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*****
"Aphrodite, Deathmask—follow behind them. If they fail, you are to step in and bring back Saori Kido and the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. Remember, Saori Kido is even more vital than the Cloth itself. If an emergency arises, prioritize her capture above all else!"
Saga issued his commands to the two Gold Saints. In the current Sanctuary, only the Saints of Pisces and Cancer truly knew the truth of what had happened all those years ago; they remained loyal to him solely because of his overwhelming power. The rest were either blissfully ignorant, deceived by his lies, or harbored suspicions they couldn't prove.
Because of this, Saga didn't worry that the two would be swayed or convinced to betray him once they realized Saori Kido was Athena. His decision to send the Silver Saints first was a calculated move to avoid alerting the other, more skeptical Gold Saints. Deploying two Gold Saints at once was no small matter and would surely cause a stir.
However, if a force of that many Silver Saints failed, it would prove that other Gold Saints were interfering on Saori Kido's side. It would have to be either Dohko of Libra or Mu of Aries—the only two who remained outside his grasp and refused to reside within the Sanctuary. In that event, he would no longer care about the suspicions of the others. He would strike fast, capture Athena's mortal vessel, and eliminate her. That was all that mattered.
"Understood, Grand Pope!"
Aphrodite and Deathmask exchanged a knowing look. Having already guessed Saori Kido's true identity, they nodded in unison. They were firm believers in the philosophy that "Might is Right." Since Saga held the ultimate power in Sanctuary and sat upon the throne of the Pope, their loyalty belonged to him.
The following morning, George, now clad in the Crateris Silver Cloth, departed Sanctuary alongside a group of Silver Saints led by Gigas. His meteoric promotion from a mere foot soldier to a Silver Saint had sent shockwaves through the rank-and-file soldiers and Bronze Saints alike, leaving them in a state of lingering disbelief.
"Sending two Gold Saints as backup... Saga really is cautious," George thought, his brow twitching slightly as they cleared the Sanctuary's borders.
He had already sensed two powerful Cosmos trailing them from a distance. He suspected that Crystal Saint's defection had made Saga paranoid, prompting him to dispatch Pisces and Cancer as insurance. Based on the unique resonance of their Cosmos, George had identified them immediately. During his time at Sanctuary, he had used his invisibility magic and suppressed his presence to scout the entire area. From the Twelve Houses to the Pope's Chambers, nothing had escaped his notice. He knew the "scent" of every Gold Saint's Cosmos like the back of his hand.
"The two weakest Gold Saints? Hardly a concern."
George didn't think much of the "Fish and Crab" duo. With his current physical strength, facing someone like Saga or Shaka might prove troublesome, but these two were a different story. Their power barely met the passing grade for a Gold Saint; compared to their predecessors from the previous generation, they were severely lacking.
Upon reaching Athens, a private plane was waiting to ferry the group to Tokyo. While Silver Saints could move at speeds exceeding Mach 2, most lacked the ability to fly across oceans. For long-distance travel, they still relied on modern transportation. Gold Saints, however, were the exception. Their ability to move at the speed of light made them faster than any vehicle, and once outside the barrier of Sanctuary, they were capable of true flight.
After a full day of travel, the plane touched down in Tokyo. They were met by Sanctuary's local operatives and whisked away to a high-end luxury hotel.
"There's a reason Saga has been able to rule Sanctuary so smoothly for over a decade," George mused, standing in his lavish private suite.
Before Saga took over, Sanctuary followed a strict code of self-discipline and grueling training. Everything was for Athena, for the Holy War, and for the protection of the world from darkness. When Saga took the reins, he abandoned those virtues. He promoted men like Gigas to expand Sanctuary's worldly influence, using power and money to corrupt the hearts of the Saints. He wanted them to believe that only by following him could they enjoy such opulence.
This was why they had private jets and high-end accommodations. If they desired it, the hotel could provide a dozen attendants to cater to every whim of a Silver Saint. Most Saints were young men in their prime; few could resist such temptations. They were sold a dream: if Saga ruled the world, the eighty-eight Saints would become the world's elite. Even the lowliest Bronze Saint would hold more power than the world's top leaders. It was no wonder some stayed loyal even after learning the truth.
If he were a normal person, George might have chosen Saga too. But George was different. This was merely a clone, and his goals were far grander than the petty conquest of a single world. Saga's bribes held no allure for him.
After two hours of rest and a gourmet feast, a confident Gigas led the Silver Saints toward the Kido Mansion. In his mind, with this many Silver Saints, the Crystal Saint and a few Bronze runts were nothing to fear. He expected a swift victory and a reward from the Pope upon his return.
"Lord Chief of Staff, there is no one inside!" the Ennetsu Saint reported after scouting the villa.
Although Gigas was the commanding officer for this mission, the status of a Silver Saint was technically not inferior to his. Consequently, Gigas rarely ordered them around for menial tasks, leaving the scouting to the loyal Ennetsu Saint and the common soldiers.
"Hmph. They must have hidden themselves out of fear of Sanctuary's judgment."
"Hide? No one can hide from the Crow!" Jamian of Crow stepped forward with a smirk. While his combat strength was average among the Silver Saints, his ability to control crows was unparalleled. Given a moment to summon his flock, no enemy could escape the eyes of the thousands of birds circling the city.
"Then I leave it to you, Jamian," Gigas said with a smile.
However, just as Jamian prepared to call his crows, a mocking voice echoed through the air.
"Don't bother looking. We're right here. You're surrounded—surrender now if you value your lives!"
The group looked up to see the Crystal Saint and Seiya's group of Bronze Saints appearing on the perimeter of the villa, encircling them.
"Surround us? You're walking into your own graves! Albiore?! You... you've betrayed Sanctuary as well!"
Gigas's sneer froze as Albiore of Cepheus emerged from behind the Crystal Saint, followed by the Saints of Andromeda Island. Gigas's face paled. Albiore was no ordinary Silver Saint; rumors claimed his strength rivaled that of the Gold Saints, making him arguably the most powerful Silver Saint in existence. That was the only reason Sanctuary hadn't moved against him despite his years of defiance. If Albiore and his faction had truly sided with the rebels, this mission was no longer a guaranteed success.
"Looks like they made it in time," George muttered, completely unsurprised. After being summoned by Saga, George had used his Magic Mirror to relay the intelligence to Seiya and the others. The wealthy Saori Kido had immediately dispatched Shun and Ikki via private jet to Andromeda Island to bring Albiore's forces to Tokyo overnight.
"It is not we who have betrayed Sanctuary," Albiore declared, looking at the assembled Silver Saints. "It is the new Pope who has betrayed us and Athena! The man on the throne is an impostor—Saga of Gemini. He murdered the former Pope, framed Aiolos, and sought to kill Athena. His crimes are unforgivable. Do not be deceived any longer!"
"Silence! To slander the Grand Pope is death! I, Algol of Perseus, shall deal with you!"
The Silver Saints didn't believe a word—or perhaps they simply refused to. The choice between helping a new ruler conquer the world for ultimate power, or rotting in Sanctuary waiting to die in a Holy War, wasn't a difficult one for them.
"Killing Blow: Ra's Al Ghul Gorgonio!"
Algol's Cosmos exploded as countless phantom green snakes erupted at Albiore's feet, binding his body. Simultaneously, Algol leaped into the air, aiming a lethal kick at Albiore's neck to end the fight in one strike.
"If that is your choice, I have no option but to stop you," Albiore said calmly. He didn't even move; the chains of his Cloth reacted automatically. The defensive chain shattered the phantom snakes instantly, while the offensive chain lashed out, snaring Algol's leg and hurling him violently across the courtyard.
"Kill the traitors! All of you, attack!" Gigas shrieked, ducking behind the Ennetsu Saint for cover.
The Silver Saints split up. Ten of them swarmed Albiore, while the remaining four moved to engage Seiya and the Bronze Saints. Only George remained standing still.
"Ora! What are you doing? Get in there and help!" Gigas barked.
"You're right, I should help," George turned, walking slowly toward Gigas and the Ennetsu Saint. "Starting with the two of you."
Gigas felt a chill run down his spine. "Ora, what are you doing? You dare betray Sanctuary?!"
"The ones betraying Sanctuary are you," George said, his voice dripping with malice. "How do you think they knew you were coming today? How do you think they set this ambush?"
"Don't think that just because you put on a Silver Cloth, you're a real Saint! I'll teach you a lesson!" the Ennetsu Saint yelled, unleashing his technique. "Fire Screw!"
A violent vortex of flames roared toward George. The Ennetsu Saint had been seething with jealousy ever since George's promotion. Just yesterday, he had treated George like a lowly servant, only for the boy to emerge with the Crateris Cloth. He wanted to prove to Gigas and the Pope that he was the one who deserved a promotion.
"Inhale."
To everyone's horror, George simply opened his mouth and sucked the raging inferno into his lungs as if it were a light snack.
"Have it back. Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A massive pillar of dragon-shaped flame erupted from George, incinerating the Ennetsu Saint instantly. George had no interest in playing games with a mere Bronze-level opponent.
"No... don't kill me!" Gigas collapsed to the ground, trembling. He had no combat ability of his own.
"As much as this trash deserves to die, he is still somewhat useful. I can't let you kill him just yet."
Two figures clad in shimmering gold stepped out from the shadows. Aphrodite of Pisces and Deathmask of Cancer had finally revealed themselves. George wasn't surprised; he had deliberately threatened Gigas to smoke them out. While he could sense them, it was better to face them head-on than deal with a sneak attack.
"Is that so? Then I suppose I'll just have to kill the two of you instead."
"Hahaha! Kill us? You?" Deathmask laughed, his face twisted in mockery. "A lowly Silver Saint thinks he can take on the Gold?"
They assumed George was simply drunk on his new power, unaware of the astronomical gap between a Silver and a Gold Saint.
"Feel the power of the Gold Saints!"
Aphrodite and Deathmask unleashed their ultimate Seventh Sense Cosmos, the pressure of which caused everyone on the battlefield to freeze. The Silver Saints rejoiced—with two Gold Saints present, Albiore was no longer a threat. Meanwhile, Seiya and the others turned pale. They hadn't known Gold Saints would be here; George had kept that detail to himself because he intended to handle it.
"Gold Saints?" George stood unfazed by the crushing pressure. "Who isn't one?"
"Re-equip!"
With a flash of magic, the Crateris Silver Cloth dissolved, replaced by the magnificent, divine radiance of the Ophiuchus Gold Cloth. A Seventh Sense Cosmos of terrifying proportions erupted from George, instantly eclipsing the presence of the two before him.
(End of Chapter)