Gun of Ashes

Within the splendid church, in the flickering candlelight, two figures confronted each other like beasts meeting on a narrow path, neither willing to retreat.

Watson had considered everything she might encounter here, but the current turn of events completely shattered her expectations.

The new Pope stood unguarded in front of her, slightly tilting his head, his voice laced with provocation.

”Who exactly are you?”

Watson asked, for this was one of the many mysteries surrounding the man before her.

No one had expected the sacred crown to end up in the hands of such a mysterious figure. All information about the new Pope was non-existent; tracing his past was impossible. He had appeared out of nowhere in the history of the Evangelical Church.

”Me? Sainy Loter, the new Pope of the Evangelical Church, and you?”

The new Pope, seeing Watson had no intention of fighting, straightened his back and picked up the fallen Nail Sword.

”I mean beneath your mask, who exactly are you under that iron face?”

Watson asked solemnly.

The distance between them was very short. Watson could easily attempt to infiltrate the new Pope using the Gap, but she hesitated, fearing such an action. Previous intelligence indicated that the new Pope had engaged with the Silencer multiple times and had survived each encounter.

Perhaps... perhaps this person was even more terrifying than Lawrence. Watson was unsure how much he understood about the Authority of Gabriel; she needed to be extra cautious, at least not launch an attack recklessly now.

”Beneath the mask?”

The new Pope touched the cold mask and then burst into laughter.

”That’s another question, guest.”

He swung the Nail Sword, creating a few beautiful sword flowers, and then stepped aside. The dark Gate of the Celestial Kingdom had long been open, like a beast baring its fangs, waiting for people to enter.

”But before I answer that question, why don’t we talk elsewhere? After all, this place is so sacred; discussing sinful matters here would be somewhat disrespectful.”

The new Pope said, making a ”please” gesture.

Watson didn’t hesitate too much. She had prepared herself for everything upon arriving here, and many had already sacrificed for that lofty ideal.

She stepped into the darkness, with the new Pope following closely.

In the darkness, there was a faint rustling sound. The stale air mixed with dust, and Watson could feel herself being gradually engulfed by the darkness, falling into the endless abyss.

She and the new Pope each occupied a corner. In the silence, Watson’s voice sounded once more as she asked again.

”Who are you beneath the mask?”

”Wait a moment...”

The voice of the new Pope came from the other end of the darkness. He actually removed the mask and lit up a cigarette, where a faint glow appeared in the dim light.

It was a very peculiar feeling, as if the new Pope hadn’t considered Watson an enemy from the very start, or maybe he didn’t think Watson would attack him.

Just like that, he leisurely smoked, filling the narrow space with the scent of smoke, and Watson sensed something different.

”Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with this smoke, just some... numbing effect. I generally use it as a painkiller, but if I smoke too much, the effect wears off. So I only light one up at a time like this.”

The new Pope said slowly. His habit reminded Watson of Lorenzo, who liked to play tricks with tobacco.

”Ah... don’t you find this wonderful? Falling from the Celestial Kingdom to Hell, here is the materialized ’fall’, like a ritual.”

He chuckled hoarsely in the darkness.

Watson remained silent. She occupied Anthony’s body, and within this body surged the Secret Blood, allowing her to enjoy its strength.

She tried to penetrate the darkness with her Demon Hunter vision, but no matter how intensely Watson stared at the dim light of the cigarette, she couldn’t clearly see the new Pope’s face. There seemed to be an invisible darkness, thick and bloated, attached to it.

”Truly comfortable...”

The new Pope rarely spoke so much. He was known as a silent Tyrant, preferring to reveal his thoughts through actions rather than words.

”This numbing sensation, it gives me a brief moment of clarity from the sea of pain. But unfortunately, I’ll eventually build a resistance to it, and the things in this world that can alleviate my pain will only become fewer.”

The new Pope did not put on his iron mask again but placed it aside. Watson sensed the gaze of the new Pope in the darkness.

”I will answer your question, but you must also answer mine, okay?”

”Okay.”

Watson thought for a moment, then answered softly.

”Is Lorenzo de’ Medici dead?”

The new Pope asked.

The darkness was silent for a while. Watson decided to give the answer, putting an end to this long death.

”He is dead.”

”Wow, I thought he was still alive, considering how terrifying he was.”

The new Pope was surprised by this answer. Actually, he had suspected that the strange Ghost controlling Anthony might be Lorenzo de’ Medici. But he never imagined that the old man he had been wary of was dead.

”How did he die? When?”

”Killed by the Silencer, many years ago, on the Night of the Holy Arrival,” Watson answered.

”Is that so?”

In the darkness, the new Pope lit another cigarette. This descent felt unusually long, as if there was no bottom to reach.

”Lorenzo de’ Medici, I thought he would obtain the Authority named Gabriel. So it seems he failed?”