"Then kill all the Specters, then seal the Twin Gods." Setsuna's resolute voice was like a blade, stirring intangible ripples in the seawater.
Poseidon seemed to have heard some joke. "Seal the Twin Gods? Even if some among you humans awakened the Eighth Sense, the gap between Eighth Senses is vast. The Twin Gods are secondary gods next only to principal gods. They are existences you humans cannot defeat."
The seawater churned violently with Poseidon's emotional fluctuations. The ancient reliefs on the temple walls seemed to come alive, watching this confrontation between human and god with hollow eyes.
"That's something we need to consider." Setsuna calmly responded. "Anyway, you have nothing to lose now. Or… are you afraid offending Hades?"
Poseidon's pupils abruptly contracted. Then, laughing furiously in anger. "I would fear him?"
Divine wrath stirred violent undercurrents. Even fish shoals miles away fled in panic.
After a moment, the waves gradually calmed.
Poseidon's voice regained majesty. "Mortal, your provocation is clumsy but effective. Speak. What do you want from me?"
"A drop of divine blood." Setsuna directly said. "Though your true body perished long ago, a drop of divine blood should still be obtainable, right?"
Poseidon stared at Setsuna, suddenly smiling. "Your Cloth already fused with Hades's divine blood. Now you covet mine too?"
His tone was playful. "Could it be… you also want to fuse Athena's divine blood?"
Setsuna didn't directly answer. "I just wish to glimpse the might of gods."
Poseidon laughed loudly. The deep sea currents trembled. "Haha, I like ambitious people. Fine. I grant you a drop of divine blood."
As his words fell, a deep blue drop of liquid flew from the temple depths.
It wasn't like blood, more like a drop of condensed ocean, containing endless divine power and majesty.
Setsuna raised his hand to receive it. The moment his fingertip touched, the icy sensation suddenly transformed into a scorching torrent, surging into his body along his skin.
He clearly felt it wasn't just power infusion but fragments of some divinity.
Poseidon's mastery over the ocean, understanding of eternity, even comprehension of the essence of 'god'… all washed over his soul like a tide in that moment.
Poseidon's consciousness withdrew from Unity's body. His final words drifted in the deep sea.
"Looking forward to our next meeting, human."
Setsuna turned, walking towards the unconscious Sisyphus and the other two. Gentle Cosmos fluctuations condensed at his fingertips, waking them.
The two Gold Saints, upon opening their eyes, immediately warily surveyed their surroundings. The Gold Cloths gleamed faintly. "Poseidon's will?"
"Already sealed." Setsuna's tone was calm, as if merely handling a trivial matter. "Unity's cognition is also rewritten. He won't remember becoming Sea Dragon."
Sisyphus and Hasgard exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
Sealing a god's will with a human body… this was unprecedented.
"So cool!" Regulus's eyes shone, admiration gleaming within. "Setsuna-nii, please take me as your disciple!"
Setsuna smiled slightly. He certainly wouldn't refuse.
The future Regulus was a monstrous genius capable of solo-performing [Athena Exclamation], even fusing the ultimate techniques of the twelve Gold Saints.
He wanted to learn while teaching Regulus.
"Alright." He patted the youth's shoulder, his tone gentle. "From today, you are my disciple."
"Yes!" Regulus stood straight excitedly.
When the four returned to Sanctuary, the sunset gilded the Twelve Houses' outlines with gold.
On the training ground, Dohko walked towards them with a brown-haired youth around twelve or thirteen.
"Setsuna-nii, you're back too." Dohko waved from afar, his gaze falling on Regulus, "He is Ilias-sama's descendant?"
Sisyphus nodded. "He is Regulus."
"Senpai." Regulus. politely saluted.
The youth beside Dohko couldn't wait, tugging his sleeve. "Dohko-nii, introduce me quickly."
Dohko chuckled, ruffling the youth's head. "I met him during this mission. Named Tenma. I saw potential in him to become a Saint, so brought him to Sanctuary."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow, looking at Tenma.
The brown-haired youth had clear eyes, carrying a stubborn unwillingness to concede.
'This era's Pegasus Saint had finally appeared.'
Setsuna smiled, looking at Tenma. "I just accepted Regulus as my disciple. Do you want to train with me too?"
Tenma was stunned, clearly not expecting such an invitation.
Seeing this, Dohko quickly nudged him. "Why are you dazing? Don't you want to become stronger? Few in Sanctuary are stronger than Setsuna-nii!"
"P-please guide me." Tenma hastily bowed.
Setsuna reached out to steady him, feeling myriad emotions inwardly.
The gears of fate finally began turning officially at this moment.
…
Two years flowed away like water.
Within the Pope's Chamber, the colored stained glass refracted mottled light, spilling onto the floor, adding solemnity and mystery to the hall.
Sage sat upon the high throne, slowly unrolling a parchment scroll. "The Lug Family of Ireland is under attack by unknown forces. They sent a distress call to Sanctuary. Regulus, Tenma, this rescue mission is entrusted to you."
"Yes!" Regulus and Tenma were very excited. They had just become official Saints not long ago and hadn't undertaken missions yet.
"The Lug Family?" Setsuna, standing quietly nearby, suddenly looked up, a flicker of contemplation in his eyes. "Could it be descendants of Lugh, the god of light from Celtic mythology?"
"You actually know?" Sage slightly tilted his head, somewhat surprised by his disciple's knowledge.
"Please allow me to accompany them." Setsuna stepped forward.
Regulus immediately protested. "Sensei, I can stand on my own now!"
The youth straightened his back. The Leo Cloth emitted crisp metallic chimes.
Tenma also hurriedly added. "We haven't slacked off these two years!"
Setsuna's gaze swept over his two disciples. "Missions involving gods cannot be taken lightly. You aren't mature enough to directly face gods."
Seeing the two still wanting to argue, he continued. "Of course, if this mission shows no god-level power, I won't intervene, only evaluate your actions."
Sage nodded slightly. Though he wanted to train Regulus 's independent capability, Setsuna wasn't wrong. Any mission involving gods couldn't be underestimated.
Sage finally made a decision. "Setsuna, you can accompany them. But unless necessary, do not interfere with mission execution."