Chapter 116: Sisyphus Awakens the Eighth Sense

When Feng Zhe entered the dream within a dream, he suddenly found himself in a small Italian town. This was the very place where Sasha, Tenma, and Alone had spent their childhood.

"It seems Sisyphus has always harbored guilt toward Sasha, and it is this very guilt that has become his mental shackle."

Walking through the town, he suddenly saw three children playing happily; among them was the reincarnation of the Goddess Athena—Sasha.

"I have finally found you, my Goddess, Athena!"

Sisyphus knelt before Sasha, his demeanor one of profound reverence. The young Sasha, having no concept of what Athena was, stared at him blankly.

"Athena?"

"Yes. You were never meant to be born here. For the sake of the coming Holy War, please, come back with me no matter what!"

Though Sisyphus spoke with sincerity, the young Sasha clutched Tenma’s arm, looking frightened.

"Scoundrel! You won't take Sasha away!"

Young Tenma rushed toward Sisyphus, throwing punches and kicks, but Sisyphus simply lifted his hand, and no matter how Tenma swung his fists, they struck only thin air.

"Little one, Athena is of vital importance to us!"

With that, he forcibly took Sasha away. This was the source of Sisyphus’s guilt.

Just then, another voice echoed: "You interfered with the plans of the gods, which led to the situation today..."

"Sisyphus, it was you who ignited this fuse; the Holy War began because of you!"

Sisyphus wore an expression of agony. In his mind, the deaths of Pisces Albafica and Pope Sage, along with countless nameless Saints who had suffered and perished in the Holy War, left the entire Sanctuary shrouded in immense suffering. As a Saint who yearned for the light, this stain twisted Sisyphus and caused him unbearable pain.

At that moment, the Gold Cloth began to detach itself, aiming its Golden Arrow at him. This was the ultimate proof that he was unworthy of being a Gold Saint.

Watching the struggling, tormented Sisyphus, Feng Zhe’s expression became grave. The situation was far more severe than he had imagined. The dreamscape was rebuking him over and over, cycling through his agony and amplifying it until he would be consumed by his inner demons, becoming yet another evil Saint.

"Lightning Bolt!"

Suddenly, a fist shadow, accompanied by tremendous power, smashed directly into Sisyphus’s face, knocking him to the ground. Sisyphus, stung by the pain, looked up in astonishment, only to see Feng Zhe with the stars shimmering behind him.

"Galaxian Explosion!"

A massive planet came crashing down, completely engulfing Sisyphus. Without even a cry, he was reduced to ashes. Immediately, the dream twisted again—the same plot, the same suffering. This time, it was Sacred Fire that burned Sisyphus to a crisp.

Then, in the repeating dream, whenever Sisyphus reached the critical moment, Feng Zhe would appear and strike him down. After countless repetitions, a glimmer of reason finally appeared on Sisyphus’s tormented face.

"Alex! Why do you kill me every time? Can you not understand my pain!"

Sisyphus’s handsome face was twisted beyond recognition, bordering on the sinister.

"Galaxian Explosion!"

Using the technique once more, Feng Zhe annihilated Sisyphus again. By the next cycle, a cruel look had manifested on Sisyphus’s distorted face; he donned the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, drew the Golden Bow, and prepared to strike Feng Zhe down.

"Sacrifice! Deprivation!"

Though this was not the ultimate technique of the Altar constellation, it was the greatest authority granted to it by the Goddess Athena. In an instant, Feng Zhe stood before Sisyphus. With a single gesture, the Sagittarius Gold Cloth was forcibly stripped away. The armor dismantled into its individual components, hovered in the air, and then fell to the ground. No matter how Sisyphus called out, he could not don the armor.

"Damn you!"

Sisyphus was enraged, and the evil voice from within his heart spoke once more: "Do you wish to become a Specter and defeat him?"

Sisyphus’s eyes clouded over, and he obeyed the voice. At that moment, he donned a Surplice, having become a Specter. Watching the fully corrupted Sisyphus, Feng Zhe let out a loud laugh, thinking to himself, "Finally, I have forced you out."

Sisyphus, in a fury, drew the bow of the Surplice, aiming to kill Feng Zhe. Feng Zhe waved his hand, and the Sagittarius Gold Cloth dismantled again—but this time, it did not go to Sisyphus; it draped itself over Feng Zhe. Even in the dream, Feng Zhe felt the immense power of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. He drew the Golden Bow, aiming the Golden Arrow at Sisyphus.

At that moment, both let out a roar, and the arrows were released—one gold, one black.

The impact devastated the entire town; the sheer force was cataclysmic. The Golden Arrow, true to its status as the greatest power of Sagittarius, possessed a radiance capable of piercing through anything. The dark arrow fired by Sisyphus was no match; upon contact, it was shattered, and the Golden Arrow pierced Sisyphus through the chest.

Feeling the power unleashed by the Golden Arrow, Sisyphus let out a piercing cry. A dark aura drifted from his mouth, and Feng Zhe instantly unleashed the Sacred Fire, burning the darkness to ash.

"I am in pain, I am filled with resentment, ah!!!"

Sisyphus knelt on the ground, clutching his head, his expression one of ultimate agony. Just then, the soul of Athena, Sasha, appeared. She embraced Sisyphus, and when he looked up to see the Goddess, he froze.

"I care for you, Sisyphus. I wish to protect the Sanctuary and fight alongside you!"

At that moment, Sisyphus’s heart wavered. The dark shadows dissipated, the Surplice fell away, and the Sagittarius Gold Cloth returned to his body. The Sisyphus who existed only in the light had returned. Sasha’s smile was like a warm towel, melting the ice in Sisyphus’s heart. At that moment, his Cosmo evolved completely.

"The Eighth Sense!"

Feng Zhe knew at a glance that Sisyphus had finally attained the Eighth Sense. Shortly after, the two vanished from the dream realm and returned to reality. Feng Zhe sighed and returned to his own physical body.

By the time Feng Zhe emerged, Sisyphus, the Sagittarius Gold Saint, had fired the Golden Arrow with the combined efforts of Sasha. The monstrous fusion of the four Dream Gods was slain by a single shot, the destructive power so great that it shattered the entire dreamscape. El Cid of Capricorn, Manigoldo of Cancer, and Deuteros of Gemini looked toward the sky, feeling sincere admiration for the Sagittarius Saint’s formidable power.

Feng Zhe, watching the unscathed El Cid of Capricorn, remarked to himself, "At least my calculations weren't in vain—he lived."