Lee Geon activated his skill.
And the moment he activated the skill, an aura of cold seeped out from the Celestial Punisher.
It was like a wind from a frozen hell that would freeze everything to death.
Lee Geon swung the Celestial Punisher toward the sea.
Whoosh!
The speed of his swing was invisible to the eye.
[December of Hibernation (SS)] x4
-The extreme frozen hell puts everything to slumber.
At the same time, a shining ice orb shot out from the Celestial Punisher!
It looked like a cannonball was being fired.
And the ice orb that Lee Geon shot flew straight toward the sea.
Bang!
The moment the shining orb that had fallen into the sea unleashed its energy, something incredible happened.
Crack!
Along with the sound of ice freezing, the sea froze over in an instant.
Craaash!!
[The cold of the frozen hell puts everything to slumber.]
[It brings everything to hibernation.]
The small ice seed froze the treacherous sea in an instant.
It was a terrifying power.
Its range was already the size of a small island!
The extreme energy went against the ocean currents, freezing even the sea creatures hurrying to flee.
Crunch!
And its power was enough to freeze even the violently surging waves in their shape!
A massive ice field had formed in the middle of the ocean, where no continent or island was in sight.
Eventually, Steven was astonished by the sight.
That was understandable because that technique was the specialty of Kevin of Virgo.
A total of 12 combat techniques, among them being the winter skill with an ice-attribute.
But why was Lee Geon using that!
“That’s not a rental skill! How…!”
How?
I kicked the guy every time I saw him and got it.
“Well, I’ve got about 10 of your skills stockpiled too.”
“What?!”
No, that wasn't the important thing now.
Steven was terrified at where they were falling.
“Hey! What are you doing making ice where we’re falling!”
“Why? Isn’t this fine? We’ve got land now.”
Steven was dumbfounded.
“Do you know what happens if we hit that ice! Drakma could shatter first!”
“Then we’ll just become monster food?”
Whether they fell onto the sea or onto the ice, the impact and damage would be about the same anyway.
Falling into the sea only added the option of being torn apart by monsters before even reaching the surface.
And Drakma wasn’t as wide as one might think.
‘We’d be trapped like rats in a jar in an instant.’
Didn't they need to secure space to fight on the sea?
“Anyway, if I use this skill a few more times, we’ll have enough combat space secured even without Drakma.”
And that wasn’t all.
Kevin’s ice was quite useful. Because of the intense cold, just getting close made one’s body freeze.
So, while it wouldn't affect all of them, it would be somewhat effective in keeping the monsters in check.
But then it happened.
[The master of Pisces scoffs.]
[He says the ice thickness won't withstand the weight of Drakma.]
[He scoffs, saying the whole island will sink into the sea and become monster food anyway.]
The Pisces Star God, who had refused , scoffed.
Well, Lee Geon understood why the Star God was scoffing.
Given the weight of Drakma, even if they used the ice field as a mat, the ground would shatter and they would end up in the sea.
But.
“That ice field wasn't meant for landing in the first place?”
“!”
Steven’s look of ‘What do you mean?’ was brief, as Lee Geon activated a skill he had prepared.
And the moment they felt the energy, Steven and Gote both flinched.
They couldn't help it.
[Levitate (SSS)] x25
That skill was a magic skill completely unrelated to Ophiuchus.
And along with the skill, Lee Geon touched the ground of Drakma.
Then, a wind seemed to blow instantly!
Whoong!
An aura like a sea breeze began to envelop the entire castle.
And that was none other than the magic of a Star God!
And with the skill, the entire castle began to shimmer as if being coated.
[The skill is being applied.]
But then it happened.
“Aack! Save me!”
Screams erupted from Drakma Castle, where people were unaware of the situation.
Because the remaining height until the fall was a mere 500 meters.
“Ack! We're falling into the sea!”
“No! It's ice!”
“No, that won't be able to support this castle! Aack!”
And the remaining distance was 400 meters!
300 meters!
100 meters!
People grew frantic as the ground rushed toward them.
“Damn it! Rent defense skills from Taurus!”
“Try something with magic!”
Inside Drakma, it was utter chaos.
And the magicians inside seemed to urgently cast wind magic.
Probably to reduce the falling speed, even a little.
But.
“It's no use! We can't stop it!”
“We're monster food!”
Finally, in that pandemonium, Drakma crashed onto the ice field.
Kugugung!
Amidst the impact, rough waves surged up!
The base of Drakma, the island part that hit the ice field, was roughly whittled away.
And the castle itself, receiving the protection of the Star God, didn't shatter.
However, unable to withstand the castle's weight, the ice field broke apart, and Drakma plunged into the sea.
Kugung!
At the sight, the sea monsters enthusiastically swarmed in.
The fish-type monsters were all targeting the humans who had fallen into the sea.
[Capturing humans who have fallen into the water is nothing.]
But then it happened.
[!]
The monsters who expected the castle to sink to the bottom of the sea flinched.
[The humans aren't sinking!]
That was right.
Drakma, which should have sunk into the sea, was floating on the water.
The reason was simple.
[The divine-grade buoyancy skill application is complete.]
[Now, can float on the sea as well.]
[Nothing can easily sink .]
At that notification sound, Lee Geon outside the castle smiled.
It was the moment Drakma transformed into a single ship.
Simultaneously, cheers erupted from the people who grasped the situation.
“We're alive!”
Of course, Gote and Steven, who had been sure they would be swept away by the ocean currents, were also staring at Lee Geon in bewilderment.
They couldn't help it.
“This skill is…!”
“Pisces’s!”
There was no doubt.
This skill was the unique skill of the Pisces Star God.
‘Levitate.’
Simply put—
But that was why it was strange.
There was no way the Pisces, who had refused the skill, would have lent such a buoyancy skill.
No, in the first place, a rental skill (F~SS) wouldn't be enough to levitate an island this large.
It was SSS-grade (divine-grade)!
Therefore, they were even more unable to understand.
‘How can he use a technique only the Pisces Star God can use?’
And, just as much as them, the Pisces Star God himself seemed flustered.
Was he wondering how Lee Geon could use his skill?
Sure enough.
[The master of Pisces glares at Ophiuchus.]
[The master of asks where he got that skill.]
At this, Lee Geon's eyes flashed murderously.
“What’s that? Don't deny reality. You must have realized the moment you saw this skill.”
[!]
“Half of you, bastard, is already in my hands. And so is the saint you stuffed inside the Monarch’s belly.”
It was Steven who was surprised by those words.
“Saint? You mean Liv? What do you mean inside the Monarch’s belly? She was on broadcast today….”
“Ah. The real contents had already come out and were dead. So I'm grinding her up as material for my weapon.”
“Yeah… weapon material…. What?! What do you mean by that!”
At the same time, a bloodthirsty killing intent seemed to emanate from the sky.
[The master of Pisces expresses displeasure.]
[The master of Pisces says they will recognize Ophiuchus as an enemy.]
At those words, killing intent bloomed in Lee Geon's eyes.
What? An enemy?
Lee Geon was dumbfounded.
“What's he saying? A bastard who already recognized us as an enemy and is pulling dirty tricks from behind.”
And the master of Pisces responded to that killing intent.
[He says for a snake that crawls on the ground to try surviving well in the sea without his help.]
At those words, just as Lee Geon was about to tell him to stop spewing bullshit—
Whirik!
Black tendrils suddenly aimed for Lee Geon's back.
“Lee Geon-nim!”
Lee Geon twisted his body with a reflexive movement and cut the black tendril.
It was an incredible speed.
At the same time, disgusting tentacles began to wriggle and surge up from the sea.
The tentacles instantly began snatching people up.
[The followers of seek to offer prey to the Monarch.]
At that sight, the Star-Aspirants on Drakma all made the sign of the stars in unison.
If there was somewhere they could set their feet, it was doable.
“Everyone, charge!”
The Star-Aspirants landed on the ice field and entered combat.
Steven and Gote also fought off the swarming monsters.
[Contribution experience from Mountain Clan Star-Aspirants is rising.]
[Contribution experience from Mountain Clan Star-Aspirants is rising.]
[Star Sign Energy is filling up.]
And then, Cheon Seongjae appeared before Lee Geon.
“Uncle!”
“Yeah. Where are your sisters?”
“They're guarding the central device inside the castle. They said the levitation device must not be attacked.”
“Good. They know what's important even without being told.”
As expected, their judgment is quick.
Lee Geon immediately raised the Punisher.
Because the situation would be largely resolved if they eliminated the mastermind that was dragging the castle into the sea first.
After that, they could levitate the castle back into the sky, and it would be their victory.
And just as Lee Geon, thinking that, was about to head towards the sea—
Squelch!
‘!’
A black tendril snatched Lee Geon away in an instant.
“Kuh!!”
Something like a jellyfish's tendril had grabbed Lee Geon's neck and was dragging him away.
Both Gote and Cheon Seongjae were shocked at the sight.
“Lee Geon-nim!!!”
“Uncle!”
Cheon Seongjae hurriedly tried to launch an attack, but it was blocked.
Boom!
“!”
What appeared before Cheon Seongjae was none other than the Gemini Saint, Heiji.
“Sorry, but the Ophiuchus needs to be eaten by the Monarch.”
“!”
It wasn't the Heiji that Cheon Seongjae knew.
Her aura was completely different.
So he thought she might be the Star God, but—
“Fairy King. What are you doing, not throwing that guy into the sea quickly!”
“!”
A familiar voice came from nearby.
The owner of the voice was none other than the Taurus Saint, no, the Star God.
He was caught by the same tendrils that seized Lee Geon.
He looked extremely troubled.
The reason was simple.
[Caution. It's an object that steals the Star God's abilities.]
[The Star God cannot use his abilities in front of this object.]
Along with that notification, Lee Geon, his neck constricted by the black tendril, frowned.
‘My strength.’
There was no doubt.
It was the same phenomenon as when he faced the helmeted man.
The Star God’s power was being stolen from him.
That wasn't all.
“Wha, what is that!”
A scream was heard.
Amphibious monsters were approaching from the sea.
Now that things had come to this, they meant to drag him directly into the sea.
And the Star-Aspirants trembled at the sight.
“Damn it, how many are there...!”
At the same time, a voice was heard.
[Tricks are useless.]
It was a voice that seemed to resonate from the sea.
‘The seabed.’
And, as if leisurely after sending his subordinates, spoke.
[Star Gods are the Monarchs' desire. There are two precious meals here. Eating even one of you will be enough for evolution.]
The abyss apparently had no intention of letting them go freely.
[Choose. Which one of you will be eaten by me?]
He intended for the other Star-Aspirants to be food for his subordinates, and for him to choose and eat one of the two Star Gods.
And the reason that Fairy King—
The one newly summoned by the Gemini Star God—appeared was likely in the same context.
“If she eats one Star God, the Monarch will also fall into a slumber of satiety.”
So, it meant she would throw Lee Geon into the sea to save the Taurus Star God.
That was why she interfered with Cheon Seongjae trying to save Lee Geon.
And at this, Cheon Seongjae instantly soared up and grabbed the Gemini Saint’s neck.
“This is insane!”
Because of his characteristics, while he might not know healing skills, the level of his attack skills was extremely high.
And just as he was about to activate his skill.
“It’s already too late.”
“!”
With the Gemini Saint's laughter, Lee Geon was instantly dragged toward the sea.
[First, snake, it’s you.]
“Uncle!”
At that sight, Taurus also smiled.
But just before falling into the sea, Lee Geon suddenly laughed.
“Hey, what are you doing not boiling the water? The ingredients I painstakingly prepared are all going to rot.”
Immediately after the words left his mouth, bubbles began to rise from the sea.
Bubble.
It looked as if the sea was boiling.
And just as everyone was bewildered by that—
Intense solar light surged up from the sea.
(Continued in the next episode)