Pegasus. Looking at the divine beast that was, in the truest sense of this world, of the same origin as himself, Seiya felt a rather special
Pegasus. Looking at the divine beast that was, in the truest sense of this world, of the same origin as himself, Seiya felt a rather special feeling.
—Pegasus.
The prototype of the Pegasus constellation in Greek mythology. When Medusa's head was cut off, he and his brother, the giant Chrysaor, were born together. Greek and Roman poets described him ascending to the heavens after his birth to meet Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus instructed him to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. He was a friend of the Muses. Legend has it that when this winged horse stepped on Mount Helicon, it created the Hippocrene spring of inspiration. Poets who drank from it would receive inspiration, so this winged horse was also regarded as a symbol of the Muses, the goddesses of literature, science, and the arts.
For the Saint, Seiya, it held another special meaning.
But the moment it touched him, the God Robe of Verethragna instantly disintegrated. And in that gap, that extremely brief gap, the well-prepared Perseus transformed into a streak of platinum brilliance and completely disappeared on the horizon.
Seiya raised his hand, wanting to summon the Pegasus Cloth again, but in the end, he gave up the idea. He finally looked up at the pure white feather falling from the sky and caught the last remaining trace of Pegasus in his hand.
Tokyo, Chiyoda. A small courtyard in Banchō.
When Seiya's figure appeared in the courtyard, Stella's gaze followed him furtively like a frightened fawn. Watching him walk straight towards her, the words of defense she had been preparing for half the day were instantly stuck in her throat, not a single one coming out. Until Seiya stopped in front of her and opened his palm—the silent gesture's meaning was self-evident.
"Ugh..." Stella let out an unintelligible mumble, and reluctantly took out two things from her bosom: an ancient shield and a pair of pure white wings that flowed with a moonlight-like brilliance. It was precisely the divine artifact shield made by the smith god Hephaestus, and the divine artifact wings that symbolized the Authority of Hecate.
"The Wheel of Friendship can also transfer items?" Seiya raised an eyebrow, casually fiddling with the shield and wings in his palm, his tone carrying a hint of playful teasing. "Thank you so much. Only now do I know it has this considerate function."
Stella hurriedly explained, "They're just some little trinkets! Pegasus, you can't let that innately evil Perseus sow discord in the deep friendship between us aunt and nephew! I never thought of deliberately hiding them from you!"
Seeing the Pegasus pressing closer and closer, Stella began to panic. "I never thought of betraying you! I just wanted to give you a surprise! Actually, these were all prepared for you! See, now they are returned to their rightful owner! Ah, I beg you... at least don't hit my face!"
Seiya's hand fell, but it was to tap the shield against Stella's head. "Did you think I would rob you of your things? Or beat you up? Don't look down on yourself so much. Since you need them, then take them and continue to use them, Aphrodite."
Stella's eyes widened in astonishment. She looked at the wings and shield that had been stuffed back into her hands, finding it hard to believe for a moment. He actually... didn't punish me? She had even prepared for the worst... of course, just things like being spanked.
In the depths of the courtyard, the moonlight was like water. Athena stood quietly, watching the returned Pegasus. Her face, usually cool and distant, almost without a ripple, seemed to soften a little under the moonlight.
"Although I used a reversal rite to temporarily turn that foolish and arrogant goddess (referring to Stella) into your subordinate," Athena's voice flowed as cool and clear as the moonlight, "there are some things you still need to be wary of. She may not be particularly dazzling in the orthodox narrative of mythology, but the threads of fate entwined around her are an existence that even Zeus once regarded with caution."
In early Greek mythology, Aphrodite, similar to Athena, was a goddess of extremely high status. Athena and Metis were also early earth mother goddesses. There are some remnants of these early myths in the poems of Alcman. But in the later period, when the worship of Zeus became dominant, the earth mother goddesses were also incorporated into Zeus's mythological system, becoming his wives or children. In the orthodox narrative of ancient Greek mythology, although this love goddess was a main god, she was not a central figure. But there has always been a rumor that a deity related to her could become the new king of the gods in the future.
Of course, such rumors of a new king of the gods are not uncommon in Greek mythology. From Athena's yet-unborn brother Poros, to the mad wine god whose future was sealed at birth, to Zeus's youngest son who would become the new king of the gods, and of course, powerful goddesses with the qualifications like Athena and Hecate.
Of course, in this special world where myths now intersect, it wouldn't be impossible for a monkey with a hairy face and a thunder-god's mouth to suddenly attack Mount Olympus, shouting "The throne of the God King changes hands every year, and this year it comes to my house."
Of course, among the Heretic Gods who were now a fusion of multiple myths, the status of a god-king was not a very rare thing. Compared to their strength in the myths, the self that a Heretic God could display upon descending to earth had a greater impact on the exertion of their power.
"She's just a clueless fool." Seiya smiled. In his eyes, Stella was probably no different from a cat or dog kept at home. "Compared to the love goddess, I'm more concerned about that Heretic Perseus." Seiya opened his hand, and a pure white Pegasus feather appeared in his palm.
"That guy who tried to trick me with words and flee, who only dodged during the high-speed chase, and who in the end dismantled my God Robe through a special Authority. Logically speaking, a Heretic God like that shouldn't possess that much fighting strength, but the feeling he gave me was the exact opposite." Seiya recalled the moment he had clashed with him. "This Perseus seems very different."
"Then what do you think is the foundation that sustains the fighting strength of a Heretic God?" Athena asked. "The legends proclaimed in the myths? The specific scenes depicted in the stories? Or the suffering caused to the earth and humanity upon their descent to the mortal world?"
The Saint, Seiya, thought for a moment and did not answer, but Athena had already given the answer.
"All of the above. It is the god's self that defies the myth, the madness displayed in their heretical form. And Perseus's madness is not an inferior sort like Susanoo's. He bore the humiliation of being mocked by his nemesis and still had to do his utmost to cut off your head. This, on the contrary, is a manifestation of an extremely strong will."
Seiya narrowed his eyes. He seemed to have understood another part of the essence of a Heretic God.
"A god who defies myth and descends upon the earth to manifest a heretical form, and a Godslayer who slays a god and usurps their power—the two are, by their very nature, nemeses. And in your—the God-slaying Pegasus's—lineage of nemeses, the one you should challenge the most, the one you should face, is precisely this God of Steel who brought you great humiliation in the Age of Myth. Conversely, for him, you are also the ultimate goal of his existence."
Seiya's gaze fell upon Athena's perfect face, which was so close. For some reason, Stella's careless words from the other night surfaced in his mind without warning: If one were to speak of the most fitting opponent for the God-slaying Pegasus... it shouldn't be Perseus, right? He can only be considered second at best. The first, no matter what, should be...
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