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"What an unforgiving place… Normal humans wouldn't last a minute here," Zhang Tao muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
"We're near the equatorial region of this dimension's Southern Hemisphere," Jiang Chen explained, scanning their surroundings. "This landmass is rumored to be a remnant of the Mu Continent."
"Mu Continent? Equator of the Southern Hemisphere?" Zhang Tao blinked in confusion.
"The ones we're facing here are likely Black Saints," Jiang Chen continued without elaborating on the geography. "They're dangerous, but manageable."
"Black Saints?" Zhang Tao's brows furrowed deeper.
"Yes. In this world, warriors who channel Cosmos Energy are ranked by their alignment and training. Those recognized by the Sanctuary and chosen to protect justice are called Saint Warriors. Each year, the Sanctuary trains a new batch of initiates. But not all pass the trials."
"Some, unwilling to accept failure, forge fake Saint Cloths, and they are called the Dark Saint Cloths. They gather here on Death Queen Island, defying the Sanctuary, and engage in rogue missions and black-market battles. Most of them sit around Fifth to Sixth Tier in power."
Jiang Chen's tone was even as he spoke, but there was a subtle edge of caution in his voice.
He hadn't expected that he and Zhang Tao would land directly on Death Queen Island.
Still, this was far preferable to confronting any Sage like Gemini Sage directly. Compared to Sages, whose Cosmos burned like a god's will, Death Queen Island was a minor skirmish.
The strongest forces here were the Four Dark Heavenly Kings and Ikki, the Phoenix of Rebirth.
Among Saints, Black Saints were still formidable. The Dark Four Heavenly Kings especially could rival mid-level Silver Saints, and easily overpower most Bronze Saints.
But ultimately, they capped out around the Silver Saint tier which is no more than Sixth Tier by Jiang Chen's estimate.
He could handle that.
Ikki, while stronger than the rest, was no more than a fledgling Gold Saint at this point in the timeline. At best.
The arc hadn't fully unfolded yet; Ikki's Cosmos hadn't reached its true peak.
Saga, on the other hand, was a completely different matter.
His power neared the apex of the Seventh Sensesurpassing most Saints and rivaled only by the likes of Shaka, the man closest to godhood.
For Jiang Chen, dealing with Sages might be possible. But for Zhang Tao, whose own strength had only just entered the Seventh Tier?
That was far from certain.
"Understood." Zhang Tao nodded, his shoulders easing just slightly at Jiang Chen's explanation.
Fifth to Sixth Tier was within reach. It was still dangerous but not soul-crushing.
The two spoke in hushed tones as they moved forward.
Their figures walked steadily across the scorched terrain of Death Queen Island.
The sky hung heavy with dim clouds, and a soft, unrelenting rain drizzled from above.
They hadn't gotten far when a group of Dark Warriors stationed on the island spotted them.
"Who goes there?" A cold voice echoed through the mist, and within seconds, two armored figures blocked their path.
Their eyes gleamed with wary hostility.
"Mr. Jiang Chen, allow me." Zhang Tao stepped forward, his voice steady.
Jiang Chen gave a small nod and casually stepped back.
These kinds of underlings weren't worth his attention. Since Zhang Tao was eager, Jiang Chen was happy to let him handle it.
The clash began without another word.
But as soon as the fight started, Zhang Tao sensed something off. His energy felt restrained, as if some unseen force was dampening his energy output. Thankfully, the same seemed true for their opponents as their aura was clearly affected as well.
At best, they hovered around the early Sixth Tier.
Against Zhang Tao, who had firmly stepped into the Seventh Tier, the difference was night and day.
"Who are you people? Wait... You're from the Sanctuary? No way, you're not even wearing a Saint Cloth! How can you be this powerful?"
The two Black Saints grew increasingly panicked as the battle went on, expressions shifting between confusion and dread.
But Zhang Tao gave them no time to breathe.
"Serious Punch!"
Boom!
A shockwave burst forth as his strike landed cleanly. The two Black Saints were launched like ragdolls, crashing into the distance with a thunderous rumble.
They didn't get back up. Their energy was completely wiped out. Zhang Tao returned, glancing at Jiang Chen with some uncertainty.
"Mr. Jiang Chen… what's going on here?"
As if anticipating the question, Jiang Chen replied calmly.
"This world was originally a cradle of divine energy, and it is safeguarded by ancient god seals. No force can utterly annihilate it. Even during a dimensional invasion, the planet itself remains protected."
(The "god seals" were a lore expansion beyond the original Saint Seiya narrative.)
"I see." Zhang Tao gave a light nod of understanding.
They resumed their march forward. As they progressed, more Black Saints emerged to intercept them. But most of them were nothing Zhang Tao couldn't handle alone.
The gap between the Sixth and Seventh Tier was a deep chasm that one could not easily cross.
That was true... until they reached the island's heart.
There, dozens of Black Saints emerged to surround them.
One among them was radiating a far stronger aura and stood at the forefront. From Jiang Chen's quick sensing, that one had definitely reached the Seventh Tier.
The battle exploded instantly.
Zhang Tao charged toward the powerful leader. The remaining Black Saints swarmed Jiang Chen, trying to overwhelm him with numbers.
But even dozens of Black Saints were hardly a challenge for him.
Boom!
A violent pulse of energy erupted from Jiang Chen. One by one, the Black Saints were blown back in rapid succession. Their Dark Cloths cracked and shattered like brittle shells.
Many were knocked out cold. Those still conscious lay groaning, stripped of all combat strength.
Jiang Chen ignored them.
His eyes were fixed above, on the duel playing out in the sky. Zhang Tao was clashing with a powerful foe and Jiang Chen recognized him immediately.
It was Ikki, the Phoenix Saint.
Even without the Saint Cloth's full flare, that fiery, undying aura was unmistakable.
In the original narrative, Ikki was called the "Undying Bird" the Phoenix that never truly dies. The more he was defeated, the stronger he rose from the ashes. Jiang Chen hadn't expected their first real opponent in this Dimensional Invasion to be one of the original Five Bronze Saints.
Thankfully, this Ikki wasn't yet at the peak of his power from the latter stages of the story. He had only just reached the Seventh Tier.
He and Zhang Tao clashed fiercely in the skiesneither gaining the upper hand.
"Phoenix Wings Rise!"
"Serious Punch!"
Two signature techniques collided mid-air with blinding force.
A massive explosion of aura shook the heavens. Shockwaves blasted across the island, and the sea beyond surged with waves rising tens of thousands of meters high.
Nearby islanders, sensing the sheer might of the clash, trembled in fear and awe.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen's attention shifted.
His gaze moved toward the island's center.
Ever since setting foot on Death Queen Island, he had felt something stirring deep in his chest.
Now, standing this close to the heart of the landmass, the sensation had intensified tenfold.
Without hesitation, Jiang Chen stepped toward the island's core.
The last of the Black Saints had already been dealt with.
No one stood in his way.
(End of Chapter)
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