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The moment those words were spoken, every Kage in the hall nodded in grim agreement. They had all felt it.
"So you're saying these so-called Saints can unleash power beyond the level of Tailed Beasts… with nothing but human bodies? That's insane. That's mythology."
Terumi Mei felt a chill crawl down her spine. Then, just as quickly, envy flared up inside her. If she had that kind of strength, what internal strife? What foreign threats? The Hidden Mist wouldn't need to worry about a damn thing. They could just bulldoze the world flat.
"I don't even know why," muttered the disguised Fourth Kazekage, "Rasa"—who was in truth Orochimaru—his voice cold and hollow. "But I'm already numb to this kind of world-ending power."
And for once, he meant it.
At first, he had been fascinated by these supernatural forces, eager to study them, dissect them, claim them. But the more he saw, the colder his blood ran.
Study it? He'd be lucky if there was even ash left of him.
For the first time, Orochimaru found himself thinking the shinobi world was… almost peaceful by comparison.
Nearby, Maki glanced at the "Kazekage" and felt the doubts in his heart deepen.
Dragon Ball World – High Above Earth
Son Goku stared at Seiya's back on the screen, then suddenly grinned.
"That kid… he's going to win."
"Huh? Why?" Krillin scratched his head in confusion. "That giant snake monster's energy feels stronger!"
Sure, Seiya looked incredible in that golden armor. But Goku wasn't the type to judge by looks.
From the side, Piccolo spoke in a low voice. "Goku's right. He's the one who'll win."
Goku turned to him, suddenly serious. "So you felt it too? The direction of that ki… and its nature?"
Piccolo smirked faintly. "If you can sense it, you think I can't?"
Krillin finally exploded. "Will you two stop talking in riddles already?!"
Goku laughed. "It's nothing! Just that the kid's energy feels… familiar."
"And right now, his aura's already way beyond that giant snake's."
His eyes burned with fighting spirit. Watching Seiya, his palms itched for battle.
Back to the Battlefield
Facing the terrifying barrage of Galaxian Explosions, Seiya adapted with shocking speed. It was as if the crushing pressure didn't affect him at all.
He moved like a hunting leopard, weaving through the suffocating storm of energy blasts in impossible arcs.
The monstrous three-headed Cerberus, Saga, grew even more frenzied. His Cosmos surged violently within his chest, his roar tearing at the soul itself.
Seiya suddenly stopped and turned.
Without fear, he raised his left hand. The Golden Bow of Sagittarius appeared. A golden arrow formed from pure light rested on the string.
With his right hand, he pulled.
All his Cosmos, every last drop, poured into that single arrow.
"Push it to the limit. Burn, my Cosmos!"
Just as the string reached its peak—
A soft yet powerful hand covered his own.
Saori.
A sacred magic circle flared to life, enveloping them both. The vast, unrestrained Cosmos of the goddess Athena surged wildly into her body.
The Goddess Cloth manifested in pure radiance.
"Go, Seiya."
Saori, now fully awakened as Athena, whispered firmly. She poured every ounce of her divine power into the golden arrow.
Seiya's expression was steady as stone. His gaze locked onto the colossal serpent demon before him.
The string snapped forward.
The arrow shot out like lightning splitting the void.
This arrow carried judgment.
The divine Cosmos within it surged beyond mortal limits. Even the mad Saga felt, for the first time, the breath of death at his throat.
"Impossible! I have surpassed the gods! Die, you mere human!"
His scream tried to bury his fear.
The serpent head of his lower body roared and unleashed a final annihilating breath, a torrent of blue Cosmos blasting toward the golden arrow.
The collision was apocalyptic.
Golden arrow and blue breath slammed together like two unstable neutron stars. Space itself twisted and screamed under the shockwave.
Then—
Saga's twisted face froze in horror.
Above the golden arrow, a phantom of golden armor appeared.
The face of a man he could never escape.
Aiolos.
The very Saint he had framed. The one whose place as Pope he had stolen. The one who had stopped him from killing Athena as a child.
Why?
Why, even now, was Aiolos standing in his way?
The golden arrow burned with Aiolos' eternal faith and unyielding will.
That loyal Cosmos erupted completely.
For a moment, the arrow was like the spear of a god-king, sharp enough to sever the laws of reality.
It sliced through the blue annihilation breath without hesitation, cutting it into nothing.
Saga watched as the arrow of judgment closed in.
And strangely, the terror faded from his eyes.
In its place came relief.
In the final moment of his life, the good persona buried deep within him finally broke free, reclaiming control from the evil half.
The true Pope Saga faced the goddess's judgment without fear—only regret for the sins committed under his darkness.
"I don't regret… what I gave for Athena. At least, in the end… I understood…"
Within his mind, the evil Saga howled one last time.
And then—
The golden arrow struck.
It pierced the heart of the giant serpent demon.
The explosion that followed defied description.
Cosmos energy detonated outward from the arrow's impact point, violently consuming everything.
There was no blood. No torn flesh.
Only dissolution under absolute light.
Seiya held Athena steadily in his arms, watching as the radiant giant disintegrated into dust.
The battle ended in victory for the Saints.
On the screen, a massive "END" appeared.
Dragon Ball World – Beerus' Realm
In the depths of cosmic emptiness, Beerus suddenly opened his eyes.
The final strike had produced enough energy fluctuation to catch even his attention.
"Whis. What exactly is this Saint fellow?"
He took a sip of his special juice, tone casual.
Whis smiled gently. "Still gathering information."
That level of attack didn't interest him much. He could disperse it with a flick of his wrist.
Beerus smirked. "Interesting. I've been bored for too long."
Elsewhere – Frieza's Ship
Frieza's face darkened.
That golden arrow had given him—him—a faint premonition of death.
Impossible.
And yet the Saints' power stirred killing intent within him. Such beings must either kneel… or be erased.
He would tolerate no threat to his rule.
Earth – Goku's Training Ground
Goku and Piccolo immediately began intense sparring.
They had felt it.
Pressure.
Crisis.
Goku assessed the energy of that final arrow and came to a shocking realization: in his current state, he could not withstand it head-on.
Across the multiverse… such monsters existed?
His blood ignited.
He turned to Piccolo, eyes blazing. "Piccolo! Let's train. Now!"
Piccolo's lips curled slightly. The oppressive aura of those Golden Saints had suffocated even him.
If such power existed, how could he afford to slack off?
One Punch Man World – Hero Association HQ
Silence.
All the S-Class heroes sat frozen.
That golden arrow…
Even through a screen, it radiated absolute despair.
If it had been aimed at them, none would survive.
One strike was enough to reduce the Association's proud top fighters to cosmic dust.
But—
There was still hope.
Every gaze slowly turned toward the bald man sitting at the table.
Saitama.
"If it's him… maybe…"
Saitama blinked, confused. A giant question mark practically floated over his shiny head.
"???"
After an awkward pause, Genos asked carefully, "Sensei… could you block that final golden arrow?"
Saitama frowned seriously for three full seconds.
Then shook his head.
Despair flooded the room.
"Even Sensei can't…"
But Saitama added lazily, "Dunno. Probably? Hard to tell from just a video. If I could fight him for real, I'd know."
The entire Hero Association petrified.
Facing something that could wipe out stars, this bald guy was wondering if he could have a good match?
Was he insane?
Marvel Universe – Asgard
In the golden halls of Asgard, Thor's face was as heavy as thunderclouds.
"Father… this power of the Saints…"
He looked toward Odin, ruler of the Nine Realms.
Odin's gaze sharpened. "That is the power of Athena and her attendants. But Athena fell in the ancient divine wars… that is known."
"And what rank of godhood are these Saints?"
Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly. Mortals wielding divine power offended his pride.
Odin's voice boomed through the hall.
"Find Heimdall at once. Use the Bifrost's ultimate observation. Locate this world."
His expression was dark.
Divine power should not roam freely beyond the control of gods.
A thunderous crash echoed through Asgard's palace.
"....."