OVA
Description
Manigold de Câncer is the Gold Saint of Cancer during the 18th century Holy War against Hades, serving as the guardian of the fourth temple in the Sanctuary. His backstory begins in childhood when his village was massacred by Specters, leaving him as the sole survivor. This trauma led him to believe that life, inevitably ending in death, was worthless, including his own. He became a thief, preying on travelers in desolate ruins at night. Sage, the incumbent Cancer Saint and future Grand Pope, discovered him among the ruins of his village, where Manigold could see the spirits of his deceased relatives. Sage, who could also perceive souls, engaged him in conversation. When Manigold attacked him with a knife, Sage easily subdued him and revealed the Cancer Gold Cloth beneath his robes. Instead of punishing the boy, Sage questioned his view of life and death, sharing that he too had lost many comrades. He explained that while individual lives might seem insignificant when viewed in isolation, all lives are part of a greater universe and have the potential to shine. Manigold was moved by these words, though he claimed not to understand them, and Sage invited him to follow him to the Sanctuary to learn. Manigold accepted and became Sage's sole disciple.
Over the years, Manigold proved to be a prodigious student, mastering the techniques of the Cancer Saint. However, the effects of his past trauma lingered. He struggled to restrain himself in battle, especially when an opponent could no longer fight back. He held contempt for those who wished to surrender before the end, believing that in the horror of war, the only thing such people could do was fall into despair and die. This harsh outlook often put him at odds with others, but it stemmed from his early exposure to death rather than simple cruelty. He was known for his arrogant and irreverent attitude, speaking informally even in grave situations, and he had a cynical sense of humor. Despite this exterior, his bond with Sage gradually reshaped his understanding of life and death. His core motivation became protecting the living and honoring the interconnectedness of all beings, though he retained a deep-seated animosity toward the god of death, Thanatos.
In the main story, Manigold first appears intercepting Tenma of Pegasus as he flees the Sanctuary after confronting Hades. Manigold pursues Tenma, Yato of Unicorn, and Yuzuriha of Crane into a forest of illusions created by the Specter Veronica of Nasu. Manigold confronts Veronica, using his technique Acubens to bisect her, then sends her body and soul to the underworld with the Praesepe Underworld Waves. There, he incinerates her soul completely using the Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, destroying her permanently. He then directly invades the castle of the twin gods, interrupting a chess game between Thanatos and Hypnos. He attacks Thanatos but is blocked by a chess piece. A fierce battle ensues, and Manigold is outmatched by the god's power until Sage arrives to aid him. Despite Sage's warning that his power is insufficient against Thanatos, Manigold leaps into the hyper-dimension opened by the god, intending to destroy Thanatos's physical body. He perishes from the strain of entering that dimension, but his sacrifice destroys the vessel containing Thanatos's soul, allowing Sage to seal the god within the sacred urn provided by Athena.
Before the war, Manigold was sent to Venice alongside Albafica of Pisces to dismantle the Nero organization, a criminal syndicate led by the Black Saint Avido. In Venice, he encountered Gioca, a street urchin and thief. After retrieving a stolen purse, Manigold dealt with the gang manager Lumaca by summoning the souls of his victims using his soul-manipulation powers. Gioca, who could surprisingly see the spirits, joined the two Gold Saints as a guide. They confronted the Black Saints, including Allegre of Black Whale and Ruse of Black Crow. Manigold defeated Allegre with Acubens after initially being overpowered. The final confrontation with Avido took place in the Fortress of Souls, where Manigold battled the Black Saint who also wielded Sekishiki techniques. Through these experiences, Manigold continued to grapple with his past and his evolving sense of purpose.
His key relationships center on his master Sage, who transformed his worldview and to whom he remained fiercely loyal. He fought alongside Albafica of Pisces during the Venice mission, and the two shared a professional respect despite their differing temperaments. His rivalry with Thanatos was personal, as the god of death represented everything Manigold had come to oppose. After his death, his spirit, battered but intact, returned to the Cancer Temple where he encountered Shion of Aries. He entrusted Shion with Sage's helm, instructing him to deliver it to Hakurei so that Hakurei could become the new Grand Pope, before vanishing.
Manigold's notable abilities all stem from the Sekishiki arts, techniques that manipulate souls and the boundary between life and death. The Praesepe Underworld Waves, or Sekishiki Meikaiha, sends the target's body and soul to the underworld, forcibly separating them. The Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, or Sekishiki Kisoen, creates azure will-o'-the-wisps that use the target's own soul as fuel to incinerate it completely, leaving no possibility of return. The Praesepe Soul Burial Waves, or Sekishiki Konsoha, detonates gathered spirits in a massive explosion. Acubens is a physical technique where Manigold strikes with his legs like pincers, capable of cleaving an opponent in two. He could also summon and control hellfire, a flame that feeds on spiritual energy, allowing him to generate devastating explosions. After death, he appeared to be capable of manifesting his spirit form and traveling across dimensions, as seen when he returned to the Sanctuary bearing Sage's helm.
Over the years, Manigold proved to be a prodigious student, mastering the techniques of the Cancer Saint. However, the effects of his past trauma lingered. He struggled to restrain himself in battle, especially when an opponent could no longer fight back. He held contempt for those who wished to surrender before the end, believing that in the horror of war, the only thing such people could do was fall into despair and die. This harsh outlook often put him at odds with others, but it stemmed from his early exposure to death rather than simple cruelty. He was known for his arrogant and irreverent attitude, speaking informally even in grave situations, and he had a cynical sense of humor. Despite this exterior, his bond with Sage gradually reshaped his understanding of life and death. His core motivation became protecting the living and honoring the interconnectedness of all beings, though he retained a deep-seated animosity toward the god of death, Thanatos.
In the main story, Manigold first appears intercepting Tenma of Pegasus as he flees the Sanctuary after confronting Hades. Manigold pursues Tenma, Yato of Unicorn, and Yuzuriha of Crane into a forest of illusions created by the Specter Veronica of Nasu. Manigold confronts Veronica, using his technique Acubens to bisect her, then sends her body and soul to the underworld with the Praesepe Underworld Waves. There, he incinerates her soul completely using the Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, destroying her permanently. He then directly invades the castle of the twin gods, interrupting a chess game between Thanatos and Hypnos. He attacks Thanatos but is blocked by a chess piece. A fierce battle ensues, and Manigold is outmatched by the god's power until Sage arrives to aid him. Despite Sage's warning that his power is insufficient against Thanatos, Manigold leaps into the hyper-dimension opened by the god, intending to destroy Thanatos's physical body. He perishes from the strain of entering that dimension, but his sacrifice destroys the vessel containing Thanatos's soul, allowing Sage to seal the god within the sacred urn provided by Athena.
Before the war, Manigold was sent to Venice alongside Albafica of Pisces to dismantle the Nero organization, a criminal syndicate led by the Black Saint Avido. In Venice, he encountered Gioca, a street urchin and thief. After retrieving a stolen purse, Manigold dealt with the gang manager Lumaca by summoning the souls of his victims using his soul-manipulation powers. Gioca, who could surprisingly see the spirits, joined the two Gold Saints as a guide. They confronted the Black Saints, including Allegre of Black Whale and Ruse of Black Crow. Manigold defeated Allegre with Acubens after initially being overpowered. The final confrontation with Avido took place in the Fortress of Souls, where Manigold battled the Black Saint who also wielded Sekishiki techniques. Through these experiences, Manigold continued to grapple with his past and his evolving sense of purpose.
His key relationships center on his master Sage, who transformed his worldview and to whom he remained fiercely loyal. He fought alongside Albafica of Pisces during the Venice mission, and the two shared a professional respect despite their differing temperaments. His rivalry with Thanatos was personal, as the god of death represented everything Manigold had come to oppose. After his death, his spirit, battered but intact, returned to the Cancer Temple where he encountered Shion of Aries. He entrusted Shion with Sage's helm, instructing him to deliver it to Hakurei so that Hakurei could become the new Grand Pope, before vanishing.
Manigold's notable abilities all stem from the Sekishiki arts, techniques that manipulate souls and the boundary between life and death. The Praesepe Underworld Waves, or Sekishiki Meikaiha, sends the target's body and soul to the underworld, forcibly separating them. The Praesepe Demonic Blue Flames, or Sekishiki Kisoen, creates azure will-o'-the-wisps that use the target's own soul as fuel to incinerate it completely, leaving no possibility of return. The Praesepe Soul Burial Waves, or Sekishiki Konsoha, detonates gathered spirits in a massive explosion. Acubens is a physical technique where Manigold strikes with his legs like pincers, capable of cleaving an opponent in two. He could also summon and control hellfire, a flame that feeds on spiritual energy, allowing him to generate devastating explosions. After death, he appeared to be capable of manifesting his spirit form and traveling across dimensions, as seen when he returned to the Sanctuary bearing Sage's helm.