Saint Seiya, but Athena who disobeys?

Its figure was so agile, yet it tore through the sound barrier from the very beginning, soaring through the air.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Enjoying a Fine Drink Before the Battle

With the departure of the three god-slayers, the ancient manor became deserted.

A long, narrow crack appeared in the middle of the manor, which covered more than 100 acres. The tables and silver cutlery in the banquet hall had not yet been cleared away. The marks left by lightning and the traces left by the Silver Arm were scattered everywhere. The scene was truly desolate after the crowd left.

All the guests were eager to witness the battle between the two kings of magicians, some even using water to reflect the scene like the witch Lucrecia, others sending familiars to the battlefield, and still others directly dispatching satellites. This was the Nicholas family, who have always been wealthy and powerful.

But Erica, the Saint Seiya's first follower and, in the eyes of outsiders, the King's first knight, remained in the manor. Sunlight couldn't penetrate the manor's cracks. The remnants of a crystal chandelier reflected the silence within, and a silver fork stuck in the charred marble crevice seemed like a final note marking the end of this grand feast.

“Uncle.” Erica finally came to her senses as she watched the man in red armor walk towards her.

Paul Brandry's physique can be likened to the statue of David. Though nearing forty, he possesses the youthful energy and vigor of a young man, his sculpted face exuding intellect and charisma. Moreover, his rigorously trained, perfectly proportioned body is like steel—truly befitting his title as the Supreme Knight.

The strongest knight in Italy was the Sword King—Salbate Doni. But the highest-ranking knight was Paolo Brandri.

But this proud man of Brandry, who loved Erica the most, suddenly raised his hand after walking up to his niece and slapped her face clearly.

Erica looked up in astonishment; the handprint was still visible on her face.

“I initially thought you were just stupid, but I never imagined you were actually dumb.” Paul Brandry glanced down at him condescendingly. “Because Princess Alice is your friend, you didn’t stand up for the king immediately when he was questioned. Instead, you let a priestess from a remote island nation in the Far East speak for the king she was loyal to. Do you know what that means?”

“I know.” Erica lowered her head.

Paul Brandley looked at his niece, whom he had raised himself. From a young age, he knew that his niece harbored a great ambition: to emulate her ancestors and become a woman who would slay gods. And even after realizing in Sardinia that she lacked the talent, this ambition was not extinguished.

It's just that he changed direction from becoming a god-slayer to another path.

Paul could only watch from afar what she would do in the future. But when she made mistakes, he would correct them in time.

Paul looked at the guests in the distance, and also at the female priestess dressed as a man and her subordinates. "As the heir of the Brandry family, you must understand that there is a fundamental difference between stupidity and being foolish. Now, there may be competitors for you in the island nation of the Far East. Be prepared." Paul said this, then turned and strode towards the banquet guests.

Capra, west of Italy.

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, this area is part of the Tuscan archipelago and administered by the province of Livorno. Unlike the vast island of Sardinia, it covers only nineteen square kilometers, making it an ideal battlefield for recreating mythical contests.

As the King of Swords of Southern Europe, Tony naturally wouldn't engage in battle at his own base. Shortly after he landed, that long-lost, deep and exhilarating feeling that had kept his nerves on edge returned.

There's no need to search for them; their figures, who had already arrived on the battlefield, are already standing there.

Although he was an Asian boy with black hair and brown eyes, he seemed to shine with golden light under the sunlight, like a sun set on earth. Even from several kilometers away, those brown eyes full of fighting spirit still made the Sword King's lips unconsciously curl up.

The seventh god-slayer, Saint Seiya—

“What a wonderful moment. The stronger the enemy, the more excited I become as a warrior. You, who are the same kind as me, must understand this feeling too.” The Sword King Tony strode up to Seiya. “Come, how about we drink some fine wine before the battle?”

Seiya raised an eyebrow as he looked at Tony carrying a glass of wine that radiated cold air and two silver cups. He recalled Erica's warning to him, as well as the complex procedures in his memory, but the power that could accomplish miraculous feats at crucial moments.

But he still smiled and took the glass, then watched as Tony filled it with blood-red wine. The two clinked their glasses together as if bumping fists, and then drank the wine in one gulp.

"How does it taste?" Tony's face was radiant with energy, and his innocent smile didn't resemble that of an opponent about to engage in battle.

"Not bad, this wine is quite full-bodied, but the acidity is just average, and the tannins are on the high side and very mature. If I were you, I would choose a wine from Château d'Yquem in Lusarlus; it would be more suitable for the current atmosphere." Seiya, however, seemed to be the same war god he was in the casino, condescendingly evaluating the wine before him.

"Is that so? Actually, it's all the same to me." The Sword King said something similar to what he had said to Seiya back then.

The wine glass shattered, and the two strode off in opposite directions. They didn't agree on a distance, and after only a few dozen steps, the Sword King Tony released the long black box he was carrying in his other hand. The instant the box hit the ground, a greatsword shimmering with purple light appeared in his grasp.

"I swear on this. I will not allow anything I cannot cut to exist. And this sword is an invincible blade that can cut through and slice through everything on the ground!"

The soaring incantation of the Word of Power swept the immense magical power into the sky like a storm. At that moment, his hands transformed into silver metal hands, which then wrapped around the weapon with enormous magical power.

At the same time, the nameplate around Seiya's neck flew up, and a stream of azure silver swirls around him.

Without a word, the surrounding azure wind instantly enveloped Seiya's entire body, and his Saint Cloth was fully armed with a clanging metallic sound. The moment his Cosmo resonated, it was like a child returning to the womb, like a chosen one returning to Evangelion, and power surged forth continuously.

Thus, Pegasus Saint Seiya slowly raised his head, azure winds swirling around him, and the distorted solar flares could not conceal the sharp light bursting from his eyes. But an even sharper sword was already approaching.

Silver arms gleamed, golden light shone brilliantly, and slashes spanning hundreds of meters collided. The shattering magical energy splashed onto both of them. They stared at each other, their gazes seemingly sparking on the battlefield.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Swiftness and Cunning

This was merely a simple test. Tony had long heard that Seiya possessed a fighting technique capable of contending with disobedient gods. Tony was somewhat surprised to see the silver arm that Seiya had used to condense light in his hands to block his own, but at the same time, he suddenly understood.

It turns out that from beginning to end, the opponent's only strength was his fists. But if that's the case, then I might have a natural advantage over this friend. Seiya might be considered a highly talented paladin, but compared to my own power, he's far from sufficient.

"Come on, Saint Seiya!" Tony laughed wildly and swung his sword.

His magical power surged wildly, making him appear like an invincible god-king. As he charged towards the Saint Seiya, the demonic sword in his hand gleamed with a silver light several meters long. Midway, it encountered a barrage of fist light, a dense storm of light that seemed to be a tempest of light, its relentless roar shaking the entire ocean.

Meteors fell like a rain curtain.

Magicians back in Italy cheered and exclaimed in amazement at the sight before them, comparing the reserved witch to the shaman who had traveled from afar. The knights, in particular, were even more excited, their eyes glued to the spectacle.

As the Sword King revered by all magicians in Southern Europe and the pride of all knights, it doesn't matter that he didn't obtain a knighthood before becoming a god-slayer. The current Sword King, Tony, is the strongest knight, and that's enough.

Of course, we are proud that the strongest knight is a god-slayer, and at the same time, we are amazed by Seiya's display of light and heat. The scene of Musashi in his Saint Cloth was so shocking, with a sacred beauty, like a mythical hero descending to reality, or an ancient warrior protecting the earth.

Power – The severed silver arm.

Salvatore Toni usurped the power from the Celtic god-king Nuada—a terrifying yet unassuming power. This granted him immense strength, capable of creating miracles such as splitting the earth and altering the terrain, and tearing open the sea; it is a demonic sword with the power to cut through anything.

The moment Tony swung his sword with all his might, the silver that filled the field of vision swallowed up all the light and heat. The demonic sword could not only cut through physical objects, but also easily cut through intangible gases, liquids, spirits, and even conceptual beings.

But when the light faded, there was no trace of Seiya. The next instant, he swung the demon sword again.

—A fierce wind howls, and a tiger descends from the sky.

This is the Fierce Tiger Gale Purple Lightning Fist, Wang Hu's signature move, and one of the fighting techniques and tactics possessed by the Pegasus Cloth after fusing with the power of strong winds.

Within the swirling white winds, a half-illusory, white-browed tiger with piercing eyes pounced towards Tony, but Tony, as if possessed, slashed against the wind. The silver arm, capable of eroding everything, continued to devour the storm, while Tony, wielding the demonic sword, stood in the center of the battlefield, gazing up at the dazzling Saint Seiya above.

"Is this the power you relied on to defeat the Eastern God of War? Not bad, but this is nothing, it's not even a tickle."

Seiya was not angered by Tony's provocative words, because in his view, Tony's existence was a testament to his current power. "And this one, Raging Dragon Blizzard Frost Fist!"

"Sword, shine brightly and unleash flames!" Tony shouted the incantation as well.

At this moment, the magicians in Italy were stunned, because although the two sides were evenly matched, it was clear to everyone that the king they served was on the defensive.

Some people couldn't help but look towards the powerful figures on the other side—the supreme commanders—who remained calm. This was because they were more powerful, closer to kings and gods, and understood the true state of affairs between the two sides.

"That's too fast. Is that outfit the power held by the Seventh Emperor?" the female wolf commander whispered.

“No. At least from what I know, His Majesty possessed this weaponry before his decisive battle with the God of War of the East,” the old noblewoman’s commander replied.

"An armament capable of fighting against the gods is indeed quite amazing," commented the Grand Knight of the Lily City.

“Let’s say his movement speed reaches Mach 3. Judging from his effortless demeanor, that’s not even the limit,” the female wolf spoke again. “Our lord doesn’t possess any speed-related powers or magic, which makes things a bit difficult.”

"Neither side is really going all out yet; this is just a warm-up. Don't forget what the Sword King we serve is most outstanding in," the commander of the Lily City said. "That's what truly allows us to rival the gods. What good is speed, let alone this? Even divine speed wouldn't matter. Why don't we make a bet on when the Sword King will start to suppress the opponent?"

The commander of the Lily City pulled out his phone and switched to the stopwatch function. Time flew by, and countless images of light and shadow fell like rain, sometimes like hurricanes, sometimes like lightning, sometimes like tigers, sometimes like dragons. Seiya's attack was like a storm, and Tony still hadn't been able to make any effective response.

In the eyes of many magicians, the Sword King's speed was his biggest weakness. He had to get extremely close to Seiya to succeed in attacking. However, Seiya suppressed the Sword King from a distance with various magnificent moves. If this continued, the only way for the king they followed was to retreat.

Of course, it's a draw. Because the king they served reacted quickly enough to withstand the shower of light.

But the question arises: is this level of draw truly acceptable to both sides?

But just as the stopwatch was about to reach one minute, the situation suddenly changed. Facing Seiya, who was completely overwhelming him with speed, Tony's sword expanded and rose, then released a dazzling light and flame, which then engulfed the entire sky.

—They're here! Everyone's spirits lifted!

New incantations, new demonic swords, and new silver arms were forged in this moment.

"O sword that can pierce through all enemies with a single swing, dwell in radiance to sever all life!" proclaimed the King of Swords.

Then, amidst the blazing light, his sword struck its target.

This was impossible, utterly impossible. But Tony did it.

Like a samurai slashing down a swift swallow, you don't need your sword to be faster than the swallow; you only need to cut the path it takes. This is something even gods would find difficult, but Tony can.

Because he is the one who has elevated his skills to the realm of divinity, possessing the ultimate insight to see through things with lightning speed.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Pegasus, Comet Fist!

—The brilliance of the demonic sword struck the flying pegasus.

As the magicians gasped in surprise, the previously balanced situation began to tilt uncontrollably to one side.

"Erica, how much do you know about the Sword King of Southern Europe?" Paul suddenly asked.

"A knight from the ancient capital of Sienna, he gained the right to be king by defeating the Celtic god-king, Silver Arm Nuada. But a few years ago he was just an ordinary knight, an ordinary knight in the literal sense, because his magical talent was almost zero."

As a woman who once aspired to be a queen, Erica was not only familiar with various myths, but also knew the past of each king intimately.

"Before becoming a god-slayer, he had a constitution that prevented him from storing magical power. He studied swordsmanship under Saint Raphael and mastered it completely within a month. Later, he was possessed by the god Saint George and fought against different gods. In the end, Saint George's god was killed by the god-king Nuada. After regaining his self-awareness, His Majesty the Sword King defeated Nuada with his swordsmanship and usurped his power. Later, he also defeated the disobedient god summoned by Voban and seized his power."

“A few years ago he was a knight who had nothing to do with magic, but now he is the leader of the Southern European Magic Society and the most outstanding swordsman in European history who has elevated his skills to the realm of divine art,” Paul added. “Now, the number of gods slain by our Majesty has reached four, and the powers he wields are not few even among god-slayers.”

The powers usurped by the Godslayer are closely related to him, much like a straightforward swordsman like the Sword King. His powers are the sharpest attacks, invincible defense, suitability for any terrain, and the ability to seal opponents. Yet, this simple combination gives him a chance of victory against any older Godslayer.

"Becoming a god-slayer also means entering a completely different mythological realm. A god-slayer who has developed his powers over many years or possesses multiple powers has an obvious advantage over a new king."

"Then how much of a chance do you think the king you are now serving has?" Paul asked again.

Can I give my answer directly without giving a reason?

“Erica, it’s just the two of us here, uncle and nephew. I’d like to hear your insights as the first knight to follow Seiya.”

“Whether it is His Majesty the Sword King or the God of War of the East, strength or weakness, advantage or disadvantage are not particularly important.” Erica recalled the glorious figure who stood in front of the God of War in her place, “The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, he was victory itself.”

The sword roared, its radiance engulfing the sky and the sea.

If this weren't a remote island in the Mediterranean, the Sword King's strike would have been a natural disaster bringing suffering to humanity.

Before the light had faded, a red figure broke through the curtain of sword light, and even quickly sublimated into a blue color.

The sword wound on the chest of the Pegasus Cloth was shocking, but he was surrounded by azure currents—the power of a strong wind. His cosmos burned, and the Cloth roared. Saint Seiya charged towards the King of Swords through the fiery current, like a swift wind.

The real battle, or rather the carnage, had already begun, yet the Sword King's inner elation was higher than ever before.

Perhaps his instincts as a god-slayer were triggered. The demonic sword he wielded already possessed an undeniable precision, and the dazzling light and flames that rained down endlessly burned the surroundings.

The essence of the Demon Sword is the silver substance that constitutes its metal arm. As the core authority, Tony can construct various Demon Swords and endow them with different abilities. These include the infinite extension of the sword blade, the ability to instantly shatter targets with sword energy, the power to make opponents difficult to heal, and the ability to ignite wounds or even cause explosions with a single strike.

The slash that struck Pegasus was imbued with the attribute of powerful destructive weaponry.

If this wasn't using all my strength, then what would constitute using all my strength?

...That's right, the Saint Seiya firmly withstood this full force. It's certainly an amazing fact that even though he's just a young king who has only recently become one of his own kind, his power has reached an astonishing level.

more importantly--

The sword wound on the damaged Saint Cloth, revealing the chilling ribs, was a shocking sight. However, Seiya's aura, though wounded, was ten times stronger than before.

Salvatore Tony rode the crest of the boiling waves, his demonic sword humming with pleasure. He had already seen the future of the Saints. Seiya abandoned his meandering attack route and instead rapidly approached him directly. His movements were so fast that they couldn't be detected by the naked eye, but the King of Swords didn't need to use his eyes to perceive; his heart had already completely comprehended the trajectory of everything.

Both now and in the future.

"Come on!" the Sword King roared.

His sword light expanded once more, and no matter what kind of move it was, it would be cut in two by his demonic sword.

But the next moment, Tony's face showed no surprise, because his opponent had no skill and was charging straight at him.

The demonic sword that could cleave through everything clashed with the hand blade transformed into holy light, and Seiya, like a wild horse, charged straight at Tony. His hands were covered in blood, and the mournful sound of his Saint Cloth pierced his eardrums. Elbow armor shattered, shin armor broke, but Seiya's speed in his charge defied the limits of physics. In the instant Tony's pupils contracted, a burning meteor pierced through the sword's cage, and his bloodied hands clenched into fists.

It was the opening move of the Pegasus Meteor Fist, and Tony had foreseen the future. But in the next instant, the light converged, and the sky full of fist shadows disappeared.

"No, it's the Pegasus Comet Fist!"

Can it be slain? The answer is yes, it can. But the impact is already imminent.

An unimaginable blow struck Tony's chest. Before his expression could even change, his entire body was propelled out of the island by the immense force, tearing through the sound barrier and leaving a narrow white line across the sea.

Seiya's speed also surged, rapidly breaking through from the previously observed Mach 3 to Mach 10, and then catching up with the still flying Sword King on the sea surface, unleashing another powerful whip kick.

"—Pegasus Strong Wind Kick!"

At this moment, even ordinary mortals could observe the white shockwave erupting from the other side of the ocean.

Meanwhile, the magicians in Milan were dumbfounded; the situation had suddenly reversed. Even though they couldn't identify the Saint Seiya's power system, they could deduce from the speed at which the Sword King they served was sent flying that it was a terrifying power capable of shattering mountains.

Even the steel-like body of a god-slayer would be severely damaged.

But the answer is—no.

—The second power comes from the protection of steel.