~ Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!
~ We'll Leave Saint Seiya World Soon Enough :)
<><><><>
Dohko sat meditating before the waterfall at the Five Ancient Peaks, his mind at peace, listening to the soothing sounds of the cascading water.
He had lived like this for over 200 years, rarely leaving his post.
Even during the recent battle of the Twelve Temples, he had only offered remote guidance to Shiryu and the others, not venturing down the mountain himself. He was bound by his duty—a task entrusted to him by Athena:
[To Guard the seal on the 108 Specters of Hades.]
Unlike Sanctuary—where Saints were trained and their Skills passed down through generations, Hades's army, the Specters, were immortal beings. Even if killed—they would simply resurrect and rejoin the fight.
This had initially posed a significant challenge to the Saints, but Athena had devised a solution:
A special seal that trapped a Specter's soul upon their death—preventing their resurrection. This seal, combined with the watchful presence of a Gold Saint, should have been enough to contain them indefinitely.
However, this was a battle between Gods.
Every 200 years—Hades would reincarnate into the human world—taking control of his Specter army. And with his rebirth, the power of the Underworld would surge, weakening the seal until the Specters broke free once more.
Therefore, unlike the Saints, who had to be trained anew in each generation, the Specters' power grew with each cycle, their accumulated experience and strength making them formidable opponents.
Battling them required the Saints to fight with everything they had, often resorting to self-sacrifice. Therefore, Every Gold Saint possessed techniques for mutual destruction, the most famous being [Dohko's Rozan Hyaku Ryū Ha - One Hundred Rising Dragons]—a suicidal attack capable of defeating any opponent.
It was a testament to his unwavering resolve!
But that was the Dohko of the past.
The current Dohko was a man at peace, calmly observing the world from his mountaintop perch, the rising and setting sun marking the passage of time.
But today, his peace would be shattered.
A surge of Cosmo, followed by a glowing Golden stairway extending upwards—appeared before him. Mika ascended, his figure materializing before Dohko.
"I didn't expect a visit from the new Pope. To what do I owe this honor?" Dohko asked with a smile, his eyes twinkling. He was well aware of the recent events in Sanctuary.
A visit from the Pope—especially at a time like this, with Sanctuary still recovering from the rebellion, suggested an important matter. A simple courtesy call could have been handled by any Gold Saint.
"Paying my respects to a Veteran isn't exactly an 'Honor', Master Dohko—Especially one who is a Veteran of the previous Holy War and currently entrusted with a crucial task by Athena. It's my duty as Pope," Mika replied with a smile as he reached the platform where Dohko sat.
"If you say so..." Dohko chuckled, sensing Mika's reluctance to reveal his true purpose. He wouldn't press the matter. As the current Pope, he was due a certain respect. "How is Sanctuary? Still in chaos after the recent—unpleasantness?"
"It was, initially. However, thanks to Saori's efforts, things have calmed down, and morale is improving. After all, Athena, who has been absent for so long, has finally returned. Compared to that, everything else is...insignificant."
"That's Good to hear." Dohko smiled, relieved.
"We also found the body of the former Pope, Shion, in the Star Hill. He has been laid to rest in Sanctuary," Mika added.
"I see... So that was his fate, then—" Dohko sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. To think his old comrade, a warrior who had fought alongside him in countless battles, had met such an end...it was a sobering thought.
He pushed aside his melancholy and addressed Mika directly. "What is the purpose of your visit, Your Holiness?"
"To reinforce the seal on Hades's army," Mika replied seriously.
"Reinforce the seal? Is that even possible?"
Dohko's heart sank. He had been struggling to maintain the seal for over a decade now; it was weakening—despite his efforts.
"It is. It simply requires—specialized knowledge, Divine knowledge—which is why previous Athenas haven't bothered. After all, even a reinforced seal would only delay the inevitable for a few years. Hades's Will is what truly weakens the seal, his call for his army to return."
"However, this time is different. Certain...events have occurred, prompting Athena to consider a—more permanent solution. We need more time to prepare. Even a few years would be invaluable," Mika explained, his voice earnest.
While he hadn't revealed the full truth, he wasn't lying.
"A permanent solution...?"
Dohko stood up abruptly, his excitement evident despite his age and frail appearance.
For a man who had meditated for centuries—such a reaction spoke volumes about his hope—his desire to finally end the eternal cycle of Holy Wars.
Since the age of myth—Saints had sacrificed their lives, dying young in countless battles against Hades and his army, a war with no end in sight.
As long as Hades lived, the Holy Wars would continue, generation after generation of Saints dying to protect the Earth.
Dohko didn't fear death—but he longed for an end to this endless cycle. It was a desire shared by all Gold Saints—a dream that had always seemed beyond their reach.
Therefore, hearing Mika's words—Dohko's heart surged with hope.
"Is it truly possible? A permanent solution??"
"It is. In fact, the chances are quite High," Mika replied with a smile.
He knew, based on his memories of the original story, that even without him, this generation of Saints could potentially end the cycle of Holy Wars.
And with his presence—their chances were even greater. While he couldn't rely entirely on his memories, they provided valuable insights into the challenges they would face—allowing him to prepare accordingly. His goal was to end this war with minimal casualties. After all, he couldn't do worse than Seiya and the others, could he?
"High, you say...?" Dohko's eyes lit up. While Mika hadn't explained the reason for Athena's newfound optimism, it didn't matter. He trusted her judgment.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say. Proceed as you see fit, Your Holiness."
"Then I'll begin." Mika smiled. "It's your turn, Gabriel."
"Understood."
A figure—bathed in white light—emerged from Mika.
It was Gabriel, in her adult form, not her usual chibi appearance. She walked towards the seal, her footsteps echoing softly.
"Who is this?" Dohko asked, watching her.
"She's the one who—made it possible," Mika replied, deliberately vague.
While he could reveal some truths to someone like Dohko—certain secrets had to be protected. He couldn't reveal everything.
"I see...so it's her..." Dohko's expression turned serious as he watched Gabriel approach the seal and begin working, her hands glowing with a soft light. While reinforcing the seal seemed like a minor task, its implications were significant.
Mika, however, wasn't concerned. He had complete faith in Gabriel's abilities. Besides, they had consulted Saori about the seal's nature before their arrival. Gabriel was prepared.
He turned his attention back to Dohko.
"Besides the seal, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you, Master Dohko." He, too, now addressed him with the respectful title used by the other Gold Saints.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Dohko's gaze returned from Gabriel to Mika.
"According to the information I've received, you're currently—under the effects of the Misopetha-Menos technique."
"You even know about that?" Dohko asked, surprised.
The Misopetha-Menos was a unique technique that extended one's lifespan while preserving their combat abilities. It drastically slowed the user's heart rate, to the point where a single heartbeat took a full day, effectively slowing down their aging process. A year for them was equivalent to a single day for an average human.
Dohko, for instance, had been guarding the seal on Hades's army at the Five Ancient Peaks for over 200 years. However, due to Misopetha-Menos, he had only aged 200 days. Therefore, if he deactivated the technique, he would instantly revert to his prime.
"I know a bit about it," Mika replied modestly.
"From what I understand, you won't be—deactivating it until the Holy War begins. Therefore, you won't be needing your Libra Gold Cloth anytime soon, will you?"
"You want to borrow my Cloth?" Dohko realized his intentions.
"Indeed."
"And your reason?"
"To train a new Gold Saint."
"Then take it." Having learned of Mika's plan to aid Athena—he was willing to offer his full support. Lending his Cloth was a small price to pay.
"Thank you, Master Dohko."
Just then, Gabriel returned.
"It's done."
"Thank you for your hard work." Mika nodded at her, then turned back to Dohko. "Since everything is settled, I'll be going now. Farewell, Master Dohko."
<><><><>
Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)