Saint Seiya, but Athena who disobeys?

"Demons, Rakshasa, Fallen Angels, Godslayers... Warriors with titles that should be taboo, you are sworn enemies with us, the heroes of steel, the gods and the demon kings, destined for fierce battles. We, as gods, were born on earth, and you, as humans who exist on equal footing with gods, have had frequent contact with us—our bond began thousands of years ago and has long been indelible!"

The Iron Hero's words sent a slight shiver down Seiya's spine. It was as if the god-slayer instinct etched into his body was beginning to warn him—or perhaps it was the excitement of reuniting with a nemesis far beyond ordinary enemies.

"Is this guy finally going to show his true skills?" Seiya suddenly realized.

"O free winged horse soaring through the sky, I, Perseus, am calling to you. Here dwell winged horses of your kind, eagerly awaiting your arrival!" Perseus raised his arm, pointing his index finger to the sky.

Om-!

The sky has cracked open!

In an instant, a great light shone overhead, just like light itself. Accompanied by a neigh that shook the very space, the divine steed that had nearly trampled the goddess Stella under its hooves charged at Seiya in the same manner.

Chapter 69: Fated Rivals in the Pegasus Myth

Pegasus, looking at the divine beast that truly shared the same origin as himself in this world, Seiya felt a rather special sensation.

—Pegasus.

The archetype of Pegasus in Greek mythology was born alongside his brother, the giant Chrysaor, at the time Medusa was beheaded. Greek and Roman poets described his ascension to the heavens after his birth to meet Zeus, the king of the gods, who instructed him to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. He was a friend of the Muses. Legend has it that when this winged horse trampled across Mount Helicon, it created the Hippocrates, a spring that inspired poets; drinking from it granted them inspiration. Therefore, Pegasus is also considered a symbol of the Muses, the goddesses of art and science.

For Saint Seiya, it has a different and special meaning.

But the moment it touched him, the God Armor Veleslana instantly disintegrated. In that brief moment, the prepared Perseus transformed into a streak of platinum light and vanished completely into the sky.

Seiya raised his hand, intending to summon the Pegasus Cloth again, but ultimately abandoned the idea. Instead, he looked up at the pure white feather falling from the sky and grasped the last remaining trace of Pegasus in his hand.

Tokyo, Chiyoda, a small courtyard in a rural town.

When Seiya appeared in the courtyard, Stella's gaze followed him furtively like that of a startled fawn. Watching him walk straight towards her, the explanations she had prepared for so long instantly caught in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word. Until Seiya stopped in front of her, opening his palm—that silent gesture, the meaning of which was self-evident.

“Ugh…” Stella mumbled something unintelligible, then reluctantly pulled two items from her bosom: an ancient shield and a pair of pure white wings that shimmered with a moonlit glow. They were the shield, a replica of a divine artifact created by Hephaestus, the god of forging, and the wings, a replica of a divine artifact symbolizing Hecate’s power.

"So the Wheel of Friendship can also transfer items?" Seiya raised an eyebrow, casually fiddling with the shield and wings in his hands, his tone tinged with a playful teasing. "Thank you so much, I didn't know it had this thoughtful function."

Stella quickly explained, "They're just little trinkets! Pegasus, you can't let that inherently evil Perseus sow discord between us, aunt and nephew! I never intended to hide it from you!"

Seeing Pegasus closing in on her step by step, Stella panicked a little. "I never intended to betray you. I just wanted to give you a surprise. Actually, this was all prepared for you! Look, it's all back to its rightful owner now! Ah, please... at least don't slap me in the face!"

Seiya's hand fell, but instead of striking Stella, he slammed his shield down on her head. "You think I'd steal your things? Or beat you up? Don't underestimate yourself. Since you need it, keep it and continue using it, Aphrodite."

Stella opened her eyes in astonishment, staring at the wings and shield that had been shoved back into her hands, momentarily incredulous. There was... no punishment? She had even prepared for the worst... of course, just a spanking or something.

Deep in the courtyard, the moonlight was like water. Athena stood quietly, watching the returning Pegasus. Her usually aloof and almost expressionless face seemed to soften a little in the moonlight.

“Although I have temporarily turned that foolish and arrogant goddess (referring to Stella) into your subordinate through the Reversal Ritual,” Athena’s voice flowed as coldly as moonlight, “there are still some things you need to be wary of. She may not be dazzling in the orthodox mythological narrative, but the threads of fate that entwine her are something that even Zeus once took notice of.”

In early Greek mythology, Aphrodite, similar to Athena, held a very high position. Athena and Metis were also early earth goddesses, and traces of this early mythology can be found in Alcman poetry. However, in later periods, the cult of Zeus became dominant, and the earth goddesses were incorporated into Zeus's mythological system, becoming his wives or children. In the orthodox narrative of ancient Greek mythology, Aphrodite, while a principal deity, was not a central figure. However, there has always been a rumor that a deity associated with her might one day become the king of the gods.

However, such legends of god-kings are common in Greek mythology. From Athena's unborn brother Poros, to the mad god Dionysus whose future was predetermined at birth, to Zeus's youngest son becoming the new god-king, and of course, to powerful goddesses like Athena and Hecate who were qualified to be god-kings.

Of course, in today's unique world where mythology permeates everything, it's not impossible that a monkey with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth could suddenly storm Mount Olympus, shouting that the gods take turns being kings and that this year it's my turn.

Of course, among the disobedient gods in the current state of multiple mythological fusion, god-kings are not very rare. Compared to their strength in mythology, the self-expression that disobedient gods can display when they descend to earth has a greater impact on the exertion of their power.

"She's just an unaware fool." Seiya smiled. In his eyes, Stella was probably no different from the cats and dogs he kept at home. "Compared to Eros, I care more about that disobedient Perseus."

Seiya opened his hand, and a pure white Pegasus feather appeared in his palm.

"That guy tried to trick me into running away with his words, and in the lightning-fast chase he only dodged, but in the end he used his special power to break my God Cloth. Logically speaking, such a disobedient god shouldn't have much fighting power, but the feeling I got was quite the opposite." Seiya recalled the moment he fought with him, "This Perseus seems very different."

"Then what do you think is the fundamental reason for the strength of the disobedient gods?" Athena asked. "The legends proclaimed in mythology? The specific scenes depicted in the stories? Or the suffering they caused to the earth and humanity when they descended to earth?"

Saint Seiya pondered for a moment but did not answer, but Athena had already given the answer.

"All of the above. It is the self of a god who defies mythology, the madness displayed in a posture of nonconformity, but Perseus's madness is not the inferior kind like Susanoo's. He embraces the humiliation of being mocked by his nemesis, but he will do everything in his power to cut off your head. This is actually a manifestation of a very strong will."

Seiya narrowed his eyes; he seemed to have grasped another part of the essence of the Disobedient God.

The gods who defied mythology and descended upon the earth displaying their rebellious nature, and the god-slayers who murdered them and usurped their power, are inherently mortal enemies. And in your lineage of mortal enemies—the Pegasus God-Slayer—the one you should most challenge and confront is precisely this Steel God-King who inflicted you with immense humiliation in mythology. Conversely, for Him, you are also the ultimate goal of His existence.

Seiya's gaze fell upon Athena's perfect face, so close to his own. For some reason, Stella's unintentional words from the night before last unexpectedly resurfaced in his mind: "If we're talking about the most deserving opponent for Pegasus the God-Slayer… it shouldn't be Perseus, he's at best second. The first, no matter what, should be…"

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Why isn't it back up yet?! I'm going crazy playing offline!

Chapter Seventy: Before Dawn

The answer, almost palpable, stirred ripples in his heart like a pebble thrown into a deep pool. But just as the thought was about to become clear—

Athena's cool fingers, carrying an indescribable tenderness and strength, gently touched his temples. A deep, irresistible sense of peace surged into his consciousness like a tide with the gentle caress of her fingertips, quickly dispelling all distracting thoughts and tense nerves.

That unformed idea, like a thin mist melted by moonlight, quietly dissipated.

"Go to sleep first." Athena's voice seemed to come from the distant heavens, carrying a soothing magic. "Until you become the true god-slaying Pegasus, I will always stay by your side."

In another room, Stella let out a barely perceptible sigh.

"Even the wise Athena, can't see through a problem that even I can understand?" The goddess of love rested her chin on her left hand, pouted, and looked at the bright moon outside the window. "Love is noble yet base, truly a cruel thing."

The moment you gain something, it's destined that one day you will lose it. There is no one who would do anything to prolong their suffering in pursuit of it.

However, Stella suddenly realized that this was a common problem among many of her brothers and sisters. No matter how wise and capable they were in ordinary times, they couldn't see things clearly when it came to matters concerning themselves.

Between the boot-shaped Italian peninsula and the island of Sardinia floating to the west lies a vast ocean, though this area is generally considered part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The majority of vessels here are ferries, including many traveling to ports such as Genoa, Naples, Palermo, and Cagliari, as well as numerous cruise yachts. And because of the abundant marine resources, fishing boats are also present. If you cast your nets in the waters near Sardinia before sunrise, you'll find a variety of fish mixed in, but among the growing schools of bluefin tuna, a person has infiltrated.

...I don't know how long it drifted in the turbulent Tyrrhenian Sea before finally being washed here from Naples. If you want to call that still energetic creature a human, that's perfectly fine.

The blond youth got caught in the fishing net used to catch bluefin tuna, climbed out himself, and then boarded the fishing boat without permission, saying to the speechless fishermen:

"Ah-hello! I thought I was really going to die this time... Hey friend, now that I'm up here, just tell me where the nearest land is. Don't ask me why I came out of a fishing net, why I can speak human language, or if I'm a fish demon. I'm Tony, the Sword King of the European magic world. Just send me to Italy, and the King's Butler Andrea will deliver you... What? The last person who said that claimed to be Qin Shi Huang? I'm really not a liar! And don't call me a monster!"

But soon, the blond youth, also known as the Sword King Tony, felt a surge of power throughout his body. This was a sign that his Godslayer instincts were being activated. The monsters that the fishermen were screaming in terror were not him, but something that appeared behind him.

A creature that exists only in mythology, with a body as magnificent as a whale, a neck as long as a dragon, and four petal-like cheeks bulging around its face.

The highest-ranking creature among mythical beasts, if successfully summoned, is Tiamat, the mother goddess of ancient Babylonian mythology. Her body is covered in sharp scales, and she is manifesting her enraged form, roaring at the distant shadows.

With Tony's eyesight, he could easily spot the women paralyzed on the platform at sea. They might be witches from Europe, sorceresses from the Far East, or sorcerers from the Eastern Continent; if nothing else, they were Tiamat they had summoned.

However, this giant sea dragon is not the ultimate goal. The old demon king who commands these witches ultimately aims to use the sea dragon Tiamat as a sacrifice to summon the true Earth Mother Goddess. Of course, he would also accept summoning the God King Marduk.

"That's quite a generous gesture, old Wolf King," Tony, the Sword King, whistled.

The only god-slayer in the entire world capable of commanding so many top-tier witches is probably Marquis Voban, who is also the most enthusiastic demon king to summon disobedient gods. The aged wolf king stared sharply at the sea dragon before him, slowly raising his hand, and the heavenly light above his head shone brightly.

"I hereby declare that all living beings are equal. Whether sinner or saint, mortal or hero, pure child or their mother, all are equally provided as food for the flames. Behold the moment when the fiery purgatory, the kingdom of fire, is born!"

The power—the judgment of karmic fire, the annihilating power of calamity usurped from Zhurong, the fire god of the Eastern Continent. The clouds in the sky churned instantly, but what surged after the churning was not a storm or lightning, but crimson flames. At this moment, it seemed as if heaven and earth had turned upside down, orange-red magma flowing in the sky, seemingly slow but rapidly spreading across the entire sea. Once its power was fully accumulating, the lava in the sky would pour down, turning this ocean into a fiery inferno.

How long does it take for the gestation period to complete?

It's now!

"Radiant and dazzling, shining brightly upon us—"

"Crimson Emperor, Supreme Grade; Three Qi Fire Official; Flame Emperor, True Lord; Purification and Cleansing!"

As the Demon King of the Earth, Marquis Voban chanted the incantation of sacred fire. Looking up at the sky, his green eyes seemed to reflect the flames of a meteor shower falling from the heavens.

The firelight illuminated the dark sky and the earth below. The old wolf king's power was highly personal, scattering meteor-like flames from the crimson sky. Tiamat, the sea dragon who had been roaring at the heavens, also wielded her authority, creating countless whirlpools of ocean currents to meet the falling meteors, but to no avail; all were destined for death.

But in the next instant, a ray of light sliced ​​through Tiamat's head, and then, in a fraction of a second, shattered her spiritual core, which was about to become godlike.

“Salvatore Tony!” Marquis Voban glared at the young man standing on the fishing boat in the distance. He had been wary of this junior who had once stolen his prey from the start.

"It wasn't me! It really wasn't me!" Sword King Tony raised his hands to show his innocence. Although he might not be able to control his impulse if the old wolf king really summoned the disobedient Tiamat, it really wasn't him now.

The old wolf king had no time to find the cause. Although the sea dragon Tiamat died prematurely, he could use its corpse as a sacrifice to summon the god. This was a secret ritual he had been preparing for years... But soon he discovered that all of Tiamat's essence and authority had been plundered.

Brilliant speed.

Both the old Wolf King Voban and the young Sword King Tony had this phrase flash through their minds at this moment. Only top warriors who possessed the power of divine speed, or even a skill similar to Mind's Eye, could decapitate Tiamat and destroy her spirit core in this critical moment.

However, the old wolf king Voban had another doubt: how could he plunder such pure essence?

"Well, I think I know the answer to that." Sword King Tony raised his hand.

He suddenly remembered that the rebellious god who attacked him and ultimately defeated him in the battle, the hero god who threw him into the deep sea, might have held the relevant authority.

Chapter 71: His name is Perseus the Disobedient.

This night is destined to be unforgettable for many.

The Ryukyu Islands, Mount Mitake Ryugu. The wind rustles the leaves, reminding me of many years ago.

Many years ago, this region belonged to a powerful feudal dynasty in the West. Standing here, one could see Fuzhou Garden, Shuri Castle, and a cluster of vermilion buildings resembling the Forbidden City. At this moment, the area below is brightly lit, for the upcoming Shuri Castle Festival is Ryukyu's grandest celebration, much like the grand occasion of envoys from the Western Continent visiting China centuries ago.

This place is also a place where the belief in dragons and snakes is strong. The Pegasus, which descended with the moonlight, came before him, and the man in white robes embraced him affectionately.

"As expected of the Pegasus that brought me victory, well done. The destiny to once again behead my nemesis truly calls me forward, and you are looking forward to it too, aren't you?" Perseus smiled as he released the Pegasus back into the Sky Patrol. "Bear with it a little longer, I already sense that the time to behead him is approaching."

Meanwhile, in the distant Shuri Castle, the residents, who were still preparing for the festival, looked with some curiosity towards the most sacred Nakanoshima.

They vaguely heard the melodious neighing of horses, but upon closer listening, it sounded more like the call of deer.

When Seiya woke up in the morning, he found the magic world in an uproar.

The underworld also has its own internet, with its own small circles based on regions, factions, and inheritance systems. Recently, the hot topics of discussion have been the great battle between the Demon Queen Guinevere, the Council of Sages, and the Royal Factory, as well as the Saint Seiya and Dragons in the Far East.

But just last night, another major event occurred. In the European magic world, the unspeakable old devil Voban, who was almost equivalent to Voldemort, failed in his ritual to summon the disobedient god after years of preparation. Even the dragon and snake Tiamat that he summoned was intercepted by an unknown hero god.

This was a great humiliation for the Marquis of Voban.

"It seems that's the case." During breakfast, Seiya scrolled through his phone, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the anonymous users whose comments were tinged with schadenfreude, and took a sip of soy milk.

He wasn't very familiar with the plot of Godkiller, but he vaguely knew that this period was when the old demon king wanted to summon the disobedient. Yuri Tani, who originally possessed the talent of revelation, was also his target, but she was still in bed because of Stella's matter some time ago, but she also escaped a disaster by virtue of misfortune.

But in the end, the old demon king was still summoned, but things still didn't go as planned.

"It was Perseus who hijacked it, wasn't it? His strength should have returned to its peak by now." Seiya looked up at Liliana, who was sitting upright and meticulously at the table.

This sword fairy, who was on par with Erica, had a completely different serious attitude from Erica, even to the point of being somewhat rigid in Seiya's eyes. In this breakfast room, all the officers of the Bronze Cross Knights were present, along with Erica and Seiyain Ena.

Their tables were set with breakfasts from their respective countries. Of course, if they were interested, Erica could also order soy milk and fried dough sticks, or douzhi (fermented mung bean juice), from China. It was the Dragon Boat Festival, and seeing the food wrapped in bamboo leaves on Seiya's plate, they all tacitly ordered a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling), either sweet or savory.

Compared to the Italian magic societies and the Marquis of Voban, who was still figuring things out, they already knew the true name of this disobedient god. Naturally, they were better able to decipher the secrets of the authority he held.

“Although the Steel Gods are all closely connected to dragons and serpents, there is a relatively unified template for this type of mythology.” Liliana stepped forward first to share the key information collected by the Bronze Ink Cross.

"Perseus, or perhaps he could be called Perseus. He was the hero who defeated Medusa, the Gorgon of Greek mythology, and fought on the beach against monsters who demanded that the Ethiopian princess Andromeda be sacrificed as a living offering, ultimately winning and rescuing the beautiful princess. He is a well-known deity and a paragon of slaying snakes and even dragons. The Perseus Andromeda type refers to this type of mythology."

Liliana looked at Seiya, who was nodding and smiling, and continued, "Based on the intelligence we have gathered, this Perseus should possess the ability to command witches, as well as the ability to obtain power from dragons, serpents, and earth goddesses after slaying or conquering them."

"I see. That's why He relentlessly pursues the dragon and the Earth Mother, and even actively steals Marquis Voban's prey, instead of attacking his nemesis, the Demon King." Seiya realized.

“That guy Perseus can completely seal away my God Cloth… that power related to Urs Ragnar, which is also a problem.”

"Perseus's name also means 'Persian,' and in fact, he is a deity originating from the East." Erica answered the question eagerly.

"Persia? Isn't that the same place as Urslagna's homeland!?" Kiyoshuin Ena was somewhat surprised.

"Well, how should I put it? The Persia mentioned here simply refers to the East. Ancient Persia is what is now Iran, but Perseus's ancestor was in Iraq, which is Babylon."

That's right, Perseus is a hero born in Mesopotamia. That's why he was able to arrive at the scene of the god-slaying battle in time last night, because he sensed the appearance of the dragon-serpent with whom he had a deep connection.

"In Babylonian mythology, he defeated a monster called Tiamat in order to save his wife Andromeda. Legend has it that it was a giant whale or a sea serpent or similar sea beast."

Ena Kiyoshu understood what Erica meant. The constellation Cetus is now known to refer to this sea creature, Tiamat. It is considered one of the constellations representing autumn, alongside Perseus, Andromeda, and Cassiopeia.

Everyone was deep in thought, including Seiya. He was contemplating the Perseus and Cetus Saint Cloths and their corresponding Saints, seemingly all Silver Saints, pondering their fighting techniques and specific effects. Erica, on the other hand, was focused on subtly showcasing her abilities to Seiya, while Liliana was preoccupied with how to unravel the secrets of this rebellious god.

“However, this name has a more important meaning,” Erica said with a smile. “Tiamat also means the name of a Babylonian goddess. As the earth mother goddess who gave birth to gods, she is also the ruler of the divine realm. Moreover, she is the goddess who can transform into a dragon and cause floods. The storm god who defeated her and became the king of the gods is named Marduk.”

"Could it be... that this myth was brought to Greece and became the myth of Perseus?"

Saint Seiya seems to have also realized the truth behind it all.

The story of Marduk defeating Tiamat was passed down for a long time and became the myth of Perseus, which is why this hero is called Perseus, the man from the East.

Greek mythology was formed by shamelessly borrowing various mythologies from surrounding regions. There are many examples of depicting other peoples' gods as evil deities or monsters. The myths of Athena and Medusa are a prime example; in that case, Perseus would certainly have received a very favorable treatment.

At this time, with the efforts of the witches and priestesses, most of the powers of this disobedient god were gradually pieced together.