NOTE: I had plans for a comedic Souma and Ichi chapter, the intro of Haruto (with a little comedy), and also Suikyo and Ryuho, but it'd take too long so I will be skipping ahead. Also, I've been getting complaints about "nothing happening". Things will be explained later.

Acala & Devil

(アチャラとデビル)

Eden felt someone stand behind him, and while facing Cancer Hermes's boastful smile, a hand on his shoulder put him to ease. He looked back, saw a gold gauntlet over his shoulder, and then a familiar face. Within Yomatsu, there was now a young man with a relatively dark complexion. He too wore gold around his body. His eyes were soft and gentle, despite being of different colors.

"Hermes, even the Cancer Saints can hold honor, despite swimming among the dead like a sport."

"Oh. The wishy-washy semi-God, am I right? High-handed men like you would take any side, whether it leads to the destruction of Earth or not."

"Yes."

"Well aren't you a hypocrite?"

"Indeed. I wanted to see the sins of the world burn from Mars's angry flames, but now Athena reigns true. Her justice and the spirit of her Saints have led to me to a new path. Evil still must be frightened and burn, even among our own if necessary."

"Heeeey," Hermes frowned and placed his hands on his hips, "are you implying that I'm evil, Fudou? Isn't fighting itself evil?"

"Did you get Integra like you were asked to? You are acting on your own and it's suspicious."

"Don't you worry, I got this."

"Got what, exactly? I am tasked to investigate the Underworld and what Demeter's plan may truly mean."

"And Athena wouldn't ask me? Shame on her."

"Enough Hermes!" Orion suddenly intervened. "You dare call Fudou a hypocrite? Didn't you not say that a war must be waged?"

Cancer waved his hands in front of his face. "Now now, I don't need to get ganged on. So I've decided. Okay Orion, the grown-ups need to have a talk." Hermes pointed a finger at both. "So, to the harbor you go." From Cancer's fingertip, a beam whipped out, hitting Eden like a bullet. It went black before his eyes again, and he then heard someone scream his name.

"Eden!" It was Kouga's voice. Eden opened his eyes and saw light – the light of the sun melting through a framed window, and the faces of his friends. There was Shun and even Yuna, who looked fine despite being out of commission through the entire fight. Kouga beamed widely, relief shining in his eyes.

"Thank goodness. Thank goodness! I thought, I really thought I lost you there. What happened Eden?!"

Eden lifted his upper body. He realized that he was lying in bed. His eyes were dazed as he regarded Kouga. "It's…hard to explain."

"Someone told me that your soul went missing," said Shun, "and I told Kouga to relax and help me take both you and Yuna to one of the village cabins. Amor is gone. Schiller just turned to dust."

Eden did not feign his surprise. He saw Schiller burn in Yomatsu Hirasaka, and since Shun's words connected with Hermes's explanation of the Cancer signature ability, he conjectured that Schiller's body died along with his soul.

"Your soul was transferred to the dead right? Not the first time I've seen that."

"You can hear voices?"

Shun sighed and smiled, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "Strange, isn't it?" It wouldn't take Eden long to get back on his feet. He had his own conjectures over what happened, such as meeting Hermes and what he saw and heard, but only lead the others into hastening to the harbor, and reaching Naxos. Shun explained that Naxos is an island cluster a short distance off the south Athens coast, and is said to be green and peaceful. Therefore, he recommended not going there with a sense of wanting to battle the island's patron God, and to not refer to Demeter as an enemy. To repair Pavlin and make assure of everyone's safety, Shun chose to stay behind; Kouga, Eden, and Yuna head for Athens harbor.

Back in the Underworld, Cancer Hermes and Virgo Fudou stared at each other, and neither regretted their choice of words. Despite the two being in the same rank, and despite Demeter's actions against the Sanctuary, there was a small, underlying rift. An unneeded tension between the two.

"Everyone thinks that this is all strange, Fudou. I'm only spying, that's all. Smart, no? Perhaps it is best for her to put her fury on us rather than the entire planet."

"Then why revive the Underworld? Or rather how?"

"I don't know about the 'how', but it seems to be connected to that Silver Saint. Also, you seem to be aware of the strange spirits that are coming out?"

"That is an utmost concern too. They radiate a great evil that I have never felt before. Peering into the depths myself, I saw nothing. No time, no direction, no answers, no theodicy, no will of the mind. It felt like a death that could not be fathomed. An inescapable prison? It could shake not only mortal but God as well."

"Mm-hmm. As expected from the semi-god." Hermes smiled, nodding his head. "The balance is upset, is it not? It is dogma to keep balance."

"Athena does not want the Underworld to revive because of a great threat that'll befall her and the world. The balance will truly be upset and there will be no theodicy. Furthermore, there is the threat that Demeter will be punished."

"Well, isn't this polar? Since this is a girl problem, how about we go ask her? You know, Athena?" Hermes's words left Fudou a puzzled look.

"Let's go back to the Sanctuary and let her be the goad." After saying such, Cancer winced and tried to repel Fudou's suspicion-digging stare with a wry smile. The side of his mouth twitched. Fudou raised his hand midway in a threatening gesture, a wave of cosmos coursing around his palm.

"Hermes, I don't like your peculiar language. The only matter we face is to uphold our duty. To prevent distress and suffering, and there's no excuse," said the Virgo Saint. Hermes only replied that he appreciated Fudou's forward convictions and his forgiveness, and that he'll get Integra immediately. He turned his back to Fudou and tightened his lip. His unusual tongue retreated into his thoughts.

"Demeter is going to be very upset, but maybe this will make up for it." Hermes's body phased out of sight, signaling his return to the mortal world. Fudou was still left with distrust in his heart, especially after he saw how Eden reacted. He would stay in the Underworld and sat in a cross-legged pose, crossing his hands between his knees and closing his eyes. The dead walked by him. All of the Golds would come together at the Pope Chamber to speak with Athena about the current situation. As soon as possible, if a terrible future was to be expected, he would want to come with answers.

It was true that the dead needed salvation, but how was Demeter going to come to her plan? Why was she so adamant about it? What was Athena's fear? Fudou placed faith into his Cloth, worn by many men closest to God. He assured himself that he would be lead to everything.

At Athens Port, five Bronze Saints and a Gold Saint were gathered: Pegasus Kouga, Orion Eden, Aqulia Yuna, Dragon Ryuho, Lionet Souma, and Hyouga. After a mysterious attack and the departure of his friend, Ryuho was given the news by his father; Souma recovered in the Palestra infirmary and was met by a new Capricorn Saint.

"It felt like a threat from him," he said. "He looked pretty damned serious. Also, Ichi tried to kiss Emma while she was trying to give him mouth-to-mouth. That's what it looked like. Then, Emma called him a pervert!" Despite being wounded by Sonia, humor wracked Souma's face, and he laughed from reflecting, slapping his knee.

Everyone except Hyouga came carrying their Pandora boxes on their backs. Hyouga was the only one of the original Legendary Bronze to join them, wearing his Gold Cloth underneath a cloak. Seiya reported to Shiryu and were to return to Athena. Hyouga had an independent type of spirit; he and Haruto could be considered kindred spirits, even though both had a profuse sense of responsibility. In fact, they both came together. The other Saints questioned why Hyouga was the only one who decided to come, and he determined that he was not ready to join the Golden Circle just yet.

"You could say that I'm serving as vanguard for Seiya and the others. I met one of Demeter's warriors in Siberia," he said. "I figured that if I travel to Naxos, I will understand the answer behind her transgressions. Why would a mother goddess do this?" There was sentimentality in Hyouga's voice, which was then followed up with a bit of assertiveness. "I will find out."

Former friends and enemies were being revived to deter the Saints, and there was the mystery deep within the Underworld. Without hesitation, the group of six departed and sailed into the Aegean Sea, and into a blinding fog.