SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 21 out, this is Chapter 22 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 23: The Deciding Battle Begins! To Determine the Fate of the Goddesses!


In front of the castle entrance...

"Pallas is within this castle." Koga stated.

"We just need to find this Pallas girl and snap her in half." Harbinger added. "Then, let's get to it."

"There's no time to waste." Shiryu agreed.

"With this number of Saints, no one can stop us." Souma was confident. "Let's rush in there."

"Wait." Kiki voiced. "We know nothing of what lies inside that castle. The enemy won't simply allow us to move straight to Pallas. We must be careful from now on or we will perish."

"We're back." Haruto and Vesta reported back. "We've scouted the area surrounding the castle; the front door is the sole entrance."

"Master?" Vesta blinked when Ikki stepped forward.

"Crowding together will not open our path." Ikki powered up. "Hou Yoku Ten Shou!" he sent his attack through the doors. "Even if it leads to hell, I will follow my own path."

"Athena, there's something that troubles me as well." Integra told Saori. "Might I be permitted to enter in advance of everyone else?"

"Very well." Saori consented. "Please be careful."

A flurry of arrows then shot from behind them, only for Hyoga and Shun to intercept the attack.

A pillar of lightning took out the advancing Pallasites, Shina bringing in the rest of the Bronze Saints and the three original Steel Saints.


Inside the castle...

"This is strange." Koga noted, the Bronze Saints leading the charge. "I don't feel the enemy's Cosmo at all."

"Most likely, Ikki and Integra are drawing the enemy away." Haruto guessed.

"Keep your guard up." Kiki cautioned. "We cannot anticipate where the enemy will come from."


Further inside...

The group found themselves in front of four diverging gateways.

"Welcome Saints." Europa greeted. "I have been awaiting for you. To witness such a gathering of Saints, it's quite remarkable. Have you not come to see Pallas-sama? Thus, I have prepared four choices for you. This first is the path of Alfheim, upon which visitors are blasted by a god's judgment. Second, the path of Niflheim that leads to the rift of time and space. Dvergr is the third path, which tasks its visitors with the ultimate trial. And the fourth path is the path of Vanaheim, said to lead to the end of the world. One of the four will take you to Pallas-sama. Now then, which will you choose? I do have a suggestion, if you'd like to hear it. My superiors ordered me to lay a path to Pallas. Why don't you simply turn back? You'll all too weak. You're only going die. Is there really any point in further conflict?"

"You say we're weak?" Saori spoke.

"I am honored to meet you, Goddess Athena." Europa was not impressed. "I've always thought that, for a god, you have no talent for judging others."

"I will not let you insult Athena." Seiya snapped.

"I was speaking of you, Sagittarius Seiya." Europa clarified. "When Pallas-sama first appeared in this world, Athena sent you as an assassin. You, who lacked the guts to kill a young child. Athena, you screwed that one up royally. Had you killed Pallas-sama then, the entire war would be over. No, it never would have begun, Athena. Terrible Slash!" he tossed his circular blades at the group, only to have Ceres deflect his powered-up blades with her scythe. Extending the chain from the end of her weapon, she stopped the circular blades.

"Europa, give it to us straight." Juno was not in the mood of small talk. "Pallas isn't your real master, is she? Really, you Pallasites got a little too careless."

"Wait, what?" Souma blinked.

"We Goddess Guardians know Pallas' abilities." Vesta added. "The Chronotectors, the stopping of time... none of them are within Pallas' capabilities."

"And the only God with those powers is Saturn, the God of Time!" Juno revealed.

"I'm impressed." Europa whistled. "If you insist on going ahead, I shall watch to see how far you got."

"There is no time." Seiya voiced. "We'll split into four groups and head towards Pallas. Normally, the Gold Saints are responsible for Athena's protection. Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, I'd like you to help the young Saints. We'll begin with the first path, Alfheim."

"I'm first." Koga offered.

"Wait a minute." Souma grinned and rushing up to Koga.

"I'm worried about you both, so I'll come as well." Yuna sighed.

"I'll go, too." Subaru voiced.

"You're coming with me." Eden held the younger Saint back.

"I'll watch over them." Shun stepped up.

"Next is Niflheim." Seiya noted.

"Eden, don't slow me down." Subaru warned.

"Calm down." Hyoga cautioned. "I can't let a child like you go alone."

"Eden, I'll go with you." Haruto stated.

"The third route, Dvergr." Seiya remarked.

"Let's go, Ryuho." Shiryu instructed.

"Athena, we shall hurry, too." Seiya reminded and the others headed down the Vanaheim path.


SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.