Chapter 81: Winds Rising, Clouds Gathering

Before long, Aldebaran divided the assembled Saints into three groups, each comprised of two Silver Saints and three Bronze Saints. Each of the three peak Silver Saints would lead a team, while the remaining three Silvers served as deputies.

“If anyone has objections to my group assignments, speak up now! This is your last chance for changes—once we set out, there will be no further alterations,” Aldebaran said, his gaze sweeping over the Saints.

“We have no objections!” everyone answered in unison.

“Very well. Then let us depart according to plan!” Aldebaran waved his hand.

“Yes, sir!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Saints raced away at breakneck speed.

On the road, Ruolan quickly became friendly with Mei, the Dolphin Saint—the two young women chatting animatedly as they traveled.

Yin Seventeen, meanwhile, quietly studied their leader—Mayura, the Peacock Saint.

She was a tall, slender woman, wrapped in a loose green cloak beneath which were layers upon layers of bandages. It was said she had suffered grievous wounds in her youth, leaving her body covered in terrible scars, so she kept herself swathed in bandages.

Yet even so, Yin Seventeen dared not underestimate her. For within Mayura’s seemingly frail frame was a cosmos of immense power—a force nearly on par with that of a Gold Saint.

Soon, they left the Sanctuary, and Mayura led her four companions directly east.

If they crossed the Atlantic from Europe, they would reach the eastern edge of North America. But Lord Aldebaran had assigned them to begin their mission in the northwest of North America. To reach their destination after crossing the Atlantic, they would have to traverse the continent—a journey fraught with peril, now that the evil gods rampaged there.

Thus, Mayura abandoned the idea of crossing the Atlantic and instead turned east, intending to cross Asia and the Pacific to reach the northwest of North America.

Suddenly, she turned to the three Bronze Saints and said, “You three cannot cross the Pacific unaided. Chalice and I will carry you across.”

She had already discerned that the Chalice Saint possessed the strength to cross any ocean or continent unaided.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, Lady Mayura,” Mei said apologetically.

“It’s nothing. This isn’t your fault.”

Mayura waved her hand, then addressed Yin Seventeen, “I’ll leave the Southern Fish Saint to you.”

“Understood,” Yin Seventeen replied.

Mayura’s eyes were blind, a black gauze covering them, but even so, Yin Seventeen could sense that she had just “looked” at him. She compensated for her lost sight with her sixth sense.

Mayura slowed her pace, spread her arms, and caught up Ruolan and Mei, then leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of green light speeding eastward.

Not to be outdone, Yin Seventeen slowed down, grasped the Southern Fish Saint Fei, and gathered his cosmos beneath his feet.

“Thank you, Lord Seventeen!” Fei said gratefully.

“It’s nothing; we all fight for the goddess and the peace of the earth,” Yin Seventeen replied, not the least flustered.

Even as he spoke, he focused his cosmos, then leapt into the sky—a flash of silver light vanishing into the horizon.

In a distant land, a castle shrouded in thunderclouds stood—a forward outpost of the Underworld upon the earth, known as Hades’ Castle.

A male Specter wearing black armor and dark wings entered the main hall, knelt on one knee before a massive harp at its center. Beside the harp, an elegant woman in a black gauze dress played softly. He dared not interrupt her.

She was the commander of all Specters.

“What brings you here, Rhadamanthys?” the woman asked, pausing her music.

“Lady Pandora, the Sanctuary’s punitive forces have departed!” Rhadamanthys replied, bowing his head respectfully.

“How many have they sent?” Pandora plucked the strings again.

Rhadamanthys kept his head lowered. “Three Gold Saints, six Silver Saints, and nine Bronze Saints, my lady. Of these, three Silvers are nearly Gold-level in strength.”

“Quite a show of force,” Pandora praised, though her expression remained impassive.

Rhadamanthys hastily added, “The Celestial Crown Saint from Andromeda Island, whom you ordered us to watch, is among them.”

“The Celestial Crown has left?”

At this, Pandora stopped playing and instructed, “Soon, send two men to Andromeda Island. See how far Lord Hades’ awakening has progressed.”

“Yes, my lady!” Rhadamanthys replied. “And what of North America—how should we respond?”

Pandora sneered. “Does Athena not claim to represent the justice of the earth? Very well, let them handle it! We care not what becomes of the earth, so long as those evil gods from beyond cannot breach our world!”

“Yes, my lady,” Rhadamanthys answered.

“Oh, one more thing!” Pandora’s lips curled in a playful smile. “Take some men to the Sanctuary’s borders—don’t let the Saints inside grow too complacent. You know what to do.”

“I understand, my lady,” Rhadamanthys said again.

“Go, then,” Pandora waved him away, and Rhadamanthys withdrew silently.

In the undersea temple of the North Atlantic, a man clad in dark golden armor projected his voice by thought to the temples beneath the South Atlantic, North Pacific, and South Pacific.

“The Sanctuary has dispatched Gold Saints to subdue the evil gods in North America. We cannot stand idly by,” he proclaimed.

In the South Atlantic temple, General Surant responded irritably, “What, Sea Dragon, do you intend to help them purge the invaders?”

“Hardly!” Sea Dragon laughed. “We are generals under Poseidon, not allies of the Sanctuary’s Saints.”

“Then what do you propose?” asked General Isaac from the North Pacific temple.

Sea Dragon replied earnestly, “Though Lord Poseidon has not fully awakened, the day of the Holy War draws near. We should prepare in advance—to lay the groundwork for his future dominion over the earth.”

At this, Isaac suddenly understood. “You want to take advantage of the chaos and strike at the Sanctuary before the time is ripe?”

“Don’t forget! Though Lord Poseidon and Athena are at odds, he is still one of Olympus’ gods. If we attack the Sanctuary now, it will only throw Poseidon into disrepute!”

The other two generals quickly voiced their agreement. Now was not the time to act!

Moreover, Lord Poseidon remained slumbering, their powers not yet fully restored. To prematurely ignite a war would not serve them well.