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"Send me back?" Shiryu asked, sensing that Mika's offer wasn't about accompanying him on his return journey.
"That's right," Mika replied with a smile.
"As I mentioned before, Cosmo is a Versatile Power. With sufficient knowledge and effort, almost any ability can be achieved through its manipulation, including—teleportation."
"Teleportation?!" Shiryu was surprised. He understood what teleportation entailed, but Mika had traveled with him to Jamir.
"My teleportation is limited to locations I've visited before or places I can—sense. I've never been to Jamir."
"I see…" Shiryu nodded.
"Therefore, I can send you back to Seiya's side instantly. Do you want to return now?"
"Yes! Seiya and the others need me."
"Then let's begin." Mika raised his hand, Cosmo, radiating spatial energy, swirling around his palm.
"Wait!" Kiki shouted, rushing to Shiryu's side. "Master Mu, Shiryu promised to take me to Japan! I want to go too!"
"Very well. You may go with him." Mu readily agreed.
He had his own matters to attend to and wouldn't be staying in Jamir.
He trusted Shiryu to care for Kiki.
"Thank you, Master Mu!"
Kiki looked at Mika expectantly.
"I'll send both of you back," Mika said with a smile, looking at Shiryu, his Cloths repaired and strapped to his back, and Kiki standing beside him.
He waved his hand—and a sphere of Cosmo enveloped them.
The next moment, they were gone, teleported to Seiya's side.
Having sensed Seiya's Cosmo, Mika could now teleport to his location, or send others there, at will.
"Such mastery of Cosmo—It's astonishing," Mu remarked, watching them vanish.
Saints were known for their precise control over Cosmo—often described as the Power of creation and destruction.
It was akin to having a nuclear Power plant within one's body. While this granted them immense strength, uncontrolled, it was incredibly dangerous.
The Gold Saints, for example—could shatter stars with their fists, yet they rarely caused lasting damage to the earth during their battles—This was due to their exceptional control over Cosmo.
And Mika's control seemed even finer than theirs.
Of course—even a Gold Saint unleashing their full Power couldn't destroy the Earth. Mika had learned this from Saori. The Earth, in this world, wasn't just a planet; it was Gaia—a Mythological Being, protected by the Gods.
Even a Gold Saint's Seventh Sense level Cosmo couldn't harm it, nor could the Eighth Sense. After all, if the Earth were so easily destroyed, what would be the point of Athena, Poseidon, and the other Earth-bound Gods protecting it?
Having reached the Seventh Sense, Mika had gained a new understanding of the Earth. It was incredibly resilient.
"It's just—a natural talent," Mika replied modestly to Mu's praise. "So, are you ready to go?"
Mu understood. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded. "Let's go."
They exchanged glances, then vanished in a flash of light, reappearing in a garden within the Graad Foundation's guest house.
——
A beautiful woman in a long dress stood at its center. Mu recognized her; he had secretly visited her before—observing the still-dormant Saori Kido.
Sensing their arrival, she turned.
"Mika, you're back!" A warm smile spread across her face as she saw him.
"I am, Miss Saori," he replied, bowing slightly. "Allow me to introduce Mu, the Gold Saint of Aries. He has come to pay his respects, having heard of your—presence."
Saori instantly understood. She approached Mu, her own Cosmo, gentle yet vast, subtly manifesting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Mu," she said with a smile.
Mu felt the Divine Power and immediately knelt. "Forgive my tardiness, Athena. Mu of Aries pledges his life to your service." He needed no further confirmation.
He recognized the Divine Cosmo, the unmistakable presence of Athena—the rightful ruler of Sanctuary.
"You're not late at all," she said, helping him to his feet. "You've arrived at the perfect time."
——
With a flash of light, Mika and Mu reappeared in Jamir.
Mu, having pledged his allegiance to Athena, had decided to return. However, he wouldn't reveal his allegiance yet.
He would operate in secret, preparing to support her from within Sanctuary when she returned, minimizing casualties among the Gold Saints.
He needed time to make arrangements.
As for Mika, Mu had summoned him back to Jamir for a specific purpose. During his covert operations, Mika would be Athena's sole protector—a Gold Saint level warrior guarding her against any threats.
Therefore, Mu needed to enhance Mika's abilities. While his Cosmo was Powerful, his Techniques were still undeveloped.
He would teach Mika the secrets of the Gold Saints—techniques honed and perfected over Generations.
These were skills Mika couldn't acquire through self-study.
——
——
Mu had high hopes for Mika.
After all, he had awakened his Cosmo and reached the Seventh Sense at such a young age, his Power rivaling even Mu's own.
It was astonishing. Even Mu, though not among the strongest Gold Saints, was still considered a top-tier warrior, having trained under the former Pope, Shion—Yet Mika had achieved this level without any guidance from a Gold Saint.
"You have the potential to become a Gold Saint, Mika," Mu said seriously.
"A Gold Saint—I wonder which constellation I'm meant for," Mika mused.
"Currently, there are nine active Gold Saints. The only vacant Gold Cloths are Gemini, Sagittarius, and Libra," Mu explained.
"Of those three, Sagittarius is the most suitable for you."
As for the other two? Libra's Gold Saint, Dohko, was still alive. And the Gemini Cloth? Mu had his suspicions about the current Pope.
To assassinate the former Pope, Shion, the killer had to be someone from within Sanctuary, a Gold Saint level warrior.
After all, Shion, a survivor of the previous Holy War, possessed Eighth Sense level Cosmo. Even weakened by age, he would still be a formidable opponent, requiring a Gold Saint at the peak of their Power to defeat him.
Through a process of elimination, Mu had a prime suspect: Saga of Gemini. The other Gold Saints were unlikely candidates; they were always present in Sanctuary.
The only other possibilities were those who had died: Aiolos of Sagittarius and Saga of Gemini. And since Aiolos had saved Athena, he couldn't be the killer.
That left only Saga, which meant the Gemini Cloth was likely still in his possession. Therefore, the only suitable Cloth for Mika was Sagittarius.
"The Sagittarius Cloth, huh?" Mika chuckled, understanding Mu's reasoning.
'Logically, Sagittarius is the most suitable for me. But Mu doesn't know that five Gold Saints will die during the upcoming Sanctuary battle. While he might try to sway some of them to Athena's side, Gold Saints aren't easily persuaded—There will be casualties...'
Mika had a few candidates in mind.
The most likely was Deathmask of Cancer—the only Gold Saint to have been rejected by his own Cloth.
He was also arguably the weakest among them.
In Mika's previous life, Deathmask and Aphrodite of Pisces were often ridiculed for their comparatively weaker Power.
And of the five Gold Saints who died during the Sanctuary battle, Saga, Deathmask, Shura of Capricorn, Camus of Aquarius, and Aphrodite of Pisces—their deaths had varied.
——
"The Sagittarius Cloth—What an honor," Mika said.
"There's no such thing as 'Honor.'—Becoming a Gold Saint is about strength—not luck—There are no shortcuts," Mu said seriously.
Mika nodded in agreement.
"I intend to teach you some of the Gold Saints' fundamental techniques," Mu continued.
"Unlike me, you're Athena's sole protector. Your role is crucial. Therefore, I need to Enhance your strength as quickly as possible."
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