Chapter 13: Who Impersonated Dismask?

“But… Your Holiness…” Kigas tried to protest, but the Pope’s gaze fell upon him. Instantly, Kigas was stunned, as if struck by a heavy blow, sent flying backwards and landing hard on the ground.

“I do not wish to repeat myself!” The Pope’s voice echoed. Kigas hurriedly prostrated himself, terrified of provoking further wrath.

Feng Zhe cast a contemptuous glance at Kigas, watching as he crawled out of the main hall.

“Let’s hear it. What did Tonghu say?”

“Teacher, Tonghu tacitly agreed, but there is one more thing to be done.”

Upon hearing that Tonghu had given his tacit approval, a gleam flashed from beneath the Pope’s mask, as if Saga behind it was quite surprised.

He then spoke, “As long as he agrees, any condition will be accepted.”

Saga’s abilities were indeed outstanding, whether in his benevolent or malevolent aspect. The process might differ, but the outcome was always the same.

“Senior Tonghu needs to borrow Athena’s Shield for a period, so that he may comprehend the ultimate secret of Libra—the Final Justice!”

Feng Zhe’s words, half true and half false, combined well enough to convince Saga.

Upon hearing the condition, Saga fell silent beneath his mask.

Feng Zhe understood well—though Saga now presided over the Sanctuary, appearing to wield boundless authority, it was all but a façade.

First, only successive Popes knew the location of Athena’s Sacred Cloth, but Saga’s succession was irregular, and he had no knowledge of its whereabouts.

Even if, by some miracle, he did know, without divine blood he could do nothing.

Besides the Sacred Cloth, there was Athena’s Staff and Athena’s Shield.

The Staff had been stolen by Aiolos along with the goddess herself.

For this reason, Saga had sought the goddess’s will for years.

The other, the Athena’s Shield, rested upon the right hand of Athena’s statue.

Yet it was so massive that even Saga could not use it, serving only as a decorative relic, lying quietly there.

Saga had no idea what Tonghu intended, but surrendering Athena’s Shield could jeopardize his legitimacy.

What’s more, Tonghu had only given tacit consent.

Saga, sharp as ever, immediately eyed Feng Zhe with hostility.

Though Feng Zhe could not see his face, he sensed Saga’s distrust.

So he pressed further: “Please, trust me. Senior Tonghu will return the Shield after a short period. Before the Holy War begins, the secret of Libra is paramount—you understand what that represents.”

“The core of Libra has long been damaged. That’s no secret!” If it hadn’t been, Tonghu would hardly be trapped on Five Elder Peaks.

Feng Zhe replied, “Teacher, the core of Libra’s Cloth is indeed broken, and even the Jamiel clan cannot repair it. But nothing is absolute; Senior Tonghu has found a solution. After all, he is a Saint who has lived for two hundred and forty years.”

Saga pondered for a moment, then finally saw no issue. “I can agree, but Athena’s Shield is enormous. If Tonghu comes to the Sanctuary, it’s no trouble to lend it to him.”

Feng Zhe shook his head. “Teacher, the Five Elder Peaks cannot be left unattended; only Senior Tonghu can guard it.”

“I will order Shaka of Virgo to guard the Peaks, and a coronation ceremony need not take much time.” As the man closest to god, Shaka of Virgo was surely the most suitable.

Yet Feng Zhe still shook his head. “Teacher, Senior Tonghu’s consent is only tacit, not overt support. Moreover, even if you are to succeed, there will be resistance that only you can overcome.”

Besides Tonghu, Aries and Leo would pose significant obstacles—something Saga himself knew well.

Additionally, Aquarius and Taurus held ambiguous attitudes, which he could not ignore.

After considering all this, Saga said, “Very well, but Athena’s Shield must only be lent after my official succession!”

Saga agreed—and it was evil Saga who agreed.

“It seems I must make a deal with Shaka,” Saga murmured, rising as if struck by inspiration, and strode out.

As the top combatant in Sanctuary, Shaka of Virgo possessed the power to remain aloof. Moreover, he was one of the rare heretics among the Saints.

Feng Zhe still could not comprehend how, among the Saints devoted to Athena, there could be one who worshipped Buddha.

And every generation featured such a heretic. His loyalty to the goddess was always a mystery.

The only explanation was that the goddess herself tacitly allowed it—just as she did with another obvious heretic, Camus of Aquarius.

Similarly, Camus did not fully worship Athena, as evidenced by his ultimate secret, the Mercy of the Dawn Goddess.

He worshipped the Dawn Goddess.

These two unique heretics in Sanctuary always presided over two temples.

…

Just as Feng Zhe left the Papal Palace, a servant reported that Seiya had secretly entered Cancer Temple and seemed to be in danger.

This surprised Feng Zhe greatly.

Since arriving at the Greek Sanctuary, he and Seiya had never crossed paths, as if they existed in parallel worlds.

Feng Zhe did not know how Seiya had bypassed Taurus Temple, but now that he was in Cancer Temple, he was surely doomed.

Though mystified as to why someone had informed him, Feng Zhe leapt down and sped toward Cancer Temple.

As Feng Zhe departed, Chief Adviser Kigas slipped out, scoffing under his breath, “The price for offending me is to become a human-faced statue!”

So it turned out this was all Kigas’s scheme, though Feng Zhe was unaware.

He said nothing along the way.

Upon reaching Cancer Temple, a chilling aura emanated from within, causing Feng Zhe to halt.

Cancer Temple had changed drastically; even the Saint’s cosmos inside was icy cold, as if returning from the Underworld.

Feng Zhe had seen Deathmask before, both at temporal junctions and in reality, but never had Deathmask possessed such a cosmos.

“Could it really be Deathmask during the Twelve Temples?”

Now Feng Zhe was certain—the Saint within Cancer Temple was abnormal.

Feng Zhe had no wish to confront him, but having arrived, he steeled himself and entered.

Immediately, the entire temple dimmed, black and white lines flooding the space.

The bizarre cosmos made Feng Zhe deeply uneasy.

With a loud cry, his Altar Cloth donned itself upon him.

The Sacred Fire within the Cloth soothed him somewhat.

But suddenly, hands seized his ankles, startling him.

He kicked them apart and shouted, “Lord Deathmask, Feng Zhe of the Altar seeks audience!”

“This place does not welcome you. Get out of my Cancer Temple!” came a voice, cold as death, shocking Feng Zhe.

This was definitely not the Deathmask he had met before!

Who was it?

Someone impersonating Deathmask, yet undetected!

It seemed a vast conspiracy loomed before Feng Zhe.