Saint Seiya, but Athena who disobeys?

"Do you think you're the only one with a second chance? Open your eyes wide and experience the power of resurrection!"

The war god Vereslana recited the final incantation.

"I am the strongest, and I hold all victory in my hands. Abundant Aries, cross the gap between life and death, and bring me back from the brink of death!"

—The eighth incarnation, the ram, flew out from the golden stone plate.

The ram, in its symbolism, is both a guardian of royal power and a symbol of abundance. In ancient times, when livestock farming ability was directly equivalent to wealth, sheep, capable of rapid growth and prolific reproduction, were symbols of vitality and wealth. Abundance, fertility, and prosperity—this vitality perfectly embodies the characteristics of the ram.

Its effect is a rebirth from death. As Vereslana said, it is to cross the gap between life and death and be resurrected in a new form.

At that moment, the situation reversed instantly!

The outcome—the reborn God of War and the Saint Seiya whose bodies had been burned to ashes—was self-evident.

However, the white-robed youth showed no joy or tension; instead, he was even more cautious and prepared. This was because, after his resurrection, he only possessed one-tenth of his divine power. More pressing was the question of whether his opponent, whose body had been burned to a mangled state, could still muster any strength. Past experience was no longer sufficient to judge the limits of the Saint before him.

There is naturally only one answer.

At this moment, the Saint Seiya showed no fear of death, only a fighting spirit directed at the God of War and the deity before him. Seiya raised his fist high above his head, golden light enveloping his entire body, then radiating outwards like a solar corona.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Slaughter, Victory, Curtain Fall

"O immortal sun, grant me a radiant steed."

The correct incantation is the key to unlocking the White Horse. After experiencing the radiance of the sun through his own body, Saint Seiya has begun to understand the essence of this power.

The energy required to propel this ultimate power is already beyond what the current crippled body can provide. Even as the microcosm burns out its life force, the supply of power does not cease. It is the spark of new life that arises from burning something deeper within.

After burning the universe and burning his life, Seiya burns his soul once more.

As Mr. Mu said, the quality of a Saint Seiya does not depend entirely on the Cloth. The most important thing is that the person who can burn their Cosmo and make it explode will win!

At this moment, the Saint Cloth, supported only by illusory souls, shines even more brightly, its overflowing cosmos propelling the light of the sun. This power is woven into the Pegasus fighting techniques.

"Athena, be the witness of this. This is my true heart, my conviction, and the power I have wielded!"

The final radiance arrived the instant the prayer ended.

Now, the God of War faces a choice, just as He had previously questioned Seiya. Should He abandon His Godhood and try to use His last divine power to send the phoenix away, or should He rise to the challenge?

For the God of War, there was only one choice.

The moment the Pegasus Corona Fist was unleashed, it was met by a dazzling phoenix, whose radiance engulfed it without obstruction.

The ten-day battle of the gods finally came to an end, and the golden meteor streaking across the sky symbolized peace.

This is a mythical scene that will be passed down orally among the Sardinians for decades to come, and even centuries to come.

Golden streaks of light tore through the sandstorm, ripped apart the low-altitude typhoon stretching for hundreds of kilometers, and drew a poignant arc across the sky, endlessly advancing toward the unknown world.

The light pierced through Sardinia, shining brightly on the sea. The Sword Emperor, who had crossed the ocean on foot, looked up at the golden light of the sun's corona and knew that there was no need for him to go any further.

The radiance traveled through Italy, and the Grand Master of the Society, residing in Milan, seemed to sense something and looked out the window. It traversed the Royal Factory in England, crossed the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe, and even reached the remote mountains of Fujian in the eastern continent, where martial arts masters at the pinnacle of their cultivation looked up in awe.

At this moment, Seiya was no longer able to listen to the final words of the God of War. If He still had a trump card to bring Him back to life, perhaps the story would end here.

His remaining consciousness sensed a warmth similar to that felt during his previous resurrection—the ritual of Epimetheus and Pandora, the most fundamental spell of this world. The Dark Christmas Festival, which gave birth to the child of the Fool and the Witch, was using the God of War as a sacrifice, transferring His power to his remaining body.

And that radiant body was a miracle that everyone recognized.

Erica jumped up from the pool in surprise. The king she had sworn to follow had won. It was like investing in a strange man in Handan, Zhao State, Hu Xueyan betting on Zuo Zongtang, Zhang Lei of Hillhouse Capital investing heavily in JD.com, or the Rothschild family speculating on intelligence at the Battle of Waterloo. She had won a great victory in her angel round investment!

At this moment, she should immediately protect Seiya. Just as Erica was biting her finger and her brain was racing to figure out what to do next, she saw the witch next to her suddenly disappear.

Just as she realized what was happening, she took off running towards the vast, yellow sand battlefield. This old witch was simply a shameless bitch!

Seiya was unaware of what happened on Earth afterward, because his consciousness was constantly falling until he appeared in the Netherworld.

"The ritual left behind by Epimetheus and me, the Dark Christmas Festival that gave birth to the children of fools and witches. A secret ritual that can only be successfully usurped by sacrificing gods, yet it has attracted a warrior like you. I am quite looking forward to it."

The soft voice echoed endlessly in the pure white space. Seiya, who had stepped back onto the ground, looked around and then fixed his gaze on the woman in front of him.

However, he couldn't help but wonder: Why are there so many Lolita goddesses in Greece? Aren't you all a little bit crazy?

“You are Pandora who gives everything.” Seiya said this in a question, but with an affirmative tone.

Long before the Olympian gods took root in Greece, Pandora was the goddess of the earth, a goddess who bestowed all favors upon gods and humankind. Unlike the disobedient gods, she was a true deity and a resident of the immortal realm.

Before him stood a girl who looked far too young. Rather than using the word "beautiful" to describe her, it would be more accurate to say she had an adorable, childlike face and physique. Her long, golden hair was parted to the left and right, and she wore a thin white dress. She was rather short, and her first impression was that of a child. However, she was a more alluring woman than anyone Seiya had ever known.

But for some reason, he remembered Guinevere, the goddess who had taken care of him for three years and whom he had mistaken for Marin.

Occasionally, she exudes a captivating beauty. This beauty is closer to a captivating charm that can win over all things.

"It seems that witch (Erica) told you quite a bit about me, but you should at least be a little more polite. After all, I am your mother, you know," Pandora said, hands on her hips, clearly displeased.

Seiya stared at her expressionlessly. They looked at each other for a long time before Pandora finally withdrew from this childish game of "standing still like a wooden doll."

“Your body possesses extremely strong adaptability, or rather, your physique is naturally capable of containing this forbidden power of the gods. Within the multiverse I am in charge of, even in the divine realms, there is no body as outstanding as yours. Even without the ritual of killing gods, you could probably grow to the level of a god.”

Pandora smiled as she looked at her infant son. Although he did not acknowledge it, she had become his legal mother through this ceremony.

"Your body has been fully transformed. As for the talents and powers you have gained, we can study them carefully when you return to the mortal realm. However, the powers you seized after your murder are quite interesting. In fact, there are no other cases like yours in the many worlds I have observed."

At this moment, Seiya felt a pulling force coming from above, that is, from his own body.

Pandora clearly noticed this as well, and with a helpless smile, she looked at the boy before her. "There's really nothing I can do. Your body is just too strong, which makes our conversation far too short. It's a pity you can't bring back the memories of this place, but I still look forward to seeing you again, my child."

Two major events occurred in the Otherworld this month.

First, the Sword King Salbatre killed the disobedient Vulcan during his expedition to South America.

Second, the seventh god-slayer was born. He was the warrior who defeated the Eastern God of War, Veleslana, and his name was Seiya.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Second Opponent, the Arrival of the Sword King

On the battlefield, where divine might permeates, the giant god looks down upon the god-slaying beast that has transformed into our mortal enemy.

The witch and knight, who had traveled through space to reach the battlefield, were initially overjoyed to protect the Saints. However, the moment Erica raised her head, the blood in her body seemed to freeze.

A familiar feeling welled up in her heart again, but what stood beside her was not a yellowish-brown mountain peak. When the yellow sand and soil covering Him were blown away by the gale, revealing Him before the witch was the King of Gods, the guardian of the sky and the city-state, the god-king Mercator.

King of Kings, King of Gods.

He rules the heavens, and even the destruction of the world and humanity would be permitted. He is the absolute ruler. For the first time in her fifteen years of life, Erica truly understood the meaning of the word "God-King".

"Your Majesty Mercato, are you still here?" Erica finally mustered the strength and courage to resist, and asked the god before her.

"Hehe, that's right. Previously, it was a fateful entanglement between the Eastern God of War and the God-Slaying Beast. Your Majesty, you should have just sat back and waited. But now their battle has been decided, and the reincarnation of that brat seems to have ended peacefully. I can sense the aura of the God-Slaying Beast. He exudes the aura of my enemy, the ancient warrior!"

While the God-King may not possess the insight of the God of War or the power to discern enemy weaknesses in battle, as a hunter, He too sensed an extremely mysterious and ancient aura emanating from Seiya.

The God-King's laughter shook the heavens and earth. This wasn't a metaphor; it was truly like an earthquake causing the ground to tremble, the mountains to shake, and even the clouds to shudder. Waves surged incessantly on the distant sea, and Erica felt an electric shock-like sensation on her skin.

Her laughter alone could shake the heavens and the earth, and her mere existence forced her to be on high alert. But the moment her lord fell into slumber, all Erica could do was draw her sword.

"Steel Lion, and its progenitor Lionheart—hear the oath of knight Erica Brandreil. I am the heir to the Horn of Valor, a descendant of the Black Knight; my sword shall not be broken unless my heart submits. Lionheart, reveal the essence of battle in my hands—come forth! The time for the Lionheart duel has come!"

Even though the odds of winning were almost zero, Erica still drew her sword.

Just like Don Quixote rushing towards the windmill, at that very moment, a beam of light shone from the distant horizon.

"It seems we haven't completely missed our chance. If you're still in the mood for a fight, then let me be your opponent!"

His voice was as bright as the summer sun. Yet, the one who tore apart the sea, cleaved the sands, and made the God-King feel as if facing a formidable enemy was none other than this very person.

Braving the winds and waves to reach this border battlefield, the sixth of the seven god-slayers, the Sword King who rules the magic society in Southern Europe—Salvatore Tony—arrives at Sardinia, isolated in the Mediterranean.

He was a young man wearing a cheap, plastic-looking beach shirt, with sun-kissed blond hair and a smile as bright as his voice. Magicians from all the magic societies in Southern Europe thought he was such an unreliable and capricious king, but when faced with a god who refused to obey, he displayed an unprecedentedly powerful demeanor.

"As a thief who has seized the territory of the God-King, you actually dare to appear in front of me. Even if your whole body is eaten by locusts, you can't complain at all."

"But Your Majesty, it seems you have no intention of wielding your club against me," the Sword King said, looking at the giant god before him with some distress.

A petty thief who has seized his own city-state and territory, a god-slaying beast as his destined rival—the encounter between the God King and the Sword King should have been an imminent battle. But this ruler of the skies, who reigns over all things in mythology, merely scrutinized the newcomer, his voice booming like thunder.

"I will certainly take your life, yes, you little brat who can't escape death! If your own toys were covered in mud, I'm sure you would do the same, wouldn't you? I will sink this island, along with the filthy continent on the other side of the ocean, to the bottom of the sea! But all of this will have to wait until I've dealt with this ancient warrior. The war god he slew was the prey of the God-King! As compensation, I will offer him as a sacrifice before the destruction of the world!"

The God King ignored the Sword King, who was full of fighting spirit, and focused his gaze on the stunned Erica, announcing in a loud voice.

“When he awakens, tell him! Your first enemy was the war god Ursragna, and your second enemy is me—Mercato! Soon I will reclaim my full power. Then, in place of that war god, my wrathful spear will be aimed at you! Sharpen your sword and await my arrival!”

Boom! A gust of wind blew up, and the magnificent giant disappeared into the sky like lightning.

At this moment, Erica suddenly turned her head to look at the witch Lucrecia, who had been acting calmly from the beginning, and said in disbelief, "So you had already predicted that the God King wouldn't take action?"

"What a young witch. He is the King of Gods. A proud warrior like Him wouldn't even stoop to participating in a melee, let alone attack a newly born nemesis." Lucrecia looked at Erica with a half-smile, especially since she had already sensed the arrival of the Sword King through her spiritual vision.

When Seiya opened his eyes again, it was already a night filled with twinkling stars.

He felt no discomfort whatsoever. His inner universe was more abundant than ever before, and all the myriad things in the universe were revealed before his eyes. The whole world opened its arms to him. He gently leaped from the bed and, like a breeze, passed through the open window into the moonlight.

He seemed to have gained something closer to the essence of this world. He looked up, like that ape from 370,000 years ago gazing at the stars. With each breath he exuded the power of the universe, and new knowledge gathered in his mind simply by looking. The elements upon which magicians and knights depended for survival, the spiritual energy flowing in the earth's veins, and even the Netherworld, which overlapped with but did not intersect with the present world, were all clearly visible to him.

"The Magic King," he suddenly thought of the term.

In that ancient Marquis of Voban, there was no cruel throne forged with violence and blood. Back then, the god-slayer was not called the Demon King, but was surrounded by magicians and other forces, who held the throne high for him, because the god-slayer himself symbolized the pinnacle of the system.

What was the pinnacle of the power system in this world again? The crown? Seiya didn't bother to think about it; he felt stronger bones, a mysterious blessing, and the most core talent and power.

Just then, he looked up and saw a man in a beach shirt standing in front of him.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Sword King and the Saint Seiya Clash in a Swordfight

He was a man completely out of place with his surroundings. He was leaning against the wall, munching on a green apple, the collar of his floral shirt stained with the amber color of last night's whiskey. Yet this seemingly aimless and dissolute young man beckoned to me with complete ease, signaling me to come over.

There was no reason at all, as if he knew Seiya would definitely come.

As he nimbly leaped over the wall, he naturally traversed the fountain square and courtyard, skimmed past blue-walled spires and the deep green Marcy forest, and arrived at the cliffs near the Gulf of Cagliari.

It was still before dawn. From here, one could see the shimmering Gulf of Cagliari, with the wreckage of yachts scattered haphazardly in the nearshore waters. Occasionally, a white windbreak flag would flutter from a broken mast. Yet, seagulls flocked to these wrecks, occasionally swooping down to dive into the waves and snatch a live sardine that was swishing its tail.

"The scenery is beautiful, isn't it? I discovered this gem as soon as I arrived, thanks to a kid who was fishing with a mineral water bottle." The man in the floral shirt shared his treasure trove of scenery with Seiya in a boastful tone. "You can even see Oristano to the west from here. The coastline there is almost untouched, and it has a lot of primitive beachcombing fun."

A pleasant coastline, crystal-clear waters, solitary reefs, long sandy beaches, and caves. Looking further ahead with his current eyesight, the mountains in northeastern Sardinia gradually descend to meet the coastline of Smerada, which is also the coast of Sardinia. Continuing westward, one reaches Oristano, the place the man had mentioned.

He was still in Sardinia and hadn't left. But looking at the residents who were already up early preparing for their work, he felt a sense of peace, and this was the meaning for which the Saint Seiya fought.

“Everyone’s life has a different meaning. Before I met St. George, my greatest hobby was the sword. Practicing the sword would bring me peace and tranquility.” The man in the floral T-shirt turned to look at Seiya. “But now, although my hobby is still the sword and martial arts, it has changed a little.”

Even before he could utter his next sentence, Seiya had already guessed it.

"I feel that we are the same kind of people, born in this special era, and will find joy in battle."

“You know, the last person who told me he was a kindred spirit and a friend was Veleslana,” Seiya replied.

"So what is he doing now?" the man in the floral shirt asked with an innocent, untainted gaze.

"Velleslana is the name of the Eastern God of War that I just defeated. He should be waiting for the resurrection coin to be charged in the mythology right now."

"Oh, that's great! That sounds wonderful!" The blond man gave a thumbs up. "I also have a god friend who gets along so well with me. His name is Saint George! Shall we have a fight for our kindred spirits?"

If it were any other god-slayer, magician, or martial artist, they might wonder why they have to fight, or why they suddenly have to fight because of similarities. But Seiya's thinking is obviously extremely simple.

It seems like a fight wouldn't be bad, so let's have a fight.

“However, this place can no longer withstand the battle between two god-slayers. Should we move to another location, or do you possess the power to create an alternate dimension battlefield, Lord Tony?”

"That's simple, we can just use pure martial arts to compete. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've used martial arts to communicate with my friends."

Tony, also known as Salvatore Tony the Sword King, casually snapped off a branch from behind him, which swiftly transformed into a pure silver sword in his hand. Even after actively unlocking its power, it remains a sword capable of cutting through iron like mud.

Just as he was about to do the same to his newly acquainted friend, he noticed that his hair was sticking up slightly.

That was Seiya. He simply spread his five fingers and naturally controlled the iron sand from the ground to emerge from the soil. The magnetization and ionization effects in the air naturally tempered it into a blade equal to the opponent's.

Tony laughed, but the laughter was followed by a chilling silence.

He turned the hilt of his sword, and with a flick of his wrist, his sword thrust forward, the silver light like a spiderweb obscuring Seiya's vision.

This was just standard ballroom swordsmanship, mostly used for stage performances, but in Tony's hands it was incredibly sharp. Seiya instinctively thrust upwards, the metal clashing producing a crisp, cracking sound. Tony's thrust was as fast as lightning, easily slicing through Seiya's brow and leaving a white mark.

Even the sharpest divine weapon in the mortal realm couldn't possibly cut Seiya's skin, but what if Tony used the Silver Arm? Without giving Seiya any time to think, a cold light shone into his eyes, and Seiya instantly realized that the opponent's sword was already upon him. Tony's swordsmanship was indeed unparalleled; his previous standard swordsmanship was merely a polite response at the outset, but now the cold light was locked onto Seiya's brow. However, even faster than Seiya's thought was his instinct.

Tony's thrust was almost successful, but the air was still filled with the clanging of metal against metal. The silver sword's blade had struck metal hard—the part of Seiya's blade near his hand. In this situation, he had completely predicted the direction of the Sword King's sword technique.

"Insight? Guidance? Or prediction? Is this the effect of your new power?" Tony asked curiously.