Chapter 5: Aeolus's Defection

"Lord Shion, you have occupied the Pope’s throne for far too long..." The malicious Saga wore a sinister smile. After stabbing Shion with the golden dagger, he cast an ill-intentioned glance at Feng Zhe. "This era has no need for the Altar Seat. Go back to your own time!"

Dimensional Space!

With Saga's bellow, the space around compressed, twisting time and space itself. In an instant, Feng Zhe was hurled away. He felt his body lose all control, as if drifting weightlessly in the vacuum of outer space. Just as he was vanishing from sight, a yellow light enveloped him.

An ancient voice echoed in his ear.

Psychokinetic Wave!

At the last moment, Shion used the final remnants of his psychic power to pull Feng Zhe back.

When Feng Zhe regained consciousness, he found himself outside the Twelve Temples.

"Shion saved me!" Feng Zhe gazed up at the Pope’s Hall atop the temples, gasping for breath. In the end, it was his own lack of strength—if only... He sighed, preparing to head to Sagittarius Temple to warn Aiolos, when a voice called out.

"Excuse me, are you a Saint as well?"

A little girl, about four or five years old, looked up at Feng Zhe with big, sparkling eyes.

Feng Zhe nodded, ruffling her hair with his large hand.

"Please don’t pat my head. I’m a grown-up, not a child," the girl protested, puffing her cheeks in indignation—a sight that made Feng Zhe even fonder of her. He crouched down and asked, "Well then, little grown-up, what’s your name?"

"My name is Marin. I’m looking for a teacher. Would you be willing to be my teacher?"

Marin?

Feng Zhe could scarcely believe this adorable little girl before him would one day become the teacher of the protagonist, Seiya.

A thought crossed his mind, and he replied, "Very well. But I will only teach you once—whether you succeed or not depends on you."

He picked up a stone and said, "Strike this stone with all your strength!"

"Yes!"

Marin raised her hand and struck hard, immediately causing blood to seep from her skin.

"Ouch!"

Marin cradled her hand, wincing in pain.

Feng Zhe chuckled. "You can’t even break a stone? Watch closely!"

With a casual squeeze, the stone in Feng Zhe’s hand crumbled like a lump of tofu.

"Listen well. Every substance in this world is made of atoms. You and I are made of atoms as well."

"The key to destroying an object is to shatter the atoms within it—pulverize them. Gather all your strength, focus your mind, concentrate it on a single point on the stone, and channel it through your fist..."

With Marin’s sharp cry, the stone shattered under her punch.

Feng Zhe was genuinely surprised. Marin’s talent surpassed that of many trainees—no wonder she would become the protagonist’s teacher!

"Teacher, have I passed the test?" Marin gazed at Feng Zhe, her eyes shining with joy.

He nodded. "From this day forth, you are my disciple—Alex of the Altar Seat."

Just as he spoke, a distant thunderous boom split the sky.

Feng Zhe looked toward the sound, realizing the story had begun. He turned to Marin. "Go practice on your own for now. I have something to attend to."

Though she didn’t understand, Marin nodded obediently.

...

Aiolos was frantically fleeing the Twelve Temples, the infant goddess in his arms.

A few hours earlier, hearing strange noises from the Pope’s Hall, Aiolos had rushed there, arriving just in time to see the malicious Saga attempt to harm the goddess.

Without hesitation, Aiolos had engaged Saga in fierce battle, then escaped with the goddess.

Subsequently, Saga, in the Pope’s name, issued an order declaring Aiolos a traitor and commanded the other Gold Saints to hunt him down.

The Gold Saints reacted differently to the order, but Capricorn Shura alone obeyed unwaveringly, without the slightest hesitation.

Burdened with the goddess, Aiolos could not fight at full strength and was gravely wounded.

...

Excalibur!

A pillar of light cleaved downward, and Aiolos narrowly dodged it.

But his injuries only worsened.

Mach 3 Punch!

"Who’s there?!"

Capricorn Shura flashed forward, wary as he eyed the newcomer.

When Feng Zhe appeared, Shura’s eyes narrowed in astonishment.

"The Altar Seat?"

Feng Zhe leapt forward, supporting the wounded Aiolos.

Seeing the sleeping infant in his arms, Feng Zhe chuckled. "No wonder she’s the goddess—she can sleep through anything!"

Shura’s stern face turned cold. "Who are you?"

Feng Zhe smiled back. "Capricorn Shura, didn’t you just say it yourself? I’m Alex of the Altar Seat."

Shura asked incredulously, "How is it I’ve never heard of anyone in Sanctuary holding the Altar Seat?"

Feng Zhe grinned. "The Pope Shion concealed my existence, intending me to appear at a critical moment. Now, with the Pope slain by Saga and Aiolos the only candidate to succeed him, he must inherit the Pope’s mantle."

"As the Altar Seat who assists the Pope, I command you, Capricorn Shura, to cease your pursuit of Aiolos and the goddess Athena!"

He added, "Don’t forget—you are Capricorn, the goddess’s most loyal warrior!"

Shura’s face flushed red—not with embarrassment, but with anger.

"You traitor! How dare you defy the Pope’s command? Die with him beneath my Excalibur!"

Excalibur!

A blade of light slashed down, its force splitting the mountain as if by a sword.

Feng Zhe, holding the goddess, dodged swiftly.

As Excalibur descended again, Aiolos, clad in his Gold Cloth, blocked the attack.

"Take the goddess and go. I’ll hold him off!"

Knowing that such a battle was beyond the abilities of a mere Silver Saint like himself, Feng Zhe nodded and fled with the infant.

"You’re not getting away!"

Excalibur fell again, but was intercepted by Aiolos.

Shura realized that with Aiolos blocking the way, he could not harm the Altar Seat.

Feng Zhe hurriedly escaped Sanctuary, inwardly pondering whether returning the goddess might drastically alter the story’s course.

But the thought was fleeting.

Just as he was about to break free, Cancer Deathmask blocked his path.

At this point, Deathmask was not yet powerful, his strength somewhere between Silver and Gold Saints.

Still, clad in Cancer’s Gold Cloth, he was slightly stronger than Feng Zhe.

Deathmask grinned wickedly, "I heard there’s an Altar Seat Saint in Sanctuary. That must be you, right?"

Holding the goddess, Feng Zhe tensed. So close to escape, yet confronted by this obstacle. He forced himself to speak sternly, "If you know who I am, get out of the way!"

Deathmask showed no anger, but said, "The Pope has promised me rewards if I kill you both. But I’m a fair man—it depends on whether you know what’s good for you."

Feng Zhe was startled. He hadn’t expected Deathmask to openly bargain with an enemy—a character flaw that would later cost him his Gold Cloth at the goddess’s hands.

But Feng Zhe had nothing of value, nor did he have time to waste, and he stood no chance in a fight.

He murmured to the infant goddess in his arms, "Oh goddess, if you don’t save me now, we’re both doomed to die here."