"I've lived in the Sanctuary for so long."
"I've read countless records."
"Those who, as mere humans, harmed gods are few and far between."
"But there's one exception!"
"Pegasus!"
"In the Mythological Era, Pegasus was Hades' guard."
"Yet he ultimately swore allegiance to Athena."
"He's the only human in all records to have wounded Hades' true body."
"That's why, since the Mythological Era, Hades has only appeared through incarnations."
"Gods! They fear death too!"
Kaiser's voice was soft, but it struck like thunder in everyone's ears.
"So, you're saying we should wait for Pegasus to appear?" Itia asked, re-evaluating his disciple.
"But in this era, the Pegasus Cloth has no successor."
Kaiser's unconventional nature suddenly made sense.
But his ambition was greater than Itia's.
Itia wanted to purge the earth, but Kaiser aimed to overthrow the gods' rule.
"Master, now is not the best time."
"Your heart has a flaw."
"If the Underworld exploits it, the earth will be consumed."
Kaiser locked eyes with Itia.
Itia saw the resolve and confidence in Kaiser's gaze.
Kaiser saw the exhaustion in Itia's.
"Kaiser!" Aries Gategard could no longer stand it.
He refused to believe Itia's heart had a flaw.
To him, Kaiser was insulting their master.
His golden Cosmo surged, and Gategard assumed a fighting stance.
"Stop." Itia commanded.
At his words, Gategard reluctantly lowered his guard, seething.
Kaiser glanced at Gategard.
This Aries Gold Saint, corrupted in the original story, had an even greater flaw in his heart.
The Aries Gold Cloth was the only one fully tainted by the Underworld.
If not for Aphnir from a parallel world crossing into this era, the Lost Canvas timeline's Shion would never have had the chance to wear the Aries Cloth.
Kaiser's presence had caused some butterfly effects.
If he could convince Itia to abandon his plans to purge and reshape the world, this Holy War would be a certain victor.
This generation's Athena, unlike later incarnations like Sasha or Saori who leaned toward the wisdom goddess, inherited more of the war goddess's divine power.
In the original story, this generation's Gold Saints were nearly wiped out due to Itia's rebellion.
Yet they still won, a testament to Athena's strength.
But Athena had not yet returned to the Sanctuary.
Hakurei was scouring the earth, searching for her incarnation.
Sage had come to the Pope's Hall to report on this matter.
This was why Kaiser, after years, had stepped foot in the Pope's Hall again.
If his instincts were correct, Itia's decision to act was spurred by Sage's report that Athena's incarnation had been found.
But in the original story, he was too late.
Athena stripped him of his authority, transferring it to Hakurei, the Pope's aide.
"I understand."
"I'll reassess my state of mind."
Itia could see Kaiser spoke the truth.
There was no hint of deception.
Signs of Athena's incarnation had emerged.
Even if he launched his plan now, Athena's return would thwart it.
Itia heeded Kaiser's counsel.
"Then I'll take my leave, Master."
Kaiser ignored Gategard, giving Sage a subtle glance.
Sage snapped out of his shock.
Kaiser's exchange with Itia had shaken him deeply.
Hastily excusing himself, Sage followed Kaiser out of the Pope's Hall.
Gategard glared at Kaiser's back, his eyes burning with resentment.
"Kaiser, was everything you said true?" Sage asked, catching up.
"You know it is, don't you?"
"And Master didn't deny it."
Kaiser's reply was calm.
Sage broke into a cold sweat.
The idea of Pope Itia harboring rebellious thoughts was unthinkable.
A Pope's betrayal would be catastrophic for the Sanctuary.
Especially with Itia's strength.
He was, without question, the mightiest human on earth.
No one could stop him unless Athena returned.
"Inform the other Gold Saints. That's your task."
"I need to train."
"And tell Hakurei to speed up the search for Athena's incarnation."
"If necessary, join him."
"Athena must return to the Sanctuary soon."
"I'll hold the fort here in the meantime."
Kaiser said to Sage, then headed back to the Libra Temple.
He had just received his cheat ability and hadn't had time to explore it.
Itia's situation had forced him to the Pope's Hall.
"I understand." Sage said, his face grave.
This was no small matter.
Though it seemed Kaiser had swayed Itia, who knew what he was truly thinking?
"Master, are we abandoning the plan just like that?"
In the Pope's Hall, Gategard looked at Itia.
They had been preparing for this plan for a long time.
"Prepare for both outcomes."
"The plan is on hold for now."
"I don't want to become a pawn of the Underworld."
Itia's eyes were closed tightly.
He did want to reshape the world.
But not to annihilate all life on earth.
If the Underworld exploited his weakness, the earth's creatures would face a great extinction.
There would be no chance for recovery.
Because humanity would cease to exist.
They couldn't afford to lose.
"I understand, Master."
Gategard left the Pope's Hall.
"Godslayer, Pegasus?"
Itia recalled Kaiser's words.
In the previous Holy War, the Pegasus Cloth had no successor.
The same was true for this generation.
"Does change lie in the future?"
"But does humanity, as it is, even have a future?"
Itia sighed.
The world was in utter chaos.
Wars and plagues raged without end.
Suppressing his inner turmoil, Itia began to meditate.
His heart indeed had a flaw.
Meanwhile, Gategard had reached the Libra Temple.
"Do you want to die in the Sanctuary before the Holy War even begins?"
Sensing Gategard's undisguised hostility, Kaiser turned to face him.
Due to Athena's barrier, the Twelve Zodiac Temples could only be traversed on foot.
Even Gold Saints were no exception.
"You were too disrespectful to Master." Gategard said, stopping to confront Kaiser.
***
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