Looking at Kaecilius, who was kneeling before him, Maierin felt a deep sense of conflict.
Indeed, in the future, Kaecilius would fall into darkness, bringing great crises to Kamar-Taj and the Earth. But at this moment, he was merely a newly initiated disciple— a broken man who had lost everything and had become utterly disillusioned with the world.
However, Maierin could not help him. His strength had not yet recovered, and in this world, only powerful beings could retain independent souls after death. Ordinary people, once deceased, would return to the underworld. It was unwise to challenge the underworld for a few mortal souls.
Moreover, Kaecilius's family had already passed away for some time. If they had not committed serious sins, they might have already been reincarnated.
"Go find your teacher, child. I cannot help you."
"My lord! Are you not a god? Why can't you save them? If you bring my family back, I will serve you as my master! I will live and die for you! I will offer you everything!" Kaecilius begged desperately.
"Go back, child. The dead are gone. Living in the past is no different from death."
"You lie! You're no god! You're just a hypocrite! If gods truly existed, why wouldn't they save my family? Aren't gods supposed to save the world? You're all liars! Damn liars—"
"Boom!"
Maierin's Cosmos erupted, pressing down on Kaecilius. Unlike his usual warmth and hope, this force was tyrannical and ruthless, suffocating him. Kaecilius felt as if he were standing amidst a battlefield of corpses, a hellscape piled with bones.
"Don't push your luck, boy!"
Indeed, Maierin was the Father of the Earth. His Cosmos was the same as Athena's—full of love and hope.
But the mythological era was cruel. One could not survive on love and hope alone. To uphold one's beliefs, strength and methods were essential.
Back then, the gods who perished at Maierin's hands were too numerous to count. Naturally, his Cosmos had accumulated a brutal and domineering force.
As he watched Kaecilius struggle on the ground, his body on the verge of collapse, Maierin withdrew his Cosmos with a wave of his hand, and Kaecilius vanished.
"My lord! What just happened?"
Sensing Maierin's explosion of Cosmos, which carried a ruthless and oppressive aura, Shion did not dare to delay and quickly ascended the mountain to inquire.
"It's nothing. Just a lost rat. Continue your work."
Shion froze, his expression turning grim. Someone had infiltrated the sanctuary?!
"Yes, my lord."
As he left, he pondered the intruder's identity. It didn't take him long to deduce the answer.
If it were Aiolos or the others, Maierin wouldn't have been so furious. That chilling, hellish Cosmos was as if he had become a different person altogether.
The trainee Saints wouldn't dare trespass—their training instilled obedience, and they lacked the ability to infiltrate the temple undetected.
The sanctuary was protected by barriers, so an outsider's infiltration was unlikely.
That left only one possibility: someone from Kamar-Taj. A sorcerer had trespassed into the temple and angered Maierin.
Shion rushed back to the Pope's Palace, demanding an explanation from the Ancient One.
But upon entering, he was stunned.
Kaecilius, who had just been in the temple, was now lying in the hall—his face pale, blood foaming from his lips. The Ancient One was tending to his injuries, while Alex watched coldly from the side.
"What happened?" Shion quietly asked Alex.
"Moments after you left, this kid appeared—sent back by the lord's Cosmos."
Shion immediately understood. This was the intruder.
"Ancient One, you owe us an explanation," Shion said, gripping his scepter, ready for action.
"Please, Pope Shion, allow me to heal this child first, or he will die," the Ancient One said gravely.
Kaecilius's condition was critical. His legs were shattered, several ribs broken—one had even punctured his organs. Without immediate treatment, he would die within minutes.
"Hmph, he trespassed upon the temple and angered a god. Death would be a fitting punishment," Shion replied coldly.
Though Maierin had only recently awoken, Shion understood one thing—one's Cosmos could not lie. A Cosmos so warm and kind would never act so ruthlessly without reason.
Shion was sure Maierin had given Kaecilius a chance, but the latter had squandered it and even provoked him, resulting in divine wrath.
Moreover, trespassing into the temple was an unforgivable crime in the sanctuary.
However, Shion did not press further. The sanctuary had just formed an alliance with Kamar-Taj, and their assistance was crucial for the Saints' development and reforms.
But if the Ancient One failed to provide a reasonable explanation, Shion was not afraid to sever ties.
Ten minutes later, the Ancient One finally breathed a sigh of relief as Kaecilius's life was stabilized.
"Pope Shion, I never ordered anyone to trespass into the temple, nor did I intend to offend your lord. However, this child…" She hesitated.
"If this was his personal action, then hand him over to us. The dignity of the gods must not be challenged," Shion declared.
"Please have mercy, Pope Shion. This child is merely unfortunate…"
With no other choice, the Ancient One recounted Kaecilius's tragic past, hoping to earn their sympathy.
True to their nature, the Saints—warriors of love and justice—felt pity upon hearing his story.
"Very well. Ancient One, take him away. However, though he is spared death, he is forever forbidden from entering the sanctuary."
"Thank you, Pope Shion."
The Ancient One was relieved. While Kamar-Taj was not weaker than the sanctuary, conflict would have cost both sides dearly. Besides, Kaecilius was clearly in the wrong.
With negotiations momentarily paused, the Ancient One took Kaecilius and descended the mountain.
Meanwhile, Maierin did not dwell on the matter. He trusted Shion to handle it.
Still weak, he entered Athena's chamber. Alone, he chose not to sleep but to sit cross-legged, meditating to strengthen his Cosmos.
Though he had various techniques and an imposing presence, Maierin knew he was still just a shadow of his former self.
The Sixth Sense was merely at planetary level. The Seventh Sense was at a cosmic level. The Eighth Sense reached godhood, equivalent to a Sky Father. Only upon attaining the Ninth Sense could he stand at a universal level.
And yet, that was merely self-preservation. To reign supreme in this world, he would need to reach the mythical Tenth Sense, or beyond.
Initially, Maierin believed this universe was just the Saint Seiya cosmos. His goal was to dethrone the arrogant gods and live a peaceful life with his wife.
But now, that was impossible.
The threats in this world were overwhelming. True invincibility was nearly impossible to attain.
Even the so-called Tenth Sense was uncertain. Would it make one multiversal? Omniversal? No one knew.
Not even Zeus or Kronos had reached such a level. The only one who might have was Uranus, the first Sky King.
And there was another threat—one even more enigmatic.
The Eastern Immortals.
Legends spoke of a time when the Eastern Pantheon dominated the world. Even the greatest Western gods could not compare.
Then, one day, the Eastern Heaven shone with divine radiance and vanished. Some say they perished. Others claim they ascended to a higher realm, beyond this universe.
Maierin believed the latter.
For now, however, speculation was meaningless.
"Forget it. First, I must regain my strength. Without power, everything else is just empty talk."
With that thought, Maierin sank into deep meditation.