Becoming a Saint Seiya since the Age of Mythology

However, compared to the ultimate technique of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, which directly erodes the soul's will, illusions and deceptions are merely minor tricks.

Clearly, the Pope's backup plan was to have Asmita use illusions to bewitch the Pegasus, thereby inciting its hatred.

Nothing is simpler or easier than hating someone.

Hatred can greatly amplify a person's emotional fluctuations, pushing the power of Pegasus to a higher peak, far exceeding the norm.

"No wonder, no wonder the Pope arranged for this person to wait here to meet us!" Wu Xin suddenly realized.

As far as he knew, there were only two people in the entire Holy Land who were skilled in this kind of illusionary and deceptive technique.

One is Virgo Asmita right in front of us, and the other is Gemini Defteros.

However, Gemini had retired due to some historical reasons and was not staying in the Sanctuary at this time, so the Pope could only use Virgo Asmita.

As for the other Gold Saints, since they are not skilled in this kind of illusionary deception, they would be of little use even if they came.

This is another reason why Asmita appeared here, not just to provide assistance.

At the same time, as Asmita's cosmic power silently intruded, Pegasus had unknowingly fallen into the illusion created by Asmita.

"I'm useless, I've let everyone down!" Pegasus knelt helplessly beneath the divine tree, filled with self-reproach.

Just then, a cold voice came from behind him.

"Indeed, you are very disappointing, Pegasus!"

Pegasus turned around at the sound and saw Asmita sitting cross-legged in mid-air, slowly floating towards him.

"I'm sorry, Lord Asmita!" He bowed his head and apologized once more.

"You don't need to apologize to me, Pegasus!"

Asmita shook his head and said slowly, "Your existence is very special and will greatly influence the course of the war between the Holy Land and the Underworld."

"If you can truly make the golden elm tree bloom and bear fruit, allowing the Holy Domain to successfully forge the Demon-Suppressing Rosary."

"Then the Specters will completely lose their advantage of resurrection, greatly increasing the Sanctuary's chances of victory!"

"But you failed."

"Your inner universe is too weak to resonate with the divine tree and cause it to blossom and bear fruit."

"This is the will of Heaven, the judgment of fate!"

"The Holy Domain is destined to be unable to forge the Demon-Suppressing Prayer Bead, and the scales of victory will not tip in favor of the Holy Domain."

"And since fate has not sided with the Holy Land, it must have sided with the Underworld."

"The Underworld is destined to be the victor in this holy war, and Hades is destined to rule the earth!"

Upon hearing this, Tianma's expression immediately changed.

He can accept his own failure, but he absolutely cannot tolerate the failure of the Holy Land.

He cannot give up yet.

"Please help me, sir! I will make the divine tree bloom and bear fruit!" He stood up, his fighting spirit rekindled.

"No, that's not necessary!"

Asmita shook his head, and his sacred garments slowly disintegrated, reassembling into the original form of a praying saint.

"My lord... why... why did your Saint Cloth disintegrate?" Pegasus was utterly astonished.

“Because I no longer need it, I gave it up on my own initiative!” Ashmita replied calmly.

Chapter 77 Asmita (Part 2)

"What does this mean?" Pegasus was extremely confused.

“Because fate has already sided with Hades!” Asmita stared at Pegasus.

Although his eyes were still closed, Pegasus still felt a faint gaze upon him.

Asmita continued to speak to himself: "Long before I became a Saint, I traveled the earth and witnessed countless disasters such as hunger, war, drought, and floods."

"I understand better than anyone how small and helpless humanity is in the face of disaster."

"So, I started thinking a long time ago about how humanity can be saved, so that it will no longer suffer from calamities and can live a carefree, free, and happy life."

"Then... have you found the answer, sir?" Although he felt that this topic was unrelated to the current difficulties, Tenma couldn't help but ask.

Asmita did not answer directly, but continued: "In trying to think about this question, I was once lost and wandered aimlessly on the earth like a walking corpse."

"Until one day, when I was starving and dying, I met an old man."

His name is Bai Li.

"Bai Li?"

Pegasus paused for a moment before realizing what was happening and said, "Isn't that Senior Wuxin's teacher? I heard he's also the Pope's twin brother!"

"That's right! It's that one!"

Asmita nodded and continued, "When I was most confused and in the most difficult time, this loving old man saved me."

"He told me that all the difficulties in the world are God's tests for mankind."

"Only by going through this test can one taste the sweet fruit that is finally borne."

"Therefore, I joined the Sanctuary and became a Saint to protect humanity."

"But it was also through the Holy Land that I came into contact with the Underworld and learned about the Holy War."

"I'm very curious, why is Hades so determined to wage war against the Sanctuary, and why is he so obsessed with ruling the earth?"

"Therefore, I secretly infiltrated the underworld, where I cultivated myself and secretly inquired about everything related to the underworld and the King of the Underworld."

Upon hearing this, Tianma couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression.

He participated in this Holy War as a Saint, only wanting to save his former friend Aaron, who is now the reincarnation of Hades, and to protect his sister Sasha, the reincarnation of the goddess Athena.

However, he never pondered such profound questions as those of Asmita.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that he had only been going with the flow and passively drawn into this holy war, without any real desire to participate in it.

He knew nothing about the significance of such a war.

"Then... sir, have you found the answer?" he asked expectantly.

"no!"

Asmita shook his head and said, "I went deep into the underworld to gather information, which further deepened my understanding of Hades and the underworld."

"I have learned that Hades and the underworld are not as terrifying and hateful as people usually say."

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural phenomena, a cycle of life."

"If everyone were immortal, the world would only become more terrifying."

"Imagine a tyrannical and ruthless monarch who lives forever—what a disaster and terror that would be!"

"Therefore, the existence of the underworld has its own rationale."

"Human beings' fear of the underworld is simply a natural resistance to death."

"As for Hades, his reason for launching the Holy War to seize control of the earth is also very simple."

"Pluto believed that the human world was too corrupt and human life too fragile, which is why we encounter all sorts of difficulties."

"Therefore, he wanted to turn the entire human world into the underworld, burying all life in the underworld."

"From now on, all life will enjoy eternal peace, and there will be no more famine, war, drought and other kinds of suffering."

"All will be freed from suffering and attain eternity."

"This...this is fallacy, this is heresy!" Pegasus was furious upon hearing this.

He could not tolerate anyone calling the taking of a life justice and a favor.

"Is that so? But I don't think so!"

Asmita shook his head again and said seriously, "If you were to walk the earth like me, searching for the answer to saving humanity, perhaps you wouldn't think this is a heretical path."

"Human life is too short. Reincarnating again and again, constantly experiencing and enduring suffering, is just too bitter."

“I have even seen people who have gone through ten reincarnations and are still experiencing a life of suffering, without ever being redeemed.”

"So, after learning about Hades's thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder if Hades's approach was correct."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "On the other hand, although the Holy Land is trying its best to protect the land, it is still a place that is beyond its reach."

“I have cleansed up countless evil people, but every time, countless ordinary people are implicated, and some even lose their lives.”

"At that moment, I suddenly realized that the Holy Land can only save people temporarily, not forever."

"In the end, I was caught in the dilemma of whether to save people temporarily in the Holy Land or save people for a lifetime in the Underworld."

"No!"

Pegasus immediately objected, firmly stating, "Hades' claim of saving people for a lifetime is an evil doctrine and is wrong!"

"He's just trying to cover up his ambition to conquer the world!"

"Think what you want!"

Asmita remained unperturbed and continued, "I was initially confused about this, but today, after seeing that you were unable to catalyze the divine tree to blossom and bear fruit..."

"I finally realize that fate is on Hades' side, and the Sanctuary is doomed to defeat!"

"It's time for me to make a choice!"

"I have decided to relinquish my status as a Saint and join the Underworld, so that all life may find eternal peace in the Underworld!"

"As for you, Pegasus, since you can no longer catalyze the flowering and fruiting of the divine tree, you have no value. I have decided to offer you as my first gift to Hades!"

As he spoke, he extended his right hand, flicked his finger lightly, and a burst of cosmic power shot out as a stream of light.

boom!

Completely unprepared for Asmita's sudden attack, Pegasus was struck by the streak of light and slammed heavily against the trunk of the divine tree behind him.

However, on the other hand, given the speed of light of the Seventh Sense, even if Pegasus were on guard, it would be meaningless; he simply wouldn't be able to react in time.

His Pegasus Cloth was almost completely shattered, and a small hole was visible in his chest, from which blood was flowing out, staining half of his body red and even the divine tree behind him.