Chapter 119: A Difficult Choice

“Is there a problem? Since ancient times, the altar seats of each generation have been the sacred high council naturally appointed to assist the Pope. If the Pope is absent, they can temporarily assume his duties. They are the goddess’s earthly representatives, second only to the Pope himself!”

Taurus shouted to Pegasus, his voice trembling with astonishment and a flood of emotions.

Feng Zhe cast his gaze toward Aaron in the distance, murmuring to himself, “If we could destroy Hades’ physical body here, perhaps the Holy War of this era would end prematurely.”

In an instant, Feng Zhe’s cosmos, deep and powerful, erupted forth. The constellations of the altar, as if tangible, manifested behind him like a celestial tapestry.

“He…”

Taurus and Shion stared in horror at the altar seat before them. They knew this cosmos far surpassed their own. Even among the Gold Saints, it was a pinnacle presence.

The woman in black paused cautiously, her wary eyes fixed on Feng Zhe.

Feng Zhe rose into the air, his cosmos blazing as he let out a mighty shout.

“Sacrifice!”

“Divine Holy Fire!”

From the altar’s stellar constellation, sacred flames descended from a distant starry sky.

That celestial fire was like the fire of apocalypse itself, descending with the power to destroy heaven and earth.

At that moment, even the overwhelming pressure of the secret technique forced Taurus and Shion to half-kneel, paralyzed.

Pegasus was utterly immobile, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.

The woman in black roared, summoning a tremendous force in her hands to resist this apocalyptic blaze, but the moment she touched it, her power shattered.

“Damn it!”

She could only watch helplessly as she and Aaron were engulfed in the inferno, scorched violently. Despite her formidable strength, she howled in pain.

Just as they were about to be reduced to ashes, Aaron’s bracelet suddenly unleashed a powerful force.

Not only did Aaron’s bracelet glow, but Pegasus’s bracelet lit up as well.

“Hm?”

Feng Zhe looked on, surprised at this sudden surge of power.

With the bracelets’ energy, the apocalyptic fire was extinguished, leaving Aaron completely unharmed.

“Is this the Athena of this era?”

Feng Zhe naturally recognized the divine power. Only a god’s force could extinguish the sacred fire of Mount Olympus, and only divine power could save Aaron from death’s door.

Feng Zhe then said calmly, “If that’s the case, I shall take my leave.”

Without looking back, he vanished. Taurus and Shion wanted to call after him but found he had already disappeared.

“What a mysterious fellow!”

Taurus and Shion sighed, while Pegasus stood again, determined to find Aaron.

Taurus couldn’t help but ask, “Aaron before you is no longer your friend. Even knowing there’s no chance of success, why do you still insist on such folly?”

Pegasus replied, “My teacher once said, even if others think it foolish, as long as you believe it’s right, no matter how difficult, you must persevere.”

Taurus and Shion inquired who Pegasus’s teacher was.

When Pegasus named Mizuki of the Crater constellation, both Taurus and Shion were taken aback.

They not only knew Mizuki but had been life-and-death comrades since childhood. The three had trained together, and Mizuki, for his exceptional talent, had been promoted directly to Silver Saint.

However, Mizuki had mysteriously vanished earlier, rumored to have been sent on a secret mission by the Pope to this region.

Pegasus said Mizuki had left behind his Cloth box and departed without farewell.

At that moment, a strong and sinister cosmos emerged, gradually coming into view.

He was Vermeil, the Griffon, a celestial noble lured by the God of the Underworld, Hades.

Taurus and Shion hadn’t expected such a formidable opponent. With a single finger, Vermeil pinned Pegasus, rendering him immobile.

Just as Vermeil prepared to strike, Taurus and Shion attacked together, but their blows were effortlessly parried. With one strike, Vermeil knocked them both to the ground.

“Pathetic. Such weaklings dare oppose me?”

Vermeil then used his cosmos puppet strings to suspend Taurus and Shion in midair, swinging them about at will.

As they were about to be slaughtered, Pegasus rose and launched an attack.

However, Vermeil easily blocked Pegasus’s Meteor Fist with a single finger.

He then ensnared Pegasus with his puppet strings. Just as he was about to behead the three, a voice interrupted him.

Taurus and Shion felt an uncanny familiarity, especially from the cosmos—it was distinctly that of a Saint.

But when the figure approached, they saw he wore the Underworld Cloth of a Specter.

More precisely, he bore the Griffon Cloth of Tenku, one of the three great lords of the Underworld.

“Pandora wishes to see you. Allow me to deal with these three Saints of Athena.”

Upon hearing Tenku’s voice, the three Saints felt a strange sense of recognition.

Pegasus opened his eyes and was shocked to see the face before him.

This was Mizuki of the Crater constellation, once a Silver Saint and now one of Hades’ three great lords of the Underworld—the very teacher who had once taught Pegasus how to be a good man.

Memories of his time with Mizuki flooded Pegasus’s mind. Yet he could not fathom why the man who had once guided him had now become a servant of Hades.

“I believe Hades will purify this decaying land. Today, I will deal with you Saints of Athena.”

Vermeil refused to heed Mizuki’s words and demanded immediate action.

Mizuki urged Vermeil to depart quickly, warning that Pandora, who hated waiting, would punish him otherwise.

Yet Vermeil insisted he would not leave until he saw Mizuki strike.

Seeing this, Mizuki seized Pegasus, preparing to act.

Then a grunt soldier of the Underworld appeared, informing the two lords that Hades had ascended the throne and demanded their immediate return to Hades City.

Vermeil wanted the soldier to wait, but the soldier, speaking on Pandora’s behalf, kept urging them relentlessly.

Resigned, Vermeil said, “These three are doomed to die here sooner or later.”

Mizuki punched Pegasus to the ground, his gaze deep in thought.

As the two departed, the grunt soldier laughed heartily, feeling he had hit the jackpot.

Before him stood one Bronze and two Gold Saints, ripe for the slaughter.

Just as he moved to strike, Pegasus’s horse suddenly appeared and kicked the soldier down.

Enraged, the soldier tried to attack the horse but struck a barrel instead, revealing the Crater Silver Cloth.

The horse was no ordinary steed and kicked the soldier far away.

At this moment, Taurus and Shion struggled to rise. Seeing the Crater Cloth, they drank the water within it, restoring their strength, and then carried Pegasus away from the barrier.

…

Elsewhere, Feng Zhe arrived at a small town where a Sleeping Beauty lay.

She had been asleep for several days, drawing the town’s curious whispers.

Feng Zhe learned from others that this Sleeping Beauty was a girl named Sasha.

Upon entering, he sensed Sasha’s cosmos and shuddered.

This girl named Sasha was indeed Athena, but not the one he sought.

“My God! This era has three Athenas at once!”

Upon confirming that this Sasha was the Athena of this era, Feng Zhe’s heart shattered…