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As Sanctuary prepared for war against the Sea Realm, the entire city was abuzz with activity.
This was an offensive campaign, not a defensive one. Therefore, besides the Gold Saints, numerous Silver Saints would also be participating.
After all, this was a training exercise.
The Gold Saints, Silver Saints, and Bronze Saints all needed to be tested.
And with most of the previous generation of Silver Saints having been killed during Seiya and the others' battle for the Twelve Temples, the current Silver Saints were all new recruits, handpicked by Mika himself. Their strength far surpassed that of their predecessors.
Even some of the former Bronze Saints had been stripped of their rank under Mika's new, more rigorous standards, forced to return to training.
Sanctuary was now stronger than it had ever been.
And its warriors were eager for battle.
Upon learning of the expedition to the Sea Realm, they had all flocked to enlist, their voices a cacophony of excitement and anticipation.
Mika, observing the scene, smiled. He enjoyed this kind of atmosphere, this raw, unbridled passion.
"How are the preparations coming along?" Mika asked, looking down from the platform on the mountainside.
Milo, whom Mika had entrusted with organizing the expedition, now stood beside him.
After Mika's departure, he would be the one leading Sanctuary. Mika wanted him to be prepared.
As for why he had chosen Milo, it was simple.
Of the Gold Saints remaining in Sanctuary—Milo, Camus, Shura, Aldebaran, and Alfia—Milo was the most suitable leader.
While Alfia was busy observing Poseidon through her shared senses with Mika, and Camus and Shura, though powerful, lacked a certain flexibility, and Aldebaran was too straightforward, Milo possessed both strength and intelligence.
He was the logical choice.
Of course, Mika had also prepared a failsafe: Alfia.
With her power, unless Hades himself appeared, Sanctuary would be impregnable. Even the three Underworld Judges wouldn't stand a chance against her.
"Everything is ready," Milo replied. "As per your instructions, I've selected twelve of our strongest Silver Saints and thirty of our most promising Bronze Saints. They've been notified and are ready to depart at a moment's notice."
Mika nodded, pleased. Milo hadn't disappointed him.
"You've done well, Milo. I knew I could count on you," Mika said, clapping him on the shoulder.
Milo's face flushed with a mixture of pride and gratitude.
After Mika's recent changes, Sanctuary was now at its strongest. The Gold Saints, having experienced this transformation firsthand, held Mika in high regard.
He was no longer just their Pope, but a figure of reverence, a being on par with the Gods themselves.
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After finalizing the details of the expedition with Milo, Mika made his way through the Twelve Temples, stopping at each temple to speak with its guardian, offering guidance and answering their questions.
It was a habit he had developed since his return.
With his vast knowledge, he enjoyed mentoring the other Gold Saints, pointing out their weaknesses and offering suggestions for improvement. And they, in turn, had all benefited from his guidance, their strength increasing significantly.
In a way, they were all his students now.
This had further confirmed his position as their leader, his influence now extending far beyond that of his predecessor, Saga.
He walked through the temples, his journey taking him past Gemini, where he found Seiya, lying on the ground, gasping for breath.
Mika couldn't help but smile.
"What happened, Seiya?" he asked, crouching beside him and gently patting his cheek.
"Nothing... just training," Seiya replied, quickly getting to his feet, using a nearby pillar for support. "Good morning, Mika."
"It's not morning anymore," Mika chuckled. "You've been working hard, haven't you? I know Saga has been thorough in his training. He has high hopes for you."
"Yes, I know."
Mika patted him on the shoulder. "You're dedicated, I'll give you that. But don't forget about your sister."
"I won't. Marin is looking after her," Seiya replied, a warm smile on his face.
After his return to Sanctuary, Mika, remembering Seiya's sister, Seika, had sent a search party to the surrounding villages, eventually finding her, her memories lost.
With Athena's help, Seika's memories had been restored, and the siblings had been reunited.
Their joyful reunion had ignited a new spark within Seiya, his Cosmo growing even stronger.
And with his new life in Sanctuary, he had also reconnected with Marin and Shaina, who had both confessed their feelings for him.
Along with Miho, from the orphanage…Seiya was now living the life of a true protagonist, his days filled with love and battle.
"Good. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do in this Holy War," Mika said, then continued on his way.
"I won't disappoint you, Mika!" Seiya called out, his voice filled with a renewed determination.
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Three days later—
Sanctuary and the Sea Realm were both ready.
On the platform before the Pope's chambers, the Saints stood in silent formation, their gazes fixed on the Gold Saints assembled before them.
They were the strongest warriors in Sanctuary, the pinnacle of Athena's army.
And today, they were gathered here, awaiting the start of their expedition.
All the Gold Saints were present, even those who wouldn't be participating. They had all come to witness this momentous occasion.
The air was still, a somber silence hanging over them.
Then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the chambers, and all eyes turned towards the entrance.
Mika and Athena emerged, walking side by side.
No one considered this a sign of disrespect. In their eyes, Mika was her equal, a being on par with a God.
He looked at them, a smile playing on his lips.
"It seems you're all ready. Your anticipation…I can feel it. And now, it's time for me to answer your call."
"We will embark on our journey to Atlantis, in the depths of the ocean, and we will defeat the Sea God who covets this land."
"Our ancestors, alongside Athena, sealed Poseidon in the Athena's Jar. But he has escaped. And instead of atoning for his past sins, he has once again set his sights on this world, even attempting to manipulate Asgard and attack Sanctuary."
"But his plan was thwarted by the Gold Saints."
He paused, observing their reactions. The Gold Saints remained stoic, but the other Saints' faces were filled with a mixture of shock and excitement. They hadn't known about their earlier clash with the Sea Realm. Their pride, their loyalty, their fighting spirit—it was all ignited.
Mika smiled, pleased.
"While we stopped his plan, we can't simply leave it at that. Our true enemy is Hades. We will defeat him, once and for all. And we won't allow anyone to stand in our way."
"Poseidon has chosen to obstruct our path. We will remove him."
His words, a declaration of war, a promise of victory, filled them with a renewed sense of purpose.
Their fighting spirit burned.
"Our mission today is to defeat Poseidon and seal him away once more. We will show him where he truly belongs."
"Forward!" Mika raised his hand, his voice echoing through the chamber.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
Their voices, a chorus of unwavering resolve, shook the very foundations of Sanctuary.
Mika stepped forward, and a golden portal opened at his feet, expanding outwards, enveloping the expeditionary force.
Milo and the other Gold Saints who were staying behind stepped back.
Mika nodded at them, a silent acknowledgment of their duty, then vanished, along with the other Gold Saints, teleported to the Sea Realm.
"May you return with honor," Milo murmured, watching them go.
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On the surface of a vast, churning ocean, a golden portal opened, and Mika and his forces emerged.
He had already pinpointed Atlantis's location, placing a coordinate marker there before their departure.
They had arrived directly above Poseidon's undersea kingdom.
The Saints, who had been anticipating a long journey, were stunned by their sudden arrival.
They looked around at the stormy seas, the dark clouds, the swirling tornadoes, the torrential rain—a scene of pure, untamed chaos.
This was Poseidon's domain.
"He thinks this can stop us?" Mika chuckled, looking down at the churning waves.
"While this would be a challenge under normal circumstances, he has underestimated our strength," Shaka said calmly, his voice a soothing presence amidst the storm.
Hearing his words, the other Saints' earlier apprehension vanished, replaced by a quiet confidence.
With the Pope here, how can we fail?
They would be victorious.
Mika, seeing their renewed resolve, smiled, then turned his gaze back towards the sea.
Poseidon's power permeated this entire area, making it far more dangerous than it appeared.
"While I could bypass these defenses, that's not the best approach," Mika said. He needed to conserve his strength for his battle against Poseidon.
He looked towards the center of their formation, where Athena stood, her expression calm and serene.
"Since this is Poseidon's power, then I shall be the one to cleanse it."
She smiled, her own Cosmo flaring, a gentle, yet immense, power that pushed back against the storm, calming the churning waves, parting the dark clouds, and revealing the clear blue sky above.
Her divine power was far greater than Poseidon's, at least in their current, awakened states.
The storm had passed.
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