Saga and the other two were once again moved by the magnificent blueprint Setsuna had described, eager to throw themselves into this revolution immediately.
Amidst their excitement, they also thought of their other two comrades.
Saga requested earnestly, "Setsuna-sama, could you also save Deathmask and Aphrodite? Their lives should also be nearing their end."
Hearing Saga mention the [Aquatic Duo], Setsuna was quite speechless.
He shook his head with some disdain. "Deathmask... was abandoned by his own Gold Cloth. He truly brings shame to the name [Cancer]."
Saga was somewhat surprised. "Setsuna-sama, do you have some special feelings towards Cancer? Were you also a Cancer Saint?"
Setsuna said frankly, "I am not. My teacher and my senior brother are Cancer Saints. As for me, I am the Phoenix Saint."
"Phoenix Saint?" Saga was very surprised.
He had fought against Ikki, the Phoenix Saint. That was indeed a young man with great potential, but compared to this legendary Pope, Ikki fell far, far short.
Setsuna said calmly, "You should set out now. As for those two, I will go and save them."
Saga and the other two responded in unison, "Yes!"
…
Two hours later, deep within the Underworld, near the First Prison - Underworld Court.
On the dark, barren earth, the never-extinguishing fires of sin burned. Countless wailing souls were being judged and punished.
However, at this moment, the tranquility of this place, originally part of the Underworld's realm of order, was completely shattered.
"Galaxian Explosion!"
Kanon had already recovered from the earlier mental attack. Clad in the Gemini Gold Cloth, he was like a god of war descending, sweeping through the Underworld with unstoppable force.
Shiryu and Hyoga followed close behind. The three formed a sharp triangular formation, constantly breaking through the Underworld's defenses and advancing deeper into the Underworld.
"These Specters have varying levels of strength, but there don't seem to be any true experts stopping us?" Shiryu punched back a Specter, frowning slightly.
They had encountered quite a bit of resistance along the way, but it was far from the rumors.
Hyoga also noticed the abnormality. "Indeed, according to Shion-sama's intelligence, the three Judges of the Underworld should have appeared long ago."
"Could they be detained by other matters? Or... have a more important target?"
Just then, on the road ahead, where the fires of sin burned, a figure that seemed to be Kanon's mirror image walked toward them.
"Saga?" Shiryu and Hyoga exclaimed simultaneously. Kanon's pupils also contracted sharply.
"Kanon." Saga looked at his younger brother, his expression complex. "I never expected us to stand on opposite sides again."
Shiryu assumed a fighting stance, his eyes full of vigilance. "Shion-sama clearly said that you were resurrected by Hades and only had twelve hours of life. That time is long past. Why are you still..."
"Correct." Saga admitted frankly. "The 'false life' granted by Hades was indeed only twelve hours. That time has long passed."
"Then how did you..." Hyoga also found it inconceivable.
"It was Setsuna-sama." Saga's voice carried reverence. "He extended our lives."
"Setsuna-sama? That former former Pope?" Shiryu and Hyoga were once again shaken.
To reverse the lifespan set by Hades… was that truly something a human could do?
Kanon's pupils also shook violently. That legendary Pope was truly unbelievably powerful.
After the shock, Shiryu looked at Saga, who was blocking the middle of the road, and a greater doubt arose in his heart:
"Saga, weren't you pretending to defect to Hades, just to bring back the secret of Athena's Cloth? Shion-sama has already told us the truth. Why are you still blocking us?"
Saga did not explain much, simply saying calmly, "That is indeed the case. But if you cannot even defeat me, then don't talk about protecting Athena."
"So..." Saga slowly raised his hand, a powerful Cosmo beginning to condense. "Here and now, use your fists to prove to me that you are worthy to continue advancing!"
The battle was on the verge of breaking out!
…
The core of Hades Castle, before the secret passage leading to the Judecca.
Pandora knelt on the ground, in her most respectful posture, using her Cosmo-infused telepathy to convey a message through the door, requesting an audience with the Twin Gods.
After a moment, the stone door opened.
Behind the door was not a physical space, but a divine realm constantly flowing with illusions of starry rivers and the aura of death.
Deep within that realm, two figures were playing a game of chess. They were Hypnos, the God of Sleep, and Thanatos, the God of Death.
"Pandora, why do you disturb us?" Hypnos's voice was like the gentlest lullaby.
Pandora dared not neglect. She immediately reported everything that had happened in Hades Castle, especially regarding Chiaki Setsuna, in detail.
"...In summary, that Pope from the previous Holy War, Chiaki Setsuna, has definitely attained the [Eighth Sense]." Pandora concluded.
However, the Twin Gods' reaction was quite indifferent.
In the last Holy War, they had been sealed before Setsuna became Pope, so they had little knowledge of Setsuna.
The Eighth Sense alone was not enough to impress them.
"The Eighth Sense?" Thanatos let out a dismissive snort. The aura of death dimmed the surrounding river of stars illusions somewhat.
"Just a mere touch of the divine realm by mortals. Why should we care?"
Seeing that the Twin Gods completely disregarded him, Pandora grew somewhat anxious and quickly added:
"Also, I have just received word that Saga, Camus, and Shura, whose lives should have reached their end and completely dissipated, have had their lives extended by Chiaki Setsuna."
"What?"
This time, Hypnos and Thanatos were truly shocked.
"Extending the lifespan set by Hades-sama?" Thanatos's voice suddenly turned cold, filled with incredulous shock and anger.
"This is part of Hades-sama's authority over [Death]! Not even we have the right to arbitrarily change it!"
Hypnos's eyes, always carrying a hint of sleepiness, were now completely awake. "Being able to interfere with or even reverse Hades-sama's authority… this cannot be explained by mere Eighth Sense!"
The two Twin Gods exchanged glances, seeing unprecedented gravity in each other's eyes.
"Things are starting to get interesting." Hypnos smiled, but there was no ease in his tone.
"We can no longer leave this be." Thanatos looked at Pandora, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "We must personally meet this Pope of yours."
Hearing Thanatos's words, Pandora finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted. She also felt a sense of retaliatory pleasure.
'Chiaki Setsuna, aren't you arrogant? Now, let's see how you can remain arrogant!'