Saint Seiya, but Athena who disobeys?

When the gods still walked on earth, when the distance between gods and humans was not so vast, and when warriors blindly thronged around the wicked gods, only Athena, the goddess of wisdom and victory, rose up to wage war against the evil gods who sought to destroy the earth.

In every parallel universe, in every possibility, in every worldline, I am fighting.

Whether it's the leader who challenges Valhalla in Norse mythology, Abel who tries to rule the earth, Iris, the goddess of discord, Lucifer, the demon king who destroys the universe, or the gods in the heavens, Artemis, the moon goddess, and Apollo, the sun god.

There were victories and defeats, an indomitable will and surrender.

But in the end, all these possibilities, these experiences in parallel universes, were reduced to a single, brief line in Seiya's mind.

"Believe in your own inner strength."

As long as consciousness remains and fighting spirit endures, hope will always emerge.

The moment Seiya opened his eyes again, his whole body felt as warm and comforting as if he were soaking in a revitalizing hot spring.

He didn't know where he was; was it the underworld after death? Somewhere in the netherworld? Or had he won and was enjoying the ritual of becoming a god-slayer?

But none of that applies here; this is still Sardinia, still the human world.

Seiya thought to himself, "It seems my mission isn't finished yet," but then he suddenly froze.

Because right by his bedside was a bronze stone box inlaid with the shape of a pegasus.

This moment felt like a lifetime ago.

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I'm late again! The evil god of writing has forced my writing universe to lag!

But I still shamelessly want to ask for votes and tips. It would be even better if any readers would like to add the book to my reading list!

Chapter 18: The Saint Seiya Opens His Eyes, I Am the Pegasus Cloth

No, it's wrong, even nine-tenths wrong.

He stretched his limbs and noticed that his clothes had been changed—at this moment, Seiya also took in his surroundings. He was lying on a very elegant bed, with an Italian VALFLEX mattress beneath him. The room itself was also very tasteful; the TURRI furniture and the room's layout clearly conveyed one message—

—I have very good taste. This room is very expensive, but you are the one staying here, and it is my honor to serve you.

A gentle breeze lifts the sheer curtains by the window, offering a panoramic view of the entire Orosle Bay in southern Sardinia.

How much time has passed? And where am I?

My last memory was of the battle with the young war god. Although it's embarrassing to recall, the last thing I saw in my memory was my opponent's handsome and arrogant face. At that time, I locked onto Urs Ragnar using my Wind Avatar. He summoned a white horse to annihilate me in one fell swoop, but because he was too close and misjudged my endurance, I locked onto him with a joint lock. In the end, I was hit by the white horse carrying the sun while it was spinning in the Pegasus Spinning Crushing Fist.

Then there are just fragments: dragons and snakes in the forest... the experience of shedding skin like a snake, the wings of a brown owl, the waters of the River Styx and a girl's kiss... a person with shining eyes... is that Athena?

Seiya struggled to sit up. "Huh? Hey? Isn't this a bit too good?"

He tentatively moved his shoulder, and the fact that it was completely intact surprised Seiya slightly.

The source of power within oneself is the microcosm, referring to the cosmic energy existing deep within the soul. By igniting this microcosm, one can destroy matter at the atomic level, possessing the power to create the world and shatter stars.

However, things are different now than before.

Seiya looked at his muscular body in the mirror, and the moment he closed and opened his eyes again, a sharp golden light shot out from the depths of his eyes.

This cosmic energy, however, grew significantly after he awoke, its vibrant energy warming Seiya's entire body. The sensation of bathing in a hot spring he had felt earlier originated from this energy. At this moment, Seiya finally understood the true nature of a Saint.

They advance relentlessly in fierce battles, grow stronger amidst near-death experiences, and even when facing imminent death or at their wits' end, it does not mean defeat, but rather that they grasp hope with their indomitable will.

Of course, if you get killed, then never mind.

Whether it's bones, muscles, body techniques, or cosmos, all have shown significant growth after the battle. Seiya took a deep breath and touched the bronze Pegasus stone box placed on his bedside table.

The moment the fingertips touched it, the eyes of the pegasus on the stone box lit up with a blue light. With the whistling wind, the entire stone box, surrounded by a clear blue breeze, transformed into a magnificent pegasus.

—Pegasus Cloth.

The so-called Saint Cloth is the battle armor worn by the Saints who protect Athena. It is a divine artifact worn by the Saints with Athena's protection. The Saint Cloth is not just a piece of armor made of mysterious super metal. The Saint Cloth can transcend space to protect its wearer with its own will. This is what makes it mysterious. The Saint Cloth has a will and a life.

Or rather, only a Saint who wears a Saint Cloth is complete.

The magnificent celestial horse seemed to have a life of its own, stretching out its head and gently rubbing it against his palm. Then it transformed into a black celestial horse nameplate, which landed in his palm.

“The movie version… isn’t quite right either…!” Seiya looked at the nameplate in his hand that symbolized the Pegasus Cloth. Rather than the movie version, it was more like his own idea that made it into the shape of the nameplate.

At the same time, he also sensed an aura that was extremely familiar to him lurking within the Saint Cloth. That was the power he had stolen with the Prometheus Tablet—the Avatar of Wind—which was now fused with the Saint Cloth.

Seiya wanted to investigate further, but then the door was pushed open, and a crimson figure flew to his side, helped Seiya up, and exclaimed with delight, "You're finally awake!"

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After a quick lunch at the hotel, Erica and I traveled together to Oristano.

Their destination was the ruins of St. Basil's, a site where the Phoenicians laid the foundations and the Romans installed the sewers and other urban functions; now it seemed to be just a very deserted tourist destination.

According to Erica, she found her trail in the Bay of Orosle, with the stone box and the Prometheus Tablet, now imbued with divine power.

Erica glanced at him several times along the way, and Seiya guessed that she might have something to say to him, but since she didn't take the initiative to speak, Seiya wasn't interested in bringing it up himself.

"By the way, about that god of the golden sword, are the wounds from your battle with him healed?" Erica finally couldn't help but ask.

At least in Erica's observation, the extent of the injury went beyond mere physical harm. It was a brutal battle that had consumed life itself, which explains Erica's overwhelming surprise and disbelief when she spotted Seiya in Orosle Bay.

"No problem, it's even stronger than before." Seiya clenched his fist and smiled confidently.

In various mythological traditions, the gods within each myth possess different powers. Some are so powerful that they can drag the world into hell, while others can bring people back to life. The miracle of resurrection naturally originates from the grace of Athena, who refused to submit.

"What about the war god Ursragna, the golden god? How is he?" Seiya asked.

“I don’t know,” Erica said. “I really don’t know, but He probably isn’t dead either. It’s also possible that the boy wasn’t a deity who could point to the true form. During the seven days you were unconscious, traces of the divine beast reappeared throughout Sardinia. Bosa, Orgosolo, Barumini… the boy’s figure was witnessed near all the places where the god’s presence was confirmed.”

Erica didn't voice her underlying meaning: all the places where the boy's figure was seen symbolized that the divine beasts there had been taken back by Him.

While he was unconscious for seven days, Seiya was thinking about something else entirely.

Three days was enough for the boy who started it to retract his three avatars. And in seven days, his strength would probably have been fully restored, perhaps even reaching his complete form except for the wind avatar.

But Seiya gripped the nameplate around his neck; he was not afraid, and was even more confident.

Erica looked at the boy beside her with a worried expression. "Our 'Red Copper ***' specters sensed an extremely powerful divine aura emanating from the ruins of Saint Basti in Oristano, and foresaw that something big was about to happen there. But they dared not approach any further, after all, not everyone has the rank of Lady Lucrecia, who can escape from the hands of a god who does not obey."

In other words, the place they are now heading to is the territory of another disobedient god who has appeared on this island.

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Chapter Two will be later (facepalm)

Chapter Nineteen: Assisting You in Becoming the Seventh King of This Era

Erica carefully observed Seiya's expression and found that he showed no signs of anything amiss.

"To be able to foresee even something like this, that's amazing. You must be able to see through everything," Seiya boasted.

"That's not the case. The things we can see through our spiritual vision are very limited. For example, right now, we still don't know the exact whereabouts of the Golden God, oh, the God of War, Ursragna. However, if there were a top-level spiritual vision mage, that would be a different story. But people with this talent are very rare, so there's nothing we can do."

The abilities of clairvoyants almost entirely rely on innate qualities.

Upon closer examination, the ability to see far and wide has a very strong market for applications and is unlikely to become widespread.

The ruins of St. Basil are about 20 kilometers from the town. After getting off the car, the two walked to the ruins in the forest.

There are many ruins of Nuragai and many settlements that are not well preserved. Although there are also many well preserved ruins in this area, it is not very popular with tourists.

However, even so—

Before the sun sets, Nulagai's majestic scenery is truly breathtaking.

A lush green forest, and a towering ancient tower.

Nuragai is one of the tallest buildings on the island, towering high enough to overlook the towering trees. Even from outside the forest, the silhouette of this cleverly constructed stone structure can be seen.

"The existence of this site means that it is the ruins of an ancient settlement. In those days, settlements were even more sacred than temples and tombs. It was common for disobedient gods to be attracted by the spiritual energy of the land and to force their way into the dwelling place of gods they had no connection with."

"So, it's more comfortable in other gods' territories than in your own?" Seiya chuckled, recalling the war god with whom he had a deep connection. Why do all these disobedient gods have a penchant for NTR (Netorare, a form of sexual exploitation)? Whether it's someone else's warriors, their temple, or their tribal settlement.

While chatting like this, we arrived near Nuragai.

Deep in the forest lies a clearing that appears to be a plaza with a good view. Although it's obscured by overgrown weeds, traces of various finely constructed stone settlements can be seen. It seems Nuragai also has rooms and staircases.

This civilization reached its peak around the 10th century BC. In that era, and in a place with a relatively small population, they were able to undertake such architectural feats. In a sense, this was a technology even more advanced than modern construction. However, here, the guidance of the witch Erica was no longer needed.

Following the scent, Seiya arrived at the gap formed by broken stone walls and collapsed giant trees.

Even without the talents of a witch, the faint aura emanating from the darkness deep within this gap made one's whole body involuntarily excited.

"Good luck, it seems the master is at home." Seiya smiled and released his restraints, revealing the aura of the Pegasus Saint. "Then let's say hello and go in."

Erica didn't quite understand this kind of greeting. But having already made up her mind, she still followed Seiya closely, step by step.

At the beginning it was extremely narrow, and then he became enlightened. After taking dozens of steps, he suddenly became enlightened.

A rough but magnificent underground palace came into view.

The interior of the temple was also cleverly constructed with stones, and the gaps were filled with stone.

Sardinia, with its Mediterranean climate, is generally very dry. But now, the air flowing underground is extremely humid. Seiya raised his hand, and the light emanating from his palm illuminated the scene before him, allowing him to move quickly through the underground passage.

There was no need for guidance here. Even though Erica's guidance as a witch wasn't exactly reliable, Seiya's keen senses of the gods still led him to the right path.

Then, the two finally met.

The true, complete, and disobedient god, the true might, the true embodiment of power—the god-king Mercator.

"A warrior from a distant land, beyond the realm's boundaries. How long has it taken me to finally stand face to face with someone like you?"

His very deep voice sounded like a thunderclap from the earth. It was also like a thunderclap, extremely heavy.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, it seems you are not in good condition." Seiya nodded slightly to show his respect.

"This island used to be my territory, but it has now been taken over and ravaged by some people of unknown origin. Although I have been away from the ground for a long time, the thought of what happened on the ground still makes me feel heartbroken... I'm sorry to tell you this, just think of it as an old man grumbling."

Deep within the underground temple, there was an underground spring that gushed forth from the ground. The stone passage suddenly ended, leaving only mud.

For a people who worship water as a sacred entity, this spring is probably the deity they are worshipping.

He was on the bank of the spring.

A burly, middle-aged man sat on an altar by the water. His disheveled hair, which he had probably never cut, and his beard that covered the lower half of his face were striking features. He had a very wild appearance, and his height was easily over two meters.

Such a solid and well-proportioned physique completely defies human anatomy. Generally speaking, someone that tall would look very thin, but that's not the case; the bulging muscles are incredibly imposing just to look at.

How magnificent, powerful, and divine His body was!

Despite wearing very rough clothes—dirty rags and a leather breastplate on his chest, and a tattered cloak—he exuded an aura of majesty.

Whenever I'm face to face with Him, I want to bow down and kneel.

Erica, who was regarded as a follower by the God King, was now ashen-faced, but she still stood there with unwavering determination.

"However, my treasure will not be defiled by villains, and I will naturally erase this island from the ocean. But you can hurry back to the land and work for your fellow people, perhaps you can prevent some villains from sinking into the sea with you. But all of this will be after my battle with that Eastern God of War."

"So that's how it is. This is the disobedient god who defies the myths. Even the righteous guardians of the city-state can reveal such a self-centered side." After witnessing the war god Urs Ragnar, he already had a vague concept of this kind of being.

"Hahaha, kid, you only realize this now! Or are you trying to stop me here, using your skills acquired from outside this realm to challenge me, the King of Gods!"

The God-King's loud laughter shook the underground temple.

This is not a metaphor; it really is like an earthquake causing the ground to shake, the walls to vibrate, and the ceiling to shake.

The spring water kept creating waves, and Erica felt an electric shock-like sensation on her skin.

At this moment, her gaze fell on Seiya. Having witnessed his battle with the young war god, Erica was prepared to be blown away by the aftershocks of the fight once again. But to her surprise, Seiya shook his head.

"You and I will have a battle, but not now."

The moment Seiya finished speaking, tens of thousands of locusts swarmed towards this uninvited guest from all sides of the underground temple. But this move was destined to end in vain.

Before Erica could figure out what was going on, she found herself in the forest, being led by Seiya's hand.

What on earth is going on? Is it some kind of magical teleportation? Or is it some kind of illusion? But how can Erica tell that the world before her is the same forest she came from?

"It seems that His Majesty the God-King has no intention of letting this land go. Perhaps in His eyes, Italy's occupation of Sardinia is itself a sin. However, this will happen after His decisive battle with the God of War, hmm?"

Just as Seiya was speaking, he discovered that Erica suddenly made a decision that he himself could not have expected.

She knelt on one knee and lowered her proud head before Seiya.