Entering the underworld, Seiya, Shun, Hyoga, and Shiryu must cross the eight rivers of Hell. They face the Sphinx Pharaoh, the colossal Lyra Orpheus, and the three judges of Hell: Rhadamanthys, Minos, and Aiakos. This is where the OVAs deviate slightly from the manga, expanding battles like Kanon vs. Rhadamanthys. The highlight is the sacrifice of the Gold Saints as they destroy the Wailing Wall to allow the Bronze Saints to reach Elysion.
The series is divided into three distinct batches that follow the Saints' descent into the Underworld: Saint Seiya Ova Hades Batch
The OVA opens not with a battle, but with a memory. 243 years ago, during the previous Holy War, the young Pope of Sanctuary (Crane’s predecessor) entrusts two loyal Gold Saints—Shion and Dohko—with a secret mission: seal an ancient, volatile weapon known as the , a failed prototype of the Surplice. Unlike the Surplice, the Batch devours its wearer’s soul to multiply physical strength tenfold, turning them into a mindless, immortal berserker. The Batch was sealed inside the Tartarus Vault beneath the Sanctuary temple, guarded by a lone, forgotten disciple of the Pope: Sisyphus the Loyal — a Silver Saint who chose eternal imprisonment to watch over the seal. Entering the underworld, Seiya, Shun, Hyoga, and Shiryu
(Remaining related search suggestions prepared.) Rhadamanthys
The Saint Seiya OVAs, including the Hades batch, have gained a significant following worldwide. They were initially released in Japan but have since been distributed internationally, often with subtitles or dubbed into various languages.