Chapter 139: Fierce Battle in Progress

"Hmph! Illusions are useless against me!"

Saga suddenly erupted with power sufficient to shake the galaxy. A colossal beam of light shattered the cage and slammed directly into the Virgo Temple. In an instant, the illusion of Virgo Shaka vanished from Yomotsu Hirasaka. Saga, the most formidable Saint in the Sanctuary, had unleashed his extraordinary prowess.

Shaka’s sudden withdrawal placed immense pressure on Leo Aiolia and Aries Mu. At that moment, *Sekishiki* (Corpse-Swelling Spirits) energy crackled at Shion's fingertips, and in the next heartbeat, the four of them were transported back to the Cancer Temple. Mu was visibly stunned that his own mentor would employ the secret techniques of the Cancer Saints.

Shion explained, "My master was the former Gold Saint of Cancer." He kept back the full truth: he possessed the unique ability to perceive the memories of any Saint who had once worn a Gold Cloth upon touching it, allowing him to master any Gold Saint’s technique. This was the secret behind him being known as the "Five-Dimensional Grand Slam" Gold Saint.

Mu immediately erected his Crystal Wall and declared, "I have long since prepared myself for death. You shall not pass."

Before Shion even had to act, Saga, Camus, and Shura systematically dismantled him. An enraged Aiolia unleashed his Lightning Bolt, but such wide-range attacks were futile against top-tier Gold Saints. As the two struggled, a shout rang out; Seiya, Hyoga, and Shun had arrived.

"Get out of here! This battle is not for Bronze Saints to participate in!" Mu pleaded, desperate to keep them away. But Hyoga, staring at the intruders, murmured, "Master Camus!" Seiya, meanwhile, stood frozen, unable to speak as he locked eyes with Saga. Having been utterly defeated by Saga during the Twelve Temples arc, Seiya was intrinsically terrified of facing him again. Yet, with their resurrection, the cycle of conflict had begun anew.

Suddenly, Shion roared, "Starlight Extinction!"

The three Bronze Saints were swallowed by the overwhelming force. Amidst Mu’s cry of shock, they vanished.

Watching from the sidelines, the God of Death, Thanatos, offered a disdainful smirk. "To pull such strings right under the eyes of the gods... Shion is truly audacious."

When Seiya and his companions opened their eyes, they found themselves in Yomotsu Hirasaka. A towering, humanoid figure loomed before them. Hyoga, catching sight of the pentagram on the being’s forehead, gasped, "Thanatos, the God of Death!"

Thanatos, who had chosen to reveal himself, gazed at the trio with a cruel, mocking smile. Just as he prepared to strike, a female voice intervened.

"Lord Thanatos, please, hand Lord Hades over to me."

Pandora appeared, kneeling humbly before him. Thanatos began to gather his power, intending to obliterate Pandora as well, but he felt a sudden, oppressive will manifest before him.

"Thanatos, do not jeopardize Lord Hades' plans!"

It was Hypnos, the God of Sleep. With Hades absent, the God of Sleep was the true supreme commander of the Underworld.

"Very well, I shall leave it be," Thanatos replied, vanishing without a backward glance.

Pandora waved her trident, and instantly, Shun’s eyes glazed over as if afflicted by cataracts. He stood paralyzed, allowing Pandora to take his hand.

"Let him go!" Seiya and Hyoga roared, launching their Pegasus Meteor Fist and Diamond Dust. But before Pandora’s trident, they were struck down as if by lightning, falling to the ground with white smoke rising from their bodies.

Just as Shun was about to be dragged away, a few phoenix feathers embedded themselves into Pandora’s arm. Looking up, she saw Ikki, the Phoenix Saint. As the Sanctuary’s most notorious brother-protector, anyone who dared touch Andromeda Shun would be crippled by Ikki’s wrath. As the greatest of the Bronze Five, Ikki was one of the few who could maintain the Seventh Sense for extended periods.

Minos of the Griffon, one of the Three Judges of the Underworld, stepped in to block Ikki. Pandora did not hesitate, dragging Shun away and leaving the battlefield to Minos.

With a sharp *crack*, Cosmic Marionette lines sliced Ikki’s body into countless fragments. Just as Minos claimed victory, a fragment of Ikki’s head spoke: "Are you satisfied now?"

"What?"

"Aaaah!!!"

Minos clutched his head and screamed. When he regained his senses, he found Ikki standing perfectly unharmed before him.

"How did you like my Phoenix Illusion Demon Fist?"

Minos had no idea when he had been struck. Enraged, he lunged to attack again, but this time, Ikki bellowed, "Phoenix Wing Rise!"

Minos was slammed into the ground as if scorched by fire. In his dying moments, he gasped, "How... how could this be?"

Ikki replied coldly, "For a Saint, a technique seen once is useless!"

Minos collapsed, his soul descending into the embrace of the God of Death.

[Ding! Obtained the soul of Minos of the Griffon. Automatically decomposed, gaining 100 points of Death Force. (Current: 800)]

By the time Ikki composed himself, Pandora had already fled with Shun.

"Ikki!"

Ikki glanced at Seiya and Hyoga. "I will bring Shun back."

He chased after Pandora, while Seiya and Hyoga, after a brief exchange, departed Yomotsu Hirasaka. When they returned to the Cancer Temple, they found Mu lying on the ground, dying, and Aiolia nowhere to be found.

"Why did you come back!" Mu shouted, berating them. The battle had been brutal; he had been trampled by Shion, and Aiolia had been blasted away.

As he left, Shion glanced at Mu with disdain. "You are as foolish as cattle. Crawl back to Jamir."

Seeing Mu’s despair, Seiya reminded him, "Mu, the words you spoke before still echo in our ears. Have you forgotten?"

This was why they respected him so deeply. To see such a peaceful, powerful Gold Saint lose his will and flee the Sanctuary shamed Mu to his core. He rose to his feet, his expression turning solemn. "Even in death, I will not give up."

Seiya and Hyoga were stirred by his resolve, their eyes burning with newfound determination. Thanatos, watching from afar, pouted. "The blood-sweat contract isn't so easily broken, is it? It seems it’s been renewed!"