* * *
The Holy Pope’s soul sparked again.
I can’t fall down here. I have a duty to purify this world. Humans are devils and need to be in hell to let their vindictive spirits rest. Then this world would become beautiful again. I can’t die now. I can’t be defeated by a group of people pursuing the false truth!
That’s right. Rise again. That is our pact. You should recreate this world.
Angramainyu answered.
“Wait, something’s wrong. Don’t let your guard down!” Sungjin realized something was amiss and shouted.
He had defeated everyone, including the Holy Pope, but the Valkyrie hadn’t come to declare his victory.
Is this…
One theory flashed through Sungjin’s mind. It was an ability certain champions had, although he had never witnessed it, and could be one held by the heroes of Valhalla.
It was…rebirth. Sungjin thought, perhaps, it was the last skill the Holy Pope possessed.
The darkness filled the air, and the voice echoed on the battlefield. It was not the voice of the Holy Pope, it was a voice of a transcendent revelation:
“You are disloyal to God. You won the fight between mortals.”
The voice was announcing the victory of Sungjin, but the sound was overwhelming. Every word echoed in people’s minds.
“I allow the victory of humans,” said the voice as if it was granting this defeat.
“But that is a sand castle built with the power of the world.” With the voice, the darkness became even darker.
“It can’t reach heaven, and now I shall punish your arrogance by God’s will!”
It was time for punishment. The power of God was about the discipline the mortals. All eight Basilicas of Rupellion began to vibrate.
One, two, three, four…eight.
The Basilicas lit up at once, covered with dark flame; the people became frightened. The blaze burned, and the air moved with the flame. Suddenly, the black columns rose up to the sky, flew up through the clouds, and disappeared as if heading to another dimension.
******
A gigantic column fell from the sky and crashed to the ground where Sungjin was standing. It was the exact spot where the Holy Pope had died.
Is this an invasion of an outer force?!
Sungjin held his sword. It was foul play, but it was not the first time. When Ereka tried to sacrifice herself with the forbidden ritual, the power reached cross the wall of the battlefield. The wall of the battlefield was created by gods. Gods and devils could cross the line with their power.
But how strong is the power this time?
Sungjin was not the only one feeling it. The darkness that came from the sky was not just reviving the Holy Pope; it was stronger than that. It was a force mightier than the ultimate skill of the Holy Pope.
What’s going on and what kind of power is this? Is it…
Sungjin had a theory he thought might reveal itself soon.
The darkness concentrated to create the shape of a human. It was an image of the Holy Pope, but it was not the real him. It was a human and also a creature that was a transcendent level of a human.
The dark aura from him painted the ground black and colored the sky dark. Behind him, there was an abyss, an endless darkness; in the darkness, there were two red lights shining like eyes.
The mechanical voice of the Valkyrie echoes around the battlefield.
Class change admitted.
It was not a regular situation; it was a power that broke the rules.
Changed into a new class:
Avatar.
Changed of abilities.
Level: impossible to calculate.
Attack power: impossible to calculate.
Defence power: impossible to calculate.
Magical power: impossible to calculate.
Ugh.
The Valkyrie’s words sent a chill down Sungjin’s spine. It was impossible to understand how strong the Holy Pope had become; it was definitely beyond the power of humans.
This is not fair.
Sungjin had won the fight cleanly using his wits, and God was about to upset the result.
The priests were protected by God, but isn’t it a foul play when God gets involved directly?
It would be like if an owner got involved in a game and canceled the results he didn’t agree with using money and power. It was more than just cheating.
“Time for atonement.” The Holy Pope’s voice came from everywhere.
“Huh, what about this…the Sword of Heaven’s Will—Durandal!”
Eustasia, attempting to interrupt the Holy Pope’s plan, activated her ultimate skill.
I’ve got to cut him off now, or he’ll be able to collect even more power.
What she released was the unstoppable Sword of Heaven’s Will, the great sword of legend that the messenger of heaven gave to the knight to save the kingdom. Twelve swords came down to the ground like shooting stars. The attack made the monsters shiver in fear.
“Beautiful.”
Pedrian, rather the incarnation of Angramainyu, praised the attack.
“Useless humans.”
The Holy Pope stamped his cane on the ground and created an explosion that broke the twelve lights. All twelve swords scattered and disappeared; the real sword was the only one that started to attack the Cane of God.
Clash!
With the sound of broken glass, the Sword of Heaven’s Will broke into pieces, a tragic outcome to Eustasia’s desperate determination.
“Du… Durandal… cough…” Eustasia coughed blood when the artifact connected with her was broken.
This is… the power of God…
She was helpless. Destruction of a weapon was not easy.
When Sungjin had attempted to break a magical sword with Durandal, he had found it extremely difficult. Now, Durandal, the unstoppable and unbreakable sword of legend, was…broken with a single blow…
“Poor human, Durandal’s power only applies to mortals. Did you think you could use it on God as well?”
She had witnessed a rank break, the rule of a lower rank wouldn’t work for the higher rank’s power.
“Be gone.” The dark flame covered Eustasia.
“Huh.”
She didn’t even have time to scream before disappearing into ashes. It was the sudden death of a great warrior.
“You!” Sungjin tried to throw a final blow to the Holy Pope.
“Be gone.” With these words, Sungjin was blasted back by an explosion in the air.
“Kneel,” said the Holy Pope, and the massive power of gravity pushed Sungjin to his knees.
“Ugh.”
It was a dominance beyond the rules of nature; it was impossible for humans to resist or fight against it. Sungjin couldn’t move. The Holy Pope looked at him as if he was looking at a tiny beetle on the ground.
“That is suitable for you. You will be punished to serve as an example of what others can expect when they rebel against God…”
“Shi*t!”
Sungjin could only glare at the Holy Pope; no martial art, calculation, or movement would free him from the invisible restraint.
There must be something I can do to escape this?
He was not fighting against the Holy Pope; he was fighting against the evil God embodied in the Holy Pope. His strength transcended the level of humans and would make it impossible to fight.
The power of the Holy Pope seemed endless.
******
Flump.
Everyone began to kneel. They understood the immensity of the Holy Pope’s control. They couldn’t understand why he had hidden his power until now; some guessed he had built up the eight Basilicas solely for this purpose.
People once believed the continent was under the balance of power, but it appeared this was false. The Holy Pope was just taking time to finish everything at once, so no one could stand in his way. Sungjin was at his mercy.
“Don’t be afraid,” the Holy Pope said to Rachel as he smiled. With his gentle expression, he didn’t look like the creator of all evil. He looked liked a savior.
“I’m not trying to punish you, but lead you to the glory of God.” In his mind, he was trying to save her…but he was a savior of darkness.
“What are you trying to tell me?”
Sungjin’s instinct was to tell the Holy Pope to shut up, but he remained calm and assessed the situation. If the Holy Pope wanted to simply use Rachel as a sacrifice, he didn’t have to do all of this.
Are you planning to make her your toy? No, you’re not that kind.
There was something more that he wanted.
Sungjin’s eyes started to shine again. If he could find out what the Holy Pope wanted, maybe he still had a chance to overcome this. He had no plans on giving up.
Let’s think.
He was just a mere human in front of God, but he still had a brain and could think for himself.
The Holy Pope looked at Rachel.
“Do you still think the goddess will save you?”
“Yes… yes…The goddess promised me. If I save sick people, I will be able to lift the curse and have a better life,” answered Rachel with fear in her voice.
The faith was the only thing that kept her going after escaping from Rupellion. She survived because she believed if she was good the goddess would save her.
“My poor girl, there is no goddess. It was a lie.”
“No, Kuga told me that the goddess would save me.” Rachel almost screamed.
Kuga told me that and then led me to Sungjin Oppa, who has protected me up to this point.
“I will show you the truth.”
The Holy Pope reached his hand into the air where there was a leash. When he pulled the leash, Kuga dropped to the ground. The Holy Pope mercilessly threw the lion to the ground.
“Ugh.” Kuga dropped with a bone-breaking sound, and the Holy Pope stamped his cane on the ground.
“Mirror of hell that takes the dead to the underworld, reveal the ugly truth!”
A mirror with a golden frame appeared hazily and reflected a scene with Kuga. It was a scene from the past that the golden mirror replayed.
A loyal subject of the Golden Wise King, Rainbow lion Kuga kneeled in front of his king and reported:
“Just like you planned, Rupellion and Sevrantina are going to clash.” He was reporting with a communication stone to the king who was far away.
“The foolish king of Sevrantina took the bait.”
“Foolish? Hahaha. He is not foolish.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sure he didn’t believe the message of the goddess and thought there was a conspiracy. Who else could plan something like that? I’m sure he doubted it more than a hundred times.”
“But…he granted asylum of the sacrifice…and refused to negotiate with Rupellion…he didn’t even look like he was doubting…”
“That’s how he is.”
“Although…he considered a conspiracy?”
“Even if there was a conspiracy, since the poor girl had to be saved, he took her in; that’s the kind of man he is.”
Kuga suggested the Golden King attack them while the Holy Pope and Sungjin were fighting.
“No way!” Rachel screamed.
“This is a lie! I can’t believe what you’re saying about Kuga.”
“It is the truth. The lion is a spy from the Golden Wise King.”
The Holy Pope was telling them the truth, so they too could witness the nastiness of the world; people needed lies, but he was not covering anything up.
“Kuga created the goddess to trick you.”
“I don’t believe you! Kuga gave me the revelation from the goddess!”
“Look.”