Gun of Ashes

Dim light fell from the dark dome above, like countless withered petals or soft, light feathers. They landed on the hideous and terrifying remains, softening the sense of hatred slightly. He half-kneeled before the pitch-black deep well, resting on his mottled sword blade, like a tombstone covered in a sea of flowers.

”So... is this the reason the old Pope always stopped us from seeking the [Truth]?”

The new Pope murmured softly, as he slowly raised his head, his steadfast gaze becoming muddled, and even his iron-like will showed cracks at this moment.

In the face of such facts, anyone would be shaken, their minds wavering, and their understanding of everything becoming blurred.

”What will you do? What can we do?”

The new Pope said somewhat powerlessly. His gaze was always fixed on the deep well below, and all his emotions at this moment were mixed into an indescribable monstrosity.

”I don’t know... but at least we know now why the old Pope refused to tell us these reasons. Seeing it this way, we seem more like a group of madmen and heretics, while the old Pope was the one guarding his faith.”

A voice sounded behind them, Watson slowly walked to the deep well, the scene of the old Pope’s death appearing before her.

She successfully invaded the old Pope’s [Gap], shattering his will while learning the secrets buried deep in his memory.

”I’m starting to understand, indeed ignorance is happiness.”

Watson also felt suppressed and painful after a long time, different from before. The previous crises, although depressive, she knew she had the power to resist; but this time, facing this profound darkness, she could only feel a deep sense of helplessness.

Nothing could be done, only watching as all this slowly unfolded.

The so-called resistance was also a meaningless act. In the surge of this booming tide, no one could escape.

”So this secret is only allowed to be known by successive Popes? After all, if such a secret was made public, it would only lead to panic and strife. People’s understanding of this world would completely collapse, resulting in even more terrifying despair.”

For some reason, Watson began to sympathize with these Popes.

They spent all their lives finally reaching the pinnacle of power, but what awaited them was not a great gift, but this cruel [Truth]. Some went completely mad in the face of this brutal [Truth], some fell into despair, just awaiting death, and some tried to resist, yet in the end changed nothing.

The Popes exclusively had this unspeakable secret, tormented by this profound fear.

In an instant, Watson understood the madness in the history of the Church.

”Crusades, witch hunts, religious wars... the Black Death.”

Reviewing the Church’s history, one can find that in every major human casualty event, there’s more or less a shadow of them. Now, all these are connected by secrets, and Watson felt as if the whole world was enveloped by a pitch-black night sky, devoid of a hint of light.

The new Pope shook his head wearily, recalling the final scene inside the Well of Ascension, the dying will of the old Pope speaking to him with difficulty.

”We are all sheep, penned in by the Shepherd. Outside the pen are hungry wolves and tigers, countless bloodthirsty monsters. They watch us, they crave us.”

So who is the sheep, who is the Shepherd, and who is the bloodthirsty monster?

Is it a choice to live in ignorance, or to face the [Truth] and die in helplessness?

”Are you leaving, 016?”

The new Pope turned around and asked Watson.

Watson nodded, she gradually raised her head, looking at the desolate Static Holy Temple, then into the darkness below the Well of Ascension, where behind the barrier of Holy Silver lies the [Truth] of this world.

”I need to tell others about this [Truth], perhaps... perhaps we can find another solution, at least to end this cruel cycle.”

Lorenzo’s face appeared in Watson’s mind. For some reason, if it were Lorenzo, perhaps there really is a sliver of hope.

”Can it really be done?”

The new Pope was also confused. He persisted until now just to understand why the Demon Hunters died, yet now he knew everything, nearly shattered by this [Truth].

At this moment, it seems that whether the old Pope or the others guarding the secret, their figures appear noble. Presumably, back then, their mindset was like his, fearful and uneasy, as if a traveler in the wilderness, facing the world in confusion.

”Let’s try, we’ve come this far, to give up now would be too sorrowful. What then is the meaning of our previous efforts?”

Watson’s voice was filled with indifference, although she said so, she couldn’t see any hope.

”So what will you do next, Your Grace?”

Watson asked the new Pope, in fact, the most dangerous one here is the new Pope. All along the [Truth] has been supporting his will, even though corrupted by the Demon, he tenaciously survived till now.

But now that he knows everything, this terrifying [Truth] nearly collapses the world he perceives, and the most desperate thing is not just that; facing the inevitable doom, whether it is Watson herself or the new Pope, they both astonishingly discovered that only war and death can prevent greater despair from descending.