The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj indeed needed to stay in the Sanctuary for a few days. The revival of a deity was of great significance, and the Ancient One still had many matters to discuss with Shion, including the details of their future collaboration.
Now that Maierin had awakened and the Sanctuary was on the verge of regaining its former glory, it was no longer possible to maintain an equal cooperative relationship with Kamar-Taj.
"Master, shouldn't we be worried?" Mordo asked the Ancient One. He had only recently joined Kamar-Taj and still retained the impulsiveness of youth.
"Why should we worry?" the Ancient One responded with a question.
"That is dark power—an extremely dense dark power! What if…"
"There are no 'what ifs,' Mordo. You are young and have never witnessed a Holy War between deities, so you know little of its secrets. Even I know very little." The Ancient One shook her head.
"Master, what exactly is the Holy War?" Mordo asked. Even the other young sorcerers were highly intrigued, while a few of the older sorcerers turned pale. These were the survivors who had personally witnessed the last Holy War.
"The Holy War… is a grand and brutal war that has continued since the age of mythology. Its purpose is to determine the ownership of the Earth." The Ancient One gazed at the Sanctuary through the window as she spoke.
"Mordo, you should be grateful. Every Holy War has been won by the Sanctuary's side. That is the only reason the world remains at peace today."
"The goddess Athena and her Saints are truly admirable."
"In the last Holy War, there were only three survivors from the vast Sanctuary: His Holiness the Pope, Lord Aioros, and one other who now guards a seal at Wulao Peak in China. Lord Aioros only survived because he did not directly participate in the war."
The elderly sorcerers recounted the scenes they had witnessed.
Just from listening to their accounts, the young sorcerers could sense the horrific intensity of that battle.
"But… if the Sanctuary is so noble, why does it have dark power?" Mordo pressed on.
"I do not know," the Ancient One replied, shaking her head. "But from what I understand, every Saint corresponds to a constellation. In all the Holy Wars I have witnessed, not once have all 88 Saints gathered together. Moreover… the Dark Seed Saint… neither his constellation nor his armor has ever been heard of before."
The existence of the Dark Seed Saint, along with sacred relics and the four other sealed armors within the Sanctuary, remained a closely guarded secret—even more so from outsiders.
"I'm still concerned…"
"There's no need to worry, Mordo. Lord Maierin is a true deity, one who has survived since the age of mythology. The thoughts of a god are beyond our comprehension. We only need to focus on our duties."
"Yes, Master. I understand."
"Good. We will be staying here for a few days. You should not remain idle—go and interact with the Saints and their trainees. One day, we may need their help."
"Yes."
The sorcerers dispersed, but the Ancient One continued gazing at the Sanctuary.
"The awakening of a deity, the approach of a new Holy War, and other threats are looming ever closer… What will the future of Earth hold?"
Maierin sat alone in the temple, lost in thought.
Times had changed, and the Sanctuary needed to reform. At the very least, it had to establish better connections with the outside world.
This world was chaotic, filled with threats far beyond the likes of Hades, Poseidon, and their warriors.
"Shion has already built some external connections, which is a good start. With 30% of Stark Industries' shares under our control, the Sanctuary will never lack financial resources."
The most urgent task was to strengthen ties with the outside world—to remain detached yet not isolated.
First, a unique intelligence network must be developed. With the world in turmoil, major events would arise frequently, and the Sanctuary could not afford to be caught unprepared. Proper involvement could also help recruit external allies.
Second, Saints and trainees needed to experience life in ordinary society. The Sanctuary's lifestyle was austere, and if the Saints were not accustomed to the outside world, missions could lead to unnecessary trouble—or worse, they might be tempted by worldly distractions.
Third, the issue of family. While it was not a pressing matter now, as more trainees grew up and the number of Sanctuary members increased, some would inevitably start families. Their loved ones must be protected so that the Saints could focus on their duties without worry.
Fourth, the problem of trainees. Currently, only a handful of trainees could ultimately become Saints, and not a single new Gold Saint had emerged.
With the arrival of a new era, the Sanctuary could not rely solely on Saints. More members were needed to handle unforeseen threats beyond the Holy War.
And there was more…
Maierin pulled out a sheet of paper, already filled with points detailing the necessary reforms.
The focus of the Saints must remain on the Holy War, but the world's threats were too numerous to ignore. Not to mention the cosmic menace posed by that so-called "population control committee." The power of the Infinity Stones was incompatible with the Saints' Cosmos energy, so Maierin had little interest in them.
However, even if he could restore his peak strength and reach the Void—the Ninth Sense—he could not be certain of withstanding the Snap's power. His Saints certainly could not.
After several hours of careful thought, Maierin had listed everything he could think of. Satisfied, he summoned Shion.
"Lord Maierin, what are your orders?"
Maierin handed him the document. "This is a summary of the changes the Sanctuary needs. See if anything is missing."
Shion took the document with some confusion. To him, the Sanctuary was already in good shape—why change it?
Yet, as he read through the first few points, his expression grew serious.
These reforms… were strikingly accurate!
When he became Pope, the Sanctuary was in its most ruinous state, and his focus had been solely on rebuilding. Though he had made some external connections, he had paid little attention to the benefits of further integration.
Now that Maierin had laid everything out so clearly, Shion realized the Sanctuary truly needed to change. Having traveled outside, he had seen how quickly the world was advancing. If they continued isolating themselves, no amount of strength could prevent them from being left behind.
"Lord Maierin, your list is already very comprehensive. The most critical aspects are all there. Even if some minor points are missing, they are not urgent. Implementing just these will take a great deal of time."
"Indeed. The Sanctuary was not built in a day. You and Aioros will need to work hard to develop a detailed reform plan. The Sanctuary is still rebuilding—this is the best time for change, so we must act swiftly."
"Yes, Lord Maierin. Aioros and I will draft the plan immediately. However…"
"You're considering continued cooperation with Kamar-Taj?"
"Yes, Lord Maierin. Though you have awakened, Kamar-Taj still possesses knowledge we need. They understand the outside world better than we do. At least for now, they make valuable guides and advisors."
"Very well. Handle the specifics yourself—just ensure the Sanctuary remains in control."
"Yes!"
Shion hurried off, while Maierin began preparing for his next moves.
Once the reforms began, Shion and Aioros would be too occupied to recruit new trainees. The Sanctuary needed reinforcements, and Maierin himself would need to venture out to find them.
And he already had a plan for that.