Dragon Shiryu, a central figure from the *Saint Seiya* series prominently featured in *Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Elysion*, began as an orphan adopted by Mitsumasa Kido. Sent to train under the Libra Gold Saint Dohko at China's Five Ancient Peaks of Lushan, Shiryu endured six years of rigorous training. He earned the Dragon Bronze Cloth by reversing a waterfall's flow. Shiryu stands as the calmest, most collected, and wisest among the primary Bronze Saints, possessing immense physical strength even without his Cloth. A distinctive green and white dragon mark manifests on his back when his Cosmo surges, fading as his life force wanes and serving as a mortality indicator.

His combat prowess centers on mastering Cosmo energy, granting superhuman strength, speed, and durability. Under Dohko's tutelage, he developed signature techniques: the *Rozan Shō Ryū Ha* (Lushan Rising Dragon Lord), exposing his heart for a millisecond; the *Rozan Ryū Hi Shō* (Lushan Dragon Soar); the *Rozan Hyaku Ryū Ha* (Lushan One Hundred Dragon Lords), eliminating the heart vulnerability; and the suicidal *Rozan Kō Ryū Ha* (Lushan High Dragon Lord). His Dragon Cloth is renowned for legendary defensive capabilities, especially its shield, later evolving with divine enhancements.

Shiryu consistently demonstrates unwavering loyalty and self-sacrifice. Against the Black Saints, he nearly died slitting his wrists to revive the damaged Pegasus and Dragon Cloths with his blood, saved by Aries Mu. Battling Perseus Algol during the Silver Saint arc, he blinded himself for victory, later regaining sight by awakening his Seventh Sense against Cancer Deathmask. In the Poseidon arc, facing Chrysaor Krishna, he lost his sight again but defeated him by manifesting Excalibur—a power inherited from Capricorn Shura—destroying Krishna's spear and chakras.

Within *The Hades Chapter*, Shiryu's involvement intensifies. During the *Sanctuary* segment, he ignored Athena's warning to join the fight, driven by concern for Dohko. He battled resurrected Saints while blind and confronted Phoenix Ikki, resolved to protect his master. Later, he helped halt dual Athena Exclamation attacks and witnessed the Libra Gold Saint Shura's sacrifice at Hades' castle, a moment highlighting their bond.

In the *Inferno* chapter, paired with Cygnus Hyoga, Shiryu entered the Underworld using his Eighth Sense. He remained analytical, explaining his past blindness as strategic necessity. Confronting Specters near the Hyperdimension, he stayed behind to hold them off, unleashing *Rozan Hyaku Ryū Ha* for the first time—a technique learned while blind from Dohko—to defeat multiple foes single-handedly.

Reaching *Elysion*, Shiryu donned the Dragon God Cloth blessed by Athena's blood. Alongside the other Bronze Saints, he battled Hades' twin henchmen, Thanatos and Hypnos, though the primary focus shifted to Pegasus Seiya. Shiryu participated in the direct assault on Hades, maintaining steadfast composure even as Seiya was gravely wounded by Hades' sword, aiding Athena's final victory.

Beyond the Hades arc, Shiryu appears in *Saint Seiya Omega*, marrying his longtime friend Shunrei and fathering a son, Ryūhō. After losing all five senses in an unspecified accident, he bequeathed his Dragon Cloth to Ryūhō but later regained his senses. He returned to battle wearing the Libra Gold Cloth, inherited from Dohko, during conflicts against the gods Abzu and the Pallasites.