"Disrespectful?"
"Should I stand by and watch Master lead the entire Sanctuary into the Underworld? Is that respect?"
"Gategard, you're utterly foolish!"
"For the first time, I'm questioning your intelligence."
Kaiser felt genuine disdain for the man before him.
Over the years, though they never got along, Kaiser hadn't thought much of it.
Some people naturally clicked, drawn to each other, becoming friends.
But Kaiser had an aversion to stupidity.
And Gategard, blindly loyal to the Pope, was, in Kaiser's eyes, a fool.
"Kaiser!" Gategard roared.
His golden Cosmo flared again.
"Courting death?"
Kaiser stood firm, his peak Seventh Sense Cosmo pouring from his body.
The surging power shook the entire Libra Temple.
Even with the barrier's protection, destroying this place would be effortless under the force of a peak Seventh Sense Cosmo.
"What's happening?"
At the same time, the other Gold Saints sensed the clashing Cosmos poised for battle.
"Have they lost their minds?"
"Fighting inside the Sanctuary?"
The current Gemini Gold Saint's expression darkened.
Gemini Saints were historically synonymous with power.
This generation was no exception.
Among the Twelve Zodiac Temples, this Gemini ranked in the top five.
"Kaiser."
Sage, just stepping out of the Aries Temple, looked grave.
He knew Gategard well.
To return to the Aries Temple, Gategard had to pass through the Libra Temple.
Clearly, the earlier scene in the Pope's Hall had fueled Gategard's resentment toward Kaiser.
Sage stood still, not leaving the Sanctuary.
Outside its bounds, with his Gold Saint power, finding Hakurei would take mere moments.
But if Kaiser and Gategard fought now, it would undoubtedly destabilize the Sanctuary.
Unless it was a one-sided battle.
Hum!
Powerful telekinesis surged.
Gategard aimed to restrict Kaiser's movements.
"Seeking death!"
Kaiser stomped the ground.
Telekinesis was the signature skill of Aries Saints across generations.
But for Kaiser, it wasn't hard to counter.
"Don't wreck my temple!"
In the blink of an eye, Kaiser flashed before Gategard.
"What?"
"So fast!"
Gategard's face twisted in shock.
Then a sharp pain exploded across his face.
The two became streaks of light, plummeting.
Beside each temple was a pocket dimension (a fanfiction addition).
These were training grounds for Gold Saints.
In the original Saint Seiya, the Sala Garden beside the Virgo Temple was such a pocket dimension.
Its durability was staggering, capable of withstanding the explosion of Athena's Exclamation.
Naturally, it could contain a battle between two Gold Saints.
Boom!
The streaks of light crashed down.
Gategard felt agony sear through his body.
In the training ground exclusive to the Libra Temple, the Weapon Sanctuary, a crater formed in the floor.
At its center lay Gategard.
"Here, you can go all out."
"Show me what you've got."
Kaiser's voice was cold.
"Kaiser!"
Gategard staggered to his feet, his face grim.
The battle between Gold Saints began.
It was said that a fight between Gold Saints could last a thousand days.
But that only applied to those of equal caliber.
Clearly, Gategard and Kaiser were not on the same level.
Gategard was a few years older than Kaiser.
But his Cosmo was only at the mid-Seventh Sense.
Among the Twelve Zodiac Gold Saints, he ranked in the lower half.
He couldn't compare to Kaiser.
Starlight gleamed as Gategard held nothing back.
"Starlight Explosion!"
He unleashed the ultimate technique of the current Aries Saint.
His Cosmo transformed into stars, countless falling toward Kaiser.
Facing the barrage of starlight, Kaiser didn't dodge.
He stood his ground.
Then, with a lift of his right hand, the surging Cosmo was extinguished in his palm.
"What?!"
Gategard froze, stunned by the sight.
"Impossible! We're both Gold Saints... how can the gap be this vast?!"
Gategard's mind reeled.
"You dare lose focus against me?"
Kaiser's voice rang in Gategard's ears.
"Damn it! Crystal Wall!"
Gategard hurriedly summoned his telekinesis, erecting a barrier before him.
Kaiser seemed oblivious to the Crystal Wall.
A single uppercut struck Gategard's abdomen.
With one simple punch, the Crystal Wall twisted and warped violently.
Crash…
The sound of shattering glass echoed.
Then came Gategard's pained scream.
Kaiser's fist smashed through the Crystal Wall.
Even with the Aries Gold Cloth's protection, the blow felt like it shattered Gategard's organs.
He lost all ability to move, dangling limp from Kaiser's arm.
"You're too weak!"
Kaiser's left hand gripped Gategard's head, slowly lifting him to eye level.
"With this level of strength, you think you can help Master reshape the world's order?"
"Utterly laughable."
Kaiser's voice was ice-cold.
Crackle…
A beam of light appeared.
Then countless more followed.
Gategard's body floated in the light.
A barrage of collisions resounded.
"Aaah!"
Kaiser's Light Speed Fist sent Gategard hurtling backward.
His body shot out of the Libra Temple at blinding speed.
"Hm?!"
In front of the Virgo Temple, just beyond the Libra Temple, the current Virgo Gold Saint raised a hand.
Telekinesis spread out.
Gategard's flying body came to a halt.
He landed on the Virgo Temple's floor.
"The fight ended this quickly?"
"The gap is that immense?"
The Virgo Gold Saint's expression was grave.
The battle, from start to finish, lasted no more than three minutes.
Yet Gategard lay incapacitated.
Even the Aries Gold Cloth was cracked.
And this was Kaiser holding back.
Otherwise, Gategard would never have left the Weapon Sanctuary alive.
A complete annihilation.
The Virgo Saint hadn't even sensed Kaiser's Cosmo fluctuate significantly.
This fight didn't even qualify as a warm-up for Kaiser.
"Cough, cough…"
Gategard struggled to his feet.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
He exchanged no words with the Virgo Gold Saint.
Silently, without a word, he limped out of the Virgo Temple.
The defeat struck him deeply.
"This kid's reached that level already?"
In a secluded training ground within the Sanctuary, the former Aquarius Gold Saint, Krest, opened his eyes.
A flicker of surprise crossed his gaze.
Kaiser's strength exceeded his expectations.
This was clearly a power on the verge of touching the Eighth Sense.
***
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