Meanwhile, as the Gold Saint Aiolia set out for District 11, the Galaxian Wars—held with the Gold Cloth as the prize—were drawing to a close.
The Bronze Five had smoothly defeated Saints from all over the world, the Silver Saints from the Sanctuary included.
At the finals, Saori also announced to everyone that she was Athena.
Of course, the Silvers who had been defeated earlier attacked her. Who is Athena? The goddess in the hearts of all Saints.
Don't be fooled by the surface—though the Sanctuary was ruled by Saga, even he needed to lean on Athena's name.
To Saints, Athena is their sole faith. So when someone claiming to be Athena appears in District 11, the Silver Saints will strike even knowing they're no match.
Even if it means dying. Those who would still support Saga while knowing Athena's identity are a tiny minority.
Athena's dignity cannot be defiled.
In the end, though, after Saori stopped the boys who were about to take those Silver Saints down, and revealed Athena's Cosmo before all, the Silver Saints wavered.
Who's telling the truth—this person before them, or the Pope?
Come to think of it, it's not just Bronze Saints and we Silvers. Even the Sanctuary's Gold Saints seem never to have seen the goddess's face!
Though doubts remained in their hearts, the Silver Saints decided to wait and see.
Because the Cosmo on Saori felt far too much like the one that blanketed the Sanctuary in their memories.
So they left with questions, as Saori told them that she herself would soon go to the Sanctuary and confront the Pope face-to-face.
"Leaning on the Sagittarius Gold Cloth's name has made our reputation ring out. We've seized the momentum. Now it's up to Saga—can he conjure up an Athena to play stand-in? Of course, if he really does that, he'll have to weather the suspicion of every Gold Saint. If any other Gold sees something off, then even being Pope won't help. Not to mention his papacy wasn't exactly legitimate to begin with." In a wealthy villa district of District 11, Meruem spoke before Saori and the others.
"All that remains is for us to head to the Sanctuary. Oh, right—Ikki. You're the winner of the Galaxian Wars. The Sagittarius Gold Cloth should rightfully be yours." With that, Meruem laid the Sagittarius Gold Cloth before Ikki.
But after a glance at the Gold Cloth and another at the Phoenix Cloth behind him, Ikki said,
"Lord Meruem, no need. As you said before, compared to a Gold Cloth, my Phoenix Cloth—unseen since the first Holy War—is better for me. The Phoenix Cloth has the power of endless rebirth and the potential to ascend even higher. So I believe this Cloth suits me more than a Gold Cloth." Ikki refused.
"Ikki, that's a Gold Cloth," Seiya whispered, elbowing him. "Phoenix is just a Bronze Cloth."
"Rare of you to remember what I said back then." Meruem gave Ikki an approving look. "Seiya's right—your Cloths are indeed the most basic Bronze Cloths among the eighty-eight constellations. But your Bronze Cloths aren't like other Bronze Cloths."
At that, Meruem succeeded in drawing the boys' full attention.
"They have the potential to evolve into Divine Cloths."
"Divine Cloths?! What's that?" The boys looked completely lost.
"God Cloths are sacred armor only the gods can wear, while Divine Cloths are legendary Saint Cloths that rival God Cloths—ultimate Cloths. And your Bronze Cloths have the qualifications to evolve into Divine Cloths. However, for now, you're not yet at that level." Meruem began answering the boys' questions.
"Gods' armor… Sounds incredible."
"What about me? Me?" Seeing that Meruem had singled out the Pegasus Cloth earlier, Seiya pointed to himself, a little anxious.
"Seiya, that's what comes next. The Pegasus Cloth is different. If your Cloths merely have the possibility of evolving into Divine Cloths, then the Pegasus Cloth is a proven example of one that has. Only—you can't yet trigger the evolution."
"Beyond that, the Pegasus Cloth has another name: the Heavenly realm's great sinner—the God-Slaying Pegasus, one of the only two humans who can wound Hades."
"The Heavenly… realm's great sinner." "The God-Slaying Pegasus."
"The only two humans who can wound Hades… Then Lord Meruem, besides Pegasus, who's the other?" Shun asked curiously.
"The other… strictly speaking, can no longer be called human—or perhaps never was. He…"
Boom! A thunderous crash sounded from the other side of the villa, cutting Meruem off.
"Enemy attack!" came the Enforcers' alarmed shout from outside.
The boys all rose and headed toward the sound.
"Him… If I see him again, I'll kill him—Mephistopheles Yoma." Watching the boys depart, Meruem quietly finished his unsaid words.
Only Saori, at his side, faintly heard them.
"Yoma?" Saori tucked the unfamiliar name into her heart.
"Master…" Seiya murmured as he looked at the man before him. A gleaming gold Cloth, and a flamboyantly long red cape.
The Sanctuary's avenger: the Leo Gold Saint, Aiolia, reporting.
"Seiya? I didn't expect you to be among the traitors His Holiness named. Step aside," Aiolia said after a glance at Seiya.
"Master, please listen—"
"Enough." A sweep of golden light flashed past the group.
Before anyone could react, Seiya's body was sent flying, smashing hard into the ground.
"So fast… Is this a Gold Saint's power?" The same thought surfaced in all the boys' minds. "Heh-heh-heh, as expected of Leo Aiolia. Take these guys out and bring me the head of that girl who dares impersonate Athena," Burton and the others chimed in, seemingly to assert their presence.
"I don't need your orders." Aiolia cut off their gloating.
"Hmph, don't forget—who do you think let you become a Gold Saint? Who do you think you are—" Burton, rattled by Aiolia's retort, grew angry.
But before he could finish, a line of golden light slashed the ground before him.
A deep chasm gaped at Burton's feet, cutting off his tirade.
"There won't be a next time," Aiolia said without even looking at him.
What a joke. Say things like that in private and Aiolia might let it slide. But Gold Saints have their pride. Even if Aiolia cut Burton down, with a charge of insubordination, even Saga would be helpless.
Normally, Aiolia's guilt toward the Pope and the Sanctuary stayed his hand. But now he faced his elder brother's Cloth and his brother's only disciple.
Try provoking him again. A good temper doesn't mean no temper.
Not making a fuss doesn't mean tolerating you.
A lion's fangs are very sharp.
"Hand over the Sagittarius Gold Cloth—along with the woman who dares impersonate Athena." Done with Burton's side, Aiolia turned his attention to the boys.
"Forming a private Saint force without the Sanctuary's approval—bold of you." Here he meant the Enforcers gathered around.
He could sense it—every Enforcer had Cosmo. They were more capable than the Sanctuary's grunts, and not much inferior to the candidates.
"Wait… You're the Leo Gold Saint, aren't you? My master spoke of you," Shiryu said.
"Your master? Who is he?" Aiolia asked.
"Libra Dohko," Shiryu answered. When he said Dohko's name, his respect was evident and his expression solemn.
Dohko could be very strict and stiff with Shiryu, and Shiryu respected him deeply. In the Chinese Federation they say, "A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father."
Though if Shiryu knew how Dohko's personality flipped the instant he regained his youth, what face would he make then?
"Master Dohko is your teacher? But… this is an order from the Pope. Even Master Dohko cannot override it. Today I must take the Sagittarius Gold Cloth and the woman who is impersonating Athena." It seemed Aiolia had the wrong idea.
"Master, please—listen to me. Miss Saori is… is Athena." Just then, Seiya—struck by Aiolia's light-speed blow—stood up again.
One has to marvel—the five boys' vitality far exceeds that of ordinary Saints. If it had been a Silver of equal strength in Seiya's place, he might not die, but he'd be bedridden for months.
A lion's fangs aren't something just anyone can endure.
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