Completely isolated from inside and out, an alien demonic realm, already fallen. This was another core of the Holy War, yet it was so calm, with purple lightning dancing wildly in the sky, like the deep background of a painter's canvas.
Hades Alone and Goddess Sasha slowly walked in circles around something, mutually wary and cautious. Having fought until this point, neither could overcome the other.
Hakurei, with his ultimate secret technique "Sekishiki Tenryo Ha," summoned the souls of all previous Saints, finally defeating Hypnos, the God of Sleep, and sealed Hypnos's soul using Athena's Ark, but he himself was left only as a soul. Pandora and Capricorn El Cid, Scorpio Kardia's battle was still ongoing. At this moment, she had already been struck by poison needles, barely sustaining herself using her own Cosmo.
The only variable was Alone and Sasha. In terms of combat, Sasha was inferior to Alone, but Alone himself still carried wounds inflicted by Tenma, while Sasha was more inclined towards defense throughout.
Hades Alone moved silently, the wind pulling open his robe, making him seem like a delicate, frail young acolyte. In contrast, Sasha, as his sister, exuded considerable strength.
"I remember when we were eight, Tenma said the town church would be giving out bread and apples tomorrow, so he pulled us to queue up very early," Sasha recounted, gazing at her elder brother.
The two age-old rivals, holding divine artifacts and fighting each other for endless years, were now softly speaking of the past.
"It was still twilight when we arrived, but just as it was our turn, you gave your spot to Maria because she arrived even later. You went back to the very end of the line."
Alone also smiled, raising his hand to gesture, "Because Maria was so pitiful. She was only up to my shoulder then, even smaller than you, just a tiny little thing."
"So Tenma mocked you, saying she should have come earlier. But he also, playing coy, gave his spot to Anna, so in the end, only I, at the very front, got bread and apples. Yet, you were so happy, and I was infected by your joy, thinking that bread with honey was the most delicious thing.
Tenma said when we grew up, he'd let me eat it every day, but the very next day, he was punished by Mama Giuseppe for fighting and wasn't allowed dinner, so I gave him the other half of my bread. Finally, we shared our food on the orphanage wall, watching the city in the distance. You said you wanted to be a painter, Tenma wanted to be a Saint, and I wanted us all to stay together forever."
"Yes, back then we would wish upon shooting stars. Now that I think about it, no wonder only Tenma's wish came true."
Sasha's eyes filled with sorrow, "The you back then, Alone, was someone who could feel happiness for others' joy, and sorrow for others' grief."
Although her Cosmo constantly told her that the person before her was not her brother, but Hades, the God of the Underworld, a subconscious feeling told Sasha that, from beginning to end, the master of this body was Alone.
This statement did not waver Alone's will. Instead, Pandora, who was listening intently nearby, let out a sorrowful groan as she was struck by the final poison needle.
"So only you remain in the past," Alone said, his smile fading.
"Because I truly believe that wishes made under shooting stars will come true. I shared my apple with you.
Mama used to say that bread and wine are like the flesh and blood of the Holy Son, and bread and apples are my own flesh and blood. To me, you two are family, you are everything."
"But that's just a lie, Sasha," Alone said, observing the Goddess before him, his steps circling as he sought out any possible opening in Sasha.
"The original Hades should have been born as the Lord of the City's son, Pandora's younger brother. Our relationship in this life was already a displacement. What meaning is there in deliberately bearing sadness and suffering to live? How strong can a goddess who knows no compassion truly be?"
"You speak of pain and sorrow? Can what you've done be considered compassion?! Is this also your reason for killing Maria, Anna, and Garu?!" Sasha roared.
"Of course, because my mercy is true mercy!" Alone's expression was grim as iron.
"It is precisely because I comprehended sorrow, suffering, and weakness that I realized this world will never be equal. There will always be rich and poor, masters and servants, and life and death will endlessly cycle. And I am here to completely reduce this world to a single hue!"
"Are you dragging the world into the Underworld, then?!"
"Wrong, it is Elysian Fields," Alone corrected Sasha. "Everyone will live forever happily in the boundless Elysium, and Maria, Anna, and Garu are waiting for us there!"
An oval light mirror appeared behind him, and in that lush, vibrant Elysium, their former companions — Maria, Anna, and Garu — were indeed there. And they had indeed found happiness.
At this moment, Sasha's thoughts finally paused for a fleeting instant. This brief window was exactly what Alone had always wanted. His ultimate killing blow, the Sword of Hell, roared as it plunged towards his closest kin.
This Sword of Hell broke through Sasha's Cosmo without any hindrance. How could Sasha block it, or even try to? Divine blood splattered across the sky, and the sword pierced through Sasha's chest.
"Sleep now, Sasha. Soon, Tenma and I will reunite with you in Elysian Fields, and those carefree days of our childhood will return," Alone said with words that were almost tender,
yet the power flowing from his fingertip, about to touch Sasha's brow, was the destruction of a god.
Sasha suddenly grabbed his hand, and her Cosmo unleashed a full, unreserved, close-range explosion—
—Great Horn!
The combat technique of Taurus, propelled by Athena's Cosmo, unleashed a true Great Horn, a destructive shockwave that easily annihilated the temple there, then engulfed the Pope's Palace, the Twelve Houses, and even the entire Sanctuary.
If not for Acting Pope Hakurei's foresight in fully evacuating all residents, Sasha would have become the first battle goddess to destroy her own people.
Under such a suicidal attack that disregarded the future, Alone finally released his hand and was sent flying backward, while the divine destruction glowing in his other hand was fully unleashed.
The purple light paused briefly before the Great Horn, finally piercing through the Cosmo. Just as it was about to reach Sasha's brow, it altered its trajectory, extending ever upward until it dissolved into infinity.
And before Sasha, the azure wind rose again.
Alone, resting on a man-made stone pillar, smiled and bowed his head, clutching his chest, as he watched the figure emerging from the wind, "I've been waiting, impatiently, Tenma."
"My apologies, Alone," Seiya said, having crossed impossible boundaries. He stood before Sasha, looking up at his dear friend.
"As promised, it is now my time to save you!"
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