Saint Seiya THE END Cast IV
Lionet Souma: The Lionet or Minor Leo Bronze Saint following Ban. He has a positive attitude and a sense of humor, even in tough situations, and is protective of both his students and his friends. An overall strong assault fighter that attacks with flame around his body or from his fists, such as Lionet Burning Fire and Lionet Bomber.
Demeter: The Goddess of Fertility and Agriculture; one of the Olympians along with Athena, Poseidon, Zeus and Apollo. Mother of Persephone and sister of Hades, connecting her closely to the Underworld. The capture of her daughter by Hades is a famous Greek myth epitaph, and she is well known for both her deep love for Persephone, and her vengeful wrath.
Stubborn! Guardians of Fire that Protect God Part 1I
(頑固者だ!神を守る炎の守護者 2)
Insects are eaten by birds, birds are eaten by animals, animals are eaten by humans.
"You can't be complacent here, even as a Gold Saint. There are many dangerous threats in the Underworld."
Leo Shir Khan looked around aimlessly, confused at a male voice that entered his mind. But he had recognized it, especially when he shared an interesting connection between the owner's voice. Out of twelve, Leo guarded the 5th temple of Athena's Sanctuary, and the one afterward was the second man who swore to protect a Buddha with an evil cleansing flame. The 6th temple was the Temple of Virgo. So far, it was these two Gold Saints, outside the Legendary Bronze Saints, who were suitable for walking the mortem land. An aberration of Gold Saints that will blossom within the dead. What does that mean? The lacking of adversity to express the answer wasdifficult for now. Tabaqui lost to a technique called the Lightning Rathna, which was only possible by a youth who also protected a Buddha with a cleansing "flame". Tabaqui lost by changing for the worst, by condemning himself and not being that beloved older brother.
"Fudou?!" The name came out of his mouth, but it made no sense towards Ikki and Shiva. It was telepathy.
"In Holy Wars, the key is to defeat our opposite deity. But we need the help of Athena. Even in this dark, desolated Underworld, her voice touches us. We as her Saints need to gather around her to win."
"Fudou, I want to save Athena if I can. If not, I defeat whoever is in my way, including God. Please tell me where she might be."
"I do not have that information just yet. Once I do, I have to inform Pallas. Everything depends on whether we survive, she may make a move."
Pallas? Shir was a bit surprised, holding a breath in. If he recalled, the sibling served as a substitute. Perhaps she will be the key to either defeating Hades or saving Athena, perhaps buying time. With that closeness, would she make an appearance in the Underworld?
"You, or maybe you and I, still have much to learn as a Gold Saint," said Fudou.
Many times, the Goddess Athena—being a benevolent war genius—has lived beyond her circumstances. That is one thing that inspired her Saints. While this game Hades and Persephone created was to buy time, while sating the Specters, The Sanctuary's Pope and the Goddess Pallas assured that Athena could be saved. However, was it a race to reach Hades's Temple in an abyssal-looking Underworld? And who was it that would lead the so-called rescue?
"Do you desire a pas de trois?" Naga Shiva regained her composure, either out of confidence or as a defensive measure. She was tight-lipped about her power, leaving Ikki to shudder at her absurdity. It didn't seem real for such power to emit from a lithe woman, or worse, were they equal?
"I defeated my first opponent," said Shir, staring at Shiva's back.
Fudou remarked in the young Gold's mind, "Shir, are you sure?"
A fall on his shoulder, and a breath into his ear. A breath of exhaustion. It caused even a Gold Saint to freeze out of apprehension. A second of hesitation was a grave error on the battle field, the boy learned. Shir's head turned a ninety and then he veered his upper body, a glittering fist passing against his cheek. It came from the body covered in diamond.
"I am a star of a divine vehicle for gods." And today, that God was Hades. Shir spun around entirely and a heavy fist twisted his head. It was a brutish attack from an older brother that was perhaps beyond scolding. For some reason, Yali Tabaqui could breathe through his new "form".
A third, a full swing missed, and a quick swing in return touched Tabaqui's diamond face. The Specter was a diamond body, the hardest mineral on each, but his head pulled sideways from the blow. The Specter staggered, and from the gap between them, the brothers glared at each other. Shir's eyes sparked like sunlight touching the ocean surface. In his mind, he could only utter "How?" Animalistic instincts maybe? A secret weapon, or maybe his final parting attempts to connect with his brother.
"Shir Khan, Athena is dead. And you will die too!" Tabaqui's words came out in slow parts as if his lungs were gradually failing or compressed by diamond. Again, it wasn't a husk that he could break out of like an insect. He somehow clung to life; his body, supposedly, should have shut down completely because his matter evaporated. The Lightning Rathna should've voided his life completely. Shir still had confidence in his technique and watched his brother, stalling, unsure on what to do. Tabaqui did not hesitate; years ago, even though it was just child's play, he was no coward when swinging play sticks against his younger brother. The diamond Specter lunged and threw straights; he was unsure on how much time he had left.
Fudou may have said all he wished. Mentally, he still continued to ask about what the Gold Saints were lacking, despite Athena's acceptance. With Shir being the youngest, Virgo couldn't help but think, "he lacks concentration and takes his power for granted." Shir launched first into Chaos Underworld as a means to reach Shiva, but Fudou, while an important piece in Athena and Pallas's plan, happened to be in a bind himself. The Barrier of Om managed to hold his enemies at bay, and they groaned in frustration as they were unable to approach. A little light emerged inside Virgo's heart. He believed that both he and Leo would experience uncharted territory with their powers. That warm smile of his would have to lay low as something parted the gathering around him, making way towards him.
Back to Leo and Phoenix, while the brothers were in a brawl with Shir on the defensive weaving out the way, there was a snicker from Naga Shiva again. "Phoenix Ikki, you may have been and seen Hell before, but understand that this is different. How do you wonder? It's because Hades hasn't awakened yet, but the result is the Chaos Underworld."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"A few things dear Ikki. Hades is the leader of the Specters, but this encounter was only possible by reverting to the origins of time. Before I laid eyes on you and the cub, I was in darkness. I would have dreams of the noble man I had my hands on many times. Oh, but I am rambling am I? Where I'm getting at is...the High Dark King has emerged to make up what was lost. You and the cub are trapped here, and the living can not stand in the darkness."
The brothers' fate could be read in the fortune-telling cards.
Due to his birthday, Yali Tabaqui was suitability connected to the Tower and the Devil. Two bad luck cards together that only meant ruin, betrayal, and disgrace, but perhaps it also meant getting up from the ashes. On the other hand, the Sun connected Shir Khan the Leo, the card of victory, the light, and a promising future. Pride and arrogance, standing too tall, eventually being humans' downfall described the Tower. For Tabaqui, the same Devil card also meant, when reversed, to start over or revive. Getting up from the ashes. Eventually, his barrage stopped and he stood frozen, his head low.
Is it over? Shir wondered. He waited, then there was a shadow behind him. Leo Shir Khan lost sight of his brother at first, and he did not expect a scream to emerge from him. It was like a blink of the eye, and Tabaqui was now behind the Leo Saint, extending his arm in some forward striking motion. Shir didn't see him because he was confused. At first. The speed was tremendous, but that wasn't all: Yali had blended with the dark surroundings. Tabaqui's body was no longer diamond and replaced by a casing of shadow. Now he moved with a refreshed vigor.
Shiva's words to Ikki earlier…
Was it possible that ever since the former Aries Saint Kiki last laid foot in the Pope Chambers, explaining Persephone's conditions, Athena's Saints were already sentenced to death?!
Ikki was startled at first, nearly shouting the cub's name as he fell to his knees. He noticed an opening in Shir Khan's back. He scowled at the female Specter, holding a firm, arrogant stance.
"Shiva was it? Even if the 'situations' are different, I can only respond in kind by what I know through years of fighting and dying."
That stance changed to an open fighting pose, and the Phoenix lunged.
"My power is not yours to take!"
Their bodies crossed as Shiva leaned to dodge Ikki's punch, but flames took her entire body. She managed an excited grin. Suddenly, after hearing the shriek of a bird whistling through her ears, her mind went back to something unrelated.
Men are always forthright and stubborn. Leaving you all blind to the venoms of women. Isn't that right, my dear sovereign?
Shiva felt the flames and the attack's shock burn from her head to her toes, but she didn't show an expression of despair or defeat. Some of Ikki's strongest adversaries may have been Seiya, Shaka, Saga, Hades and Aegaeon, so why was a Specter so stubborn to fall? To stand toe to toe with him, one of two things may be needed: A Cosmos close to God or to acquire Ikki's power. Despite what Ikki said earlier, Shiva was surviving, and it was her ability to absorb the matter or essence of living beings, using it against them. Since Cosmos could burn eternally, defeat for one or the other was only determined by who fades out first. In other words, whoever had the highest surge in the Phoenix's Cosmos, overtaking the other, won. What Ikki might not have realized was that his Cosmos was fluctuating.
Back to Leo and Yali. As Shiva and Ikki clashed, Virgo Fudo urged Leo Shir Khan to remember who he was and why he was here. The reminder, and the result of little Leo being conscious of his body receiving a near fatal blow that almost consumed his Cloth, left the shadow Yali Tabaqui to receive an electric current. Then, a bright golden eruption, creating a green and red aurora even in Chaos Underworld.
Remember the promise between you and Athena. Leo, you carry one of the strongest heat sources in the universe: The sun!
