When Seiya opened his eyes, he wasn't looking at the crimson sky or breathing in the smell of death from that nightmare world anymore. Instead, he found himself floating in an air filled with golden light that felt warm to his touch and seemed to breathe with a strange familiarity.
There was no ground beneath him, but he didn't fall. The space around him filled with warmth that wrapped around his small body, making him feel comfortable, slowly erasing the lingering pain from his wounds, and calming him down from the fear inside his head.
"You're awake," a voice said. It was deep but somehow gentle, and it didn't come from any specific direction. The voice seemed to be part of the light itself, filling everything around him.
Seiya turned slowly, his body moving through the golden light like he was underwater. That's when he saw a tall figure standing in the center of it all. Despite his imposing height, the man gave off a warmth that made Seiya's fear disappear almost instantly.
The man looked different from anyone Seiya had ever seen. He wore robes that shifted between white and gold, and his face looked ancient, like he'd lived for a very long time.
His eyes held both sadness and hope at the same time. His silver hair moved gently even though there was no wind, and when he smiled, it was the kind of smile that made you think everything would be okay.
"Who are you?" Seiya asked. His voice came out small and uncertain.
The man stepped closer with slow, careful movements. "My name is Magnus," he said, and something about his voice made Seiya straighten up a little. "I am the one who chose you, Seiya. Or should I say, Seth?"
The name hit Seiya hard. His breath caught, and suddenly memories came flooding back like the burning sky, the explosions, the pain in his head, Major Hendricks' dead eye staring at nothing, and that moment when the world tore itself apart and pulled him into the light.
"Seth," Seiya whispered. The name felt both strange and familiar. "That was me. I was a soldier who died in a war."
Magnus nodded slowly, his face becoming serious. "You were already dead, Seth. Your body couldn't take anymore. The disease and the war had destroyed it."
"You suffered more than most people could handle, but you kept fighting anyway. You kept pushing forward even when everything in you was screaming to stop." He paused and looked at Seiya with a mix of sadness and respect.
"That refusal to give up, that stubborn will to survive—that's why I chose you."
Seiya looked down at his small hands, trying to understand how Seth's memories fit with being Seiya now. "But why? Why save me? I was just a regular soldier. I wasn't special. I wasn't a hero."
Magnus moved closer and knelt down so they were at eye level. "You're wrong. You were more than just a soldier."
"In your world, with all that death and destruction everywhere, you never stopped caring about people. Even when your body was falling apart and your mind was breaking, you still tried to protect others, even when you could barely stand."
He put a warm hand on Seiya's shoulder. "The Origin Light inside you now isn't something I give to just anyone."
"It's a gift for people whose souls have something pure in them, something that refuses to die no matter how bad things get. You had that in you, Seth. You carried it through a dying world, and now, as Seiya, you get a chance to actually use it."
Tears started forming in Seiya's eyes, but they felt different this time. They weren't from pain or fear. They were something else he couldn't quite explain.
"I don't understand," he said. "What am I supposed to do? That world I fell into was horrible. Those monsters, all those dying people—I couldn't save them. I tried, but I wasn't strong enough."
Magnus's face softened, and he gently wiped away one of Seiya's tears. "Being strong isn't about how many people you save at once. It's about trying in the first place."
"You saw that little girl in danger, and even though you were in a weak body that was scared, hurt, and completely new to you, you still acted to save her."
"That's what the Origin Light responds to—not how powerful you are, but your will to help others with whatever power you have."
The golden light around them started glowing brighter, like it was reacting to Magnus's words. Seiya could feel it inside his chest, that warm, powerful sensation from before, the energy that let him fight even when his body was broken.
"This world you've been reborn into isn't kind," Magnus continued, his voice getting more serious.
"It's a place where darkness is everywhere, where monsters like those Nartagia roam around freely, and where people feel hopeless most of the time. But that's exactly why you're needed here."
"The Origin Light you carry isn't just a weapon. It's hope in its physical form. It proves that even in the darkest places, light can still exist."
He stood up, and the space around them began changing. Images started showing up in the golden light showing an endless battles, people screaming for help, cities crumbling, children hiding in terror.
But between all those dark scenes were moments of light too: warriors fighting against impossible odds, strangers protecting each other, small acts of kindness pushing back the darkness.
"Your job, Seiya, is to become a light for people who've lost hope. Fight not because you want to be famous or powerful, but because there are people who can't fight for themselves."
"Bring hope back to a world that's forgotten what it feels like." Magnus turned back to him, his eyes shining with intensity.
"This won't be easy. You'll face pain and loss. There will be times when you wonder if it's worth it. But I believe in you. That's why I gave you this second chance."
Seiya took a deep breath and felt the weight of everything Magnus was saying. This really was his second chance. Seth had died thinking he was worthless, that all his suffering meant nothing.
But now, as Seiya, he could give it all meaning. He could take all that pain and turn it into something that helps people.
"What should I do?" Seiya asked, his voice steadier now. "How do I get strong enough to make a real difference?"
Magnus smiled warmly. "You've already taken the first step by accepting this power. But to really control the Origin Light, you need someone to teach you. I've already arranged that." His eyes showed a hint of amusement.
"Shimatsu Kirasaki, the woman who saved you, is one of the strongest warriors in this world. She's strict and demanding, and she'll push you way past your limits. But she's also kind and loyal, and she won't let you face the darkness alone."
Seiya thought of Kirasaki—her silver eyes, her cold but gentle touch, the way she held him when he broke down. Even with all the fear and confusion still in him, remembering her embrace brought him comfort.
"She'll train you," Magnus continued.
"And with her help, you'll grow stronger. Not just in power, but as a person. You'll learn what it really means to be a Legend in this world—not someone who fights because they're the strongest, but someone who fights because they choose to protect innocent people from the darkness, no matter what happens to them."
The golden light started fading, getting dimmer as the space around them began falling apart. Seiya felt a gentle pull, like something was calling him back to the real world.
"Wait," Seiya called out, reaching toward Magnus. "Will I see you again?"
Magnus's figure was already becoming transparent, blending into the fading light. "We'll meet again when the time is right. For now, focus on your training."
"Trust Kirasaki, trust the Origin Light inside you, and most importantly, trust yourself. You're not that dying soldier who gave up on hope anymore. You're a Legend now, and your story had already begun."
The last thing Seiya saw before the light disappeared completely was Magnus's kind smile, and the last thing he heard was a whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Arise, Satori Seiya. The Golden Warrior."