He raised his head, looking up at the sky, praying devoutly in his heart.
"Goddess Athena, I pray for your divine consciousness to descend and take charge of the situation!"
Boom!
A golden pillar of light descended from the sky, completely enveloping Shion's body!
A Cosmo far exceeding that of a Gold Saint soared through the air, and Shion floated up into the air. As the golden light dissipated, a young man of the Jamir Tribe appeared before everyone.
His skin was smooth and clean, his muscles firm, and his spirit radiant.
His face was handsome, and it was none other than the old Pope Shion, who had instantly reverted to his peak state as the Aries Saint.
Even more astonishingly, his eyes had turned golden, with countless golden specks shimmering within them, as if his eyes contained the vast universe!
Seeing Shion's transformation and sensing that immense Cosmo,
the many Saints present immediately understood that this was Goddess Athena herself, descending by possessing the Pope's body.
They all knelt on one knee, bowing their heads, not daring to meet Shion's gaze.
Inside the Pope's Palace, the golden pillar of light had not yet fully dissipated. Shion's wide Pope's sleeves gently waved, and he floated like a feather to Li Yu's front.
His face was as handsome as a sculpture, but his golden eyes held no warmth. He questioned coldly,
"Li Yu, do you know your crime?"
Seeing that the main figure had finally arrived, Li Yu showed no panic. He revealed a faint smile and spoke,
"I am unwilling to take over the position of Pope because I have a question in my heart. If you can answer it for me, I am willing to assume the position of Pope."
"Oh, tell me!"
A hint of doubt appeared in Shion's eyes.
"That night, more than ten years ago, Aiolos took a baby girl from the Sanctuary..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shion's eyes widened, and he suddenly shouted,
"Silence!"
His voice became neutral, and his sharp shout echoed continuously through the Pope's Palace.
Li Yu clearly remembered that several years ago, on the night before Aiolos entered the Pope's Palace, Li Yu had tried to stop him.
He saw Aiolos off from Aquarius Palace, and the myriad stars reflected on Aiolos's resolute face.
A hint of an indescribable meaning appeared in Aiolos's eyes.
"Are you sure you want to go? Aiolos, this departure might be a permanent farewell."
Aiolos seemed not to hear Li Yu's words. He stared blankly at the statue of Goddess Athena on the mountaintop. After a moment, he lowered his head.
"I heard the Goddess's call in my dream. Some things must be done by someone!"
That was Li Yu and Aiolos's last meeting, and from then on, it became a permanent farewell!
Such a loyal Aiolos ended up with the reputation of a traitor, dying outside the Sanctuary!
This incident was also an important catalyst for Li Yu to take the step he was taking today.
He actually wanted to confront Athena directly!
Why, as a Goddess of War and Wisdom, could she not tolerate a Sagittarius Saint?
The succession ceremony was the best opportunity he had chosen!
If Athena did not give him a satisfactory answer, he would spare no effort to inform the many Gold Saints of Aiolos's true cause of death that year!
Saori Kido had not yet become the true reincarnation of Athena, and her influence over the many Gold Saints was limited.
Once the seed of doubt was planted in their hearts, how many would still maintain absolute loyalty to Athena? That was a big question mark.
Shion gazed at Li Yu's ice-cold profile, a complex light flashing in his golden eyes. The anger gradually dissipated, finally turning into a long, drawn-out sigh.
"So you are doing this for that matter."
Li Yu sneered.
"This matter has been stuck in my throat. Ten years have passed, and today I must get an answer!"
Shion waved his hand.
"Aside from Li Yu, all other Saints, please withdraw!"
The Gold Saints silently rose and left. Mu's silver hair fell, covering his eyebrows, and Saga's deep blue eyes were unfathomable... Only Aiolia of Leo remained frozen in place.
He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling violently beneath his golden mane, his hands clenched tightly into fists.
His brother's death was the deepest scar in his heart. What Li Yu said was like a sharp blade, cruelly cutting open the scabbed wound.
He could never believe that his brother would betray the Sanctuary or the Goddess. Li Yu's words today were like a flash of lightning, illuminating the darkest corner of his heart.
"Aiolia, go out first." Shion's voice softened slightly.
"I will explain everything to you personally later."
Aiolia walked out with heavy steps, but stopped abruptly at the doorway, turning back to look at Li Yu.
Li Yu nodded slightly, his dark eyes carrying a promise.
Don't worry, Little Aiolia, I will give you an explanation... As the commotion died down, Li Yu and Shion, or rather Athena, quietly faced each other.
Athena's golden eyes gazed at the twelve constellations on the dome, her clear voice carrying the vicissitudes of having witnessed everything.
"Since the dawn of chaos, the earth has gasped for breath in the chasm between light and shadow. Hades of the Underworld, abhorring the fragility and greed of humans, believes this planet should return to eternal silence. He wants to drag all souls into the Underworld, turning the earth into a lifeless stone tomb."
"And I am the protector of the earth and humanity!"
Athena's eyes glowed with compassionate golden light.
"Humans may cry, make mistakes, and lose themselves in desire, but the spark in their minds, the creations of their hands, and the love in their hearts are precisely the most precious existences in this universe. I cannot allow this light to be swallowed by eternal darkness."
"Every two hundred and forty-three years, Hades' divine kingdom, Pluto, completes one year, and that is also the moment when Hades' power reaches its peak!"
"The Specters will break through their seals and revive once more, attempting to annihilate humanity!"
"This is the origin of the Holy War. Do you understand now, Li Yu?"
Li Yu nodded slightly. So, the Holy War, which occurs every two hundred and forty-three years, is related to Pluto's orbit!
What if I just destroyed Pluto directly? Would Hades then fall into eternal slumber?
Of course, the current Li Yu cannot do that; the Saint Seiya World has the gods' oaths restraining him.
But that doesn't mean his future self can't do it. As long as he continuously draws nourishment from the Samsara World, one day, Li Yu will make it so that the heavens can no longer obscure his vision!
Athena naturally did not know what Li Yu was thinking. She continued,
"The Holy War has been going on for thousands of years; even my ancient memories are a bit blurry..."
"During one Holy War, I unfortunately died in battle... The earth completely plunged into darkness, and all living beings suffered. Fortunately, Chronos, the God of Time, reversed time and space, and humanity gained a second chance to turn the tide of defeat."
"During the Holy War before last, I wore my God Cloth and entered the Divine Path to pursue Thanatos, God of Death, and Hypnos, God of Sleep. Unfortunately, I fell into a trap and entered a long slumber!"
Li Yu's gaze flickered. Athena truly lived up to her title as the Goddess of War, daring to pursue two subordinate gods alone.
Those who thought a goddess born by splitting Zeus's skull had no combat power must have had their brains kicked by a donkey.
"Every Holy War, it is only through the heroic sacrifices of the Saints that the human side, which I represent, can barely achieve victory!"
"For the victory of the Holy War and the eternal existence of humanity, the sacrifice of Saints is inevitable, Li Yu!"
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