I Became The Pope, Now What?

231 231. Hunting A Soul Eater

Sylvester dug his feet firmly and erected a wall behind himself as well. He didn't wish to waste any momentum by being recoiled back.

"Alright, catch it." He put his right palm beside his chest and let the Wrath of Heavens go out at full strength.

Boom!

Sylvester then aimed the solarium bomb he made with 10 Solarium crystals and threw it in the path of his beam of light.

Boom!

The bomb blew up and intensified the light he released. If it was just a large beam of light before, now it was gigantic, being tens of metres in diameter. Its light shrouded the dark sky and made it appear like a day. The creatures of the night, close and far, hid away in fear of being purged as well.

For Sylvester, this was exciting. But the same could not be said about Lady Aurora. Being on the verge of levelling up was less harmful or life-threatening than ranking up, so she had no fear about that. But she found herself lacking in fending off Sylvester's strongest move.

In the past, in no books--no person like Sylvester had ever existed who harnessed the blessed light magic this way. Historically, most light magic users had been tame, calm, and merely preachers, for their talents could not be used in battles.

So, Sylvester's uniqueness usually leaves his opponents scratching their heads. One could easily fight any element. Water could quench the fire, the fire could blast earth, and air could harm all elements. But how does one even fight the light? Something that's intangible in most cases? Even if it's solid like Sylvester's, how does one neutralise it?

Lady Aurora gritted her teeth while trying to stay standing in her place. The beam of light did feel very hot this time, and she felt it was burning her skin. But she didn't want to quit and put everything she had into resisting.

To save her body from burning, she first covered it with a layer of mud she manipulated. It was good since she needed something that was conductive in nature, as her primary weapon of choice was electricity.

She also planted her feet firmly into the ground with Earth manipulation. After that, all she had to do was fight against the light and withstand it until it disappeared.

'No running away this time!' She reminded herself.

Boom!

Sylvester increased the intensity from his side, giving it his all. He also panted and felt he'd faint at any moment. But he wanted to get Lady Aurora to level up at all costs that night.

Woosh!

"Good god! This is too harsh." Lady Aurora cursed in her place.

She tried to survive the best she could. She created a layer of the earth again and again around herself. She also added water to earn some extra seconds of calm each time. On top of all that, she created an invisible field of a current to stop the beam of plasma-like light from touching her.

Slowly, her strength drained out. She felt her eyes going heavy and her body becoming light. It had been a long time since she had exhausted herself this much, but at the same time, she enjoyed the feeling.

Thirty minutes!

Sylvester kept going for as long as he could and even ate more Solarium crystals to keep himself from falling. He needed Lady Aurora to be the first to fall, as that would mean she had exhausted every ounce of strength in herself after pushing out all she could.

'If this method to level up works well, then I should be able to do it multiple times, even with Felix and Gabriel. As long as I ensure I have money for Solarium crystals, I can level up by pushing myself. But... ugh!' He held his thigh with his free hand and patted it.

The pain had returned, and it annoyed him. 'I will need to do the procedure to remove the blood clot again.'

Thud!

Sylvester's thoughts returned to the moment, and he stopped using his powers urgently. He rushed to Lady Aurora to check up on her as she had fallen face-first into the dirt.

"Hey, you okay?"

Lady Aurora groaned tiredly and just showed a thumbs-up without moving. She likely had no strength left to move even.

He chuckled and helped her to sit back before putting a solarium crystal in her mouth. "Here, it should get you revitalised slowly. Let's go. I will piggyback you to the village."

He didn't waste much time before picking her on his back with his arms tucked underneath her thighs and making her hold his neck. She was heavy, but he was much taller than her, and it was not too hard.

"This is embarrassing." Lady Aurora muttered with a blush plastered on her muddied face.

Sylvester didn't ridicule her. "Well, don't worry. Brother will take care of his little sister. Just sit back and relax."

"Pfft... Me? Little sister? Hmph, I am stronger and older than you, boy. Just too tired right now..." She slowly stopped speaking and let her body relax on his back, letting her head fall on his shoulder.

It was a short journey. However, the night was particularly pretty, with the twin full moons shining in the night sky. It seemed a little rejuvenating for both of them.

"Are you worried about Mother Xavia?" Lady Aurora asked.

Sylvester sighed in silence. He'd be lying if he said he was not, as he had grown so used to being with her and caring for her. "I love her as any son would, and I am angry as any son should be. She's my only family in this world--the only mother I ever had."

'In both lives.'

Of course, he could never speak some words aloud. But his feelings were genuine. In his past life, he never had a mother. She had abandoned him and his father when he was small, and then his father left him in a crowded fair--abandoning him.

In this life, he finally had a mother who cared for him so much that she'd probably happily give her life for him if it ever came to that. It was this love and loyalty that he trusted and cherished above all.

Lady Aurora's arms tightened around his neck. "Don't worry. I will help you if you ever need it. I never had a loving family or a mother--but I feel if I ever had one, she would have been like Mother Xavia. Kind, cute and lovely."

"Clumsy as well," Sylvester added with a chuckle.

"Well, not everyone is a high functioning big brain psycho like you and me."

Sylvester laughed louder. "Haha, you? Big brain? Come on, sister, it's wrong to lie to oneself... Ah!"

She punched Sylvester's chest as that was within reach. "Hmph... don't you badmouth your elder sister. Or I will never train with you again."

Sylvester scoffed. "As far as I can see, the only one training someone has been me. You didn't even teach me a single new good move yet."

"Fine! I will teach you all I know after killing that Soul Eater. I just... need a nap right now." She yawned loudly and closed her eyes.

"Did you level up?" He asked her.

"..."

But no more words came, as he soon felt Lady Aurora's breath on his neck. She had fallen asleep.

...

Sylvester prepared for the fight the whole night while Lady Aurora rested.

The following day, he called the Archpriest and the General to tell them his plan. His image among folks in the village had grown to be somewhat similar to a Demi-god by now. His hymns, his looks and his wisdom usually left most people baffled. Not to mention, his invention helped the people in a way none had thought about.

Due to all that, his orders were usually given the highest priority. So, he told them to start shifting away from the monastery.

He had no idea how long it would take him to defeat the demon or how far the mist would spread. The Seven-Light ritual was also completed, so now, there was nothing to stop the mist.

He gathered the people in front of the Monastery and addressed them directly. "Children of the faith. I am so proud of you, for you all came here to do what was right. You fought your inner demons of fear and came here to help against a real demon.

"I feel great pride to have worked with you. But, at last, the final chapter in this series of events is about to begin. Lady Aurora and I shall enter the mist and defeat the vile creature. So pray for us... Pray for this land... Pray that this Monastery forever stands."

He didn't sing any hymns for now as he was facing an urgency. But, the people were already deep into the worship towards him, so he didn't need to sing.

"May the holy light enlighten you!" they all clamoured again and again.

Sylvester gave General Arnold and Archpriest Brylee a nod before walking away with Lady Aurora. Isabella was staying behind, however, under the strict protection of the Inquisitors.

Donned in their armors, with Lady Aurora, he again reached the inner parts of the village, from where the toughest segment of the mist started.

"So, did you level up?" He asked her.

Lady Aurora smirked. "See it for yourself!"

Boom!

Once again, Lady Aurora used her power to create a storm of lightning that came out of the land instead. This time, it was faster and more intense. They punched holes into the dense, heavy mist and created various openings.

Sylvester also prepared to use his power to help erase the mist.

Boom!

With the use of solarium crystals, he could create multiple long tunnels into the mist without getting tired. Lady Aurora's work was the central part, however.

"Haha... look at this, Sylvester. This is the ultimate power! I feel so good right now!" She roared and continued to blast the land with lightning, shaking the very earth and leaving the ground red--burning.

She had to keep doing it for ten minutes before the mist cleared up for the most part. They finally saw the broken remains of a mansion in the distance at the top of the hill.

"Ah! That's my home!" The ghost of Amy chirped near Sylvester.

"That's enough!" Sylvester stopped Lady Aurora. "Conserve your energy now. Let's start moving."

With that, Sylvester held the spear ready in one hand, and Lady Aurora kept the sword. They also kept multiple rune schemes ready to be used in their free hands. A Solarium crystal was also resting in their mouths, ready to boost them if needed.

This time, they felt no pressure as the mist was gone. They slowly made their way up. Nothing interrupted them. Though Sylvester could feel it--the bitter scent of death was overwhelming, and it was only increasing.

"Amy, where is the monster?" Sylvester asked the little ghost.

"Grrr..." A growling echo resounded out of nowhere.

"Fuck! The mist is returning!" Sylvester exclaimed as he saw the surroundings turning whitish again.

"Grrr...!" The growling returned again, and it was now so close that the two felt their hair stand.

â™«O' mighty lord of light.

Bless me with might in this fight...â™«

Sylvester started to chant the hymn, for he knew what awaited them.

Lady Aurora's body also sparkled with lightning, her eyes narrowed, and her expression turned grave. "It's behind us, isn't it?"

"When I say, use your strongest attack and jump to the sides," Sylvester instructed and kept singing, ensuring the halo shined brightest ever.

â™«Let my sword plunge into this heathen's filthy heart.

To your punishing arms, I shall have this vile soul depart!â™«

Boom!