Saint Seiya, but Athena who disobeys?

It is precisely because he is a celestial horse, a child symbolizing half of my body, the side of Gorgon, that the child has such a devout and pure affection for his mother, which is only natural.

"Athena, have you regained your divine power?" Seiya asked, changing the subject as he noticed Athena's intense gaze.

“I am the High Priestess of War and the Queen of the Night. As a descendant of the Great Mother, this land has provided me with many conveniences. The divine power consumed by the blessings I once bestowed upon you has been more than half restored. However, to regain my position as the ruler of the Mediterranean and the Holy Trinity, I still need the lost half.”

Although Athena longed to talk more with her Pegasus, especially to see his eyes that resembled her own, her most pressing concern right now was finding her other half.

"My wisdom has already sensed that the lost half of the body has been brought ashore by humans on the coast of Calabria, but it was quickly sealed away by a very skilled mage. Even I cannot sense its exact location. I only sense through my spiritual vision that you will soon meet it."

"I will retrieve your half-body, Athena." Seiya was finally able to stand up, his expression resolute, finally able to express the Saint's courtesy to the goddess once again.

"I trust you, and please be careful. For in the future I have glimpsed, you will be fighting against two god-slaying beasts."

One is Tony, right? And who's the other? The old Marquis Wolf? He's most enthusiastic about this kind of thing, Seiya frowned.

But when he looked up, only feathers fell from the sky. Seiya slowly exhaled the stale air from his lungs, turning his head to look out the window at the bright sunshine outside. He had just woken up in bed; it was early morning.

Far away, to the other side of the world, even beyond this multiverse.

—In Japan, at the Gradu Foundation, a purple-haired girl sits at a table, writing.

As the reincarnation of Athena, Saori Kido senses a terrible darkness about to engulf the world. However, for some reason, Seiya, who went to the Sanctuary for training six years ago, has disappeared without a trace, and even the use of the Foundation's resources has failed to find him.

She is now carefully writing letters by hand, entrusting her longing to the envelopes.

"If you truly have a spirit, and if fate allows me to see him again, then deliver this letter to him." Saori Kido folded the letter, stuffed it into an envelope, and then held it to the beak of an owl, watching it disappear into the night.

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Three days later, in Milan, Italy, at the Hirodi Estate.

The estate, named after Herodias, the wife of Herod II, the ruler of Palestine in the Bible, has welcomed a steady stream of guests.

The intricately carved, reddish-brown iron gates opened one after another, and guards clad in ancient Roman chainmail bowed to the visitors. There were no people from the outer world here; even the most ordinary maidservants were sworn to keep their vows to fairies or witches.

After passing through the three-tiered, hundred-hole sculpted fountain with its cascading water, one arrives at the main banquet hall. At this time, those conversing at either end of the long white table, holding wine glasses, are either heirs of ancient magical families, or witches or knights of high rank. However, they are either sitting on the lawn in the garden outside, chatting at the long table, or enjoying desserts with their children at the buffet table.

But their gazes were all intentionally or unintentionally glancing towards a certain spot on the second-floor balcony.

That is the location of the seventh god-slayer, named Seiya. Regardless of his former identity, after he killed the gods and usurped their supreme divine power, he became the most noble ruler in this mortal realm.

Most of the guests at this manor came because of him.

But at this moment, only a few people were standing in front of him. Erica, looking radiant, gently put her arm around Seiya's and introduced the guests to him.

Sixteen-year-old Erika is the youngest person here.

"These two are the commanders of the 'Old Lady' and the 'Wolf Queen.' Even in this country where the world of magic is thriving, the Old Lady and the Wolf Queen are ancient and powerful knightly orders. In ancient terms, they are Grandmasters."

"Before the great and supreme Rakshasa King, the title of Supreme Commander is merely a trivial one that circulates among us." Despite being called the Supreme Commander, the two old women looked at Seiya with the same expression as ordinary elderly people enjoying their grandchildren, and might even take out candy for him to taste at any moment.

Next, she introduced the young commander of the Knights Order—the Lily Capital. He was a rare young man, probably in his early thirties. The Grand Knight was nearly 190 centimeters tall, with a messy beard on the lower half of his face. Although his features were regular, he gave off a gloomy feeling.

This man holds the same status as Erica. Like Erica, who represents the "Red Copper Ink (Black) Cross," he is a knight who has attained the rank of Grand Knight.

Throughout history, there have been thousands upon thousands of magicians.

Besides the great mages, there were also many charlatans among them, and knights who studied both swordsmanship and magic were also among them. Erica and others were descendants of the Knights Templar, who were active in the Middle Ages and worshipped both the Son of God and the demon god Baphomet. They were not only magicians but also warriors.

The title of Great Knight was reserved for the most outstanding warriors. It was their greatest source of pride, but seeing Seiya's indifferent gaze, their arrogance vanished instantly.

A god-slayer at only fifteen years old, one of the seven strongest people in the world. Who has the right to be arrogant in his presence?

But just then, they heard the sound of the brownish-red, ornate iron gate opening again. They exchanged surprised glances. The banquet was already halfway through; why were there still people coming?

Even judging from the sound, they drove their car all the way to the front of the banquet hall. But doing this made the old man frown.

As the main gate was opened from the inside by a servant, the girl appeared before everyone, backlit by the light. Erica, seeing the newcomer, beamed with joy, "Seiya, let me introduce you, this is..."

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Seventh. I am Alice Louise Of Nafal, the current Speaker of the Council of Wise Men of Greenwich."

A blonde woman, lifting her skirt, bowed to Seiya. She was an elegant woman in her early twenties. Her blonde hair shone brightly. Her voice was calm and composed, her demeanor as pleasant as perfume. She wore a fine white coat paired with black boots, and underneath, a short knitted dress and trousers.

But Erica's smile froze on her face. She quickly realized that her best friend hadn't come to the banquet with good intentions. That's why she rudely interrupted her introduction. But whispers arose from the surrounding crowd. They were all about "Duke Goldtin, the strongest witch in Europe, Princess Alice, the current chairman of the Council of Sages."

If one had to pinpoint the origin of the Council of Wise Men, it would be a circle of busybodies.

Magicians, scholars of secrets, and fairy doctors—people deeply connected to magic. Or ordinary scholars who are a fine line between experts and experts, researchers from the streets, priests, pastors, monks, clergy, artists, capitalists, nobles, royalty, and other ambitious individuals with aspirations and a thirst for knowledge, who gather to exchange information and form a circle.

This council gradually accumulated wisdom and increased its influence, eventually establishing its headquarters in Greenwich, London. Now, it is almost equivalent to the official organization of the European magic world.

Of course, in regions like Italy, Greece, and Romania, it can't compare to organizations like the Copper Black Cross or the Lily Capital, but it has an extremely wide influence throughout the European magic world.

Without giving Erica, her friend, a chance to question her, Alice, the current chairperson of the Council of Sages, stepped forward and said loudly, "Commanders, distinguished guests, aren't you curious about who the host of this banquet is? Most of you here came specifically because you knew that the Seventh Godslayer, Seiya, was going to attend this banquet, but have you ever thought about one thing, that is, you have all been deceived?"

At this moment, the most powerful witch in all of Europe looked up at the top floor and said, "Come out, the decapitator, Miss Salome, the fairy princess!"

A beautiful Jewish woman wearing a white veil appeared in the public eye. Seiya slightly raised his head, looking at that familiar face. She descended the spiral staircase unhurriedly, her chin also slightly raised, staring at her aggressive nemesis.

"The decapitated one, you actually dare to stay in Milan?" Alice looked at the enemy who had now appeared before her so brazenly, a rare excitement shining in her eyes.

“Even you dared to leave your main body from your London headquarters, so why can’t I come to Milan to relax?” Salome’s gaze shifted from Alice to Seiya. “I haven’t even congratulated you on becoming the seventh Beast of Godslaying to grasp victory yet, little master.”

Alice's face was gloomy, while Erica, who had been observing her friend, was at a loss.

Although the Council of Sages is powerful, it is not without its enemies. The most famous of them is Guinevere, the progenitor of the Serpent God. Her forces have put considerable pressure on the entire Western European magic world. Even the royal factory of Emperor Alexander and the Council of Sages had to seek help from outside to defeat her.

And this Salome from mythology was an ally of that ancient god-ancestor, even a crucial fairy king. She actually knew the seventh god-slayer, and their relationship even seemed quite good. "Seiya, you absolutely mustn't be deceived by this woman. I can sense from your aura that you are a knight with lofty faith, but this decapitated one is an absolute poisonous flower of the South," she quickly said.

Salome completely ignored her old rival's slander against her. She walked up to Seiya and slowly opened a box.

"I happened to come across a mythological artifact that was salvaged by local fishermen while passing by the coast of Calabria. I thought this ancient Greek artifact would be a fitting gift for you."

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Chapter 30: The Godslayers Take Turns Appearing

The divine artifact before him was none other than the Gorgon Stone that Seiya had been seeking. However, he did not rush to take it, for all eyes were fixed on it.

"This is interesting." The old lady's bored face finally showed a hint of interest.

From the Sage Council Chairman to Salome's appearance, hushed whispers rose and fell throughout the banquet hall, like noisy birdsong in the forest.

Clearly, the Council of Sages and the witches have a long-standing feud spanning over a century. The current council president, despite his frail health, personally sets out to hunt down Salome, the decapitated one, who at this moment has a past connection with the seventh godkiller.

Was she planning to forcibly take Salome away in front of the seventh god-slayer? Even a witch of the highest rank shouldn't have such an absurd idea.

Erica was the most surprised; she couldn't believe it. Princess Alice was not only her friend, but her uncle, Paul Brantley, had also been her guardian knight. Their relationship was incredibly close, but at this moment, that gentle face seemed utterly unfamiliar to her.

But Alice's gaze didn't linger on Erica for even a second. She tilted her delicate chin slightly, staring at Seiya, who had an Asian face, trying to discern something from his eyes.

From the moment he successfully slew the God of War of the East, the news of the birth of the seventh Godslayer was transmitted to all corners of the world via the modern internet, and information about "Seiya" was laid out before everyone. His identity is shrouded in many mysteries, but one piece of information that is easy to find is that the plane he traveled on was none other than the modern-day vehicle of the goddess Guinevere.

She did attend this banquet to take away Salome, the decapitated one. But more importantly, she wanted to personally meet Seiya, the seventh Godslayer—who exactly was he?

But Seiya's gaze remained unchanged, even with a smile on his face, showing no sign of her offense. She didn't display the rage and divine might she expected; instead, he watched her and Salome with interest.

Just as some people thronged around Princess Goddin, others couldn't wait to jump out for the seventh Godslayer and rebuke Alice for her rudeness.

“Princess Alice, even if you are the Speaker of the Council of Wise Men of Greenwich, such rude behavior is inappropriate at this banquet.” Alice finally turned her head and saw an Asian woman dressed in men’s clothing. Behind her was an unremarkable middle-aged man who strode up to her.

In the Far Eastern island nation inhabited by the Steel God, Sayamiya Kaoru, the head of the Tokyo branch of the Japanese Official History Compilation Committee, is the key figure wielding power within the Kanto Committee. Alice recognizes the identity of the One.

Alice had no intention of getting entangled with the Far Eastern priestess in front of her; her target had always been the two above her. "Far Eastern priestesses, this matter has nothing to do with you. I don't remember the Seventh Godslayer being your Fusang King. Rushing into matters unrelated to yourself will only bring misfortune."

But the woman dressed as a man raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Huh? Bringing bad luck?"

The next moment she moved closer to Alice, their eyes meeting. "How could you openly say that I should be tainted with bad luck in front of such a noble sage as Seiya? You are simply lawless!"

Looking at the aggressive, cross-dressing woman, Alice was shaken and suddenly understood the cause and effect of the matter.

Seiya never cared about his offense. As a god-slayer and the seventh king of magicians, he had no need to lower himself to defend himself. Naturally, representatives of the forces eager to curry favor with him stood up and confronted him head-on.

Saya-miya Kaoru was the first to jump out. Regardless of whether Seiya had any connection with the Far Eastern island nation, as the head of the Tokyo branch of the Japanese Official History Compilation Committee and a key figure wielding power in the Kanto Committee, she was likely to represent the specific intentions of a national faction. Although he didn't know why the island nation, which worshipped the Steel God, would want to curry favor with Seiya, getting entangled with her here was undoubtedly the worst possible strategy.

At this moment, almost everyone in the banquet hall was watching Alice make a fool of herself. As a top-tier witch of the highest rank, if the master of ceremonies were in good health, she would possess national-level strength and also lead the Council of Sages. But now, she was rendered speechless by someone's rebuttal.

But no one noticed that Seiya's gaze suddenly sharpened. For the first time, he stared intently at the council president before him, watching her slowly retreat. Until, in the sky, gold suddenly appeared, like thousands of Kagome's sharp swords piercing every corner of the banquet hall.

The blinding lightning caused everyone to instinctively close their eyes, except for Seiya, who saw the figure appear alongside the lightning. As the newcomer descended on a red carpet paved with lightning, the angels in the 17th-century murals on both sides of the banquet hall broke their wings and fell to earth.

A deafening roar shattered the glass on every floor, and along with the divine might of thunder descended the world, along with a graceful figure. The swift nobleman, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Factory, the old enemy of the God Ancestor Guinevere, the fourth Godslayer, Alexander Gascoigne, appeared before everyone.

Alexander Gascoigne, whose nickname is more famous than he is, defeated Remiel, the fallen angel who controls vision and thunder, and usurped the power of speed from the Black Prince.

At this point, Alice and Saya Miyako were no longer relevant. The moment Alexander appeared, they faded into obscurity, no longer even considered supporting characters. All eyes, all focus, were on the young man who had descended upon the banquet hall with lightning. The lightning still swirling around him was like armor supporting him; he moved with the air of an emperor.

At this moment, a few people realized something and looked up at the young man standing on the second floor, looking down at the newcomers. Before one emperor, only another emperor could speak on equal terms. All bystanders may now leave.

Alexander tipped his hat in greeting, "We've known each other for a long time, Seiya, the seventh Godslayer. I'm sorry to meet you like this, but there's no other way. I didn't expect things to escalate like this... Hmm?"

Before he could even finish speaking, a strong but sharp wind blew from the front.

A sharp wind surged forward. This time, everyone could clearly see the silver line that cleaved through space; it sliced ​​through the ornate iron gate like butter, and split the ninety-nine golden fountains like silk. Alexander transformed into a lightning serpent, darting and dodging, leaving behind a three-meter-deep sword-shaped gash where he had stood.

Chapter 31: The Sword King vs. the Saint Seiya

The swift young nobleman once again transformed into lightning and dissipated, gracefully dodging the attack from behind. At that moment, the blond youth strode into the banquet hall he had cleaved apart.

"Hahaha, Alexander, you really love to put on airs. If I were you, I wouldn't think so much. If it's something I want, I'll just take it with my sword! Instead of doing all this nonsense behind my back!"

There are very few people in the world with such a distinctive voice. It was at this moment that Salvatore Tony, the Sword King, stepped onto this stage.

“Lord Salvatore, you are now the leader of the Southern European Magic Society Alliance, and you should understand that some words spoken carry corresponding responsibilities.” Alexander Gascoigne, whose lightning had gathered and returned to human form, looked at the young man in front of him with some helplessness.

In his mind, all god-slayers except himself were troublesome, but this Sword King was a ticking time bomb. The moment he suddenly appeared at the British Library in London a year ago, brandishing his sword without a word and declaring that he wanted to befriend him through swordsmanship, he knew that he and this guy were completely incompatible.

At the same time, the moment he saw the Sword King, he knew that his plan was no longer feasible. This was Italy, and the entire Southern Europe belonged to the Sword King. On this land, the Sword King could be said to have autonomous legal rights. If he expressed malice or hostility, the magicians below might misinterpret it, leading to unnecessary trouble... because this was a matter between kings, and any decision had to be carefully considered.

“Actually, you have another option,” Seiya suddenly said.

Alexander turned his head to look at his young compatriot. Although young and possessing only one power, the fighting physique of a god-slayer was surging, indicating that the opponent was an extremely powerful warrior.

“Then why not challenge me? Anyway, it’s already the latter half of the banquet, so it would be nice to add an entertaining element to today’s event.” Seiya crossed his arms and looked at his senior with great interest. “I heard at the banquet that you recently successfully challenged the legendary European goddess Melusin, a two-tailed mermaid who was half-human and half-snake. I’m also very curious about what power you obtained from this goddess.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow at the tempting offer to challenge Seiya, but after careful consideration, he ultimately refused. His original plan was to forcibly take his target away at incredible speed; now that things had come to this, there was no need to remain.

“You should know that I abhor any unnecessary disputes.” Alexander pushed up his glasses. “It seems there’s no way to do it today. I can only warn you all that this decapitated man is no benevolent person. As for the Gorgon Stone itself, it’s troublesome, as it will provoke an ancient earth goddess. Moreover, it was unearthed on the territory of the Sword King, and its true ownership is yet to be determined. I won’t get involved in this mess.”

Having said that, his figure vanished in a flash of lightning. This god-slayer, who arrived amidst thunder and lightning like an angel, seemed to leave rather anticlimactic.

“He’s just that kind of overly calculating guy, and the least like a god-slayer among god-slayers. He never likes direct combat, and if he senses he can’t gain anything, he’ll give up.” Tony watched the lightning disappear into the horizon and pursed his lips. But then his lips curled up as he looked at the Gorgon Stone that Salome was holding in her hands.

At this moment, everyone present thought that the two would have a conflict because of this divine artifact, and that the incredibly fast young nobleman even set a trap for his two compatriots before leaving. But it was precisely because he spoke the truth that it was effective.

From a legal perspective, the ownership of this divine artifact should belong to Tony, the King of Swords.

But the problem is that the god-slayer himself is the ultimate truth.

"You want this too?" At this moment, Seiya finally took the sealed Gorgon Stone from Salome's hand and held it in his palm. The Gorgon Stone is a symbol of a despised goddess, the long-lost wisdom of Mother Earth, and a signpost on the path to darkness.

As Alexander himself stated, this divine artifact, which held little use for the god-slayer, was a problem. It summoned the extremely ancient Earth Mother, a powerful figure even among the disobedient gods. This was troublesome for Alexander, who preferred to devise counterattacks and secure victory with absolute certainty.

But for some god-slayers, it's a coveted treasure. This includes the old wolf king, Marquis Voban, and the sword king, Tony, before them. Fighting their archenemies, growing stronger in battle, they accept death or victory—all are acceptable to them.

"Has your magical power fully recovered?" Seiya suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

But the Sword King Tony smiled knowingly, “If it’s a battle, then it’s no longer an obstacle.”

At this point, no further words are needed; the mere clash of gazes creates a distortion of light.

"Speaking of which, we still have an unfinished battle. Let's make the ownership of this divine artifact the end of our agreement."

At this moment, the distinguished guests at the banquet finally revealed excited looks. Witnessing the battle between two god-slayers was almost equivalent to witnessing mythology firsthand. It would be of great help to both the study of magic and the understanding of their own training systems.

However, most people present believed that the Sword King Tony would win, since this young Saint Seiya was rumored to be like Luo Hao, the Martial Venerable of the Eastern Continent, who forcibly killed the God of War of the East with his own strength.

However, Tony, the King of Swords, is also a formidable warrior, possessing four powers, and his core Silver Arm has been developed to the point that even Marquis Voban praised it. But how could Seiya, the new King, possibly defeat him?

Seiya had no idea what his subordinates and distinguished guests were thinking, nor did Tony.

The Sword King Tony didn't care about the ownership of the precious divine artifacts, but being able to fight Seiya made him feel his back muscles becoming increasingly tense, and his body and limbs filling with power. He had experienced this feeling several times since defeating the Celtic God King Nuada; it was the physique of a god slayer, this change that occurred within him when facing an enemy worthy of being his opponent.

"When?" Tony finally asked.

"Come with me now." Seiya glanced at him, then turned and shot off into the distance.