OVA
Description
Icelus, also known as Illusion Icelus, is a character from the anime Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas. He is one of the four Dream Gods, powerful spirits who serve the god Hypnos and govern the realm of dreams. His name is derived from Icelus or Icelos, another name for the Greek dream spirit Phobetor, which means terrifying. True to this origin, Icelus is portrayed as the most savage and brutal member of his group, often attacking with animalistic ferocity.
In the story, Icelus and his brothers, including Phantasos and Oneiros, are tasked with capturing the body and soul of the young Pegasus Saint, Tenma. Their goal is to imprison him in the World of Dreams to prevent his soul from reincarnating and posing a future threat to Hades. Icelus first appears at the Sanctuary of Athena, specifically in the Sagittarius Temple. There, he confronts Capricorn El Cid and steals the soul of the comatose Sagittarius Sisyphos directly from his body, using his teeth to extract it. This event drives the Gold Saint El Cid to leave the Sanctuary and pursue the Dream Gods into their own realm to recover his friend's soul.
Icelus's personality is defined by his cruelty and a keen, if twisted, sense of intrigue. After witnessing El Cid sever his own arm without crying out in pain to continue fighting, Icelus becomes fascinated by the Gold Saint's willpower. He chooses to personally confront El Cid within Phobia, the region of the World of Dreams that he governs, which is named after another of his mythological epithets.
The primary conflict between Icelus and El Cid showcases the Dream God's notable abilities. Rather than relying on a named technique, Icelus fights with brute strength, howling and tearing at his victims with claws that are often enhanced by a spectral, wolf-like aura. His most dangerous power is the ability to bend and twist the surrounding space. This ability allows him to deflect any attack that comes near him and even warp space so that an enemy's strike is redirected back at them from an unexpected angle. He also uses this power to hide his presence and cosmos, allowing him to move undetected through dimensions and appear next to his target for a surprise attack. Despite these formidable powers, El Cid manages to defeat him. By using the blood from his severed arm to create a visual effect, the Gold Saint is able to track the distortions in space and land a fatal blow. Ultimately, Icelus's soul is claimed by his brother Oneiros, who merges him with other Dream Gods to create a monstrous entity. This combined being is then destroyed by the Sagittarius Golden Arrow, imbued with the cosmos of Athena. This complete destruction serves as a narrative explanation for why these specific divine beings do not appear in the twentieth-century Holy War against Hades.
In the story, Icelus and his brothers, including Phantasos and Oneiros, are tasked with capturing the body and soul of the young Pegasus Saint, Tenma. Their goal is to imprison him in the World of Dreams to prevent his soul from reincarnating and posing a future threat to Hades. Icelus first appears at the Sanctuary of Athena, specifically in the Sagittarius Temple. There, he confronts Capricorn El Cid and steals the soul of the comatose Sagittarius Sisyphos directly from his body, using his teeth to extract it. This event drives the Gold Saint El Cid to leave the Sanctuary and pursue the Dream Gods into their own realm to recover his friend's soul.
Icelus's personality is defined by his cruelty and a keen, if twisted, sense of intrigue. After witnessing El Cid sever his own arm without crying out in pain to continue fighting, Icelus becomes fascinated by the Gold Saint's willpower. He chooses to personally confront El Cid within Phobia, the region of the World of Dreams that he governs, which is named after another of his mythological epithets.
The primary conflict between Icelus and El Cid showcases the Dream God's notable abilities. Rather than relying on a named technique, Icelus fights with brute strength, howling and tearing at his victims with claws that are often enhanced by a spectral, wolf-like aura. His most dangerous power is the ability to bend and twist the surrounding space. This ability allows him to deflect any attack that comes near him and even warp space so that an enemy's strike is redirected back at them from an unexpected angle. He also uses this power to hide his presence and cosmos, allowing him to move undetected through dimensions and appear next to his target for a surprise attack. Despite these formidable powers, El Cid manages to defeat him. By using the blood from his severed arm to create a visual effect, the Gold Saint is able to track the distortions in space and land a fatal blow. Ultimately, Icelus's soul is claimed by his brother Oneiros, who merges him with other Dream Gods to create a monstrous entity. This combined being is then destroyed by the Sagittarius Golden Arrow, imbued with the cosmos of Athena. This complete destruction serves as a narrative explanation for why these specific divine beings do not appear in the twentieth-century Holy War against Hades.