the Pisces Saint was like a philosopher that didn’t leave her alcove.

‘It felt like one was a social butterfly and the other was a loner.’

When Liv was put next to Heiji, the difference was stark.

Hugo remembered that the Pisces Saint was a girl who didn’t laugh a lot.

‘She seemed to hate Gun, but…’

Was she someone that would like him in the first place? Anyway, why did she come out of there? Moreover, she looked like jelly. Clearly, she wasn’t in her normal state. But it didn’t matter.

[She is a contractor who has received a blessing from a hostile god.]

[Warning! She has received a blessing from a god that threatens the Serpent Bearer.]

[Warning! The affiliate Zodiac Saints must terminate the enemy of the master.]

As the voice rang out, Hugo’s body reacted automatically.

‘!’

The magical energy of the Serpent Bearer surged forth. It must have happened since this woman was the Zodiac Saint of a Zodiac that was hostile to Lee Gun.

Seeing this, Liv quickly tried to run away.

‘It’ll be troublesome if Lee Gun catches me.’

When Liv tried to run away, Hugo acted as if he would have none of it. He shot his arrow.

Shoong!

“!”

However, the arrow just passed through her, surprising Hugo.

‘Physical attacks don’t work on her.’

That meant! 

Realizing this fortuitous development, Liv tried to disappear through the wall. There was no way their powers could catch her. She was about to pass through the wall…

[Kuhk!]

However, she was unable to. Lee Gun had caught her by her hair.

Clench!

The flustered Liv tried to turn her head, but Lee Gun yanked her hair. Hugo also tried to help Lee Gun detain her.

Shoong!

“!”

As expected, Hugo’s hand passed right through her.

Lee Gun looked at the flustered Hugo, as if the Archer Saint were pathetic. Lee Gun then said, “Why would you be able to catch her, idiot? She’s a soul.”

“What?”

“Do you realize which skill I used?”

“!”

Hugo realized his mistake. His friend had used a skill he had gained after reaching the second stage of the Divine Status of Death, Reaper Summon.

In simple words, it was a skill that summoned the dead. That meant…!

“W-Wait a moment. Are you saying she’s dead?!”

“Since she reacted to this skill, I guess so?”

Hugo’s mouth fell open from shock. It couldn’t be. Liv had contacted him just a month ago to protect her holy ground. Moreover, when Giselle had invaded his holy ground with the Taurus Saint, Liv had been there with them.

‘Does it mean that she was killed within the past couple of weeks?’

Lee Gun didn’t care about any of that. He let out a cold smile. “This is good since I have business with the Pisces.”

The Pisces had been the one to change Jean-Louis into Kevin at the Devil’s Tower.

Lee Gun was going to crush any Zodiacs who had been involved in his affairs. He would put all of their temples under him.

‘After I killed Abundance, the others are starting to move.’

The ones aiming for the empty lands that used to be under Abundance were on the move. They were the ones who had brought monsters to the earth and the ones responsible for killing “her” twenty-four years ago.

Moreover, the Pisces Saint would be helpful in getting rid of the monarchs that had invaded Seoul twenty-four years ago. She’d also be a big help in taking care of the remaining Zodiacs.

It was as if Liv was looking down on Lee Gun’s murderous intent and plans. She looked like an invalid with her long hair up until that point, but her eyes suddenly flashed. Soon, a strange symbol appeared in her large eyes.

Flash!

Lee Gun furrowed his brows when an odd flash of light appeared before him. A severe burn appeared on his hand.

Kwah-jeek!

[The power of Pisces has dealt a big blow to the deity.]

That wasn’t all.

[The servant of the Pisces has hidden.]

“!”

Lee Gun looked at his hand. Liv wasn’t there anymore. As expected of the transformation Zodiac Saint, she had transformed into something else, then disappeared. Her presence couldn’t be felt.

The transformation ability used by a Saint rank wasn’t poor at all. Moreover, Liv was the Zodiac Saint of the second great magic temple.

The problem was her personality; she was a hikikomori who didn’t like to do troublesome things. Her abilities were fantastic. Her laziness meant that she hid whenever she didn’t want to do something!

“She probably changed into an item.”

“It is obvious!”

Liv found going out to battle too troublesome, so she usually changed herself into a lamp, sofa, book, or wallpaper. She had slept through it all.

Since Hugo knew this, he used his ability to see through things. He first looked at the furniture.

“Tsk! I don’t think she got out.”

If she had, the barrier of the holy ground would have shown a reaction.

While Hugo and Lee Gun were looking at their surroundings, a microscopic organism was trying to exit through the crack in the door.

‘They won’t notice me.’

Yes, it was what Liv had transformed into!

Even if those two were amazing, they wouldn’t notice a microscopic organism.

Liv inwardly laughed in a mocking manner. She was about to leisurely exit the place. However…

Kwahng!

“Lee Gun!! Is it true that you had a girlfriend?”

“?!”

Suddenly, Kevin fell from the sky.

Hugo and Lee Gun were surprised by Kevin’s unexpected appearance. Moreover, the most shocked one was neither of them.

[Poo-huh-huhk…!]

When Kevin had suddenly shown up, Liv had gotten squashed under his foot. His timing had been poor.

Liv had been about to exit through the crack in the door when the Virgo Saint had appeared from the air! Then, he had stepped on her! There was more. Kevin had always been an ice-type awakened being!

Doo-doo-doohk!

[The servant of the Pisces froze from the Virgo’s ice.]

“!”

Since Kevin was emitting his magical energy, the ground froze. And when the ground froze, Liv’s movements slowed down.

Unaware of all this, Kevin asked, “Hey, I’m asking you a question! Did you really have a girlfriend before?”

Hugo was dumbfounded. Why the hell did he show up to ask such a question?

“Gun is a loner. Of course, he never had a lov— Kuhk!!”

Lee Gun kicked Hugo.

As if he was satisfied with the answer, Kevin relaxed. “What the hell? It is a false rumor?”

He had thought he would get to hear a juicy story. Kevin clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed. “It is fine if you didn’t have one. I heard in my territory that Lee Gun had a child. I knew that was a lie. When I heard Lee Gun had a girlfriend, I thought it might be true. That was why I was surprised. I’ll head back now.”

Kevin was about to move. Liv became happy when her upper body became free.

‘Yes. Move your feet all the way. That is all I need.’

She and the Virgo Saint were like oil and water. When the temperature dropped, fish couldn’t move freely.

After Kevin left, Liv would be able to detonate her Zodiac’s power. She would be able to destroy this place. However, it didn’t happen as she wished. 

Hugo stopped Kevin. “What the hell? Did you use Teleport just to ask that question?”

When Kevin turned his head, his weight shifted to his feet.

[Poo-huhk!]

Liv was about to use her magic when she was crushed once again.

The angry Hugo continued, “Do you realize how much one teleportation costs! You could have just called! If it’s from Europe, it should be at least four hundred thousand dollars…!”

“What about it? I don’t usually look at the price since that’s annoying. Isn’t that cheap?”

Hugo let out tears of blood. These rich Zodiac Saint bastards! Four hundred thousand dollars! His temple could use that amount as living expenses for ten years! And Kevin said that was cheap!

Lee Gun clicked his tongue when he saw Hugo shed tears of blood. “I’ll eat the Gemini soon, so you can use their teleport facility. Anyway, we have someone to find.”

Liv scoffed at Lee Gun’s words.

‘He wants to eat the Gemini? There is no way it’ll let him do that.’

Liv knew better since she was a magician Zodiac Saint. Heiji had gotten caught up in something that was her doing. She had been caught by Lee Gun in a ridiculous manner. However, her Zodiac was on a different level.

To stop an apex magician god, Lee Gun would need the wisdom of someone like the Pisces, who was also in charge of a magic temple.

‘Well, it has nothing to do with me.’

The conversation seemed to be over, and Kevin was about to move. It made Liv happy. The foot seemed to be lifting since the power that was pressing down on her body started dissipating.

‘Good! Hurry!’

At that moment…

Kwahng!

Kevin suddenly put strength into his feet once again.

“!”

Then, he suddenly emanated cold energy!

[Northern Wind of January]

Liv screamed when the skill was suddenly activated.

[The servant of the Pisces cannot move since she is surrounded by ice.]

[You cannot maintain your transformation.]

At the same time, light exploded beneath Kevin’s foot, and Liv returned to her original form!

“Oh!” 

Lee Gun laughed when he realized where Liv had been.

Liv couldn’t move thanks to the Virgo Saint’s energy.

Hugo was taken aback, but Kevin’s eyes flashed. 

“Did you really think I wouldn’t know?”

[…!]

As soon as his foot had crushed Liv, Kevin had felt her energy. Taking out his royal holy item, he said, “I was wondering why I couldn’t find you even after I used a trace skill. You were hiding next to Lee Gun.”

Kevin seemed to have some business with Liv. “On the day we went to the Devil’s Tower, you stole my data after you knocked me out. Then, you transformed Jean-Louis, right?”

Kevin took out his royal holy item, the ice blade Winter Frost.

His blue eyes could be seen between his golden hair, and murderous intent raged inside them. “Since Lee Gun wants a piece of Giselle, I won’t lay a hand on her. However, you’re different. You shouldn’t have wronged me like that.”

Amongst all the Zodiac Saints, Kevin had been the only one who hadn’t gone into the Devil’s Tower. He felt humiliated by that. Moreover, he felt used by her.

“I’ll cut off your head myself.” Kevin was about to imbue Winter Frost with magical energy when…

Kwahng!

“Kuh-huhk!!”

A kick from Lee Gun sent her flying.

Kevin looked aggrieved. “What the hell are you doing?”

Lee Gun clicked his tongue. “Don’t touch her.”

“Why! You can let me have her since she’s my mortal enemy!” 

Kevin became angry, saying Lee Gun was sparing her because she was a female Zodiac Saint.

However, Lee Gun just snorted as he looked at Liv. Liv was a soul. Kevin couldn’t cut her throat. The one doing had to be either Yooha or him since they possessed the attribute of death.

“She probably isn’t your mortal enemy.”

“What?”

“She was dead more than twenty years ago. That’s before the Devil’s Tower.”

The two alive Zodiac Saints became surprised. What? She was dead before Lee Gun was trapped?

“Then who is the Pisces Saint that we’ve seen until now?”

“Is it the Zodiac that was contracted to Liv?”

“No.”

“What? Who is it!”

Lee Gun laughed when he heard those words.

* * *

Around that time…

“Wahhhhhhhhh!”

The disciples had gathered at Drachma, and the place was full. The castle was brimming with cheers. It was to be expected since this place was full of people who the disciple didn’t usually get to see.

“It’s the Capricorn temple’s Ten Star!”

“There’s the master craftsmen of the Genius Workshop!”

The Genius Workshop was in charge of making all the weapons for humanity. Because of the numerous rumors about Lee Gun’s weapons circulating recently, they had come here to hold demonstrations.

They were awakened beings walking the single path of being master craftsmen. Therefore, weapons made haphazardly on the side being compared to their masterfully crafted weapons was an insult in itself. It made them angry. That wasn’t all.

‘The other countries said they would purchase our items for a high price.’

They planned on selling a bundle this time around. So their skills being compared to that of an amateur bothered them greatly.

‘This is the chance to undercut the faith toward the Serpent Bearer. It is a chance to raise the faith toward the Capricorn.’

That was the reason for their actions.

“Here. I brought the weapon Lee Gun created.”

“!”

The Archer disciples were behind them, looking baffled.

For some reason, these craftsmen had asked them for a weapon made by Lee Gun. Since Hugo had sent the Archer disciples several blades, the Archer disciple handed over all of them.

“This is useless.”

“What are they going to use to compare and test …”

The craftsmen held up the bow made by Lee Gun.

“Please listen to us closely! If you trust false information, it’ll endanger your lives. That is why we quickly hosted this event.”

“!”

Their eyes flashed seriously.

“I’ll say this again. An SS-rank holy item can be made only by the Genius Workshop. We are under the direct supervision of the Capricorn. No other Zodiac can make such items.”

“It is said that Lee Gun-nim made an SS-rank item. That is an irresponsible statement that could get disciples killed.”

“That’s right. What would happen if you bought a low-rank weapon when it was claimed to be an SS-rank? Do you realize what kind of damage you can suffer on the battlefield?”

“!”

The eyes of the Archer disciples turned round. Is that what these bastards were going to do?

“Please do not worry! We’ll confirm it for you.”

The master craftsmen held up a blade they had made at the same time as they held up the bow Lee Gun had made.

“If the item made by Lee Gun-nim is truly an SS-rank item, it should have the basic option of being as hard as diamond, right?”

The crowd stirred.

“This is an SS-rank blade we made. We’ll try to destroy the bow with the blade. If the bow is really an SS-rank item, it should withstand this attack."

“If it isn’t…”

The result would be obvious.

They confidently raised the blade. The next second, the sword fell toward Lee Gun’s bow.