Chapter 120: The Bold Invasion of the Twelve Palaces

The Sasha currently in deep slumber is the Athena of this era; Feng Zhe was struck speechless by this revelation. This proved one thing: Sasha could not possibly be Saori, and the infant who had just descended was indeed Saori. So, where on earth was Sasha?

Even more terrifying was the implication that this era would see three Athenas appear simultaneously. As an Altar Saint, deciding where his allegiance lay posed a monumental test for Feng Zhe. From the original *Next Dimension* lore, it was known that only one Athena could exist in an era; the other would fall into a deep sleep. Sasha, in all likelihood, had succumbed to such a slumber. Finding a sleeping Athena in this vast world would be like searching for a needle in a haystack; therefore, to find Sasha, he had no choice but to head to the Sanctuary.

"Sigh... in the end, I still have to get tangled in the chaos of the Sanctuary," Feng Zhe muttered with resignation, yet he began his journey toward the Sanctuary.

...

At the Sanctuary, a female infant descended before the statue of the Goddess; this infant was Athena. Izo of Capricorn, Shijima of Virgo, and Ox of Taurus, who were conversing nearby, simultaneously sensed the arrival of a powerful Cosmo, realizing that Athena had manifested.

Shijima, however, felt an inexplicable sense of unease. At the entrance to the Aries Temple, Mu, Shion, and Tenma also witnessed the golden light. Shion ordered Mu to guard the Aries Temple, while he himself raced back to the Libra Temple, which he was sworn to protect. Tenma wanted to investigate, but Shion blocked him, explaining that only the Gold Saints guarding the temples were permitted passage. Bronze and Silver Saints were responsible for the outer perimeter, and without the Pope's decree, none could enter the Twelve Temples. Tenma had no choice but to yield.

At Hades Castle, Pandora also sensed Athena's Cosmo. She summoned the Three Judges and dispatched Suikyo to the Sanctuary to assassinate the goddess.

Before the statue of the Goddess, Izo, Shijima, and Ox arrived to find Athena in her infant form, all wearing expressions of shock. Suddenly, a voice from behind them commanded them not to touch Athena. It was the Pope of the Sanctuary. He approached the infant and scooped her into his arms. He then ordered the three Saints to return to their respective temples, warning them that the Hades army would surely come to assassinate Athena. Izo and Ox departed immediately, but Shijima lingered, watching the Pope’s retreating back, feeling that something was fundamentally wrong.

Unable to shake his suspicion, Shijima called out to Izo and Ox. He noted that there wasn't a single Saint guarding Athena, though Izo argued that the Pope's presence was sufficient. This, however, failed to ease Shijima’s doubts.

...

Back at the statue, the Pope retrieved a golden dagger from a box and raised it to strike the infant in his arms. Just as the blade was about to descend, another light fell from the heavens accompanied by a thunderous sound, startling the Pope. This momentary delay would become the source of his eternal regret.

Outside the Aries Temple, Shion and Tenma sensed that same Cosmo emanating from the Sanctuary's arena. Tenma ran toward the source and discovered Shun of Andromeda, who had just arrived. While Shun stood bewildered, wondering where Saori was, several Sanctuary soldiers surrounded him. Despite Shun explaining that he was also a Saint, the soldiers, not recognizing him, attempted to seize him. With no time to waste, Shun used his Nebula Chain to knock them unconscious.

Just as he prepared to leave, he encountered Tenma. Upon seeing Tenma’s face, Shun was shocked and blurted out the name "Seiya." To Tenma, however, Shun was merely an assassin, and he threw a punch without hesitation. His strike was easily parried by the Nebula Chain. Shun explained that he had come from the future to shatter Hades’ sword and save his friend. He pleaded with Tenma to believe him, and moved by his sincerity, Tenma chose to trust him.

...

Elsewhere, the trembling Pope raised the golden dagger once more. At this critical moment, a hand seized his wrist. It was Shijima of Virgo, who had returned. Having sensed something suspicious earlier, he had turned back, only to witness this treachery. The Pope immediately lashed out with the dagger; a flash of blood followed. Shijima was wounded, but in the struggle, he snatched the infant Athena into his arms. The Pope threatened to kill him if he meddled, confirming to Shijima that the Pope had indeed turned traitor.

Just as the Pope prepared to strike Shijima down, another Gold Saint appeared: Cardinal of Pisces. The Pope immediately played the victim, accusing Shijima of treason. Cardinal, however, remained expressionless. He remarked that the Pope must be joking, as Shijima, the man closest to God, could never be a traitor. Instead, he brandished a white rose, declaring that the true traitor was the Pope himself, and launched the Blood-Sucking White Rose at his target.

Unexpectedly, the target was not the Pope, but Shijima, who was holding the infant. This sudden turn of events shocked the Pope and stunned Shijima. Cardinal informed him that people do not always choose the "correct" side. Shijima realized that Cardinal had also defected.

Unable to hold on any longer, Shijima collapsed to the ground. Cardinal then pledged his loyalty to the Pope, announcing his intention to join the ranks of Hades. To the Pope’s further surprise, he was not the only Gold Saint to have turned. By the time they spoke again, Shijima and the infant had vanished, leaving only the white rose that had pierced him lying on the ground. Cardinal reassured the Pope, explaining that teleportation was impossible within the Twelve Temples; Shijima could only escape using his own remaining strength. To reach the Pisces Temple, Shijima would have to pass through the Pope’s chambers and navigate a path filled with poisonous roses. The Pope, however, remained cautious, noting that Shijima possessed power closest to that of the gods and warned that they could not be careless until they saw his corpse.

The fleeing Shijima, having escaped, broadcasted a telepathic message across the entire Sanctuary, revealing the betrayal of the Pope and Cardinal, hoping to reach the other Gold Saints.

At that moment, Feng Zhe appeared at the Sanctuary and heard Shijima’s voice.

"Has the story begun?" Feng Zhe’s brows twitched slightly. "I must reach the Pope's chambers before they do."

He rushed ahead, arriving at the Aries Temple before Shun and Tenma. When Shion of Aries saw that the intruder was the Altar Saint he had encountered earlier, his expression shifted drastically.

"I must see the Pope immediately!" Feng Zhe stated his intention. Shion, without a moment's hesitation, replied, "I checked the records upon my return; there is no Altar Saint in the Sanctuary. Even if you truly are one, you shall not take a single step into the Twelve Temples without the Pope’s command!"

Feng Zhe sighed and said, "Then I have no choice but to force my way through!"