I Became The Pope, Now What?
chapter-758

"This proves it." Aveda voiced after listening to Sylvester's roaring statement. "It must be father's doing."

"Do not make hasty decisions in panic, Aveda. We watched Father fade away from existence before us." Ashraska refuted his brother, "We merely have to find out how and why these last two remaining worlds hold such resistance towards us. This mortal should not be untouchable for us."

"But he is, and we witnessed our loss. If every iteration of this mortal is mentally the same, then his mere existence goes beyond common laws of existence. It goes against the principles of alternate space and time, against common sense." Aveda added, being more extensive in his deliberation. "Our meddling not only gave him answers but also a weapon to conceal himself from our notice."

Ashraska's voice sneered, "We were too proud and overconfident. He must have someone's blessing, someone who wishes to see us fall."

"Solis?"

"He's not strong enough."

"Then why is he still alive?" Aveda questioned further. "Be it your plaything or mine. Both have shown us resistance we never expected. The appearance of Johnathan and Diana was not natural—it's a preconceived plan."

The anger Ashraska felt couldn't be contained, as the helplessness they felt made no sense. As if there was an invisible wall between them and their enemy that even they couldn't comprehend. "There is no one who can go against us. We are the absolute! We are above all! There are only two Primordial Gods left, Aveda—us!"

Indeed, the current situation made no sense. Despite their omniscient existence, Sylvester was one creature they couldn't look through.

"Let us not lose ourselves in rage," Aveda advised.

"And wait for him to come for us?"

"He's not strong enough."

"Yet!" Ashraska barked back. The realm beyond existence crackled. "We have watched him enough, and his rise is swift. No more! It's time we start responding directly."

However, Aveda was more cautious. "What of the one behind him?"

"We cannot live in fear of that. It is time to lure our real enemy out. See who dares challenge us. For far too long, we have allowed this mortal to play his little schemes and earn glory. We'll put an end to his story."

Two brothers but inherently different. Ashraska was confident in dealing with Sylvester no matter what, and took a more direct approach. But Aveda didn't feel the same. Nonetheless, he supported his brother.

…

Holy Land, Pope's Palace,

Sylvester calmed his nerves and knelt before the dead body of Johnathan. It was the strangest feeling to see himself from the old times. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes and the wrinkly skin; they reminded him of how miserable he was living during those times, chasing after the traitor who blew his and Diana's cover.

"I hope you find peace," Sylvester muttered, disintegrating the entire body as if it never existed. He couldn't let someone get their hands on his original blood or body, just in case some forbidden magic he didn't know about existed.

Clap!

At last, he clapped his hands clean and turned to Gabriel, "So, how are you?"

Gabriel was still as dumbfounded as before. "How are you? Seriously?! What about Felix? He said he knew about Felix!"

"Felix jumped into the damn portal," Sylvester immediately clarified. "That's why Johnathan mentioned the two words that aren't under the direct control of one of the two gods. Don't worry, I'll bring him back."

"And who was this Johnathan?" Gabriel asked further.

Sylvester moved to gather the artifacts left behind while answering. "Do you believe in reincarnation, Gab?"

"I don't know. It's a concept rarely anyone believes in since all souls are either embraced by Solis or punished by Solis," Gabriel responded, but also gave his nuances. He had read all the books in the Holy Land, after all. "But if you say that Solis isn't the highest God, then maybe reincarnation could be real."

"It is." Sylvester blurted. "Not for everyone, but it is."

"Like Johnathan?"

Sylvester corrected him, "Like me. The man you saw was one of the infinite versions of myself from my past life. Before I was born as Sylvester Maximilian in this world."

Thud!

Gabriel's arm waved back to look for a chair and fell back on it, his face in disbelief. "T-Then you… have memories of your past life?"

"I've had them since I was born," Sylvester answered truthfully. It didn't matter anymore, not after what he had become. Even less so when Gabriel also knew about his elven blood, which he did not have anymore. Of course, Gabriel and Felix were the only people he felt confident telling. "But what matters is that the Primordial Gods plucked the past versions of myself from alternate realities and threw them in here with a mission to kill me—a version of themselves."

Wide-eyed, Gabriel still had the look of disbelief. Reincarnation was real. It was something not all mortals could accept. "T-Then what happens to those who don't get reincarnated?"

"I don't know, but they do find a place. In my journey, when I was on the verge of death, I saw beyond the wall of the dead and the living, Gab. I spoke with Shane, Sir Dolorem, Grandpa Monk, the Pope, and Markus. It was them—really them."

Gabriel gulped upon hearing that. He had absolute trust in Sylvester's words, and that's why it felt scary. He wondered if he had done enough good to join the better side after death.

"How much are you Johnathan, and how much are you Sylvester? What even were you in the last life? Who is Diana?" Gabriel barked everything that was running through his mind. "What were you saying while laughing just now?"

Sylvester chuckled and stepped closer to Gabriel. He gently placed his palm on Gabriel's head, "See for yourself, my brother."

Gabriel's eyes rolled to the back of his head with the influx of information. It was a lot, but within his mortal limits. Sylvester carefully showed him bits from his past life without giving away too much.

His birth, his parents, the abandonment by his parents, followed by life in foster homes. Education, recruitment by the government, and turning into a spy. Meeting Diana, betrayal, thirst for vengeance, and then death.

Immediately after came the birth of Sylvester Maximilian. Many parallels drew on their own. Sylvester was thrown into a cruel world to fend for himself in both lives. To survive by any means possible.

However, he didn't need to show all of Sylvester's bits since Gabriel was a major part of it. But Sylvester showed what happened throughout his journey to the Demon World, coming close to an inch from his death and more.

Bam!

When Sylvester stepped back from Gabriel, Gabriel fell face-first on the table. He panted for breath and held his head with both palms. He felt suffocated and had to drink a glass of water quickly.

"A-A spy? That explains so much…" Gabriel muttered, "There isn't much difference in your two lives then, is there?"

"I'd agree. In one, I had Diana, whom I loved to death. Here I have Xavia and many more for whom I'd gladly give my life." Sylvester answered and settled in the adjacent seat. "Any more questions?"

Gabriel nodded, "T-Those massive cities… those steel carriages and flying machines. How advanced was that world?"

"Technologically far ahead, but socially on the same page. No magic there either, so there were other sorts of weapons made with chemicals and technology."

Gabriel sighed, "This is so much to process. And somehow all the Johnathans, no matter from which world, will never betray you? How is that possible?"

This was something even Sylvester found trouble accepting. But from what he had seen and heard, it made all the sense. "I don't know, Gab. And I'm sure even the Primordial Gods don't know. A few questions still remain to be answered, but now you know most of it."

"I was better off not knowing. I feel my heart will never be at peace now. Will I be reincarnated after death? Will I get the good ending or the bad ending? I feel nervous all of a sudden."

Sylvester chuckled and pulled his friend by the arm. "Don't think too much, my friend. I'm sure we're all going to hell."

"..."

"Come, take me to Mum and Xye now." Sylvester dragged him along.

He opened the door and addressed the Guardians waiting there like hounds, ready to kill anyone who dares try to enter.

"The visitor has left this world." Sylvester's words were indirect but very clear. "You're free to return to your duty. Or you can follow me to the Sick Bay."

As expected, Julius left while Aurora and Lord Inquisitor followed behind Sylvester. They had never felt it before, but now they couldn't bring themselves to make small talk with Sylvester. Mainly Aurora, who felt an invisible pressure on her being just by being close to him.

"Come over to my home this evening. I'll cook dinner for all of us." Sylvester invited them to do some catching-up later.

But for now, he had a double dose of delightful surprises for Xavia.

'Chonky, do you want to make Mum happy?' He spoke mentally.

'Aye, aye!' Miraj chirped.

'Then do as I tell you to.'

After a short walk, they all entered the massive building of the Sick Bay. All the staff and visitors dumbfoundedly stared at the Pope's back, walking as if he wasn't just rumored to be dead a day ago.

"This room." Gabriel brought them to the top floor's private suits.

Sylvester smiled and turned the doorknob. "Go in, Chonky."

"Meow meow!" Miraj chirped and flew off through the wide gap in the door Sylvester made. The big ball of fur made as much noise as possible with his fluttering wings and melodious meowing. "I'm back, Big Mum!"

Inside the room, all heads turned towards the voice—Xavia, Xylena, and Ella were there.

"Chonky?!" Xavia called for him, being worried for so many days due to his disappearance. But, to her utter surprise, it wasn't just the sound she heard this time. No, she could even see him too, for the first time, like a fluffy white cloud in the air.

The reaction was the same for others. Ella was the first to rush forward and try to grab Miraj from the air. "We can see Chonky now, Grandma!"

Knock! Knock!

"Of course you can." Sylvester entered the room. "Since I'm back."

A/N: Pretty much Xylena, Xavia, and Ella's faces after seeing Maxy.