Eleven Gold Saints were neatly seated cross-legged around Athena’s Colossus. Beneath it, Athena Sapphire’s figure can be seen emitting a brilliant golden light. She is wearing Athena’s God Cloth while holding Athena’s Staff on her right hand. With eyes closed, she is gathering the pure power of the sun on the tip of her staff, as waves and waves of heat and cosmos surge from the surroundings towards her.

Gradually, a dense bright mini-sun was being condensed on the tip of her staff. The Gold Cloths of the 11 Gold Saints reacted upon being bathed in the light of the sun and the light of this mini-sun. Gold brilliance that can blind the eyes of ordinary mortals can be seen as the Golden Aura of the Gold Saints continue to raise their cosmos to half-a-step Eight Sense. Except for Pisces Amor, who already broke thru easily with his natural talent, and Gemini Integra, who already possessed Half-a-step Eight Sense a few days ago, the rest of the 9 Gold Saints are in the midst of breaking thru.

“If possible, I would want to use my God/Deity Blood in order to raise your cosmos to the Eight Sense as soon as possible.”

“However, I fear that your bodies may not be able to take it.”

“As such, I will condense in each of you a ball of cosmos with a strand of my power.”

“In the crucial time of your breakthrough to the Eight Sense, this ball of cosmos will automatically provide you with sufficient power for your breakthrough.”

“For now, you must get used to your new found power as soon as possible.”

Determined expressions can be seen on the faces of all of the 11 Gold Saints as they firmly nodded their heads. A satisfied smile emerged on Athena Sapphire’s face while looking at her loyal Gold Saints. However, Pope Scion interjected his worries after seeing this.

“Gold Saints, do take note that you must not execute Athena’s Exclamation at your current levels.”

“Amongst you, only Amor and Integra will survive.”

“The rest will surely perish!”

“Make sure to be at the Initial Level of the Eight Sense before you execute it.”

“Understood?”

The 11 Gold Saints replied in unison “We understand, Pope Scion!”

With that said, the 11 Gold Saints resumed their meditative poses as they tried their best to absorb as much power and cosmos from the Sun and the Mini-Sun coalesced by Sapphire.

After the time it takes for an incense to burn, Aries Kiki and Taurus Aldebaran broke thru. The sudden rise in strength exhilarated the both of them, while the rest of the 7 Gold Saints immediately turned serious as they attempt to break thru to half-a-step Eight Sense.

“So this is the power of Libra Dohko before he entered the Underworld alive.”

“What strong cosmos!”

“But still, we must work hard. We are not yet strong enough.”

After the time it takes for two incenses to burn, the 7 remaining Gold Saints were able to breakthrough successfully. In relation with their breakthroughs, their respective temples responded accordingly. A huge golden pillar of light can be seen emitting from the 11 Temples, except for the Sagittarius temple. What shocked Sapphire, Avan and Genya was that the pillar that was being emitted from the Sagittarius temple comprised of intertwining Gold and Black. A faint symbol of Yin and Yang was also coalesced on top of the Sagittarius temple.

Meanwhile, Kuro, who was meditating on his room on the Imperial Kingdom suddenly opened his eyes. He could feel the Sagittarius Temple calling to him. He was unable to control his Yin and Yang cosmos as both cosmos were unconsciously emitted from his body. Suddenly, numerous notifications rang on his mind.

“Ding!”

“The Sagittarius Temple is beckoning for you.”

“It wants you to receive its power.”

“Please channel your cosmos towards the direction of Sanctuary.”

“Afterwards, fire a God Slaying Arrow towards it.”

“Link a thread of your cosmos towards the GSA.”

Without hesitation, Kuro took out his Sagittarius Bow and infused his cosmos into it. After a dozen breaths of time, he released the arrow with a thread of his cosmos attached to it. The arrow, in the speed of light, made its way towards Sanctuary and the Sagittarius Temple. As if guided by an unknown force, the GSA was able to land on the roof of the temple. Suddenly, the 11 Gold Light pillars emitted from the temples swiftly gathered towards Sapphire’s Staff while the intertwining Gold and Black pillar gathered towards Kuro via the GSA and the thread attached to it. With a low voice, Sapphire beckoned the gathered power and cosmos with her hand.

“Strengthen my Gold Saints, oh Power of the Sun!”

After a couple of breaths, the power of the mini-sun on the tip of Sapphire’s staff dispersed towards the 11 Gold Saints while the power of the Sagittarius Temple was also completely relayed to Kuro via the GSA. With the sudden surge of power, several notifications rang on the minds of the Gold Saints of Athena.

“Ding!”

“A powerful cosmos has been channelled from the Sun and your respective Temple into your body.”

“Successfully bathed in the Light and Yang Powers of the Sun!”

“Peak of Half-a-step Eight Sense has been attained!”

“Continue to Work Hard, Saint!”

Athena Sapphire looked tenderly on her 11 Gold Saints and uttered, “With this all of you have attained the level of Peak Half-a-Step Eight Sense.”

“You should be able to protect yourselves in the upcoming Holy War.”

“If you could reach the stage of Omega (Eight Sense), then that would be for the best.”

“If not, then at least you can support each other and protect those you need to protect.”

“You all know the duty of being a Saint of Athena.”

“This time, we do not know how powerful our enemies are.”

“But we will not yield!”

“We will fulfil our duties as protectors of Mankind and the Earth!”

As if detecting her resolved, the whole Sanctuary emitted a Gold tower of light towards the heavens. Unknowingly, Athena Sapphire had already donned her Athena God Cloth and her powers were released. With the power and cosmos of Athena, Sapphire was able to emit a power that is at the level of Immortals, Gods and Deities. A notification rang on her mind.

“Ding!”

“Peak 9th Sense Cosmos attained!”

“Partially unlocked God/Deity Level Cosmos!”

“Continue to Work Hard, Goddess Athena!”

Relatively, with a power-up of her Gold Saints, Athena Sapphire also awakened some of her God/Deity powers and cosmos.

“We should be more or less prepared for the initial clash in this Holy War” Sapphire voice softly echoed on the ears of everyone present in Sanctuary.