I Became The Pope, Now What?
chapter-41

The bitterness was so strong that he could not even think straight. His mind had gone numb, and his vision turned blurry. The thing was behind him. He knew it was too close. And, knowing that it eats the heads of the victims, this was the worst possible situation.

'I… let's hope this works.'

He knew that moving his hands might cause the creature to attack, so instead of taking that risk, he started chanting hymns to create the light halo behind his head in the hopes that it would force the creature back.

As he started chanting, a bright golden white halo appeared behind his head. It was intense and powerful enough to illuminate the entire cave. And as the movement it happened, a loud screech reverberated in Sylvester's ears.

But he did not focus on that as he was busy thinking of a hymn and singing it aloud.

♫Solis, the creator of magic.

Save me from a fate so tragic.

Solis, the vanquisher of darkness.

Lend your strength against this madness♫

♫I summon your light for this fight.

Ready to give everything I have.

Bless me here, so I stay bright.

I will be your sword and staff tonight.♫

Wreeee…!

The shrieks of the creature became apparent behind him. It was the effect of his hymn. But that was not enough, for he noticed the hymns did not hurt the creature. Even now, the cave looked rather dim, so he lifted both hands and used all his mastery of Solarium to produce the most intense light magic he ever had and filled the surroundings with light to the brim.

He turned around and aimed it at the creature. However, his heart skipped a few beats when he finally laid his eyes on it. It was black like darkness itself, and it had three shining red eyes, the mouth appearing incomplete as its black skin was torn in stretches, revealing a hint of its blooded white sharp teeth.

Its skin was made of an unknown substance. He noticed it was like a liquid, running around the body in little waves. The shape of the thing was similar to a sphere but with eight long spider-like legs, each having a metallic pointy end.

It was something that would induce nightmares for years to come. But he had no time to think about it as adrenaline pushed him.

"Argh!" Sylvester felt the creature was trying to fight his light in rage, pushing towards him even with its screeches.

He was not too shocked by this, however. 'If even an Archbishop could not defeat it, what am I?'

He looked back at Sir Dolorem. "Can you walk?"

Sir Dolorem tried to stand up but could not and fell back. His legs were injured too much with the holes. "I-I don't think I can."

"Fine, you can at least use one leg to drag yourself. Just don't freak out when you feel a sudden pull of your collar. I will drag you with me under the protection of this light. Just keep pushing with your good leg."

Sylvester then whispered to the scared Miraj on his shoulder in a low voice. "You know what to do, Chonky. I know you're a mighty boy."

Chonky quickly jumped from his shoulder, caught Sir Dolorem's collar, and started pulling it behind Sylvester. The goal was to have Sylvester use magic as a shield as they would carefully recede towards the exit.

'Ah! I feel so exhausted already. Having no sun on my head drains Solarium too fast… but this damn thing is too powerful.' Sylvester was drenched in a cold sweat as he tried to keep the thing at bay.

It was writhing in anger, wanting to devour the little boy who dared annoy it with the bright light. It felt pain, too, as if its skin was burning away slowly.

Bam!—It tried to hit the light with all its might, but Sylvester continued to chant and used his hands to thicken the light magic and use it like a shield.

'I need to conserve my energy. There must be a way to turn the light into a complete hard shield instead of a torchlight.'

Innovation happens during times of war. As a result, many new things are discovered that define the next era. This battle was similar for Sylvester as he was forced to discover the extent of his light magic.

Until now, he never had an opportunity to use his light magic to fight or spar because it was useless to people. Now, he could go all out and try to turn the light into objects of destruction—like that night when he was a baby.

Ensuring that Miraj was still dragging Sir Dolorem, he took the risk of stopping his right hand and emulated what he usually does with the Earth element. For the Earth element, it was all about using the matter around you to your advantage. One could turn it into a wall, spikes, or even projectiles.

He wished to do the same and use his free hand to mold the light from the halo and his other hand into a rigid glass-like shield.

'Come on, fold.'

He frustratingly waved his right hand to make a shield. Not only that, he cursed because the way back felt much longer now.

Wraaa…!

The creature intensified its attacks, sensing a decrease in the light. It rammed itself again and again like a maddening bull.

'Yes! Like this…'

Finally, after some minutes, he felt the light solidify a little and bend around him in an arc. Not stopping, they kept bending it, trying to find the best balance between the amount of Solarium required and the bending angle.

Crack!—The shield he was making suddenly broke apart with a crack.

'Fuck!'

He quickly created another one and repeated the trial carefully. But then, after what felt like an eternity, he noticed something strange happening with his own body.

His hands seemed thinner as if blood was being drained from them, and now all veins were popping out. Then at another glance, it seemed his whole body had grown thinner, becoming apparent with the feeling of lightheadedness and increased exhaustion with each step.

'Work… dammit!'

He couldn't even wipe the sweat off his face as he walked back while facing the creature. Sir Dolorem tried his best to push himself, ignoring the strange invisible pull on his collar. He, too, noticed the changes happening to Sylvester, which ached his heart.

"You will die from Solarium deficiency! Leave me and save yourself! You are God's favored, the future of the faith… the world. You can't die here."

"Argh!" Sylvester fell to his knees abruptly, feeling too much weakness in his legs. Even breathing had become hard for him.

Wraaay…!

The creature saw an opportunity and tried to attack. Its screeches resembled the word die. Its tapered leg even reached a mere foot away from Sylvester. Sensing the danger, Sylvester again lifted his other hand and used light magic to the fullest, pushing it away.

♫O' Mighty Lord, sings here your bard.

In this dark cave, give me the strength to be brave…♫

"Sir Dolorem, I've come this far… It'd be a shame to leave you behind now." He argued and attempted to create the shield again.

Sir Dolorem tried to drag himself to Sylvester and used his good arm to the pat shoulder. "Listen to me… I request you! You will die if you keep using magic to save both of us. You can't… but I see it… your face is just bones. You are dying. This is not the place or time for your end… you can one day become Supreme Wizard… peak of all."

Sylvester cursed as he failed to make the shield again. "Sure, I can. But what's the point if you and mother are not there to watch it happen? You've cared for me since I was a month old. I've spent so much time with you—more than mother even. So don't give me that bullshit and start dragging yourself out."

He cared not for language anymore. He was frustrated and angry at Sir Dolorem for even coming here. He also had to keep singing. Was he turning into skin and bones? He didn't care, as healing magic could cure that later.

'Yes!' He saw a thick glass-like semi-spherical shield appear in front of him, stopping the creature. But still, a crack would appear every time the creature bashed itself on it. So all he had to focus on now was to reinforce it.

"Son… look at me…" Sir Dolorem voiced monotonously.

Sylvester took a glance. The man looked pale as the light he was creating. He was dying as well.

"Son, let me do this. I've lost too much blood. It stabbed me and infected me as well. I might not even survive this stretch… you can't die uselessly… I'm calling you a son… please hear me and go. I will use the last of my magic to give you seconds if I can."

'This is bad… I can't have him die now, not when we're so close to the exit. Not when I risked it all.'

"No, I won't die. And You must live too, old man. You must live for your son, the one you keep rambling about every day—who's as old as me… and for your wife waiting for you. You must live and go on a long vacation to see them." Sylvester didn't look back to ensure he didn't get emotional from the pleading dying face of Sir Dolorem.

There was no reply anymore, so Sylvester put all his focus on the shield. As long as he could make it, he will be able to conserve his magic and make a small shield for just the three of them. It would be enough to reach the exit.

"They're dead!"

Sylvester looked back as his heart jumped, feeling something had happened to them. But he found Miraj and the man as good as a moment ago. "Who?"

"My wife and son—they're dead!"

[BONUS COMING SOON! KEEP STONING ME!]

I THURST FOR YOUR STONES!

**1069 Stones = Bonus Chapter!**

APE TOGETHER STRONG!