[ "Is it coming?..." The scene shifts, and Defteros in the alternate dimension also seems to have sensed a subtle feeling: "Finally... this moment has arrived."
Defteros turns to Dohko and says, "Hold tightly to Athena's Cloth, the one you always protect."
"The guy who's coming soon is very strong! I need to slightly alter your memory."
After speaking, he placed his right hand in front of Dohko. To protect the secret of the Cloth, Defteros had to modify Dohko's memory.
After doing all this, Defteros backhanded Dohko out of the alternate dimension, then turned and crossed his arms, waiting for that man's arrival. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"It feels like someone he knows. The aura alone is enough to reveal their identity— and a very powerful one at that!"
"I can't believe Defteros actually has such a skill... Dohko is truly miserable. He just finished getting beaten, and now his memory is going to be modified again."
Good heavens, today should be called Dohko's Day of Suffering. He's either getting beaten or on his way to getting beaten.
In the alternate dimension, the severely injured Dohko didn't even have time to catch his breath a few times. After Defteros finished his instructions, he casually threw him out again. It's really—a bit tragic.
.....
〜Bleach World, Karakura Town〜
Urahara Kisuke also found their abilities somewhat peculiar for a moment:
"The Saints' techniques are as diverse as the Shinigami's Zanpakutō."
According to the Gold Saints who appeared before, their techniques should all be related. It's quite peculiar that only Gemini is set this way.
It's both an alternate dimension and memory modification; these two things are completely unrelated, making it hard to imagine they would appear on one person simultaneously.
.....
[ A moment later, the space ahead rippled, and a man wearing a helmet similar to the Pope's appeared.
The two met without any hesitation or probing. Defteros's fist instantly struck out, directly knocking the latter's helmet to the ground.
It revealed a handsome face identical to Defteros, but at this moment, it was distorted with rage: "I am Aspros of Gemini!!"
Aspros was no pushover either. He extended his arms to block Defteros's attack and even dragged Defteros from the alternate dimension back into one of the Eight Demon Palaces he guarded!
"You are merely my imitation!! Whether it's the alternate dimension or the Gemini Cloth... they were originally all mine."
Before Defteros could retort, Aspros waved his robe and vanished, leaving only a mask dropped on the spot.
And when Defteros saw the mask on the ground, his pupils constricted, and his thoughts returned to the Sanctuary 16 years ago! ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"The world of Saints is practically a gathering place for twins! But it really fits the definition of a Gemini Saint, a pair of twin brothers."
Everyone realized that the number of times twins appeared in this world of Saints was extraordinarily high, and there was a rule: as long as they were twins, they were terrifyingly strong.
Pope and Hakurei, Hypnos and Thanatos, Defteros and Aspros...
.....
[ From childhood, the elder brother was considered to represent light and hope, while the younger brother lived only as a harbinger of disaster.
So, from a young age, Defteros could only live wearing a mask, dwelling in the shadows, suffering bullying from those around him.
However, Aspros, as the elder brother, cared deeply for his younger brother, always protecting him by his side.
And to allow his younger brother to live honorably, and for Defteros to no longer live under a mask! He vowed to become even stronger.
14 years passed in a blink of an eye, and Aspros had honed his mind, technique, and body to the extreme, and inherited the Gemini Cloth! ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Wait, something's not right! How did Aspros, who was so good at caring for his brother and was determined to become stronger, get corrupted and go over to the Specters' side?!"
Aspros's growth could be said to be quite inspiring, like an excellent, ambitious young man, but why does he seem to have gone astray now? His personality has deteriorated into this state.
Logically speaking, Defteros should be the one to be corrupted! Abused from a young age, forced to live under a mask, he perfectly fit the conditions for corruption. How did the situation reverse?
Defteros, who should have been corrupted, instead became the righteous one, while Aspros, who was originally determined to become stronger to let his brother live in the sunlight, is now physically abusing his brother!
.....
[ But the Holy War was about to begin, and before the official start, the Sanctuary had to elect the next Pope. There were two candidates: Aspros of Gemini and Sisyphus of Sagittarius.
Defteros felt uneasy listening to the rumors in the Sanctuary. At night, relying on the telepathy between twins, Defteros easily found his brother!
However, the place where Aspros was located was a forbidden area where no one except the Pope was allowed to enter! And at this moment, it was a mess.
But at this time, Aspros was clearly blinded by power. What he did was no longer to let his brother take off his mask and live honorably, but to gain greater power and let the world see his existence.
He used the "Genrō Maō Ken" to control his younger brother Defteros to go to the Pope's Chamber to assassinate Pope Sage.
Although Defteros's consciousness kept resisting his body's actions, his steps still walked uncontrollably towards the Pope's Chamber.
Perhaps it was because of the betrayal of a loved one, or perhaps it was a lament for the injustice of fate, tears continuously streamed from Defteros's eyes: "I chose a destiny in the shadows, but was this wrong?"
Aspros thought everything was going smoothly when Asmita of Virgo suddenly appeared in the Pope's Chamber as the Pope's "ambush"!
Clearly, all of this was within the Pope's expectations.
And this Asmita of Virgo, known as "the man closest to God in the world," sensed Defteros's inner emotions during their battle!
Defteros's inner world was wrapped in sharp thorns, and these thorns were formed by the Genrō Maō Ken. If no one died in front of Defteros, this Genrō Maō Ken could not be resolved.
But Asmita of Virgo, inside Defteros's inner world, saw through his deeper thoughts: "Coming here, I confirmed it. There's no need to be hit by any Genrō Maō Ken; you have always been your brother's puppet."
"Your brother's fall also has its reasons. As a shadow, you willingly became your brother's puppet."
After hearing Virgo's words, Defteros no longer retorted but instead loudly questioned him: "THEN WHAT SHOULD I BECOME FOR MY BROTHER!!!"
Asmita, however, turned and left his inner world: "You should have understood by now. Now, please find the answer yourself."
After an unknown period, the thorns binding Defteros's heart broke, and he gradually began to awaken. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
What an irony!… The brother who once shone in the sunlight fell into darkness, while the brother in darkness never gave up his pursuit of light!
But why did Aspros's personality change so drastically for no apparent reason?!
Everyone wondered if the Pope's power wasn't that great. Aspros, who had always doted on his younger brother, actually chose to attack him.
"Asmita is still being a riddle-solver as usual. Can't he just speak clearly! Defteros understood something, but I don't."
As expected, Virgo's strength is truly formidable. What's most surprising is Aspros, whose power is so great that he can single-handedly choke the Pope!
.....
〜Bleach World, Hueco Mundo〜
"As expected of the Pope, as a backup, he didn't choose Sagittarius Sisyphus and Cancer Manigoldo, but instead chose Virgo Asmita."
Aizen loves dealing with smart people like these.
It's likely that the Pope had already sensed what Aspros was secretly doing on the Star Hill and had long anticipated this rebellion.
It's not that Virgo is stronger than Sagittarius and Cancer combined, uh... maybe that's not necessarily true.
But the Pope should have known that only Virgo could undo the control of the Genrō Maō Ken, and combined with Virgo's immense power, it was undoubtedly the optimal solution.
.....
〜Type-Moon World, Fifth Holy Grail War Worldline〜
Tohsaka Rin frowned, brimming with frustration:
"What on earth did Virgo mean? I couldn't make heads or tails of it."
Honestly, why do some people insist on talking in riddles? It's infuriating! Is it really so hard to just say what you mean clearly?
Archer, arms crossed and expression distant, reflected quietly:
"Asmita's words likely struck the rawest, most unbearable truth buried deep in Defteros's heart…"
"In other words—he doesn't need his brother controlling him at all. He'd willingly submit himself as his brother's slave!"
And worse still—turning a blind eye to evil is itself a sin. That is the guilt carried by the younger twin of Gemini: standing by as his elder brother fell.
It was precisely because Virgo saw through his soul that Defteros found the resolve to tear himself free from those thorns—and finally cast off the haze clouding his heart.
.....
[ "If there is neither light nor shadow, what should I become?!"
"Let me... BECOME A DEMON!!!"
And so, the unsuspecting Aspros was counterattacked by the rational Defteros, ending this rebellion!
Only in his dying moments did Aspros realize that Sisyphus of Sagittarius had already refused the predetermined position of Pope. Had it not been for this rebellion, the Pope's position would have been his for the taking.
Defteros carried his dead brother and walked out of the Pope's Chamber. The Pope, seeing this, asked him where he was going: "Where are you... going?"
Defteros, his face covered in blood, now looked like a demon: "I will go to Kanon Island. Until that moment arrives, I will continuously pursue power... power like a demon's." ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"So this is the origin of the Kanon Island demon. It's truly a heartbreaking story."
"The younger brother, who always lived in the shadow, was at a loss after leaving his brother, yet he still chose the side of justice."
Everyone sighed, lamenting that the two brothers, possessing such immense power, died due to internal strife. Even the Three Judges of Hell probably wouldn't have been a match for Aspros!
Now, the resurrected Aspros has returned, and Defteros must once again face the situation of fratricide.
.....
[ The flashback ends here. The resurrected Aspros once again appeared out of thin air before Defteros: "Do you remember, Defteros?"
Now clad in a Surplice, he had long forgotten the glory of being a Saint. Even facing his own brother, he showed no hesitation.
"Take this, Defteros!"
"This technique that shatters the stars..."
"Galaxian Explosion—!!!" ]
[ .....]