Although they had already guessed it, when the Twin Gods personally confirmed this answer, Seiya and the other five were instantly petrified.
The legendary Pope of the Sanctuary, the hero who once protected the earth and led the Holy War, had actually become the ruler of the Underworld?
The amount of information was just too great, too impactful, causing their thoughts to nearly cease functioning.
Hypnos smiled slightly. "His Majesty's position is the position of the Underworld. So, you need not worry at all. Now, the Underworld is already an ally of the Sanctuary."
"Ally!" This word, like a sweet rain, instantly awakened the five from their petrified state.
After the immense shock came an indescribable joy.
They had been feeling that the road ahead was bleak, and then, suddenly, a super powerful reinforcement fell from the sky.
As terrifying as the Underworld was as an enemy, just as reassuring was it as an ally.
Especially the characteristic of infinite resurrection, meaning it was almost impossible for them to be completely defeated.
"Excellent!" Seiya's voice trembled with excitement, the light of hope rekindling in his eyes.
"Without further delay, please take us to see His Majesty the Pope... the God of Death!" Ikki suppressed his excitement and said in a deep voice.
"Please follow us." Hypnos elegantly made a 'please' gesture, and together with Thanatos, tore through space again, constructing a stable passage.
The five quickly followed.
Passing through the spatial passage, they arrived before a giant, magnificent, solemn temple.
The moment they stepped through the temple gate, Seiya and the other four were again rendered speechless by the sight before them.
Inside the temple stood over a hundred figures.
They were clad in Surplices of various styles, all radiating powerful underworld auras.
The Cosmo of each figure was deep and vast, without exception, all reaching the Eighth Sense.
Moreover, many of these faces were actually extremely familiar!
"Master Doko! Mu! Aiolia! Milo! Saga! Camus! Shura..." Seiya uttered the names one by one in disbelief, his voice trembling.
There were also many more ancient faces that he had only seen in Sanctuary paintings or legends.
Here... were actually gathered over one hundred Gold Saints who had attained the Eighth Sense?
This was simply a mythical scene!
The most outstanding warriors in human history, crossing time and space, gathered together, and all had broken through the limits of mortals.
Thanatos looked at the five's stunned expressions and couldn't help but sigh. "Even we were extremely shocked when we first learned of their existence."
"It must be said, the potential of humans is just too great!"
Learning that the Underworld still possessed such a terrifying legion, a legion of heroic souls composed entirely of Eighth Sense powerhouses, the last trace of gloom in the hearts of Seiya and the other five completely dissipated, replaced by infinite confidence and fighting spirit.
With such power, rescuing Athena and confronting Heaven no longer seemed like an unattainable dream.
Hypnos led the still-shocked five, passing through the lined-up Gold heroic souls, to the deepest part of the Hall of Heroes.
There, on a taller, more antique, black gold throne radiating intangible pressure.
Setsuna, clad in the Hades Divine Cloth, sat quietly.
His aura was completely concealed, giving a sense of unfathomability, like facing a cosmic abyss. His pure silver eyes, looking over, seemed capable of perceiving everything.
"Setsuna-senpai!" Seiya and the other five stepped forward excitedly, stopping a few steps from the throne and bowing.
"Your Majesty." Hypnos and Thanatos stood respectfully to the side.
Seiya couldn't wait to report in detail the upheaval that had occurred in the Sanctuary to Setsuna.
"...Saori-sama is now imprisoned in the Moon Temple, her fate unknown! The Moon Goddess Artemis is cold and ruthless. We are no match for her at all!"
Seiya's voice was full of anxiety. "We beg Your Majesty to save Athena! To save the earth!"
Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, and Ikki also bowed simultaneously in request.
Thanatos listened from the side, finding it somewhat amusing. Asking the God of Death to save the earth… if this were before, it would undoubtedly be the best joke.
Upon the throne, Setsuna quietly listened to Seiya's narration, his eyes slightly narrowed, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest of the throne.
After a moment of silence, the corners of Setsuna's mouth slightly upturned. "Since Artemis has taken over the earth, it seems I should also bring into play the fine tradition of the Underworld and launch a Holy War against the Sanctuary!"
Seiya and the other five were first stunned, then their eyes burst forth with unprecedented blazing light.
For the first time, they felt that a Holy War wasn't necessarily all bad.
…
Former Greek Sanctuary, now Moon Temple.
Clear, cold, bright moonlight, like a veil, shrouded this reshaped mountaintop.
The ancient, sacred aura that had belonged to Athena had been completely washed away, replaced by a cold divine power.
Outside the temple, several Heavenly Warriors, clad in simple silver armor and carrying bows, were patrolling listlessly, their faces full of impatience.
"Tch, this damned place... compared to the pure sacredness of Heaven, it's simply filthy!" A Heavenly Warrior kicked an ordinary stone at his feet, his face full of disgust.
"Even the air is filled with the turbid desires of lower beings and the decay characteristic of short-lived species. Just smelling it is nauseating!"
"Who says it isn't." Another Heavenly Warrior agreed, looking up at the sky, deliberately purified by moonlight, somewhat dissatisfied.
"I truly don't understand why Artemis-sama wants to take over this kind of place. These insignificant humans and their faith are not worthy of basking in Lady Moon's divine light."
Just then, five tall figures in tattered Cloths suddenly appeared in the square before the temple entrance.
They were Seiya and the other four.
"Hmm?" The Heavenly Warriors' eyes focused, and then a look of contempt appeared on their faces.
"Heh, who did I think it was." The lead Heavenly Warrior folded his arms, looking at Seiya and the other five from the corner of his eye.
"You are the 'Saints' under Athena? You were thrown out by Lady Moon like homeless curs last time, yet you still dare to come back?"
"What, was the lesson last time not deep enough? Or... have you tired of living?"
Facing the Heavenly Warrior's mockery, Seiya did not get angry. Instead, a bright, almost blinding smile appeared on his face.
"We have not only returned..." Seiya stepped forward. "We have also brought a generous gift for you, noble Heavenly Warrior lords!"
"Generous gift?" The Heavenly Warriors were stunned, then burst into laughter. "As expected of cowards. No wonder your goddess didn't dare to resist Lady Moon..."
Their laughter stopped abruptly.
Because, the surrounding space suddenly split open with dense, numerous cracks.
Figures clad in ferocious Surplices, radiating powerful deathly auras, like a legion of demons crawling out from the deepest depths of hell, orderly stepped out from those fissures.
The 108 Evil Stars of the Underworld!
Under the will of the God of Death, they had crossed the boundary!