Note: Emma is from Seiya Omega S2.

Reignited

Once again, a war sneaked upon peace.

Two divine belligerents. An agricultural goddess, Demeter – her infamous anger, which brought stampedes and mudslides upon many, was no longer witnessed as a myth. She sought to restore the Underworld.

A pure goddess, Athena – her heart seemed to ache, and having faced various enemies in the past, seeing her feel uneasy was nothing out of the ordinary. As her foe welcomed war, where were the rest of her Saints?

"Left, right, left right! Stick with the rhythm, everyone!"

"Keep up with the great Master Ichi!"

The sounds of synchronized training echoed above the school of Saints: Pallestra, a camp endorsed by the Kido Foundation to supply the Sanctuary's martial capacity. Pallestra simulated the Sanctuary, sharing its Greek image. Outside the school there was even the semi-spherical theater where the training was taking place. At first, Pallestra served only as a home for the children who possessed the eighty-eight constellations, but now it combined with the genius of Steel Saint technology.

Lionet Souma stood in a readied stance and launched his fists in steady, left-right jabs. He paused and took a step forward before another jab. "Yah! Put weight into that leg! Let's go Emma, Josh, keep going!"

A while after, Souma took a break. Joined by Ichi, he climbed the theater's highest rows of seats. From there, the panoramic view only made him admire his students more.

"Ha! Ha! Haaa!" The students' voices boomed above the theater, and Souma and Ichi watch their students being well coordinated in their exercise.

"Hey hey Souma, why do they fight so hard?" Scratching his brow, Ichi also observed the Steel Saints. "It's not like they can burn Cosmos," he added.

"Heheh." Even at such a question, Lionet Souma kept his bright personality. It reflected in his flame-like image. He puffed his chest out and gave his instruction partner a grin. He felt nothing but pride for his students, ignoring their shortcomings as Steel Saints.

"It's like asking why fight in war?" He said. "Faith. They have reasons to protect."

"Yeah yeah," Ichi nodded his head. "I guess."

"It's Emma and a few others who survived the Pallasbeda war. Their hard work inspires others offhand," said Souma. From a higher place, the outlook of the training was ordinary.

Then, there was an explosion and a cloud of dust from the theater. Loud screams followed afterward.

"What the!?" Ichi and Souma immediately rushed down the set of seats towards the commotion. Emma, a blond-haired girl in a red training uniform, stood in front of the other students in a defensive stance. The kids slowly backed away. Emerging from the cloud was a figure shrouded in a black hood and cloak. It raised its arm towards the students, a gesture foretelling danger.

In between the youths and the dark figure was a wave of white – the lash of a long white mane.

"No one harms the students!" One of the teachers made it in time, and swiftly threw a punch at the cloaked figure. "OF THE GREAT ICHI!"

The punch was caught by the cloak's hand. Ichi grunted, then his mouth stretched into a grin showing confidence.

"Heh, this makes it easier. Mellow Poison!" Suddenly, a piece of armor appeared on Ichi's arm. A gauntlet with small openings on the knuckle guards. Sprouting from the holes were spikes, and Ichi could hear the sound of ringing metal. His Hydra Fangs pierced into metal.

Ichi guffawed. "How does it feel? My fangs poison?"

Souma reached the base of the theater, at first observing. The students weren't hurt and he believed that Ichi fully apprehended the enemy. An intruder that passed Pallestra's barrier, he wondered. There was a terrible feeling boiling in his gut. That was not possible for a standard intruder. He tried to calm his worries as he watched Ichi.

"The Hydra's bite is a myth." The cloaked figure finally spoke. It was the cool voice of a woman. Suddenly, a bright red wedge flashed in front of the figure, and the air above the theater reverberated with Ichi's scream.

"Master Ichi!" shouted the Steel Saint students. Ichi slowly stumbled back, his mouth gaping open. His ghastly face trembled, even his pale eyes wrinkled as his body underwent some tremendous pain.

"Ichi!" Souma finally lunged, and made up his mind about the intruder's intentions. He exploded with flame, Cosmos covering his entire body. Closing in, he brought back his right fist.

"Lionet BOMBER!" Throwing his entire weight into a punch, Souma struck the figure. A direct hit with a fiery explosion that could easily signify the defeat of the enemy. The smoke cleared, revealing the two Pallestra instructors and the figure-in-cloak. Souma slowly backed away. On his face was the look of utter shock. His attack was useless. The cloak was mostly burnt and tattered from the Lionet attack. It continued to smolder like a cinder, eating away the fabric.

"Your fire is cool, and the Hydra's bite is a myth like I said," the woman voice said. The dark cloak collapsed, the same time as the body of Hydra Ichi. Blood pooled underneath Hydra from a small orifice in his chest.

The once-cloaked figure smiled at the shocked Souma, having more to say. "But, the sting of the Scorpion is more real, and hotter than anything."

"What?!" Souma's voice was without doubt filled with disbelief. His attack didn't work, which wouldn't leave him shaken usually. There had been many cases of his attacks being warded off by a mighty enemy. This was different. The force of shock had hit Souma after his attack, when he noticed the silky strands of hair from under the hood. Long, flowing pink hair. When the cloak was gone, a woman was indeed revealed. She was wrapped in black, sparkling armor.

"What have you done to Master Ichi!?" A voice cried out. It broke Souma out of his daze, and he saw someone fly right past him. One of the students, a boy with black hair.

"Josh! No!" Souma cried.

"Master Ichi, Master Souma, I will show you the fruits of our training!" Josh's face was wrenched with anger and his fist connected with the woman's cuirass. Like the training, or beyond, Josh sped up his left and right jabs, pounding on the armor. He did not pull back.

"You can't become truly strong unless you know how to bear scars." The woman already indicated Josh's weakness. She stood there, unfazed by the blows. Then, in an unseen movement of speed, she stopped the boy. Josh could not fathom what happened. His barrage was suddenly halted by some writing pain in his wrist, and then he looked down, seeing the woman's finger in his chest.

The woman glowered and pulled back his finger, showing an elongated red nail. "Does it hurt? Know your place."

"JOSH!" Souma screamed again, seeing a stream of blood splurting from Josh's body. The student dropped hard on his face.