Andromeda Shun is a Bronze Saint dedicated to protecting the goddess Athena. His gentle, pacifist nature stands in stark contrast to his formidable combat abilities. He began as an orphan gathered by Mitsumasa Kido's Graad Foundation for saint training. Shun trained on Andromeda Island under Cepheus Daidalos (Albiore in the anime), mastering the Andromeda Chains and overcoming the "Sacrifice of Andromeda" trial by relying on his deep bond with his older brother, Phoenix Ikki, rather than force. This fraternal connection fundamentally shaped his compassionate approach to conflict. Shun possesses a delicate, aesthetically refined appearance, frequently noted for its beauty, aligning with the mythological Princess Andromeda. He has brown hair and blue eyes in the manga, changed to green in the anime for visual balance. When possessed by Hades, his hair darkens to black and his skin pales. His personality is defined by an aversion to violence and a steadfast belief in non-lethal resolutions. He fights only when absolutely necessary, yet demonstrates immense power when compelled. During the Sanctuary arc of the Hades Chapter, he defied Athena's orders to stay behind, joining the mission to protect her out of loyalty. His reluctance to kill emerged when he attempted to stop the dual Athena Exclamation attacks by the Gold Saints, prioritizing life preservation over tactics. Throughout this arc, he displayed emotional detachment during reunions with resurrected Gold Saints, lacking the personal confrontations his peers experienced. His combat revolves around the defensive and offensive Andromeda Chains, linked to his constellation's myth. Techniques include the Nebula Chain for basic attacks, Rolling Defense for barriers, Thunder Wave for targeted strikes, and the ultimate Nebula Storm, a devastating cosmic release used only in dire situations. During the Sanctuary arc, he improvised techniques like the Spider Net or Spiral Duct to counter specific threats. He awakened the Seventh Sense in earlier battles, enhancing his cosmos manipulation. He notably exhausted his energy to heal Hyoga after the Freezing Coffin imprisonment, showcasing his self-sacrificial nature. A critical plot element in the Hades Chapter is Shun's role as Hades' chosen human vessel due to his pure soul. Pandora identified him as the incarnation during infancy, leaving a pendant to signify this connection. In the Sanctuary arc, Pandora confronted Shun, revealing his destiny and shattering the pendant, initiating Hades' gradual possession. Shun resisted the god's influence initially. Later, his purity and resilience enabled him to temporarily overthrow Hades' control in Elysion, allowing his brother Ikki an opportunity to attack the deity. Beyond the Hades Chapter, Shun appears in sequels and spin-offs. In *Saint Seiya: Next Dimension*, he travels to the 18th century with Athena, encounters Pegasus Tenma, and is designated the future Virgo Gold Saint. In *Saint Seiya Omega*, he suffers a cosmos-suppressing wound from Mars and becomes a wandering medic. The Netflix adaptation *Knights of the Zodiac* reimagines him as female.