Inside the Tokyo gymnasium, waves of cheers rose higher and higher like a surging tide.
The Galaxian Wars was steadily progressing along the path Li Yu remembered.
Seiya, Shun, Shiryu, and Hyoga, the four Bronze Saintss, like four stars breaking through dark clouds, advanced steadily, overcoming all obstacles.
Their Cosmos burned brightly in the arena, and each spectacular battle was accompanied by deafening cheers and applause.
"Next up is the semi-final of this tournament! Please welcome Seiya and Hyoga!"
When Hyoga and Seiya stood in the center of the arena, the entire venue instantly fell silent.
Spotlights, like two golden waterfalls, enveloped them, and the metallic patterns on their bronze cloths shimmered with a cold luster under the light.
The two Bronze Saintss locked eyes, and an invisible current seemed to collide in the air.
Companions who would fight side-by-side in the future were now obstacles they had to overcome.
Seiya was the first to assume the starting stance for Pegasus Meteor Fist, an unwavering determination flickering in his dark pupils.
"Hyoga, you'd best surrender; I don't want to hurt you! I have a reason I must win!"
Seiya was an orphan adopted by Mitsumasa Kido back then.
His sister disappeared while he was training in the Sanctuary.
Saori Kido promised him that if he could win the Galaxian Wars.
She would use the power of the Kido Family to help Seiya find his sister.
To find his sister, Seiya would even risk his life to win the championship and obtain the sagittarius gold cloth.
In Hyoga's mind, however, the solitary, cold figure of that man appeared.
With the cruel and ruthless personality of his master, Li Yu, if he couldn't win the championship, his master might really erase everything about his mother from this world.
Hyoga gritted his teeth and slowly shook his head.
"Sorry, Seiya, I also have a reason I must win!"
Seiya was not surprised; those who could become Bronze Saintss were the cream of the crop among the orphans back then, each one a person of unwavering will.
Seiya's eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"Then let's see whose fist is faster!"
Pegasus Meteor Fist!
Diamond Dust!
Seiya's fists blurred into a myriad of meteors, striking his opponent as densely as a downpour.
In front of Hyoga, an ice-blue vortex condensed, meeting the attack with a chilling aura capable of freezing everything.
Two completely different energies collided fiercely in the center of the arena, and the resulting air currents made the surrounding guardrails hum.
At the same time, Shun, watching from the contestant area, saw his Nebula Chain instantly erupt, all pointing in the direction of the Gold Cloth.
His pupils constricted slightly, and he warned, "Be careful, something's happening!"
A dark shadow, like a bat slicing through the night sky, broke through the glass dome of the gymnasium and fell onto the exhibition stand with a whistling wind.
The person had a stern face, and a powerful dark aura surged around him, as if even the surrounding light was partially swallowed.
The moment Shun clearly saw the newcomer, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he cried out in surprise, "Brother! You… how are you here?!"
The sudden disruptor was none other than Ikki of the Phoenix, Shun's older brother!
Mitsumasa Kido had adopted a hundred orphans back then and sent them to various temples around the world to learn Saint combat techniques.
Shun originally drew Death Queen Island, a hellish place known for its brutal training, and with his gentle and weak personality, he would probably have died long ago.
But his brother Ikki stepped forward, and to protect his younger brother, he voluntarily went to Death Queen Island, taking Shun's place to undergo the hellish training.
This separation lasted ten years!
He never expected that the two brothers would meet again under such circumstances!
Ikki seemed not to notice the shock and confusion in Shun's eyes; a cold sneer appeared on his lips as he grabbed the box containing the sagittarius gold cloth with one hand.
The phoenix wings on his back flapped violently, and he shot into the sky.
"Put down the Cloth!"
"Brother, stop!"
Shun and Shiryu exchanged glances, understanding the urgency of the situation.
Hyoga and Seiya also stopped fighting and chased after Ikki.
Several Dark Saints, clad in black bronze cloths, descended from the sky, blocking their path!
"If you want to catch up to Lord Ikki, you'll have to step over our corpses!"
"Get out of the way!"
Seiya was the first to unleash his Pegasus Meteor Fist!
Hyoga also fought with all his might, striving to defeat the enemies in front of him in the shortest possible time.
The venue instantly descended into chaos, with the screams of the audience and the roars of the Saints' battle intermingling.
The originally orderly tournament instantly turned into a chaotic battlefield… Li Yu's figure, like a drop of ink blending into the night, silently followed behind Ikki.
His true target in Tokyo this time was that sagittarius gold cloth.
Aiolos, the Sagittarius Saint, had been his best friend before he fled the Sanctuary.
In fact, had it not been for that sudden upheaval, Aiolos would have been the best candidate for the next Pope.
That man, like his name, was sunny and righteous like the sun, always treating people with kindness.
Even the cold and aloof Li Yu was deeply attracted by his charisma, and the two became close friends who talked about everything!
He had once subtly reminded Aiolos.
"Aiolos, before you do some things, think more about yourself…"
At that time, Aiolos was looking up at the statue of the goddess Athena at the Summit of Holy Mountain.
A momentary flicker of distraction crossed his clear blue eyes, which was then replaced by determination.
"Don't worry, Li Yu, I know what I'm doing…"
Li Yu knew from his expression that Aiolos would give everything for Athena.
By the time he learned of Aiolos's betrayal of the Sanctuary and wanted to help, it was already too late.
Aiolos died in a joint pursuit by three Gold Saints.
His sagittarius gold cloth also disappeared with his death, only to reappear in this world when the Galaxian Wars began.
If following the historical progression, the sagittarius gold cloth should first be taken by Ikki, and then reclaimed by the other four.
This would both move Ikki and, incidentally, temper the still-immature Bronze Five.
The current Bronze Five had only recently graduated and had not experienced the tempering of various major battles; they were completely unable to contend with the future Marines and Specters… With the Holy War about to begin, there was no time to let them slowly grow stronger!
Athena arranged the Galaxian Wars also to help them grow quickly.
Li Yu did not use the power of his Cosmo, but instead used the ability of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, transforming into lightning and constantly shuttling through the clouds!
Crack!
As the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was activated, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a thunderstorm was about to arrive.
Ikki looked at the night sky, which had been clear just a moment ago, with a hint of confusion.
What's going on? Why is it suddenly going to rain?
He didn't think much of it; not sensing the Cosmos of other Saints, he didn't pay much attention to this sudden downpour.
He flew quickly towards Death Queen Island.
That was his base of operations.
On the island, there were many Dark Saints who had committed wrongs and been exiled by the Sanctuary, unable to become regular Saints.
After Ikki obtained the Phoenix Cloth, he conquered everyone with his strength; he was the uncrowned king of Death Queen Island!
As long as he returned there, the Gold Cloth would be his.
In his opinion, the battles of the Saints in the arena were childishly ridiculous; Seiya, Hyoga, Shiryu, and Shun, who had not experienced true life-and-death battles, were all mere juniors… Seeing that he was about to reach the coast, Ikki showed a confident smile.
Crack!
A golden lightning bolt, like a sharp sword, descended from the sky, striking directly at him!