Chapter 62: The Holy War in the Parallel Universe

The Next Day
Papal Palace

Once again, Feng Zhe donned the papal robes and placed the golden crown upon his head. This time, however, he wore no mask. His attire resembled that of Pope Saichi, though he appeared much younger.

“Brother, you look so handsome in the papal robes!”

The goddess Saori looked at him with the adoration of a devoted fan, her manner as pure as that of a young girl, stirring a protective instinct in those who saw her. Her appearance was identical to Saori's, enough to make one almost mistake her for the original.

Over the past day, Feng Zhe had come to understand the context of the Sanctuary in this era. The divergence point of this parallel timeline was, in fact, the Saga Rebellion.

Thirteen years ago, Saga had failed in his attempt to assassinate Shion and, caught red-handed before the masses, was executed on the spot. Before his death, Saga cursed all the Saints of the Sanctuary, vowing that even in death he would lead the Specters to obliterate the Sanctuary.

Soon after, Shion’s body began to fail. In haste, he passed his position to Aiolos of Sagittarius, then perished.

It was at this time that the reincarnation of the goddess descended into the Sanctuary, and Aiolos took on the responsibility of caring for her, naming her Saori.

Around then, Dohko of Libra, gravely wounded, returned to the Sanctuary and entrusted the infant Alex to Aiolos, claiming that the child’s fate was tied to the outcome of the Holy War, before breathing his last.

When Aiolos journeyed to Five Elder Peaks to investigate, he discovered that all 108 Specters had already escaped their seal—the new Holy War had begun.

Over the past thirteen years, the Saints of Virgo, Taurus, Cancer, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces had each perished together with the Specters. In this world, the Saint of Aries was not Mu, but a Gold Saint named Avnir.

The Gold Saints had suffered devastating losses. Had it not been for Aiolos defending the Sanctuary, it would have fallen to the Specters long ago.

A few months earlier, Aiolos had caught wind of Pandora’s presence. Taking the initiative, he confronted her in a distant castle, and both perished together.

With that, nine Gold Saints had fallen. Only Avnir of Aries, Aiolia of Leo, and Milo of Scorpio remained.

While the Sanctuary suffered greatly, the Specters too had endured heavy losses—apart from Hades himself.

At this crucial juncture, Alex, who had always remained at the goddess’s side, stepped up to become Pope of the Sanctuary, leading all the Saints in continued resistance against the Specters.

Just days before, Alex had battled fiercely with Minos of Griffon. Had Minos not withdrawn at the last moment, Alex might have ended up bedridden with a head injury for several days at best.

“So you’re telling me that on the Specters’ side, only Pandora was lost, but on the Sanctuary’s side, nine Gold Saints are already dead?”

Feng Zhe looked at Saori in utter shock, unable to believe his ears.

“About thirty of the 108 Specters have died, and among the three Judges, Rhadamanthys of Wyvern has also fallen.”

As soon as Saori finished speaking, Feng Zhe felt a wave of dizziness, swaying as though about to collapse.

The Sanctuary was left with barely a handful of cats, while the Specters still had Hades, two subsidiary gods of death and sleep, Minos of Griffon, Aiacos of Garuda, and a host of other Specters.

How was this Holy War supposed to be won?

No wonder, in the end, the Pope and the goddess were both beheaded by Hades—they had become mere commanders without an army.

Feng Zhe looked at the delicate Saori and thought to himself, everyone calls Athena the goddess of wisdom and war, but this Saori before him was like a naïve child, her cosmos pitifully weak.

Feng Zhe felt as if his entire life had turned bleak.

Wait—could he still escape?

The thought struck him that he could leap between dimensions, and he immediately prepared to summon his faith power.

[Faith required for dimensional leap: 50,000. Current faith: 0!]

In the previous timeline, Feng Zhe had spent rather a lot of faith power, but if he could gather 50,000, he could escape this timeline altogether.

A surge of hope rose within him, only to be followed by a dreadful realization.

It seemed he was out of time...

Dong, dong, dong!

The bell, reserved for times of crisis in the Sanctuary, rang out once more.

Last time, the danger had come from Minos of Griffon, and now the Athena Barrier had been battered by the Specters to the brink of collapse—it could not withstand many more assaults.

“Brother, I must go pray!”

Hearing the alarm, Saori stood up at once.

The key to the Sanctuary’s barrier was Saori’s prayers; without her, the barrier would have long since fallen.

She entered the goddess’s temple, knelt on both knees like a holy maiden, with hands folded in silent prayer.

As she prayed, the goddess statue emitted a gentle cosmos, enveloping the entire Sanctuary like a bubble.

No matter how many Specters waited outside, they could not so easily run rampant within the Sanctuary’s barrier.

Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted within Gemini Temple among the Twelve Houses.

Athena Exclamation!!

A vast cosmos, brimming with world-shattering energy, detonated above the Gemini Temple.

The immense force blasted apart the Sanctuary’s barrier above the temple.

Saori felt a terrible backlash, spitting blood as the force struck her, creating a breach in the barrier.

“Brother, quick! The barrier is broken!”

Saori’s pleading gaze filled Feng Zhe with heartache.

“Don’t worry, I’m here!”

Without hesitation, Feng Zhe donned the Cloth of the Altar and teleported from the Papal Palace.

...

Gemini Temple

Under the command of Hades, Evil Saga, Deathmask, and Aphrodite had once more donned their Surplices and unleashed Athena Exclamation, blasting open a breach above the Gemini Temple.

Specters surged through in a great tide.

Close behind them were Minos of Griffon and Aiacos of Garuda, the two mighty Judges of the Underworld.

“Saga, you’ve done well,” Minos praised, then looked outward, where a black, flying carriage hung in the sky beyond the Sanctuary barrier.

Inside was Hades himself.

“Saga, Deathmask, Aphrodite—you dare betray Athena!”

Avnir of Aries, Aiolia of Leo, and Milo of Scorpio—the last remaining Gold Saints—recognized that the time had come.

They took up their positions, shouting in unison:

Athena Exclamation!!

This ultimate technique, wielded by the three of them as one, targeted Evil Saga and his companions.

The vast energy exploded within Gemini Temple, radiant as the sun.

In the face of this supreme attack, Evil Saga and his allies were reduced to dust, as if they had fulfilled their mission.

Before dying, Saga laughed madly, “I'll be waiting for you in the endless abyss! Hahaha...”

But the power of Athena Exclamation did not stop there—the three Gold Saints meant to wipe out the Specters and annihilate Hades’s army in one fell swoop.

Suddenly, a black-clad youth leaped from the carriage. With a single hand, he scattered the mighty AE, as easily as crushing an ant.

“Hades!”

Avnir stared in shock at the youth before him, who, with his wicked smile, looked nearly identical to Alex.

At that moment, Feng Zhe appeared beside Avnir.

The youth smiled at Feng Zhe. “It’s been a long time, my brother, Alex!”

Nearly every Saint wore an expression of utter astonishment...