The Saints have split up.
The humans are sure to entertain me to my satisfaction.
Don't you agree, Surtr?
I'm pleased that you're looking forward to it.
But my only interest lies in serving you,
Aegaeon-sama.
Humans truly are interesting creatures.
I wish to learn what those with limited lifespans will try to do,
and what they are able to do.
Don't you think that simply destroying them is a bit boring?
Then I shall have to devise a more entertaining way to meet them.
What?
I shall see what these humans can do!
An Assassin Master of Offense and Defense! Shun's Secret Chain Plan!
An Assassin Master of Offense and Defense.
Shun's Secret Chain Plan.
Go!
Square Chain!
Shun-san!
My chains have more of an advantage against large numbers of enemies!
I'll buy time while you hurry toward Pallas!
But...
Don't worry.
I won't be spending a lot of time here. I'll catch up soon.
You'd better, Shun-san!
Yeah!
Let's go!
I'm glad we have Shun-san with us!
Yeah.
What...
What is this room?
Saints of Athena!
Welcome to the Crystal Dome.
I am the servant of the azure strategist, Aegaeon-sama, and a class-2 Pallasite...
Mystic Stone Surtr.
Saints, I expect great things of you!
From us?
Why would we care what you want from us?
Aegaeon-sama has taken quite an interest in you humans.
Thus, I have decided to test you Saints!
Test us?
We don't have time for you!
We must reach Pallas immediately!
You have no need to worry about that!
Because you will all perish here!
But I expect you to put up a good fight!
I want you to show me the value of human life!
I shall test your limits!
Show me all the power you humans have!
Saints, if your lives have any worth,
risk them in battle against me!
That jerk...
He doesn't want to talk, huh?
That won't happen!
Come forth, ultimate Cosmo barrier!
Cosmo Reflector!
What?
Your Cosmo isn't bad.
But...
Koga!
What was that attack?
It blew Koga back!
None of your attacks can touch me.
No Saint can shatter this barrier!
We only have to destroy that barrier, huh?
Then I'll give it everything I have!
Lionet Bomber!
I can see why this Cosmo was able to defeat the class-3s.
Soma!
Damn it... It wouldn't even budge.
When he attacks, he barely emits any Cosmo.
It's like the barrier itself is attacking us!
The power to create my Cosmo Reflector comes from my Mystic Stone,
given to me by Pallas-sama and embedded into my Chronotector!
As both weapon and armor,
it makes me the master of offense and defense!
You Saints cannot break it!
That Surtr.
He said he planned to test the humans, but he intends to leave none alive.
But the idea of pushing them to their power's limit intrigues me.
Show me your power!
There must be a way to beat him.
But we'll have to take care of that Cosmo barrier.
Are humans truly that stupid?
I already told you that no Saint can break this barrier!
You seem to be interested in humans, so remember this...
We humans don't like to give up!
We call those who hide in their little spheres like you "wimps"!
Come out, and fight us fairly!
Must I really fall for such an obvious provocation?
Guess not.
He won't leave that barrier,
so let's just go around him!
But he might attack us!
Then we dodge it!
If we concentrate, we can dodge.
Okay, let's get going!
Got it!
He's attacking!
Dodge no matter what!
Cosmo Conduction!
Okay, just keep running!
It's useless!
What was that?
Did you really think I wouldn't have taken something like that into consideration?
The crystals in this room
will reflect my attacks, so they can strike you from any angle!
My attacks have no blind spots!
Even if we dodge the first attack,
we'll get hit from behind by the second.
To be honest, that attack hurt.
If there's nowhere to run, we'll just have to go straight through!
We'll have to blow through that barrier!
I'm so disappointed.
That's the answer of an idiot.
By pushing you to your limits, I had hoped to see something special.
But I suppose I'll have
to tell Aegaeon-sama that humans are of little value, after all.
Now, come.
This will be your final attack.
What?
The Cosmo barrier blocks our attacks,
while we're unable to dodge his.
What do we do?
Let's all attack at once!
Overpower and destroy his barrier!
Very well.
I'll make this quick, then.
Nebula Chain!
What?
Rolling Defense!
I'm glad I made it in time.
Shun-san!
Another Saint, I see.
When I attacked that barrier, I realized something.
The size of the Cosmo from my attack and that of the returned attack,
were identical.
And he emitted barely any Cosmo at all.
That barrier's been reflecting our Cosmo right back at us!
Then if we'd attacked, we'd...
Shun-san saved our lives?
Even during combat, you mustn't forget to observe carefully.
I'm impressed you noticed after only one attack.
That's right.
My Cosmo reflector completely deflects your attacks back to you!
Once, in my battles with the gods,
I had all my attacks reflected back at me.
Then you are the Andromeda Saint?
I see.
It seems you are more experienced than they.
I have a request.
Would you let us through?
What?
Even if you're my enemy,
I'd rather not hurt anyone.
I thought there might be something to you.
But you're only a coward.
I can't imagine any warrior saying that!
You can beg for your life, but I won't let you escape!
If we speak with one another, even if we're enemies,
we may understand each other.
It's sad that fighting is all we can do.
But now, my task is to protect and lead the young Saints.
And to accomplish that, I will not hesitate to defeat you!
Do you think that bit of trivia about the Cosmo Reflector
will help you beat me?
He isn't only reflecting our attacks.
He's attacking us with his own Cosmo, from within the barrier!
And he's using the crystals to reflect the attacks, to hit us from behind!
Attacking from within?
Everyone, could you get him to attack again?
It may give us a clue for beating him.
You have an idea, huh?
If we run for the exit, he's sure to attack us!
Let's go!
Yeah!
I guess I must use force to make you understand.
You shall all perish from my attack!
Cosmo Conduction!
I'll kill you all!
What?
He's attacking in all directions?
His attacks are permeating the barrier.
If I attack now, mine should, as well!
Nebula Chain!
If I concentrate on one point...
It's useless!
This isn't good!
Circle Chain!
Rolling Defense!
Your tricks won't help you!
Oh, no!
Shun-san!
So humans are stupid, after all.
Lowering your defenses to protect one another...
I can't understand it.
Why did you protect us?
Your stamina won't last much longer.
I can tell by your Cosmo.
And...
This was my mistake.
His Cosmo barrier stayed up
even during his attacks.
That's right.
My Cosmo Reflector will only allow Cosmo to go outward from it.
It's the perfect offense and defense.
I can attack and defend without disabling it.
My attacks will hit you,
but yours can't hit me!
There was never any way for you to win!
This Mystic Stone was created to render the Saints powerless!
Because you are Saints, my Cosmo Reflector cannot be broken!
When you're certain of victory,
you talk too much.
Apparently that's true for both Pallasites and Saints.
The barrier reflects all Cosmo outward.
But what of something without Cosmo?
That stone gave me the answer.
Your barrier cannot affect things without Cosmo.
So what?
What can you do without Cosmo?
Shun-san, any ideas?
Yeah.
But it's a risky gamble.
Let me do it.
Fail, and you could die.
I'll do it.
I have to!
Yuna! Soma!
Make a barrier of flame and wind!
Conceal us from him.
Okay!
Koga!
Don't die!
Of course not.
Let's show him what humans can do!
Yuna, let's do what we discussed!
Yeah.
Show me what you humans can do!
I expect great things...
of your last, futile struggles!
Winds of freedom, show your power!
Storm Tornado!
Flame up, my Cosmo!
Lionet Flare-storm Bomber!
You're blocking my vision?
It won't do more than buy time.
I'll kill you all!
What?
Fool!
You removed your Cloth!
Die!
Rolling Defense!
What?
You took off your Cloth and erased your Cosmo,
to charge at me, reckless and unarmed...
It wasn't reckless.
I have friends I believe in.
You believed in them?
I entrusted my life to them!
With them at my side, the impossible becomes possible!
This is the power of humans!
The power of the Saints!
You've got guts, Pegasus.
But don't forget that you're standing helpless before me!
I won't let you attack!
I've stopped you from moving.
Look at your feet.
What?
Depending on your Cosmo,
my nebula stream will transform into a storm.
You shouldn't attempt to attack.
I'll say it once more.
If you wish to stop this fighting, I will not fight you.
You're already exhausted from my attacks.
You think you can beat me?
I may have lost my Mystic Stone, but I'm still at nearly full power!
What's this?
My body...
I told you I wouldn't let you attack!
Not a chance!
This thing won't stop my attacks!
Explode, nebula...
Nebula Storm!
Impossible...
I can't...
What is this overwhelming Cosmo?
The power of humans...
Now I see...
why Aegaeon-sama is so interested in you...
Shun-san!
Nice job!
No...
We all worked together.
You may be able to reach it...
The ultimate height, which lies beyond the ultimate...
That was quite entertaining, Surtr.
The strong, united power that the weak sometimes demonstrate...
Apparently, human power cannot be measured by the individual.
Even more interesting.
The power of belief in one another that humans have...
My Heavy Lightning Striker can't wait to tear it apart!
It seems that Koga and the others have safely overcome their trial.
Yes.
Athena!
I'm fine.
Thank you, Seiya.
Seiya...
Fudo.
The closer we get to Pallas, the more pain Athena must endure.
Why does she press onward?
Because that is who she is.
To Be Continued