In just one day, the atmosphere of the entire world changed.
A Saint arriving at the Sanctuary from the outside stopped in her tracks. Just as she was about to step into the Sanctuary, a figure grabbed her by the neck and stopped her.
"What happened?" Marin of Aquila asked in a low voice.
"We just received intelligence. The Pope has declared war on the traitors in Japan. This means that from this moment on, the Sanctuary is in a state of war."
The female Saint, also wearing a white mask, said in a low voice, "Our Holy War, against those rebels, has begun!"
"A Holy War..." To actually describe it as a Holy War... Marin was inwardly shocked. She immediately realized the gravity of the situation. No wonder the Pope was so anxious to summon the Saints.
Not all Saints were in the Greek Sanctuary; some were training abroad. And among these, a large proportion did not recognize the current Sanctuary and its Pope, including Mu of Aries, who lived in seclusion in the Pamir Mountains at the border of India and China, and reportedly, the legendary Saint Dohko of Libra as well.
However, with the Pope's decree declaring a Holy War, even the Gold Saints could not ignore it. If they did not come to the Sanctuary, they would be considered traitors. That was why Marin was so surprised to see so many Saints gathered here.
And this female Saint was Shaina of Ophiuchus. The reason she stopped Marin was because the Pope's chief of staff wanted to see them.
Following that order, Marin and Shaina arrived at the Pope's Palace unimpeded and met the famous chief of staff. But unexpectedly, it was not Gigars with his blue beard and red cape, who could snort cold air from his nostrils, but a much younger man.
Although they didn't know why he was the chief of staff, Marin and Shaina still nodded to him, and he didn't dawdle either.
"I now give you two a mission. Before defending the Sanctuary, you are to kill the invading rebels."
Before, they could only be called traitors; now they should be called a rebel faction. For faith, for power, for different paths, both sides had a reason to fight. It's just that no one expected the flames of war to first ignite from the outside.
--Somalia, West Indian Ocean, Andromeda Island.
This was the cradle that nurtured many Bronze Saints, and also a special training ground formed by ancient Ethiopian lava, with nightly temperature differences reaching dozens of degrees. But today, a ferocious golden scorpion arrived here.
Milo, the Gold Saint of Scorpio, was ordered to eradicate this cradle that nurtured evil Saints.
Without any nonsense, the Bronze Saints here couldn't even last a second against a Gold Saint. As the great fire spread, only Daidalos of Cepheus was left to resist him.
Towards this disciple of the previous Pope, whose power was comparable to a Gold Saint's, Milo surprisingly spoke words of persuasion.
"Daidalos, confess your sins to the Pope. Announce to the world that you taught the evil Saint, Andromeda Shun. Perhaps the Pope, in his mercy, might still spare your life."
Daidalos of Cepheus burned his Cosmo and walked towards the Gold Saint.
"I'm afraid I cannot obey. No matter what, I believe that kind child, Shun, is absolutely not the evil existence you speak of—Stardust Revolution!"
A rain of light like falling stars approached Milo in a spiral. This terrifying power, which had already surpassed the level of a Silver Saint, made Milo smile.
The Scarlet Needle and Stardust Revolution collided.
Just as the stamen of light was about to devour the Cancer Saint before him, a smile appeared on Daidalos's face.
In the next instant, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
Only then did Milo slowly emerge from Daidalos's side.
"If it were that great man's Stardust Revolution, I might have retreated a little, but yours... is completely insufficient! Scarlet Needle!"
Daidalos's life force vanished in an instant.
And in the distance, the late-arriving Andromeda Shun happened to witness this very scene.
"Master Daidalos! Master!" Andromeda Shun threw himself before his master's body.
Milo, who was about to leave, looked at the true face of the rebel before him and raised an eyebrow.
But he quickly stopped in his tracks again.
Because from within Andromeda Shun's embrace, a dozen roses appeared—red roses, similar to his friend Aphrodite's Royal Demon Rose.
Shun also recognized these as the roses that Pegasus Seiya had given him when they first met. And at this moment, the roses spontaneously fell onto the chest that had been pierced by Milo's Scarlet Needle, and the heart that had stopped began to beat again.
Reversing life and death, even if it was just reversing the death of a Saint for a mere instant... At this moment, the shoulder that had been pierced by the Heretic God's golden arrow gave Milo a dull ache.
He seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky, but in the moment his attention was diverted, the Cosmo belonging to Daidalos of Cepheus burned once more. Milo narrowed his eyes, reassessing the master and disciple before him.
"There's an uninvited guest, it seems. Looks like the Pope's mission cannot be completed today. I'll let you keep your heads on your necks for now."
After saying this, Milo turned and shot off toward the horizon.
Siberia, the region near the Arctic Ocean, the Ice Pyramid (Note 1: Timeline slightly adjusted).
This was the training ground of the Crystal Saint. Although this Crystal Saint possessed strength comparable to the Saints, he was fated not to have a guardian constellation, and thus could only become a private Saint.
Although he was a private soldier, his heart, technique, and body were outstanding even among the Saints, and he was admired by all of them. Among his students was the great and renowned figure, Marine General Isaak, who guarded the Pillar of the Arctic Ocean.
But in this land of extreme cold, brilliant roses were blooming.
"--Royal Demon Rose!"
A handsome figure with blue hair slowly approached the Crystal Saint ahead.
At this moment, everyone in the training ground was entangled by the thorned vines at their feet. As the fragrance of the flowers filled the air, they gradually lost strength, including the Crystal Saint.
"I ask you, the Pope has summoned you, why did you not report to the Sanctuary?"
The Pisces Saint, Aphrodite, held a white rose in his hand, gazing at the Crystal Saint who was still struggling before him.
"I am not one of the 88 constellations, nor am I the Pope's private soldier. Naturally, I have no reason to report." The Crystal Saint looked at the figure before him.
Aphrodite closed his eyes and sighed, "Wrong answer. But you taught a traitor like Cygnus Hyoga, which proves you've had treacherous thoughts in your heart for a long time."
Although his techniques carried a terrifying lethality, he was a pacifist. But he had to obey the Pope's command and eliminate these unstable elements.
Although the Crystal Saint had a powerful Cosmo, he did not have a corresponding Cloth. To try and fight against Aphrodite, the Gold Saint of Pisces, was undoubtedly like an egg hitting a stone.
"Lament your fate, Royal Demon..."!"
Just as Aphrodite of Pisces was about to execute the Crystal Saint, a strong sense of crisis forced him to leap backward.
The Fang of the Lion of Light and Speed destroyed the sea of Royal Demon Roses before him, and at the same time, made Aphrodite's gaze turn completely solemn.
"You really have betrayed the Pope, Aiolia."
"If we're talking about betrayal, it should be the Pope who betrayed the Sanctuary."
The figure of the Leo Gold Saint appeared at the other end of the Ice Pyramid, his body wreathed in a platinum aura.
"If you haven't had enough of a fight, then I, Aiolia of Leo, will be your opponent!"
Aphrodite said nothing, but closed his eyes and put away the white rose in his hand.
"I look forward to meeting you again in the Sanctuary." He left these words and turned, disappearing into the snowstorm.
Not only in the Ice Pyramid of Siberia and on Andromeda Island in Somalia, but similar events were also unfolding in various places around the world.
Not all Saints recognized the dark era ruled by Pope Arles, and the Pope intended to eliminate these unstable elements.
And these Saints, who should have been tragically killed in the original history, were now regrouped and brought before Saori Kido.
As Saori Kido took the initiative to display her own Cosmo, these Saints, who were originally still confused, swore allegiance under the banner of the Goddess Athena.
Japan, Graad Foundation, Kido Mansion.
All the Saints who would not submit to the rule of Pope Arles gathered here. Their gazes turned to Saori Kido on the throne at the highest point, and to Pegasus Seiya standing beside her.
"Here and now, the true Goddess Athena has been fully resurrected," Seiya declared.
Among these Saints, the most special were the Crystal Saint and Daidalos of Cepheus. These two Saints were highly respected, and Cepheus himself possessed a Seventh Sense Cosmo. The Crystal Saint also had corresponding potential.
It would be too much of a waste if they died at the hands of their own people as in the original work.
The girl sitting alone on the throne, Saori Kido, was a little nervous, but she still gazed at the Saints who belonged to her.
"Warriors, Saints of Athena, we can no longer allow the impostor in the Pope's Palace to continue defiling our Sanctuary. End the life of Pope Arles—no, the false Pope, and restore peace to this world."
Although it was phrased as a question, Saori Kido's tone left no room for doubt. And the Saints were more than willing to carry out this task for their goddess.
"Then let's first go knock on the doors of Athena's Sanctuary," Seiya raised his hand and gave the first command.
Inside a plane bearing the Graad Foundation's logo, Seiya and Saori Kido sat opposite each other. Below, through gaps in the leaden, heavy dark clouds, glimpses of the black ocean were occasionally visible.
It would be about another half hour before they reached the Greek Sanctuary. Saori Kido kept looking at her watch.
Until a hand rested on the back of hers. Feeling the warmth of that palm, Saori Kido's heart gradually calmed down.
"Can I really be a good Athena?" she finally asked this question.
Seiya squeezed Saori Kido's palm, "Of course. Didn't you hear the cheers of those Saints? It's all because of your arrival."
"But you prepared those words for me. I don't think I have the resolve to truly become Athena yet."
"This world needs Athena, this Sanctuary needs Athena, the oppressed Saints need Athena, so your existence is necessary."
Looking into Saori Kido's eyes, Seiya took the initiative to kiss her forehead.
"Don't worry. You're just taking back what is rightfully yours. Victory is assured, just wait a moment."
Greek Sanctuary. Sitting on the throne in the Pope's Palace, Arles suddenly opened his eyes.
"They're here."
At that moment, a sudden alarm blared throughout the Sanctuary, like the roar of a demon dragged out of hell.
Marin of Aquila and Shaina of Ophiuchus exchanged a look, subconsciously tensing their muscles. They were both Saints, and they understood the meaning of that alarm. It was... the alarm of war!
A blue-and-white, whip-shaped barrier completely covered the Sanctuary. And from the ground, a beam of blue-and-white light containing astonishing heat covered the approaching plane at the speed of light.
It hit.
It can't be over just like that, can it? The Saints looked up, pondering the fireball above their heads, until a suffocating pressure spread evenly over everyone.
--Boom!!!
The barrier showed no reaction at all, allowing the figures descending from the sky to arrive at the sacred and inviolable Sanctuary. Even though they were prepared for battle, these Saints still felt an uncontrollable fear assailing them from the front.
Their brains were trembling, their bodies were trembling, their bones were chattering, and even their Cosmo was suppressed to the extreme. That divine might, which surpassed their level of existence, pressed down on them with the terrifying battle technique of spiritual pressure.
Revealed from within the smoke and dust was a figure in red and white. He brought with him a light and heat comparable to the sun as he slowly walked before the Saints. And behind him, many Saints followed.
--The Pegasus Saint, Seiya.
Walking onto the marble-paved road, he squinted in the dazzling sunlight and looked up at the clear sky. Before him, the sprawling Twelve Houses were like a winding maze, and at its end, the Goddess's Temple at the summit glowed with a warm light.
A mysterious smile appeared on his face, and Seiya once again stepped forward.
A female voice that seemed to exist only in a dream shouted, "Stop! Rebels! You have come to Athena's Sanctuary!"
"If you still hold any respect for Athena, do not commit such a sacrilegious act!" another familiar female voice spoke.
Seiya's gaze fell on the two Saints who had finally stepped forward.
The Silver Saint Marin of Aquila, and the Silver Saint Shaina of Ophiuchus. These two, who should have been his master and comrade, were now, under the orders of Pope Arles, standing on the opposing side.
Without any need for Seiya to speak, the Crystal Saint and Daidalos of Cepheus stepped forward on their own initiative.
"Fools. Athena's Sanctuary... is the one enshrined beyond the Twelve Houses truly the reincarnation of Athena?"
Without giving the Saints much time to think, as the voice fell, a Cosmo that resonated with the entire Sanctuary unfolded behind the rebellious Saints. All the Saints looked up at the sky in unison, only to see the statue of Athena revealed within that vast aura.
As the Saints took the initiative to clear a path, Saori Kido, regarded by Pope Arles as the number one rebel, appeared before them.
_____
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