Sanctuary was once again shrouded in a heavy, sorrowful atmosphere.
With the start of the Holy War and the sacrifice of eight Saints, news of the losses couldn't be concealed. The residents of Shining City were filled with grief. Many of them had known these Saints personally. Among them, Triangulum Saint Colonels had even been married—his wife was a female mutant, and they had a seven-year-old son.
Just days ago, the family was still together in happiness. Now, they were separated by life and death.
Standing before Colonels' body, his wife Lia held their son Noesis by the hand, covering her mouth as she wept.
"Lia, my condolences."
"Colonels was an excellent warrior. Even Lord Melin was proud of him."
"Don't worry, Lia. We'll avenge him."
Lyra Saint Orpheus, Cepheus Saint Rubion, and Crater Saint Phibiral stepped forward to comfort her. They had all become Saints together with Colonels, sharing deep bonds forged through blood and tears. Losing their brother was heartbreaking and infuriating—they wished they could charge into Atlantis and avenge him immediately.
But they were Saints. They could not let personal emotions drown out their duty.
"Colon… before he died, he said… once this mission was over… he'd take me and Noesis traveling… he said… he said…" Lia broke down sobbing.
"Mom, don't cry. Dad wouldn't like that."
Young Noesis held back his own tears to comfort his mother.
Lia could no longer contain herself and squatted down to embrace Noesis, crying uncontrollably. Noesis, still holding back his sorrow, patted his mother on the back, trying to comfort her. His father had taught him: he was a man now. With his father gone, he was the only man left in the house and had to support the family.
Looking at the mature and understanding Noesis, the surrounding Saints couldn't help but feel a deep ache in their hearts.
This child was only seven, yet he was already shouldering the burden of his family.
Many of the Saints, in fact, admired Colonels. He had found a partner he loved, married her, and had a child.
This generation of Saints looked young and attractive, but the youngest among them was already over forty. They had all thought about love, marriage, and family.
Many had fallen in love, but only Colonels had married.
Part of it was due to their high standards—they hadn't found the right partner. But more importantly, marriage meant attachments. With those attachments, could they still uphold the faith and responsibilities of a Saint?
They lacked the courage Colonels had—to form a family and still remain a great Saint.
At that moment, Melin arrived with Shion, Alex, and the Gold Saints.
"My lord."
Everyone knelt on one knee. Lia and Noesis knelt on both knees, suppressing their sorrow.
"You don't need to do this, Lia." Melin personally helped them up. "Colonels was a brilliant Saint. I was proud of him."
"Thank you, my lord… thank you… sob… Colonels always… always wanted your approval… sob… he would have been so happy… right, my lord? He's happy, isn't he?"
"Yes, Lia, he is. And if he could see you living well, he'd be even happier. So, Lia, be strong."
"I will… my lord… I'll be strong… for Colonels…"
"Not just you, Lia. We'll all carry on his legacy."
"My lord, please give the order!"
All the Saints knelt once again, asking for orders.
"Stand. Pass my command—before sunrise tomorrow, the Sanctuary will see them off."
"My lord!"
"Calm yourselves, children. Impulse solves nothing. Hatred must not be forgotten, but it must not cloud your minds."
"…Yes."
Seeing them all accept his words, Melin nodded and departed with Shion and Alex. The Gold Saints stayed behind in the memorial hall—after all, the ones in the coffins were their brothers too.
Melin brought Shion and Alex back to the Pope's Hall, where Howard, Peggy, and Steve were waiting for them.
"You're here."
"Sir…"
"Go pay your respects first."
The three said no more and went down the mountain to pay tribute to the fallen Saints before returning to meet Melin.
"Sir, has the war begun?" Peggy asked, even though she already knew the answer. If wars between mortals could cause so much suffering, how much more so wars between gods?
"Yes. The Holy War… has begun." Melin clasped his hands behind his back, sighing.
He never wanted this war. Did he want to see the Saints he viewed as his own children die? Did he want to watch over the deaths of the humans he protected?
But there was no choice—his enemies had already come to his doorstep. How could he continue to endure in silence?
Even in the mythological era, if the gods had not been so ambitious and had valued humanity even a little, Melin and Athena would never have had to become slayers of kin.
If only the gods had stood united, working together to develop Earth, how glorious would it be now? Restoring the splendor of ancient times, when the Eastern deities still roamed, would not have been difficult.
But alas, most gods were arrogant. They looked down on other races, resented each other, and were always scheming to take from one another.
"Sir…" Peggy wanted to dissuade him, but didn't know how—and knew she shouldn't.
If it were her, and the enemy came knocking at her door, she wouldn't be negotiating either. She'd be reaching for her gun.
"What do you plan to do?" Howard asked.
"Of course—strike at his homeland and make sure he never rises again." Melin replied coldly. The warmth in his voice had vanished, replaced with frost.
Although chilled by his aura, Peggy, Steve, and Howard were relieved. They knew Poseidon's stronghold was the underwater city of Atlantis. Fighting under the sea was far better than on land—after all, the shockwaves from Saint battles alone could level cities. What of divine battles?
The ruins left behind from Melin's clash with Ares' remnant soul said it all.
"If there's nothing else, go on."
"Yes, sir."
After they left, Melin instructed Shion, "Take good care of Lia and Noesis. Colonels is gone. His family must not suffer further."
"Yes, my lord. I've already arranged everything. But Noesis…" Shion hesitated.
The Pope's Hall fell silent, a heavy tension hanging in the air.
Melin and Alex both understood what Shion was trying to say. In the memorial hall, Noesis hadn't said much besides comforting his mother—but the flash of hatred in his eyes hadn't escaped them. And… when Lia wasn't watching, his gaze had never left the Silver Saint Cloth of Triangulum.
But Noesis was only seven years old. With the Sanctuary's strength still sufficient, no one wanted to send such a young child into battle—especially not the child of their fallen brother.
And Lia, having lost her husband, would never allow her son to walk the same path.
What worried them was that the Triangulum Saint Cloth seemed to subtly respond to Noesis' yearning.
"Sigh… when he grows up, let him decide for himself," Melin said after a long silence.
"Yes, my lord."
…
The next day, the grief still lingered, but now it was mixed with a heavy determination.
The mourning was over. The time for vengeance had come.
"Saga, Kanon, Aiolia, Aiolos, Shura, Camus."
"Present!"
"You six will take on the Sea Generals."
"Yes, sir!"
"Orpheus, Rubion, Phibiral."
"Present!"
"Is the Sea Phantom Beast Gesha a problem?"
"Thank you, my lord! Orpheus (Rubion / Phibiral) will take his head!"
The three were thrilled—they now had the chance to avenge their brother with their own hands.
"My lord, we request to fight!"
"We request to fight!"
Those who hadn't been named all knelt, eager to avenge their fallen comrades.
"Silence!"
At a single command, the hall quieted instantly.
"Silver Saints Baru, Babel, Shiva, Marin, Shaina. Bronze Saints…" He picked five Silver Saints and nine Bronze Saints. "…Steve, join the expedition. The remaining Sea Warriors are yours to handle. I want not only the destruction of our enemies—but for all of you to return alive and whole. Can you do that?"
"Yes!"
Those named shouted their answer loudly.
"Good. Then follow me—to war."
Those not selected were disappointed, but quickly recovered, cheering for their comrades.
"Victory to our lord! Victory to the Sanctuary!"
"Baru, Babel, Shiva! Don't die down there!"
"Move fast! Don't embarrass us!"
"Lady Marin! Lady Shaina! Show the men what women are made of!"
…
Steve said nothing. He donned his Cloth and bid farewell to Peggy and Howard.
"Steve…" Peggy looked at him with concern.
"Don't worry, Peggy. I'll come back alive." Steve comforted her.
"That's not what I'm worried about. Take care of that Cloth. If you break it, my research stops." Howard joked.
"So I'm worth less than a Saint Cloth to you?" Steve chuckled bitterly.
"Isn't that obvious?" Howard rolled his eyes, but then hugged Steve and whispered in his ear, "Come back alive."
"Don't worry."
With their last bit of banter, they joined Melin and began walking toward the central plaza.
The central plaza was packed. Citizens had come to see them off, to pray for their safe return, and to send their hopes that each and every one of them would return victorious.
In the crowd, Eric didn't step forward. He knew this war wasn't his to fight. This was a battle for the Saints—a war of vengeance.
But still, he clenched his fists tightly.
"Eric."
"I'm fine, Charles. But… we need to become stronger."
"Yeah."