OVA
Description
Manigoldo is the Gold Saint of Cancer who serves Athena during the 18th century Holy War against Hades. He is the sole disciple of Sage, the former Cancer Gold Saint and Grand Pope of the Sanctuary, and inherits the Cancer Cloth after years of training under his master. Before becoming a saint, Manigoldo’s home village was completely destroyed by Specters, leaving him the only survivor. That traumatic event led him to believe that life and death were worthless, and he turned to a life of theft. Sage discovered him among the ruins of his village and, after a brief confrontation, offered him a chance to understand a different truth: that every person, living or dead, is part of the same universe and has intrinsic value. Manigoldo accepted and eventually became one of the most formidable Gold Saints of his generation.
Manigoldo’s personality is bold, aggressive, and confident, with a sharp, informal way of speaking that often carries a sarcastic or humorous edge. He is arrogant and has a short temper, but he is not malicious. His early cynicism about death gradually gives way to a deeper respect for life, though he retains a fierce and sometimes reckless combat style. He is highly cunning, able to read situations quickly and act without hesitation. His primary motivation is to protect the Sanctuary and Athena, but he carries a deep personal hatred for Thanatos, the god of death, stemming from the massacre of his village.
In the story, Manigoldo serves as the guardian of the fourth Zodiac Temple. He first appears intercepting Pegasus Tenma and his companions as they flee the Sanctuary, but he later aids them by defeating the Specter Veronica of Nasu, incinerating her soul with his blue flames. His most critical role comes during the assault on the castle of the twin gods. Manigoldo confronts Thanatos alone and, despite being outmatched, fights with ferocious determination. When Sage arrives to help, Manigoldo seizes an opening to leap into the hyper-dimension created by Thanatos, destroying the god’s physical body at the cost of his own life. This sacrifice allows Sage to seal Thanatos away. After his death, Manigoldo’s spirit appears to Aries Shion, delivering the Pope’s helmet so that it can be passed to Hakurei, and later manifests alongside the other fallen Gold Saints to lend his cosmos to the final assault on Hades.
His bond with Sage is the most significant relationship in his life. Sage served as both mentor and father figure, shaping Manigoldo’s worldview and teaching him the techniques of the Cancer Saint. In the Gaiden story set in Venice, Manigoldo works alongside Pisces Albafica to dismantle a criminal organization, demonstrating a grudging but effective partnership. He also develops a distant rapport with other Gold Saints, though he remains somewhat aloof and mission-focused.
Manigoldo’s notable abilities revolve around manipulating souls and the energy of the dead. He was born with the innate power to perceive spirits. His signature technique is Praesepe Underworld Waves, which sends souls to the entrance of the Underworld. He can also generate Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, an orb of fire that incinerates the souls of his enemies, and use Praesepe Soul Burial Waves to detonate nearby souls as explosive fuel. In close combat, he employs a physical attack called Acubens, using his legs like the pincers of a crab to slice an opponent in half. His mastery of these techniques, combined with his fierce will, makes him a dangerous opponent even against divine beings.
Manigoldo’s development is marked by his transition from a nihilistic survivor who saw all life as refuse to a selfless warrior who willingly gives his life to protect others and uphold the teachings of his master. His final act of sacrifice against Thanatos underscores his growth and solidifies his legacy as a Gold Saint who fought not for personal glory, but for the greater good.
Manigoldo’s personality is bold, aggressive, and confident, with a sharp, informal way of speaking that often carries a sarcastic or humorous edge. He is arrogant and has a short temper, but he is not malicious. His early cynicism about death gradually gives way to a deeper respect for life, though he retains a fierce and sometimes reckless combat style. He is highly cunning, able to read situations quickly and act without hesitation. His primary motivation is to protect the Sanctuary and Athena, but he carries a deep personal hatred for Thanatos, the god of death, stemming from the massacre of his village.
In the story, Manigoldo serves as the guardian of the fourth Zodiac Temple. He first appears intercepting Pegasus Tenma and his companions as they flee the Sanctuary, but he later aids them by defeating the Specter Veronica of Nasu, incinerating her soul with his blue flames. His most critical role comes during the assault on the castle of the twin gods. Manigoldo confronts Thanatos alone and, despite being outmatched, fights with ferocious determination. When Sage arrives to help, Manigoldo seizes an opening to leap into the hyper-dimension created by Thanatos, destroying the god’s physical body at the cost of his own life. This sacrifice allows Sage to seal Thanatos away. After his death, Manigoldo’s spirit appears to Aries Shion, delivering the Pope’s helmet so that it can be passed to Hakurei, and later manifests alongside the other fallen Gold Saints to lend his cosmos to the final assault on Hades.
His bond with Sage is the most significant relationship in his life. Sage served as both mentor and father figure, shaping Manigoldo’s worldview and teaching him the techniques of the Cancer Saint. In the Gaiden story set in Venice, Manigoldo works alongside Pisces Albafica to dismantle a criminal organization, demonstrating a grudging but effective partnership. He also develops a distant rapport with other Gold Saints, though he remains somewhat aloof and mission-focused.
Manigoldo’s notable abilities revolve around manipulating souls and the energy of the dead. He was born with the innate power to perceive spirits. His signature technique is Praesepe Underworld Waves, which sends souls to the entrance of the Underworld. He can also generate Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, an orb of fire that incinerates the souls of his enemies, and use Praesepe Soul Burial Waves to detonate nearby souls as explosive fuel. In close combat, he employs a physical attack called Acubens, using his legs like the pincers of a crab to slice an opponent in half. His mastery of these techniques, combined with his fierce will, makes him a dangerous opponent even against divine beings.
Manigoldo’s development is marked by his transition from a nihilistic survivor who saw all life as refuse to a selfless warrior who willingly gives his life to protect others and uphold the teachings of his master. His final act of sacrifice against Thanatos underscores his growth and solidifies his legacy as a Gold Saint who fought not for personal glory, but for the greater good.