- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 366
“Seiya, here’s what we’ll do.”
As Aiolia carefully laid the unconscious Marin on a nearby rock, Leo telepathically conveyed his plan to Seiya again.
It was fortunate that Aiolia wasn’t wearing his Gold Cloth, or things would have been much more difficult today.
The Gold Cloth might not significantly increase a Gold Saint’s offensive abilities, but it vastly improved their defensive power.
For example, if two Gold Saints of similar strength were to fight, the one not wearing their Cloth might not hit any weaker, but if they took a hit from the one wearing the Cloth, they would probably be done for. On the other hand, the one wearing the Cloth could likely take a hit with little consequence.
“You’re no match for me. Stop resisting and come with me to the Pope. I’ll plead on your behalf,” Aiolia said as his golden Cosmo flared up. He advanced toward Leo and Seiya, the pressure making it hard for Seiya to even stand.
“Looks like I’ll have to show some real power,” Leo shouted, his body transforming into a towering figure as he entered his second form. His true essence merged with his chakra, entering Sage Mode. With the Eight Gates fully opened, his Cosmo, nearing Silver Saint levels, surged to the limit.
Aiolia, who had initially dismissed Leo as insignificant, paused in his tracks, a look of seriousness appearing on his face.
“A Cosmo this weak, yet with such powerful energy—this is truly unbelievable!”
In Aiolia’s perception, Leo’s Cosmo was still quite feeble, not even on par with a Silver Saint’s. Compared to his ultimate Gold Saint-level Cosmo, the gap was immeasurable. Yet, his intuition warned him that if he didn’t take this fight seriously, it could be dangerous.
“Aiolia, take my full-strength attack! Yagai!”
Leo’s body, cloaked in golden sage chakra, transformed into a massive golden dragon. He launched a kick directly at Aiolia.
Seeing the attack, Aiolia’s eyes showed admiration.
“To unleash such an attack… Leo, I acknowledge your strength. As a sign of respect, I’ll respond with my strongest technique.”
The sheer force of the incoming wind told Aiolia that Leo’s kick was nearly on par with the power of a Gold Saint’s attack.
A Bronze Saint, without a Cloth, unleashing a strike close to a Gold Saint’s strength—this deserved his respect.
He was certain that knowing he would respond with his strongest move would make his opponent happy.
“Atomic Lightning!”
Aiolia raised his arm, preparing to counter Leo’s attack with his Atomic Lightning Punch, but suddenly, the scene shifted, and he found himself in a strange place.
His body was inexplicably bound to a cross by some unknown force.
“Run!”
Outside, Leo saw that his plan had worked. Aiolia had fallen for the trap and was sent into the Tsukuyomi space by his sage technique. He swiftly pivoted, grabbed Seiya and Marin, and sprinted toward the Sanctuary’s exit.
There was no way he would actually fight Aiolia in the Sanctuary.
Even at his current strength, it wasn’t certain he could withstand Aiolia’s Atomic Lightning Punch. And even if he could, as long as it wasn’t an instant victory, Aiolia’s massive Cosmo surge would surely attract Saga and the other Gold Saints.
If more Gold Saints showed up, escape would be impossible.
So, the stance he had taken to unleash a big move was never meant for a real battle with Aiolia. It was to make Aiolia think that way, causing him to lower his guard.
That gave Leo the opportunity to activate the Tsukuyomi technique and temporarily trap Aiolia in the illusion world.
Given Aiolia’s power, the Tsukuyomi couldn’t harm him. But in the Tsukuyomi world, three days would pass, while in the real world, only one second.
Don’t underestimate that one second. In Leo’s fully powered-up state, one second was more than enough for him to grab Seiya and Marin and dash out of the Sanctuary’s barrier.
Once outside the barrier’s influence, he could use teleportation to escape Aiolia.
With blinding speed, they raced toward the Sanctuary’s edge. Just as the one second was about to end and Aiolia was about to break free from the Tsukuyomi world, Leo, Seiya, and Marin finally crossed the Sanctuary’s barrier, arriving at the same place where Shaina had blocked Seiya earlier.
“We made it out… wait, we’re at the base of the Sanctuary!”
When Aiolia reappeared, he realized he was no longer at the training grounds but at the base of the Sanctuary’s mountain. In front of him stood Leo, holding Seiya in one arm and Marin in the other.
Though only a second had passed in the outside world, in the Tsukuyomi world, he and Leo had fought for three days.
Neither of them had been injured during that time.
In the illusion world, no matter how powerful Aiolia’s punches were, they couldn’t harm Leo’s illusions. Similarly, Leo’s spiritual suppression and his flying sword technique couldn’t harm Aiolia, thanks to his powerful Cosmo and light-speed punches.
With Gold Saints’ endurance, a battle between evenly matched opponents could last an eternity, even turning into a so-called “Thousand-Day War,” a fight that could stretch on for a thousand days.
So now, aside from the location change, their power levels remained the same.
“Atomic Lightning Punch!”
Upon exiting the illusion, Aiolia instantly unleashed his most powerful move toward Leo.
He hadn’t fully grasped how he had been caught in that illusion-like technique earlier. To avoid being caught again, he decided to go all out and finish Leo immediately.
But Leo had anticipated this. He quickly used the still-unconscious Marin as a shield, placing her between himself and Aiolia.
As expected, upon seeing Marin, Aiolia immediately halted his punch, his Cosmo flaring as he forcibly stopped the Atomic Lightning Punch.
This slight delay was all Leo needed. He activated Flying Thunder God and teleported away with Seiya and Marin.
“He has space manipulation abilities—no wonder he escaped here,” Aiolia realized. Only now did he understand that Leo had never intended to fight him. The entire battle was just a ploy to escape with Seiya and Marin.
But as he thought about it, a small smile crept onto his face.
Deep down, Aiolia didn’t want to harm the three of them, nor did he want to deliver them to the Pope. But as a Saint, his duty had forced him to act.
Now that the three had escaped using their own strength, he felt a sense of relief.
“Marin, I hope you find happiness after leaving the Sanctuary.”
(End of Chapter)