Golden Saints gather around the Goddess Athena, in preparation for the new Crusade against the Underworld warriors. Around this time, as Tenma undergoes training to become a Saintly Warrior, he is reunited with Alone's little sister, Sasha, and learns that she has transformed into Athena. Meanwhile, thinking of his dear and far off friend Tenma, Alone feels lonely and falls into despair.

Albafica fights against Minos with all his might, releasing the "crimson zone." However even that is deflected by the Specter's armor, causing Albafica to finally fall. Minos then heads towards the village outside of the Sanctuary that Albafica was trying to protect. The village is destroyed, and even Agasya, a young girl mourning Albafica, is targeted by Minos.

Thanatos finally gets serious after being wounded by Manigoldo. But even in the worst position imaginable, Sage doesn't falter. "Don't use the word despair so loosely", he says, and Manigoldo remembers his old days with his master and the desperation he felt when he saw the destiny of humans after death, regaining hope and determination to fight. The two use their Sekishiki Meikai Ha attack in a desperate attempt, and end up succeeding in separating Thanatos's soul from his physical body, but that isn't enough to defeat the god of death...

Tenma finally returns to the Sanctuary, and challenges Alone to a fight, only to have the tables turned. Then, the Pope arrives and uses an amulet from a previous incarnation of Athena to release the "Talisman Cage" and weaken Hades' power. He tries to seal Hades in the Sanctuary using Athena's cosmos. However, Pandora rushes over...