Saint Seiya Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Seinto (Saints of the Shadow) ❯ The Curse ( Chapter 7 )

-Come on, we're almost there!
The rest of the Demoniac ran behind him. Finally, they had reached the entrance of the House of Shadow Capricorn. They were beginning to enter, but then a shadow appears in front of them, with a serene look on his face. It was Celsus.
-So many few of you…
-It hasn't been so much of a good day for us. But it will be your last day! -Azrael said.
-We'll have to see that, right?
He walked towards them. The Demoniac started to perform their attack position. Then, suddenly, Celsus sat on the floor. The Demoniac laughed.
-What are you going to do? -Azrael said, while laughing.
Celsus, however, was not listening to them. He seemed really concentrated. Azrael realized that his body began irradiating a green light. The Demoniac had realized what he was doing, but they were not able to do anything against it.
-Dangerous Praying! -Celsus exclaimed.
The green light around him joined together, and Celsus shot a beam of light to a random Demoniac. The attack hit Taurus Demoniac. It was the first time he was injured in the whole intrusion of the 12 Houses. He looked at Celsus, who seemed very worried for the first time. He moved towards him, not saying a word, and grabbed him with his arms, then threw him to the ground. Celsus was not able to resist; Taurus Demoniac was very strong. Azrael laughed.
-Good luck, Shadow Capricorn -he said-. Nath, kill him, then catch us up later.
-Yes.

-Nath... I've heard that name before... no, no... It's impossible...
There was silence. Celsus opened his eyes widely.
-Could you be... Nath? Nath of Shadow Taurus?!
Nath did not responded. Celsus was astonished.
-We thought you dead, you… You traitor! How could you betray the Shadow Sanctuary! And your friends!
Nath did not answer. Celsus, now realizing who Taurus Demoniac really was, started to burn his cosmo to an alarming speed rate. The green light around his body had never been so bright and blinding.
-I must kill you...
Nath started to walk towards him.
-... In the name of our fallen masters…
Nath was getting closer.
-Especially, my master, Ramu! Die, traitor! Sharp Impact!
He ran towards Nath, lifted his left arm and hit Nath int he stomach. He stepped back and prepared to attack Celsus. He lifted both of his arms, from which brown-colored energy starts to concentrate.
-Bloody Ox!
The energy is launched at Celsus, who could not evade it. He's stamped to a pillar due to the extraordinary force. But he stood up. Celsus was using all his strength to remain standing, but it was not enough.
-He's much stronger than us...
Just one attack from a former experienced Shadow Saint had brought him down.

-Nath, this is your opportunity, kill him.
Something was telling Nath to do this. He walked towards Celsus, who was about to fall to the ground.
-Nath, do it!
He lifted his arms, but something stopped him.
-What?
There was a conflict inside his head, that was very clearly, even for Celsus.
-What is going on? It looks like… Like he doesn't wants to do this…
-Bloody Ox! -Nath exclaimed.
The attack hit Celsus, who fell to the ground, even more injured than before. He looked at Nath, with a sad look on his face. He noticed his eyes were not human.
-“Could it be that he's being used? -Celsus thought.
Nath had to kill the Shadow Saint of Capricorn, but there was something that stopped him from finishing his command.
-Nath! Nath! Nath, I know you don't want to do this!
Celsus stood up, and Nath attacked him one more time. Celsus just defended himself.
-I can't harm a saint like me -Celsus said-. Despite the pain is unbearable…
It was unbearable, indeed. Celsus was about to lose consciousness. He thought of Ramu, and looked at Nath.
-What are you doing?
Nath was taking out a strange spear. He started to remember all the atrocities he did with it.

-Nath, no!
-How could you kill Herus?!
-Nath, stop! Please!
One by one, his former friends fell down to the floor, dead. In the end, only one Shadow Saint was left alive.
-Nath! Nath, you need to stop this!
Nath raised his spear and incrusted it into Ramu's torso. He watched how Ramu died, slowly, until he stopped moving. Nath then took out his spear, which was covered in blood.
-Well done, Nath. I now officially name you, Nath of Taurus Demoniac!

He saw Ramu in Celsus' eyes. Nath started to cry while raising his spear, which starts emitting brown light.
-Die, Shadow Capricorn... Die...
His spear started glowing so much that the whole room was filled with its light. Celsus could not see anything. He could just hear Nath. He was crying.
-I... I can't...
-Nath...
-I can't kill a saint... A saint that fought for the same things as I once did...
-You don't need to...
-I'm sorry, Shadow Capricorn... I'm sorry, Ramu… I... I was not strong enough…
-Nath!
-If I don't do it now, then it might control me forever...
Nath screamed. The light started to fade away. He saw Nath lying next to a pillar with his spear incrusted into his torso.
-... Please, forgive me…
He closes his eyes. Nath had killed himself with his spear. The same spear he used to kill his friends, under the control of Dæmonicus. Celsus lets a few tears drop to the floor.
-Nath…
He looked at Nath's eyes. They were becoming brown again. The Demoniac armor left his body, and stood armed next to him.
-Rest in peace, Nath… Saint of Shadow Taurus.

Meanwhile, somewhere near the House of Shadow Aries, the ice block where Ryu Wo was trapped in was beginning to break. With a lot of effort, Ryu Wo escaped from his cold prison. He felt the cosmo of the Demoniac near the Pope's Temple.
-They are almost there! I must really hurry now!
He ran quickly to the House of Shadow Aries. He noticed the Shadow Saint in there was still alive. She was not expecting another Demoniac to enter her House. Ryu Wo took advantage of this.
-All these cosmo fading away… And there's few I can do...
Then, a cold voice surprised her.
-You won't be able to do anything, Shadow Aries!
Haruna looked back, but it was too late. Ryu Wo was already running towards her.
-Venomous Claws!
-Ken Execution! -Haruna exclaimed after him.
Since Haruna was caught by surprise, she could not perform her attack correctly. The attack was so strong that he broke some of her cloth, apart from injuring her torso. 
-So weak! Perhaps I'm too good for you?
-Don't flatter yourself, I'm just injured. But I am still able to fight! Ken Execution!

The attack hit Ryu Wo, who was expecting to win the battle flawless.
-That was a good one. I won't let that happen again, though! Snake Fury!
Lots of snakes started to appear on the floor. They start to slide towards her, as she backed away. But it was inevitable, the snakes started to roll around her legs and arms. 
-Now, let's play some music -he said.
The snakes started to bite Haruna, and she screamed in pain. She tried to get rid of the snakes, but she couldn't, there were too many. Ryu Wo was enjoying the picture.
-Don't try to resist -Ryu Wo said-, the venom is already paralyzing you.
It was true. Haruna could no longer move her limbs. Ryu Wo laughed at her.
-You... You bastard!
-Insult me all you want... This happens when you humiliate me! -He said, angered, as he was leaving the House.
-Huh? -Haruna was confused.
-Do you know how humiliating is it to be defeated with just one hit?! Just one! I must kill him and get my honor back, otherwise I will be a joke among my circle!
-You demons have no honor, so why would you care? Who are you talking about?
But Ryu Wo had already left the House.

In the House of Shadow Sagittarius, Li and Selena had sensed Nath's cosmo disappearing, and Celsus' cosmo slowly fading away. They also sense Ryu Wo's cosmo appearing.
-Wow, Nath managed to break the Curse of Taurus -Li said.
-And Ryu Wo seems to have appeared. Well, we haven't lost anything now... Nath was not a real Demoniac -Selena said.
-It's still impressive how he broke the Curse of Taurus...
-I wonder if the Master will awaken Biju now... Anyways...
They looked at Yuki, who was in her bed, mumbling. She was still under the effect of the spell.
-Such a great gift… The Master's powers are...
-I know.
-They are immeasurable -Selena said-. Just look at Shadow Sagittarius. She's completely docile now.
Li looked at Yuki. She was, in fact, not dangerous at all anymore.
-Yes. She's totally under our control -Li said. Hey, look; listen carefully to what she's saying...

Both Demoniac noticed that Yuki kept repeating one same phrase over and over again. The Demoniac looked at themselves. Then they looked at Yuki. She was obviously not in her right judgement, but they doubted that their Master's power produced madness.
-Aquarius?”
-… Aquarius... Shadow…
-What does she means? Something about Shadow Aquarius?
-I don't know...
-... Shadow...
-What about it? There is no one protecting the House of Shadow Aquarius. We know that, you know that...
-... Aquarius...
-And the existence of a saint guarding that House is ridiculous, nobody could've replaced Reiko; we killed his apprentice.
-Yes; there is certainly no Shadow Aquarius saint...
-...
Yuki's silence made Li and Selena open their eyes widely in surprise.
-… Is there?!

 

This is a work of fiction. Original story by Masami Kurumada. Copyright 1986 Saint Seiya. All rights reserved.