"Clang!"
"Boom!"
At the plaza before the Aries Temple,
a spear forged from Cosmo danced through the air.
It sliced the atmosphere, embedding into the distant earth.
"What is this unease?"
Kaiser frowned.
A faint dread gnawed at him.
As if some crisis loomed.
With Gadgard and Aldebaran gravely injured, he was temporarily guarding the Aries Temple.
The Gemini Gold Saint, also wounded from an earlier mission, was out of commission.
Cancer's Shion had become the Pope.
The first four Zodiac Temples were effectively defenseless.
This was one reason Kaiser stood at the Aries Temple.
"The Underworld?"
"Or perhaps…"
He looked skyward.
The night was cloudless, stars gleaming brightly.
The Sanctuary, bathed in Athena's Cosmo, shone with solemn grandeur.
Unnoticed, a dark void appeared in the distant sky.
Thanatos, the God of Death, stepped out slowly.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's still revolting."
"The Sanctuary…"
A flicker of disgust crossed Thanatos' eyes.
Kaiser's golden halberd, forged by his Cosmo, was planted deep in the ground, its shaft still trembling faintly.
His brows furrowed, golden pupils reflecting the radiant starry sky, yet unable to dispel the unease in his heart.
The Sanctuary, under Athena's Cosmo, was serene and tranquil, but that calm only heightened his tension.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling cold swept from the heavens.
Kaiser snapped his head up, his golden Cosmo flaring to its limit.
The blazing light was visible across the entire Sanctuary.
The night sky tore open.
A black rift appeared silently, like a wound carved by a blade.
The figure emerging from it made Kaiser's pupils contract.
Ornate Surplice cloaked his form, black hair flowing without wind, a dark pentagram on his forehead glowing purple.
A god's Cosmo enveloped the sky.
"Thanatos, the God of Death…"
Thanatos descended onto the plaza before the Aries Temple, his black Surplice touching the ground, scattering debris.
He didn't even glance at Kaiser, merely grazing a stone pillar with his fingertip, reducing it to ash.
"Filthy human structures."
Thanatos' voice echoed from the abyss.
"You're the Libra Gold Saint?"
"I thought I'd have to storm the Sanctuary to find you. This saves me the trouble."
Thanatos' gaze, cold and indifferent, finally settled on Kaiser.
Kaiser's right hand gripped the Libra Halberd, his Cosmo surging rapidly.
"I didn't expect Thanatos, the God of Death himself, to descend to the Sanctuary at this moment."
Thanatos' eyes locked onto Kaiser, his lips curling into a frigid smirk.
"A mere Gold Saint. Who gave you the courage to stand before me?"
"Kneel!"
Divine might descended.
The space before the Aries Temple froze abruptly.
Kaiser felt his body weighed down by an extreme gravitational force, rendering movement nearly impossible.
"As expected, even the strongest humans are mere ants."
Seeing Kaiser's struggle, Thanatos raised his hand without warning.
A jet-black energy wave tore through space, devouring even light in its path.
Kaiser had no time to think; his body reacted on instinct.
"Saint Shield!"
The golden shield, one of the Libra weapons, materialized before his chest.
Cosmo fused with the shield, forming a golden barrier at the critical moment. The collision with the dark energy unleashed a deafening roar.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the Saint Shield's surface, and the immense impact forced Kaiser backward, his feet carving deep furrows into the ground.
"Oh?"
Thanatos raised an eyebrow.
"You blocked a god's strike."
"Among humans, your strength is indeed impressive."
"But it's merely borrowed from Athena's divine blood."
Thanatos sensed the power of Athena's blood within Kaiser.
No wonder he could move under divine pressure.
Kaiser's hand bled from the shock, crimson dripping down the halberd's shaft.
Yet his grip remained steadfast, the fire in his eyes burning brighter.
"A god? Just an arrogant specter."
"Insolent!"
Thanatos' eyes flashed with cold fury, his Ninth Sense Cosmo erupting. His Surplice gleamed with chilling light.
The terrifying divine Cosmo enveloped the plaza before the Aries Temple, the air thickening like blood, making breathing a struggle.
"That's…?"
"A divine Cosmo?"
"It's that Death God, isn't it?"
"He's come to the Sanctuary himself."
"Is he launching the all-out assault tonight?"
Yitiya and Crestor stood, gazing toward the plaza.
Shion's expression was grave.
The overwhelming Cosmo was suffocating.
"Don't worry. With me here, Kaiser will be fine."
"Thanatos, the God of Death, is a fine sparring partner."
Athena's voice echoed in their ears.
Her eyes fixed on the plaza, sensing Thanatos' oppressive Cosmo.
Kaiser knew he couldn't stay on the defensive. He struck first.
"Domain, unfold! Weapon Sanctuary!"
His Eighth Sense Cosmo blazed fully, unleashed.
Golden light pierced the heavens.
It solidified, forming a sealed domain.
The domain, spanning hundreds of meters, enveloped the plaza.
"What's that?"
"A battle array?"
The Virgo Gold Saint sensed the clash, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Kaiser had quietly developed a battle array, and its power seemed formidable.
Within the array,
centered on the twelve golden weapons, countless others materialized.
"Interesting."
"You've brought me some amusement."
Thanatos eyed Kaiser, his killing intent sharpening.
This man's talent and strength surpassed even Yitiya's.
As the God of Death, he was sensitive to lifespans.
Kaiser was only nineteen!
Yet he wielded power to dominate the earth.
At eighteen, this human had subdued the Hydra.
Such dazzling talent.
It reminded him of humanity's Golden Age.
The twelve golden weapons shot forth, streaking through the air, attacking Thanatos from all directions.
Thanatos didn't move, merely scoffing with disdain.
The weapons, capable of shattering mountains and tearing the earth, froze three feet from him, as if trapped in an invisible mire.
"Sometimes, I must admit."
"human tricks are quite entertaining."
Thanatos clenched his fist, shattering the Cosmo-forged weapons.
The surging force exploded!
The impact shook the domain to its core.
"The gap is this vast."
Kaiser's pupils contracted.
But he didn't hesitate. Seizing Thanatos' distraction, he surged forward as a streak of golden light.
The Saint Sword appeared in his hand, its golden blade glinting coldly.
The sword's tip condensed highly compressed Cosmo, thrusting toward Thanatos' throat.
"Ding!"
A sharp metallic clash rang out.
Thanatos extended his right index finger, blocking the Saint Sword against his Surplice. No matter how Kaiser pushed, it wouldn't budge.
"Too slow."
"Bang!"
Thanatos grabbed the blade, snapping it like a twig with a slight twist.
He followed with a palm strike to Kaiser's chest, caving in the Libra Cloth's breastplate.
"Puh!"
Kaiser spat blood, his body flying back like a broken kite, crashing through three stone pillars before slamming into the domain's edge.
Thanatos strolled toward the rubble, his black Surplice gleaming coldly under the domain's golden light.
The might of a god was undeniable.
"This is Athena's strongest Saint? Disappointing."
The rubble exploded as Kaiser staggered to his feet, his Cloth in tatters, but his fighting spirit undimmed.
"It's not over…"
He wiped blood from his mouth, hands forming seals.
"Here it is! The ultimate technique of Libra!"
"Final Justice!"
Kaiser altered a single word. The twelve golden weapons reappeared as the domain shattered.
The scattered Cosmo converged, the weapons fusing in the air into a colossal golden sword.
Ancient divine runes flowed across its blade, radiating a presence rivaling divine artifacts.
Thanatos showed a flicker of surprise.
"Interesting. Is this your final power?"
Kaiser wasted no words, gripping the sword and slashing down.
"Excalibur!"
The golden greatsword descended with world-splitting force, its edge causing faint cracks in space.
Thanatos, sensing the spatial lock, gazed at the golden sword above.
"Is this the power Yitiya used to slay half the Specters in the last Holy War?"
"Spatial lock…"
Thanatos snorted, raising his right hand.
"Then witness true divine power."
"Terrible Providence!"
In an instant, the world seemed to freeze.
A massive dark lightning bolt crashed down.
The energy collided with the Saint Sword.
A vast storm erupted.
"This is… the power of a god?"
The Gold Saints watching fell silent.
Such a ferocious clash.
Any of them would have died instantly.
Yet Kaiser not only endured but fought back.
Even if he lost,
he fell to a god!
"Boom!!!"
The colossal explosion obliterated the entire Aries Temple.
The plaza before the Aries Temple had become a massive crater.
The golden greatsword in Kaiser's hands had vanished.
He stood on the earth, head slightly bowed.
His chest's rise and fall proved he was still breathing.
His Gold Cloth was utterly shattered, only fragments clinging to his legs.
"Human."
"You've entertained me."
Thanatos approached Kaiser.
He slowly raised a finger, Cosmo condensing.
One strike, and Kaiser would die.
"Do you think we don't exist?"
"Diamond Dust!"
Crestor's voice rang out.
Thanatos' right hand was instantly frozen.
"You two rats again."
Thanatos looked up, spotting Crestor and Yitiya.
"Clang… clang… clang…"
The sound of metal striking the ground echoed.
Athena, clad in golden divine armor, stepped before Thanatos.
Her Nike Staff glowed faintly.
"Thanatos…"
Her voice resounded like an ancient deity.
The majesty of the Goddess of War radiated.
A vast, boundless Cosmo enveloped Thanatos, suppressing his divine power back into his body.
"Athena, it's been a while."
Hades' reincarnated form arrived on the battlefield.
Behind him, the Underworld's army loomed.
War was imminent.
Hypnos' plan was simple.
Set the battlefield in the Sanctuary.
This would maximize the damage to the Sanctuary's potential and cripple its forces.
The Underworld had nothing to lose.
"Hades, so you know you can't win and are betting everything?"
Athena gazed at Hades, her eyes devoid of emotion.
"So what? The next Holy War is when we settle this."
Hades smiled.
But his eyes held deep wariness.
He sensed Athena's change.
She had grown disillusioned with the heavens, sealing away her war goddess powers.
Now, he felt her divine essence reviving.
That immense power unsettled him.
"The gods still reign above."
"I despise your arrogance."
Athena murmured.
"Move!"
Her Nike Staff swung, unleashing a golden beam.
Thanatos' expression shifted.
He retreated swiftly, falling back to Hades' side.
"Boom!"
Energy erupted in the sky.
The clash of divine Cosmos shook the earth, forcing all to tremble.
"Such a fierce battle?"
"The Holy War just started."
"Hades and Athena are already facing off."
Hidden evil gods quaked in fear.
Against main gods, they had no resistance.
In the midst of the Holy War,
a misstep could lead to Athena's retribution.
"The Sanctuary…"
In Odin's realm in the North,
the God Warriors sensed the Sanctuary's battle.
But they had no intent to intervene.
"This Holy War will end quickly."
The Sea Fighters also stayed out.
Neither the North nor the Sea Realm believed Hades stood a chance.
They had received oracles.
Hades' reincarnation was flawed, weaker than past incarnations.
Meanwhile, Athena was regaining her divine power.
No matter how you looked at it, the Underworld had no hope.
Before the Sanctuary,
Kaiser finally came to.
"Didn't expect to still be alive."
He looked toward Hades' position.
"Mortal!"
Thanatos' face darkened. He had failed to kill a human!
And was mocked for it.
"In your state, what can you do?"
"Even a Terrestrial Star Specter could kill you."
Rhadamanthys stepped forward.
"You, the rat who fled last time."
Kaiser smirked with disdain.
"We're taking you to Athena."
"This Holy War isn't the final battle."
"You must not die."
Yitiya and Crestor stood before Kaiser.
"Of course, I know."
Kaiser's lips curved into a smile.
"Hades, huh?"
"When I gain the God-Slaying Power, let's see if you can still smile."
Crestor carried Kaiser toward Athena.
The God-Slaying Power's potential was staggering.
Killing a god would make it unstoppable.
In the SS era's later stages,
Seiya, aiding Athena in slaying Hades, had strengthened his God-Slaying Power.
In the Omega era,
Seiya alone stormed Olympus.
Of the twelve main gods, only Athena and Zeus, who fled with his divine armor, remained.
His strength surpassed even primordial gods.
Throughout, Seiya's only defeat was to Chronos' diminished manifestation.
No shame in that.
After all, Chronos was unmatched.
***
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