Athena and the Gods

Young Saori Kido — seen only as a child in Episode G, the one for whom Aioros sacrificed everything — is at the heart of this arc. The Olympians attacking the Sanctuary have an objective that goes beyond simply destroying the Gold Saints: they want to prevent Athena from realizing the full measure of her divinity, from becoming the force that prophecies foretell.

Aiolia finally understands the full meaning of his brother's sacrifice. Aioros protected Saori not out of disobedience to the Sanctuary but out of deep understanding of what she represented — the only force capable of maintaining balance against the Olympians. This revelation transforms Aiolia's guilt into something cleaner: pride for his brother, and an even more total resolve to protect what Aioros died for.