Gun of Ashes

Anthony bore a manic grin, drenched in blood, resembling a mad demon.

Watson’s offensive was reversed in an instant, inflicting heavy damage on his body. Yet, it wasn’t over. The jagged blade didn’t continue its slash; it was firmly grasped. Although Anthony could sever Watson’s fingers by twisting the blade, it was too late.

Anthony’s figure froze momentarily. A storm of erosion surged like a tide from the gaps in the armor, as if some terrifying evil anomaly bound beneath this shell was now about to break free.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Anthony’s battle intuition made him decisively abandon the blade. He leaped backward as his eye glowed fiercely, a blinding sun rising beneath them.

Watson saw it.

Layer upon layer of dense scale armor covered Anthony’s body surface, and in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a black-armored warrior.

The old Order had become history, but in the new Order, they continued to uphold that ancient tradition. Medanzo’s power still guarded this sacred place.

Anthony was clearly unsure of what he was facing, but his battle intuition filled him with vigilance.

[Gap] invasion.

The man’s steps stiffened, and he fell to the ground as if his soul had left him, with the wound on his chest from Anthony still bleeding slowly, until his body grew completely cold.

In front of him, Anthony had unknowingly come to a halt. Through the gap in his face armor, his slightly frightened eyes reflected something that shouldn’t exist in this world.

Anthony couldn’t see Watson, but he could sense the nauseating feeling of an evil anomaly.

His breath paused instantly, an unseen force clutching Anthony’s throat. He swung his blade, but it could only strike empty air.

What’s going on?

Anthony knew it was the feeling of being eroded, but where was the source of the erosion? Was there a powerful demon lurking nearby? How had it escaped his detection?

His thoughts began to freeze, his will started to falter, and an invisible force kept striking at his barriers. The moment they were breached, it would be the end for Anthony. Yet, at this desperate juncture, hope emerged.

”Release him.”

A voice called from behind Anthony.

Unnoticed, the Gate of Celestial Kingdom had opened behind him, and the angels and demons on the reliefs parted. In that profound darkness, a sharp Nail Sword reflected the sole gleam.

Someone seized Anthony, pressing a hand on his head, forcing him to kneel. Anthony looked up and saw the rising, blazing sun beneath the steel mask.

Authority of Raphael.

Limitless visions descended into Anthony’s mind, covering the hellish scenes. Anthony no longer struggled in pain, instead, he devoutly knelt and gazed upward.

The new Pope didn’t know if this would free Anthony from Watson’s grasp, but it was all he could do.

A miracle happened.

Anthony’s gaze gradually cleared. He panted heavily, sweat covering his face.

”Your Eminence...”

His voice trembled, reaching out as if to grasp the light before him, but the next moment he fell into a deeper abyss.

Anthony’s gaze changed, becoming cold and ruthless, like wearing an ice-cold mask devoid of any emotion.

He slowly stood up, speaking in an even tone.

”Sainy Loter.”

The new Pope slowly stepped back, creating what seemed like a safe distance, but under the sacred robes, he had already gripped the Nail Sword tightly.

”Interesting... This is your first time actively communicating with me.”

This wasn’t the first time such a scenario played out. Those known as Silencers came again and again, inhabiting others, wielding swords against him, or appearing from thin air, fighting with their bizarre yet sacred forms.

The new Pope had questioned them, but the answer was always silent. Sometimes he felt these strange beings had no minds, merely executing some ancient vow like zombies to this day.

He didn’t care about Anthony’s survival, but felt immense curiosity toward the potential Silencer before him. The new Pope sensed he was a step closer to the secrets of the world, and this strange creature would bring him truth.

”You are... it’s you, isn’t it? I guessed right, there are anomalies among you.”

The voice beneath the mask was filled with joy as the new Pope realized something.

”Back then, during my battle against those monsters, you and another were there. You resembled the monsters yet didn’t strike, only observing from the side.”

Memories flashed before him, and the new Pope’s speech quickened with excitement.

”Yes! I felt it then, your conveyed confusion and fear. You were similar to those monsters but also different! Even you are unaware of such beings... So you found a method, a way to become like those monsters, didn’t you?”

The fragmented information connected, and the new Pope momentarily let his guard down against Watson, consumed by a mad thirst for knowledge.

He was desperate; Sainy Loter desperately wanted to understand what was happening; he sought to lift the veil of this world and uncover those truths hidden by people.

For this, he’d stop at nothing.

”Speak, say more! How... how should I address you?”

The new Pope began to circle Anthony, scrutinizing his familiar subordinate, hoping to find that one difference amidst familiarity.

”Us? No, you should speak of them, and they are called the Silencers.”

Watson replied, refraining from further attack. Like the new Pope, while he studied her, Watson also studied the mysterious new Pope.

She had very little information about him. This time, Watson had come on a gamble. If anyone in this world harbored the most information, it was the new Pope ruling the Evangelical Church.

Watson felt that all the world’s secrets were hidden beneath this land. Yet neither she nor the new Pope possessed the ability to decode the truth.

”Silencers... Keep silent, huh? The name suits those monsters, wanting to render some people mute forever to keep those damned secrets tightly guarded.”

The new Pope was thrilled, seldom this joyful.

Thoughts surged, leading him to a shocking move that stunned Watson.

With a crisp sound, the Nail Sword dropped to the ground. The new Pope strode forward, standing before Watson. His eyes burned fervently beneath the mask, gazing intensely at her.

”Sure enough, I was right, given the demons’ power, humanity could never defeat such terrifying forces. We should have been torn apart countless times, yet humanity survived under their shadow. Some interference must have been at play, and those realizing it died, killed by the Silencers.”

He laughed heartily. In the face of the quest for truth, friend or foe no longer mattered.

”I was too arrogant to think only I realized this and survived. No... something more. Others understood too, and they did better. While I was still perplexed, you found a way to become like those monsters.”

”So you hit a bottleneck too, didn’t you? We can collaborate, unmask those monsters together.”

Watson was speechless at the zealous new Pope. She imagined confronting him in a colossal battle, prying the needed secrets from this enigmatic figure after a hard-fought victory. But she never expected this reaction.

”Aren’t you afraid?”

Watson was puzzled; facing such unknown, unfathomable existence, why was the new Pope unafraid and even more joyful?

”Afraid? Afraid of what, you crawling into my mind?”

The new Pope laughed louder, then his tone turned icy.

”A true strongman fears none of this, for I trust my iron willpower, and I won’t succumb to anyone, not even to monsters called Silencers.”

He pointed to his head with a finger.

”You can test it, guest.”