Underworld, Hirasaka.
At Hirasaka's center, an endless stream of souls was being devoured, like the gullet of a beast that never stops feeding.
Gordon of the Heavenly Prison Star stood on a hill in Hirasaka, his whole body shimmering with an uncanny violet glow.
A powerful force ran wild within him, filling him with comfort and excitement.
This was the boon his Surplice had brought him.
As one of the 108 Demon Stars, a Specter's strength is a gift of the Demon Star and the Surplice.
So the instant he awakened as a Specter, he possessed all the strength and legacy of the Heavenly Prison Star's Minotauros.
"Lord Gordon, our soldiers are ready. At your command, we will advance on the Sanctuary."
An Underworld commander reported to the returning Specter.
"Good. Now we await Pandora's order."
Gordon looked over the hundred Underworld soldiers and their several formidable commanders and nodded in satisfaction.
He had awakened in Hirasaka because he'd been summoned by Lady Pandora.
As the commanders of the Specters, they obeyed Pandora absolutely.
So Gordon had come at once.
"Lady Pandora summoned four of us at once. Why should you, Heavenly Prison Star Gordon, take the lead?"
Another Specter stepped forward, a single eye set upon his brow.
He was tall, danger oozing from every inch of him.
"You're the Earthly Violence Star, Cyclops Gujado?"
Gordon narrowed his eyes and snapped, "Because I'm stronger. That's why I'll lead the Underworld legion here."
"Hey—how about we find out who's stronger?"
A vicious light gleamed in Gujado's eyes. "Strength is king. If you want to lead, you'll have to go a few rounds with me. I'm sure Lady Pandora will agree."
"Good. Come on, then!"
Gordon's gaze went cold. "I hope my Minotaur's great axe can lop off your head—for me to lay at Lady Pandora's feet."
Killing intent flashed between them. It looked like it would be to the death.
They were about to move when a voice cut in:
"Hey—go Specters, go."
Huh?
Both Specters turned. A masked man in a silver‑white Cloth sat on a boulder not far off, one leg crossed over the other, as if watching a show.
"A Cloth?"
"A Saint!"
"Seize him!"
Gordon roared.
Gujado echoed the order.
Without another thought, every Underworld soldier surged for the boulder.
The masked man in the silver‑white Cloth merely lifted a fist:
"Plasma Lightspeed Punch!"
No suspense at all.
The Underworld commander and soldiers were swallowed by a vast golden net of fists, and in under five seconds it was over.
More than a hundred Underworld soldiers and their commanders were all turned into sieves.
Every body had taken at least ten thousand blows; bones shattered throughout; flesh crushed by punch force.
But not a single limb was severed—only viscera and bones were pulp.
It had to be said—the Plasma Lightspeed Punch was brutally efficient at mopping up rabble: high frequency, wide coverage, low drain.
It was only against strong foes—or opponents in Gold Cloths—that its effect was so‑so.
"The Plasma Lightspeed Punch feels good in the hand. If I find the headstone materials someday, I should learn the Lightning Lightspeed Punch too."
Damian muttered to himself. "With a Cloth on, my combat power really has climbed. My Cosmo boosts the Cloth; the Cloth boosts my Cosmo. Mutually reinforcing."
Across the way, Gordon and Gujado traded looks.
"Hey—that's the power of a Gold Saint."
Gujado's face grew grave.
"Earthly Violence Star Gujado—are you scared?"
"It's just a Gold Saint. Not worth worrying about."
Gordon's face stayed blank, his tone mocking.
"Right—what's there to fear, hah!"
"I, Earthly Violence Star Gujado, will take him."
He strode forth without hesitation.
The Earthly Violence Star's Surplice was a Cyclops—high offense and high defense. Even a Gold Saint would struggle to punch through it.
So he charged the golden‑masked man without a flicker of fear.
"Scarlet Needle!"
Damian didn't hesitate. Fourteen Scarlet Needles flew—and Gujado collapsed on the spot.
Agony wrapped his body; blood poured; paralysis spread; even the five senses began to fade—he could no longer move.
Damian blew across the crimson nail of his index finger.
Against a high‑defense target, the Scarlet Needle really was the tool.
This Earthly Violence Star wasn't a nobody—he ranked among the 72 Earthly Evils.
The Plasma Lightspeed Punch or the Great Horn might not have one‑shot him.
And Titan Nova was too wasteful.
Minotaur Gordon finally grew tense. He studied the man carefully. "Are you a Gold Saint?"
"Your Cloth turned golden?"
"These aren't the point."
Damian shrugged and glanced at the now golden Pegasus Cloth. This armor was touchy—merely stoking his Cosmo had turned it gold.
No idea whether it was the one the last Pegasus used to slay gods—didn't feel like it hid any special power.
"Tell me—what's your plan gathering here?"
"No comment. If you die, I might tell you."
Gordon sneered, horns twisting as he raised his burly right arm.
"I am the Specter of the Heavenly Prison Star—Minotauros."
"I will cleave you with my Minotaur's great axe."
"Come, Gold Saint!"
Damian rolled his eyes. "I said I'm not a Gold Saint."
"Take this—Axe Shatter!"
Gordon wasted no breath. He loosed his finisher at once.
His hand swung down like a mountain‑cleaving axe, the swing ripping the earth with brute force.
Boom!
The strike smashed down with a deafening blast.
This chop was terrifying—hewing a fissure tens of meters long in the ground.
A forty‑meter cleaver, vivid as life.
"Good power. Gordon's guardian constellation is the Minotaur. Minotaurs master axes and can even clash with the hardest golden weapons. That's a fine finisher!"
Damian's eyes lit up.
"Of course. My axe can easily cleave your Cloth—maybe even a Gold Cloth."
Gordon could hardly wait.
"Excellent. You'll do. I haven't buried a Specter yet—today I'll use you two for experiments."
Before he finished, Damian attacked. His arm crashed into Gordon's axe‑arm with a metallic ring.
Sparks flew. Damian's arm quaked—there was a sting of pain.
Gordon staggered back several steps.
His Minotaur's great axe hadn't shattered the opponent's armor—only left a scuff.
And his own stout power had been pushed back?
You've got to be kidding.
Gordon's mouth twitched.
He'd trained his arm to the limit—an axe‑arm—to a mighty combat technique, with a cutting force and heavy impact so keen it could cleave any hard Cloth.
Its power was no small thing.
But the man's armor bore only a scratch.
Was the man wearing a real Gold Cloth?
"All right. I've got the measure of you. No more mercy."
Damian smiled faintly.
"Scarlet Needle!"
In a blur he flashed past, and fourteen points struck Gordon's body. Fourteen bloody eyes spouted blood.
Ah!
Gordon screamed, his body numb, power sealed.
"Talk. Why are you gathering here?"
Damian asked.
Gordon clenched his teeth, raised his right arm, and tried to counter.
"I absorb!"
Damian cut in with the Star‑Absorbing Art.
But all he drew was a little heat—and a murky sort of Cosmo.
"A Specter's power is strange. It is Cosmo, but dark and turbid."
Damian took a sip and wanted no more. His Cosmo clashed with that shadowy, turbid force.
He'd thought to devour it, but the two canceled out.
"Antares!"
The final and strongest of the Scarlet Needles, the true killing strike—named for Scorpio's principal star.
Endure it, and death is certain.
Gordon's Surplice split open at the chest; his heart was pierced straight through.
The mighty Minotaur Specter died on the spot.
"Hey—Gujado. Answer me, and I might let you live."
Damian looked at Gujado lying like a dead dog, blood all over the ground.
"I… I only obeyed Lady Pandora's summons. She told us to stand by. Once she gave the word, we were to attack the Sanctuary—to draw attention… and also to kill a gravekeeper named Damian. I just woke up—I don't want to die."
Damian said nothing—he simply sent him on his way with an Antares.
"You… you break your word."
Gujado's eyes went wide.
"I said I'd consider it. You assumed too much."
Shrugging, Damian narrowed his eyes. "As expected, Pandora did plenty while I was away. Now she's opening the box—and wants me dead to boot."
"Let's hope Saga's resistance to hypnosis is high enough—or the Holy War really might start early."
He hefted both bodies and vanished from Yomi Hirasaka.
Time to see what these two resurrected Demon Star Specters would yield once buried in the graveyard.
Gujado!
Gordon!
Both bore a name among the Specters, and neither was weak.
Especially Gordon's Minotaur axe—it could stand against Shura's Holy Sword.
Back in the graveyard, Damian happily buried both corpses.
He sealed Gujado's coffin first and set a marble headstone—time to see the result.
"What's this?"
Damian stared at the letters on the headstone, baffled.
[Body: Gujado]
[Rank: Earthly Violence Star, Cyclops Specter]
[Yield: None]
[Extractable Abilities: None]
[Corpse Change: 24 hours]
[Grave Grade: Black Iron]
Why are the stats and skills blank?
And what does "corpse change" mean?
(End of Chapter)
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