My Ryuu is only meant to face the strong

A big bang-like phenomenon called Omega seemed to prepare for a reawakening among mortals, and defeated Pisces Amor and Scorpio Sonia. When the Bronze Saints collapsed or were battered in battle, their potential shone the most. With his role complete, Libra Genbu disappeared from the islands. At the moment, Demeter didn't seem concern about an invasion, and noticed that some of her Thesmophoria flowers, set apart on a floating dish, were still intact.

Compared to the other Bronzes, Wolf Haruto was probably the least lost on his way to Naxos. He felt the Cosmos of his companions fluctuating, but kept his composure and moved ahead, instilling faith in his heart. By his side was Hyouga dressed in the Aquarius Cloth, who yearned to face the goddess and find the answer behind her peculiar attitude. Near a coast lined by frozen ocean, Haruto rose from a meditation posture. Haruto was consistent with tempering what made him – not just his form as a Saint but as a shinobi. As both, he found it indispensable to work on his senses, even closing them off to touch a higher intuition.

"Hyouga, we're heading in the right direction."

"How do you figure, Haruto?"

"The Goddess herself has her own unique Cosmos or ki. There are others there as well, powerful ones. " Haruto said as he stared out into the fog. "There are four of them. One's aura stood out as a lead, the strongest of the four, while another…was quite acidic."

"Acidic? To interpret, I suppose that means it's sharp like a knife?"

"Yeah. I guess you could say it's something that you don't want to meet, but we have to go there."

Haruto stepped onto the ocean's icy surface and traversed into the fog without fear. Hyouga followed closely behind, but the fog became thicker. If Haruto turned to gaze over his shoulder, he would see no trace of his companion. He was quite close to the destination, or so Haruto thought. Crashes of thunder roared out, or it was a similar sound in his ears. Ice beneath Haruto began to quiver and the fog around him warped.

The enemy has come, Haruto suggested in his mind and moved away. He wouldn't muster sense of it, but lances of ice stretched towards him from the fog. Which foe was capable of such Cosmos manipulation? Haruto couldn't recall from the past, and so far, the enemies were the revived Saints that he fought before. He weaved away from the ice that flanked him, and swung his arm in a chopping hand strike, shattering the lances into glass crystals. Only more came, thrusting out from the fog.

"Guh!" Two sharp ice limbs bit his back, causing Haruto to lose a bit of his breath. If I don't take them all out, I'll be a pincushion. From what he gathered, with all the ice around him, the force that fought him would only regenerate its limbs or lances when destroyed. Before he could react, there was another crashing sound, and the ice around Haruto started to split.

"Snarl, Cosmos! Fujiryu, Hiden Houkou Tenro Kuzushi!" Uttering his village technique, kuzushi being a martial arts technique to render the opponent off balance, Haruto stretched out his limbs and his Cosmos exploded outward. His surroundings elevated and turned into chunks of ice and water combined. It could amount to an intense storm.

Where are you?! As Haruto sought for his foe, his attack collapsed around him like an avalanche, leaving only him in the clear. In the end, a part of the fog was blown away and Haruto was seen floating in a large gap in the frozen ocean. He noticed the Aquarius Saint.

"There you are. The fog thickened even more and I lost you," Hyouga slid into the waters to pull Haruto back onto the island. Wolf's body was chilled to the bone. Swimming to Naxos was definitely not an option.

"Hyouga! Did you see the attacker?" Now the two were back onto the island asking questions, dreading that their own foe had arrived to stop them.

"No. It seems that our cowardly friend is attacking from out of sight."

"So it seems." Haruto looked around a few times as he took a moment to catch his breath. He then turned an inquisitive, calm glare to Aquarius. "There is something I do want to know, Hyouga."

"What is it, friend?"

"Why did you do that?"

"What do you mean?" Hyouga expressed genuine concern.

Haruto stretched his body and folded his arms in contemplation. "You're always keep cool, your motto, but I don't think I ever seen you being not prompt when it comes to taking action. I know you said that the fog thickened, which was true, but did you not follow me?" After his question, Haruto heard a light heave.

Hyouga would show this promptness as he spoke. "Your sense is good Haruto, but I assure you, I was mixed up by our invisible enemy and fought against the attacks."

"Because of the fog, was it your ice attacks that were attacking me?"

"Damn it. Did that happen?!"

Haruto did not answer, to which Hyouga followed up with a stinging pretense. "Do you think I…purposely attacked you?" His cold voice barricaded sadness, but there were painful words, pushing Hyouga's voice into a near whisper.

"Of course not."

"Then?"

Wolf Haruto's eyes sharpened. ""If you were Hyouga. When you were fighting, or so you say, your Cosmos changed. It became sharp, and I was able to discern that it was directed towards me. Sharp, a killing intent, not a burning sense of protection or concern."

Aquarius Hyouga became quiet.

"The energy of the swan is warm and confident. So, I ask again Hyouga – who are you?"

Wouldn't Hyouga have a cool, prompt answer without showing fear? It was not a situation he has even been through before when with Seiya. If at any time they clashed, the grounds were always straight-forward and true. Hyouga's answer would come; it would be true, cool, and not dripping with worry and fear.

"I see. You survived my cunning."

Haruto twitched; either his stomach or heart throbbed from Hyouga's sharp words.

"Wolf Haruto, you should be grateful to be so shrewd." Hyouga's tone changed considerably, and there was now this aura that Haruto was a foe. Haruto sensed this and posed himself into a stance, watching Aquarius.

Hyouga's body began to glow with his golden Cosmos. "There is no God that I believe in, but I appreciate this opportunity." In an instant, Hyouga's golden locks grew over his back and half of his face, and his Cloth deepened in hue. His eyes became slit, a deadly violet aiming at Haruto.

"So it's you." After hearing about the incidents at Athena's Temple and Palestra, and seeing Scorpio Sonia for himself, Haruto contained no surprise. "To think, you've been breathing down my neck this entire time."

"Indeed, Wolf Haruto. It was due to my grand skill with the Jikan Gyakko that I was able to mask myself as Hyouga convincingly," said a revived Tokisada in a black Surplice, which mimicked the Cloth of Aquarius. "Not just Hyouga but also his Master Camus. Jikan Gyakko makes me tap into the memories of Aquarius's wearers and adopt them."

"The other Saints have battled and fought strong, so I suppose it's my turn now."

"That's true." Few words were exchanged and both took a step forward. In a flash, they were next to each other and exchanged punches. Haruto registered no pain when the punch struck him, but his own fist was easily caught in Tokisada's hand. He saw that the motion of his arm slowed down. Tokisada's pulled back his punch and threw it again; this time, Haruto saw a blizzard. His entire body was launched fast in a distance, thrown into a stone slab. From the chill and the rush, his vision dimmed for a moment. He became confused.

Tokisada scoffed. "My Jikanken and my Jikan Gyakko. My Jikanken slows you down, and my Gyakko makes me tap into the memories of the wearers of Aquarius. I adopt their memories, their appearance and their battles. Being a Gold Cloth, you can imagine what's in my possession."

Haruto took in a breath. "Is he saying he knows Hyouga's moves?"

"I shall silent you and bury you on this island, Wolf Haruto. Be grateful that I'm willing to do so with honor. But first, I need you realize the difference between our disciplines: The Hakurouken and The Tokiryuu. Which do you think is superior?"

Catching his breath, Haruto rose to his feet. "Speaking so much won't prove worth in this battle. The Fuji and the Hakurouken work hard in their training, embed what their taught in their very bones. Nothing is stronger. As the Fuji chief, I can attest to that."

"That is where you're wrong," Tokisada chuckled and pointed to Haruto. "My Tokiryuu is only blessed among the elite. Only a man of high caliber, close to God, can withstand the strains of manipulating time and space. With such an ability, I can cease time and life easily. Therefore, for a being as myself, I have dictated that the Hakurouken is inferior.

"Are you here to just insult me? Until I'm defeated Tokisada, your words are nothing but bravado. You speak trivial."

"Then tell me why did you village fall!?

"What?"

"Oh yes. Using Hyouga's visage, they could not noticed me. " Tokisada turned his back to Haruto. Chuckling to himself, he recollected.

"After tricking and defeating Hyouga, I sought for you. Since you were absent, and I was impatient, I've decided to test my skill against the Fuji to leave a gift. However, it seems you wouldn't return to see my work. I heard that you were to depart from Athens Port."

"What…" Haruto paused for a second, the rest of his words in a whisper, but a hint of anger could be felt. "What have you done?"

Tokisada shrugged his shoulders and turned to face his foe. "I just left a mess that's all. If I killed them, then they wouldn't fear my strength, would they? Nothing is worse than to see destruction around you, to be devoid of nothing, to realize how weak you are. Despite their opposition, I was a little more considerate, and decided to just kill the chief.

Haruto suppressed a gasp, but his frigid face was broken.

"Yes that should do it. The death of the Fuji leader and the collapse of your village would bring fear, and force you to come to me."

It happened again? Haruto bowed his head. Since his brother's demise, Haruto strove for near perfection. He knew the feeling of letting someone down and seeing that someone perish, learning incredible guilt and being flooded by the memories of those he loved.

"By the way Haruto, you seemed to have a girl there who thinks the world of you. She thought she could stop me, so I gave her some bruises."

"Tokisada, you are a pathetic man."

"Beg your pardon?"

"Putting the pieces together, you say you're strong but the only thing you wanted to accomplish was to provoke me. And if you're strong, why kill a crippled old man who lived in retirement?"

His mouth bending into a frown, Tokisada actually winced.

"Perhaps they were inferior to you, but I'll do you the favor and become their lost strength."

"Meaning?"

"I will avenge them…by showing you that the Hakurouken is definitely not inferior. I defeated you before!"

Tokisada kept his eyes on the approaching Wolf, a stare of death. "Come Haruto!"

The Wolf was a swift Saint, closing in on Tokisada like before; Aquarius stood there, seemingly unworried and his defenses open. Haruto saw another punch coming towards him and he ducked under. He swung his arm upward, Tokisada leaned back, and Haruto slashed back down. An aura formed around his hand and expanded.

"My hands are fangs!"

Leaving himself open, Tokisada was quickly pressed onto the defensive. The slash was stopped midway as Tokisada blocked with his arm, the aura pulsing against his face, rippling his hair. Haruto's Cosmos sizzled.

"Your physical martial arts are pointless if you're unable to move," said Tokisada. "You're already inferior to Tokiryuu."

"I'll just have to prevent you from hitting me then."

"Is that so?"

Haruto only needed to reach closer; his used his other hand to push back Tokusada's punch by his wrist. He knew that if one punch hit him, he would start slowing down. However, he noticed ice forming around his hand and quickly pulled away.

"That won't stop me. Try and freeze this." Like before, against the lances of ice, Cosmos overflowed from Haruto's body. He lifted both arms and stretched them out.

"Hakurōken! Tenshin Musou!" A solid beam was unleashed, a simple bullet attack or so Tokisada thought. The beam then split into multiple rays towards Aquarius.

"The Hakurouken (white wolf fist) is not inferior!"

Before raising a defense, Tokisada noticed the rays swell into large howling wolves. Their gaping jaws grasp onto him, binding his limbs, tightening around him like ribbons. There's a loud crack and Tokisada yawped. Haruto breathed, seeing Tokisada collapse to his knees. At this point, the Wolf wondered if he succeeded in breaking his adversary's bones or his soul? He saw parts of the Aquarius Suplice break apart. A piece of the shoulder guards fell, but his Cloth was cracked in various places.

Tokisada's face stretched from an earnest, wicked smile. For a Bronze to harm a Gold Saint, and even a Cloth that was even able to stand the heat of Earth's atmosphere, bathed by the sun, it was a testament to all of the battles Haruto went through. His Seventh Sense was no farce, or was Tokisada's strength being betrayed by the Aquarius Cloth?

Haruto realized that it wasn't over yet. I just need to push a bit more, he thought. He changed his posture and cupped his hands together.

"Prepare to die, Tokisada! You will face my ultimate technique once more."

"Humph. Technique? I have an excellent technique for you Haruto, worthy of your pride. The one who used it was quite formidable, yes, quite worthy of a God, so it is only naturally for me to use it. As I emulate it, it may not be at its best strength but I can still use it nonetheless."

It seemed like folly from a man on his knees, but he slowly lifted onto a leg.

Tokisada rose only one hand. A sphere of energy crackled in between his flexed fingers. It didn't seem visually threatening, Haruto thought, but Tokisada's words made him believe otherwise. Once the sphere was released, it swiftly twirled towards Wolf. It struck fast, pushing at first; Haruto groaned as the sphere hissed against him. Right before his eyes, a giant light swallowed him.

"Ahhhh!"

Tokisada closed his eyes and chuckled. "I believe it is called Terrible Providence." To watch his carnage, he stood on both feet.

That small hand-sized sphere suddenly deflagrated. The roar of its explosion was parallel to a heavy storm, nearly muffling Haruto's scream. Once the light dissipated, it showed a burnt and bruised Haruto splayed out motionless, surrounded by some of his Wolf Cloth in tatters.

"That's how it is. Real warriors bleed and recognize their true value. I supposed I stand here before you because…I can respect your strength, Haruto. You're the only one I'll allow to stand close to me, but only for a moment."

Lofty as ever, Tokisada sneered, but his mind contained something else that he opposed to show. While he showed praise, he also held a great amount of spite for Wolf, stirred by the memory of his defeat from the Twelve Temples, then at Pallasbeda by him and Hyouga. Being stuck in limbo, having his body distorted by time, and then instantly dying from Absolute Zero, it all wasn't too kind to Tokisada. He had to prove that Athena's service was a hoax by making an "under exemplary" Wolf Haruto an example.

Yes, for a moment, feel like you can defeat me. You are strong but you will never make it. Only loyal to power, it boiled Tokisada in the inside to toy with his adversary.

"A snake like you doesn't deserve to say those things to him." There was a new visitor.

Tokisada turned towards the voice. He then sneered. "What?! How perfect."

"I will admit, you put up a quite a disguise that even fooled me. You were even able to mimic the Cosmos of an exemplary Gold Saint perfectly, but it's all a technique, and no technique works on a Saint twice."

"Cygnus Hyouga." Tokisada raked his front hair lock with his fingers, his eye trembling at the sight of the legendary Bronze Saint appearing from out of the fog. "You may have also survived my cunning, but your flattery will not make me spare you."

"Wait!" Hearing the hoarse shout, Cygnus Hyouga and Aquarius Tokisada looked and saw that Wolf Haruto returned to his feet. Even with most his Cloth in pieces, his entire body glowed from life.

"I must do this." He looked up and his only eye uncovered by hair stared at Tokisada with vitality. "Stay out of this Hyouga, please. This is honor that I fight for."

Since revealing himself, Tokisada showed a different expression opposite of confidence. His anger welled up, a dim colored Cosmos covering him.

"I had enough of your weak talk!" The revived Gold Saint lifted his hands, and both Haruto and Hyouga were both propelled skyward by a Terrible Providence. Within the second roaring deflagration, vehement blades slashed across Hyouga's Cloth; Haruto was completely stripped of his own armor. The defeat of the Wolf Cloth was the same sound as shattering feeble glass.

"I may be a former Gold Saint, but the War of 1,000 days does not apply to me."

Hitting the ground ungracefully, Haruto saw a vision. It was unlike Yuna seeing Fudou, but instead, it was a memory.

"Hey, are you falling asleep silly?"

"Nikkei."

"It's not Nikkei, its Nikuka! I told you to rest and now you're fatigued. Why do you work so hard? You can rest you know."

"It's nothing."

"When you say 'nothing', it's always something!"