Introduction
Saint Seiya also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac was a manga penned and illustrated by Masami Kurumada which began syndication and serialization in Weekly Shounen Jump back in January 1st, 1986 and concluded December 12th, 1990.
Series Overview:
Saint Seiya is a manga focused on five youths; Pegasus Seiya, Andromeda Shun, Cygnus Hyouga, Dragon Shiryuu, and Phoenix Ikki and their adventures in protecting Saori Kido who is the reincarnation of the Greek Olympian Goddess, Athena. Abducted in their youth by Saori's grandfather and sent to undertake life-or-death training under various instructors and trainers within the Kido Institute to become Athena Saints at the Sanctuary. The power of Saints is defined by their ability to understand and utilize Cosmo/Cosmos which is the inner energy that is connected with all life birthed from the Big Bang, a Saint can hone their powers to the point their fists can rend the sky and kicks split the ground beneath them.
Cosmo/Cosmos:
The power of Athena's Saints are drawn from within themselves that mimics the energy and formation of constellations and galaxies that are inherent in every living being's body. This energy allows for the mastery of the higher senses: the 6th, 7th, and 8th Senses. Broadly speaking, a Saint cannot fully utilize their Cloths if they have not mastered the ability to draw forth and utilize their Cosmos to its full extent and power.
It also is the reason for why Saints and others whom are able to manipulate and master its power are capable of superhuman feats of strength, agility, endurance, and other more exotic powers:
Strength:
Eagle Marin demonstrating how Cosmos works by pulverizing a large boulder with a single fist.
Cloths:
Each of the 88 Clothes of Athena's Saints have been passed down from one generation to the next since the Age of Heroes, allowing its wearer to be granted power beyond human comprehension and understanding. Cloths protect the bodies of Saints from harm, softening blows and deflecting attacks from killing their user with the legendary and mythical materials they were forged and built from.