Aiacos' corpse lay nailed to the ground, fragments of his purple Surplice scattered across the earth.
Kaiser approached the cooling body, pulling the golden halberd free.
Without turning, he said, "Specters' souls return to the Underworld. It won't be long before they revive."
Gadgard lay on the ground, glancing at Aldebaran beside him. His fists clenched involuntarily.
Kaiser turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Gadgard. "I told you before, Gadgard, with your strength, helping the teacher achieve his dream is nearly impossible."
"This fight proves it more than our last."
Footsteps hurried in the distance as Bronze Saints arrived with a medical team.
Kaiser watched them lift Aldebaran onto a stretcher, continuing, "I suggest you seek out the teacher."
"Let him train you again."
"Aquarius' predecessor, Crestor, is there too."
"You'll gain something worthwhile."
Gadgard closed his eyes, sweat and blood mingling on the ground.
He raised his right hand, slamming his fist into the earth.
"I… failed the teacher's expectations."
Kaiser offered no comfort, only a calm reply. "The Holy War has just begun. Aiacos was the strongest of the Three Judges."
"Don't belittle yourself."
"Few in Hades' army can match Aiacos."
"But the other two won't be easy either."
Speaking this long with Gadgard was already a courtesy for old times' sake.
He had no more words to spare.
The night wind swept across the battlefield, stirring fine dust.
Bronze Saints cleared the field, tending to the wounded.
The air at the Sanctuary's base reeked of scorched earth and blood.
The next day, Gadgard, his injuries light, reached Yitiya and Crestor's location.
Facing Yitiya, Gadgard dropped to one knee.
"That battle last night hit you hard, didn't it?"
"Your fighting spirit's gone?"
Yitiya saw through Gadgard's state instantly.
His will was utterly broken.
"Teacher, I… I'm too weak."
Gadgard's words dripped with powerlessness.
"Among all Aries Saints in history, you're near the bottom."
Yitiya spoke bluntly.
"But Gadgard, your potential is far greater."
"A mere Judge of the Underworld?"
"Not a tough opponent."
"Our true enemies were never the 108 Specters."
"But the gods above, looking down."
Yitiya gazed skyward, as if seeing deities peering at the earth.
Cold. Ruthless. Mocking.
"Teacher, please guide me again."
Gadgard's eyes hardened with resolve.
He sought Yitiya's teachings once more.
Kaiser knew nothing of Gadgard's encounter.
He was in the Libra Temple's weapon sanctuary.
His domain had taken shape.
Using his divine vision, Kaiser refined his ideas. Read complete version only at N0velFire.ɴet
"Libra: Hundred Soldiers Drill!"
Centered on the twelve golden weapons, countless others materialized, encompassing all eighteen weapon types.
From twelve, they grew to one hundred forty-four.
In the Libra Temple, the weapons rotated slowly in the air, forming a perfect spherical array.
Kaiser stood at the center of the array, eyes half-closed, golden light flowing around him.
Each weapon's radiance pulsed with the power to shatter heavens and earth.
Even a single weapon held strength comparable to the mid-to-late Seventh Sense.
A reinforced version of the ultimate justice.
"After reaching the Eighth Sense, my Cosmo's progress has been painfully slow."
Training concluded, yet his Eighth Sense Cosmo showed little advancement.
To reach the mid-Eighth Sense, only time and relentless effort would suffice.
Kaiser's gaze shifted toward the Aries Temple.
With a flicker, his figure vanished from the Libra Temple, reappearing at the Aries Temple.
"What happened? Were you attacked?"
Kaiser frowned, eyeing the mere four Gold Saints before him.
Six Gold Saints had set out on this mission.
Now, only four remained.
"Pisces and Leo fell in battle."
"They took down three Celestial Star Specters in exchange."
"But they'll likely revive soon."
The current Sagittarius Saint spoke with a helpless tone.
This evacuation mission nearly wiped them out.
"In this Holy War, the Hades army has started to suffer losses."
"Yesterday, Aiacos, one of the Three Judges, attacked the Sanctuary."
"Aldebaran and Gadgard were gravely injured."
"After that, Athena's sacred coffin finally opened."
"From now on, any Specter who dies will have their soul sealed."
The current Scorpio Saint managed a faint smile.
At least their comrades' deaths weren't in vain.
Kaiser glanced at the battered group.
The Sanctuary's strength had been weakened yet again.
"Even with every advantage, this Holy War is brutally tough."
"Is this the balance the gods demand?"
Kaiser mused silently.
Could it be the gods' doing?
This generation's Sanctuary had its full roster.
Add Yitiya and Crestor, two overwhelmingly powerful allies.
This Holy War seemed unwinnable for the enemy.
In the SS era, only a handful of Gold Saints remained.
Yet, with Athena's blessing, the five Bronze Saints tore through the Underworld.
In the end, a single spear pinned Hades himself.
"these are all expendable pieces."
Kaiser understood Athena's intent.
The Holy War was a performance for the heavens.
The earth must never fully belong to her.
Since claiming the earth, her battle with the gods had never ceased.
She had no time to unravel the earth's secrets.
This was the outcome the celestial gods desired…
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