[ Facing this sudden turn of events, the Pope was powerless. Just resisting the Terrible Providence was enough to prevent him from helping Manigoldo.
He couldn't help but once again marvel at Thanatos's immense power, which sent shivers down his spine, a feeling he hadn't experienced in over two hundred years.
But Thanatos, the God of Death in the sky, was still pressing on, raising his hands again, and the second Terrible Providence began to coalesce.
If it hit them, both master and disciple would likely perish on the spot.
"HMM—?!"
At this moment, Thanatos noticed a new change. Countless talismans fluttered throughout the Pope's palace. These talismans, imbued with the power of the previous generation's Athena, were actually suppressing the God of Death's power.
Thanatos stopped his movements and looked at the numerous talismans beside him,
"Athena's talismans, mere parlor tricks..."
The Pope, at this moment, raised the talismans in his hand, and the area gradually became covered by a golden Cosmos.
"THE CAGE OF GUARDIAN TALISMANS—!"
"This formation even weakened your master's power. NOW, THE POWERLESS ONE IS YOU!!"
"I won't ever allow you to take the life of this unfilial disciple." ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"I say, Your Holiness... how much more do you have? Just take it all out. Are these talismans really not your coffin money that you've been saving for hundreds of years?"
Everyone from other worlds stared dumbfounded at the talismans fluttering everywhere. Was the previous generation's Athena a ruthless talisman-making machine? How much did she leave you? It's like you'll never run out.
Whether the previous generation's Athena was strong or not, people didn't know, but at least they knew her blood must have been thick enough; otherwise, how could she withstand such torment?
"How much blood did it take to draw so many talismans! The previous generation's Athena didn't bleed to death from writing talismans, did she...?"
.....
〜Detective Conan World〜
Haibara Ai looked at this scene with a somewhat dazed expression, then numbly put down her coffee,
"Was the previous generation's Athena really not captured by the Saints and bled dry?"
At this moment, Ai even wondered if the Saints were truly not villains. And Pope, you should be more frugal! Who can withstand such extravagance! Even if Athena didn't die, she must have been anemic.
The "Cage of Guardian Talismans" technique seems to require quite a few talismans, and the key is that the Pope actually had enough talismans to use this technique twice...
Conan shrugged helplessly,
"There's no other way. You can't even imagine how tough it was for the previous generation to fight. Without rosaries, how could they have managed without Athena's talismans?"
It's not like they didn't know how disadvantaged the previous generation was; without these, they couldn't fight at all.
.....
〜Type-Moon World, Carnival Phantasm Worldline〜
"Something's not right..."
Archer, observing this scene, frowned slightly. Although the Pope seemed to have regained the upper hand, there was a strange feeling.
Rin Tohsaka also nodded. Her keen perception also made her notice something unusual:
"Even though he's surrounded by talismans, Thanatos doesn't show the slightest tension."
One could even say he didn't take them seriously. What was the source of Thanatos's immense confidence?! After all, these were talismans that could even weaken Hades's power.
Illya pondered for a moment, then continued:
"Or perhaps Thanatos is hiding some trump card?"
After all, he was a god; he might still be hiding some powerful ultimate move.
.....
[ He thought that with the power of the talismans, he could completely suppress the God of Death, Thanatos, but Thanatos in the sky still looked utterly disdainful.
"Heh heh... Do you think these ancient talismans can suppress me, the God of Death, THANATOS?!"
Thanatos's eyes narrowed, and a purple light suddenly exploded in front of him. In just an instant, all the talismans were completely destroyed.
The powerful impact sent the Pope crashing into the stone pillar behind him. The violent energy fluctuations even blew up the Pope's palace, and countless massive stones, along with the Pope's helmet, fell into the Forest of Death.
As the smoke cleared, the Pope, who had been hit head-on, emerged from the stone pillar, his figure stooped. At this moment, he truly looked like an old man.
But Thanatos's disdainful laughter came from the sky,
"The efficacy of these talismans only lasts for two hundred years at most. They've long been worn out. How many do you have left now?!" ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Expired talismans are harmful! If these talismans were still effective, the situation wouldn't be like this."
"Damn it, they actually have an expiration date! I should have known to ask the modern Athena to draw some more. Give him some freshly made talismans, let's see if he's still so arrogant!"
Everyone also never expected the problem to be due to expired talismans. As expected, you can't use the swords of a previous dynasty to deal with the officials of the current one; problems will arise sooner or later.
It's not that expired talismans have no effect, but they have little effect and simply cannot suppress Thanatos, the God of Death.
Everyone from other worlds looked at the stooped Pope, who had just been full of vigor, and then realized that the Pope was also an old man, over two hundred years old.
.....
[ Then Thanatos once again conjured a Terrible Providence. Purple light, accompanied by electric flashes, was clearly visible in the sky.
"How much longer can you last?! UNDER THIS TERRIBLE PROVIDENCE!!"
At this moment, the Pope knew that he might have underestimated the power of the God of Death. All the talismans had also been used up. Even the Pope didn't believe he could defeat Thanatos in front of him at this moment.
But...
"As the Pope, as a survivor of the previous Holy War, EVEN IF IT MEANS MUTUAL DESTRUCTION!!"
When he came here, he had already prepared for mutual destruction. Just as the Pope was about to use his final move.
Suddenly, a golden figure leaped high from the ground, then delivered a heavy punch to the arrogant face of the God of Death.
Bang—
"Don't touch my master, YOU STINKY GOD!!"
Thanatos, having taken a punch, his pupils dilated, his gaze blank. This sudden punch sent him into a daze, and the Terrible Providence in his hand also dissipated.
And after Manigoldo delivered this punch, as his body fell weakly, he looked at the Pope, like a child who had scored 100 points, eager for praise.
"Master, I punched the God of Death."
After Manigoldo finished speaking in a weak voice, he fell back to the ground, motionless. Only the punch mark on the God of Death's face proved that everything that had just happened was not an illusion. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
Manigoldo's unexpected punch directly struck everyone's hearts. Although Manigoldo was a bit reckless, wouldn't he still be a young man if he wasn't impetuous?!
"Holy cow—that punch was just too cool! It proves that Manigoldo really did it. Ratings must be full!"
"I knew Manigoldo wouldn't fall so easily! One punch completely stunned the God of Death. CANCER IS AWESOME!!"
Manigoldo's punch, like a final burst of energy, couldn't cause much damage, but the psychological damage was immense. Being punched by a human, whom he considered dust, where would such an arrogant God of Death put his face?!
.....
〜Bleach World, Karakura Town〜
"That punch was indeed unexpected. I thought a new Gold Saint had come to save the day."
Seeing this scene, Urahara Kisuke shook his head with a slight regret. The God of Death's previous attack had already left Manigoldo on the verge of death. The actual damage from this punch was actually very low...
But the symbolic meaning was different. This full-power punch, born from a hatred for death etched into his bones, was humanity's mockery and counterattack against death!
"Manigoldo of Cancer, he truly is a different person."
His personality, how should I put it, he looks at life and death with indifference, and if you don't agree, he'll fight. Who cares what kind of god you are?! He'll hit you regardless.
.....
〜Saint Seiya Shioriverse, The Lost Canvas timeline〜
"HAHAHA!!!, Master, I punched him, didn't I? DID YOU SEE THE GOD OF DEATH'S EXPRESSION?!"
Laughter echoed through the grand Pope's Hall. For Manigoldo, there was nothing happier than making Thanatos look bad.
"Yes, I saw it. No disciple can make me prouder than you."
The Pope also rarely showed a slight smile.
The other Gold Saints looked at the wildly laughing man with complex emotions. The power of the God of Death was beyond their imagination, but Manigoldo actually punched Thanatos in the face.
At this moment, even those in the Pope's Hall could hear the excited shouts of the Saints outside.
Manigoldo's punch proved that gods were not out of reach. Gods could also be injured, bled, and hit. They were just slightly stronger humans!
—
On the other side, Thanatos's eyes were already bloodshot, and unspoken rage distorted his face.
If Hypnos hadn't stopped him, he would have probably rushed to the Sanctuary and dragged Manigoldo of Cancer into hell for some torment.
"Hmph... cherish your remaining time, MANIGOLDO OF CANCER! The price of angering a god will be something you'll thoroughly enjoy."
Thanatos's face was gloomy as he uttered a harsh threat, only hoping for the start of the Holy War. Manigoldo had already become his target.
.....
〜Saint Seiya Toeiverse, Anime timeline〜
"Deathmask, come out and get beaten! Look at Manigoldo, then look at yourself..."
Mu of Aries was utterly puzzled. Even though they were both Gold Saints of Cancer, why was there such a huge difference?
Only at this moment did he realize that it wasn't Cancer that was weak, but Deathmask.
And in the Five Old Peaks, the outwardly aged Dohko also showed a look of nostalgia. So Manigoldo had actually experienced such a thrilling battle back then.
"Seeing my old comrades shine once again is truly exciting!"
Sitting alone on the Five Old Peaks for hundreds of years, he couldn't help but recall the past scenes.
.....