[The Cup of Water’s Star God, the master of the Holy Grail, requests negotiations]
At that notification, Yi Geon let out a scoff.
What? Negotiations??
Yi Geon’s eyes turned menacing.
Of course, that notification was something only Yi Geon could hear. So much so that Sophie in front of him just looked bewildered.
‘They’re pulling stunts now.’
And well she might be confused. The Cup of Water was the very Star God who had appeared claiming to be a contract partner back when they were eliminating the Cup of Abundance.
‘There were definitely five bastards who showed up then.’
That’s how it was.
And maybe they felt some shame after all.
They tried to hide their forms, even concealing the color of their demonic power later on, but well.
Others might not know, but he wasn’t one to fail to discern their energy signature.
And the fact they were in league with the Balance and the Cup of Abundance was an established fact. These bastards, who had likely participated in trying to kill him, dared to say what?
‘Negotiations?’
Yi Geon ground his teeth audibly.
But whether he did so or not, the notification echoed again.
[The Holy Grail’s master says such opportunities are rare for you]
[They say accepting negotiations will also be beneficial for the master of the Serpent Holder Seat]
Veins bulged on Yi Geon’s face.
“Damn it, what is this insolence.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yi Geon grabbed Sophie’s head.
He intended to use the Serpent Holder Seat’s
[Accessing the characteristics of the Serpent Holder Seat]
[Snake Catcher], [Able to Discover Death], [Able to Revive the Dead], [Venom Bearer]
Those were the inherent characteristics unique to each Star Seat.
For a Star Seat like the Divine Archer, this included fire resistance, accuracy correction, etc. – buffs that were always maintained and applied only to the user.
Therefore, to attack an opponent,
However, the Serpent Holder Seat was still a small Star Seat, with few accumulated Divine (Achievements) and no established framework.
Naturally, it had few skills, and most of its possessed skills were auxiliary, like
[Invoking the
- Bestows ‘Critical Hit’ property on all objects
- Bestows ‘Sharp’ property on all objects
- Bestows ‘Hunting’ property on all objects
- Base damage increase (+20%)
- Capture property
[Temporarily converting the corresponding
- Captures the opponent (Grants Critical Hit, Sharp, Hunting properties)
Simultaneously, Yi Geon’s pupils changed to resemble a snake’s and glowed red.
And in that moment!
[The
Sophie almost screamed.
It felt like an iron skewer was being driven straight through her from the crown of her head to her toes.
And then, as if pulling out her innards, the moment Yi Geon yanked his gripping hand upwards!
“Gahk!!”
Sophie choked. She even felt like a fish caught in a net and being hauled away.
That was because of the effect of the skill activated by converting the characteristic.
[The Capture characteristic has seized the Holy Grail master’s arm]
[The
It was unmistakable.
The contracted Star God was being forcibly pulled out from the Divine Realm. This was possible because a Saint and Star God were connected by their souls.
Thus, Sophie was bewildered.
‘This man... knows everything about the contract between Saint and Star God!’
That was right.
Though he kept the Bull Seat around as a red-eyed dog chew, Yi Geon hadn’t captured the Sea-Goat Seat’s Saint and dragged him along alive for nothing.
Yi Geon had conducted all sorts of experiments on the Sea-Goat Seat’s Saint regarding Star Gods and Saints.
Just as the Saint had tried to use him as a test subject.
And in the midst of it all, he had also learned the methods of utilizing Characteristics.
As expected, it was just as.
[A Star God is always connected to their Saint]
[The skill is pulling the Star God out]
[Pulling the Star God out through the contract connected to the Saint]
Yi Geon smiled.
‘Well, it consumes a lot of Divine Power, but it’s quite useful.’
Unlike constellations and Holy Adepts, it seemed the master could even utilize Characteristics as Active Skills.
And the Serpent Holder Seat had quite a few useful Characteristics when converted to Active Skills.
That wasn’t all.
Most importantly, when a
And since it was fundamentally SSS-rank, there was no need to waste points leveling it up from F-rank.
‘Well, it wasn’t instant, though.’
Yi Geon, having activated the skill, lifted the corners of his mouth.
And the reason why he used this characteristic was simple.
‘The higher the synchronization rate between a Star God and Saint, the more solidly they are connected.’
Of course, in the case of the Sea-Goat Seat’s Star God, the opponent had lowered his synchronization rate himself, making him difficult to force out, but well.
‘This one is currently treating their Saint, so their synchronization rate is high.’
It was the perfect state to exploit.
In fact, he felt a sensation in his hand. It felt like grasping something akin to cold slime.
And that moment!
Having damaged Sophie precisely for this, Yi Geon’s eyes flashed as he pulled his hand back.
It was a motion like yanking something out of a field!
Flash!
With a burst of light, Sophie heaved and vomited blood. And Sophie’s eye color changed.
The blue eyes turned red.
But what was more astonishing was something else.
“Kyaak!”
“Th-That’s…!”
As if a soul was being pulled out of Sophie’s body, something was being dragged out, caught in Yi Geon’s grasp.
It was the Star God.
[The Holy Grail’s master connected to the Saint has been forcibly pulled out]
[Caught by the
[Bleeding] [Paralysis]
It was a creature with a violet glow.
And perhaps because it was forcibly pulled out.
It vaguely resembled a human, but it wasn’t a perfect human form like the Star Gods of the Virgin or Divine Archer Seats.
Of course, he had never seen the true forms of those two Gods, but according to Kevin and Hugo, they were incredibly handsome and beautiful men and women.
And upon seeing the half-pulled-out master of the Holy Grail, Yang Wei fell flat on his rear in shock.
It made sense; while Yi Geon grabbing the Star God by the hair and dragging it out was astonishing enough.
‘This crazy bastard. What did he do.’
Was it because he was currently inside the body of an Unknown Civilization General-rank?
The current Yang Wei could see things invisible to humans.
Namely, the life force and demonic power of beings on the human side, such as Star Gods and humans. He could see them visualized in an aura form.
And it was the same now.
Even at a glance, he could see that Yi Geon’s damage was being inflicted upon the Star God.
‘That guy, they said he even killed the Star God of the Cup of Abundance…!’
Whether that was true or not, anyway, was he planning to hunt down even the Star God of the Cup of Water?!
That was why Yang Wei couldn’t help but swallow dryly.
At this point, the ‘Serpent’ in
But that was only momentary.
Yi Geon, who was pulling out the Holy Grail’s master, jumped back hastily.
Boom!
It was due to the demonic power the Holy Grail’s master shot from its eyes.
Of course, he didn’t dodge simply because of the attack.
‘Skill release.’
[The skill has been released]
[Capture has been released]
[The Snake Catcher skill has reverted to its characteristic state]
At the same time, Yi Geon furrowed his brows.
‘So there are these kinds of problems with forced extraction.’
When he opened his clenched fist, skin was peeled back, revealing the muscles of his hand.
[The opponent’s Divine Power has ruined the hand]
[Super Regeneration (S) is activating]
[The power of Super Regeneration does not work against Divine Wrath]
[The wound cannot be healed]
[The Masochism characteristic is exerted]
Yi Geon shook his painful hand, but he understood.
‘Well, great skills always come with big risks.’
Besides, Super Regeneration hadn’t reached max level yet, so it was a natural outcome.
And actually, the pain didn’t matter. This level of pain was more like adrenaline to him.
Soon, the Star God tried to flee, but Yi Geon grabbed Sophie’s shoulder again and activated the Snake Catcher skill.
Crunch!
“Keok!”
Chains shot out from Yi Geon’s hand and the Star God was dragged out again.
Yi Geon smiled.
“Can’t escape. You.”
Just as the Star God gritted its teeth at that menacing smile.
Flash!
“!”
Suddenly, violet light burst from the sky.
And within that violet light, a familiar object appeared.
That object was none other than a golden chalice!
At that sight, both the nearby Holy Adepts and the collapsed Monstrosities couldn’t help but be shocked.
“Th-That’s the Holy Grail!”
Everyone’s gaze changed.
That item was that significant.
[Divine Miracle (SSS)] - Imperial Holy Relic
The Holy Grail was literally a ‘Miracle’.
The Holy Grail and the water within could manifest various miracles depending on the faith and offerings dedicated.
Truly, any miracle was possible.
For instance, poison, skills, heavenly taste, strength, immortality, even the creation of life. More than that, it could even revive things that were not meant to die.
‘Therefore, a miraculous treasure even Gods entrust with tasks.’
And 20 years ago.
That was exactly what Yi Geon had pinned his hopes on to heal his body.
In truth, Yi Geon had offered over 90% of the compensation he received to this master of the Holy Grail.
Usually, Sophie accepted the requests, and they gathered materials and placed them inside the Grail. Afterwards, the Star God activated the Grail.
But in this very moment.
[The Holy Grail’s master says they will allow the use of the Imperial Holy Relic as a condition for negotiations]
[Unlike 20 years ago, they laugh, saying they absolutely will not accept any price]
[They say it’s only natural since they are a fellow Star God of the 13]
At those words, Yi Geon laughed as if dumbfounded.
What? Fellow?
“What utter bullshit.”
“!”
“So you tried so hard to kill me because we’re fellow Star Gods?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Sophie screamed.
Precisely, the Holy Grail’s master did.
[Obtained Divine-grade (SSS-rank) data (Purification)]
Yi Geon had slammed his fist into Sophie’s face.
And the Star God, receiving the Saint’s damage directly, glared at Yi Geon as if to kill him.
But Yi Geon, with eyes even more murderous, approached them as they were knocked down.
The dark smoke of
“Come to think of it.”
“!”
“Effectively, it was you who was in charge of healing my body using the Holy Grail, wasn’t it. But it never healed well, did it? Even my face hardly showed progress.”
“……!”
“Back then, I just heard it through this bed-wetter’s mouth, but you kept saying the offerings were insufficient, that more needed to go in to make a more effective remedy, didn’t you?”
Yang Wei was bewildered.
“Hey, hey! Yi Geon! The opponent is a Star God…!”
“And now I find out you were among the Gods who conspired to kill me?”
Yang Wei’s body, which had been trying to stop Yi Geon, trembled.
And finally, at the moment Yi Geon arrived before Sophie, no, the Holy Grail’s master.
“Then, can I assume you deliberately didn’t heal me?”
Yi Geon’s eyes turned into red snake eyes once more. His body was already saturated with black demonic power.
And just as Yi Geon was about to reach out his hand.
Flash!
Along with a pouring stream of water, roars echoed from the surroundings.
“Kieeeek!!”
The Monstrosities Yi Geon had felled roared and rose again.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
[Water of Life]
[The Holy Grail’s master revives the Monstrosities]
[The Monstrosities are healed by the Holy Grail master’s power]
It was precisely the healing power of the Cup of Water.
Of course, the Cup of Water was a Star Seat that could explode a living being’s natural recovery power to heal wounds.
It was entirely different from
Moreover, the self-healing abilities of Monstrosities were on a level far exceeding humans.
It was inevitable that a healing power close to
Thus, the regenerated Monstrosities attacked Yi Geon and the people.
[Kieeeek!!]
At this, the Holy Adepts screamed in terror, and the masters were thrown into chaos.
[The masters are in an uproar]
[They express anger, asking how they could think of healing Monstrosities with that power]
But the Holy Grail’s master’s eyes flashed.
[They say they will do anything to kill the Calamity God]
That wasn’t all.
Perhaps annoyed by being constantly dragged in by the capture skill because of Sophie.
[The Holy Grail’s master has severed ties with their Saint]
[The Holy Maiden has been abandoned]
[The Cup of Water has suffered a massive loss]
[The Holy Maiden has become a debtor]
At this, Sophie screamed.
“G-God! How could you!!! What will I do!”
[The Holy Grail’s master says they cannot defeat the Calamity God because of you]
[They say then that annoying thorn-in-the-eye capture skill also won’t be usable]
[They say there are plenty of useful pawns to replace the Holy Maiden]
Simultaneously, the healed Monstrosities charged at Yi Geon.
As if they were detestable, Yi Geon struck down the charging Monstrosities.
Crunch!!
“Kieeeek!”
“Kiek!”
He was wielding a massive greatsword.
Perhaps because it was temporarily borrowed, lacking the Heavenly Firmament’s Condemnation, the blade dulled quickly.
But that didn’t matter at all.
Squelch!!
[Experience gained]
[Experience gained]
[Experience gained]
Having dispatched the Monstrosities in an instant, Yi Geon’s eyes flashed.
“Is this all?”
But just then.
“!”
Suddenly, someone appeared behind Yi Geon’s back.
Simultaneously, an immense force latched onto Yi Geon like a koala.
It was a force so strong that even Yi Geon couldn’t move for a moment!
Thanks to that, he wondered what was happening.
“What kind of Monstrosity bastard…!”
But Yi Geon’s eyes widened as he identified the opponent.
“!”
How could they not, for the one holding Yi Geon from behind was none other than Hugo!
“Geon, I’m sorry.”
Of course, he wasn’t the instigator.
[The Holy Grail’s master’s skill has been activated]
[Soul Reflected on the Water (SSS)]
- Duplicates everything reflected on the water.
- Creates a life form biologically and ability-wise identical to the original.
It was a water clone created by the Cup of Water’s Star God.
That was precisely the moment.
Hugo, who had come chasing after Yi Geon, was startled.
‘That’s…!’
He saw his own form holding onto Yi Geon.
‘Damn, of all the skills, why that dangerous one!’
In the end, worried about Yi Geon, he hurried.
Whether knowing this or not, the Holy Grail’s master looked at the immobilized Yi Geon.
[The Holy Grail’s master laughs, asking if you can kill even the face of your own friend]
And then it happened.
Heh heh.
Yi Geon smiled.
[The figure is completely identical to the Divine Archer Seat’s Saint in terms of data]
[Explosive experience and data can be obtained]
It was the most radiant of all the smiles he’d shown so far.
(Continues in the next episode)