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Mika was forced onto the defensive as Aiolia, fueled by his rage, relentlessly attacked. This—inadvertently benefited Mika.
His mastery of [Crystal Wall]—though not used for its reflective properties, increased significantly as he focused on strengthening its defensive capabilities.
——
"Lightning Fist!"
"Enuma Elish: The Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth!"
....
"Lightning Plasma!"
"Stardust Revolution!"
....
"Light-Speed Punch!"
"Atomic Thunderbolt!"
——
Their battle raged across the vast expanse of space.
Mika, despite being on the defensive, was slowly gaining ground, his earlier struggles easing as he adapted to Aiolia's relentless assault.
Although he had recently become a Gold Saint, and was still integrating his other powers with his Cosmo, this battle, against an enraged Aiolia, was accelerating his growth.
His Cosmo expanded, and his techniques grew stronger.
He was slowly closing the gap between them.
While Aiolia was currently at the peak of his power, and Mika still at the lower end of the Seventh Sense—they were both within the same realm. And when two Gold Saints were evenly matched, a stalemate often ensued.
"DAMN IT!!" Aiolia roared, frustrated.
Aiolia wasn't interested in a prolonged battle; he wanted revenge for Milo.
"Oh, you're not enjoying this? Neither am I." Mika also felt the shift in their dynamic. He wasn't fond of stalemates either; such drawn-out battles weren't his style.
He had a way to break the deadlock.
"Lend me your strength, Saori," Mika said, contacting her telepathically. As soon as he finished speaking—a wave of warm Cosmo enveloped him.
It was Saori's.
"What is this Cosmo…?" Aiolia stared in disbelief, sensing the immense, gentle, all-encompassing power.
He had been tasked with eliminating an Evil God.
Was THIS the Evil God who was now empowering Mika? But such a pure, benevolent Cosmo—it didn't make sense.
Mika, However—reveled in the power. Saori's Cosmo had amplified his own, pushing him to the peak of the Seventh Sense—though only temporarily.
"Now, Aiolia, we're even—Try this!"
"Starlight Extinction!"
A powerful blast of starlight, combined with spatial distortion, struck Aiolia—a barrage of attacks hitting him from all sides.
It was a technique Mu had developed himself, later using it to defeat Deathmask and Aphrodite in a single blow.
Aiolia was engulfed by the starlight, forced onto the defensive, unable to counterattack.
While his Cosmo now matched Mika's in intensity and scale, there was something in Mika's attack that prevented him from retaliating.
Usually, Aiolia could break through this force—his Leo Gold Cloth—the armor that had always protected him, now seemed to be…resisting, unwilling to fight against Mika.
"What's going on?" Panic surged within him.
Aiolia had never experienced such a thing.
And a terrifying thought, a horrifying realization, began to dawn on him.
But he was in the midst of a battle, a life-or-death struggle against a powerful opponent. Hesitation, at this level, was a fatal flaw.
"I didn't expect such a…convenient opening." Mika's voice echoed from behind him.
He had instantly sensed Aiolia's distraction, his internal conflict.
He understood; Aiolia wanted to fight, but his Cloth was resisting. And the reason for its resistance was Mika's Cosmo, which, while unfamiliar to Aiolia, resonated deeply with the Leo Gold Cloth.
Gold Cloths, after all—weren't inanimate objects; they possessed a will of their own. In the future, during the battle of the Twelve Temples, Deathmask's Cancer Cloth would abandon him, disgusted by his actions—leading to his defeat by Shiryu.
And the Gold Cloths, having fought alongside Athena since the age of myth, wouldn't attack her or those empowered by her Cosmo.
The Leo Gold Cloth, while fond of its current wearer, couldn't bring itself to attack someone blessed by Athena.
This created a conflict within Aiolia.
"Damn it—Lightning Plasma!" His momentary distraction had given Mika an opening, and he appeared behind him, but Aiolia reacted swiftly, unleashing his attack.
However, Mika was no longer the same opponent he had faced earlier.
He caught Aiolia's attack with his left hand, effortlessly neutralizing it, while his right hand, charged with Aiolos's power, prepared to strike.
"Brace yourself!" He shouted.
Just as he was about to unleash the attack, a surge of Cosmo flowed from the Sagittarius Cloth—Aiolos's Cosmo.
The combined power of three Cosmos converged in his fist.
"Atomic Lightspeed Fist!"
——
Three distinct Cosmos, united in a single, devastating attack. Mika's technique, learned from the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, unleashed its full power—a force of nature capable of splitting planets.
The blow struck Aiolia in the abdomen.
"Ugh!"
He doubled over, blood spraying from his lips, even his Gold Cloth was unable to fully absorb the impact. In fact, the fact that he had survived at all was a testament to its protective power.
Mika swung his arm, sending Aiolia hurtling towards the Earth below.
He watched as Aiolia fell like a meteor, then clenched his fist, lightly tapping his own Cloth. "Lending me your strength at the last moment…you really wanted to punish your brother, didn't you?" he chuckled.
He had already been confident in his victory before Aiolos's intervention. His brother's Cosmo had only served to make Aiolia's injuries more severe.
Such—fraternal love amused Mika. (Calling Athena an Evil God—that brat has no respect.)
Although he didn't receive an audible response, Aiolos's will echoed in his mind through their shared Cosmo.
"He needed to be taught a lesson."
"I see… So it was a disciplinary action, then?" Mika grinned.
While the blow had undoubtedly been painful, it had also been an act of love, a brother's concern.
"You two are quite close, aren't you?"
"Don't worry, Aiolos. He'll come around eventually." He patted his chest reassuringly.
"…" He smiled, feeling Aiolos's silent acknowledgment through the Cloth.
"But first—I have a few things to take care of." He looked down at the falling Aiolia, who seemed to be regaining control of his body. He wouldn't crash; he would likely land safely.
"So, the battle isn't over yet."
"It's time to…conclude this." With a thought, he descended, his body transforming into a golden streak of light, pursuing the falling Aiolia.
"Damn it! Move!" Aiolia struggled against the foreign Cosmo within him, desperate to regain control. He wouldn't accept defeat so easily.
But before he could expel it, he sensed Mika's Cosmo approaching rapidly.
"No!"
Before he could react, Mika was upon him, his hand clamping down on his face. He grabbed Aiolia's head and plunged towards the Earth.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Just before impact, he released Aiolia, who crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Although he seemed unharmed externally, his internal injuries were severe.
"Excellent. Mission accomplished." Mika grinned, looking at the incapacitated Aiolia. He stretched, enjoying the afterglow of victory.
——
"Welcome back, Mika."
A melodious voice called out from the nearby forest, and three figures emerged.
Leading the way was a beautiful woman in a long dress, followed by two men in armor.
However, while one moved with effortless grace, the other stumbled, clearly injured. Despite his unsteady gait, Mika sensed an unwavering resolve emanating from him, as if he had just made a solemn vow.
As they approached, Mika recognized them: Saori Kido, Mu of Aries, and Milo of Scorpio.
The injured one was Milo, his abdomen still bearing the mark where the Golden Arrow had pierced his Gold Cloth, though the arrow itself was gone, and his wounds had been healed.
The Golden Arrow had penetrated his Gold Cloth. And now it was in Saori's hands.
Mika wasn't surprised.
Everything was proceeding according to their plan.
During their brief conversation before Mika left to confront Aiolia and Milo, he and Saori had devised this strategy.
"Milo…" Aiolia's voice, weak but filled with concern, echoed from the crater. He had managed to get to his feet.
"Aiolia…"
Although his Golden Arrow had severely injured Milo, Mika had sensed his unwavering devotion to his comrade through their shared Cosmo.
Mika couldn't help but feel a grudging respect.
"Are you alright? Thank goodness…" Aiolia sighed in relief, seeing that Milo was alive.
But his relief was quickly replaced by confusion as he tried to make sense of the situation.
"Milo, why are you with her? That woman—she's the Evil God the Pope warned us about! And…Master Mu? What's going on?!"
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