[Now, have you decided? Whether to hand over Lee Geon or not.]
The conference hall was reduced to ashes.
Thousands of people were deathly pale.
Of course, everyone present here had at least B-rank sainthood qualifications.
But...
"This is insane."
The faces of those looking up at the sky were filled with terror. Even the Ten Saints and the Saints representing the saints were no exception!
Haley, too, looked flustered.
"Could it be that they've summoned them...!"
Emerging from the torn space in the sky were unmistakably the Twelve Zodiac Star Gods!
Though they were in the form of monsters, hardly fitting to be called Star Gods, they were unmistakable.
"The ones in the very front are the Leo and Virgo Star Gods!"
Thanks to that, Steven and Kevin, who were still connected to their Star Gods, hurriedly checked on their own Star Gods.
"I'll give you Churu!! Come out quickly!!"
"I'll give you a photo album, come out!!"
The summoning methods seemed incredibly wrong, but they were effective.
Kugugung!
Gold and silver light fell from the sky.
It was the Leo and Virgo Star Gods.
They did not reveal their forms, but the light alone was enough.
And with the presence of the two Star Gods enveloping the Saints' bodies, Kevin and Steven felt relieved.
Thankfully, their Star Gods had not crossed over to the other side.
"What the. So I don't need to scatter these photos after all."
"I thought they'd been bought off with catnip."
At those words, the Star Gods seemed somewhat choked up, but soon spoke to their Saints.
[Those are not us of this timeline.]
[You little brat, there's a proper being to summon! And in such a form!]
The Star Gods were enraged, and Haley furrowed her delicate brow.
"They were summoned from another timeline."
Hae Eung is a being capable of traversing various timelines.
He must have brought them from a different timeline where those Star Gods and Saints had already been devoured.
But the difference from this place's Star Gods was that those bastards were Star Gods already in the process of becoming monsters.
'The Star Gods are turning into Evil Gods.'
As proof, they all exuded black demonic energy, and that black power wrapped around their skin.
Though their forms were the same, the radiant golden metal beast owner became a black lion, and the beautiful moon goddess became a death goddess.
The sacred bull turned into a monster like a minotaur.
The twin Star Gods and sister Star Gods that Lee Geon had defeated also changed into untouchable evil gods.
On top of that, even the Libra Star God from before being devoured by Giselle was there!
But that wasn't the most shocking part.
"Th-that, isn't that the Ophiuchus Star God?"
"What?!"
That was the case.
Among them, they saw a bizarre Star God in the form of a giant serpent.
Of course, it hadn't fully emerged from the gate, so only its body was flickering in and out of sight, but that was unmistakably a snake!
The momentary, chilling gaze of the snake was enough to freeze even the soul.
So, every saint present there stiffened solid.
'Wha-what kind of power is that...'
Anyway, among the Star Gods, only one had a snake form.
"Su-surely that isn't Lee Geon-nim, right?"
"That's what I'm saying! If it's a snake, it has to be Ophiuchus!"
But at their cries, Haley ground her teeth.
'It is not Lee Geon.'
Lee Geon is a unique existence existing only in this timeline.
Which means...
"The previous 13th Star God...!"
"What?!"
The Saints were shocked. Perhaps it could be Yeonwoo or Junwoo, called Ouroboros.
And known as the god biting its own tail, Ouroboros is the god of life and death that governs the beginning and the end.
And though it had yet to fully reveal itself, the moment it fully emerged and drew a circle...
'It will return all life to death...!'
Perhaps that was why.
"Quickly, contact Lee Geon!"
The panicked Haley attempted to send them back to their original world using a sorcery as similar to Hae Eung's as possible.
But it was right then.
The moment one of the magic Star Gods snapped its fingers, they almost lost consciousness.
Boom!!!
Then, along with a brilliant flash, screams rang out!
"Aaargh!"
They screamed as the flying bombardment sent them soaring.
As it was a place where leaders of each nation were gathered, countless barriers had been set up, but it was futile.
And when those who had barely exerted their power came to their senses...
"...!"
They couldn't even breathe.
Because of the sight unfolding before their eyes.
"The conference hall...!"
The conference hall where they had been was entirely reduced to ash and vanished.
That wasn't all.
Whoosh!
"!!"
Everyone was terrified by the appearance of a gigantic black sun that seemed to cover the sky.
What appeared above their heads was a golden-haired Star God with the sun at their back, intent on burning the earth to ashes!
"Damn it! The Scorching Sun Owner!"
And perhaps because it had merged with its original owner, that Star God, who was not bald, seemed far more powerful than the other Star Gods.
"Damn. At this rate, we'll all burn!"
"What the hell is Hugo doing!"
If Hugo or Gote were here, they could summon this timeline's true Scorching Sun Owner to cancel it out!
Just as that sun was about to explode upon the earth, Haley stepped forward.
[Star God Descent]
Black light surged from Haley's body, transforming it into the hand of a giant monster.
Haley had imbued herself with the Scorpio Star God.
And the place that hand flew to was none other than where the sun was about to fall!
Finally, the power of the Scorpio Star God and the power of the Scorching Sun Star God clashed.
Bang!!!
It was a tremendous shock.
Others also joined in with their strength, but they all lost consciousness for a moment.
And when those blown away by the shockwave opened their eyes, the monster flashed a smiling eye.
[Impressive. Blocking a Star God's strike.]
But the Saints trembled.
'What... power!'
Was a Star God truly a Star God after all?
No one there could remain standing.
So they were gripped with terror.
'Lee Geon stood on equal footing with things like that?'
It sent chills down their spines again to think that Lee Geon was one of those bastards, but only for a moment.
The monster that had brought the Star Gods laughed.
[So. Have you finally decided to hand over Lee Geon?]
"...!"
Steven was dumbfounded.
"Are you joking? Lee Geon is on the same level as those bastards! Do you really think we could even capture him in the first place?"
Then the monster laughed.
[If the Saints combine their power, nothing is impossible. Didn't you seal the Demon Tower that way?]
"!"
Though it was only the outer wall, the Saints had managed to seal the Demon Tower by pooling their power for a sealing skill.
And with that, they could perhaps immobilize Lee Geon temporarily as well.
[Replace those who have no Star God and thus have difficulty using their power properly with those ones.]
"...!"
[We've already killed Hugo Oters, who would interfere with you, so you don't need to worry as long as you reach an agreement.]
At those words, the expressions of the fallen Saints changed.
What? Who died?
"Singung?"
They went pale.
Sofi, Haley, Liv who had gotten her body back after eliminating the Pisces, and Kali too.
Especially Kevin and Steven, who share the same battle star palace, seemed greatly shocked.
There was no way Lee Geon would have just let that slide, so it must be the bastards' lie, or it was certain that Hugo had fallen into a trap without Lee Geon's knowledge.
'One with that level of skill was killed by them?'
And as if expecting that frozen reaction, the monster laughed, and the people in the conference hall instantly fell into panic.
"Aaah!!"
"There's no hope! Let's just hand over Lee Geon!!"
"Didn't they say even one of the strongest Saints, Hugo Oters, has already been killed?!"
"Please, just hand over Lee Geon!!"
The monster laughed as if enjoying it.
[If you hand over Lee Geon, I will even bring the vanished Star Gods from other timelines and bestow them upon this place.]
"Did you hear that! They said they'll even return the other Star Gods that Lee Geon devoured!"
"That's right! They say if we just send Lee Geon, they'll save all of humanity!"
"Hey! Get a hold of yourselves! Lee Geon-nim...!"
"Who cares! Right now...!"
But it was right then.
Pang!!!
"...!"
The head of the monster that had been curling its lips burst like a water balloon.
And everyone was horrified by the face of the person who had blown off the monster's head.
"...!"
The other Saints were the same.
Kevin and Steven, who had tried to blow off the monster's neck first, were like that. Even Haley, uncharacteristically, had a shocked face this time.
It couldn't be helped.
"Can everyone not remain silent?!"
"...??!!"
The one who blew off the monster's head was none other than Saintess Sofi.
"Falling for the monster's nonsense talk and daring to try and sell off Lee Geon! I will throw you to the monsters first!"
The Saints seemed dumbfounded that Sofi of all people was saying such things.
"The one who was going to be the first to suggest selling Lee Geon..."
"The one among us who trembles the most at the mention of Lee Geon..."
"The biggest coward..."
But at the reactions of the other Saints, Sofi shrieked.
"My brain works at least that much!! There's no way they'd spare us even if we handed over Lee Geon!"
"...What's she saying. She's probably just more scared of catching Lee Geon. Ugh!"
Steven was knocked down by a flying water cannon.
As Lee Geon's follower and the one who serves(?) the new Aquarius Star God Iaso, Sofi's power was by no means weak.
"Anyway, humanity will not submit to the likes of you!"
At those words, the monster, whose head had disappeared, raised itself and laughed.
[I see. That means negotiations have broken down.]
Perhaps sensing that vicious killing intent, a green light rose from Haley's body.
It was proof that she had entered under the Ophiuchus star!
Steven realized he had missed the moment.
"Ah! She beat me to it!"
Steven immediately drew the star sign.
At the same time, green light shot up into the sky from all over.
Starting first with Andras, Steven, Liv, and the Ten Saints' Taylor.
Light rose from the Ten Saints who had taken positions in place of the vanished Saints too.
'Damn. How did this...!'
And it was then.
Kugugung!!!
As if they had been waiting for this very situation, the Star Gods summoned by Hae Eung and those monsters revealed themselves.
And everyone was terrified by the number of monsters swarming in the sky like a swarm of ants.
"Protect the dignity of humanity!!"
Steven was the first to stamp his foot and burst with power.
"Protect Lee Geon!"
"And I am the leader of the subordinates!!"
"Get lost, you cat!! I'm the leader!"
"Why are you so obsessed with that? Isn't the leader the one who gets scolded the most by Lee Geon anyway?"
"What?!"
The war with humanity's lives on the line had begun.
* * *
And it was around that time.
[Ouroboros wishes to officially become a subordinate of Ophiuchus]
[Leo wishes to officially become a subordinate of Ophiuchus]
...
[Scorching Sun Owner wishes to officially become a subordinate of Ophiuchus]
[All artifacts and skills of the corresponding star palaces will come under the control of Ophiuchus]
[All authorities and missions to be distributed to them can be directly adjusted by Ophiuchus]
[All 12 star palaces are about to swear loyalty to Ophiuchus. Will you accept them as subordinates?]
Lee Geon was surprised by the unexpected notification.
He had told them all to enter Ophiuchus since they were holding a meeting, but they had recoiled in disgust, saying they'd rather die.
But Lee Geon, in the workshop, looked at the opponent before him as if that wasn't important.
What appeared in front of Lee Geon was an unexpected figure.
[I've been waiting.]
It was Hae Eung.
(Continues in the next episode)