Dreamlike Hymn
The four hurried back to Athena's temple, only to see a golden pillar of light shooting into the sky behind Athena's statue—sacred and noble. Most importantly, the cosmos it emitted made them feel warm and comfortable.
"This… Could it be Lady Athena's cosmos?"
"It should be. Only Lady Athena's cosmos could feel this warm!"
"No, this isn't Lady Athena's cosmos! It's very similar, but definitely not the same!"
Shion and Alex denied Aiolos and Saga's speculation. The two were survivors of the previous Holy War, and they were certain that this was not Athena's cosmos. Though it shared the same warmth, love, and righteousness, it lacked gentleness and carried a trace of dominance.
As the group speculated, a magnificent golden coffin slowly rose from the ground behind the statue. It was covered in countless seals—numerous yet tattered. As golden light showered down, the seals deteriorated, and the chains that bound it began breaking one by one.
"This is bad! The seal is breaking!"
"Quickly—"
"Everyone, stop!" Shion stopped Aiolos and Saga before they could act. This cosmos could not belong to an evil being. If it were truly an enemy, there was no way it would be sealed inside the temple. After all, even their greatest enemies—Hades and his 108 Specters—were not sealed within the Sanctuary.
Moreover, Shion recalled an ancient text he had once read in the Pope's chamber. Legend had it that this text had been passed down since the mythological era, recording a shocking secret—one that only successive Popes were qualified to know.
It was about a great deity who had been sealed away—one who was even one of the founders of the Sanctuary…
"Your Holiness!" Although Aiolos and Saga did not understand the situation, they stopped their actions. However, they remained on guard, ready to strike if needed.
The seals on the coffin gradually fell away, the pillar of light dissipated, and the surroundings grew quiet.
Thump-thump—
A faint heartbeat echoed from within the coffin, growing stronger and stronger.
Thump-thump— Thump-thump—
The coffin began to tremble, and with a thud, its lid slid to the side and fell to the ground.
"Ugh…" A soft groan came from within. A hand slightly curled, followed by a slight movement of the eyes, then the whole body. Slowly, the person inside sat up.
As Shion and the others gazed at him, they felt as if they were looking at the stars in the heavens, as if they were witnessing the vast cosmos. He had black hair and black eyes, a face as refined as jade, and eyes as bright as the morning star. His smile was like the spring breeze, embracing all of creation. Even Aiolos and Saga, who had been on guard, felt all their hostility vanish in that instant.
"How long… have I slept?" The man turned his head toward Shion and the others and asked softly.
"May I ask… who you are?" Shion had his suspicions, but he wasn't sure if this person was truly who he thought he was.
"My name is Myrrhin."
"It's really you! My lord! You have finally returned!" Shion trembled, overcome with emotion.
"Your Holiness, who exactly is he?"
"Oh? You know me?"
Not only were Aiolos and the others curious about Myrrhin's identity, but Myrrhin himself was also intrigued. Though he didn't know how long he had been asleep, judging by his body's stiffness, it must have been a very long time. Yet, after so long, someone still knew who he was? That was quite interesting.
"Yes, Lord Myrrhin. Ever since the first Pope, messages have been left behind. One of the founders of the Sanctuary, the husband of Lady Athena herself—the Earth Father God, Myrrhin—has been in slumber within the Sanctuary. Every Pope, besides governing the Sanctuary and aiding Lady Athena, has been tasked with awaiting your awakening!"
"What!?"
Alex, Aiolos, Saga, and even Aiolia and Kanon—who had just arrived and were eavesdropping behind the Pope's chamber—began to doubt their ears.
"One of the founders of the Sanctuary"? Earth Father God? And most shocking of all—Lady Athena's husband!?
What nonsense was this? They might have grown up as orphans without much education, but they at least knew about their goddess! Athena was one of the three virgin goddesses of Olympus! A virgin goddess having a husband!?
"Haha, Thales… still as meticulous as ever." Myrrhin chuckled as he stretched his stiff body before stepping out of the coffin.
"Whew… Looks like I really did sleep for a long time." Myrrhin assessed his physical condition and concluded.
"My lord, you have been asleep for nearly 500,000 years."
"Has it really been that long?"
"Yes, Lord Myrrhin."
"Hmm, prepare a bath for me." Myrrhin ordered.
"Yes." Shion signaled Alex to make the arrangements while he remained at Myrrhin's side.
"You two little ones over there, come on out."
"Uh… Yes…" Though Myrrhin hadn't looked in their direction, Aiolia and Kanon knew they had been discovered. Lowering their heads, they stepped forward.
"You two!" Aiolos and Saga were horrified. Trespassing into the temple was a grave offense—one punishable by exile from the Sanctuary!
"It's fine, no need to be so tense." Myrrhin reassured them.
"My lord! You… won't punish us?" Aiolia and Kanon were overjoyed. The Sanctuary was their home, and becoming Saints to protect Athena, to fight for love and justice, was their lifelong belief. Being exiled would be worse than death.
"Of course not. Talented young ones deserve some leniency, don't they?" Myrrhin winked at them.
"Hehe! Thank you, my lord!" The two boys, along with their elder brothers, immediately knelt in gratitude.
Initially, they were worried about serving a deity they knew nothing about. If they accidentally offended him, what would they do? But now, it seemed Myrrhin was easy to get along with.
"Introduce yourselves."
"I am the current Pope, Shion. Assisting with your bath and residence arrangements is Alex, Silver Saint of the Altar Constellation."
"I am Saga, Gold Saint of Gemini."
"I am Aiolos, Gold Saint of Sagittarius."
"I am Aiolia, Saint candidate."
"I am Kanon, Saint candidate."
Myrrhin took note of their identities—and, from them, discerned what era he was in. An aging Shion, a young Saga, Kanon, and Aiolos, and a still-childlike Aiolia—the time before the final Holy War.
Myrrhin was not a native of the Saint Seiya universe—he was a transmigrator from Earth. Among the many transmigrators, he was among the more unfortunate ones. He started off in a hellish nightmare—his soul transported to the mythological era, when gods waged war for dominion over the Earth. Back then, humans were no different from ants, and to make matters worse, he had no special cheat powers. He had reached his current position through sheer effort.
By chance, he encountered the young Goddess Athena. Through great difficulty, he won her heart, which led him onto the path of cultivation.
After enduring countless hardships and building his own faction, he comprehended the elusive Ninth Sense, believing himself invincible. Yet, he was ultimately ambushed by the gods. Defeated and sealed away, he inflicted heavy damage upon them, hastening the end of the mythological era.
Now awakened, he smiled. "Hades… the final Holy War will be different this time."
With that, he turned to Shion.
"Shion, your life is nearing its end."
"Y-Yes, Lord Myrrhin…" Shion's expression darkened at the truth.
But Myrrhin smiled. "Would you like to serve the Sanctuary for a few more decades?"
Shion's eyes widened.