Chapter 61 - 31: Saga’s Atonement, Return to the Sanctuary! (Part 1)

Chapter 61: Chapter 31: Saga’s Atonement, Return to the Sanctuary! (Part 1)

Sensing the crowd’s confusion, Alex took a few steps forward. His gaze swept across the gathering as he declared in a ringing voice:

"I know what you are all worried about. As the Gemini Saint, Saga inherently possesses a dual personality. Years ago, driven by his purely evil persona, he committed grave errors..."

"However, during his years of imprisonment, Saga has deeply repented for his past sins. He also assisted me in slaying the ancient Hydra..."

"I stake my reputation on this: Saga will never commit another evil act. His malicious persona has been completely sealed away by me!"

The reason Alex dared to bring Saga back to the Sanctuary was, naturally, that he possessed absolute confidence in his ability to suppress him once more if needed.

As he continuously ventured into the Reincarnation Space, his strength had skyrocketed at an unbelievable pace. Given just a little more time, perhaps even the lesser deities of the Saint Seiya world would no longer be a match for him.

After hearing Alex’s declaration, Shion remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke, his aged voice echoing through the valley.

"I am old, and my abdication draws near. I shall leave this matter... for all of you to decide. Saga’s return to the Sanctuary to reclaim the Gemini Temple—who stands in his favor?"

"I object!"

Aiolia abruptly took a step forward, his golden Cosmo erupting like a raging inferno.

In that moment, the memory of his deceased older brother—the Sagittarius Saint, Aiolos—flooded his mind!

If Saga hadn’t incited that rebellion years ago... perhaps his brother would never have had to flee the Sanctuary and die such a tragic death...

"I refuse to accept this!"

"I stand against it as well!"

Scorpio Milo and Capricorn Shura stepped forward in unison.

Aries Mu, Taurus Aldebaran, and Virgo Shaka frowned slightly, choosing to remain silent for the time being.

Cancer Deathmask and Pisces Aphrodite, meanwhile, crossed their arms over their chests, watching the spectacle with half-smiles. It wasn’t that they lacked their own opinions; it was simply because... their strength didn’t permit them to speak up.

It was glaringly obvious that this was a motion Alex intended to push through.

The two of them had enough self-awareness to know their place. Though some were vehemently voicing their opposition now, if Alex turned around and froze them solid for a few days under the guise of "sparring," everyone would quickly learn to behave. There was no need to risk their lives over this.

Just as Alex was about to speak, Saga stepped in front of him. He raised his head, his gaze as unyielding as solid rock.

"I understand how all of you feel. Therefore, to prove my determination to atone, I will stand before you without my Cloth and accept whatever punishment you deem fit!"

"If I manage to survive, His Holiness Shion shall dictate my final fate. But if I perish here... then the matter ends here and now!"

The Gold Saints present instantly grasped the weight of Saga’s words.

To take the Ultimate Techniques of multiple Gold Saints head-on, without the protection of a Cloth?

Alex frowned slightly. Saga was a crucial piece of his grand design. If he died here, it would inevitably derail his future plans.

He pondered for a moment and was about to interject, but Saga gave him a subtle shake of his head, his sea-blue hair fluttering in the wind.

Understanding Saga’s absolute resolve, Alex stepped aside, his cold gaze sweeping across the plaza.

At the summit of the sacred mountain, Shion raised his head to gaze at the firmament. The return of Saga and the resurfacing of the Titan Gods had indeed wildly exceeded his expectations.

To think such drastic variables would occur right on the eve of his abdication.

He couldn’t help but pray inwardly, ’Goddess, please tell me... what choice should I make?’

Yet, in that moment, Shion received no divine guidance whatsoever.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Aiolia marched into the center of the plaza.

"Saga! Take this strike of mine! Survive it, and the feud between us is settled!"

His Cosmo burned fiercely, manifesting the phantom of a majestic lion roaring at the sky behind him!

"Lightning Plasma!"

Countless golden afterimages of fists rained down upon Saga like a torrential storm, the sheer force of the blows tearing through the very fabric of space.

To everyone’s sheer disbelief, Saga stood rooted to the spot without making a single move to defend himself. The gale generated by the punches whipped his sea-blue hair back, revealing a face of absolute serenity.

When the very first strike slammed into his chest, the sickening crunch of shattering bones was distinctly audible. His body lurched backward like a kite with a severed string, blood instantly spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Yet, he forcefully braced himself, enduring the ensuing onslaught of the golden storm, right up until the final, devastating blow crashed into his abdomen.

Only then did Saga violently cough up a large patches of blood, crashing heavily to one knee on the paved stones.

In the span of a few fleeting seconds, Saga had absorbed millions of light-speed blows from Aiolia with nothing but his flesh. Stripped of the Gemini Cloth’s protection, the full, unmitigated brunt of the attack had ravaged his body.

"My turn!"

The figure of Scorpio Milo appeared behind Saga like a phantom, the Scarlet Needle gleaming with an eerie light at his fingertip.

Without a shred of hesitation, the Scarlet Needle struck like a viper darting from its nest, piercing with surgical precision directly into the star point on Saga’s back.

"Saga, this is your punishment for betraying the Sanctuary!"

_____

T/N:

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