"Athena has finally returned to the Sanctuary."
Krest and Itia stood at the entrance of the Pope's Hall.
Awaiting Athena's arrival.
After two hundred and forty-three years, they would see her again.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
The eleven Gold Saints arrived at the Pope's Hall one by one.
Kaiser stood in his place, eyes closed, ditating, ignoring the other Gold Saints.
"Welco back to the Sanctuary, Lady Athena."
Upon seeing Athena, all the Gold Saints bowed in reverence.
"Is this the Cosmo of a god?"
Kaiser opened his eyes.
He beheld Athena.
A refined, commanding presence.
Her aura was exceptional.
Her Cosmo radiated a gentle light.
Yet it carried an overwhelming pressure.
Without targeting anyone, her divine presence was undeniable simply by standing there.
"No wonder she shattered this generation's Hades vessel and chased the Twin Gods into the Divine Passage."
Kaiser marveled silently.
Among the three generations of Athena, this one appeared the least but left the deepest impression.
The next generation's Sasha in Lost Canvas was remarkable, embodying the wisdom goddess.
The Saint Seiya era's Saori, however, was often criticized by fans.
Aside from a brief display of divine grace in the Hades arc, she was either being rescued or kidnapped.
"It's been a while, Itia, Krest…"
Athena had awakened her divine mories.
Her personality unchanged, but with fragnts of past lives recalled.
"Greetings, Lady Athena."
Itia and Krest responded respectfully.
"Things have changed greatly."
"Itia, you seem lost."
Athena's voice was gentle.
"Lady Athena…"
Gategard tried to speak.
But Itia stopped him.
"My heart has indeed developed a flaw."
"Lady Athena, I am no longer fit to serve as the Sanctuary's Pope."
"The Sanctuary needs a new Pope to lead."
"I recomnd Cancer's Sage."
Itia removed the papal crown.
Revealing long, silver-white hair.
His aged face looked weathered, his eyes brimming with unconcealed fatigue.
"Master…"
Sage looked at Itia, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.
Itia had suppressed the earth for over two hundred years, tirelessly.
He'd deterred countless evil gods from appearing on the surface.
Yet now, such a mighty figure was to fade into obscurity?
"What are you fretting over?"
"Master is only stepping down, not dead."
"He'll still be here once his heart settles."
"You think this is so life-or-death parting?"
Kaiser's voice cut through.
Sage froze.
Kaiser's words instantly lightened the atmosphere.
"I've seen your progress."
"Compared to now, you're better suited for Pope."
Itia smiled, handing the papal crown to Sage.
"Very well!"
Kaiser's words snapped Sage back to focus.
He solemnly accepted the crown.
With Athena's return and the Pope's succession, the Sanctuary's tense atmosphere eased.
"Kaiser, let's talk…"
After the Gold Saints dispersed, Itia addressed Kaiser.
"Alright!"
Kaiser didn't refuse.
Though their ideals clashed, Itia had brought him to the Sanctuary during his earthly patrols in this life.
Without that, Kaiser might have died.
Itia had trained him wholeheartedly, never holding back.
Otherwise, Kaiser wouldn't have inherited the Libra Gold Cloth.
They walked to the Sanctuary's training ground.
"Is the Godslayer legend you spoke of true?"
Itia stopped, looking at Kaiser.
He wanted to know if Kaiser's earlier words were genuine or a delay tactic.
"It's true!"
"There is indeed such a Godslayer."
"And he's likely the strongest Saint under Athena, bar none."
"Perhaps even stronger than the sealed thirteenth constellation."
Kaiser answered firmly, without hesitation.
"Is that so?"
"Then I have a reason to keep living."
Itia smiled, a rare expression.
One he hadn't shown since the earth's chaos began.
"Master, I have a feeling we'll see him in the next Holy War."
Their tiline was the one before Lost Canvas.
The next would bring Pegasus.
A human-god hybrid, imnsely powerful.
Yet still falling short.
"Good!"
"Shall we spar?"
"You're not far from the Eighth Sense now, are you?"
Itia's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
"Gladly!"
Hum!
Kaiser shed the Libra Gold Cloth.
Revealing a chiseled physique.
A Gold Saint's body, forged through countless trials.
Each muscle sculpted with precision.
Having not sparred with Itia in years, Kaiser wanted to gauge his current strength.
"Finally, sothing reassuring. At my age, I'm still worrying about the younger generation."
Krest stood at the edge of the training ground, hearing the clash of battle.
A smile spread across his face.
"It should be fine now."
Sage stood at the Pope's Hall entrance, watching the Cosmo erupt from the training ground.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Athena stood before her statue, gazing at the distant sky.
Dark clouds gathered there.
"The one hundred and eight Specters have awakened…"
Her refined face was etched with solemnity.
***
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