"Waaah~!"
With cries of pain, the Saints either fell from the sky and crashed into the cracked earth, or were flung far away and smashed through walls.
Opposite them, a man clad in gold-red sinister armor stood with dozens of warriors in crude armor, sneering at the Saints lying on the ground.
"Tch, these are the Saints? So weak."
The leader's name was Gersa, one of the seven Marine Generals, known as the "Sea Chimera."
"In front of Lord Gersa, Saints are nothing!"
"Lord Gersa is invincible!"
"Kill all the Saints!"
…
Gersa basked in the flattery of his subordinates. He loved being praised. Cunning and ruthless, he preferred killing opponents when they were least prepared, and he especially despised Saints who fought honorably.
…
…
"Alright, go kill them all. Lord Poseidon's orders are to make a grand show of his return. There are still many towns waiting for us to wipe out," Gersa commanded.
"Yes, Lord Gersa!"
"Hahaha, I've been waiting for this!"
"Kill them all! Anyone who opposes Lord Poseidon must die!"
"For Lord Poseidon!"
The townspeople scattered in terror, but how could they outrun the Sea Fighters? They were quickly caught.
A mother and daughter were cornered against a wall. The mother clutched her crying daughter, desperately begging for her child's life. But the Sea Fighter didn't hesitate—he even relished their screams and tears, raising his weapon high.
"Kekekeke, die!"
At that moment…
"[Three Realms… Seal]!"
"[Tarantula Silk Fist]!"
"[White Whale Vortex Fist]!"
…
A series of fierce attacks instantly took down the Sea Fighters mid-slaughter.
With tattered bodies and shattered Cloths, Saints rose unsteadily, burning their last strength to unleash their techniques. Gersa scoffed.
"What's the point? If you'd just stayed down, maybe you'd have lived."
"Don't… joke… with us! We… are Saints!" cried [Triangulum] Colonels in a hoarse voice.
"That's right… We… ha… ha… we fight for Lord Melin… and Lady Athena…" added [Arachnid] Arakune.
"Warriors who protect Earth… and its love… and hope…" echoed [Delphinus] Moses.
"This land… is Earth! The domain of Lord Melin and Lady Athena!"
"For Lord Melin and Lady Athena… for Sanctuary… for the honor of the Saints!"
"We will never let you harm these civilians!"
"Return to the sea… Poseidon's army!"
…
Though Colonels, Arakune, and Moses were only Silver Saints, and the others merely Bronze Saints, they bore the same honor and mission. Their resolve was no less than that of the Gold Saints.
"Tch tch, are all Saints this stupid? You could've lived…" Gersa's contempt deepened. What was honor or duty compared to one's life?
"Come! Even if you're a Marine General, we will not fear! We will not retreat!"
"Burn! My Cosmo!"
…
The Saints' Cosmos surged in one final burst of glory. The resulting pressure sent Poseidon's troops reeling. But to Gersa, it meant nothing.
Suddenly, in the Saints' eyes, Gersa and the Sea Fighters vanished, replaced by familiar faces—close friends, brothers, wives.
"Yo, Moses, you look like a mess."
"Arakune, looking like that, you dare call yourself a Saint?"
"Colonels, are you really going to raise your hand against me?"
…
The rising Cosmos abruptly ceased. Faced with venomous words from loved ones, angry faces of their wives, their spirits faltered. Even their finishing moves died mid-flight.
"No! It's an illusion…" Colonels, the strongest among them, realized too late.
"Too late. [Salamander Shock]."
Behind Gersa appeared a massive salamander-shaped phantom. Lightning crashed down on the Saints.
"Ahhh~!"
[Spider] Arakune, [White Whale] Moses, and the others collapsed, their pupils dilating, Cosmos fading.
Only [Triangulum] Colonels, clinging to life despite mortal wounds, stood in Gersa's path.
"Cough cough…" He spat blood, turned to the civilians behind him, and croaked, "Run… I'll… buy you… time…"
Without checking if they fled or remained behind, he reached to his waist and pulled out a triangular silver-white crystal.
"Sorry… after all this time… I still haven't… unlocked your full… power… Maybe… I won't get the chance… But for this last moment… lend me your strength…"
"Vmmm~"
The triangular crystal responded to Colonels' final plea, shining ever brighter.
"What is that!? What are you doing!?" From the moment the crystal appeared, Gersa sensed danger. As the light intensified, the threat became palpable.
"[Triangulum] Silver Saint… cough… Colonels… with all my Cosmo as fuel… shine, divine artifact… [Triangular Crystalline Prison]… Release!"
"No! Stop him!" Gersa panicked. He ordered his troops to attack and unleashed his ultimate move: [Sea Dragon Surge Fist], a technique mimicking the strongest Marine General [Sea Dragon] Kuxet. While Gersa couldn't reverse the ocean like Kuxet, it was enough to kill a dying Silver Saint.
"[Delta… Seal]!"
Burning his Cosmo with his final breath, Colonels activated his last move.
The [Triangular Crystalline Prison] burst forth with blinding light, expanding to trap Gersa and all his troops inside. The indestructible silver walls bought precious time for the civilians to escape.
Colonels knew he could only hold them for five minutes at most, but with Sanctuary's reinforcements possibly on the way, every second counted.
"Damn it! You'll die for this! Attack! Kill him!" Gersa roared in fury. He never imagined the Silver Saint he looked down on would corner him like this.
Poseidon's mission was now delayed. If he failed to redeem himself, he would face brutal punishment.
And with Sanctuary's reinforcements surely on the move, his original plan to wipe out towns before they could react had already failed—he was blocked at the first stop by mere Silver Saints.
If reinforcements arrived, he would be in grave danger.
The Sea Fighters lunged, weapons raining down on Colonels.
Some stabbed with spears, others slashed with swords—blood gushed, his form brutalized. But Colonels stood firm, maintaining the barrier.
Crack~
A fissure appeared in the [Delta Seal]'s silver wall. Gersa was ecstatic.
"Again! He's weakening!"
Following Gersa's orders, the Sea Fighters intensified their assault. As Colonels' wounds deepened, cracks multiplied across the walls.
At last, a sharp shattering sound rang out—[Delta Seal] collapsed.
Gersa immediately tried to flee to the ocean, knowing Sanctuary's reinforcements were near. But just one step out—and he froze.
Turning stiffly, he saw five Gold Saints and one Silver Saint surrounding them, murderous intent in their eyes.
"Well well, five Gold Saints to deal with little old me. I'm honored," Gersa tried to joke as he subtly inched back.
But a voice that belonged to none of the Saints froze him in place.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Only then did Gersa notice a stranger gently helping Colonels lie down. The man had his back to him, wore no Cloth, yet his Cosmo nearly made Gersa fall to his knees.
This Cosmo—he had only felt it from Poseidon himself.
He wanted to ask who the man was—but no sound came out.
It was Melin. He held Colonels' hand tightly.
"I-Is that… you, my lord?" Colonels' voice was hoarse, like fading embers.
"It's me, Colonels. I'm here," Melin answered softly.
"S-sorry… my lord… I… failed… I couldn't protect…"
"No, Colonels, you were amazing. You are an outstanding Saint. You, Arakune, Moses, and the young Bronzes… I am proud of you all."
"R-really… my lord… I… I still wanted… to fight… by your side…"
The words faded into silence. His life came to an end. Colonels' hand dropped limply.
"Rest assured, we will avenge you. Your will… shall never die."
As if they had heard Melin's words, the Saints who had fallen—faint smiles formed on their lips. Their expressions froze in peaceful contentment.