"It's time to return to the Sanctuary." Kaiser said, standing and stretching.
It had been nearly four years since he last visited the Sanctuary.
"The Underworld tunnel won't reopen anytime soon." Athena's projection said, appearing beside him.
"You repelled the incarnation of the Gluttony Demon."
"The Underworld has lost its chance to break the seal."
"There won't be any disturbances for now."
"During your three-year seclusion…"
"…Itia and Cresto handled some evil creatures attempting to breach the Zodiac Array."
"But their assaults were weak."
"The Mythical Sun still shines brightly in the sky, barely diminished."
"That's good news." Kaiser said with a smile.
His body transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the horizon.
"He's finally gone." a voice muttered.
Behind the Underworld tunnel, countless crimson eyes opened.
Kaiser's four-year vigil at the tunnel's entrance had struck fear into every demon in the Underworld.
None dared entertain thoughts of stepping onto the Earth.
His battle with the Gluttony Demon had left many demons dead.
"So what if he's gone?" another voice countered.
"Don't even think about returning to the Earth yet."
"That Mythical Sun still blazes in the sky."
"Ordinary demonic creatures would be incinerated the moment they set foot on the Earth."
"Even a powerful demon with the Seventh Sense would lose two-thirds of its strength up there."
"Are you rushing to your death?"
Voices of debate echoed from the depths of the Underworld.
Soon, they faded.
Gazing at the Mythical Sun in the sky, countless demons sighed.
This generation of the Sanctuary was too formidable.
A single man had suppressed the entire Underworld.
Such a feat would have been unimaginable in the past.
Sanctuary
A streak of light descended.
Aphniel sensed a powerful Cosmo approaching and hurriedly emerged from the Aries Temple.
"Kaiser?" Aphniel froze, stunned by the transformation in Kaiser's Cosmo.
"Your Cosmo…"
It had changed dramatically, exuding an oppressive aura akin to that of a god.
"Picked up some unexpected gains." Kaiser said, clapping Aphniel on the shoulder.
Compared to Getgard, he preferred Aphniel's company.
"How's the Sanctuary been these past few years?"
"Not bad." Aphniel replied.
"Thanks to the Zodiac Array, hardly any evil creatures have ravaged the Earth.
Those that did were handled by Seniors Itia and Cresto.
Everyone in the Sanctuary is focused on getting stronger.
The children we selected from the Earth are progressing steadily.
A few with exceptional talent have already sensed the power of Cosmo.
If things go well, the Sanctuary might see a fully staffed Zodiac Twelve after the Holy War."
Aphniel's voice brimmed with excitement as he spoke of the Sanctuary's state.
This was the Earth he could fight for.
He was pouring his all into realizing his vision from years ago.
"Impressive." Kaiser said, nodding.
"But we can't let our guard down.
When the Zodiac Array shatters, the Sanctuary might face a Holy War without Athena's presence.
We need to stay vigilant."
Kaiser was pleased with the Sanctuary's progress.
Though they only had one Golden Cloth…
…it was enough in the Sanctuary's hands.
"I'll report to Sage first." Kaiser said, wasting no time.
He headed straight for the Pope's Chambers.
"Hm? You're back?" Sage said, emerging from meditation.
"Not bad. You've reached the cusp of the Eighth Sense."
Kaiser was surprised. He hadn't expected Sage's strength to progress so quickly.
"I'm ten years older than you." Sage said with a wry smile.
"Besides, with the Earth at peace, I've had time to train without distractions."
At over a decade older than Kaiser, Sage had only just touched the cusp of the Eighth Sense.
Reaching a stable Eighth Sense would take time.
Still, he could now be considered an Eighth Sense powerhouse.
Wearing a Golden Cloth, Sage could briefly unleash combat power rivaling the Eighth Sense.
"No trouble with the Underworld?" Sage asked.
He knew Kaiser had gone to deal with Underworld matters.
But four years was a long time.
If not for sensing Kaiser's Cosmo blazing on Earth, Sage might've thought something had happened.
"I trained for a while. The results were… substantial." Kaiser replied.
"If I faced Thanatos again, even if I couldn't win, I wouldn't be humiliated.
Killing me wouldn't be easy for him."
Kaiser hinted at his current combat strength.
"Athena chose well with you." Sage said, sighing in admiration.
"Where's Shiryu?" Kaiser asked.
He hadn't sensed Shiryu's Cosmo in the Sanctuary.
"My brother returned to the Jamil Plateau." Sage replied.
"Though Aphniel is guarding the Aries Temple for now, Shiryu believes its legacy mustn't be lost.
He's gone to train the younger generation of our clan."
Kaiser wasn't surprised by Sage's answer.
Shiryu was always restless like that.
Outside the Sanctuary, the Cosmos of Itia and Cresto descended rapidly.
"Teacher and Senior Cresto are back too." Sage said, his eyes lighting up.
The Sanctuary's three greatest warriors had reunited.
The last such gathering was four years ago.
Itia and Cresto soon arrived at the Pope's Chambers.
"I sensed your blazing Cosmo from miles away." Itia said, stepping in and seeking Kaiser immediately.
"You're back in the Sanctuary."
"Your Cosmo is so intense." Cresto added, marveling.
"Your progress is staggering.
I doubt Itia or I could match you now."
Kaiser's growth was astonishing.
At just 23 years old, his combat power had reached such heights.
At this rate, he might touch the Ninth Sense and tread the path to godhood before the Zodiac Array's seal broke.
"Kid, want to spar?" Itia asked, his mindset far different from years past.
Like Cresto, having resolved his inner conflicts, Itia had grown bolder and stronger.
His strength had advanced significantly.
Both Itia and Cresto were preparing for the Holy War over two centuries away.
To end the cycle of Holy Wars, they'd gladly sacrifice their lives.
Their fighting spirit burned fiercely.
"I'm afraid if we don't fight you now, we'll never stand a chance again." Itia said, his Cosmo already surging.
"While our Cosmos are still on the same level, let's have a battle."
Even the usually composed Cresto couldn't resist igniting his Cosmo.
Eighth Sense Cosmos clashed in the Pope's Chambers.
"Then let's fight in the divine space beside Athena's statue." Sage suggested.
"No other place could withstand the collision of your Eighth Sense Cosmos."
"Without Cloths, mind your limits." Sage added, cautioning them.
"No worries." Kaiser said, a faint smile curling his lips as he accepted the challenge.
No one below the gods could withstand the combined might of three Gold Saints.
The existence of Athena's Exclamation ensured that.
Kaiser's previous victory over three Gold Saints was only because they hadn't used forbidden techniques.
Gold Saints valued absolute fairness in combat, never ganging up unfairly.
Now, Itia and Cresto challenging Kaiser together was a testament to their respect for his strength.
After all, Itia had raised and trained Kaiser, making their bond unique.
"I won't hold back." Itia declared.
Kaiser spoke, his Cosmo igniting with fervor.
"I couldn't ask for more!"
Itia and Cresto exchanged a glance.
"Hey, hey, hey…" Sage muttered.
"Are they really about to fight?"
The disturbance in the Pope's Chambers was felt by all.
Eighth Sense Cosmos clashed, shaking the entire Sanctuary.
"Don't bring the Sanctuary down!" Estelle, the Sagittarius Saint, exclaimed in a panic.
Suren, the Virgo Saint, let out an imperceptible sigh but said nothing.
Hum!
The divine space beside Athena's statue warped, three golden pillars of light piercing the heavens.
Itia's silver hair flowed without wind, his robes billowing in the currents of light. The Libra constellation's starlight spiraled beneath him, simulating the energy cycle of the Libra star chart with his bare hands.
Cresto's ice-blue eyes gleamed with millennial frost. Ice crystals spread from his feet, exploding into crystalline roses as they grazed Kaiser's robes.
Kaiser's body blazed with a fiery golden Cosmo, a faint Dharma faintly manifesting behind him... indistinct but radiating divine might.
Even before the three Eighth Sense powerhouses struck, the divine space trembled.
Itia broke the stalemate first, his right arm sweeping with starlight that rolled like a galaxy in reverse.
This was the Light Speed Fist pushed to its zenith, each particle imbued with the killing intent of the Libra constellation.
"Not bad, Teacher!" Kaiser remarked.
This single strike surpassed the limits of any current Gold Saint.
Only he and Cresto in the entire Sanctuary could withstand it.
And Itia wasn't even wearing his Golden Cloth.
Kaiser's fingertips erupted with solar flare-like flames. The starlight coalesced into the Libra Holy Sword, its blade reversing to strike its caster.
Cresto didn't stand idle. He noticed the faint Dharma behind Kaiser.
"He's already touching the realm of gods?" Cresto murmured.
"This kid's a true genius."
A powerful frost spread, Cresto's Absolute Zero freezing the very space.
Twelve crystalline roses bloomed around Kaiser's vital points, each petal refracting attack trajectories from different dimensions.
This was Aurora Execution pushed to its limit, the strongest technique below the divine... Myriad Ice Mirrors.
Kaiser lightly tapped the void with his toes, his burning Cosmo sketching a Zodiac Sun on the ice. The sun's flames refracted along the mirrors, surging back toward their source.
Cresto's pupils contracted. The ice shield in his hand vaporized instantly, and his exposed skin bore scorched holy marks.
"Stellar Fall!" Itia roared, tearing through space to join the fray.
His fists wove together, the Libra constellation's weapons manifesting as falling stars from the heavens.
The Light Speed Fist transcended physical limits, each star carrying annihilative force.
Kaiser's Cosmo surged to its current peak, his Dharma becoming clearer.
His crimson-gold eyes flared, the Dharma spreading its hands, unleashing a massive torrent of energy.
The collision of their three forces cracked the divine space like a spiderweb.
Sage, watching from the sidelines, was thrown back by the shockwave. The Sanctuary's barrier activated automatically to prevent collapse.
Cresto seized the moment, unleashing a secret technique. His ice-blue hair turned frost-white.
Eternal Frozen Epoch, a chilling force capable of freezing souls, erupted from his hands.
Kaiser's right arm crystallized instantly, but he smiled calmly. "Looks like you haven't wasted these past centuries, Senior."
His frozen limb burst into crimson-gold flames, divine fire akin to humanity's primal flame.
The ice veins recoiled, forcing Cresto back with a grunt as his frozen throne shattered.
Itia's ultimate technique descended at that moment.
Final Justice!
The move that once defeated half the Specters.
Even without his Cloth, Itia's power was terrifying.
Weapons formed from his Cosmo surged toward kaiser.
"Domain Expansion! Hundred Weapons Performance!"
Kaiser's open domain unfurled, countless weapons pouring forth.
They clashed with Itia's arsenal.
When the light faded, Itia's robes were tattered, Cresto's crystalline armor marred with scorch marks. Kaiser stood in his domain, unscathed.
The outcome of the spar was clear.
"That was exhilarating!" Itia said, wiping blood from his lips.
"We're no match for you now."
"Should've made you suffer more back then!"
The collision with Kaiser's domain weapons had caused some backlash.
Itia marveled at Kaiser's precise control over his Cosmo, far surpassing his own.
It filled him with pride.
Cresto stared at the melting ice in his palm, thoughtful. "That move earlier… you've touched the laws of the gods?"
He sensed divinity in Kaiser's Dharma, likely due to his divine blood.
"Something like that." Kaiser replied. "I'm starting to understand it."
He didn't hide it. He had indeed touched the Laws of Time and Space.
"You're ahead of us all." Cresto said.
"But becoming a god will be immensely difficult."
"You know why better than we do."
"In the Mythological Era, Ophiuchus sought godhood and touched the gods' taboos."
"He was sealed forever, erased from history's stage."
"Even with Athena's help, don't rush."
Cresto sensed Kaiser's ambition to ascend to godhood.
He knew persuasion was futile, given Athena's involvement.
He could only offer a warning.
"Don't worry, Senior. I know my limits." Kaiser said with a smile.
His current strength surpassed even Odysseus.
With the element of surprise, he could slay true gods.
Odysseus, after all, was merely a demigod.
"Good." Cresto nodded.
"He's always had his own ideas." Itia added.
"He once avoided the Pope's Chambers for over a year because our ideals clashed."
"He's got more plans than all of us."
"Your worries are unnecessary."
Itia had found and raised Kaiser, training him to become the Libra Gold Saint.
He knew Kaiser's mental fortitude better than anyone.
From a young age, Kaiser's will had been unshakable.
"Teacher, Senior." Kaiser said.
"Your priority now is to reach the late Eighth Sense before the Zodiac Array shatters."
"That'll give the Sanctuary an absolute advantage."
"I've acquired a Cloth Gem."
"It's even stronger than the Golden Cloth itself."
"It solves the Cloth issue for Teacher and me."
"In a pinch, the Libra Cloth Gem can even merge with the Golden Cloth."
"Even against gods…"
"…we can win!"
Kaiser's words brimmed with confidence.
***
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