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Even normal humans possessed Cosmo in this world—though they couldn't consciously access or control it.
If a normal human's Cosmo was a 10, a newly awakened Saint's was at least a 100. Animals, too—possessed Cosmo, though creatures like crows likely had less than 1.
It was this vast difference in Cosmo levels that made it so difficult for the assassins from Sanctuary to conceal themselves.
While skilled Saints could mask their aura, their Cosmo, to Mika's Enhanced senses, was like a beacon—A roaring bonfire compared to the flickering flame of an average man.
However, the Silver Saint of Crow had found a way around this.
By dispersing his Cosmo among thousands of crows, he had diluted its intensity, making each crow register as barely above an ordinary human, like a child or an elderly person—in Mika's perception.
While the sudden appearance of so many weaker Cosmo signatures near the arena was unusual, Mika, deep in meditation and focused on detecting Saint-level Cosmo, had missed it.
This was how Jamian had managed to approach Saori undetected.
"If I remember correctly, the Crow Silver Saint's name is—Jamian." Mika recalled the character, whom he remembered as more of a comedic figure in the original anime.
Yet—this seemingly insignificant Saint had managed to bypass his defenses. "So it was a fluke?"
Mika doubted Jamian had deliberately exploited his detection method. Given his fighting style, it seemed more like an accident.
Even so, Mika couldn't help but feel a sense of—disappointment in himself.
"While it was unintentional, it was still a failure on my part. I underestimated the Silver Saints." He quickly analyzed the situation.
While their Cosmo was still at the 6th Sense level—their Techniques shouldn't be underestimated. This was due to Sanctuary's tradition of mentorship. Since many Cloths were currently unclaimed, they were often entrusted to stronger Saints for safekeeping.
In this way, over generations, many of the Bronze and Silver Saints' Techniques had been influenced by the Gold Saints, who often took on Students.
Dohko, for example—had trained not only Shiryu but also Ōko and Genbu.
Therefore, many Silver Saints possessed unique and Powerful Techniques.
"While I did underestimate them, it was because of the vast difference between the 6th and 7th Senses." He looked towards the arena—unconcerned about Saori's safety, despite the distance between them.
"It's time." He stepped forward and vanished, reappearing instantly beside Saori.
He looked at the thousands of crows surrounding them.
While they carried Jamian's Cosmo, they were ultimately just—crows, unable to comprehend or respond to his words.
Mika raised his hand, and flames erupted—spreading rapidly through the flock, incinerating them in an instant.
Only ashes remained, drifting down from the sky.
He created a transparent sphere of Cosmo around himself and Saori, shielding them from the falling ash.
"Is that…it?" Saori asked.
While she had inherited Athena's memories and knowledge upon awakening—this was her first experience being attacked by a Saint.
"Not quite. We haven't dealt with the—source yet," Mika replied with a smile.
"You don't seem—concerned."
"Why should I be?" she replied calmly. "I know your Powers can encompass all of Japan. You can sense everything and reach any location instantly. Therefore, I have nothing to fear. You promised to protect me, and I trust you."
Mika chuckled, pleased by her unwavering faith in him. "It seems my role as your protector is—appreciated."
"In that case, I can't disappoint you, can I?" He pointed towards the sky, and a golden beam of light shot upwards, vanishing into the clouds.
——
Deep within a remote mountain range, Jamian anxiously awaited his crows' return.
He had been warned about the Bronze Saints' strength and their dangerous new companion. The other Silver Saints sent to eliminate them hadn't returned, except for Shaina. This made him wary, prompting him to devise this plan, hoping to retrieve the Gold Cloth remotely.
He hadn't anticipated that instead of the Cloth, he would be met with a Gold Saint's attack.
"What…?" He looked up and saw a golden light descending from the sky. Before he could react, it struck him, and a surge of Power erupted from beneath the earth, obliterating him and the surrounding mountains, reducing them to atoms.
Where once a mountain range stood, there was now only a massive crater.
It was a Gold Saint's attack—a Light-speed punch, capable of circling the Earth seven and a half times per second.
By the time one sensed it, it was already too late to dodge.
——
"What is this…?" Saga, disguised as the Pope, stared at the photo his subordinates had brought, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
"Such destructive Power—that's not the work of a Silver Saint. A Gold Saint intervened. Was it—Master Dohko? Or perhaps... Mu?" He studied the image, his mind racing.
Currently, Nine Gold Saints had pledged their loyalty to him, despite him never revealing his face.
They trusted him.
After all, he had been chosen by the previous Pope.
And the Pope's authority was absolute, bestowed upon him by Athena and the Gold Saints themselves.
Since Athena reincarnated only once every two hundred years, Sanctuary, for most of its existence, was without her direct guidance.
And each reincarnation was typically followed by a Holy War—after which Athena rarely survived. This, combined with the time it took for her to mature, meant that Sanctuary was effectively ruled by the Pope, "God's representative," a position almost always held by a Gold Saint.
When Saga usurped the position, the other Gold Saints had simply assumed he was a Gold Saint from a previous era. After all—even Gold Saints, despite their immense Power, weren't immortal.
As they aged, they would choose successors, either remaining in Sanctuary to train them or leaving to wander the world. Therefore, the Saints' appearances changed between Holy Wars.
It wasn't unusual for a Gold Saint to be unknown to the current generation. And it wasn't unusual for a Pope to conceal his identity.
Everyone had their secrets.
Therefore, no one had questioned Saga's authority, especially since his 7th Sense Cosmo was undeniable proof of his Power.
They couldn't have imagined that their Pope wasn't a venerable elder but Saga, a Gold Saint of their own generation. Thanks to this misconception, and the weight of the Papacy's accumulated Authority—He had successfully deceived them all.
Only two had suspected the truth:
Dohko—a comrade of the previous Pope, and Mu, his Student. However, Dohko, tasked with guarding the 108 Specters—couldn't leave the Five Ancient Peaks.
And Mu knew that without irrefutable evidence, no one would believe him. Therefore, instead of risking a confrontation with the other Gold Saints, he had chosen to bide his time, waiting for the right opportunity to return to Sanctuary.
——
"Master Dohko or Mu? Unlikely. Master Dohko is guarding the Specters, and if Mu intended to act, he would have done so already. Such a—subtle attack isn't his style," Saga mused, his eyes narrowing behind his mask.
"Then there's only one other possibility: Athena has a new 7th Sense Saint."
"Tsk. The Power of a Goddess…" He clicked his tongue in annoyance. He knew he had to act quickly.
Eliminating Athena was now his top priority.
"Damn it!" He had been sending Powerful Silver Saints after her, but why not Gold Saints, or even himself? Sending a Gold Saint after a few Bronze Saints would be overkill, no one would accept such a mission.
It could even raise suspicions, leading them to investigate Saori's true identity.
As for going himself, he knew that both Dohko and Mu were watching him.
Any action that revealed his true Power, his Cosmo unleashed, would expose him. While he could conceal his Cosmo in its dormant state, once ignited, it would be impossible to hide.
And that was precisely what Mu was waiting for.
However, now—with a Gold Saint-level warrior protecting Athena, he had a valid reason to send a Gold Saint.
And facing such a Powerful opponent, they wouldn't refuse. After all, defeating a 7th Sense enemy was their duty.
"I'll send Milo," he decided, then reconsidered.
With the Sagittarius Gold Cloth in Saori's possession, it was likely her new Saint was a Sagittarius Gold Saint.
Sending Milo would likely result in a stalemate, a battle that could drag on indefinitely. And he couldn't afford to wait.
Against an awakening Athena—delaying was a fool's errand.
"I'll need to send two. But I need a—justification." Gold Saints, warriors of honor, rarely ganged up on a single opponent.
They preferred one-on-one duels.
"I'll use the 'Evil God' excuse. I'll claim he's manipulating those Bronze Saints. And this new 7th Sense Saint—he's obviously one of the Evil God's followers." He had quickly fabricated a plausible story.
"Summon Milo and Aiolia," he commanded.
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