War of the Weaver

(織工の戦争)

Wool, silk, cotton, flax, bamboo, asbestos, nylon, polyester – these were all found in the earth, plant or animal, grown and then harvested. They are then placed into bales, multiplied, and spun into textile materials such as yarn and malleable wires.

As the wearer of the Loom Stole (富地衣), Pan controlled fibers from her forearms and interfered Kouga's personal space. The strings multiple and quilt together at rapid speeds, forming claymores, spears, staffs, shields, walls, artificial things that take some shape. Using her Cosmos, she can also change the density of the fibers. They can be as soft as a blanket or hard and sharp as purified iron, stretching long reaches. Demeter compared the technique as an African Savannah, a balanced and nourishing ecosystem of both regenerative and consuming organisms. To represent the Loom Terrae, would Pan not fully understand the creation and destruction of materials?

Pegasus Kouga was hard-headed, but in a pinch; Arion took away Kouga's essence as a Saint, leaving the Pegasus Saint to avoid fighting to his fullest. Once he began to burn his Cosmos, he himself was the risk he had to face.

I am Shaina's student, so I must remember her training. Kouga pulled his hip back and threw all of the force he had in his leg and foot. It clashed against a large claymore-like sword; it felt like steel, but it buckled back from the strike. Even if he didn't use his Cosmos, Kouga placed trust in his physical output. However, he faced Chthulu, and there was nothing but limb after limb of danger coming in way in all directions. Pan's hands and fingers danced; her strings became wires, and snaked across the walls, sparks emitting from each frictional bend, and a shriek like steel scrapping against chalkboards.

"Damn, they're everywhere!" Kouga punched another weapon, and then his body stirred. More threads pierced him, back and front, and slid away. Pan did not boast and only showed focus.

Wefting Fibre was a technique initiated from the hands and wrists; Pan's wrists were cupped in guards, which functioned like a spindle, tapered behind her hands. Each guard had a groove, and all of the fiber derived from there, moving and multiplying beyond the human eye. Could Kouga win like this? After the attack, he fell to the ground like a full bag of rice, and even Pan felt bad for him.

"It looks like our difference of strength is obvious." She said softly. "I'm going to finish you like your friend. Then I'll wrap you up and take you away. Bobbin Edge!" At her call, a spear-tipped web stretched for Kouga's head, and then ignited in mid-air. Pan showed surprise, and something leapt in front of Kouga.

"Yo Kouga! Why ya on the ground, buddy?"

Koga lifted his head, and through a blur, saw a figure that shimmered orange. The voice quickly clicked with him, and despite his injuries, his eyes gleamed with life.

"Souma?!"

Standing in front of Kouga was Lionet Souma, and not a soul on the island would realize that he had been through one hell of a battle. He looked rejuvenated, and wrapped around his body was his bright orange, streamlined Cloth with strong arm guards and flame-shaped shoulder pads. Pan narrowed her eyes.

"Another one? So the revived Saints failed?"

"It was tough getting here, but we're still in one piece. I would call it a miracle," said Souma, winking.

"You stepped into my Garden, so I will destroy you as well."

Two strings slithered against the ground, snaking towards Souma. At their tips, they multiplied into more threads and bounced, surrounding Lionet and Kouga like a thrown net, diving down to skew them from above and all sides.

"That's quite a trick!" Souma grinned wryly. This time, range was his enemy and he had to somehow defend against pinpoint strikes while defending Kouga. Giving out a spirited yell, Souma put his whole weight in one leg and spun his kick in full circle. A wall of fire spurted in the air, grasping the threads. Pan blinked, and a fireball dashed across the temple grounds, stopping in front of her to reveal Souma in a crouched pose.

"Looks to me you don't like fighting up close." He said, looking up at Pan with a grin. Pan stretched her back, her chin narrowly missing an uppercut. He then raised her arm, and Souma's next punch was stopped.

"Somewhat, but that doesn't make me less dangerous." Pan's glare clashed against a smiling Souma. The Lionet's punch was caught by the blunt face of a blade, which was weaved by Pan's threads near her wrist.

"So you are strong! I put a lot into that fist. Ah-!" Souma's face turned with pain. Suddenly, the lithe girl's blade whipped and pressed against him, shooting him into a pillar like the hurl of a giant.

"My brother is better with close quarters combat than me, but we Terrae are known to control the world around us. With the fabrics under my command, close or far, I'm going to be a problem for you." Once she said that, threads underneath Souma pierced his back, launching him in the air. Not even Lionet could believe that something a millimeter in length, not even together, could have such a high ability in lifting something of far more mass. Heh, likes ants, he thought. Pan's threads wrapped around Souma, and began to squeeze against him, cutting against his unprotected skin. They hissed against his Cloth.

"Souma!" It wasn't Kouga who cried out in concern. Suddenly, the wires bristled and dispersed, releasing Souma as a surge of crackling energy surrounded them. Pan retracted her wires and turned towards the voice; a large twister appeared in her view, blowing her hair. Her threads weaved a tall wall, the wind striking, buckling it like heavy, echoing knocks against a metal door. Threads stretch out from the wall, swift as a scorpion sting, and directly hit Yuna. The Aquila Saint froze and flinched, feeling the threads piercing her chest and limbs. Pan released her barrier, her thread-wires curling high into the air. She saw a familiar face assisting Kouga to his feet – The Orion Saint from Athena's Temple. Then she heard another voice from above.

Looking up, she faced a maw of an azure dragon.

"Rozan Shoryuha!" Dragon Ryuho dived down her head. Pan lunge her arm and the tips of her Bobbin Edges twisted into a drill and struck the dragon, popping it like a balloon. Ryuho was driven straight into the ceiling, dragged across it and then released. He crashed right by Eden and Kouga.

"Tch. Looks to me she can control at a wide angle and scale, plus the threads' malleability, but it all requires her attention," Eden said as he held up Kouga. "We'll have to blind her and break through her defense. Attack her all at once." After the rough first meets, the five Bronze Saints gathered together and faced Pan.

"You're all here!?" Exasperation flooded the Terrae's young face as she raised her voice. "Those revived Saints failed! I knew they couldn't be trusted!"

Souma guffawed. "Trust us, they put up quite a fight."

"To be honest, we're not sure why we are all here." Ryuho said, helping up Kouga along with Eden.

Kouga's eyes glowered. "No, we're not all here Pan, but most of us all are. There were six of us."

Eden closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I didn't believe it at first. Even though I wasn't conscious, I felt it. His Cosmos leaving."

"We all did." Ryuho said, looking morose along with Souma and Yuna.

"You guys are just Bronze Saints but somehow, not only you faced against revived Gold Saints, you're even taking my attacks. It can't be this drivel of protecting the Earth that's pushing you."

"What's wrong with that? We are Athena's Saints after all. That is what we do," Kouga said.

"And I am a warrior of Demeter." Pan squeezed her hand into a fist. "Her passion for the Earth and for family is just as strong, if not stronger! You better not tell me otherwise!"

Pan then drooped her arms and taut her fingers. The temple shook and the wind whistled; in a snap, Bobbin Edges sprouted from the ground like the roots of large desert yucca. Whether from her Cosmos or her anger, they all skewered through the Bronze Cloths, crucifying Athena's Saints upon beams of light. They regenerated across the court, leaving no escape. Kouga, Eden, Yuna, Ryuho and Souma were all trapped and impaled back and front. From a distance, they looked caught in a thick field of large glass shards or stakes.

"I will finish you all! I won't let any of you reach Mother!" Once the steel yucca receded, the Bronzes fell flat. Pan sneered and took in a breath to calm herself, easing the tension in her arms and fingers. She realized that none of her opponents were moving. The Bronze Saints were useless after all; even the pieces of the Pegasus Cloth had shed off its owner. It was pointless with a Saint that couldn't burn his Cosmos.

Kouga then stood on his feet, his Cloth and his friends sprawled out around him, but he looked like his consciousness left him. He would not realize the baffled look on Pan's face.

"Kouga? How are you still standing?!" Pan was obviously astonished. "Mother told me that you were a God slayer, but if I hit your heart, just like that Silver Saint, even you won't survive." She stretched a hand and launched a thin, spiraling spike. The Bobbin Edge hit, twanged, and bounced inches from the target.

A barrier? What is this Cosmos? Pan launched two other spikes, and they did the exactly same motion, bouncing away before reaching the flesh of Kouga. She felt through the joints of her fingers that the impact was heavy. They were hitting, but not the intended target. She then noticed that the Cloths of the other fallen Bronzes were glittering. The air started to become hazy, then bright; whether it was real or illusion, Pan and her foes stood amidst outer space.

Pan looked around and her confusion was replaced with allure. "Beautiful." It was as if the sun was awakening from slumber.

"Is it?" Kouga spoke. When Pan looked at Pegasus, his eyes brimmed with life. His Cloth was abandoned and the others were slowly stirring back awake.

"Kouga, you can't burn your Cosmos, so what is happening?" Pan scowled, her voice in a low angry murmur.

"You're right. It's not my Cosmos. A while ago, I touched the universe as everyone fought a mutual enemy. When their lives stood still, I heard their voices and touched their power. Everyone has a Cosmos within them."

"Heh heh, Kouga, it looks like you got yourself into trouble." Within this visual milky way, Souma was the first awake and tapped a hand onto Pegasus's shoulder. Next were Ryuho and Yuna.

"Fighting Amor, I had to remember what I fought and trained for," said Aqulia. "The universe, whether we can't see it all or not, does exist."

"I'll admit Mister Genbu is very strong. I am partially at fault for being a bit weak," said Ryuho shrugging. "I focused more on spiritual connection these days. My current training and Mister Genbu reminded me the importance of union."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Pan flexed her fingers but not another move was made. Something deterred her, and she sensed that her attacks would be deflected over and over again. However, was she in danger, or was she curious?

"It means that together, we can defeat you. Since the Earth is at stake, we have to do it quickly. However..." When Eden spoke, he looked at Kouga sternly. "Kouga will have to set this one out for a moment."

The Bronzes' hubris was enough to stir Pan into action and she launched her threads. They whipped into a dancing furry, striking the unseen barrier and bouncing back over and over again as they attempted the reach the Saints. Why? What is happening? Pan's stubbornness made her not let down.

Until, she was forced to defend herself against a raging counter.

"Lionet Burning Fire!"

"Aquila Shining Blaster!"

"Rozan! Hyakuryuha!"

"Tonitrui Fera Cælos!"Out of the Cyclades fights, Souma was the only one who had his Cloth completely shattered. Fudou, and the Jamir records of Kiki and his assistant Raki, had other theories, connecting them to the appearance of the God Cloths and the general process of Cloth alchemy. It is said that a Cloth can die and can only be restored through Cosmic entities. The metals of Orichalcum, Gamanion and Stardust sand were the groundwork; furthermore, Cloths can be revived and renovated through a Saints blood, and even a God's. The metals and blood were imbued by Cosmos. Thus, in theory, if the Cosmos existed in any place or dimension, floating, it could touch a matter. This bewildering identity called Omega could influence the Cloths and its wearers.

After their desperate battles, Ryuho, Yuna, Souma and Eden became the strongest together and refused to back down. It was possible that their bodies or their Cloths became different. Pan made a full dome barrier. She heard the attacks strike, metal echoing intermittently as if lashed head on by a tornado's rotating winds. The attacks, Cosmos outside the level of Bronze Saints, were peeling off Pan's barrier, defying her, until they broke through.

After that passed, the Cosmic wave died down. The atmosphere returned to its original state – the visual of the garden.

"Pan!?" In her Temple, Demeter jumped up from her throne. She stalled for seconds before slowly falling down to her hands. Quickly, she was embraced from behind by a man and hefted off her knees. Even upon the iron face of Arion, he shared the same disquiet as his Goddess, just at a leveled manner. The war she brought forth to her island was not imaginary; Demeter sensed her daughter's spirit having calmed and she quickly predicted the worse outcome.

"Those wretched bastards! I will destroy them!" In Demeter's quarters was a female voice far harsh and condemning than even Pan or the Goddess herself. It dripped with a tiger's fury; it welcomed this battle. There were three within the room, and the third figure turned a back against Arion and Demeter, rushing to leave. The steps clattered against the ground, then there's a smash. The person's body flung back after touching a solid barrier standing before the exit.

"Meagara wait!" ordered Arion.

"Don't you dare hold me here, Arion!" screamed back the woman.

"Enough! Confronting them directly is not necessary. After Pan's Garden is Boron."

"Then, I will demand him to lure them to me. My fury is Mother's fury."

"Boron is quite capable of defeating them. Even if they manage to pass through, they'll still be very unlucky, no? Do not rush. Demeter and I need to leave to meet the Crossroads, and you should return to your Garden to prevent any passes. I'm sure they'll be handled."

"Oh they will be. There is really no reason for Pan to lose against kids, but there will definitely die this time. Not after what they did to her."

Arion nodded and slowly lead a despondent Demeter behind her throne, holding her by the shoulders. There were drapes over a door leading to the outside.

"I will hold the key," he said. "Come. We're almost there to your goal."

Back at the Garden of Plutus, soothed by the smell of Eucalyptus, Kouga was surrounded by his friends, stripped of his Cloth. The Pegasus Cloth stood in its assembled form with superficial damage. Orion Eden was listening to Kouga's explanation about Arion's Chthon Impulse and took a moment to think before speaking his theory.

"At first, I thought you had some kind of seal, but it's more like a nuclear reactor? Or is it like a star?"

Ryuho gave out a light laugh, amused by Eden. "Are you not over thinking it?"

"Maybe. 'Use your Cosmos and you destroy yourself because it's too much to control.' So, with that said, let's use an outward pressure to break down the core. If you stop burning your Cosmos, I can do it."

"And what else?"

Eden didn't give a direct answer and palmed Kouga's chest. Lightning suddenly danced, and the entire court flared with violet light. Kouga clenched his jaw and held in his scream as every surge stretched through his body. Once he ended, he collapsed with a sigh. Yuna, Souma and Ryuho gasped loudly.

"It was a 50/50 risk - feeding the core might make it worse or it'll die by imploding. My guess was that the core would serve no purpose if it 'did its job' by eating Cosmos and expanding outward. So, I directly attacked the core in the center of your body and caused a singularity point for the core to fall in." Did a stronger mass or force quell the Chthon Impulse?

Kouga was alive. Slowly, he managed to stand. "Still, it's like I can't feel anything."

"Right, you won't be able to fight. Your Cosmos has been burnt out after that," said a distant voice. The Bronze Saints turned to the bema, a raised pedestal, near the end side of the garden court.

Lying upon the bema was Pan. If she had not spoken, she could've been confused as a young, unfortunate body on display before a funeral procession. She was prone on her back; through half-open eyes, she looked at the ceiling casting sunlight within her Garden. This was her condition after the unison attack.

"So in other words, you're out of fuel for a while." said Souma, to which Yuna added that it would be too dangerous for Kouga to go on ahead.

"He won't be able to wear his Cloth either," she added.

"I am a Saint!" Pegasus exclaimed. "After seeing Pan's strength, there's no telling what will face next. However, we're gonna see it through together."

Eden gave out a light sigh in scorn. "Stubborn as ever. It would be foolish to have you fight if you're the same as a normal human, but it would also be strange to set you aside and make you watch. The question is when your Cosmos will return?"

"Eden, if I fight, maybe it'll return." Pegasus responded. "As long as I breathe, the Cosmos are infinite!"

"Like I said, 'stubborn'." However it would turn out, Kouga refused the thought of standing down or leaving his companions, assured that he would resume the fight. Eden loaded the Pandora Box containing the Pegasus Cloth onto his back; for now, Kouga was the same as a white dwarf. The five Bronzes nodded and headed for the exit, passing Pan's bema.

Once Kouga strolled by, the defeated Terrae lifted a raspy voice. She reached out with her hand.

"Don't….don't hurt her." Pan slipped into unconsciousness after those few words. Through her voice and body, she realized true defeat. It was probably her first time facing a power that rendered her life nearly naught. However, if it weren't for her wires mitigating the attacks, perhaps she would've been disintegrated. Kouga turned back. He gingerly took Pan's hands into his and placed them against her belly. Afterward, he confirmed that his time in Plutus was finished.

"Let's keep moving."

Together, the remaining Bronze Saints ascended the stairs to the next Temple. They ignored the cornice identifying the second Garden and rushed, prioritizing the time. When they went in, it was dark. The interior was just as open as Pan's; this time, in the middle of the court, stood a large pentagonal stone.

"Demeter is the type of person who will descend into madness if anything happens to her family, by her hand or others. I wonder if she'll blame herself for this fighting?"