Procession of Smiles, Tears, and Rage. Athena's Funeral
(微笑みと涙と激怒の行列 アテナの葬儀)
God is impartial. God is wise. God is almighty. God is everything because God created everything. Therefore, for all reasons, God must be listened to. But when looking at a God, cold cuts the skin. From mortals and a Goddess, there were many incredulous gazes; it came out of all who froze in either reverence or fear. They watched a King, one of the Olympians. His presence was able to emit an illusion of the Underworld itself and more. Souls gathered at his location, many in the form of walking silhouettes. They looked like the Shadows that were at war with the Saints and the Pope on Earth's surface. It's all a sign that The Underworld and all those who inhabited it were truly incomplete, but those lifeforms weren't without their emotional substance.
To see Hermes's death, each person present had one of two thoughts: The swift judgment of a God was befitting for a traitor, or a Gold Saint was struck down by his greatest enemy. Either or, one thing was certain for everyone, it was well established that Hades, King of the Dead, existed before their eyes. Asklepios healed Pan, Demeter, and Arion around this time, and the two Terrae gathered before their divine patron as they quietly spectated.
Athena called out to the Gold Saint in a genuinely worried voice. She was answered by words wrapped in exhaustion and pain.
"Yeah? Ugh, that hurt." The sword that skewered through Cancer Hermes's chest had that same blue, wiry form as Hades. It sparkled then peeled away into atoms. The Gold Saint jolted, only capable of bending his upper body. For only a few seconds—he fell right back down and splayed his legs. It was a blow so hard that he needed a moment to regain his strength.
"Interesting." Hades looked disappointed, his eyes thinning. "Looks like your spirit isn't entirely for me. Very well. You will still stay here and serve me. That is one soul I will take."
No one understood what that meant. Was it because Hades was a temporary presence, his strength dwindled? He was unable to kill the Saint? No matter the strength, and courage, even a Gold could struggle and fall against a God. Despite that, he still contained authority over all those present. To chain Hermes to his command, was there still a seething hatred for his enemy?
Hades pulled his hand from Athena's chin and turned to look at everyone else for a moment until his eyes fitted on Demeter. ""Thank you, my dear sister, you've done well. However, you've been adding demands to the Black Deal. All I wanted was Athena's life and the world."
Demeter may have succeeded in her goal, but she broke away from her confidants and advanced on Hades's blue corporal form to kneel before him in humiliation.
"I know that I've sinned, and I want to be forgiven," she said. "Thus, I offer Athena as a form of respite. Trade her body and soul in to face her punishment and to spare Earth. I crossed forbidden lines, but I hope that your revival will please the Gods."
"Forgiveness? I do not know how other Gods will see your transactions, but they may be pleased by the sacrifice of Athena, the truest of sinners. But all that you ask for will cost you. For the worry and pain you've caused, you may have to experience the same. I will need more of course. Now, I will need Ginga."
Suppressing a gasp, Demeter's anxiety returned; she had forgotten the words Akel had relayed earlier. It was brought up when Demeter asked for Arion to be saved. Overall, the deal meant that Demeter had to allocate what she owned to prevent being punished. Show her own humility—in truth, Demeter was a feared, and behind closed doors, a hated Goddess. Maybe it wasn't unknown to her; thus, she trembled with her eyes to the ground.
"Arion, what is this Black Deal?" Pan looked up to Arion by her side; the leader of the Terrae narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice as if to not break this lofty gathering.
"In order to revive her daughter and the Underworld, and to ascertain her safety from punishment from the Heavens, Demeter and Hades, the latter through Asklepios, has been making trade plans to please the latter. That requires some... 'gifts'. The question is the elaborate contents. Looks like I've been added to it, so now Hades wants Ginga. Also, it turns out Asklepios and Athena were talking as well when Demeter was away." Pan gnashed her teeth, a burning gleam facing Athena, but that anger would soon slip away at Hades's next words.
"As a reprieve to the mortals, I will delay the destruction on Earth. Naxos Island will be spared. As I do not request more is miraculous."
"My..." As she spoke, the shake in Demeter's hands and knees intensified. She looked up to the temporary Underworld King. "My dear Lord Hades. Why Ginga?"
"He has failed to defeat the Saints because of his weakness. I suppose the same could be said for the others," Hades said as he looked over to Pan and Arion. The Wefting Fibre Terrae flinched, seething within. The ones who defeated her and killed her sister were within her sights, but she was unable to move. Perhaps out of fear or respect, or perhaps out of necessity, as the grounds now belonged to Hades.
"What weakness?" Demeter asked.
"He is most human. I doubt you want him to die so bring him to me," The Underworld King demanded.
Demeter's heart was truly heavy – perhaps this was worse than any judgment from Zeus or the other higher gods. What a greedy, demanding God. Holding her words, she wondered deeply what Hades planned to do with her son. That wonder and worry drowned out her ignorance; she did not know where Ginga disappeared to.
Two screams fell from the upper void, the dark firmament planted with crimson clouds. Unfurled wings cut through that darkness above Hades and Athena's head. The illusionary Underworld has been shrouded with shadowy figures, but realistically, there were exceptions. Such as the black-gray-haired guy who held Kouga by his head—
And the man known as Wyvern. Flexing his knees, The Judge of Hell landed near the Gods with the boldness of an army, and in his hands were two humans. He was quickly acknowledged.
"My esteemed Lord Hades. I believe this is the one you seek."
"Rhadamanthys." The name was spoken with warmth; this was a true, reliable confidant of Hades, and to see a true, visible form represented that trust, and the sheer willpower of Wyvern that opposed fate. He looked like a powerful, astringent man in a Surplice with wings and horns. Opening his clawed gauntlets, the Judge released the two people – a boy and a girl. They dropped to the ground.
"Ginga!" Demeter couldn't hide her relief; her exclaim was followed by also Kouga's. Everyone, especially the two Terrae, was shocked. It was Ginga in his Boron Stole; he had disappeared into the Underworld? This entire time, through his Dragon's Vault, Arion had watched the second Garden with utmost apprehension, seeing Ginga unconscious at one time and then gone at another time. Arion's immediate thoughts were "Was he dead?! Or was he transported there?" Fallen next to Ginga was an ordinary-looking girl in citizen clothing. Anyone recognized Jorie from a popular Naxos bookstore. She was Ginga's partner at work.
"Now where are we?!" Rubbing the back of her head, Jorie looked up the same time Ginga did, seeing Demeter kneeling in front of them.
"Lady Demeter!" They both said in unison. Suddenly, Ginga was pulled into Demeter's arms. She raked a hand into his sky-blue hair.
"I thought—I thought—!" Demeter's voice was on the verge of cracking from sadness. She thought he—her only "son"— had died as well.
"Did I worry you, Lady Demeter? I'm so sorry." Ginga cooed and felt welcome to be in the Goddess's bosom again. His confusion melted.
"Release him, Goddess of Harvest," someone cut in. "Did you not heed what my Lord said? This Ginga is no longer your property."
Demeter's head snapped up quickly, the most venom exuding from her eyes looking up to one of the Judges of Hell, Wyvern Rhadamanthys. In return was his peer of solid, absolute pride. Even if he was high rank and she was a Goddess, he would dare say that to her?
"Stand down, Rhadamanthys. I understand that even these humans are important to Demeter. Let her have her peace for now," Hades said. The Wyvern Judge backed a few steps, giving the boy and girl room to stand on their two feet. Someone called out to them.
"Ginga! Jorie!" Breaking through was Arion's voice. "What are you two even doing here?!"
"Lord Arion!" Jorie shrieked. "A guy in Gold took us here and trapped us. He said something about going to Athena's funeral." There hasn't been a stop to the surprises since Hades's so-called "temporary revival". Everyone was at a loss for words, but the Bronze Saints immediately turned in another direction – the fallen body of a Gold Saint. Cancer Hermes was still unable to get up and had been slipping in and out of consciousness throughout the ordeal. When he heard Jorie's words, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha, using me as some pawn to keep the world safe huh? I guess I'm doing my job right, Athena?"
Then he heard some steps.
"What is she talking about?" Hermes kept one eye open and saw Demeter standing over his body. To be prone on the ground, he could feel a bit of fear; he would be helpless against whatever Demeter would place on him. He was not unfamiliar with that rage slowly emerging in her voice, and he wondered whether to lie for sarcastic fun or to tell the truth. Or he could hold his tongue—Jorie was right of course. Against his predictions, to "invite the Naxos family to the enemy's funeral", Demeter wasn't too happy. But, Hermes also realized that due to Hades's plan or "deal", he was probably safe. At least from her.
Man, that girl snitched on me so fast. Cancer Hermes thought, managing a smile through his face contorted in pain. Athena showed a pitiful expression. She knew that Cancer was always doing something peculiar on his own.
"This Gold Saint has no reason, Lord Hades!" Demeter turned to the Underworld King, her voice raised. "You have may him, but Ginga—"
"Ginga belongs to me. That is a part of the deal," Hades said. Demeter quickly strode back to the Boron Terrae and stood between two Olympian Gods and Rhadamanthys, with Ginga and Jorie behind her. Her eyes were full of panic as she pleaded.
"No wait, please! He may not be from my own womb, but I respect him as my own son!"
"Your son?"
"Please don't harm him." The panic welled inside Demeter; she had been parted from Ginga for so long, and the fear of him being just gone—accumulated by Megaera's death—was finally released at this moment. She had no idea what Hades meant, but she imagined it being the same as her daughter. It would be the same where she is in mourning every Winter. She thought of the worse: will Hades takes Ginga's soul?
"This is all for you, I promise," said Hades. "We are still tasked to defeat Athena's Saints who dare traverse our sanctuaries. I will put Ginga to use."
"Use?"
"Indeed. Your family contributes. Your son, your daughters, and your right hand. You followed your way, resulting all of this."
"You say that you are giving out a reprieve, but Earth and all living things are still under threat." This time, it was Athena who spoke out. "Hades, I still do not believe that you have a right to resume world domination."
Athena's presumptuous remark was enough for eyes to return to her.
"Even if I disagree with her, Demeter went through this entire process to save the dead souls, including her daughter, even if breaking taboo. Cancer Hermes was worried about the erratic demon activity and souls coming to Earth."
Athena paused for a moment to choose her next words.
"With that said, if I offer my life, will you leave the Saints and Earth be? Instigate Hermes' 'funeral' like he said?" Immediately, there were raised gasps among the Bronze Saints, nearly drowned by the cackles of the wide shadowy gathering that surrounded them. Kouga cried out to Miss Saori.
Hades closed his eyes and spoke in a calm voice. "Athena, it was you who devised the trade for Viento right? To appease Demeter?"
The deafening silence returned except for Kouga's groan; his face was slammed into the ground. The man in the black-gray hair casually made way for Hades and at a distant spot from Rhadamanthys, next to Dark Meadow, he kneeled. This man did not wear a Surplice but a regular-looking suit of armor reminiscent of a standard low-tier Saint. Across his neck was a hanging aviator's scarf. The stretched length of his leg and arm guards gave him a somewhat regal feel.
Athena promptly answered Hades's question with a "yes". As they spoke, there was a small chat between the Bronzes.
"Is that a Saint?" Yuna looked over to Souma and Ryuho.
"I've never seen him before," Souma said. He grimaced. "But he ain't no ally of ours if he's kneeling to Hades." It was certainly true by how he treated Kouga.
"But Hades said a 'trade'," said Ryuho. "A 'trade' for what?" That was when Ryuho heard Hades stating that Demeter would be pleased, and that Athena's courage is admirable. He had thought about sparing the world, but he also could not release his fury.
"You are a decent Goddess Athena," the King said, "and there are times when I can deeply respect you. However, you can also be disingenuous."
Hades took Athena's chin again.
"I noticed something through Asklepios. Are you using someone to delay my revival?" Athena kept quiet, her eyes glittering.
"I will figure it out later. For now, you are mine."
"I will say this Hades: I know those who understand a soul's salvation and the love of humanity more than you." Her words seem angry but under a noble, collected voice. "I cannot forgive the evil upon the world that is brought from these events."
"My dear." Another voice entered the area, but it was not addressed to Athena. Demeter's head snapped back quickly, and she saw someone looming in from the far depths. The person wearing a winged Surplice; much like Rhadamanthus and the so-called Viento, it was not an undistinguished "soul", but an actual flesh and blood figure that looked like it came from the living. A pale woman with neck-length platinum hair.
"J..Julia?" Ginga's eyes froze on the woman. She stopped and gave out a warm, welcoming expression on her face. Her voice was like a Christmas bell chime. Every name she spoke, she acknowledged with a look, starting with Hades and then around.
"My beloved King. Dear Ginga. Mister Arion. Dear Pan. Mighty Rhadamanthys. Loyal Dark Meadow. And...and my precious mother." So swiftly, the woman's wings moved and wrapped around Demeter. The Mother Goddess had bolted and threw herself against the Specter, wailing madly. She fell onto her knees, forcing the woman to crouch along with her. Her hand coursed through the Goddess's hair.
Rhadamanthys spoke. "The Queen of Tartatus, Persephone."
In other words, Hades's wife and Demeter's daughter. Also, on Earth, the girl with the Winter Syndrome known by Ginga and many others on Naxos: Julia Baer. Julia was the vessel of Persephone, thus, the reason why she went into a deep sleep every Winter. It was one of the cruelest fates of the mother and daughter duo being reincarnated on Earth.
"Now now, mother."
"Please! Stay with me!" Demeter's body and voice were shaking; how much grief and shame did she go through for this moment? She deeply did not wish to cause such happenings on Earth, but followed her desperation to the end at the expense of looking pathetic. This was all she wanted. Even if no one died, if not Athena, whom she hated, this was all she truly wanted.
"I will mother, I'm here. Thank you. I missed you so much. But, there is still more to do. My beloved?" Julia, or rather Persephone, looked up to Hades.
"By taking Athena, I also suggest a delay in ruling the world." Persephone released her mother and when she stood, it was like she took command of a whole room, and all attention was put on her. She demanded it.
"Or spare the world entirely, but leave one thing—our vengeance. We will cast these Saints back to their world. When all we hold dear, and our strength, is restored, we engage in our war anew, and keep the planet safe."
Is it a speech to leave anyone breathless? It didn't seem real from the cute voice of Persephone. She was truly Hades's right hand. Sometime before her arrival or shortly after, Eden, Hermes, and Subaru were revived from their injuries. They needed to see this or so the Demigod Asklepios thought.
"Are you saying to battle you?!" Lionet Souma snapped.
"My amicable Queen, are you agreeing with Athena?" Hades said, referring to what the Goddess said about world domination.
"Please contemplate at great length, my dear King," said Persephone, "for your body and soul have yet to return. One step at a time."
Hades's heart was at a flutter. He was sometimes stirred by his Queen's ruthlessness, but he knew that she spoke and acted for his sake. To kill Athena and his Saints would truly be a blessing, but to have Viento, Hermes, and Ginga, how would he use them?
"I am not Ares. I do not battle for fun. I rejoin the world to claim it," said Hades. "That is the Will of the Gods. Earth will be mine to cleanse. The Holy Wars are proof of who holds the reigns. For dominance."
"Then screw you!" Pegasus Kouga pulled himself off and darted an angry glare at Hades. The guy with the lengthy arm and leg armor, and scarf, rose and turned to face Pegasus.
"My dear, do you hold on stubbornly to this Will because you're fuming inside?" asked Persephone; Hades did not return a prompt answer. The Queen of the Underworld continued. "Surely, those of our stature, can make exceptions. We can do this out of respect and hate for Athena. Her mortals are worthy of praise. Such a choice should be considered at length."
"If it were you on the throne in my place my love," said Hades, "then what would you do?"
The Will of Persephone? One who has never instigated a War and only stayed by Hades's side like a Queen in bed, or with tea in her hand, speaking to the King sweetly. As Demeter's daughter, she too represented healthy vegetation and souls crossing into death to be judged, then branched into the afterlife. By Hades, and in mortal scripture, she is known as a wise woman who touched anything that moved. She brought the light, whether it was like the sun or like the light reaching into death. Other than that, her activities were mysterious. She was also called a Savior Maiden.
"I want you and my family to be well, my King. We always sacrifice as a means to appease ourselves. I believe the Underworld is first and foremost." The Queen took steps ahead to get a closer look at the Saints, including the pawns. Little did anyone know, both King and Queen could share minds. Conversing with Hades, as Persephone slowly revived, she knew of the pawns.
"Dear Ginga, Viento, Hermes and Athena will stay with us as you desire. Let us initiate Athena's funeral."
Was that it? Pawns and a Goddess's death? Did that trigger the end of all violence if the Saints' patron was killed? Would it be a victory for Demeter and Hades? However, didn't Demeter state before that Athena would save Naxos? Kouga, Yuna, and the others saw this as a complete surrender. What kind of life would they live without their Goddess? Would it be more peaceful? Grief was not peaceful; that feeling of having failed was not peaceful.
"Are you out of your mind?! Do you think we would stand for this?!" Kouga retorted of course, eyes on the Queen's mother, the very thing that caused all this suffering. Everything was due to Demeter's desire to revive her.
"Athena is a guardian of Earth. More benevolent and wise than any of you. You can't just take her away because of your revenge!"
When it came to the death of Gods, it was usually recorded in writing. Gods killed other Gods. During the Holy Wars, the souls of Gods were sealed. The people who fought for them would die but revive every different generation. Their souls, connected to stars, would live on.
Hades turned back to Athena. "Her patience is admirable. She looks down upon no one. Very well. One step at a time."
"Oh no you don't!" Pegasus Kouga dashed, and his path was cut by the guy in the aviator scarf. He moved ahead, stopping Kouga's advance.
"I went easy on you earlier," he said. "Anymore and you would probably be blown to bits."
"Eat your bluff."
"Do you want to die?"
"I'll do whatever. Die. Live. I won't let you strike Athena down as if she's evil!"
"Everyone, hold." Called Persephone. She lifted her hand at chest level and with a small curl, her lithe fingers seemed to pluck the air. Kouga, Yuna, Eden, Souma and Ryuho heard a sweet note in their ears, and their bodies were suddenly gripped by an unknown power. They lost their voices, but their minds were filled with confusion. They remained upright— to see what was ahead of them.
Hades and Athena.
"Everyone, witness," Persephone demanded in a mellow, lovely voice. In this entire gathering, there was anticipation; for the loyal Saints, it was like watching an execution, with bated breath, chained against their will. A modern metaphor could be like "being glued to the TV" or "watching a train wreck." They refused to turn away, no matter where their minds were.
When the Queen's grip left him, Kouga fell onto his knees. Persephone continued to speak as everyone was chilled to the bone. It was a scene hardly witnessed in the records of Gods and mortals.
The world stopped. No one breathed, not even Athena.
Standing next to Hades, Athena's facial expression opened with anguish. She could not describe the ice that went through her body. She looked up at Hades with her soft face; it read an embrace in her fate. There was no fear or anger, but acceptance. She looked shocked but knew what happened and slouched backward. Then, as Athena closed her eyes, Persephone went into a soliloquy.
"In a collective world where different Gods and men stand, fight, and fall in love, our passionate will," Persephone added, "has reached this result: Athena must be punished as Death's victory."
As a distant spectacle, the long protruding end and middle of a black sword was seen pierced out of Athena's back. This is what Hades wanted to see – her face, the drain, that release, that instant where she felt the blade and, without a word or breath, truly met death. It was an unexplained euphoria.
Kouga felt as if his soul left his body.
Cancer Hermes expressed a countenance and smile as warm as the sun, and behind his spectacles, his eyes seem to glow. When his Goddess leaned, like a cascade of water, she fell back into his arms. Not a single voice was raised. To see her unmoving, he could not describe it. It wasn't lust, but rather, it was a vulnerable feeling that derived from humility, something that couldn't be witnessed by a mortal. Again, it must have been that unexplained euphoria. Maybe she was beautiful. Seeing her body made Hermes remember the conversations they had together. Cancer snapped his fingers and then hefted Athena's legs over his other arm. She really wasn't moving, and it still couldn't be believed. He spun around and headed in the opposite direction.
Carrying the Goddess, Hermes stopped next to Pegasus Kouga to look down at him. He heard a sniffling sound. His grin couldn't widen any further; his jaw tightened, Kouga's eyes reflected nothing less than despair from within, creating a brim of tears. He wanted to ask "why?", but the dejection was too strong, and he knew Hermes wasn't one for direct answers. Kouga, if not now, was completely convinced that Cancer was a relentless monster whom he wouldn't reason with.
"Boy, oh boy. Look at that face." The corner of Cancer's mouth turned up into a smirk. He put down Athena for a moment and placed his hand onto Kouga's head. More like a tight grasp against the skin, and he taunted the boy by harshly ruffling the boy's face and hair. Like rubbing a stubborn stain off with a towel.
"Neener-neener. It's fine Pegasus, cry. It's fine to mourn," Hermes said as he retrieved the Goddess. "You lost a beloved person after all. That's what happens at funerals, yeah?" To say such words with his childish grin; it was as if he got away with a crime.
"Miss Saori." Somehow, that snapped Kouga back to reality. "Give…her back."
Hermes headed for Persephone, who stood in front of the black coffin. It was summoned by the Cancer Saint by his finger snap. Before long, he heard Kouga's anguished scream. It exploded throughout the mass gathering.
"GIVE HER BACK YOU BASTARD!"
Kouga has not understood that going forward has been pointless many times, but it was his initial thought, and his adopted parent was in front of him. In the arms of a traitor, walking away, with his back turned as if Kouga was a broken enemy. Hermes didn't turn to meet the angry face of Kouga; Kouga's expression changed immediately. He stopped mid-stride with one leg flexed by the knee. Did the air freeze? Did he lose his muscle fiber? Asklepios?! He couldn't even move his eyes to see what the Demi-God he was doing. He heard Souma, Yuna, Eden, and Ryuho call out to him.
He had felt something slide through his body in a second, a soft pelting, which could be passed off as nothing. Kouga's knees, ankles, wrists, and shoulders were covered in some silvery substance. Best described as some skin smear, mist poured out from them. Kouga doubled over, losing movement. Was he shot in specific areas, but the effect pervaded his entire body? Immediately, the other Bronzes coalesced around him. At this time, Cancer Hermes had sunk Athena's body into the black coffin and slid on the lid.
Facing the ground, the Bronze Saint cursed his helplessness. His mind repeating the scene of the sword going through his adopted parent, and having to regard the reality that someone else he appreciated was truly dead, Pegasus Kouga shook the Underworld with his scream of exasperation.
Something attacked him at an unknown distance, and it prompted Dragon Ryuho to look around. He searched left and right amidst the forest of souls, even the "living ones" such as Rhadamanthys. Then he suddenly wondered, why did Wyvern, the Queen of the Underworld and the scarf Saint have genuine forms? Something quickly took his eye, a tall silhouette with curled, inverted wings. An icy blue sphere glowed in its palm; horns atop its head and wide shoulders, Ryuho could tell that was a fierce spirit. For some reason, that silhouette backed away into the masses as if to obscure its view.
A word entered Ryuho's head. "Leave!" Telepathy?! The son of Shiryu did not know how to respond except to stare into space.
"You are polluting my land," said Hades. "Either you leave or I destroy you all. I rather do the latter."
"With the exception of Mister Hermes and Mister Viento, will all Saints leave at once? I have returned to catch up to my beloved ones." Persephone tried to plead to soothe her King. He rather have the eyesores for Saints to disappear at the least. With a dejected Kouga on the ground, the other Bronzes glared at the Queen.
Both Souma and Yuna couldn't help but protest.
"After what you did to Athena?! What do you plan to do with her?!"
"If the Earth is still under threat, why the Hell should we back down?"
"Athena loves you dearly and did this for you. Why would you do something that saddens her? Do not die needlessly. I am willing to show mercy this time. This is an opportunity to contemplate future actions."
Orion Eden, Equuleus Subaru, Aquila Yuna, Lionet Souma, and Dragon Ryuho stood together, and a wide aura of Cosmos gathered around them. Their stances showed they were ready for battle. Rather, it showed their fury, their eyes shining with tears.
"How do you feel about this? Are you willing to raise your fist against them? Your own brethren?" Hades spoke, looking nearby, towards the man with black-gray hair.
The answer was prompt. "It will be like defending my family. Allow my presentation to inspire you and your choices."
"Then do it. Quickly."
Viento thought of his Queen being harmed and moved like a lightning bolt. He appeared before the six Saints, angrily staring at them. Hades swung his arm, a reddish wave of energy dashing towards the scarf man. The Saint raised his palm, and the wave compressed into a corona-orange sphere in front of it. He brought the sphere in front of him, launched it towards the Saints and before it reached, he closed his hand.
Wasn't it seen before? The sphere snapped like a balloon, then shortly afterward, a powerful thunderclap. It took a second or less; Limbo was deluged by a distorted, shaking air that surrounded the Bronze Saints.
They were separated in mid-air as if floating freely in space, slowly, like gravity sucked out of a room and unfixed. Within this "distortion", various fragments of metal flew everywhere. The Bronze Saints fell lifeless, surrounded by their broken Cloths. There were sounds of awe within the gathering. Viento wandered and looked down at each Saint: Each one, naked from their Cloths, sans Subaru, had dilated pupils.
"Well done, Viento." Persephone clapped for the newest traitor Saint. The response was stoic; he turned to meet Hades with a gruff sound and nod, then he froze. Something hot entered his back, and the air was now suffused with golden sunlight. Viento looked over his shoulder and he saw metallic wings.
Wyvern Rhadamanthys pelted forward, swinging a punch. His arm was stopped with another, which was covered in gold. The Judge's eyes widened, brimming with fury. It had been many years, but he would not forget.
"You!" Wyvern's eyes burned against the aura surrounding a familiar face. Even Hades and Persephone were shocked at the sudden appearance.
"Rhadamanthys, stand down," ordered Hades. "Even though I am as vexed as you are, this man has no power here." Both the Judge and Viento promptly backed away and created space. Belligerent sounds exuded from the collection of shadows. This man Hades referred to, standing in between the fallen Bronze Saints, glowing with a bright aura, was the Golden Pegasus: Sagittarius Seiya. In his hand was Sextans Agatha's device.
"If there's anyone I am truly willing to sacrifice, it's you." Hades's contempt was clear.
The Gold Saint, and Legendary Bronze Saint, turned his head and a resolute stare reached the wiry blue soul of the King. "Hades."
'Heh. Did you come to be a hero again, Seiya?" Mocked Hermes. When Seiya gave him the eye, as if asking for Athena's whereabouts, the traitorous Cancer Saint tapped the black coffin close by with his heel.
"You are too late. Your beloved Goddess, Athena is dead." At Hades's words, a tremble went down Seiya's arm and was visible through Agatha's frame device.
"This exasperating feeling, I am familiar with it." Seiya breathed inward and calmed his shake, but the grip he had on the device tightened. He wanted to explode and destroy everyone here, clear Limbo of his enemies if possible. He continued.
"Athena was willing to put herself on the brink of death, and when I thought I had failed, the words of the Pope inspired me to move forward with Athena's goal. And then, and then…" He didn't want to say anymore; instead, he summoned anger to cast away his bad memories. It was because of that memory, his brothers and his Goddess survived and fought valiantly to the end.
"I regret nothing."
"This all happened because Athena was a coward," Demeter interrupted. In this chthonic circle, all of the Gods prepare to place pressure on Seiya, but the man would not buckle under it.
"She is never a coward! No, even if she felt like she lost everything, she believed in miracles. That's how magnanimous she is. That is why she lives on Earth and protects it every time she is reincarnated. Why do you think the Bronze Saints pushed themselves across the sea and your warriors?"
There was a silence, prompting Seiya to add: "Tell me Demeter, and you as well Hermes, how did you feel? When you killed her, did you feel nothing?!"
The Gold Saint turned and shot Viento a brief look. "What about you? Were you excited? Entertained? Appreciative? Are you that far gone?"
Sagittarius Seiya probably did not care for anyone's opinion, but there was one thing he did know—he knew how Agatha felt. Even though her eyes were covered by a sash, her voice relayed her expression and she had shed tears. With no words to return, Hades was stilted with anger. He began to remember his last moments: when he himself was defeated by Athena. The words of "love" she had uttered while also judging Hades's post. Even now, he was questioned by a mortal. No less, a mortal he had thought to have killed. No, even though he stood now, Pegasus Seiya was definitely killed.
And that same Seiya still exuded that haughtiness and stubbornness from back then. His voice raised to reflect his heart.
"Hades, you may gloat," Seiya said, turning back to the incomplete King, "but you are a worthless God who underestimates our Cosmos: You have killed nothing!"
The gathering growled loudly, including Rhadamanthys. Everyone cast angry glares at Seiya except for one.
"Gold Saint of Sagittarius I presume?" Persephone finally spoke and the commotion quieted down.
"Everyone here was touched by various feelings, hidden and open. I almost wanted to shed tears. Athena can be considered close to a sister to me. However, my sadness is stifled by my anger, and my yearning to see my King again."
Despite her words, she carried composure. "Reviving the Underworld is top priority. Athena has deliberately given herself to us, and in return, we leave you Saints and the world. When everything has returned, I wanted to discuss with my beloved King on the next move."
"And what would that be? You have honeyed words, but I find it hard to believe that someone like Hades would leave the world at peace. You Gods are too obstinate and cling to the belief that only your judgment is absolute, no matter who suffers."
A smile slipped from Asklepios; since he was not the center of attention, he could hide it from anyone's eyes.
"Be careful. I will not allow another insult towards my King," said Persephone. "As you can see around you, your friends had to suffer." Her words pressed Seiya to look around; Kouga and the others have yet to awaken. Before he left the Sextans Safe Zone, Agatha had told him that various Bronzes were near Stellar's end. It looked like an absolute defeat.
"Sagittarius, back in the days of Myth, I understood what it meant to fall in love with a mortal. I am currently reincarnated on Earth as a resident of Naxos and felt the love of mortals as I do a garden of young flowers." Persephone was a kind Goddess; it was the reason why Hades wanted her so badly. It was enough to abduct her. Seiya held his tongue as he wished to ask "what has changed?" If what she said was true, would she go along with conquest at the demand of her King? Or were the two opposite attract?
"Right now, even though some of us, including myself, were able to wander with a form, reflecting our desires and strength, we are still only here temporarily. We are still incomplete. Soon, Limbo will return, and we will disappear, reverting to wandering souls. Asklepios will continue with his resurrection process." As Persephone kept her eyes on Seiya, she did not heed her mother Demeter, who gave her an incredulous look.
"There is something I do want to know," said Seiya. "If what you said is true, how is it that you are attacking Earth at a mass scale?"
"Oh, it is not us."
The Queen's words caused Seiya's eyebrows to jump. He jolted his arm into the air and the Sextans device fervently glowed in his hand, blinding everyone. A rainbow dome formed around him, the fragmented mess on the ground, the fallen Saints. Furious eyes watched Persephone, then moved over to Hades.
"I won't forgive any of you. Hades, if you threaten this world once more, I'll be back. We'll be back."
That promise was also towards the Goddess laying at rest in a coffin. In a blinking flash, Seiya, Eden, Kouga, Souma, Yuna, Subaru and Ryuho disappeared.
