Chapter 83 - 42: The Succession Ceremony, A Sudden Turn of Events! (Part 1)

Chapter 83: Chapter 42: The Succession Ceremony, A Sudden Turn of Events! (Part 1)

The twelve-constellation star chart on the dome of the Pope’s Palace rotated in the morning light. Golden motes of light filtered through the stained glass, casting sacred patterns across the white jade marble floor.

Shion’s voice rang out loud as a mighty bell, every single word striking at the hearts of the crowd.

"The next Pope shall be the Aquarius Gold Saint—Alex!"

He paused, his purplish-red eyes beneath the golden mask sweeping across the Gold Saints lined up on both sides.

"If anyone harbors objections, you may voice them now!"

The massive Pope’s Palace was dead silent; only Shion’s voice echoed through the great hall.

Prior to this, the Gold Saints had all known to some extent, through various channels, that the person most likely to succeed Pope Shion would be the Aquarius Gold Saint, Alex!

Although some among them found it somewhat difficult to accept Alex as the Pope in their hearts...

...the reality was laid bare right before their eyes. If it came to a fight, they definitely couldn’t beat him...

Devoted solely to their training, their grasp of strategy and the bigger picture was also vastly inferior to Alex’s.

They knew full well in their hearts that over the years, it had been Alex operating behind the Pope.

Through the once-every-three-years earthly patrols, the Sanctuary’s reputation had long been broadcasted far and wide. The leaders of every major nation across the globe would come to visit the Pope at the Sanctuary upon taking office, seeking his blessing.

The Pope of the Sanctuary was truly, in the mortal realm, beneath one god and above all humanity.

’Damn it, that guy Alex... did the position of Pope really fall into his hands after all...?’

Cancer Deathmask, who was on the worst terms with Alex, clenched his fists tightly and ground his back teeth.

If not for the fact that he was absolutely no match for Alex, he would have jumped out to voice his opposition no matter what.

Anger and a sense of powerlessness churned in his chest, ultimately fading into a barely audible, muffled hmph.

As for the other Gold Saints—excluding the inherently indifferent Mu, Shaka who kept his eyes perpetually closed, and Saga who had long known of Alex’s plans—the rest all felt a wave of complex emotions rippling through their hearts to some degree.

A moment ago, Alex was still their colleague; in the very next moment, he would become their supreme superior, the representative of the Goddess Athena in the mortal realm, acting on behalf of the divine will.

In truth, handing the position of Pope to Alex was also what everyone expected.

If it had been anyone else, there would undoubtedly be Gold Saints who refused to submit.

With Alex standing right there, his very presence was a symbol of absolute power. Whoever dared to disobey would simply be flash-frozen for days as a warning to the rest!

Being injured was a small matter, but losing face in public meant they wouldn’t be able to hold their heads high as Saints in front of their many peers ever again.

Seeing no one object, Shion nodded slightly.

He slowly stepped down from the Pope’s throne, his golden mask reflecting an ancient luster in the interplay of light and shadow.

He reached out his frail, bony hand and pressed it onto Alex’s shoulder. The hand appeared withered, yet it carried the weight of a thousand mountains, as if seeking to press the thousand-year-old mission entirely into this young body.

"In the name of Athena, and in the name of all living beings on this earth, listen to this vow passed down through the millennia..."

"Since the Age of Myth, the Saints have been the Goddess’s spear and shield, the final line of defense protecting the world!"

"Whenever chaos descends, when darkness swallows the light, the Goddess’s warriors, clad in their Cloths, step forward to forge a bastion with their hot blood and Cosmos."

"Today, the Saint standing before me, Alex..."

Shion’s gaze swept across the alternative Pope candidates among the Gold Saints on both sides. Mu’s silver hair trembled slightly, Aiolia’s Leo Cloth radiated a blazing light, and Saga’s sea-blue eyes hid unfathomable depths.

These three were originally candidates for the Pope’s seat as well. Unfortunately, Mu’s nature was too merciful, Aiolia was too simple-minded, and Saga carried a history of betrayal.

Counting carefully, among all the Gold Saints, only Alex was truly the most suitable for the position of Pope.

Sagittarius Aiolos had also been a strong contender for the papacy, but that tragic incident many years ago...

Shion let out a heavy sigh. He steeled his heart and continued reciting.

"You tempered your will on the icy plains of Siberia, and used Absolute Zero to freeze the Hydra. Your Cosmo has reached the very pinnacle of this era, yet you have never lost your original intention to protect. This is exactly the character a Saint should possess."

Shion looked up at the firmament above. Within the endless void, it was as if a pair of golden eyes were gazing down upon the entire gathering.

_____

T/N:

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