The wind cut through Olympus as Spink ran at a breathtaking speed, almost invisible. The glow of Speedstorm surrounded her body in a silver, lightning-fast aura. Her footsteps barely touched the ground, and within minutes, she had already reached the monumental House of Leo, far ahead of her companions.
In the middle of the hall, an imposing man, with a firm build and gleaming armor, awaited with his arms crossed. The Lion's Emissary, Raiga, was there. His golden eyes followed Spink's movement, surprised by how quickly she had arrived.
- Raiga: "Impressive... I didn't think anyone would cross so quickly."
Spink stopped abruptly upon seeing him, the rays of her aura still shining intensely around her. She threw him a defiant look.
- Spink: "If you're surprised by my arrival, wait until you see what I can do in combat." - She replied with a determined smile.
Spink advanced at lightning speed, her movements nearly invisible to the naked eye. The Lion's Emissary, Raiga, observed carefully, though showing no concern. However, as Spink attacked repeatedly, Raiga remained motionless, blocking each strike with overwhelming precision and strength.
- Raiga: "You're fast, Rabbit, I can't deny that." - His deep voice echoed through the golden hall of the House of Leo. - "But speed without pure willpower is useless."
With a swift and powerful motion, Raiga drew his Lion Sword, and in a single strike, he brought Spink down. She was thrown to the ground, her speed completely neutralized by Raiga's Resonance ability, which amplified his willpower into pure energy. Spink tried to get up, but the weight of Raiga's power was crushing.
- Spink: "How... did you do that?"
Raiga walked up to her, his sword resting on his shoulder. He looked at her with seriousness, and his expression shifted. There was no hatred in his eyes, only deep sadness.
- Raiga: "I'm not here to destroy you, Rabbit." - He said calmly, extending a hand to help her up. - "I need to tell you the truth."
- Spink: "I have a name, it's Spink, you idiot..."
- Raiga: "Ah, sorry, I'm Raiga... Raiga of Leo."
Still hesitant, Spink accepted Raiga's hand, slowly getting to her feet. Raiga then revealed:
- Raiga: "The leader of the Emissaries, Orpheus of Serpentarius, is manipulating the goddess Hera. But what you don't know is that Hera is already dead. Orpheus killed her and now uses her corpse to lead the Zodiac Emissaries. He has allied with Lucifer."
- Raiga: "Do you think I fought against you all this time because of orders?" - Raiga shook his head. - "No, Rabbit. I am loyal to Olympus, not a traitor."
- Spink: "That can't be true..." - She murmured, still trying to process what she had heard.
Raiga nodded, his expression grim.
- Raiga: "It's true, Spink. Orpheus betrayed us all. He doesn't fight for Hera, but for his own power and the chaos Lucifer intends to bring. This fight is not just ours, but that of the entire Celestial Realm. Yet many of us seem not to care, or they don't know what's going on."
- Spink: "If you know all of this, why haven't you told your companions?"
Raiga's expression shifted as he noticed something, then took a few steps forward, his eyes locked with Spink's.
Raiga's sword glowed brightly as he raised the blade high.
- Raiga: "The Lion Sword has the power to amplify Resonance." - He explained. - "It channels my willpower into pure destructive energy. This won't be easy for you."
Before Spink could respond, Raiga charged, and the battle began. With a roar of power, he sliced the air with his sword, and the ground around them trembled. Spink dodged with her Speedstorm, but the impact of the sword resonated even through the air, making every evasion a test of endurance.
- Spink: "Why is this happening all of a sudden!?" - Spink shouted, dodging another strike, but the pressure from the energy caused her to lose her balance.
- Raiga: "I'm just warming up!" - Raiga grinned. His sword began to shine even brighter. - "Let's see how you handle the full Resonance!"
Raiga swung the sword, creating a vortex of golden energy. The strike was so powerful that it cut through the sky, parting the clouds above them. Spink recoiled, her eyes glowing as she activated Lightray Mastery to boost her speed.
She launched herself at Raiga, her hands vibrating with lightning energy. Speedlash and Thundercrash were delivered in rapid succession, striking Raiga directly. But he did not fall. The energy from his sword enveloped him, blocking the blows with a fierce roar.
- Raiga: "And you won't see anything else, because this battle is over!" - Raiga subdued Spink with a single sword strike, immobilizing her. The pressure of the air was so powerful that it destroyed a hidden Celestial Wanderer who had been watching the House of Leo.
Spink gasped, on her knees, but Raiga did not finish the attack. Instead, he lowered the sword and extended his hand.
- Raiga: "I join you now, Spink. Orpheus and Lucifer can't continue with this plan."
Spink looked at him, surprised. Raiga, one of the most powerful Emissaries, had surrendered and offered his alliance.
- Spink: "Why?" - Spink asked, confused, as she accepted his help to stand.
- Raiga: "Because my brother, Kentarou of Sagittarius, tried to stop them... and now he's dead." - Raiga replied in a heavy voice, sorrow in his eyes.
Kentarou, the emissary who had helped Midoki at the start of his journey in the Celestial Realm, was dead, and Midoki didn't even know. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit, and Spink realized that this fight was much more than just the 13 Emissaries. There was a deeper betrayal, a conspiracy stretching across the heavens of Olympus.
At that moment, Throk and Neptune arrived at the House of Leo, ready for battle. But upon seeing Raiga and Spink together, they stopped, confused.
- Throk: "What's going on here?" - Throk asked, narrowing his eyes.
- Raiga: "A new alliance, I'm Raiga." - He said, turning to face the newcomers. - "Orpheus must be stopped, and Lucifer is behind it all. Together, we can change the fate of Olympus."
Neptune crossed his arms, observing Raiga with a suspicious gaze, but Throk, with his more carefree stance, just shrugged.
- Throk: "If he wants to fight with us, so be it. Just don't get in my way, Raiga, or the light of my Sunrise won't spare even you."
Raiga merely smiled.
Meanwhile, in the House of Cancer, Midoki rested. His body still bore the effects of the battle in Helheim and the fight against Carcinus. In the distance, a small figure dressed in Sagittarius Armor appeared, catching his attention.
Midoki slowly stood up, intrigued. Who was this child... and why was she wearing the armor of that emissary?