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When it came to the signature abilities of a Gold Saint—Light-Speed movement was paramount.
Upon achieving the [Seventh Sense]—a Saint's Speed in all aspects reached the Speed of Light: Movement, Reflexes, Flight, and even Combat.
Mastering Light Speed was fundamental for a Gold Saint.
As for the Light-Speed Punch, it could be further categorized based on its application: Close-combat, Ranged, Destructive, and Complete.
These nuances were the result of generations of Gold Saints refining and passing down their techniques.
Therefore, even Mika's mastery of [Cosmo], while impressive—couldn't compare to that of a true Gold Saint, trained in Sanctuary's traditions.
This was why Mu had decided to mentor him.
And so—Mika remained in Jamir, learning the intricacies of Seventh Sense Cosmo manipulation from Mu.
His progress was astonishing.
To Mu's amazement, Mika absorbed his knowledge at an incredible pace—Eventually mastering even Mu's own Aries Gold Saint techniques.
This wasn't merely to maintain his pride as a teacher; he had intended to share his techniques from the start.
After all, his goal was to enhance Mika's strength as quickly as possible, and the Gold Saint techniques, the culmination of generations of mastery over the [Seventh Sense], were essential.
Sharing techniques between Gold Saints wasn't unusual.
They were comrades, destined to fight alongside each other, and they didn't hoard their knowledge. They often learned from each other to compensate for their own weaknesses or to gain new insights.
However, for a Gold Saint—their most powerful techniques were always those associated with their own Cloth, honed and perfected by generations of Saints attuned to their constellation's unique properties.
While self-created techniques might offer a better fit, the urgency of the Holy Wars often necessitated mastering existing techniques rather than developing new ones—Therefore, while Gold Saints often shared their knowledge, they rarely used techniques outside their own constellation.
Mu had no hesitation in teaching Mika the Aries Gold Saint techniques.
Athena's safety was their top priority.
——
In just a few days, Mika had absorbed a wealth of knowledge from Mu.
"You're a remarkable student," Mu said, impressed by his rapid progress.
He looked at Mika—who was meditating. "Now that you've learned what I can teach you, it's time for you to return to Athena's side."
He was worried about her safety, protected only by a few Bronze Saints, who, having not yet faced the trials of the Sanctuary, hadn't earned the recognition of the Gold Saints.
"I understand, Master Mu. I'll return now." Mu's teachings had been invaluable, saving him years of self-study.
Combined with his earlier acquisition of forging techniques, Mika felt a deep sense of gratitude—acknowledging Mu as his master.
Mu didn't object. After all, passing down knowledge was a Saint's duty. Just as all the current Gold Saints considered Dohko their master.
"Protect Athena."
"You can count on me."
Mika stood up and headed towards the exit. As he walked, his body transformed into a beam of Light, vanishing from sight.
——
"Now, it's my turn." Mu also stood up, looking towards the distant Sanctuary, then vanished as well.
——
"I'm back, Saori," Mika said with a smile, appearing beside her.
He only used her given name when they were alone; it was her request.
"Welcome back." Saori, who had been deep in thought, smiled at his return.
"You seemed troubled earlier. What's wrong?"
"I was worried about Seiya and the others," she admitted, shaking her head. "Although I know they can defeat Ikki and the Black Saints, I can't help but worry about their safety."
"They faced many challenges, but they overcame them all. They'll return safely," Mika reassured her.
He had been observing their battle through his [Observation Haki]. Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, and Shun had journeyed to confront Ikki and the Black Saints, the Gold Cloth pieces as their prize. Mika, curious about the outcome, had been watching.
Since integrating his Haki with his [Cosmo]—his abilities had been greatly enhanced.
Now, having achieved the [Seventh Sense], his [Observation Haki] could encompass the Entire Planet—except for certain divinely protected locations like Sanctuary, Asgard, and the undersea kingdom of Poseidon—He couldn't observe those places.
However, Seiya and the others were well within his range.
He was constantly aware of their situation.
"You can—see them?" Saori asked, surprised.
As the reincarnation of Athena, she, too, should possess such abilities. However, having only recently awakened, her [Cosmo], while potent, was still undeveloped. She hadn't yet regained her full divine power.
"Of course. I'm a Gold Saint now. Remember, you warned me not to limit my imagination. It seems your imagination is the one that's limited," he teased.
Then, with a mischievous grin, he channeled a small amount of his [Cosmo] towards her, linking their energies.
Instantly, the scene of Seiya's battle with Ikki appeared in her mind. He had created a shared vision.
——
Mika's journey through various worlds had given him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Combined with the versatility of [Cosmo], developing new abilities, especially support-type techniques, was now relatively easy.
Combat techniques, however, were a different matter. Saints rarely developed numerous techniques, preferring to hone a few to perfection. Therefore, his existing skills, refined through countless battles, were invaluable.
They could match even the most powerful Saint techniques.
"It seems they're having a tough time," Saori murmured, noticing Seiya and the others' injuries. They had defeated the Black Four but were now battered and bruised. Hyoga, in particular, who had faced Ikki earlier—had nearly been killed.
"However, they've grown stronger. Their progress is remarkable," Mika commented, sensing their [Cosmo].
They had all improved significantly, especially their ability to push past their limits during battle, a trait that defined the five main Bronze Saints. The more challenging the battle, the greater their growth.
'Keep improving. Once you reach the peak of the [Sixth Sense], we can begin our assault on the Sanctuary,' he thought, eager for them to grow stronger.
The stronger Saori was, the stronger He would be.
As the current head of the Graad Foundation, she had access to vast resources, eliminating any financial concerns for Mika.
Although he had his own wealth, accepting the goddess's generosity was—preferable. And once she controlled Sanctuary—Its resources would also be his.
Therefore, he was eager for her to reclaim her rightful place. But that wouldn't happen until Seiya, her other trump card, was ready.
"Now that I'm practically a Gold Saint, perhaps I should take a more active role in their training…" he mused.
Traditionally, Saints were trained through a "free-range" approach. After learning the basics, they were left to develop on their own.
After all, achieving the [Seventh Sense] required personal enlightenment, not direct instruction. And due to the difficulty in awakening [Cosmo], most Saints were inherently talented, allowing this training method to persist through generations.
While Saori, too, had her own plans for testing and training them, her primary focus was on Seiya, whose loyalty and strength had been proven time and again.
——
"Ikki has been defeated," Saori announced, pulling Mika from his thoughts. Seiya and the others had won. He suspected Ikki would soon be swayed by their words, his hatred fading.
"So, the Sagittarius Cloth has been retrieved." While he could summon it at any time, he had missed its presence. After all, it was the Cloth worn by Aiolos, the Gold Saint who had saved her life. She treasured it.
"Retrieved? Not necessarily…" Mika, using his [Observation Haki]—had sensed the presence of other Saints lurking nearby, one of them far stronger than Seiya and the others. He remembered; these were the assassins sent by Saga.
Among the twelve Gold Saints, those of Gemini were always twins, one representing good, the other evil.
In this generation, it was Saga and Kanon.
Kanon, the evil twin, had constantly urged Saga to kill Athena, leading to his imprisonment in Cape Sounion.
However, his words had planted a seed of darkness within Saga, who eventually succumbed to his evil impulses, assassinating the Pope and attempting to kill the infant Athena.
Though his attempt had failed, and his good side had resurfaced, earning him Sanctuary's trust, his evil side had returned after Seiya's arrival—prompting him to send assassins after Saori, whom he now recognized as Athena.
As Mika's thoughts returned to the present, the events unfolded as they had in the original story. The assassins from Sanctuary attacked.
Despite their valiant efforts, Seiya and the others, exhausted and injured from their previous battles, were no match.
Ikki, unleashing his ultimate technique—Phoenix Wing Rise—destroyed the surrounding landscape, burying the assassins and most of the Gold Cloth pieces under tons of rubble.
Only Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, and Shun, along with the Gold Cloth's headpiece, remained.
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