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"Tsk." Mika clicked his tongue, annoyed by Saga's arrogant laughter. While he hadn't anticipated the sudden turn of events, Saga's overconfidence irritated him.
"Are you certain you've won?" he asked calmly. "You seem awfully—confident."
"Haven't I?" Saga sneered, his gaze filled with disdain, as if seeing through Mika's calm façade, believing it a desperate bluff.
Mika shook his head slightly.
The next moment, the Gold Cloth he wore began to glow, the light intensifying until it filled Saga's vision.
"What is this power…?!" Saga shielded his eyes, instinctively stepping back, not from fear of the light itself, but from the immense power emanating from it, a warm, brilliant, unknown energy surging from Mika.
——
"That's…!"
On the stairway leading to Aquarius, Saori and the Gold Saints paused—Their gazes drawn upwards by the brilliant light emanating from the Pope's chambers.
Even in the dead of night, Sanctuary was bathed in a golden glow—as if a second sun had risen within its walls.
"It is the power of the sun, but…different. There's something else…mixed within it. But regardless, it's incredibly powerful," Saori murmured.
"Faster! The Pope's chambers are just ahead!"
"Yes!"
——
Mika stood bathed in a golden light, like a miniature sun within the Pope's chambers. He smiled, feeling the familiar warmth.
Everything was proceeding as planned. He had successfully channeled the Gold Cloth's power.
As the pinnacle of all Cloths, the Gold Cloths possessed a unique ability: to absorb and channel the power of the sun.
After all, the twelve Gold Cloths represented the constellations of the zodiac, eternally linked to the sun. Since the Age of myth, they had been absorbing its energy.
And when all twelve Gold Cloths were united, they could unleash power comparable to the sun itself—
In the original work, during the battle in the Underworld—after Hades and Athena departed for Elysion, the remaining Gold Saints—to help Seiya and the others reach them—would focus the combined power of all twelve Gold Cloths, channeling the sun's energy through the Sagittarius Gold Arrow, to shatter the Wailing Wall, a barrier that had stood since time immemorial.
And they would sacrifice their lives to do so...
This demonstrated the immense power contained within a Gold Cloth.
The Gold Cloths were—alive.
Mika had initially conceived of this technique after his Cosmo, having absorbed Power of Light—developed an affinity with the sun's energy, allowing him to resonate with the Gold Cloth and access its power.
Inspired by the Gold Saints' sacrifice at the Wailing Wall—and facing a powerful opponent like Saga—he had needed more power.
And now, he had finally Perfected the technique.
The Solar Energy coalesced—materializing in his hands as two weapons formed of pure light: a spear and a sword.
Golden flames, like miniature suns, flickered around them, radiating intense Fire.
Light.
Fire.
No incantations were needed; the Flames of Destruction burned brightly. Regardless of how he combined his powers, Light and Fire would always be his most potent weapons.
Bathed in the Gold Cloth's radiant glow, wielding his two weapons of light and fire, he was now at his peak.
——
"Saga, Let's begin round two. Still feeling confident?" he asked, his light spear aimed at Saga.
"Hmph. While I don't know what you just did, my Cosmo is still stronger than yours," Saga declared, his confidence unwavering.
He charged towards Mika—
"Is that so? Then try this, Sacred Spear - Radiant Strike!"
As Mika spoke, the spear of light shot forward, moving faster than light itself, striking Saga before he could react.
Saga, his forward momentum instantly reversed—was slammed against the wall—blood spraying from his mouth.
It was just the first strike...
As Saga stumbled, Mika swung his sword of light—
"Sacred Sword — Excalibur!"
Two devastating attacks in quick succession, and Mika was upon him, his spear striking Saga once more, sending him flying.
"ARGH!" Saga screamed as he was engulfed in Heavenly Fire, his body burning, his movements growing sluggish, his Cosmo flickering erratically.
Mika's attack had struck not just his body, but his very being, disrupting the flow of his Cosmo.
"That's…unexpected. I wasn't aware my Light Power had such an effect on—Evil." Mika murmured, observing the changes within Saga, his own surprise evident.
With another thrust, Mika's spear of light pierced Saga's chest, bypassing his Gold Cloth.
"ARGH!"
Saga screamed in agony, the Holy Power burning him, searing his very essence.
Mika, looking at his writhing form, smiled.
"I have an idea…"
"Are you interested in…an experiment?"
——
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Saga's screams echoed from the Pope's chambers, reaching Saori and the others as they neared the entrance. They quickened their pace.
Moments later, they burst into the chamber—
They burst into the chambers and saw Mika standing before them, his Gold Cloth deactivated, but his powerful presence still lingering in the air. The other Gold Saints remained silent, their gazes fixed on him, until Saori spoke.
"Mika."
He turned around. "Greetings, everyone," he said with a smile. Then, turning to Saori, he said softly, "We've won, Saori."
"Indeed, I see that." She hadn't doubted his victory; she trusted him implicitly. They exchanged smiles, and then Saori, looking around the chamber, asked, "Where are the others? Shouldn't Aiolia and Milo be here as well?"
"Saga sent them to another dimension. But they'll be fine. They should return soon."
"And Saga…?"
Mika stepped aside, revealing the Gemini Gold Cloth lying on the floor.
"Did Saga…?" Camus asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"He's gone. Completely annihilated. Not even his body remains. He was…vaporized," Mika confirmed.
They looked at the scorch marks on the walls, the lingering flames, and remembered the blinding light, like a miniature sun, that had erupted from the Pope's chambers earlier. They accepted his explanation.
"Vaporized…perhaps that's…a fitting end for him," Shura murmured, gazing at the Gemini Cloth. "If he had lived, I would have shown him what true hell is like."
Shura's hatred for Saga ran deep. To manipulate a Saint, a warrior sworn to protect Athena, into attacking her—it was an unforgivable act.
The others, hearing his words, shook their heads sadly. It was Saga's own actions that had led to his demise.
"Now that we've reclaimed Sanctuary, and we're all gathered here, perhaps, instead of dwelling on the past, we should look towards the future."
"Let us go to Athena's temple. There's something there that…belongs to you, Saori."
"Very well. Let's go." Saori nodded and followed Mika, the others trailing behind them.
They soon reached Athena's temple. Within, the Athena's Shield glowed faintly. She took it, and her Cosmo surged, growing stronger. The Gold Saints knelt, acknowledging their goddess.
Mika stood beside her, watching as she turned, staff in one hand, shield in the other, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War, finally returned to her rightful place.
Sanctuary was once again bathed in her divine light.
——
"Ugh, this is exhausting…" Mika sighed, slumping back in his chair, looking at the mountain of reports piled high on his desk.
A week had passed since Athena's return.
During this time, Sanctuary had undergone a massive transformation: purging Saga's loyalists, aiding those he had persecuted, implementing new policies, repairing the damaged temples, and reassessing their global influence.
All of this information landed on Mika's desk, making him incredibly busy.
If not for his experience as Emperor in the Akame ga Kill! world, he would have been completely overwhelmed.
But he had persevered, and after a week of relentless work, he had finally cleared his desk.
"You've been working hard, Mika. These are…my responsibilities," Saori said, entering his office.
"It's my duty as well. After all, I am the Pope now. As your representative, it's only fitting that I handle these matters. Besides—your priority is connecting with the Gold Saints." he replied with a dismissive wave.
"While they still claim to serve Athena—blind faith doesn't last. And they were all…involved in this rebellion, forced to become your enemies. I imagine their loyalties are…conflicted."
"Indeed," Saori agreed.
This was why she had been spending her time visiting the various temples, speaking with the Gold Saints, listening to their stories, their hopes for the future. These conversations had strengthened their bond.
"But now that the initial chaos has subsided, things should be easier. It's time to think about the future."
"The future…?"
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