[ "I am Albafica, the Gold Saint of Pisces." Albafica, clad in his brilliant Gold Cloth, sat steadily in the center of the rose garden, blocking the Specters' path.
Minos, too, seemed interested,
"One of the twelve strongest Gold Saints, supposedly, came out of the Twelve Temples specifically to fight?!" ]
[ .....]
~ Projection of All Worlds ~
"But that man… Why he's so beautiful!?"
"Holy cow!! Being handsome is one thing, but his voice is so good too, he should just debut as an idol!"
"Elegant, truly elegant! His entrance, biting a rose in a rose garden, couldn't be cooler."
Everyone looked at Albafica, who, despite being a man, could only be described as beautiful. If it were peacetime, he would undoubtedly be able to make a living off his looks.
Then, hearing Minos's praise, everyone silently nodded. Indeed… Wait, is that really your focus?!
~ Saint Seiya Toeiverse, Anime timeline
Pisces, the last of the Twelve Temples guarding the Sanctuary—the Pisces Temple. At this moment, Aphrodite, the current Gold Saint of Pisces, gazed at the Pisces Saint on the screen.
"He actually put the Royal Demon Rose Garden below the Twelve Temples?!"
Aphrodite was somewhat confused by Albafica's actions. Why would Albafica, who was originally in the last stage of the Gold Twelve Temples, appear here?
Behind the Pisces Temple was the Pope's Chamber. Those who reached this point could not solve problems with brute force. The Royal Demon Rose Garden was the last barrier for the Saints.
These roses were the most lethal among the Saints; those unfamiliar with them would surely fall victim! Even the most powerful Cosmo of a Saint couldn't withstand the poison!
"But this is too reckless. What if the rose's poison gas harms the citizens?!"
.....
~ Saint Seiya Shioriverse, The Lost Canvas timeline ~
Inside the Pope's Chamber, since the video was playing scenes from their own world, most of the Gold Saints had gathered here.
Even Hakurei, the elder and leader of the Jamir tribe, was present.
At this moment, the Pope frowned slightly at the figure on the screen. Was that Minos of the Griffon, one of the Three Judges of the Underworld?
"To openly invade the Sanctuary like this, they truly don't show us old guys any respect."
Hakurei's voice was also low. The Specters dared to trespass into the Sanctuary, which was far too arrogant.
The other Gold Saints also looked up at Albafica, who stood in the distance…
.....
[ Two Specters, fearless of death, jumped down from the cliff and trampled the rose garden, continuously cursing.
"Fools! Do you think rose thorns can stop us? Will these things work against us, wearing Surplices?"
"Uh… how?"
The next moment, the Specters trampling the rose garden suddenly stopped, blood spewing from their mouths.
Then they fell directly to the ground, dying instantly from the poison.
Albafica briefly glanced at the two mere Specters, then leaped down into the rose garden.
He looked at the Specters with a smile, but his tone was full of mockery,
"These are Royal Demon Roses. If you are prepared to die, then enter my garden."
"Or will you scurry back like stray dogs, Specters!"
At this moment, rose petals danced in the sky. A few Specters, unable to stand Albafica's arrogant demeanor, charged forward again.
"As long as we don't touch the thorns, we'll be fine! That guy is standing right in the rose bushes now."
Facing the charging Specters, Albafica stood motionless, and with a grand sweep of his hand, holding a rose, he declared,
"Royal Demon Rose!!"
The Specters were thrown backward, spitting out large amounts of blood. They fell to the ground, grabbing Albafica's ankle in their dying breath.
"Why are you unharmed in these poisonous roses?"
Albafica didn't bother to answer such foolish questions, instead turning his gaze to Minos, who had yet to descend. He was the true opponent this time.
Niobe, wearing a Surplice resembling an insect, bent over like a hunchback, showing no pity,
"Thanks to these good-for-nothings, I was spared!" ]
[ .....]
~ Projection of All Worlds ~
"These Specters aren't very smart. Does he painstakingly plant this rose garden just for a few broken thorns?!"
"Why isn't he poisoned standing in the rose garden?! Brother… have you ever seen a venomous snake poison itself to death?"
"No wonder they're only fit to be small fry; with that Level of intelligence, wouldn't it be better to just go back to farming? Why bother getting involved in this?"
However, the sacrifice of these small fries was not entirely meaningless. People from other worlds also secretly felt pity.
"This barely noticeable poison only took down a few small fries, which is a bit of a shame. The next people won't be so foolish."
~ Delicious in Dungeon World ~
"I think I'm allergic to roses for life now."
Marcille was almost traumatized by Albafica.
"Didn't you just say you wanted to pick some to admire in your room if you could?!"
Laios looked at Marcille, puzzled. Didn't she want to appreciate them just now?
Did she change her mind so quickly?!
Marcille shivered, looking at Laios with a speechless expression.
Are you serious?! Put them in my room… You want me to die faster.
They say roses have thorns, but his roses have poison… They are beautiful, but you might not live to appreciate them!
No wonder they say the most captivating things are the most dangerous.
.....
~ JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Worldline ~
"What a shame! If those Specters hadn't tested the waters, he might have really ambushed Minos."
Koichi also felt it was a great pity.
This Royal Demon Rose is suitable for a first-strike kill. For those unaware of the information, they would likely treat them as ordinary roses, then unknowingly get poisoned and die.
But now, their greatest trump card has been completely exposed.
It's like a cold, venomous snake that has already shown its fangs; smart people won't blindly rush forward.
.....
[ Meanwhile, Shion of Aries also noticed a circle of red mist enveloping the front of the Sanctuary.
"Is that the scent of Albafica's Royal Demon Roses?"
Just then, Dohko also walked over.
After exchanging information about the Sanctuary's situation, he sighed with emotion,
"Even for Specters, it won't be easy to pass through the Royal Demon Roses surrounding the Sanctuary."
"Is he guarding it alone?"
Shion asked Dohko, puzzled.
Little did he know, Dohko also turned to him in surprise; if Shion hadn't mentioned it, he truly wouldn't have known.
"I once heard a rumor about the Pisces Saint. The Royal Demon Roses are incredibly poisonous, and no one can resist them."
"Therefore, the one guarding the Pisces Temple must possess an anti-poison constitution to coexist with those highly toxic roses. Albafica possesses this constitution; even his blood is now highly poisonous."
"That's why his beautiful appearance easily draws admiration, but he rarely approaches others voluntarily. Perhaps this is due to his poisonous constitution."
Dohko heard this story about Pisces for the first time.
"Do beautiful roses always have thorns?!"
Shion's gaze seemed to pierce through the boulders, fixed on Albafica,
"No, Dohko! Roses are aloof precisely because they have thorns." ]
[ .....]
~ Projection of All Worlds ~
"Two big brothers, stop explaining so leisurely. You know Albafica is guarding it alone, so go help him!"
"Albafica is not only beautiful in appearance but also beautiful inside! He rarely approaches others, probably because he fears his poison will harm those nearby."
'Roses are aloof precisely because they have thorns—' that's a truly beautiful saying!
~ Saint Seiya Toeiverse, Anime timeline ~
Aphrodite was stunned at this moment. Shion?! Isn't that the Pope?! So this is the previous Holy War?!
Why did he live in the Royal Rose Garden without any issues, yet he didn't have the same poisonous blood…
"But the poison gas of these roses seems to be much stronger than mine."
He recalled the Demon Rose Path he set up; Seiya and Marin only fainted after walking for a long time. Compared to Albafica's, it seemed quite inferior.
Albafica's Demon Rose poison gas could instantly make Specters spit blood, and his roses couldn't do that just based on that point…
.....
[ Facing Albafica's provocation, Minos laughed wildly, about to step forward but was stopped.
"Lord Minos, leave this to me, Niobe! Royal Demon Roses are useless against me."
Niobe leaped down into the rose garden, then smirked triumphantly, taking a deep breath of the roses' fragrance.
"The rose garden smells wonderful, hahahaha!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Albafica's face, then he smiled again.
"I don't think trash like you understands the scent of roses. Come on! I'll play with you."
Seeing Albafica's arrogant mockery, Niobe gritted his teeth and charged forward, swinging a fist at Albafica,
"Let me thoroughly ravage that beautiful face of yours!"
A swift punch was effortlessly blocked by Albafica with one hand holding a black rose; even the rose in his hand showed no change.
But then Albafica was surprised to find that the rose garden beside him had withered.
"Deep Fragrance, this sweet scent will directly invade your skin, paralyzing your five senses, and bringing death."
Albafica looked at the scent gradually drifting towards the nearby village, realizing something bad was happening. He had to stop the spread of this poison.
He then inhaled all the poison floating in the air, his face turning purple, his body enveloped in poison, standing motionless.
Even when Niobe rushed forward and continuously punched Albafica, he showed no reaction, as if already dead.
But the next moment, Niobe realized he was unknowingly surrounded by a crimson blood mist.
Albafica's face returned to normal, and he mockingly scoffed at Niobe's foolishness,
"I have lived with this rose for a long time; even the blood flowing in my body has long been dyed with its poison."
"CRIMSON THORN!!"
The blood mist floating in the air instantly transformed into tiny needles, so fast they were invisible to the naked eye, piercing directly through Niobe's body!
Only after Niobe's death did Minos, who had been watching the show, finally step down. He could no longer restrain himself,
"You will become a perfect puppet, Albafica of Pisces." ]
[ .....]
~ Projection of All Worlds ~
"Now I finally understand why he refused to get close to others. Even his blood is poisonous; he's afraid his poison will infect others."
"What a magnificent air purifier! I almost thought he was poisoned to death by the opponent just now, thankfully he's fine."
Watching Albafica inhale all the toxins to protect the village, everyone held their breath for him. That moment when his face turned ashen, they all thought he had been poisoned.
It must be said that Albafica is truly beautiful and elegant. Even his opponents, at the end of their fights, seem unable to resist praising him.
~ Saint Seiya Toeiverse, Anime timeline ~
"Ah… no, don't talk nonsense… I don't have that move!"
Aphrodite looked at the screen in surprise, then quickly shook his head upon hearing Albafica's statement.
What does he mean by living in the Royal Rose Garden has already filled his body with toxins?!
You're inhaling toxins and remaining unharmed is purely personal behavior; please don't generalize it to the group… Or could it be that my blood is also full of toxins, and I just don't know it?!
Deathmask of Cancer was equally bewildered,
"Isn't Pisces' ultimate move the Bloody Rose… Could it be that Aphrodite is hiding something?!"
.....