''To save Sienna, you must confidently destroy your pendant.'' Seiya's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the man before him. His own father, the one he had been searching to rind the truth, of what had happened to him all these years, stood before him with a grave expression. The golden armor on his being, glinted in the fading light, as a stark contrast to the darkness that loomed ahead. ''I'll repeat myself, to rescue Sienna,'' his voice low and ominous, ''you must possess the valor and determination to shatter what it is you hold dear,'' Seiya's heart raced as his father continued, ''And in this case, it is your cherished pedant, my Seiya,'' Seiya's grip tightened on the pedant that hung around his neck. He knew how much it meant to him, but he also knew what was at stake. ''It is a choice that demands a profound comprehension of the situation and a readiness to make a sacrifice in the pursuit of Sienna's safety,'' his father warned. Seiya's fists clenched as he hissed through gritted teeth. ''I am not yours to claim, do not dare to address me like that!'' His words echoed through the treacherous path ahead, as he braced himself for what was to come. Sienna's safety was his own concern, and he was fully prepared to pay the ultimate price. ''But how can I destroy my pedant? It isn't just any ordinary piece of jewelry, it is an ancient relic passed down from knight to saint, for centuries, perhaps even since before the time of the dinosaurs!'' Seiya's voice was filled with frustration, his eyes lifted to the heavens in despair. The weight of his duty was beginning to weigh heavy on his shoulders, but he knew he had to what was necessary to protect Sienna, that was his job.

With a trembling hand, he removed the pendant from around his neck, feeling the weight of its significance against his palm. As he held it flat against his skin, he couldn't help but to gaze into its surface, as if he was peering into the eyes of the many who had worn it before him. The power that had once coursed through his veins moments before, now faded, leaving him feeling stripped and vulnerable. The golden shine of his armor vanished shortly after the power did, replaced on his being was his regular red t-shirt, though it was still covered with many thick layers of sand. He knew that without the pedant, he was just a mere mortal, no longer protected by the divine forces that had once surrounded him, but was that really a price to pay for Sienna's life?

''Seiya,'' his father whispered, his voice trembling with urgency. ''Are you going to take my advice?'' His eyes bore into his, pleading for his son to listen. The weight of his father's words hung heavy in the air as if the whole world rested on his answer and in a way it kind of did. Seiya's heart raced as he considered his option. The stakes were high, and the consequences of his decision could be catastrophic. He took a deep breath and met her gaze with steely determination. Then without a moment's hesitation, Seiya blurred out the first thing that came to his mind.

''Yes,'' he said firmly. ''I will take your advice.'' And with those words, the die was cast.

''Time is of the essence! We must begin at once! And you, been her closest friend, I ask that you move her body. We mustn't want her to get hurt during the process.'' Vander Scar advised as he left Seiya's side, his hands moving frantically as he began pushing buttons and seemingly programming things into the machine responsible for Sienna's current state.

''And why would she get hurt?'' Seiya demanded, his voice laced with urgency as he drew his stare over to Sienna's body. Still no change in her current state. Those same pure purple eyes, and emotionless expression. It was like her body had been left behind while her soul was missing from the planet. Drawing his attention back to his father, Seiya turned to his attention to him, as he began watching him fumble over the machine's commands, try as he may to restart it. ''The pedants hold is unbreakable,'' he said gravely, more to himself than to Seiya. ''Only my machine stands a good chance of severing the connection between you and this cursed object. Once we do that, the pedant should crumble into nothingness. But we first must extract the power from you first. Without your energy, the pedant will be nothing more than a worthless trinket, devoid of its malevolent power.'' Seiya's heart pounded like a drum as he gazed into the abyss of danger that lay ahead of him. His mind raced with thoughts of the unknown, and a sense of unease crept over him like a shadow. He knew that what lay before him was unprecedented, a challenge unlike any other in history. Trembling with fear, Seiya felt the icy grip of terror tighten around his heart, threatening to consume him whole. However he would not give into it. He had a mission, a purpose driving him forward. Sienna needed him, and he would do whatever it took to save her. With a fierce determination, he steeled himself for the battle ahead, ready to face whatever fate had in store for him. Taking a deep breath, he approached the machines, his fathers eyes boring into his back like daggers. But Seiya didn't flinch when he noticed, he stood tall, eyes forward, as his father strapped his wrists to the same contraption Sienna had been on, ready to face what ever was about to happen.

Seiya's heart sank as he felt the all - too familiar - weight of his body return, dragging him down into a pit of despair. The putrid stench that had haunted him for so long crept back into his nostrils, suffocating him with memories from a past he couldn't escape. He tried to hide his face, but the tears streaming down his cheeks betrayed his pain. How could he ever hope to find happiness when he was constantly weighted down by the darkness that came with being a hero. One thing was for sure, would he enjoy living life again, once his connected with the pedant was severed? Right now, Seiya found himself trapped in a never- ending cycle of misery, and he didn't know how to break free from it. Maybe this would be a good thing for him, for everyone. Would doing this really help Sienna? Could she be free as well as him?

''I can't believe your thinking, young warrior.'' Seiya gasped, eyes wide, as his heart shattered as he took in the soft voice. The voice belonged to the spirt of the armor, the spirt of the golden armor, her name being Lilith. ''I can't believe your thinking,'' she said, her words experiencing his very soul. ''When I put my faith in you, this was not what I thought you were made of,''

''Lilith, please understand. I am left with no other option. My dear friend is in peril, and my father has instructed me me to take this drastic step, he says it'll save her,'' Seiya pleaded, his voice trembling with emotion. ''I know its hard for you to comprehend, but I cannot bear to see her suffer. i am willing to do anything to keep her safe, read my soul if you have to, my resolve to safe her is still just as strong.'' Lilith's voice trembled with heartbreak as she suddenly appeared in a cloud of silver mist, right next to him, resulting in him jumping a little. ''And you think this is the right way to do that?'' Her eyes, once filled with love, now glimmered with a fierce intensity that made Seiya's heart ache in his chest. Her once radiant beauty from their first meeting, was replaced by a face etched with agony and eyes narrowed with fury. He was aware of the pain he was causing her, for his decision not only affected him but also shattered her. He was quite literally tearing her apart, piece by piece, and she was powerless to stop him.

''This isn't a decision I'm taking lightly. If there was anything else I could to guarantee Sienna returns, i'd do it.''

''But how could you do this? Do you even understand the consequences that will lead from a decision like this?'' Seiya's heart was filled with a deep sadness as he struggled to come terms with the heavy decision he was facing. He was willing to do anything to bring Sienna, yet he knew that his hands were tied. His mind was filled with doubt and fear as he plundered what actions might have unintended consequences. How he wished there was another way! While the situation had been far from perfect, there were also great joys and blessings to be thankful for - their connection had opened his life to wonderful people and enabled him to experience a happiness that he hadn't know before, even though there were times where he was conflicted. Through her tears, Lilith begged Seiya not to abandon her, for without their bond she would be forever alone and lost.''Seiya, I'm pleading with you here, do not do this. I've gone through a long period of loneliness and despair without anyone else like you around, and I had almost given up hope of that ever changing. But then you showed up and took up the mantel of a saint, and you accepted me. I can't bear the thought of going back to being on my own and powerless.''

''I-I don't think I have anymore time, Lilith.'' Seiya's voice broke off, just as his muscles became achy, with the feeling of burns going up and down his body. His head was pounding as his heart began working double to keep his body functioning. If it were possible for a spirt to be able to reach out and touch someone, well it seemed possible for Lilith, who took the young saint in her arms, once she noticed his condition was worsening. ''No, no, you can't do this,'' With tears streaming down her face, Lilith fell to her knees. Seiya;s body convulsed next to her in extricating torment, his every fiber screaming in agony as he felt his very essence being torn away. The pain was unbreakable, a relentless assault on his being that left him gasping for breath. He wanted to scream, to cry out, to make everything that was happening to him stop, but all he could do was endure the unrelenting agony. As he felt his life force slipping away, he knew what was going to happen next.

''Seiya, your fading away...''

Then in the distant, the sound of an object shattering was deafening. It was as if a thousand tiny pieces were exploding all at once, each one creating its own unique sound. The initial impact was a sharp crack, followed by a cascade of tinkling and clicking as the fragments of the pedant bounced off one another. The noise echoing through the surroundings of the landscape. It was the type of sound that made everyone freeze, their hearts pounding in their chests as they tried to process what had just happened. Seiya felt the restraints around his wrists loosen, but before he could steady himself, his legs turned to jelly and he collapsed onto the earthly ground, face first. The silence that followed was as deafening as the shattering sound that preceded it. It was if time had stopped and the world was holding its breath, waiting for Seiya to rise again. But he lay there, motionless, his mind racing with thoughts of what had just happened.

''I-I don't feel very good,'' he whispered, trying to hold his stomach as the burning in his stomach increased. The discomfort was becoming unbearable as he laid there, he was struggling to keep it together, then his eyes locked onto something sparkling in front of him. The pedant lay shattered, his fingers stretching out desperately to grasp the fragmented pieces of his former self. He yearned to hold onto even the tiniest of piece, as if they could somehow make him whole again. But all he was left with were scattered remnants of his former existence. It was a tragic sight, watching him struggle to piece himself back together. With a sudden jolt of agony, his hand was crushed under the weight of a colossal foot. The excruciating pain made him cry out in agony, as he writhed on the ground. The perpetrator sneered down at him, shaking their head in disappointment.

''Still, so naive,'' they scoffed as if his suffering was a mere inconvenience. But in that moment, all they could do was grit their teeth and endure the searing pain. With his heart pounding hard in his chest, he desperately yearned for a way out. Suddenly, a forceful grip seized a chunk of his hair, wrenching his head backwards. Then in the blink of an eye, a sharp blade sliced down upon him, slicing across his flesh like a hot knife going through butter. The pain was excruciating. But it would only last a few seconds, until his eyes would close, as crimson painted the dirt.