Laugh of the enemy? The revived Equuleus!

(敵の笑い声？ 復活したエクレウス！)

In this new war, this so-called Retribution battle between Specters and Saints, Hades's army was barred from stepping onto Earth, let alone attacking anyone or anywhere on Earth. That included the Mother Goddess Demeter; having found her peace that the revival of the Underworld and her daughter was certain, it was unknown what her future role would be. Perhaps she would remain out of the limelight and return to being Naxos's guardian, to stay with her family, but what of the traitorous Saints that remained by her side?

One was the Gold Saint Cancer Hermes, who was completely out of place, and indicated that he was under Hades's thumb. The other was near Sanctuary causing a fight.

"Augh!"

"You need to know your place."

Subaru was just about to claim his Cloth, but ended up thrown against the side of a tree trunk, launched with great force by a kick from the young man who nearly killed him in Limbo. He looked like he could pass as a Bronze or Silver Saint with his standard looking Cloth; his hair was gray and white, resembling a sky when a storm closely approached, and his violet eyes were clear, but sometimes glowed a fiery corona-orange.

"Do not interfere with our war," said the traitor.

"What the Hell are you doing here anyways? If you want to give it a go, then I'm all for it you damn turncoat."

"Talking to me like you're a Saint." Viento's foot nearly lifted from the ground to enter a stride, and Subaru caught his gasp when his opponent appeared before him again. All his brain could scream, "He's fast?!" It's nothing he has seen before, and Viento could easily get away with some orthodox strikes. Subaru gritted his teeth, his lower body bending as he felt a punch against his liver. He was stunned just enough for another clean hit.

It was three more clean hits. Viento jabbed and shook Subaru's face and head again, leaving him bewildered. Subaru felt upside down and that third attack, that kick, sent him in the air and back into the ground.

"I came here to see if all activity from the Shadows have ceased. There should be peace on Earth, and only war in the Underworld. Those are the Queen's orders. Hades and Persephone only wants the blood of the Saints, but you decide to interfere."

"Damn you," Subaru hissed as he lifted his face from the dirt. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Some cracked logic it was that a Saint said that and had to explain "Why are you working for Hades?"

Closing his eyes, the traitor took a moment to answer, "Let's just say that I am piece that is protecting the Earth. Hopefully. That's all."

"A bunch of crap!" Subaru wasn't aware of Hades, Demeter, and Persephone's ability to revive the dead to fight for them. While Kouga and the others had fought the Gold Saints of the past, Subaru wasn't sure if that was the same case today.

"Maybe I should let you get your Cloth, but then that would mean I would have to accept you as a Saint." Viento turned his back to Subaru; if he were to openly tell the truth, he was disappointed in Subaru. He did not detect the otherworldly power from a God, and he couldn't believe that one such as Saturn would humble himself to become human. However, this "weakness" must've proved that Subaru wasn't lying.

But Subaru sensed that Viento was sickeningly overconfident; that and the condescending way he was spoken to was enough to piss Subaru off. He might've been a human now, but God or boy, he couldn't stand being looked down upon. There was still a sliver of pride in him that was from a "God", which did not allow the defiance of mortals. He scrambled back to his feet and rushed over to the Pandora's Box.

"I am a Saint, and I won't put up with traitors like you!" As he stood before the Box, Subaru shoved his hand into a pocket and took out the hand-sized satchel that Agatha gave him. Unwrapping it, he hesitated.

What's this? Then Subaru realized that he wasn't sure on what to do but stare at the item dumbfoundedly.

Is this a Cloth stone? His next thoughts were, "How am I supposed to use this?!"

It looked like a tiny crystalized sphere with a red core.

"Is there a problem? You don't want to wear it?"

"Shut up!" With a snap of his hand, Suaru wrapped the "orb" back into the satchel and shoved it back into his pocket. That's when he called out to the Pandora's Box.

"Come on Equuleus!" The Box burst open, revealing a blue and red horse statue, which then broke into pieces of armor to attach to Subaru's shoulders, legs, waist, and chest. A helmet resembled a horse's head.

"I am the Bronze Saint of Athena, Equuleus Subaru! Don't forget it!" Subaru readied himself in an open attacking pose. He saw Viento turn to him, his flaring orange eyes as sharp as a knife. He took a similar pose; he now had no choice but to accept his opponent.

"I am the Saint that serves the Gods of the Underworld, Viento. Prepare to die, Subaru." Then, it was the same as before. He had disappeared after moving a step; the grass below their feet bended, indicating movement.

"You think! Tokiryuu: Stop the Clock!" Subaru, an aura forming around him, pushed out both hands. Much like when he faced Hermes and Pan back at Demeter's Temple, everything around Subaru entered a suspended state. If there was a fog rising from the forest humidity, a tint of droplets, it all ceased movement. A foe like Viento felt like he lost track of time, and before he saw anything move, it's like he only blinked once. He missed where Subaru went.

"Slow down, pal. Pleiades Tempest!" Viento had to spin around, and that's when his entire vision was covered in colors. What seemed to have been a rapid barrage of large colorful bullets, blinding, shining like a rainbow, came his way. That barrage blinded him, and he missed the acceleration of Subaru's body, which led into a sonic boom. Viento couldn't but move his arms over at front to guard himself. Subaru appeared behind him; Viento's entire body was pummeled by impact after impact, beginning and ending in a second or two. He only fathomed hitting the ground, and it was only Subaru who stood with confidence.

"Looks like you got some crazy speed on you. What the Hell kind of a Saint are you? You didn't even tell me, you disrespectful bastard." Subaru may have been shooting his mouth, but Viento was able to get back to his feet. He looked a little shaken, a crook in his body, but was able to give Subaru eye contact. His eyes remained defiant for the fake Saint, then his movement reflected his anger.

Sonic Headwind Throttle.

Subaru wasn't sure if he blinked either, but his body suddenly folded back, then was blasted behind Viento. It wasn't a distance strike at all. Subaru felt Viento's punch digging into his exposed lower abs; the force of it didn't make him think he would jump in the other direction. He then floated in the air, near unconscious, out of his mind. His opponent was speed and power; somehow, he survived the Pleiades Tempest.

The reason was that basic looking Cloth, the thing that Viento refused to answer about.

Subaru ended up in a crater when Viento appeared above him and slammed a punch into the back of his head. If his blows, or the fight from a distance, could be described, it was like Subaru was a ball and Viento's punch was a baseball bat. A ball that was effortlessly slammed at 128 kph (about 80 mph) or ricochet at awkward angles. Subaru, despite his Cloth, felt the brunt of each impact and there was no space for a counter.

The speed wasn't the danger, but the G-forces. For an average human, anything above 3 was cause for concern. In other words, Viento might've had the strength of a Silver or Gold Saint, but his speed was another monster. Subaru was lucky enough to still think. In reality, even though he was an undermined God, he was still a Bronze Saint.

And for him to fight Subaru, Viento had to regard that truth. His stubbornness wanted to close out his comprehension, which knew that formally Subaru was able to wear a Cloth. Saturn, even as a human boy, was able to wear a Cloth of Athena's Saints. But maybe that's why he was fighting hard. When he landed, time seemed to slow down. Once Subaru struck the ground, the air began to sparkle, and a glint caught Viento's eyes. More specifically, a crystal-like object that shattered into pieces.

It flew out of a small sachet. When that sphere-shaped crystal cracked, Subaru's Cloth glowed silver and red. A moment later, the two once again stood and looked at each other as opponents. The area suffused with sparkling stardust, it looked as if Subaru had revived with an awakened heavenly light. The Equuleus Cloth sparkled blue, with wider protection at the waist, shoulders, and chest.

Viento scowled, wondering over the spectacle. Was it indeed stardust?

"Impossible!" His thoughts unintentionally slipped, and he moved his feet impulsively. He closed in with ease, throwing a punch, it struck the Equuleus Cloth and stalled. Subaru raised a cocky smile.

"You are the second traitor Saint that I fought. Maybe it's my role to give you guys some payback to eat!" A wide hook and Viento ducked, but short after a tiny gap, another punch came into view. And another, and another. Until the one-twos were flashes of light. Viento was forced to raise a cross guard, a windy vortex appearing as a front-back barrier between him and the incoming attacks. The strikes bent the air; Viento could hear each impact, but his body was unharmed. Then, the air glowed. He lowered his cross guard and peeked over his arms, seeing a large sun being hurled towards him.

"Saints fight to defend the beautiful world. With my burning Cosmos, I have something to fight for! Supernova Explosion!"

Viento thought he was imagining it at first, then he quickly determined Subaru's shout as an indication of reality. That 'sun" or burning star could swallow him whole. He pushed out his open palms and two smaller orange "stars" were unleashed against the Explosion. Viento quickly swayed his arms and clapped his hands.

The air was soundless. Both Saints were propelled away as both the Supernova and Viento's attack burst out of existence, leaving a wide blast of pressure. Both were stunned and on the ground apart, looking into the sky, wincing through the forest canopy to see the sky.

There was a laughter. A laugh of a boy after a hard day's work with friends, or a long game between rivals. Even after a harsh fight, there was a kind of genial laugh.

"Aha, how nostalgic!" The laugh came from Viento. "Maybe you understand after all, Subaru. You wearing a Cloth is no show."

Subaru had his insult in his throat, but he was too stunned to move. Despite feeling that he could win, perhaps he had underestimated his opponent all the way through. Viento was stubborn about accepting Subaru, despite wearing the Cloth of Equuleus, but even Athena was no fool. A true Saint should believe in Heaven's choices; fate should not allow an antagonistic God to wear a Cloth. Then again, he was still able to wear his Cloth after betraying Athena. But was it true betrayal? Where was fate directing everyone?

Viento was the first to stand and he left the forest, continuing his journey to make certain that the Shadows were gone. He kept his personal thoughts within...despite his orders, he had hoped to find and defeat the Saints as soon as possible. His pride wouldn't allow it if the Bronzes he fought in the Underworld had survived. Surely, Queen Persephone would console him.

"Subaru, let's meet again in the Underworld. Our fists will determine everything."

Nostalgia? Saints were remarkable because of how they trained with flesh and body to find their fighting techniques and achieve the impossible. Being among the company of ghosts and evil spirits, perhaps Viento felt out of place. Or maybe he wanted to see the Saints shine a light that was unforgettable and could deter the destruction of the world. A light that could push back man's worst fears and sadness, push against the arrogance of Gods and Demons. Still, despite these feelings. he was still a traitor supporting one who always sought for the destruction of Earth. Would it be any different now?

Five more Bronze Saints needed to awaken. Once they do, they would have to enter Hell and cross its Gate, cross the river of Sanzu and various Prisons to reach Hades's Temple. It was too dangerous to be hasty. If one fell into Limbo, an unknown power behind the shadows and monochromatic structure of the Chaos Underworld would send them any place.

A part of Athena's plan was to seal the Hell gates where evil spirits escaped onto Earth, or to least deter the spirits in some form. So, how were the Saints suppose to accept Persephone's invitation with safety? The answer was the remains of Heinstein Castle, the one place that was not sealed. Andromeda Shun and Aquarius Hyouga, the former Cygnus Saint, had investigated it; the castle was the primary base of Hades and his most loyal supporter and caretaker Pandora. Always accompanying The Underworld King as his older sister and supreme commander, Pandora's existence guaranteed the return of Hades in the world. In her absence, she remained something behind in the ruins. A large golden harp. A beautiful instrument, but for some reason, maybe due to the darkness within the ruined structure the harp was found in, it felt foreboding.

The harp actually pushed Hyouga and Shun away from the castle; believe it or not, the notes of the strings remained embedded inside Shun and Hyouga even when they returned to Sanctuary. They could hear a melody in their dreams. Without comprehension, recently, after Athena's death, Shun and Hyouga heard the harp melody in their brains once more.

Along with the notes hummed a voice, "Come..."