Manigoldo's expression darkened terribly, his fists clenched until they creaked. "You bastard…"
Albafica placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't fall for it. He's luring you into darkness."
"Those who cannot sacrifice anything cannot change anything! Without even that level of resolve, how can you defeat me?" Avido laughed wildly, his eyes gleaming with twisted pleasure.
He loved seeing these so-called righteous Saints fall into darkness while trying to uphold justice.
He laughed loudly, then suddenly his expression changed drastically.
To his shock, the souls that were converging towards him had reversed direction, flowing towards Setsuna like rivers to the sea.
Setsuna raised his hands high. Pure light bloomed in his palms.
The souls transformed into points of starlight, gently encircling him, showing no signs of struggle or agony.
"How is this possible?!" Avido roared in disbelief. "These weak souls should have long lost their own thoughts! They should only be forcibly absorbed by Sekishiki!"
"Because I can speak with them, reawaken their spirituality." Setsuna's voice was calm yet firm. "They willingly lend me their Ki, just to take revenge on you."
Avido's face twisted like a demon's. "Don't you dare!"
He frantically unleashed [Sekishiki Konso Ha]. A black vortex condensed in his palm.
Yet no matter how much he urged his Cosmos, he couldn't wrest control of the souls from Setsuna's grasp.
"Why?!" Avido's roar was filled with rage. "I am the master who controls souls!"
In a furious frenzy, black light gathered around his fist as he charged at Setsuna at lightspeed. "Then I'll kill you first!"
Boom!
Two golden figures stood before Setsuna like fortress walls.
Manigoldo's fist collided head-on with Avido's. The shockwave shattered the surrounding walls.
"Your opponents are us." Albafica's roses fell like a gentle rain, each petal precisely blocking Avido's escape routes.
"Setsuna, well done!" Manigoldo praised loudly, then mocked, "Avido, it seems we can defeat you without abandoning our beliefs."
"Damn it!" Avido's face was grim. Though confident, he couldn't face two Gold Saints without external aid.
Especially the soul power Setsuna was gathering gave him a sense of dread.
'This won't do. I must retreat.' Avido thought of fleeing, but his path was persistently blocked by the two golden figures.
"Don't push me!" he snarled like a cornered beast.
Manigoldo and the other remained unmoved. Although Avido had the Seventh Sense realm, without a Gold Cloth, he was no match for a Gold Saint.
If not for the special property of Sekishiki Meikai Ha ignoring physical defenses, a single Gold Saint would have sufficed.
Avido's final struggle failed to break through the encirclement.
"It's time to end this."
The soul-light between Setsuna's hands had condensed into a dazzling orb. The wishes of countless souls resonated within.
"Sekishiki - Spirit Bomb!"
Pure light poured down like a celestial river, completely engulfing Avido's figure.
Amidst Avido's agonized roar, his soul was torn apart by thousands of vengeful spirits.
Setsuna felt quite moved. If this were a normally gathered Spirit Bomb, this attack would be enough to destroy all of Venice.
But since it was a soul-version Spirit Bomb, it had almost no effect on the physical plane.
Manigoldo shook his slightly numb right hand, letting out a long sigh. "That guy was really troublesome…"
Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. "Damn! We forgot to ask him about the Phoenix Cloth's whereabouts!"
Setsuna shook his head with a light laugh. "Though he fell into darkness, he unwaveringly adhered to his inner beliefs. How could someone like that bow his head to us?"
Manigoldo nodded thoughtfully. "True. Those who comprehend the Seventh Sense, whether good or evil, are all individuals who adhere to their beliefs. Even evil, they are evil thoroughly."
"So cool! You finally destroyed those bad guys!" Jack's excited voice broke the contemplation.
The youth ran from the depths of the corridor, his grimy little face full of admiration.
He held an ancient bronze box in his arms. The lid was carved with patterns of a phoenix reborn from flames.
"I heard something calling me from inside, so I found this box…" Jack panted as he handed over the box. "It looks like the boxes you carry. Not sure if it's useful?"
Manigoldo raised an eyebrow, a suspicion forming in his mind.
He carefully took the box. The moment his fingertips touched the clasp, a dazzling light burst from the seams.
"It really is the Phoenix Cloth!" Manigoldo exclaimed in awe. "What a coincidence."
"Probably not a coincidence." Albafica shook his head gently. "That he could sense the Phoenix Cloth… he's very likely a descendant of the Sacred Mask Clan from Death Queen Island, massacred by Avido twelve years ago."
Jack shook his head in confusion. "I don't know about any Sacred Mask… As long as it helps you."
The youth showed a sincere smile. "Consider it repayment for saving me and this city."
The moment Setsuna's hand touched the Cloth, blazing white flames erupted.
The temperature in the entire mansion soared. Water droplets condensed on the walls, then rapidly evaporated.
Within the roaring flames, Setsuna's figure flickered.
His consciousness had fallen into the Phoenix Cloth's illusion trial… the purifying fires of a hundred lifetimes.
In the first life, he was a soldier who died in battle. A voice whispered in his ear, tempting, "As long as you become Hades's warrior, you can obtain eternal life…"
Setsuna's soul retorted, "Can I become Hades?"
The voice fell silent for a long while, then asked, "Why?"
Setsuna's soul replied without hesitation, "How can a true man remain content under the rule of gods for long? Do all the gods and buddhas in heaven have some inherent right to rule?"
In the second life, he was a scholar who died of illness. The same dialogue played out again.
In the third life, he was a fisherman who drowned…
Each cycle, the voice would ask the same question.
But Setsuna's soul was like an unyielding rock in the River Styx. No matter how the river's waters washed over it, the will in his heart remained unmoving.
Time in the outside world seemed to stand still.
Manigoldo and Albafica guarded the burning Cloth. Jack nervously clutched his clothes.
Suddenly, the blazing white flames turned golden-red.
A clear, melodious phoenix cry resounded through the clouds. The giant phantom of a fire phoenix was reborn from the Cloth, completely enveloping Setsuna.
The flames gradually dissipated, revealing a new form.
Setsuna now wore the Phoenix Cloth. Each piece of armor flowed with liquid fire. Three long, elegant tail feathers extended from his back, scattering sparks into the air.
Manigoldo showed a gratified smile. "Welcome to the ranks of the Saints, Phoenix."