Gun of Ashes

”So... the Silencers are related to humans, aren’t they?”

Perhaps the secrets learned today were already too many; the impact of the scene before him on the new Pope didn’t last long. He continued to think calmly.

”Silencers? What is that?”

The man heard the new Pope’s words and asked, his voice somewhat muffled as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time and was close to forgetting how to talk.

The new Pope did not respond to the man’s question. Instead, he cautiously scrutinized him.

The man didn’t seem to mind; he simply raised his head to look at the dilapidated Static Holy Temple.

In his blurred memories, similar halls appeared, but in a blink, the once-glorious palace had decayed into its current state. Countless years seemed to have passed, etching countless scars into its refined façade.

”How many years has it been? The Static Holy Temple has become like this.”

The man said somewhat sadly as he walked towards the Well of Ascension, standing opposite the new Pope, with the pitch-black mouth of the well between them.

”So, you’re this era’s Pope? You look terrible.”

The man immediately noticed the new Pope’s condition; he was eroded, the Secret Blood nearly out of control.

”So is the thing below still safe?”

The man pointed to the endless darkness under the Well of Ascension and asked again.

”Safe? A sanctuary made entirely of Holy Silver, is there a safer place than this?”

The new Pope slowly said.

He looked at the man, his eyes blazing. He appeared in the manner of a Silencer before him, yet he was different from them. Moreover, he could converse with him. From his words, he seemed to understand all of this... you might even say...

Observing the man’s attire combined with his previous words, the Silencers were not only related to humans, but they were also connected to the Evangelical Church.

Upon hearing the new Pope’s reply, the man was taken aback, then laughed somewhat helplessly.

”Do you think what’s below is a sanctuary?”

”Is it not? The barrier of Holy Silver can easily stop things like you from advancing...”

The new Pope stopped halfway through his sentence. He suddenly understood the man’s words; the barrier of Holy Silver could prevent the intrusion of will, but it could also prevent the escape of will.

His gaze quickly turned to the Well of Ascension. Only then did he belatedly feel a chilling fear.

This is not a sanctuary at all... This is a prison, incarcerating that indescribable flesh.

”Who are you!”

The new Pope asked sternly.

”Me?”

The man pointed to himself. He didn’t seem too hostile, and he looked at the new Pope while responding leisurely.

”I am one of the Popes of the Evangelical Church, though I can’t recall which iteration, as history has cycled through too many times...”

The next moment, a tidal force crashed onto the new Pope, leaving no time to ponder the meaning behind the man’s words. The new Pope felt an invisible wave crashing against his body, enveloping him. The Holy Silver Crown atop his head collapsed under the invisible force.

The new Pope looked into the shadow under the hood, seeing only a searing white blaze.

”I am the Watcher, the original Gabriel.”

The man crossed over the deep well, grasping the new Pope’s head, forcing him to look into his eyes as his voice echoed like an incantation.

”I am Adren Levien.”