"I told you, he's nothing more than a cowardly insect who lacks even the slightest shred of courage to resist," the Pope said, his voice dripping with contempt.
"He fled to our world and did all of this for one purpose, and one purpose only."
"He wants to become like you—to become an Anomaly—and thereby escape death."
"The so-called soul experiments were actually research into how to 'transform humans into Anomalies.'"
"That son of a bitch intends to use this method to shed his human identity entirely and evade the pursuit of your world."
Ren Yi nodded thoughtfully and posed his next question.
"Then I have two more questions. First, why are the people of the Three Cities immune to soul mutation?"
"Second, since 'Extinction' was in the Holy City at the time, why wasn't he spared? Why did he end up like that?"
The Pope let out a cold laugh. "The reason the people of the Holy City are immune is that when the apocalypse arrived, the Holy City wasn't even in this Three Cities World."
"Do you remember what I just told you about him giving us some 'special items'?"
"In your terms, those things should be called 'Instance keys.'"
"This was his entire plan: first, use our world as a laboratory to complete the research on turning humans into Anomalies."
"Then, use our world as a springboard to open the gateway to your world."
So he's planning to join them since he can't beat them? Ren Yi mused.
The Pope's voice gradually grew low, as if he were sinking into distant memories.
"At the same moment the soul radiation spiraled out of control, the Instance keys for over a dozen cities were activated simultaneously. They summoned over a dozen city-scale Instances that descended upon our world."
"The Anomalies inside those Instances were far more terrifying than you."
As he spoke, he tilted his head toward Ren Yi, intentionally or otherwise.
If he had eyes, they would likely be filled with a trace of disdain at this moment.
Ren Yi rolled his eyes, knowing the Pope couldn't see him anyway.
That went without saying. Instances that could envelop an entire city and serve as an invasion vanguard likely contained Anomalies that were at least A-rank or even S-rank.
But if that were the case, something still didn't add up.
"Are you saying that everyone currently in the Holy City is a survivor who cleared that Instance back then?"
"That's impossible. Instances of that level are incredibly difficult to clear. How could an entire city's worth of people have cleared it?"
"Oh, that wasn't the case," the Pope explained.
"The original rule was indeed that only the clearers could survive. However, halfway through, the Instance rules were suddenly relaxed."
"As long as one person in the city cleared it, everyone would survive."
The Pope's tone carried a hint of self-mockery.
"I suspect that by then, other parts of our world had already begun to mutate on a massive scale."
"We, trapped inside the Instance, became the only remaining survivors. That's likely why the rules were suddenly relaxed to spare our lives."
So, of the dozen or so cities back then, only three eventually had someone successfully clear the Instance, resulting in the Three Cities World as it exists today.
And the sudden relaxation of rules was likely because the Alliance discovered that the potential Participants in this "Pasture world" were rapidly dwindling, forcing them to lower the requirements.
"Was it you who cleared the Holy City's Instance back then?" Ren Yi pressed.
"No." The Pope shook his head. "It was 'Extinction.'"
Ren Yi was stunned for a moment. Before he could ask the question in his mind, the Pope offered an explanation.
"Under the Instance rules at the time, only the clearer had the right to return to the real world early. Everyone else had to wait twenty-four hours until the Instance completely dissipated before they could leave."
"He couldn't stop worrying about the Resistance in the City of Stars, or perhaps he wanted to take the opportunity to escape my control, so he chose to leave early."
"But he never expected that those twenty-four hours would put him right in the path of the lingering aftermath of the apocalypse..."
"The soul radiation was still raging outside. In the end, he wasn't spared and became what he is now."
"A... unique soul, forged by remaining conscious during the mutation."
So that was the reason behind the unique nature of "Extinction's" soul?
The Pope fell silent for a moment, his voice tinged with a trace of barely perceptible guilt.
"I once tried to kill him to end his suffering, but... he refused to die."
"So, when I saw that you had captured him alive, I knew he had finally found release... and for that, I am grateful."
Ren Yi nodded, more of his doubts being cleared away. He looked at the Pope and asked directly:
"So, what you want is for us to take back the news that Azure is trying to enter our world?"
"Why would I need to ask for that?" The Pope suddenly gave a sly smile. "I have already told you the news. I believe that as soon as you return, you will report it immediately."
"After all, you wouldn't want a piece of disgusting trash like him sneaking into your world, would you?"
Ren Yi's lip twitched. Well, the Pope certainly saw through things.
Regardless of any deal, he would report this immediately upon his return to prevent such a mysterious, filthy entity from infiltrating the Alliance.
Of course, to be honest, he felt the probability of Azure succeeding was nearly zero, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.
"Let us discuss my bargaining chips first," the Pope's tone turned serious again.
"In this world that is about to perish, there is not much I can give you."
"But I can promise you this: for the next few days, the authority over the Holy City belongs entirely to you."
"What do you mean?" Ren Yi frowned, not understanding the Pope's intention.
He had already prepared himself to wander the wilderness for the next few days.
"Before our conversation, I had already arranged everything," the Pope said slowly, his tone calm and resolute.
"After I die, all the followers and the entire army of the Holy City will continue to follow the orders of the 'Son of God.'"
Ren Yi let out a short laugh. "Lord Pope, how is what you're doing any different from what Azure did?"
"It is entirely different," the Pope replied flatly. "Azure did what he did because he didn't care. I am doing this because I care too much."
"I care so much that even though I know destruction is inevitable, I hope it has an ending that isn't too terrible."
Ren Yi nodded thoughtfully, vaguely guessing his intent. "Are you hoping that I can let the people of the Holy City die as painlessly as possible?"
If that were the case, he could indeed manage it.
"No." The Pope gave a desolate smile.
"I told you long ago, there is no hope left for this world."
"Do you think the so-called experimental sites were just locations to store 'Instance keys'?"
His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with a sense of despair. "The people of the Holy City were the very first group to have their souls twisted by Azure."
"He deeply engraved the 'brand of piety' into everyone's soul, making them his most loyal believers and the blades he could manipulate at will to consolidate his rule."
"Otherwise, why do you think I never made Azure's true face public? Why didn't I smash that wretched statue on the mountain?"
The Pope's voice was full of helplessness.
Ren Yi was shaken. He threw out a new question: "Then what about you? Why wasn't your soul twisted? How can you remain conscious?"
"I was twisted as well," the Pope said slowly, his tone bitter.
"But back in the Instance, I awakened a talent called 'True Sight.' It allowed me to remain sane, but it also forced me to endure far more pain."
I see. Before it became a Pasture world, the world's will indeed had the power to bestow talents.
At this point, the Pope's voice became incredibly heavy.
"Therefore, my request is..."
"Please, let them die in pain."
"I only hope that when they die, their world no longer has a god!"
Rate on N.U.
