"Lady Athena."

"Can humans truly cross the threshold between man and god?"

"To comprehend the ninth sense and embark on the path to divinity."

Kaiser looked at Athena.

He wanted to know her perspective.

"There is indeed a vast gap between man and god."

"Kaiser, what do you think of the humans living today?"

Athena didn't answer directly but posed a question instead.

"Humans?"

"Humans are complex beings with infinite potential."

"They possess the radiant glow of humanity."

"But also harbor vile thoughts, as base as rats."

"But I believe humans have great potential."

Kaiser thought for a moment before sharing his view.

"Then do you think today's humans could make the gods wary?"

"How strong do you think the golden humans of the Mythological Era were?"

Athena threw out another question.

This stumped Kaiser.

He truly didn't know.

All accounts of the golden humans of the Mythological Era were legends.

Some records existed in various texts.

They said the gods feared the potential of the golden humans, but how strong they actually were wasn't specified.

The only certain fact was that the golden humans, on average, reached a constant seventh sense.

The strongest among them broke through to the eighth sense with ease.

As for whether any had crossed the divide between man and god, that was unknown.

"Lady Athena, are you saying?"

"Were there humans in the Mythological Era who became gods?"

Kaiser's eyes widened in disbelief.

Gods!

"That's right."

"That's why the gods feared humanity."

"In the Mythological Era, there were precedents of golden humans breaking through to the ninth sense."

"And human potential is immense."

"But because of the gods' fear."

"They sealed off humanity's path to ascension."

"To break through to the ninth sense, one must gain the approval of the gods."

"For example, through divine blood…"

"But that history has been swept into the dust."

"Humans becoming gods is something absolutely forbidden."

Athena spoke with profound meaning.

Kaiser stood stunned.

"So that's it!"

"That's how it is!"

"So the key to breaking the divide between man and god is divine blood."

Kaiser came to a sudden realization.

He hadn't expected the threshold to godhood to be like this.

"Though I don't know where your divinity comes from."

"You'd best not let the other gods know about this."

"I gave you divine blood to conceal your divinity."

"The gods have grown corrupt."

"Since the Mythological Era, the heavens have remained unchanged."

"Zeus is nowhere to be found."

"The heavens are in chaos."

"The gods war among themselves."

"This is not how the world should be."

"And those ancient gods are plotting their return."

"If the world doesn't change, what awaits us is utter destruction."

Athena's hands clenched tightly.

Her eyes flashed with a mix of anger and helplessness.

"Lady Athena."

"Some things are better left unsaid for now, don't you think?"

Kaiser looked at Athena, guessing some of her thoughts.

It was an audacious idea.

But if it was Athena, it wasn't impossible.

Athena's strength, even among main gods, was top-tier.

As the goddess of war and wisdom, no one in the heavens, save Zeus, could claim certain victory over her.

Though Athena seemed frail in past Holy Wars, who could fathom the weight of her victories?

Single-handedly suppressing Hades, Poseidon, and countless evil gods from the Mythological Era to the present.

Anyone who saw her as a powerless woman was a true fool!

"Rest assured, I understand the situation better than you."

"The heavens, too, are bound by their own constraints."

"If you wish to become a god, I will help you."

"But you must not be exposed."

"We need to work together."

"I need a companion to walk this path with me."

Athena's voice was soft.

Originally, she had chosen the Pegasus Saint, who bore the title of god-slayer in the Mythological Era.

He had once been a close guard of Hades.

But his greatest feat was merely wounding Hades' physical form.

Through countless cycles of reincarnation, the god-slaying power had grown.

But Athena knew it was still not enough!

Such power, against the gods, would still lead to a crushing defeat.

No suspense whatsoever.

"Alright!"

"I'll think it over, and I'll let you know."

"Athena…"

Kaiser's change in address brought a flicker of a smile to Athena's eyes.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Kaiser slowly walked out of the Pope's Hall.

"Kaiser…"

"The divinity within you and the tangled threads of time are truly complex."

"Perhaps you are the key to breaking this stalemate."

Athena gazed out at the boundless earth beyond the Sanctuary.

Her eyes revealed a trace of weariness.

She had guarded this earth for far too long.

So long she couldn't even recall how much time had passed.

Yet the secrets of this earth remained locked away.

The will of the gods, unleashed during the cosmic explosion.

It was said to be the ultimate power of the gods.

Hidden somewhere in this land of the divine.

But neither the ancient god-king Uranus, nor the current god-king Zeus, nor Hades, Poseidon, or Athena herself, who guarded the earth, had ever located that hidden power.

Athena was tired of the endless Holy Wars.

This endurance reached its limit in the era of Saint Seiya.

So, Athena ventured into the Underworld alone.

Donning her divine Cloth.

With a single strike of her Victory Scepter, she collapsed the Underworld and slew Hades.

This drew the attention of the gods of the heavens.

The souls of the Saints were collectively imprisoned.

As punishment for slaying a god, their souls were condemned to eternal torment.

That was the price.

"I hope you can surprise me."

Athena murmured.

If Kaiser proved exceptional enough, she wouldn't hesitate to use the god-slayer of the Mythological Era as a shield.

The condition was that Kaiser was worth it.

In him, Athena saw that potential.

On the other side, as Kaiser left the Pope's Hall, he met Saga and Itia.

"So soon?"

Saga was astonished.

"Kaiser, your aura."

Itia's face lit up with delight.

"Yes, I've received the blessing of Athena's divine blood."

"I've now reached a constant eighth sense."

Kaiser's eyes sparkled with a smile.

"Constant eighth sense?"

Saga was stunned.

Then overwhelmed with shock.

Kaiser was only eighteen!

To think that past Popes only reached the eighth sense after years of accumulation.

But Kaiser, not even nineteen for another month or two, had already achieved a constant eighth sense.

And received the blessing of divine blood.

The last in the Sanctuary to receive such a blessing was Aquarius Cresto.

"Congratulations!"

Itia said with a smile.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Kaiser was elated.

With the strength of a constant eighth sense, he had ample power to protect himself in this Holy War.

"Oh, one more thing."

"During my battle with the Hydra."

"I encountered one of the Underworld's three Judges, Wyvern Rhadamanthus."

"He was probably looking to take advantage of the situation."

"But he sensed Teacher's aura and retreated."

Kaiser said with a frown.

"Wyvern Rhadamanthus?"

"So, the Underworld's forces are starting to awaken."

"That means the Holy War is, at most, a year away."

Itia nodded, understanding the situation.

The Holy War was imminent.

"No word from the Sea Realm."

"It seems Poseidon is still slumbering."

Saga shared the intelligence on the Sea Realm.

Facing only the Underworld, the Sanctuary's pressure would be much lighter.

"That's good news."

Kaiser nodded.

***

If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL