"Athena rules the Earth."
"Regardless of the reasons."
"Nominally."
"Athena is the Earth's lord."
"Athena scatters Cloths across the world."
"Nurtured by Earth's divine power."
"Among them."
"Andromeda Island holds holy, merciful, gentle power."
"Besides a few Cloths, it mainly nurtures the Andromeda Cloth."
Persephone explained softly.
"Huh?"
"So convenient?"
"Worthy of the Earth's lord!"
Leone smacked her lips, sighing. "With resources, you gotta use them!"
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Alistair chuckled. "A similar choice. In fact, Evil Stars are the same. Given time, Surplices can also improve rapidly."
"Let's go."
"Take a look."
Alistair said little, leading Persephone and Leone onto Andromeda Island.
Persephone raised a hand, divine energy enveloping them.
Hiding them completely unless they wished otherwise.
Andromeda Island!
A picturesque island.
The trio strolled, quietly enjoying the scenery.
Leone sidled up to Persephone, asking curiously, "Lord Hades, what's special about the Andromeda Cloth? Isn't it just a Bronze Cloth?"
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Persephone liked Leone's carefree, unrestrained nature.
She smiled, explaining, "Many Cloths are special, with Bronze Cloths having the most uniqueness."
"Huh?"
"Really?"
"But…"
Leone blinked, puzzled. "Aren't Bronze Cloths the lowest tier?"
"Hm~~~"
Persephone clarified, "Among Gold, Silver, and Bronze Cloths, many are special."
"The Ophiuchus Gold Cloth."
"The Crateris and Ara Silver Cloths."
"And."
"The Pegasus Cloth, historically the reincarnation of Pegasus, the god-slaying deity."
"Beyond that."
"The Andromeda, Phoenix, Dragon, and Cygnus Cloths."
"These four Bronze Cloths hold special power."
"Called the goddess's four guardians."
"Each is more likely to awaken the eighth sense and Divine Cloths."
Persephone's explanation left Leone blinking in shock. "Then! What about Surplices? Don't they have any?"
"Of course they do."
"Though."
"Theoretically, the 108 Specters, Heavenly or Earthly, are equal."
"But in reality."
"Not so."
Persephone wagged a finger, continuing, "The Heavenly Leader Star and Earthly Leader Star aside, there are the Heavenly Fierce Star, Heavenly Hero Star, and Heavenly Noble Star—the Underworld's three giants—plus special stars like the Heavenly Violent Star and Earthly Demon Star."
"Simply put."
"Evil Stars have five tiers."
"The first: Heavenly and Earthly Leader Stars."
"The second: Heavenly Noble, Hero, and Fierce Stars, the three giants."
"The third: special stars like Heavenly Violent and Earthly Demon."
"The fourth: Heavenly Stars."
"The fifth: Earthly Stars."
"I see!"
Leone nodded, understanding the complexity.
"Fairness is relative."
Alistair spoke gently. "Pity there's no absolute fairness, like individual talent and aptitude. They seem similar but aren't."
Leone waved carelessly. "Young master, I get it. Like me and Esdeath—I'll never catch her, no matter how hard I try, unless I get some miracle."
"You!"
Alistair, hearing Leone compare herself, chuckled and shook his head.
What to say?
Then.
A youthful figure with long golden hair, clad in a teal Bronze Cloth, stepped forward.
"Everyone…"
"They've all left!"
"Sigh!"
The girl sighed softly, reaching the shore of Andromeda Island, removing her mask, gazing distantly with lonely eyes.
"Andromeda Bronze Saint: June."
Alistair paused, looking at the girl with interest.
June.
Andromeda Constellation.
Bronze Saint.
In the original story, she had decent early roles but later vanished completely.
"A lonely girl."
"Her inner loneliness has reached its limit."
Persephone, observing June, sensed her profound solitude.
Alistair thought briefly, his lips curving. He raised a hand, and a streak of black light shot into June's heart.
"What was that?"
Leone tilted her head.
Alistair smiled. "Just planted a seed. Who knows if it'll succeed? It might take root and sprout, or it might fade entirely."
"But."
"I'm quite looking forward to it."
"For a Saint hailed as a guardian of Earth's peace."
"Will the darkness in her heart take root?"
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Alistair's smile grew richer.
"Tch!"
Leone clicked her tongue, teasing, "Young master, isn't that just your mischievous streak?"
"If you put it that way, I won't argue."
Alistair shrugged, unconcerned.
***
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