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Saga was certain of Shaka's intentions, and it frustrated him.
Besides Shaka—only four Gold Saints remained: Milo of Scorpio, Shura of Capricorn, Camus of Aquarius, and Aphrodite of Pisces.
Of these, only Aphrodite's loyalty was absolute.
Milo was currently injured and unable to fight.
Camus was Hyoga's master, making him untrustworthy.
And Shura, loyal only to Athena, could easily be swayed by the Bronze Saints. If he didn't act, they might reach Pisces.
He had received the report of Deathmask's death, suggesting that the Bronze Saints possessed some kind of advantage, likely bestowed by Athena.
This was how Deathmask had been defeated.
While Saga wasn't concerned about such tricks, confident in his ability to overcome them, Aphrodite was more vulnerable.
If those Bronze Saints reached the Pope's chambers—his true identity as the Gemini Gold Saint might be exposed.
He had to act.
"Someone!" Saga called out.
"Your Holiness?" An attendant, stationed outside his chambers, responded immediately.
"Send a message to Camus and Shura. Inform them of Deathmask's death. Tell them to abandon their temples and engage the enemy."
"Yes, Your Holiness!" The attendant rushed off to relay his orders.
——
"Let me see your resolve, Hyoga." Camus watched his student, frozen solid within a block of ice.
During their earlier encounter in Gemini—Hyoga had been caught in one of Saga's remotely controlled attacks and transported to another dimension.
Camus had guided him to Libra. Then—he had effortlessly encased Hyoga in ice.
He looked at his frozen student and turned to leave. He was certain Hyoga would break free and make his way to Aquarius.
That would be their true battle.
This was his plan, a plan he was prepared to die for.
However, as he walked through Sagittarius, he encountered Shura.
"Wait, Camus. There's no need to return to your temple. The Pope has ordered us to engage the enemy directly."
"Engage them directly? But they're just a few Bronze Saints. Such a drastic measure seems…excessive," Camus said, his brow furrowed in confusion. He didn't want to fight. He, too, had his suspicions about the Pope.
After all, Aquarius was the eleventh temple, close to the Pope's chambers. While he didn't see as much as Aphrodite—he wasn't completely oblivious. He was more inclined to believe in the girl claiming to be Athena.
"Deathmask is dead," Shura said grimly.
"Dead? Deathmask is dead?" Camus was stunned.
Camus hadn't imagined a Gold Saint could be killed by Bronze Saints. He didn't believe Deathmask would have—allowed himself to be defeated.
"That's right. I was just as shocked when I heard the news. He was killed by Shiryu, Dohko's student."
"Master Dohko was involved?" Camus' expression turned serious.
This changed everything.
"Who knows?" Shura shrugged. "Let's go."
He continued his journey, and Camus, sighing inwardly, followed him. His plan had been cut short before it could even begin. He would have to adapt as needed.
——
As the Gold Saints, following Saga's orders, made their way through the temples, Seiya and Ikki reached Virgo.
During their journey through Gemini, they had been separated from Shun and Hyoga by Saga's dimensional attack. While Ikki was concerned about his brother's safety—he knew this wasn't the time for sentimentality.
They had to press onward.
After escaping Gemini, he and Seiya reached Cancer, where Shiryu had insisted on staying behind to confront Deathmask, with whom he had a score to settle.
Despite Seiya's hesitation, Ikki, his focus solely on reaching Athena and retrieving her shield, had dragged him away. If Ikki, despite his concern for his brother, could prioritize the mission, then so could Seiya.
They passed through Cancer and Leo—reaching Virgo.
——
"Aiolia warned us about Shaka. He's known as 'The Man Closest to God.' He's incredibly dangerous," Seiya said, using their Cosmo link to communicate with Ikki.
It was a technique they had learned from Mika, enhancing their teamwork.
"I know. But we have to get through Virgo," Ikki replied. "I'll create a diversion. Use that opportunity to get past him."
"But—" Seiya looked at Ikki's determined expression and knew it was useless to argue.
"Alright. But don't die, Ikki."
"What are you talking about? I'm a Phoenix." They exchanged grins and a fist bump, then entered the temple.
——
"Faster! Seiya and Ikki are almost at Virgo! They need us!" Shiryu and Shun were rushing towards them.
After Shun had broken Saga's illusion in Gemini, he had hurried towards Cancer, where he found Shiryu, who had just defeated Deathmask.
They were now racing to catch up to Seiya and Ikki.
And far behind them, Aiolia and Mika were approaching Leo.
The scattered Saints were about to be reunited.
——
"It's finally time…" Aiolia smiled, gazing at his Leo Gold Cloth.
Before their departure, they had agreed that Mika and Aiolia would remain hidden until they both retrieved their Cloths.
Mika had already acquired the Cancer Gold Cloth; now, it was Aiolia's turn. They could now reveal themselves.
Just then, a dark object flew towards him from the shadows. He instinctively caught it; it was his cloak.
"While I understand your excitement, try to maintain some composure," Mika's voice echoed from behind him. He was looking at Aiolia, his expression calm.
"You're awake?"
"I've absorbed the essence of the Cancer Cloth. There was no need for further meditation." He walked past Aiolia towards the passage leading to the next temple.
"You—'Absorbed' it?" Aiolia quickly donned his cloak and followed him, concealing both himself and his Cloth.
"Not entirely," Mika admitted, shaking his head. "But I have mastered Sekishiki Meikaiha."
"Sekishiki Meikaiha?! Isn't that—everything Deathmask knew?" Aiolia exclaimed. As a fellow Gold Saint—and a neighbor in the Sanctuary—he was familiar with Deathmask's abilities, which, as far as he knew—consisted solely of Sekishiki Meikaiha.
However, seeing Mika's calm demeanor, he couldn't bring himself to question him. He trusted Mika's judgment.
Perhaps he had gleaned more from the Gold Cloth than Deathmask had ever known. After all, Deathmask's…character left much to be desired.
"Don't just stand there. Follow me."
"Coming!"
"Why didn't you continue integrating the rest of the Cloth's knowledge?" Aiolia asked as he caught up.
"Virgo lies ahead. I need to be—prepared." He had to be cautious. While he knew that the future Shaka was loyal to Athena—that didn't apply to the present Shaka, whose true allegiance was unknown.
"He might not…welcome us," Mika murmured, his gaze fixed on the distant Virgo Temple.
——
They quickly caught up to Shiryu and Shun, who were also approaching Virgo.
Mika and Aiolia could sense their burning Cosmos, a testament to their recent battle. Since they were concealing their presence, Shiryu and Shun were unaware of their location.
They only knew that Mika and Aiolia were operating independently, and whether they were following them was unknown.
Therefore, Mika and Aiolia maintained a safe distance to avoid detection.
As Shiryu and Shun slowed their pace, cautiously approaching Virgo, Mika and Aiolia did the same.
They entered the temple, but they couldn't sense Shaka's Cosmo.
This puzzled them.
Virgo was supposed to be guarded.
'Could Seiya and Ikki have defeated him already?' Shun and Shiryu wondered.
After witnessing Shiryu's victory over Deathmask, they had a…revised understanding of a Gold Saint's power.
They believed it was possible for Seiya and Ikki to defeat Shaka. After all, in Shiryu's mind, both were stronger than him.
What He could achieve, they could surely surpass.
They exchanged glances and began to run. If Shaka had already been defeated, there was no need for caution.
But the next moment, the scenery around them shifted.
They were no longer in the temple...
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